Thirty-Six and a Half Motives: Rose Gardner Mystery #9 (Rose Gardner Mystery Series)

by Denise Grover Swank

  “No. There’s something else. Something I need to remember.”

  She gently pushed me back to the bed. “You need to lie still. You have broken ribs and a concussion. You need to rest.”

  “Violet!” I cried out, sitting up again and gasping from multiple sources of agony. “She was leaving today! Is it today?”

  A soft smile spread across her face. “Yes, it’s the morning that Violet is leaving, but she hasn’t left yet. She’s with your Aunt Bessie on her farm in Lafayette County. Joe said he suspected something big was happening last night, so he moved Violet and the kids to your aunt’s farm.” She pushed me back again. “Now lie down.”

  The nurse came in to check my vital signs and my IV, then she unhooked my heart monitor now that I was awake.

  When she opened the door to leave, Jed walked in. There was a scowl on his face, but it vanished as soon as he saw me sitting up in bed. “She’s awake.”

  “And stubborn and uncooperative,” Neely Kate said, pushing me back again.

  “So she’s completely back to her old self?” he teased.

  “Very funny,” I grumbled.

  He moved to the other side of my bed, looking me over. “You scared the shit out of us, Rose.”

  “She doesn’t remember everything,” Neely Kate said softly, looking into his face. “She’s forgotten what happened at the end.”

  They looked at each other for a quick moment, but that glance conveyed some secret message.

  “What’s goin’ on?” I asked, getting suspicious.

  “Rose, you need to get your rest.”

  “I’ve been resting. What time is?” I looked around for a clock, gasping when I saw the time. “Ten in the morning? Apparently I’ve gotten a lot of rest.” Still, I couldn’t ignore the fact that they were hiding something from me. “Where’s James?”

  “Why do you call him that?” Neely Kate asked in a blatant attempt to change the subject.

  “Because it’s his name. Now where is he?”

  Jed shifted his weight. “No one’s been allowed to call him that since we were kids. With the exception of J.R. Simmons.”

  “Yeah, and I know why, which is exactly the reason I use his given name.” I grabbed a handful of Jed’s shirt and pulled him closer. “Now where is he?”

  Jed gently unfurled my fingers, then fanned his hand in front of his face. “You know I’m fond of you, Rose, but that has got to be the rankest breath I have ever smelled.”

  “Where is he?” I asked again, my anxiety rising.

  “Rose, calm down,” Neely Kate said softly. “He’s giving his statement to the state police. Backing up Joe’s story.”

  “What story?”

  They exchanged looks again.

  “Where’s Joe?”

  “He’s dealin’ with his crazy-ass sister,” Neely Kate grinned. “Kate’s just gonna make him appreciate me all the more.”

  I closed my eyes, trying to remember what happened the night before. “Kate . . . she shot two men.”

  “Yes.” Her voice was so quiet I could barely hear her.

  What were they keeping from me? Now I really needed to remember. Another image hit me.

  “Hilary.” My eyes flew open in a panic as I searched Neely Kate’s face. “She’s dead.”

  She nodded.

  “Joe? Is he okay?”

  Neely Kate paused. “He’s a mess, but he’s holding it together. At least for now.”

  I could only imagine the pain he was going through. Tears filled my eyes.

  “What about James?” I asked. She’d said he was giving his statement to the state police. That was two encounters with the law in the past two weeks. With his record, that couldn’t look good.

  “Skeeter’s fine. He’s not in trouble. He’s merely giving his statement.”

  I searched my exhausted and slow-to-react brain, trying to remember who else had been there the night before. “J.R.? What happened to him?”

  They both tensed.

  “He was shot,” Jed said. “By Joe.”

  “Is he in the hospital?”

  “No,” Neely Kate said. “He’s in the morgue.”

  Maybe it was wrong to feel this relieved by someone’s death, but J.R. Simmons had been an evil man through and through. I doubted anyone would mourn him.

  “Hey,” I said, suddenly remembering Kate’s retelling of J.R.’s involvement in Fenton County. “How did Kate know all those things about the past?”

  “She found my mother,” Neely Kate said. “And she threatened to hurt me if my mother didn’t confess everything.”

  “So she did?”

  “Yeah.”

  I knew my best friend had to have mixed emotions about that. Her mother had abandoned her when she was twelve, and she hadn’t seen her since. She’d never come out and said the actual words, but I knew Neely Kate questioned if Jenny Lynn loved her. This was pretty compelling evidence.

  “Momma told Kate that she’d left the gun with Granny.”

  I let that soak in for a moment. “Who were Sam Teagen and his friend really working for?”

  “Don’t you want to rest?”

  “No. I want you to answer the question.”

  “Kate says that Hilary was the one spying on you and Mason,” Neely Kate said. “She found that stack of paperwork when she dropped in on Hilary one day to annoy her. So she snuck in a few days later and stole it all. After you told Joe about it, Kate moved it up to the shed. Teagen saw her do it, so he got a locksmith friend to make him a key. Marshal was arrested outside the warehouse, and he’s confirmed Kate’s story. He said they’d sneak into her apartment and the shed every few days to see if she’d found something new. That’s how they discovered Anna. Kate had searched her out, looking for answers.”

  “Oh!” I gasped. “Bruce Wayne and Anna!”

  “Were tied up in Hilary’s house. They were about to warn Joe, so she had Teagen stop them.”

  “They’re okay?”

  She nodded. “They’re fine. I promise.”

  “Why was Anna here?”

  “Anna had no idea why her grandmother left, but Kate’s visit made her realize there was more to it than she knew. So she moved to Henryetta, hoping to get answers. She knew Joe was part owner of the nursery, so she asked for a job with the goal of getting close to him and discovering the truth.”

  “So why did she hate me?”

  “She didn’t hate you. She was scared to death of you. She knew you had visions, and she was worried you’d figure out what she was doing here.”

  I wasn’t sure I bought that, but I didn’t feel up to arguing the point.

  “Was Kate pregnant? Did her baby really die?”

  “Yeah, and even though J.R. said he had nothing to do with the accident, Joe says it’s pretty fishy.”

  “So what happens to her now?”

  “She obviously has mental health issues, so they’ve put her in the psych ward for an evaluation.”

  “I’m still forgetting something . . .” I squeezed my eyes tight. “What am I forgetting?” And then it all rushed back and my chest tightened, sending a shooting pain through my side. “Mason . . . is he. . . ?”

  Neely Kate grabbed my hand and squeezed so tight I worried she’d crush my bones. “No. He’s alive, but he’s hurt bad.”

  I sucked in a breath and nodded slightly. I needed to keep control until I knew all the facts.

  “J.R. shot him in the liver. Up close with a powerful gun. It did a lot of damage. Mason was in the ICU after surgery, but he started bleeding again, so they took him back. The doctors were telling Maeve to prepare herself for the worst.”

  “Maeve!” I gasped, sitting up again. “She’s all alone!”

  “No, Rose. She has so many people who love her. You wouldn’t believe how many of them are with her now.”

  I lay back on the pillow, tears streaking down my face. “It’s my fault.”

  “You really are a narcissist,” Carter Hale said from the doo
rway. “Takin’ ownership of the terrors created by a maniac.”

  Carter turned to Jed. “Skeeter’s done with his questioning, and the state police sent him home with the warning that they are watchin’ him extra closely now. Do your best to keep him on the straight and narrow.” He paused and a cocky grin lit up his face. “Or at least cover your tracks really well.”

  Jed nodded, but he cracked a grin, too.

  Carter turned to Neely Kate. “As for your wayward husband, there’s still no sign of him. They caught Al Moberly, the guy he worked with at the garage, and he swears he has no idea where Ronnie is. The rumor mill says he left town, but there’s no word as to where. I’ve got another guy workin’ on it. Hopefully he’ll have better results than the first one.” He winked at me.

  Neely Kate didn’t seem to notice. “Thanks.”

  “As for you, Ms. Gardner. You are free and clear, with no threats hangin’ over your head . . . for now. But you know how to reach me should the need arise. Which I am positive it will.”

  “I’ll program your cell number into my phone.”

  He grinned. “No need. Just use my bat signal.”

  Neely Kate rolled her eyes and pushed him out the door, but she didn’t come back in right away.

  “How long has Mason been in surgery?” I asked Jed.

  He looked into my eyes. “Several hours. It doesn’t look good.”

  I told myself not to cry. No use borrowing trouble until it came calling, but my eyes refused to listen.

  Neely Kate came back moments later and fussed over me, calling the nurse to change my IV bag so I didn’t get dehydrated.

  Jed stayed with us, but it took Neely Kate some convincing to get him to sit inside my room instead of standing guard outside the door. At least he could watch the Price Is Right instead of staring at the wall. Then they got into a semi-argument over the price of a can of pork and beans.

  And I still waited for word on Mason.

  A half hour later, Neely Kate and Jed were on their second episode, bickering over the price of a ski boat in the showcase.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m going to check on Maeve.”

  “You can’t,” Neely Kate protested.

  “Watch me.” I slid my feet over the side of the bed and nearly fell when my legs turned to rubber and the room swam. I fought a round of nausea.

  Neely Kate tried to push me back into bed, but when she realized I was so intent on doing this that I’d crawl if need be, she insisted that I at least ride in a wheelchair. I refused. I didn’t want Maeve to see me acting like an invalid because of a bunch of scrapes and bruises. Not while her only living child was in surgery.

  Neely Kate grabbed another hospital gown to use as a robe so my booty wasn’t flashing the world, and the three of us slowly hobbled down the hall and up one floor by the elevator to the surgery waiting room. Everything was spinning and I felt close to throwing up, so I clutched my IV pole for dear life. Neely Kate held onto my left arm, and Jed gripped my right elbow. He took most of my weight, keeping me upright and on course until we reached the entrance to the waiting room.

  I stopped and gasped.

  The room was overflowing. Jonah and Jessica, Bruce Wayne and Anna, Miss Mildred, and at least twenty other people sat around Maeve like she was their queen.

  “You’re almost there,” Neely Kate said, giving me a little push. “I’m sure someone will give up their seat for you.”

  “I can’t,” I whispered, realizing what a bad idea this was. “I can’t face her. What if she hates me? I don’t think I can stand it.”

  “Why would she hate you?” Neely Kate asked in disbelief.

  “Because I did this to her son.” Despite what Carter had said to me, I knew it was true. Someone else might have pulled the trigger, but Mason would never have been there if not for me.

  “No. J.R. did this to her son,” Neely Kate insisted.

  Deep in my heart, I knew Maeve would never blame me. It was my own guilt holding me back.

  I was about to turn around and leave, but Maeve glanced up and noticed me. She slowly got to her feet, and the people around her parted, making a path. I remained frozen in place, scared to death of how she’d react.

  When she stopped in front of me, she gently cupped my neck.

  “Thank God you’re okay,” she said.

  “Mason . . .” My voice broke off into tears.

  “He’s still in surgery. We’re waiting.”

  I nodded, which sent a new wave of pain through my head and a tsunami of nausea through my gut.

  “No offense, my dear, but you look terrible,” she said. Though her eyes were shiny with tears, she was grinning.

  Most of the people in the waiting room were openly gawking at me, and it occurred to me that my face was undoubtedly a mess. Neely Kate had moved in front of any reflective surfaces during our ten-minute trek, so I had no idea what I looked like.

  “Come sit down,” Maeve said, taking my hand.

  “I can’t,” I said. “It’s not right. It’s my fault he’s in there.”

  “No.” Her eyes turned stormy. “He’s in there because a very bad man shot him.” She took a breath. “That lovely Mr. Malcolm came to see me. He told me how Mason attacked J.R. Simmons to save you. Joe told me that Mr. Malcolm was the man who carried Mason out of the building before it collapsed.” She looked deep into my eyes. “You are not to blame.”

  Skeeter had saved Mason without being coerced. He really had changed.

  I looked at Maeve and considered forcing a vision to see if Mason would survive, but I was too chicken to see the future. If I saw his death, I’d have no idea how to change it. Maybe Jed was right. Maybe sometimes you just needed to accept fate.

  A murmur swept through the group as a man in surgical scrubs appeared at the opposite end of the room.

  My heart stuttered with fear. I gave Maeve a tiny push. “Go. It will take me forever to get over there. I’ll catch up.”

  The older woman looked torn, but she crossed the room toward the doctor. Jonah met her halfway. The doctor talked to her for a few seconds before Maeve’s legs buckled. Jonah and the doctor led her to a chair someone had vacated.

  I felt lightheaded, but I stayed on my feet. I had to know.

  I had to hear the words.

  But then Jonah stood and looked around the room. “He’s okay. He’s going to be okay.”

  That was all I needed to hear.

  Everything went black and the next thing I knew, I was back in my bed, Neely Kate hovering over me like a momma duck.

  “I’m fine, Neely Kate.”

  “You just passed out for fifteen minutes. You are not fine.” Fear filled her eyes.

  I grabbed her hand and stroked her knuckles and stared into her face. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  “Who said you were?”

  “You’re stuck with me for a good fifty years.”

  “Fifty?” she scoffed. “I was thinking more like seventy years. We’ll be past ninety, wearing those purple dresses and red hats.” Then she scrunched up her nose. “Although I look terrible in purple. It makes me look washed out.”

  I grinned. “Then we’ll start our own red hat club. We can wear pink dresses. You look great in pink.”

  “I do,” she said. “It makes my skin glow.”

  My smile fell. Seeing Maeve’s terrified face had taken a lot out of me. “I want to see Mason.”

  Neely Kate turned serious. “He’s still in ICU, but Maeve said they expect him to be moved to a regular room tomorrow.” She paused. “You’ll still be here. After your faintin’ episode, they want to keep you another night for observation.”

  Violet came to see me in the early afternoon, holding an envelope. Neely Kate stood to leave, declaring she was going to grab some lunch.

  I’d been dozing, but I forced myself awake, a task more difficult than it should have been. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you this morning.”

  Violet laughed desp
ite the tears in her eyes. “You have an excuse this time. Besides, I wasn’t even home. I just got back into town.”

  “What’s in the envelope?”

  “Your test results.”

  I sucked in a breath. “Am I a match?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t open it. Technically, they’re your results. You’re supposed to be the one to open them.”

  I took the envelope, looking at the seal. “You didn’t peek.”

  “No.”

  I grinned. “Wonders never cease.” The old Violet wouldn’t have hesitated to check it out.

  “I was too scared.”

  I chuckled, then winced as pain shot through my head. So maybe she hadn’t completely changed, and I was okay with that.

  “Will your face scar?” Violet asked.

  I gingerly touched a swollen cheek. “Neely Kate says they took X-rays while I was out and nothing’s broken. It’s just swelling. They told her it will go down.”

  She grabbed my hand, looking serious. “I just want you to know that no matter what the results say, you’re still my sister. And I will love you even if you look like Quasimodo. I might even allow myself to be seen in public with you every once in a while.” Then she cracked a grin. “But only at Walmart. Or the Chuck and Cluck. And only after dark.”

  I burst out laughing, then instantly regretted it. I closed my eyes and waited for the room to stop spinning. “Why, Violet Beauregard, you just made a joke.”

  “A bad one, but I’m trying.”

  I cracked my eyes open.

  “Life’s too short to waste it,” she said. “I know you learned that lesson last June.” She grinned. “But we both know I’m slow to catch on.”

  I handed the envelope back to her. “Open it. I can’t read anything with my double vision. You read it and tell me what it says.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.”

  I tried to watch her, but I was getting nauseated from the effort of keeping an eye on the both of her. I closed my eyes for a moment to let them rest, then forced them open when I heard her gasp.

  “What?” I asked, watching her through cracked eyelids. “What does it say?”

  Tears streamed down her face. “We’re sisters.”