Raddy had paid us a five-hundred-dollar down payment just to talk to his ex? That didn’t make sense at all. Especially if he’d planned on paying us the rest of the money, though I suspected the worst.
“We talked to your momma because you gave us next to nothing to go on,” I said, my anger heating up again. “And I suspect just about everything you told us was a lie. So we had no choice but to ask her questions.”
He shot me a glare. Something clicked.
“You went to see Rayna again after you talked to your momma, didn’t you?” I asked. “What happened when you got there?”
He licked his lower lip and cast a nervous glance at James. “I knew she was home because her car was in the driveway and a light was on in the window. But she wasn’t answering the door. Then I heard a Marvin Gay record through the open window. She only played Marvin when she was wanting to fool around.” He scratched his head. “I wanted to find out who she was entertaining.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Rayna had a boyfriend? Why do you care? You’re the one who dumped her.”
He pointed a finger at me and protested, “Now that’s not true! She kicked me out.”
“After you cheated on her,” I said, shaking my head. But it was a moot point, and I knew it. “So you realized she had a man with her and then what?”
“I beat on the door, insisting she open up. When she still didn’t answer, I thought about busting it down, but I suspected it wasn’t as easy as they show on TV. Besides, the lock on the back door doesn’t work, so I figured I’d go through the back door and sneak up on her.”
“Again,” I said, “why did you care? You were done with her.”
“I don’t know,” he said, tears filling his eyes as he rubbed the heel of his hand on his chest. “I guess I didn’t realize I wanted her until I thought someone else did.”
I squelched a few of the disparaging insults that popped up in my head. “So what happened next?” I asked, although I was pretty sure I already knew.
“I went around the corner, and I saw her in the hot tub. She was lying back with her head on the corner, but her body was floating all weird.” He looked at me, and I nodded for him to go on. “So I called out her name . . .” He sucked in a breath. “But she didn’t answer, so I walked over to her. It was then I realized her eyes were open, and she wasn’t moving.” His voice broke. “I knew she was dead.”
“Did you kill her?” I asked again in a cold voice.
“No!” he shouted. “I heard a noise in the house, and when I went inside to check it out, a guy ran out the front door. He took off around the corner, and I heard a car drive away.”
“Do you know who it was?”
He shook his head emphatically. “No. But he was in the bedroom. The drawers were ripped out, and they’d all been overturned. I think he was looking for the necklace. You have to help me, Rose.”
I put my free hand on my hip, still holding the gun at my side. “And why on earth would I do that after you hurt my dog?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m calling bullcrap, Raddy Dyer.”
“Okay! Okay! I was scared. Malcolm was towering over me, and she was growling, and I felt trapped. I was trying to run out of the barn, but she was in the way.”
I wasn’t so sure I believed that, but James wasn’t volunteering any information. I shot a look at him, surprised he hadn’t jumped into the interrogation, but he wore a perfect poker face. I had absolutely no idea what he was thinking.
“Raddy, listen to me,” I said. “You have to tell me who knows about the necklace.”
“I already told you. My friend Buck was the one who wanted to buy it.”
“And how do you know Buck?” I asked. “From your poker game?”
He squirmed. “Yeah.”
“What did you do? Bring it with you to a game?”
“No, but I told him about it. He believed me when I told him it was real.”
Suddenly, his ridiculous story about some guy offering to pay him five thousand dollars for the necklace, sight unseen, made sense. Raddy had hired us because he was desperate. “You bet this necklace in a poker game, sight unseen, am I right?”
He swallowed and nodded. “Yeah.”
“And you lost . . . to Buck.”
He didn’t answer.
“And Buck gave you until Friday night to pay up . . . or else.” When he didn’t respond, I asked, “Is the necklace even real? Your momma claims it’s fake.”
“I don’t know.”
I almost told him what we’d discovered about the owl pin but decided to keep it to myself for the moment. “So if Buck was still waiting for the necklace, why would someone else swoop in and try to get it?”
James shifted his weight. “Because Dyer shot off his big mouth, and everyone at the game thinks the necklace is real. They want it for themselves.”
Raddy looked up at me with pleading eyes. “You gotta help me, Rose. The police are gonna think I killed Rayna, but I didn’t do it. And if they don’t arrest me, Buck’s gonna kill me too.”
I released a groan of exasperation. “I have no idea what you expect me to do, Raddy.”
“Help me hide. Find the necklace.”
I shook my head. “Your momma collected all the jewelry and said you haven’t been by her house in months. How’d you even know it was missing?”
“I snuck into her house to look for it. After she got all the family jewelry from Rayna, she wouldn’t give it back to me. She said she was gonna give it to my sister.” His eyes filled with desperation. “You have to help me, Rose!”
“I don’t have to do a cotton-pickin’ thing for you.”
His eyes turned cold as his back stiffened. “I paid you five hundred dollars. If you’re not gonna find the necklace, I want the money back.”
“And we told you that the money was nonrefundable.”
“But the agreement was that you would look. You talked to my momma—did you talk to my Aunt Tildie?”
“No, but—”
“Then you owe me!” he shouted. “You’re supposed to be lookin’!”
Dammit, he had a point, but this seemed like a matter for the sheriff’s department now. “Lookin’ for the necklace aside, I’m not hiding you. You bein’ wanted for Rayna’s murder is your problem, not mine.”
“But—”
“No,” I said firmly. “As for the necklace, I have to talk to Neely Kate. I’ll let you know tomorrow what we decide to do. I’m sure Neely Kate has your number.”
“I don’t know if you should call it,” Raddy said. “What if the police are usin’ it to track me?”
“Then get a dammed burner,” James barked. “She’s not makin’ a decision tonight, and if you keep badgering her, she’s going to tell you no. Got it?”
Raddy jumped. “Yeah,” he mumbled, sounding none too happy about it.
“Now get your ass out of here before I call the dammed sheriff myself,” James said, pointing toward the open back door.
Raddy’s only answer was to try and make a beeline for the door. But James grabbed him by the back of the collar and pulled him to a halt. “I think you’re forgetting something, Dyer.”
“What?” Raddy’s voice shook.
“You owe a couple of apologies. One to Muffy and the other to Rose for ruining her evening.”
Raddy looked like he was ready to protest, but James’ hold on his collar tightened, and then he gave him a good shake.
“Okay!” Raddy shouted, then lowered his voice. “Muffy, I’m sorry I kicked you.” Then his gaze lifted to mine. “Rose, I’m sorry to disturb your evening, but I hope you’ll keep look—”
“Since I obviously didn’t make myself clear enough,” James said in a tone that would have scared the pee out of me if I were Raddy, “she’s not deciding tonight, and the time for pleadin’ your case is over.”
James planted the sole of his boot on Raddy’s backside, giving him a push as he released his collar. Raddy stumbled out th
e door.
James stopped in the doorway and glanced back at me. “I’m going to make sure this piece of trash really leaves your property. Then I’ll be back to help you make sure Muffy’s okay. Don’t move her.”
My jaw dropped, but not because of what he’d said about making sure Raddy left. What did James know about animals?
But I dropped to my knees beside her, worried that she was still flat on her belly. “Are you okay, Muff? Did that mean man hurt you?”
She looked up at me with sad eyes, then licked my hand.
I set my gun down on the dirt floor and felt down her sides with both hands this time. The only time she flinched was when I pressed on her back hip. She climbed slowly to her feet and stood in front of me.
“She’s standing,” James said from behind me. “That’s bound to be a good thing. She’s stopped whimpering, too.” He squatted to the ground in front of me, Muffy between us.
“How do you know about dogs?” I asked.
He shot me a wry grin. “I was raised on land, so I learned a thing or two, although I confess it’s been quite a few years.”
“Where’s your car?” I asked. “I didn’t see it out front, and I definitely didn’t see one for Raddy.”
A smirk crossed his face. “You think I’m stupid enough to park my car next to Chief Deputy Simmons in front of your house? And as for Dyer, he apparently has more sense than I would have given him credit for.” He glanced up. “I parked on the other end of your farm by the fields . . . next to Dyer.”
He slowly put his hands on Muffy and started palpating her sides. “Dyer got a couple of kicks in, but only one really connected.”
“She flinched when I pressed on her right back hip.”
James pressed on her hip, and she yelped and snapped at him.
“Muffy!” I admonished, but James looked up at me.
“She’s fine.” Then he moved to her belly, taking his time feeling around. When he was done, he gave me a soft smile. “I don’t think she has any internal injuries, but watch her back leg. If she doesn’t put weight on it tomorrow, you might want to take her to the vet.”
“Thanks,” I said in amazement. Never in a million years would I have expected Skeeter Malcolm—the king of the Fenton County underworld—to squat down next to my dog and give her an examination.
He gave a half shrug and got to his feet, reaching a hand down to help me up. I wrapped my fingers around his. He pulled me up, bringing my chest close to his, but he didn’t let go once I was standing.
“Do you need money?” he asked quietly, searching my face. He was a different man than the one who’d been raging against Raddy Dyer mere minutes ago. I knew this was a rare gift. Few people saw him this way. Hardly anyone knew James Malcolm could be a gentle man.
“No,” I said, staring into his soft brown eyes.
“Then why are you working for Radcliffe Dyer?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
There was a slight edge to his voice this time. Something twisted in my stomach, catching me off guard. He was still holding my hand, and I knew I should break free, but part of me didn’t want to. Why?
“I’m doin’ it for Neely Kate,” I said, still watching his face as I forced myself to pull my hand free and take a step backward.
He watched me with an intensity that sent a jolt through my gut, and I took another step back.
“Why would Neely Kate be workin’ for Dyer?” he asked.
“She’s got it in her head that we should be private investigators. So I indulge her from time to time. Remember when we looked for that missing garden gnome?”
He closed the distance between us, and I backed up again.
“Looking for a garden gnome and working for Radcliffe Dyer are two totally different ballgames.”
“Too bad I didn’t know that this morning,” I said as I took another step back, feeling warm even though it had cooled off outside.
James continued his pursuit. “Why were you talkin’ to Homer Dyer?” he asked in a low voice.
“Is that why you’re here?” I asked, hating that I sounded breathless. Why was I so nervous? “I told Jed we weren’t there to see Homer. We wanted to talk to Mable. I had no idea he was trouble.” Another step and now my back was against the barn wall.
“But Neely Kate knew.” He stopped in front of me, his chest mere inches from mine. My legs felt rubbery, and I struggled to catch my breath as anticipation raced through my blood. What was wrong with me? Then it hit me.
Oh, no.
He planted a hand on the wall next to my shoulder. “You’re supposed to call Jed when you think you’re going to be in danger.”
“I already told you that I had no idea we were heading into trouble. As soon as I felt uncomfortable with the situation, I sent him a text.” I felt claustrophobic with him so close. I warred with the opposite urges to push him away and pull him even closer. But I had to use my head and pretend this was no big deal.
“Do you have any idea what Homer Dyer is capable of?” he said, his low, husky voice sending a shiver down my spine.
“No,” I pushed out, dropping my gaze and starting to panic at my reaction to him. When had this happened?
Placing his hand on the wall on my other side, he leaned down so his mouth was next to my ear. “We’ve been watching him for two months now, ever since he lost his job. He’s a stupid man with a hot head, a dangerous combination. He’s angry at the world, Rose, and he’s lashing out at anyone he thinks is out to get him.”
“I didn’t know,” I whispered, a new shiver washing over me as his warm breath tickled my neck.
“I know. And that’s what scares the shit out of me.” He suddenly grabbed my arms and pulled me hard to his chest. “Now try to get away from me.”
I looked up at him and blinked, thinking I must have heard him wrong. “What?”
“Get away from me.”
I still stared at him in confusion.
“If you’re going to throw yourself into these dangerous situations, I’m going to make damned sure you know how to get out of them. Now break out of my hold.”
I dropped my gaze in horror. Here I was, fighting lustful feelings for James Malcolm, and all he was trying to do was teach me to protect myself. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I finally said, still looking down.
“You’re not going to hurt me,” he chuckled, and his chest vibrated against mine, sending another wave of lust through me.
I had to get away from him before I did something stupid. “Last warning,” I said.
“Give it your best shot.”
My first instinct was to knee him in the groin, but I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him like that, so I jerked backward and swung my arms wide and then down, loosening his hold enough that I managed to pull loose and run for the door. He was on me again in seconds, wrapping an arm around my waist and hauling my back to his chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his voice low in my ear.
“I’m escaping. Isn’t that the purpose of your exercise?” I asked, proud of myself for not betraying my wounded pride but eager to get away from him before I made a fool of myself.
“That was good, but not good enough,” he said, his breath blowing my hair against my neck.
My breath came in short pants. Why was this happening? I couldn’t start something with him. Our friendship was important to me, and changing it to something else would risk ruining it. Not to mention he was on the wrong side of the law. Could I really date a criminal? Because no matter how ethical he seemed to be, James Malcolm was a criminal. Besides, even if I ignored that not-so-minor fact, Skeeter Malcolm didn’t have girlfriends . . .
But did James Malcolm?
His hold on me tightened, but it felt different this time. His free hand rested on my hip and slowly slid up my waist. “You’re supposed to break free,” he said in a voice gruffer than before.
I closed my eyes, warring with m
yself. How had this happened? When had this happened? I knew I should slip away, try to escape, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
His grip around my waist loosened, and his hand slid up over my T-shirt, stopping underneath my breast. I tensed but didn’t stop him.
“What are you doing, Lady?” he asked in a husky tone. “Why aren’t you fighting me?”
Lady. The name fit me more than I cared to admit. The Lady in Black had been both civilized and wild, rule-abiding and lawless. I’d never felt more myself than when I was the Lady. And that scared me. What scared me even more was that James Malcolm was the only one who’d ever understood that.
His breath hit the sensitive part of my neck, and I sucked in a breath of surprise, my body igniting. I became boneless, melting into him as his arms held me up.
“When you charged into this barn with your gun trained on me, you scared me shitless.”
“I was careful,” I said in short pants. “I never would have shot you.”
“I know,” he grunted, then spun me around to face him, his hand snaking around the small of my back to hold me in place. “I was proud because you knew how to handle yourself. But I was scared of what might happen if you tried that with someone more dangerous than me.”
“Is there anyone more dangerous than you, James Malcolm?” I half-teased.
His eyes were filled with lust, and I waited for his lips to cover mine. But then something shifted in his eyes. His hold around my back tightened, and he grabbed a handful of my hair, tilting my head back until our eyes met. “You’re supposed to be getting away.”
I couldn’t answer.
He slowly shook his head, an evil grin spreading across his face. “You had it right when you said I was dangerous. You have no idea.”
“I don’t believe you.”
His face lowered over mine. I was sure he was going to kiss me, but then he abruptly dropped his hold and took two steps back. “You failed.”
I gaped at him in shock. “What?”
His back straightened. “It was a lesson in defending yourself, and you failed.”
“Have you lost your mind?” I demanded.
“No, but you clearly have.” He walked over to where Muffy still lay beside my gun. She got to her feet, but he ignored her and grabbed the gun. Standing, he held it out to me, butt first. “When you broke free the first time, you should have given me a blow to slow me down. A head butt to my nose or your knee to my groin.”
Family Jewels: Rose Gardner Investigations #1 Page 11