Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (37 page)

“How?”

The corners of her mouth tipped up and she said softly, “Harrison.”

An unexpected surge of anger raced through my veins and tears pricked my eyes. “So you know how horribly my mother treated me?” When she didn’t answer, a tear slid down my cheek. “Did you?”

Her eyes hardened. “Agnes Gardner was
not
your mother.”

I began to shake. “Agnes Gardner was the only mother I ever knew. Dora Middleton may have wanted my life to be full of love and happiness, but that couldn’t have been further from what happened.” My temper flared again. “How many people watched me live through that hell and
just stood by to watch it happen?
”

Contrition filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. We wanted to protect you. I did what I thought was best.”

“And that’s supposed to make everything I went through
better?
”

People were openly staring at us. I was already enough of a spectacle in this town, so I didn’t need any more fuel to add to the fire. “Why are we doin’ this here?” I asked. Then I realized my previous assumption about her motives were wrong. She’d already admitted that she knew all about me. She knew I was harmless. By meeting someplace so public, she’d hoped to avoid a scene.

I turned around and stomped off to my truck, aggravated with myself for leaving, but not trusting myself to stay either. I wasn’t sure I could go through with this.

Hattie slammed her car door shut and hurried after me. “Rose, please don’t go.
Please.
I have so much to tell you. Information you need to know.” When I kept walking, she said, “Your life may depend on it.”

Now she had my attention, but then again, that had been her intent. I fought back my tears and spun around to face her, squaring my shoulders. “What are you talkin’ about?”

She moved closer. “Did you find Dora’s journals?”

“Yes… Why?”

“
Both
of them?”

I didn’t answer, suddenly unsure that I should trust her.

Her eyes looked wild and a little desperate. In my ever-growing experience, that was never a good thing.

“Oh, God.
You did
. You found it.” Tears filled her eyes. “Of course you did. She was your momma. It makes sense you’d have a special bond.”

I had no bond to Dora Middleton other than the inheritance she’d left me, which was starting to feel like a double-edged sword.

Hattie sucked in a breath, as though trying to regain her composure. “Did you read them? I’m sure you did. Harrison never told you anything about Dora. You would want to know about your momma.”

I still didn’t answer.

“There’s more to those books than meets the eye.” She paused and looked into my eyes. “Go get the coded one and bring it to Atchison Manufacturing.”

As she made the suggestion, it suddenly hit me how odd it was that I hadn’t thought to go there since this had all begun. But then again, what could I hope to find there now? It was nothing but a burned-up shell of a building. Any clues to the truth would be long gone. Still, I found myself saying, “All right.”

She smiled, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“I’ll meet you there.” She didn’t know I had them with me and I was still too angry to let her into my truck. I didn’t trust her enough to climb into her car.

She hesitated. “You know how to get there?” She looked nervous.

“Yeah.” That was a weird question. Everyone in town knew how to get there. My trust in her dropped even more. Something about this situation didn’t add up.

“I don’t want anyone to see us together. Give me a five-minute head start.” She took off for her car and part of me screamed to run to Mason and tell him everything. I decided to listen this time.

Hattie took off and I grabbed my phone, not wanting to waste any time before calling Mason. But his cell phone went straight to voice mail and when I called his office, his secretary answered.

“He got called into an arraignment. Then he said he had a meeting afterward.”

Oh, Lordy. Had they arrested Skeeter? “Do you know what it was for?”

“A robbery case,” she murmured. “You don’t usually ask about those things.”

“I’m just trying to be a good girlfriend and find out more about Mason’s work. Thanks, Kaylee.” I hung up before I could make myself sound even more suspicious.

I called Joe next, no hesitation, but he answered sounding breathless. “Are you in trouble?”

“No.” I wasn’t. Not technically.

“Can I call you back in about an hour? I’m up to my elbows in shit at the moment.” He sounded really pissed.

“Sure. Don’t worry.”

My stomach rumbled as I stared at the run-down restaurant. I was starving and I had no idea what to do, so I decided to stall and get some lunch. While I stood in line waiting to order, I ran through the whole sorry situation in my head. Something Hattie had said niggled at me. Why did Hattie and Daddy think keepin’ my parentage a secret was
protecting
me? Protecting me from what?

Oh crap.

I left the lunch line and called Jed as I ran to my truck.

“Rose?” He sounded surprised to hear from me.

“Skeeter told me that if I ever found myself in a dangerous predicament, I should give you a call.”

“Are you?” His voice was tight.

“Not yet, but something doesn’t seem right. I’d feel better knowing that you were close by.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m headed to the old Atchison Manufacturing building.”

“Why?”

“I’m meeting someone who knows secrets about my past. I had intended to tell Mason and Joe, but both of them are busy. Anyway, after I got to thinkin’ about it, I realized this seems more like a job for you. I don’t think the woman I’m meeting would tell Mason or Joe anything, and then I might never learn what I need to know.”

“You think she’ll tell me?”

“No, I think she’ll tell
me,
especially if she doesn’t know you’re there.”

I expected him to put up an argument. “You said you’re headed there now?”

“Yeah.”

“The Sinclair station is on the way. Meet me there and I’ll get into the backseat of your truck. Otherwise she might see me drive up.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” I said in surprise.

He chuckled. “I’ve done this a time or two.”

I hung up and dug a granola bar out of my purse, left over from when Neely Kate had been pregnant and hungry all the time in between waves of nausea. It was the first time a granola bar had ever made me feel guilty. I considered calling her to update her on the situation, but she’d only worry and maybe try to come. I wasn’t sure Hattie posed a real danger, but I wasn’t willing to take the risk.

When the Sinclair station appeared, I slowed down and was about to turn in when I saw a sheriff car pull out. My stomach dropped to my feet when I recognized Joe. Thankfully, he seemed intent on getting out of there and kept going, but I wasn’t so lucky with the next car that pulled out from behind the station.

Mason recognized me straight away and his mouth parted in surprise. He motioned me over and we both parked in front of the building. My heart seemed to be beating out of my chest as I tried to figure out what to tell him.

He got out of his car and walked over, looking more guilty than accusatory. What had he and Joe been up to?

I rolled down my window. “Hey, Mason. What are you doin’ all the way out here?”

He cast a glance toward the direction Joe had gone before returning his gaze to me. “You know I love you, right?” The fear in his eyes scared me.

I pushed open the truck door and slid out, standing in front of him. “Mason, what’s goin’ on?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure. But we really need to get out of town this weekend. You can still get away, right?”

“But this morning you said you couldn’t leave.” Fear stole my breath. What was going on? “What happened to change your mind? Is this about someone trying to kill you?”

He paused as though thinking over what he wanted to say. “Joe thinks something big is looming. It might happen as soon as next week.”

My anger rose. “Then why doesn’t he have someone protecting you?”

He offered me a sad smile. “He’s doin’ the best he can, Rose. If he ruffles too many feathers, his job might be at risk too.”

I felt lightheaded. Mason was a sitting duck.

He grabbed my upper arms and leaned down into my face. “I’m gonna make sure you’re protected.”

I shook my head. “I’m more worried about
you
, Mason.”

He pulled me close and gave me a slow, gentle kiss. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. I promise.” He opened the side of his coat to show me a gun holster strapped to his chest.

My eyes widened and rose to his. “Does Joe—”

“Know?” he finished. “He’s the one who suggested it.”

“Mason, I’m
beggin’
you to tell me what’s goin’ on.” I knew I sounded whiny, but I didn’t care. I was scared for him.

He cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry. You have every right to know what’s going on. Tonight I’ll tell you every last bit of it. I promise.”

“Everything?” I wanted to tell him everything too. I considered telling him about the second journal now, but it could wait. It wasn’t like we could read it. Besides, it was a twenty-five-year-old mystery. Not much would have changed by nighttime.

“I swear it. Even something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about for a few weeks now. I wanted more information before I told you more about it.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking down in frustration before searching my face. “Dora might have been doing something illegal. But I wanted more proof before I told you about it. You’ve had enough shitty people in your life, Rose. You deserve someone good.”

A lump filled my throat. “I have
you,
Mason.
You’re
my someone good.”

He kissed me with an intensity that caught me by surprise, pushing me against the side of the truck. My hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. His desperation scared me, and worry slithered in my heart.

Suddenly it was all too much. The Lady in Black. Maeve telling me that Mason and someone else was in danger and I was supposed to save them. Hattie waiting for me at the Atchison factory with information that would probably change my life. It was all so overwhelming. All I wanted was to be with Mason without this constant fear looming over us.

I cupped his cheeks and lifted his head to search his eyes. “Mason, let’s just go now. Let’s run away from it all.”

Resignation and regret filled his eyes. “As much as I’d love to climb into this truck with you, pick up Muffy and never look back, I can’t. I have to at least finish out today, then I can let the chips fall where they may.”

“What happens today?”

“I have a meeting at six.”

My breath caught in my throat. “What’s gonna happen at this meeting?”

“Rose, you have to promise me that you won’t tell a soul. Not even Neely Kate.”

“I promise.”

“Joe and I are presenting evidence to get the DA indicted for taking bribes and misuse of power.” Hope lit up his face. “I’ve convinced someone from the state capital to come and let us present our case.”

Mason had been digging into J.R. while he was in Little Rock, but I had to wonder if he’d been instigating this too. “Then what?” I asked.

“Hopefully, he’ll get removed from office and I’ll be free to protect you from J.R. Simmons. It seems the best path at the moment—clear out the man who’s most likely to overrule me when I dismiss J.R.’s trumped-up evidence.”

I shook my head. “Do you think it’s gonna work?”

“It’s only a short-term fix, but it’s a good stop-gap until we can reach a more permanent solution.”

“The trouble brewing next week…”

His eyes hardened. “I’ll take care of it. One way or the other.”

“Mason, don’t do anything to get yourself into trouble.”

He winked, but his eyes didn’t hold their usual sparkle of playfulness. “The only trouble I want to get into is with you this weekend at my uncle’s cabin.”

I forced a saucy grin. “Then I better pack that little black thing.”

His hand slid from my waist to my hip and around to my butt, pulling me flush against him. “I
love
your little black thing.”

I pressed my mouth to his. “You’ve never seen this little black thing.”

He grinned against my lips. “Even better.”

I kissed him again, my fear mingling with the love I had for this man. He was far from perfect, but he gave me more love and acceptance than anyone else ever had. I knew I wasn’t an easy person to live with, but he took everything in stride and accepted the chaos that followed me like hail in a summer storm. I couldn’t lose him. “I love you, Mason.”

He wiped a tear that trailed down my cheek. “I love you too. Now I better get going.” He turned to the road. “What are you doing out here?”

I looked around, surprised but thankful Jed hadn’t shown up yet. “I’m going on a consultation.”

“
Here?
”

I scrunched my nose. “Not here. I only pulled in when I saw your car.”

“I thought you were staying in town today.”

“This was a last-minute thing that was too good to pass up.”

He studied me for several long seconds. “Do you have the Taser Joe gave you?”

“In my purse.”

“Get it out.”

“Okay…” I opened the door and grabbed the weapon out of my bag.

“Did he show you how to use it?”

“Yeah.”

“Keep it in your coat pocket. You don’t want to have to dig it out of your purse when you need it.”

“I hope I don’t have to use it at all.”

“Well, so do I,” he said, taking it from my hand. “But I’ll feel better if you’re prepared.” He leaned close and showed it to me. “Put the part that shoots the barbs pointed toward your pocket. Then all you have to do is pull it out to use it.” He handed it to me. “Put it in your right pocket and practice pulling it out like that.”

“Mason, this is silly.”

“I don’t care. Do it anyway.”

I put it in my pocket and pulled it out.

“That wasn’t fast enough.”

“Mason,” I groaned.

“Rose, trust me. If you’re ever in a predicament where you need it, you’ll be glad you practiced.”