Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (28 page)

Skeeter got up and towered over me, anger radiating from him. “We have an agreement. In fact, you owe me an answer to the offer I made you last night!”

Jed’s face showed his confusion. I doubted that Skeeter had told him anything about our conversation.

I climbed off my stool and stood, looking up, face to face with Skeeter. “
At the moment
, all we have is an agreement that you can use me as the Lady in Black for six months. That agreement doesn’t say a blessed thing about what I do in my free time.”

“Things have changed. Now I have a say in who you talk to, along with the when and where.” His jaw tightened, and if I hadn’t known him like I did, I would have been scared to death. A smart part of me said I should be scared anyway, but the angry part of me won out. Neely Kate, on the other hand, looked like she was about to pee her pants.

I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to keep my anger in check. “Those aren’t the rules we agreed to and if you continue to act like a tyrant, I won’t need to answer your offer, because my decision will be
perfectly clear
.”

“Well, I just changed the rules, whether you accept my offer or not!”

I took two deep breaths to calm down, but I was still just as furious when I shouted, “If you think you can go changin’ the rules on a whim, then so will I.
I quit!
”

Jed jumped up and grabbed my elbow. “Rose, if we could just talk about this.”

I pulled out of his grasp. “I think I should be goin’ now. Before I do something I regret.” Of course, I’d probably already gone and done that, but it was too late to worry about that now. I helped Neely Kate off her stool.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Rose Gardner!” Skeeter’s voice boomed through the pool hall, making Neely Kate jump.

“
You can kiss my rear end, Skeeter Malcolm!
” I shouted at him as I kept right on walking.

I half expected him to stop me, but we made it out into the sunshine without incident. Neely Kate looked down at me, fear in her eyes, after I helped her into the truck. “Rose, I don’t think you should have pissed him off.”

I pursed my lips. “I’m not gonna let him bully me. I’m not scared of him.” And I wasn’t. I knew Skeeter was capable of a great many things, but hurting me wasn’t on that list. Probably.

I got into the truck and pulled out of the parking lot, trying to sort through everything that had just happened. It was a surprisingly packed experience. Had I really just quit my position as the Lady in Black, and if so, why did I have such mixed feelings about it? This was a blessing in disguise, especially if he had some connection to J.R. Simmons.

I needed to pull myself together before I let my imagination run wild about J.R. Simmons and his involvement with Atchison Manufacturing. And my birth mother.

Neely Kate rested her forehead in her hand, her elbow propped on the door. “Everything is spinnin’.”

I wanted to discuss everything we’d just discovered, but Neely Kate looked like she was close to losing her three-beer lunch. And while I didn’t want to wait before figuring out who Beverly was—it was clear she could be a danger—Neely Kate wasn’t in any shape to help. It was also obvious I couldn’t leave her alone at her house. But both of us needed time to collect ourselves. It didn’t take me long to figure out where to go.

Ten minutes later, we were standing on Maeve’s front porch. She looked pleasantly surprised to see us, but worry quickly crept into her eyes as she took in Neely Kate’s unfocused gaze and stumbling. “Is Neely Kate okay?”

“She just had a little too much drama mixed in with a lunch consisting of a few beers. Do you mind if we sit here for a bit and maybe get a sandwich and a cup of coffee—or three?”

“Of course.” She stepped aside so I could help Neely Kate into the house.

I led her to the kitchen and helped her sit at the table.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m
fine
, Rose,” she said, sounding grumpy.

“I know you are, but I had a sudden craving for Maeve’s cooking.” I caught Maeve’s gaze and she nodded.

“You girls are in luck. I have some barbeque brisket as well as some leftover spaghetti and meatballs. And of course I can always make you a sandwich if you’d prefer.”

I obviously didn’t have to worry about fitting into any little black dresses anytime soon, so I decided to take advantage of Maeve’s offer. “Spaghetti and meatballs for me.”

Neely Kate shook her head with a grin. “Brisket.”

Maeve clapped her hands, beaming. “Coming right up.”

She heated up our food, making small talk about Mason, her new position volunteering with a local after-school tutoring program, and the weather. As always, being around her was like being wrapped up in a warm blanket. Even without trying, Maeve couldn’t help but be a comfort. Before too long she set our food on the table and sat across from us. When Neely Kate glanced at the empty space in front of our hostess, Maeve said, “I ate earlier.”

“Miss Maeve, how come you always have so much leftover food?” Neely Kate asked after taking a bite.

She shifted in her seat. “Well… I love to cook and there’s always someone to feed.” She winked. “Like two hungry girls.”

When we were almost done eating—I was surprised I could eat so much in spite of all my anxiety—my cell phone rang. I dug it out of my pocket, hoping it was Mason. Instead it was a number I didn’t recognize. “Hello.”

I was shocked to hear Jed’s voice. “Rose, Skeeter’s got Merv out lookin’ for you.”

My heart stopped for a second, then jump-started into a gallop. “
What?
”

Neely Kate’s worried eyes found mine.

“He’s fumin’, Rose. I haven’t seen him this angry in ages.”

“Okay…” I glanced at Maeve, then stood and walked into the living room, lowering my voice. “What do you think he’s gonna do?”

He hesitated. “He’s spouted off a few options, the most recurring of which is dragging you back here and chaining you to his desk. But he’s got a temper, so if we can buy you some time, he’ll calm down and be more reasonable.”

“Why’s he so mad? Because I quit or because I told him off?”

“Both. And more.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Look, Rose, he doesn’t know how to handle you. When he tries to intimidate you, it doesn’t work. But now he’s started relying on you…and you just bailed on him.”

“Because he’s buttin’ into my personal life.”

“He doesn’t see it that way.” He paused. “You and I both know you’re not one to sit around knitting. Your own entanglement with the underworld is what landed you in Skeeter’s office last November. But I think he imagines you puttering around in your kitchen bakin’ pies when you’re not the Lady in Black.”

That
couldn’t be further from the truth, but all the times I’d told him I couldn’t meet him because I was cooking dinner had probably encouraged that illusion.

“Skeeter saw you grillin’ that guy and he had no idea what you were doin’.”

“So he’s annoyed that I didn’t loop him in?”

“No, he’s scared. When you’re working for
him
, I’m there to have your back and make sure nothing happens to you. If you’re off interrogating people on your own, you’re vulnerable. Skeeter doesn’t want to lose you.”

This made no sense. “Then why did he let me go into that strip club by myself last month?”

“I was waiting in the wings as backup. Plus he knew what you were up to then. And the way I heard it, you didn’t leave him much choice.”

I put my hand on my hip and shook my head, even though I quickly realized he could see neither. “You were there today. You even stepped in to help.”

“I was there because Picklebie just happened to be in the pool hall. You told Skeeter that yourself. What if you’d followed Picklebie or some other lowlife into a dark alley? You could have gotten jumped or worse. Skeeter knows how criminals behave. You’re probably stronger than any woman he’s ever met, but he still sees you as vulnerable.”

“He told you all that?”

“No, but I know the guy. Trust me.”

Crappy doodles, he was probably right. “He can’t force me to do anything, Jed.”

“But he can. And he usually does.” He sighed, sounding frustrated. “He treats you differently than anyone. Ever. Almost like an equal. But it’s just not like him, and I’m worried he’ll turn on you.”

The significance of his words washed over me. Skeeter had pretty much said the same thing to me after extending his offer of partnership. It had to burn that I’d not only quit, but declined his offer as well. I had a feeling it was a one-of-a-kind deal.

“Rose, I know I have no right, and it goes against what I told you last night, but I’m asking you to reconsider your decision to bow out. You challenge Skeeter. He’s changed over the last month. For the better. I’m not sure what he’ll do if you don’t change your mind.”

“To me?”

“No. I think he’ll go back to bein’ who he was before. Perhaps worse.”

I groaned. “I can’t just let him boss me around whenever he feels like it, Jed. I’m not his slave and I refuse to let him treat me like one.”

“Just promise you’ll talk to him after he cools off.”

And here I’d just eaten all those carbs. “Fine. I’ll talk to him.” Then I added in a firm tone, “But I’m not promising to go back to being
you know what
.”

“He’s capable of being a reasonable man…when his temper’s not flarin’.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll let you know when it’s safe to go back out.” I thought he was about to hang up when he added, “And I’d appreciate it if we kept this conversation between us. If he finds out I warned you…”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“Rose, one more thing. J.R. Simmons.”

The very sound of the man’s name made me shiver. “What about him?”

“Are you in some kind of trouble with him?”

I pushed out a sigh. “More trouble than you could possibly know.” I hung up before he could ask more questions and stared at my truck through the living room picture window. Maeve’s house seemed like the perfect place to sit and wait Skeeter out, but my big vehicle was bound to give me away.

I went back into the kitchen. How was I gonna explain
this?
“I need to move my truck. Do you mind if I park it in the alley?”

Maeve looked confused, but she smiled and nodded. “Go ahead.”

Neely Kate stared at me and mouthed behind Maeve’s back,
Trouble?

I gave her a tight smile and grabbed my coat. “I’ll be right back.” As I hurried out to my truck, I berated myself for coming to Maeve’s and putting her in danger. What if Merv showed up at her door? While I trusted Jed, I knew next to nothing about this other man. Besides, it had to say something that Skeeter was sending out Merv and not Jed…and that something couldn’t be good.

I drove around the block and parked, resting my hands on the steering wheel for a moment. More than anything, I needed a few quiet moments to think things through. My predicament with Skeeter was a huge problem, but there was something else I needed to ponder: my parents’ involvement in the Atchison Manufacturing fire and who Beverly might be. I still couldn’t let my mind wander to J.R. Not yet. I could only deal with one freakout at a time.

I needed to talk to someone who had known my birth mother personally. Perhaps Aunt Bessie could shed some light on the matter. I pulled out my phone and called my aunt’s beauty salon in Lafayette County.

Her receptionist answered and said Aunt Bessie was elbow-deep in a hair color appointment.

“Will she be done soon?” I asked, anxious to get answers.

The woman groaned. “It could take a while. We’ve got ourselves a hair 9-1-1. This poor woman decided to color her own hair at home, and with her pale complexion, she’s currently a dead ringer for that clown in Stephen King’s movie
It
. She’s already frightened enough children that the sheriff has threatened to toss her hiney in jail. In fact, he keeps poppin’ in, checkin’ on Bessie’s progress.”

It definitely sounded like Aunt Bessie had her hands full. “Just have her call me when she’s free.”

As I climbed out of the truck, I noticed a piece of paper tucked under the passenger side windshield wiper. When had that gotten there? At the pool hall or in front of Maeve’s house? Neither option was good. Of course it could have shown up while my truck was parked on the town square—the preferable choice if I had to choose—and maybe Neely Kate and I just hadn’t noticed it. It looked enough like the paper I’d found at the Piggly Wiggly that my stomach knotted as I pulled it loose.

You were warned. All bets are off.

Warned about what? The first note had said to stay out of other people’s business.

Oh, my word. Atchison Manufacturing. But that didn’t make any sense. I hadn’t known a thing about it when I got the first note.

This meant the first note had actually been intended for me, not Mason. And the person who’d put it there had watched me closely enough to know I was in Mason’s car that day.

Realization set in. Dena had told me about Miss Ima Jean and her husband’s suicide when I was picking up Neely Kate’s cupcakes and Mason’s pie. Who else had been in the bakery that day? A man and two women, none of them known to me.

One of them could be responsible. It was a stretch, but it was the only lead I had at the moment. I needed to talk to Dena and find out what she remembered, if anything. I closed my eyes and groaned. How was I going to get there? I was still hiding from Skeeter.

What I needed to do was turn this Dora matter over to the authorities. Clearly there was much more to it than anyone had suspected. I picked up my phone and started to call Mason, then stopped. Joe was with the sheriff’s department and would actually be part of the investigation. How would he take the news of his father’s involvement? At this point it was a bunch of hearsay and a couple of vague notes in Dora’s journal. I needed harder facts before I could expect to be taken seriously. Besides, I couldn’t find it in me to show my ex-boyfriend Dora’s journal entries from late 1985 and early 1986, not when there was even the remotest possibility J.R. had been her mysterious married lover.