Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies (32 page)

I had to agree, except for one little detail that had kept bothering me. “So why did he tell me he didn’t do it?”

“So he wouldn’t incriminate himself more than he already had? So he’d make you think someone else was out to get you? A million reasons, but the bottom line is that he did it. He’s just playing more mind games with us.”

More mind games than he even knew. I wondered if I should tell him about his father’s involvement in Savannah’s murder and how he wanted to hurt Joe while reminding his son of his leash. But he was already hurt over me. I wasn’t sure what good it would do, not to mention the fact that it wasn’t my place to tell him.

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you. But be careful if you keep digging around with your father, okay?”

He grinned. “I’m the one who’s supposed to say that.”

Neely Kate and Bruce Wayne had sat quietly on the other side of the room and listened in to our conversation. I didn’t mind. I was happy that I wouldn’t have to go through the ordeal again. Now I only needed to fill in the details I hadn’t given for the record.

Joe stood. “I have a million things I need to do. I better get goin’.”

I walked him to the door, and he glanced over at the courthouse. “I was wrong about Mason, Rose. He really does love you. And tell him congratulations on getting his job back. I hated being a part of that, and I told the secretary of state’s office everything. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have a job myself.”

“I’m sorry, Joe.”

He shook his head. “We have to face the consequences of our actions sometime. I’ve been running from mine for too long.” He smiled and ran a finger over the worry lines on my forehead. “Hey, none of that. I’m good with this. It’s nice to stop running, you know?”

I nodded. “I do know.” I needed to give myself the same pep talk.

“Look, I know you love Mason, and he’s one damn lucky guy. I gave a lot of thought to what you said the other day, about me still seeing you as the inexperienced woman I met on my front porch. There’s a lot of truth to that. But watching you last night …” His eyes filled with awe. “You’re right. You’re not that woman anymore. But I’d love to be friends with the woman you’ve become. If you would let me.”

I smiled, tears filling my eyes. “Of course. I’d like that too.”

He gave me a sad smile, and as I watched him walk away I wondered what the future held for him. If he would lose his job. How much longer he’d stay in Fenton County.

I turned my gaze to the courthouse, feeling like the life I wanted so badly was slipping through my fingers. Why hadn’t Mason let me know about his job? The truth was, I
knew
why, and it made me feel more helpless than ever.

I was tired of waiting for life to sort itself out. I was going to take matters into my own hands.

I hurried over to my desk and grabbed my purse and my coat. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna pick up some lunch at Merilee’s and take it over to Mason.”

Worry filled Neely Kate’s eyes, but she said, “That’s a good idea.”

Bruce Wayne only watched in silence.

I bolted out the door and into the cold. As I started across the street, I thought I saw a suspicious man out of the corner of my eye. When I turned back to look, I slammed into someone.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “I’m so—” I paused when I realized I’d run into Hilary. “Sorry.”

Indignation covered her face. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble, Rose Gardner? I heard that you brought false charges against J.R. Simmons. Do you really think he’ll stand for that?”

“He won’t be standing anytime soon, considering that I shot him in the leg.”

She gasped in disgust. “I’m not surprised you’d joke about such a thing. It only shows your true character.” She pinned her gaze on me. “You may very well have disabled him for life. I’m sure he’ll be suing you.”

Fear shot down my spine at that thought, but suing me would be like squeezing blood out of a turnip. “Well, good luck and Godspeed to him.”

I started to walk around her, but she blocked my path.

Anger filled her eyes. “Do you know what you put poor Joe through? He was overcome with grief.”

I didn’t need to be reminded of my guilt, particularly not by her. Besides, how could she have the audacity to chastise me for getting kidnapped? “I’ve already talked with Joe, but perhaps I should call him to apologize again for letting someone accost me in Jaspers, haul me off to a cabin in the woods, and almost kill me. How incredibly thoughtless of me.”

Her mouth pursed into a thin line, and her cheeks tinged pink.

I released a sigh. “I’ve had a very exhausting week, and I’m really tired of this thing we do, so I think I’ll be on my way.”

I started to step around her again, but she blocked my path.

“Hilary. What the Sam Hill do you want?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but someone behind me interrupted.

“Rose Gardner,” Carter Hale drawled behind me. “Just the person I was looking for.”

I spun around to face him.

He shot a glance to Hilary. “Sorry to steal her away from you, Ms. Wilder, but my client and I have important things to discuss.”

Hilary looked like she’d just swallowed a toad. Then she took a breath and a serene look covered her face. “Rose, you’re one of the unluckiest people I know. You really do need to be more careful and stop worrying everyone in town.”

“What just happened?” Carter asked as he watched her sashay away. “She looked like she was about to rip your head off, then she turned all peaches and cream.”

“That’s Hilary.” I watched her turn into Merilee’s and shook my head. She was probably the unhappiest person I knew, including Miss Mildred. Given my own current situation, I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit sorry for her.

A grin plastered across Carter’s face. “You sure know how to make friends.”

“Ha. Ha,” I muttered. “You just keep findin’ me with unpleasant people.”

“Be mindful of the company you keep. You keep jumping deeper into the cesspool.”

His meaning wasn’t lost on me. “Did you really need to see me, or were you playing white knight?”

“I just left the courthouse, so I really was on my way to see you.” He winked. “Rest assured. I only play white knight if I have ulterior motives.”

I considered calling him on his statement—he’d helped Neely Kate before without ulterior motives—but I was more interested in what he had to say. “Do you want to head into your office?”

“No need. This will be quick.” He grinned. “All your charges were dropped.”

“
What?
”

“I just left your boyfriend and the state investigator. When one of the DA’s cohorts heard J.R. is facing big time charges, he admitted to knowing the judge was bribed by the big guy to put you away.” He shifted his weight. “The thing about living at the top is that people are often eager to see you fall, and once you do, they’ll turn into piranhas. I suspect this assistant is the first of many.”

“But why didn’t Mason tell me himself?”

He shrugged, oblivious to the drama of my love life. “He was busy with the investigator. So he asked me to tell you.”

I felt the blood go rushing to my toes. Before Tuesday night Mason would have never left that errand to Carter Hale.

Carter blinked in surprise. “Why don’t you look more excited about this?”

“Oh! I am!” I said, forcing myself to recover. “I’m just in shock is all. I didn’t expect it to happen so fast. Thank you.”

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Skeeter informed me about everything that happened over the last forty-eight hours. I’m glad it all worked out.”

I nodded. “And Glenn Stout? What happens to the bail money?”

“He’ll get it all back. But you can bet we’ll be keeping an eye on who picks it up.”

I knew exactly who he meant by
we
, and it had nothing to do with anyone in law enforcement. “Tell Skeeter not to do something stupid on my behalf.”

“Skeeter Malcolm doesn’t do stupid, Rose. He’s trying to rebuild his shattered empire.” He saw my concern and tapped my nose. “Now don’t you be worrying about Skeeter. He’s tough as the hide on a bull. He’s gonna rebuild it all bigger and better than it was before.” A grin twisted his lips. “If you ever need help again, whether Skeeter’s involved or not, give me a call. You’ve been one of my most entertaining clients to date. And that’s saying something.”

I muttered thanks as he ambled toward his office. Hilary was still in Merilee’s, and after talking to Carter, I was fairly certain I was the last person Mason wanted to see.

I headed back toward the landscape office, defeat and worry slowing my footsteps. Neely Kate met me at the door. “What happened with Hilary?”

I started to answer her, but I noticed a man coming around the corner of the courthouse. He crossed to my side of the street, then stopped on the sidewalk not far from the office. Watching me, he pulled the stocking cap on his head down the side of his face.

“Who is that?” I asked, walking out onto the sidewalk.

Something about him set off bells in my head.

“He looks familiar.” But I wasn’t sure how. Almost every part of him was covered up, including his cheek.

“Who?” Neely Kate asked, following behind me.

When he realized I was watching, his eyes widened and he tugged harder on the cap.

It was lunchtime, which meant there were more people on the sidewalks than there would be later in the day. He ducked around two elderly women headed into the antique store.

“Who are you talking about?”

“That man—” I turned around to find him, but he was gone. I shook my head. “I’m paranoid.” I was seeing suspicious folks everywhere.

She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “After everything you’ve been through over the last week or so, you’re entitled. Now let’s get back inside. It’s freezing out here.”

I let her lead me back into the warm office, wondering if I really had lost it.

After I told Neely Kate and Bruce Wayne the good news I’d received about my charges, Neely Kate went and picked up lunch for all three of us. She knew not to ask why I’d changed my mind about visiting Mason. When she got back, I only took a few nibbles of my sandwich as I filled my friends in on all the details I’d glossed over in my police report.

When I was done, Neely Kate asked, “Why do you think you’ll still need the journal page? Seems like Joe’s got enough evidence stacked up to put his daddy away for a long time.”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “J.R. Simmons is a pretty sneaky guy. They might need all the help they can get to put him away for good. Besides, for all I know, the original journal’s gone.”

“What about those two keys?” she asked.

I sighed. “Maybe some mysteries are better left in the past.”

A dark shadow crossed over her face. “I agree.”

I didn’t hear from Mason until mid-afternoon. He appeared at the front door of the landscaping office as I was showing Neely Kate how to use the landscape software on my computer. Bruce Wayne had gone to bid on a commercial job.

As soon as Muffy saw him, she started to run for him, but then she stopped and hurried back to her bed under Bruce Wayne’s desk. I took that as a bad omen.

Mason shut the door behind him, his face pale. “Neely Kate, could you give us a bit? Maybe fifteen minutes.” He pulled out his wallet and started to grab some money. “Why don’t you go grab something at Dena’s Bakery? My treat.”

She gave me a worried look, then stood and grabbed her coat. “Put your money away, Mason. I don’t mind giving you and your fiancée a few minutes alone.” She stopped next to him, looking like she was about to say something, then hurried out the door.

A guilty look washed across Mason’s face.

My stomach fell to my feet as I stood next to my chair, unsure of what to do.

“Joe told me about your job. Congratulations. When do you start again?” I’d hoped he would text me with the news, but he hadn’t. He was angry with me. I deserved that. And more.

“I’m not sure yet.” He moved closer and stopped several feet in front of me. “Carter told you about your charges?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak past the lump in my throat.

“Can we sit and talk?”

I nodded again, fighting tears. I wasn’t sure I could do this.

But I sat in my desk chair, and he sat in the one Neely Kate had vacated. He looked down at his hands before lifting his gaze. “I told them I’d fill in temporarily until I’ve made a decision.”

“Did they kick out the DA? Are they offering you
his
job?”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down at Muffy under Bruce Wayne’s desk. “After his assistant caved, they’re almost certainly going to boot him out of office, but there’s been no official decision yet.”

“Oh.” Then it hit me, and I struggled to take a breath. “
Oh
.”

He stared into my eyes. “Rose, I love you. You have to know that.”

I remained frozen for several agonizing seconds, then my terror burst free like water from a busted dam. “I’m so sorry, Mason,” I forced out, trying to hold back my tears. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know you are, sweetheart. I know.”

Hearing him call me sweetheart broke me, and the tears started flowing. “I did it for you, Mason. I hated lying, but I had to save you. I had to do it.” I was nearly hysterical. The thought of life without him was unthinkable.

He pulled me to his chest, running a hand over my hair. “I know you did, sweetheart. I know. And you will never know how much I love you for that.”

I pulled away from him, searching his face. “Please, Mason,” I begged. “I know I’ve hurt you, and I know you don’t trust me, but I’ll tell you everything from now on. I promise.” A sob burst from me. “
Please
don’t leave me.”

He broke down and tears fell down his cheeks as he got to his feet. “I’ve been thinking about this non-stop since I found out about it Tuesday night.” He knelt in front of me with anguish in his eyes. “I can forgive you for doing this to save me. What kind of bastard would I be if I didn’t? And I’m sure I can eventually get over the hurt and the distrust, but there’s one thing I just can’t get over.” He paused, and I forced myself to calm down and listen to him.