Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans

by Denise Grover Swank

  I kept my eyes forward. “You knew what to say to get me here. What do you know?”

  “Not as much as I’d like, but enough to know your boyfriend’s in deep shit.”

  “You said you knew who did it,” I huffed.

  “No . . . I said meet me here if you wanted to know who did it.”

  “I’m sick and tired of the games, Skeeter Malcolm.” I started to get up, but he reached over and placed a hand on my shoulder, pushing me back down.

  “Do you want to find the guy or not?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Then sit down and listen.”

  I pushed my back into the seat, crossing my arms. “Go on.”

  “Someone wants to kill the ADA and pin it on me. That’s why they planted my knife in his office.”

  “Don’t say that so callously.” I looked over my shoulder to glare at him. “You’re talking about my boyfriend!”

  His eyes hardened. “I’m only stating the facts, Lady. I want to find who’s behind this and stop them.”

  I turned back to look at the stained glass window. “So what do you want from me?”

  “There’s a meeting tonight. I want you to come as the Lady in Black.”

  “What?”

  “Your presence will do two things. One, it’s a display of power on my part. No one knows your real purpose in working with me, and like you suggested a few weeks ago, they think you’re an investor.”

  I was well aware of that theory from Mason.

  “And two, this meeting will be filled with the men who pose the biggest threat to my position in the Fenton County underworld. If anyone is trying to overthrow me, they’ll be in that room tonight.”

  “And you want me to have a vision.”

  “Yes.”

  “What happens if I announce to the whole room that one of those men is trying to kill Mason? Who’s going to protect me?”

  “Jed.” His voice was hard. “He’ll protect you with his life if necessary, but hopefully we’ll figure out a way around it.”

  I wanted to say no. As far as I could tell, the whole Lady in Black business was finally dying down at the courthouse. Her reappearance was bound to stir things up again. But if there was the slightest chance I could find out who was trying to kill Mason and Skeeter could stop them, no wasn’t an option.

  “So what do you want me to do?”

  “Meet Jed at eight-thirty at the same feed store where you met him last time. He’ll bring you to the pool hall, and we’ll fill you in on the rest when you get there.”

  “Okay.” I turned to look at him. “I need to ask you about something else.”

  His hard expression fell away and he looked amused. “You can ask, but I might not answer.”

  “It’s about Gems.”

  He grinned. “Have you changed your mind about dancing? Because I’ll tell you again that I can offer you something better.”

  “No,” I said in disgust. “I want to know who owns it.”

  He sat back in the pew and spread his arms out along the back. “Well if that isn’t the million-dollar question.”

  “So you don’t know?”

  He tilted his head and smirked at me. “I didn’t say that.”

  “If you knew, you’d tell me.”

  He shifted to the side. “It changed hands a couple of months ago to a corporation, but it’s unclear who the actual owner is.”

  “Do you think whoever it is could be trying to take over Crocker’s drug empire?”

  His arms dropped to his side, and he leaned forward. “I took over Crocker’s drug empire.”

  I turned to face him. “Nikko, the bartender who disappeared at Gems—he used to work for Crocker. Running drugs. But he quit and couldn’t find a job until Mud hired him.”

  He watched me closely. “Go on. I’m listening.”

  “I told you that I had a feeling that he and Dolly Parton saw something and ran off to hide.”

  “Do you have any proof of that?”

  “No, but I do know Mud sent men to Nikko’s trailer to find him.”

  He scowled. “You told me that already.”

  “I was in his trailer this morning, though, and I don’t think the men there were just looking for Nikko. The way they’d moved things around implied they were looking for something else.”

  “So?”

  “Skeeter.” I turned all the way around, getting on my knees to face him. “What if he wants Nikko’s information about Crocker’s business? You already said the owner of Gems wants to put you out of business. What if this is just one more way to put you out of business?”

  His eyes turned murderous, and I knew if that anger was directed at me, I’d be terrified.

  “Is there some way to figure out who owns it?”

  “We’ve traced it to a farmer in Louisiana, but there’s no way he’s the real owner.”

  I shook my head in confusion. “Why not?”

  “Identity theft. Someone stole his identity and is using it to remain anonymous.”

  “And you really have no idea who?”

  His anger returned. “I’ve already told you I didn’t.”

  “Do you think that the person who’s responsible could also be trying to kill Mason and pin it on you?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. It could be any number of guys. Three come to mind, and all three will be at the pool hall tonight. Jed will fill you in on who they are when he picks you up.” Skeeter stood. “We shouldn’t be seen leaving together. I’ll slip out through the back door, and you can wait a few minutes and go out the main entrance.”

  I didn’t answer, but he didn’t wait. He headed for the exit without looking back.

  As I waited my several minutes, I made a mental list of things I needed to get at the house, adding a few things I hadn’t planned to ever need again: a black dress, shoes, and the veiled hat.

  The Lady in Black was back.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I left the chapel and stayed with Mason until it was time to leave for the farmhouse, but I was terrible company. My vision about Mason kept repeating in my head, making me anxious, and thoughts of my impending date with Skeeter only made it worse. Mason kept trying to reassure me, but the only thing that would set me at ease would be to find out who was behind this and make sure he or she was stopped.

  When I pulled up to the farmhouse an hour later, a sheriff’s car was already parked outside in the drive. Deputy Miller climbed out and I gave him a warm smile as I greeted him at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Deputy Miller. I’m glad you’re the one meeting me.”

  He chuckled. “Anyone in particular you trying to avoid?”

  I grimaced. “Deputy Hoffstetter.”

  His grin spread. “Aww . . . yeah, she has a thing for Mr. Deveraux. She’s none too happy he’s living with you. She thinks you’re—”

  “Yeah,” I scowled. “I know what she thinks.”

  He snickered. “I need to check out the house before you go in. Why don’t you wait out here, and I’ll tell you when it’s safe.”

  “Okay.” I handed him the keys to the front door and paced the yard in front of the porch until he returned. “It’s clear.”

  Deputy Miller waited in the living room while I went upstairs and packed our things into two bags. My Lady in Black clothes and accessories were buried in a box in our bedroom closet. Neely Kate had loaned me a few things as a costume for my Thanksgiving Day escapade and then told me to keep them, figuring she wouldn’t fit into the shoes or dress once her feet swelled and she started gaining pregnancy weight. Neither of us could risk wearing the hat casually, as it had become the hallmark of the Lady in Black.

  I gave Deputy Miller a few leftover cookies to take with him before he followed me back to the hospital. While I found his presence comforting at the moment, how was I going to ditch him later to meet Jed? He was supposed to follow me back to Maeve’s house to stand watch for the night.

  By the time I got back, Mason
had been moved to his new room on the second floor. He was sitting in a chair with a laptop, wearing a pair of blue scrubs.

  “I brought your clothes, but you look good in scrubs,” I teased as I entered the room.

  He set the computer on the bed and stood. “Did you have any trouble out at the farm?”

  “No.”

  “I talked to Mom, and she’s got the guest room ready for you.” He gave me a kiss. “The three of you will be safe with Deputy Miller watching you.”

  “Three?” I asked.

  He grinned. “Muffy, although I think she could take the deputy’s place as your guard.”

  “True enough.” I pulled him over to the side of the bed and sat down. “Mason, I want you to tell me the truth.”

  His smile fell. “About what?”

  “Does this have anything to do with J.R. Simmons?”

  He studied me for a few seconds. “No, I think Joe is right. If his father wanted me dead, it would have been done.”

  I started to protest.

  “Rose. It’s not him. That’s not how he works. Killing someone would be too easy. J.R. Simmons is more interested in giving people prolonged suffering. Something like this wouldn’t satisfy his quest for vengeance.”

  “Did the deputies find out anything from Eric?”

  Worry flickered in Mason’s eyes. “No,” he said, his voice quiet. “They found him dead in his car. It was parked in the garage of his home. Carbon monoxide poisoning.”

  My stomach dropped. “He killed himself?”

  Mason put his hands on my arms to steady me. “Joe’s not sure. It could have been set up that way to make sure he didn’t talk.”

  “So Joe’s no closer to finding out who’s responsible than he was before?”

  “No.”

  I stayed with Mason a little while longer until he insisted I go to his mother’s, since it was getting dark. I didn’t want to leave him, but the truth was I could do Mason more good as the Lady in Black.

  I wrapped my hands around his neck and pressed our foreheads together, careful of his stitches. “Please be careful, Mason.”

  “I’m here under guard,” he said, his palm pressed to my cheek. “I’m more worried about you and Mom, but knowing there will be a deputy parked outside Mom’s house to keep an eye on things makes me feel better.”

  I only hoped they wouldn’t be watching too closely. “I wish you had your phone so I could call and check on you.”

  “I think someone’s going to bring me a loaner until I can get a new one. I’ll let you know when I find out the number. In the meantime, be careful.”

  “I plan on it.”

  Deputy Miller followed me from the hospital to Maeve’s house. He parked across the street and waved as I walked to the front porch. Maeve had obviously been waiting for me, because she opened the front door immediately, looking more worn than usual. “Did you see him? Is he okay?” she asked as I shut the door behind me.

  Muffy jumped up on my legs, excited to see me. I picked her up and hugged her close.

  “He’s fine, I promise. He has a few stitches on his forehead and a headache,” I said, giving Maeve a reassuring smile, even as I was trying to convince myself I was telling the truth. “You know how stubborn he is. He’s not going to let something as mundane as faulty brakes do much damage.” Since Joe wasn’t telling the public about the attempt on Mason’s life, they’d decided it was best to keep it from Maeve as well. Mason told her that the house was being watched because of our break-in the night before. “They’re only keeping him as a precaution. Just to be safe.”

  Her mouth tipped up into a small grin. “You’re right.”

  “You look exhausted. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll figure out something for dinner? I promise that I really do know how to cook.”

  She let me lead her to one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “I already made a chicken casserole. It should be ready to come out of the oven.”

  “Well, I definitely know how to use a pair of potholders,” I teased. I pulled the casserole out and set the pan on a trivet on the kitchen table. Glancing down at her, I noticed she was wiping her eyes. I squatted in front of her and grabbed her hands. “Maeve, he’s going to be okay.”

  Her chin trembled. “He’s all I have left, Rose.”

  “And he’s going to be fine,” I insisted. “Joe will make sure of it.”

  I realized that I’d slipped and implied that there might be more going on than a concussion, but she didn’t seem to notice. In fact, for some reason, my statement calmed her. She took a deep breath. “Yes. You’re right.”

  “Besides, you’re not alone. You have me and Muffy.”

  She smiled through her tears. “And I’m grateful for that. More than you know.”

  She was quiet throughout dinner, and when I pressed her to make sure she was okay, she said she had a migraine and was going to go to bed early. I’d been worried about concocting an explanation for my meeting with Jed, but while it was a blessing in disguise, I was still worried about her.

  My next obstacle was getting past the deputy, which was actually easier than expected. An alley ran behind Maeve’s house, with the detached garage opening onto it. Deputy Miller seemed more worried about the cars turning into the alley than the ones leaving it. After I dressed, I carried my hat and shoes in one hand and tiptoed into the kitchen to snag Maeve’s car keys off the counter. In case she woke up, I left her a short note saying I couldn’t sleep but would be back soon. With any luck at all, she’d never read it and neither she nor Deputy Miller would be any the wiser about my evening with criminals.

  At eight-thirty, I parked Maeve’s car behind the feed store, my stomach a bundle of nerves. This was equivalent to a suicide mission. I tried to assure myself that I was too valuable to Skeeter for him to let something happen to me, but I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure of that.

  Jed was waiting in the sedan when I parked. I pinned my hat into place as he got out and opened my car door. He reached for my hand to help me out.

  “Jed, you don’t have to do that.”

  “When you’re dressed like this, you’re the Lady in Black, and in Skeeter’s eyes that’s the same as royalty.”

  Now I was really worried about my personal safety. In revolutions, royalty was often the first to get beheaded.

  Jed helped me into the back of the car and took off toward Henryetta. After he pulled onto the county road, he glanced in the rearview mirror. “No one would ever guess who you really are. That dress alone is completely different than anything you usually wear. If anything, the guys will all be staring at your chest.”

  I instinctively reached for the base of my throat. He wasn’t wrong. The plunging neckline was lower than anything I’d ever worn before, and what little cleavage I had was in full view. I wasn’t wearing Neely Kate’s dress—the one I’d worn to the auction. I doubted most men would remember, but in case they did, I needed to portray a woman with class and money. And that meant I couldn’t be an outfit repeater. I’d bought this dress a week after Thanksgiving, telling myself I’d wear it for Mason on a date some night, but if I were honest with myself now, I wasn’t sure I could ever wear it in public and show my face.

  Thinking of Mason made me anxious. What if this was all for nothing? My chest tightened, and I suddenly needed to hear his voice. I checked my phone one more time to see if I’d missed a text or call from his new number. Nothing.

  I looked out the window at the trees lining the county road, surprised Jed hadn’t blindfolded me. “Do you know what I’ll being doing tonight?”

  “When we get there, I’m supposed to drop you off at the front door. I’ll text Skeeter to let him know so he can meet you at the entrance. Skeeter wants you to say as little as possible. I’ll walk in and act like your bodyguard.”

  “Who’s watching Skeeter?” I couldn’t imagine that he would leave himself unprotected.

  “Merv and another guy. Cal.”

  “Oh.” I pau
sed. “I thought you were Skeeter’s right-hand man. Why’d he switch things up?”

  “Skeeter usually has a list of priorities for each meeting or event he attends—the order in which we protect things in case something goes down. With our line of business, we need a contingency plan. At the auction it was him, his money, then you.”

  I pursed my lips in irritation. It was nice to know his money ranked higher than I did, although not entirely surprising. “So what’s his priority list tonight?”

  Jed paused and looked into the rearview mirror before answering. “You. Then Skeeter.”

  I gasped. “Me?”

  He nodded. “The men don’t understand it, and there were some protests earlier when Skeeter gave us our instructions.”

  “Why would he put me first?”

  Jed hesitated and swallowed. “Skeeter’s never been a here-and-now kind of guy. He’s a lot more far-sighted than most people realize. Skeeter waited a year for Daniel Crocker to self-destruct, and he was ready to make his move once it happened. He was the one who suggested that Bull hold an auction to sell the business. He also created issues that may have made Bull want to sell the business.”

  None of that came as a surprise to me. “That still doesn’t explain why he’d put me as top priority tonight.”

  “You’re an investment, Lady. Especially after the last few days, he sees the potential you have for him and his business. He’s going to protect that at all costs.”

  While I should have been reassured, I didn’t like the implications. Any hope of ever cutting our ties to him had gone the way of the wooly mammoth.

  “But my boyfriend is the Fenton County Assistant DA. How can he trust me? How can you trust me? How do you know I won’t run off and tell him or Joe Simmons everything?”

  “Skeeter can read people. It’s kind of a gift. He can usually tell who’s going be loyal or not, and he rarely gets it wrong. After the auction, he pegged you as loyal. Very loyal.” He paused. “Merv and I didn’t agree with him. Merv is still suspicious of you, but I’ve become a believer.”

  I shook my head. “But Skeeter barely knows me.”

  He grinned. “There are all kinds of gifts in this world, Lady. You can see the future. Skeeter can judge people. It shouldn’t be all that surprising, especially for you.”