“Fallin’ out over what?” Joe asked.
Jed hesitated a moment, then said, “There’s no reason for you to know that part. What happened with Brox?”
“I have no idea,” Joe said. “By the time I got back inside the diner, nearly an hour later, he was long gone.”
“I’ve got a few more things to deal with, then I’ll text you and find out where you’re at,” Jed said. “But I will be takin’ Neely Kate for tonight.”
“You think you’re gettin’ my sister tonight after what just happened?” Joe demanded.
“I guaran-damn-tee you that I’ll take better care of her than you did,” Jed snapped, then hung up.
I started to put my phone back into my purse, but it started vibrating in my hand with a call.
Violet. Crap, I’d completely forgotten about going over to her house.
“Hey, Violet,” I said when I answered, putting her on speaker. “How’re you doin?”
“How am I doin’? How are you? I heard that Kate escaped.”
“I’m with Joe right now, so I’m as safe as I’ll ever be.”
Joe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“So does this Kate nonsense mean you aren’t goin’ up to that fundraiser dinner?” Violet asked.
I sent a questioning glance to my brother.
He grimaced, then said, sounding defensive, “I don’t know yet. We still might go.”
To lure Kate out if we hadn’t caught her yet. I was definitely game. “We probably will,” I said. “I’m not lettin’ Kate Simmons or anyone else keep me from livin’ my life.”
“So you still need my help,” she said.
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was after two o’clock. “Yeah,” I said, “but with everything else goin’ on, I’m not sure I have time to come over and try things on.”
“That’s part of the reason I was callin’. Mikey’s sick and I need to take him to the doctor, but Maeve offered to swing over and pick up a bunch of dresses and drop them off at the landscapin’ office. Say in an hour? I already pulled some dresses that I think will work perfectly. You just have to pick which one to wear.”
“Thank you, Vi,” I said. “This means a lot to me.”
“Glad to help. If you go, try to have fun despite that black cloud Kate is casting. And don’t worry about embarassin’ Joe. You’re charming enough on your own, Neely Kate.”
Joe shot me a surprised look, then asked, “Should you be around Mikey if he’s sick, Vi? Maybe Mike’s parents can pick him up and take him.”
“I’ve missed out on months with my children, Joe Simmons,” was her stern response. “I’m not missin’ out on any more time with them.”
I knew what he was thinking. With her weak immune system…
Apparently so did she.
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “I’m wearin’ a mask and washin’ my hands so much they’re chafed. Don’t worry so much.”
“Take care, Violet,” I said.
“Be safe,” Joe added.
“I’ll be fine. You two have fun tomorrow night. I want to hear all about it next week.”
“Are we really still gonna go?” I asked after I hung up.
“I think you were onto something about the benefit dinner being part of Kate’s plan. I suspect she was capable of breakin’ out all along. If we haven’t found her by tomorrow afternoon, I think we should plan on it.” He turned and gave me a soulful glance. “You okay with that? As Rose pointed out this morning, you’re effectively bait.”
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m good.”
This would either be stupid or brilliant. Probably both.
Chapter 19
We spent the next few hours in the landscaping office. I went back to looking through the phone, while Witt took over scrutinizing Chad Manchester’s computer. Joe started looking up Alonzo Adkins. His previous multiple arrest photos for drug possession and sales and for possession of illegal firearms matched the man who’d tried to snatch me.
“That’s what I need to call the Dallas and Irving Police Departments without drawin’ suspicion on you,” he said. “I’ll be out in my car.”
Witt sat at the client table with Muffy on his lap. He lifted his gaze as Joe walked out the front door. “Why can’t he make that call in here?”
“I don’t know,” I said, watching him get into his sedan, which was parked outside the office. “He’s takin’ an unexpected day off. Maybe he needs to talk about some other sheriff business.”
“Maybe…” He didn’t sound convinced.
A few seconds later, Maeve walked in front of the office windows, carrying several garment bags in her arms. I jumped up from my chair to open the door for her.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said. “I got tied up at the nursery and took a late lunch.”
“Maeve, you should have called. I would’ve met you out at your car.”
“You really shouldn’t be traipsing around out there,” Maeve said. “I heard about your near kidnapping at the Blue Plate Diner.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Who told you?”
“You’re the talk of the town today.” She laid the bags on Rose’s desk. “You and Kate Simmons.”
I suppose the explained all the calls and texts I got earlier.
She glanced up and noticed Witt. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?”
“No,” I said, “not at all. Maeve, this is my cousin, Witt Rivers. Witt, this is Maeve Deveraux.”
Witt had already stood after setting Muffy on the floor. He walked toward us, extending his hand to Maeve, but he hesitated when he heard her last name. “Deveraux?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “My son is Mason Deveraux. He used to be the assistant district attorney.”
“And he’s back in town,” Witt said in a dry tone.
I shot him a warning look.
“Yes,” Maeve said.
It occurred to me that I’d never asked Maeve how she felt about Mason coming back and stirring up trouble, especially after he’d threatened Rose. She loved Rose, but now wasn’t the time. “Witt’s hanging out to make sure I’m safe.”
Her mouth parted, but she quickly recovered. “Joe hasn’t assigned any deputies to watch over you?”
“Joe’s watching over me too.” I gestured out the window to his car.
“Oh, I guess I missed him.”
I walked over to the garment bags and unzipped the top one, amazed to find it stuffed full. “There must be five dresses in this bag.” The top one was a deep ruby-red formal dress, and there were two more bags underneath. How many dresses did Violet own?
“She sent a bunch of shoes too. They’re still in my car.”
“Witt,” I said, “why don’t you go help Maeve carry them in?”
He looked torn, but finally nodded and headed out the door, with Maeve following behind him. I stood behind the closed door and watched them, starting to feel a little stir-crazy.
Joe was still on the phone, watching me through the windshield of his car. He gave me a wave. Then a frown tugged at his lips as he glanced down at his lap and started talking in what appeared to be an intense conversation.
Movement in the street caught my eye, and I spotted Dena making a beeline across the street, heading directly for me. Great. I really didn’t have the time or patience for her nonsense right now.
She was momentarily distracted when she caught sight of Joe in his running sedan talking on his cell, but she seemed to think better of interrupting him and headed straight for me.
I pushed the door open and met her on the sidewalk. “Hey, Dena.”
“Oh my word, Neely Kate. I heard about what happened today. Are you okay?” She sounded genuinely concerned.
I offered Dena a smile. “Yeah. Thank goodness for Joe and my cousin Witt. And Muffy. She’s the true hero.”
I caught Joe’s terrified gaze on us, but he was still trapped in his animated phone call.
Dena didn’t seem to notice. “Y
ou must be scared spitless with Kate on the loose. Was she behind the attempted kidnappin’?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea who was behind it. But Joe’s making a call about the whole thing right now.”
She glanced back at her boyfriend, then turned to me with worry in her eyes. “Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need a place to stay?”
I tried to hide my surprise. “Joe’s watching over me today, and I’ll stay with my boyfriend tonight.”
I expected her to make a comment about my imaginary boyfriend, but instead she asked, with barely concealed eagerness, “So Joe’s free tonight?”
Figured. I gave her a saccharine smile. “You’ll have to talk to him about that.”
She gave me a stern look. “Surely y’all aren’t goin’ to that benefit tomorrow night.”
“We haven’t decided yet.”
She cast a disgruntled look toward Joe. “What is that man thinkin’, puttin’ you at unnecessary risk? He needs to get his priorities straight. He should stick around here and find that crazy sister of his.”
Once again, she caught me by surprise with her concern. I would have expected her to insist Joe take her instead.
“I’m not a total bitch,” Dena said, then grinned at my shock. “I know what you think, and I concede that I’ve had some jealous moments I’m not so proud of, but I’m not that awful of a person, Neely Kate. You used to like me before Joe and I started datin’.”
“You’re right,” I said, “but I saw Joe’s dysfunctional relationship with Hilary up close and personal, and parts of what I’m seeing are too close for comfort. He’s come a long way since February, and I’d hate for him to fall back into those patterns.”
“I’m not a manipulative bitch who will try to kidnap and kill his ex-girlfriend.” She gave me a wry look. “Yeah, I know about Hilary.” She took a breath. “I’m not anything like her. I promise. I just know what a great guy he is, and I guess I was a little overzealous at tryin’ to keep him. Joe Simmons is like a dream come true.”
A little overzealous? I would have picked another term to describe it, but she seemed sincere. “For one thing, you can’t keep him. Joe has to be with you of his own free will, and he seems to want to be. Just relax and trust him, otherwise all of your crazy shenanigans are only gonna drive him away.”
She looked embarrassed. “I can see some truth in what you’re sayin’.”
“And I can see that I’ve made things a little difficult.”
A soft smile lit up her face. “I think we might be makin’ progress.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe we are.”
Witt rounded the corner with Maeve, carrying a tall stack of shoeboxes that he struggled to see around. I hurried over and took the top three boxes. “How many shoes does Violet think I need?”
“What are you doin’ out here, Neely Kate?” he asked in an irritated tone.
“Joe’s watchin’ me through his windshield.”
“He was watchin’ you while you were in the damn restaurant,” he grumbled. “And look how that turned out.”
I shot him a glare.
Dena opened the door to the office, and we dumped the boxes on the floor next to my desk. Muffy had crawled under Rose’s desk and was curled up in her dog bed.
“I need to get back to the nursery,” Maeve said. “I’d love to take Muffy with me if you need someone to watch her.”
Something in my heart twisted. I felt an even bigger connection to her since she’d proven she would risk her own life to protect me. But that only proved I couldn’t put her in that position again. I needed to keep her safe.
I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. “Yeah. Take her.”
Maeve pulled me into a hug. “I’ll take good care of her. I promise.”
“I know you will.” I wasn’t sure there was anyone I trusted more.
We helped Maeve collect Muffy, and Joe walked in the front door just as she was going out.
“Is everything okay in here?” he asked in a worried tone. His gaze landed on me and Dena.
“Everything’s great,” Dena said.
“I was just dropping off Violet’s dresses and shoes,” Maeve said, patting Joe’s arm. “And now I’m taking Muffy so y’all don’t have to worry about her.”
“Thanks, Maeve. Let me walk you to your car.” He pushed the door open and headed back out, strolling past the office windows with her, already deep in conversation.
“Are y’all plannin’ on stayin’ here very long?” Dena asked. “I can bring you dinner.”
Witt patted his stomach. “I could eat.”
I almost countered that he could always eat, but he hadn’t eaten any lunch, and that was on account of me. “That would be really nice of you, Dena. Thank you.”
She gave me a warm look, and I started to wonder if we’d just had a huge misunderstanding. “Y’all don’t worry about a thing. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Thanks, Dena.”
She went outside and spent a few moments talking to Joe as he was coming back in. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help noticing how relaxed Joe seemed with her and how she beamed up at him. My gut told me that Dena wasn’t good for Joe, but his gut told him that Jed was wrong for me. Were we both wrong? Were we both right?
He gave her a long kiss goodbye, then came back inside. Without saying a word, he rolled Rose’s chair over to my desk and sat down. “The Dallas detective I spoke to was aware of Alonzo Adkins. He’s a low-level flunky with the Hardshaw Group.”
Neither Witt nor I said anything for several seconds before Witt asked, “So you’re telling me the fucking Hardshaw Group is after my cousin?”
Joe didn’t say anything.
My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly ached for Jed. I’d relied on him the last month, and even though he was helping me another way, I selfishly wished he was here. The independent me was frightened by the needy part. I’d fought hard to become this person and leave the woman I’d been in Ardmore behind, but I also realized that Jed had been in the thick of this, and I valued his opinion. He needed to hear this too. “I’m calling Jed.”
Joe didn’t protest, so I placed the call.
“You okay, NK?” Jed asked as soon as he answered.
“I’ve been better.”
“I wish I was there with you. You have no idea how hard it’s been not to drop everything and come see you for myself, but I’ve set up a meeting with Gerard Collard. My gut says he knows something.”
“I’m okay,” I said. “And you’re on speaker… with Witt and Joe.”
His voice took on a defensive tone. “I don’t give a shit if they heard either of those things.”
We’d hidden our relationship from practically everyone, so I felt a sense of relief that he was so willing to acknowledge his feelings for me in front of Joe, but now was not the time to dwell on it. “Joe talked to a Dallas detective, and he knows of the guy who tried to kidnap me.”
Joe leaned forward. “He’s a low-level thug for Hardshaw.”
“And he specifically wanted Neely Kate?” Jed asked.
“He was told to snatch her and find out where the money is,” Witt said. “He claims they didn’t care how he got the information.”
Anger washed over Joe’s face. “Neither one of you put that in your statements.”
“Let’s get something straight right now,” Witt snapped. “Neely Kate comes first. Before you and your chief deputy position, before Jed and his bullshit with Skeeter Malcolm, and definitely before me. I’ll lie through my goddamned teeth if that’s what it takes to protect her.” Witt turned to me. “I don’t know what you did in Ardmore, NK, but I wish to God you’d come clean so I can really help you.”
“I’ll tell you everything when we get off this call, but what you need to know right now is that I killed a man in Ardmore, who turned out to come from a family with oil money. Pearce Manchester. He’d paid my supposed boyfriend money for a night that included beating, torturing, and rap
ing me. Only, after the first hour, I killed him. Then I buried his body and his bag, which I didn’t realize at the time contained a lot of money. When morning hit, I caught the first bus home.”
Witt gave me a long hard stare. “You’re leavin’ some important details out, like why you didn’t call the police.”
“And I’ll tell you later, but right now we need to figure out how important I am to Hardshaw.”
“Yeah,” Joe said, sitting up. “She’s right.”
“So let’s look at what we know,” I said. “Chad Manchester suspected his brother had some ties to Ardmore. Neil Franken somehow knew about Ardmore. Neil Franken had ties to Hardshaw, which was why he was meeting Adkins. Franken knew enough about me to come to Fenton County and follow me around and take photos. He planned to meet Alonzo Adkins at noon and what? Give him the information he found? That seems likely to me. But Adkins had to know something since he recognized me.”
“Maybe they were coordinatin’ your kidnapping,” Joe said. “Franken was trying to determine the best time to do it.”
“I was alone last night,” I said. “He could have done it then.”
“Unless Franken wasn’t part of Hardshaw,” Jed said. “What if he was freelancin’? What if he caught wind of Chad’s investigation, piggybacked or stole what Chad knew, then came here to get more info to sell to Hardshaw? Joe, did they find any cash in his car?”
“Five grand and change.”
“There you go,” Witt said. “But what’s the money to Hardshaw? Manchester’s dead. I don’t understand why they’re so determined to get it back.”
“And why would they pay five thousand dollars to get ten grand back?” I asked.
“Maybe there’s something in the money,” Joe said.
Jed ground out a few curse words.
“Where’s the money now?” Joe asked, turning his gaze on me. “Is it in the safe-deposit box with the tape?”
“What tape?” Witt asked.
I swallowed. “The tape that shows me killin’ Pearce Manchester.”
In High Cotton: Neely Kate Mystery #2 Page 19