“So, you?” I said sarcastically. We all knew Witt had the tact of a razorback.
He rubbed his chin, looking skyward in a dramatic fashion. “I was thinkin’ someone who can be gentle.”
“Oh, heck no,” I said, lifting my hands in surrender. “I’ve been dealing with her recipes for far longer than either of you. I’ve been eatin’ them since last January. You’ve only just started eatin’ them.”
“All the more reason for it to be you,” Witt said with a huge grin. “You’ve suffered the longest.”
“No. Way.” I shook my head. “I’m not saying a word. I love her to pieces, which means I’ll choke my lamb and ketchup turnover down with a smile.”
Witt chuckled. “Don’t forget the turnips. Undercooked turnips. I’ll be sure to give you my helpin’ since you’re lookin’ forward to it.”
The door opened, and Neely Kate gave us a confused look. “What are y’all waiting for?”
“That’s right,” Witt said, grinning ear to ear. “Whatcha waitin’ for, Rose? Those turnovers are callin’ your name.”
CHAPTER 7
T he break room smelled like something had curled up and died behind the fridge, but the scent became more pronounced the moment Neely Kate opened the microwave door.
Witt started coughing and gagging while Marshall took two steps backward toward the door to the shop and said, “I’m not very hungry.”
Neely Kate’s face popped up with a confused look. “You just said you were starving.”
Marshall’s face turned red. “I…uh…” Then he turned and ran out of the room.
Neely Kate turned to me with a baffled look, which deepened when she saw my contorted face.
“Why is everyone acting so weird?” she demanded.
“Can you seriously not smell that?” Witt choked out.
I put my hand on my stomach, trying to breathe through my mouth. “Neely Kate, are you sure they didn’t go bad?”
She lifted the plate to her nose and took a whiff, and her forehead wrinkled. “Huh.”
“Oh my God!” Witt moaned, watching her in horror. “Has something happened to your sense of smell? How can you put your nose right next to it?”
She studied us with narrowed eyes, taking in our reactions.
“Good thing we brought plenty of chicken,” I said with forced cheerfulness, even though I wasn’t sure I could stomach anything at this point.
“They were just fine last night,” Neely Kate said with a perplexed expression as she studied the plate.
If I didn’t leave soon, I was going to vomit. “You know, it’s a beautiful day. How about we take advantage of it and eat the chicken outside? And since your turnovers are suspect, why don’t we play it safe and toss them out.”
“In the Dumpster out back,” Witt murmured. “Or the field way out back.”
Jed elbowed him hard in the stomach again. Witt leaned over with a groan and hightailed it out the door.
“Can you really not smell that?” I asked, starting to worry about her.
“Well, yeah, but I thought it was supposed to be that way.”
“Always trust your nose,” I said, taking the plate from her. I slid the turnovers back into the open storage container and slapped on the lid. Maybe this was a good time to bring up the elephant in the room. “You know what I’ve been craving? Your candied sweet potatoes.”
Her head tilted to the side. “But those are my great-granny’s recipe.”
“I know,” I said brightly. “But they’re so good.”
“But I’m tryin’ to make my own path,” she said. “Make my own adventurous meals.”
I pressed my mouth together as I fought an internal war. “I know,” I said, lowering my voice in a conspiratorial tone. “But you know, not everyone is as adventurous as you.” When she narrowed her eyes, I quickly added, “Or me.”
Her lips twisted to the side as she considered it. “I think you might be right.”
Relief washed through me. “It’s Fenton County. People are used to good ol’ Southern cookin’.”
“I know,” she said with a nod. “Which is why I’m considerin’ openin’ my own restaurant.”
My mouth flapped open and it took me two full seconds to respond. “What?”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “I know it’s a surprise and all, but I’ve been thinkin’”—she leaned closer and lowered her voice—“maybe it’s time Fenton County became more cultured.”
“Neely Kate,” I said, feeling a cold sweat break out on my forehead. “I don’t think Fenton County is ready for culinary sophistication.”
Her smile spread wider. “They’re never gonna be ready. That’s why I need to bring it to them.”
“Does Jed know about your idea?” I asked, forcing a smile.
“Not yet. I wanted to tell you first.”
“I…uh…”
“I know you need me at the office, but winter’s coming and the landscaping business will slow down, which makes it a perfect time to get it all set up. What do you think?”
I couldn’t encourage this, but I just couldn’t find the strength to tell her that her food was inedible. “I think it’s a lot to consider. Maybe you should make a business plan.” A new thought hit me. “Or maybe set up one of those focus groups to taste-test your food.” But the moment I suggested the focus group, I knew it was a terrible idea. They’d eat her alive. “I don’t know, Neely Kate,” I said in all seriousness. “I don’t think you can force the simple folk of Fenton County to like highfalutin food. Besides, restaurants have high start-up costs, and who’s to say the bank will give you a loan?”
She bit her bottom lip, lost in concentration. “You might be right.” Then, just when I started to think I’d steered the Titanic away from the iceberg, she said, “I should get one of those food trucks. It would be cheaper. I bet Jed could find one in a junkyard and fix it up. Then I could take my food to them.”
I was about to answer when Witt shouted from the garage, “Where’s the food? I’m starvin’!”
“You’re always starvin’, Witt Rivers,” Neely Kate grumbled.
The guys were waiting outside at a picnic table Jed had bought a few weeks back. Neely Kate brought out some paper plates she kept stocked in their break room, and the guys started divvying up the chicken. It was a good thing I wasn’t very hungry because I hadn’t accounted for the eighteen-year-old boy sitting across from me. Marshall’s appetite was even heartier now that he wasn’t recovering from a gunshot wound.
Jed noticed I had a small amount of mashed potatoes and a single scrawny little chicken leg on my plate and frowned.
“I’m good,” I assured him. “All this mess with Vi has my stomach in knots.”
I told them about Violet’s dinner party, and I saw the wistful look on Marshall’s face. “You’re welcome to come if you like.”
Excitement filled his eyes, but it quickly faded. “I wouldn’t want to impose,” he said, his face pink with embarrassment.
“I’m sure it’s no imposition,” I said, pulling out my phone to text Carly about the extra guests. Despite the fact she’d said she’d make extra food in case Violet invited more guests, Witt and Jed could put away a disarming amount of food, so I offered to come home early to help with the preparation. I figured I could head back after my appointment with Dr. Newton. “I think a houseful of people and laughter is just what Vi needs.”
Carly texted back that Violet was thrilled to have the extra guests, but she insisted on handling everything herself. In fact, Violet had already called and invited Jonah and his girlfriend, so the more the merrier.
“I could always make something if Carly needs help,” Neely Kate volunteered.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I said quickly. “Carly insists on makin’ everything herself, and besides, I might need you to run out to a landscapin’ appointment for me.”
Her eyes lit up. “I’d love to. Just give me the details.”
Jed was watching me closely. I
knew he was dying to ask me questions, but he didn’t dare do it in front of Marshall. Although he clearly trusted him to some degree, Jed was always careful of other people’s secrets.
Once Marshall had wolfed down his plate of food and the sandwich he’d already packed for himself, Jed pinned his gaze on me and said, “Marshall, why don’t you head on in to the garage and finish that oil change.”
Marshall’s eyes widened. “On my own?”
“Don’t get all excited,” Witt said with a laugh. “We’re gonna be checkin’ up on you.”
Marshall nodded with an eager gleam in his eye. “Yes, sir.”
Then he took off for the garage.
“Do I look like an old-fart sir?” Witt asked no one in particular.
Neely Kate laughed. “We all have to grow up sometime.”
Witt made a face that suggested he was putting it off as long as possible.
Jed had kept his gaze on me the entire time, and I knew I was in for a grilling. He didn’t disappoint. “What really happened this morning?”
I filled him in, then asked, “What’s the scuttlebutt about it?”
He sat back on the bench. “People have noticed that Skeeter seems to have cooled down about you, and hardly anyone knows you’ve had an issue with Carmichael. The general consensus is that Skeeter sent someone to give you a warning.”
I couldn’t hide my shock. “James’s own men believe that? Wouldn’t they know if that had happened?”
“Dermot says Skeeter currently has most of his organization on a need-to-know basis. Most people have no idea what’s going on in the inner circle. Me included.”
I frowned. What was James up to? Everyone he’d previously trusted and relied on was no longer in his life. Although I knew he’d distanced himself to protect me, I had no idea who he was working for, or when the arrangement had started. And I had no way to ask. The powerlessness pressed into me. I lacked control over everything in my life.
“Well, it was definitely Carmichael,” I said, losing my appetite again. “His goon didn’t admit it, but Denny owned up to it when I talked to him.”
Neely Kate had already heard this story, but she was still giving me her full, undivided attention.
“So you did call him.” Jed sighed, and I couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or proud. Perhaps a combination of both.
“It didn’t go too well.” I paused.
“Care to be a little more specific?” Jed asked. When I hesitated, he added, “Before I left Skeeter, I knew almost everything that was goin’ on in his organization. Or at least I thought I did. But the point was that he confided in me. You need a confidant, Rose, and I think I’ve proven myself worthy enough to be yours.”
I studied him, wondering if he was right. It would be a relief to unburden myself, and I trusted that he wouldn’t lose his mind and charge off to defend my honor. “We exchanged some threats,” I admitted. “Right before I hung up.”
Jed kept his expressionless gaze on me, but Witt burst out laughing. “You are one crazy chick, Rose.”
I was surprised he was so amused. He’d already told me that he worried about Neely Kate getting mixed up in the underworld of Fenton County and considered me a bad influence. This definitely fit into the bad influence category.
I continued to hold Jed’s gaze. “I suppose you’re pissed.”
“Like I told you this morning, you’re a grown woman.”
“But…?”
“Denny Carmichael isn’t prone to bluffing.” He paused, then added, “Have you considered what questions you might be asked in the grand jury tomorrow?”
“Don’t forget that she’s talkin’ to Carter Hale this afternoon,” Neely Kate said in a tone that suggested she disapproved.
Jed shot Neely Kate a glance. “Are you concerned Hale will be biased?”
“Of course I am,” she said in a huff.
Nodding, he looked back at me. “Would you like me to come with you?”
I hadn’t considered that, and while I was tempted, I still felt a strong need to own my messes and handle them as independently as possible. Besides, Jed had enough to worry about with Neely Kate’s safety still in question. “No. I think I should do this on my own. Especially if people are watchin’.”
He gave me a grim look. “You go on your own and we’ll discuss his advice tonight.” Then he surprised me by adding, “And we’ll include Joe in the conversation.”
Neely Kate and I started to protest at once, but he held up his hand. “He’s put his life on hold for the past couple of months. He has a right to know what’s happening.”
I couldn’t find it in me to object to that. He was right, and although I wanted to protect Joe and keep him safe, he wasn’t liable to thank me for it. Not when I’d lambasted him for his previous attempts to protect me. We’d come too far to go back to that.
We sat in silence for a moment before Neely Kate said, “He came around with Jed.”
Or at least they could be in the same room without wanting to murder each other.
“Yeah,” I said, “tonight.”
He gave me a grim look. “Are you gonna call Skeeter?”
“He knows just as much or more than you do about all of this,” I said. “If he wants to reach out to me, he knows how.”
He nodded and was about to say something when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and answered, relieved to see it was Carter’s number.
“My case has been postponed by an hour,” he said without a hello. “How soon can you be here?”
I shot a quick glance to Neely Kate. “I could probably be there in twenty minutes tops.”
“Give me a half hour,” he said. “My assistant’s gonna be out of the office, so let yourself in and head back to my office.”
No witnesses. I wasn’t sure whether to be worried or relieved.
“Okay,” I said with a frown. “See you then.”
I hung up and relayed our short conversation.
“I can drop you off at his office,” Neely Kate said, starting to gather the dirty paper plates.
“Could you take me back to the nursery so I can get my truck?” I asked. “We should have time for that, and then I won’t have to worry about getting to my appointment with Dr. Newton on time.”
“Are you sick?” Witt asked, his usual glibness missing. “You look like you’ve lost weight.”
His concern caught me by surprise. “I’m fine. It’s about Violet. They won’t give me her narcotics prescription for pain until I see the new doctor.” I shot a look at Neely Kate, then leaned closer. “Did either one of you ever hear about Dr. Arnold selling prescription drugs?”
Neither of them answered.
“Okay…” I said. “Considering the fact I’m testifying before a grand jury tomorrow, I think I should refrain from askin’ anything else.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Jed said solemnly, and I wondered how much he knew. If Denny Carmichael was really the biggest drug dealer in the area, I couldn’t imagine he’d let the doctor get away with undermining his business, which meant they had likely worked together. Had the doctor turned on Carmichael before he left town? Or had he perhaps caught wind that Mason was onto him? The timing of his abrupt yet well-planned departure was a little too coincidental for my liking.
CHAPTER 8
When I walked up to Carter’s office, the lights were off. An Out of the Office sign hung in the window, but the door was unlocked like he’d said it would be. I walked in and saw a note taped to the inside of the doorframe telling me to lock the door behind me.
A little more cloak-and-dagger than I’d expected, but I turned the lock before heading down the hall to his office. “Carter?”
The door was cracked open, but the lights were on in the windowless room. His office chair was spun around to face the wall of shelves full of law books behind the desk.
“Carter?”
The chair spun around, and I gasped in shock.
James Malcom
sat in Carter’s chair, staring at me with an intensity that stole my breath.
Tears stung my eyes. I backed up into the door I’d just closed behind me, but I had no intention of leaving. It felt like a pit I’d been carrying around for the last two months had suddenly been filled.
“How?” I finally asked. “Why?” I glanced around, realizing Carter was nowhere to be found. “Carter’s in court, isn’t he?”
“This seemed like the safest way for me to see you.”
He wanted to see me. My skin flushed like I was some preteen with a crush, only what I felt for him was no crush. What I felt for him scared the crap out of me, especially since he’d practically abandoned me twice—the first time when he’d told me he was coming to save me and sent Denny instead, and the second time when he’d told me he loved me then drove away.
“Why haven’t you reached out to me?” I asked, anger warring with my eagerness to see him.
He rose from his chair, but he was all quiet control, his face unreadable. His short brown hair was slightly longer than the last time I’d seen him. His face was covered in a couple of days’ worth of stubble that my fingers ached to touch. His jeans hung low on his hips and his dark T-shirt clung to every muscle, giving me a reminder of the rippled body underneath.
Power radiated from him as he moved around the edge of the desk and advanced toward me. Had he always been this powerful? Or had his confidence and determination grown since I’d last seen him?
He stopped in front of me and studied me with wariness, the first sign that he wasn’t in complete control of himself. “Do you want me to go?”
I started to ask him how he could say such a fool thing, but I realized my back was still pressed to the door. Maybe my intuition had better sense than my heart. The smart thing to do would be to turn around and walk away, but I’d already proven that it wasn’t my day to make good choices. Besides, I was curious why he was suddenly here.
“No.” I tried to make the word sound tough and decisive, but my emotions won out. His face became blurry through my unshed tears, and before I could stop myself, I lifted my hand to his cheek, my fingertips giving in to their need to feel his stubble. The familiar rasp of it comforted me—and then pissed me off. I pushed on his chest and he took a half step back as I blasted him. “Where the hell have you been, James?”
Come Rain or Shine: Rose Gardner Investigations #5 (Rose Gardner Investigatons) Page 7