Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (17 page)

I had two choices: Stop at a gas station and change, which would make me even more late, or show up only slightly late in my normal clothes. I decided to just get there and work out the rest later.

Jed was waiting for me when I pulled around the back of the Sinclair station. I hopped out, bag in hand, as he got out of the car.

His eyes widened at the sight of me. “You’re not dressed.”

“I got hung up.”

“Skeeter won’t give a shit about excuses.”

He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. “Turn around.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

“
Turn around
,” I said as I slipped off my coat. He just kept looking at me, but when I reached for the hem of my sweater and started to lift it up, Jed spun around as quickly as if he’d turned into a top.

“What are you doin’, Rose? It’s forty degrees outside. You’re gonna freeze.”

I was perfectly aware of the temperature, but I didn’t see any other option. Goosebumps broke out across my skin as I tossed my sweater into my bag. “I have to change and this is the fastest way.”

He didn’t answer as I continued to disrobe. I kicked off my shoes and shimmied out of my jeans, shivering as I stood in the cold night air in my bra and panties. Then I pulled out my dress and stepped into it. The dress had been purchased in New Orleans and it was much tighter than the ones I normally wore. I reached around and zipped the dress up to the middle of my back. I started to contort my arms to get it the rest of the way up when I decided to utilize my companion. “Jed, zip me up.” Turning sideways, I presented my back to him.

Thankfully he turned to me and reached for my zipper without complaint. When he finished, he opened the back door. “Let’s get goin’ or we’re both gonna be in trouble.”

I slid onto the backseat, thankful for the warm interior. “Where are we goin’ tonight?” I asked after Jed had gotten back in and pulled onto the county road.

“The tire plant.” Back in December, I’d found out that Skeeter secretly owned the plant and kept a secret office inside.

“Who’s gonna be there?” I asked as I pulled my heels out of the bag and slipped them on.

“Skeeter and three business associates, all men. You met one of them at the last meeting. Seth Moore. But the other two have moved up in the ranks after a couple of recent vacancies.”

I suspected the vacancies were from the two men who had betrayed Skeeter. I’d detected their underhanded activities with visions I’d purposely had for Skeeter as part of our arrangement.

Jed looked into the rearview mirror and caught my eyes in the reflection. “These men are hard and don’t mess around. Be on your toes.”

“I was on my toes the last time he used me.”

“This is different.”

I didn’t want to be cocky, but I’d handled myself pretty well at his last meeting. I wasn’t about to go in thinking I had the world by the tail, but I wasn’t as terrified as I’d been last time. Yet I’d also learned that I couldn’t let these men know I was afraid. I had to show confidence if I hoped to gain their respect. And I needed their respect if I was going to get answers from them.

“I won’t let my guard down.”

“Good.”

“You’ll be there, won’t you, Jed?”

He grinned slightly. “Yeah, I’ll be there as your bodyguard again.”

“And who’s protecting Skeeter?”

He chuckled. “Skeeter’s on his own in this meeting. But he can handle himself.”

“So what’s my purpose tonight?”

“Skeeter says you’re supposed to sit back, listen, and then deduce.”

“But not force any visions?”

“Skeeter will be the judge of whether anyone is worth the risk of havin’ you read them.”

I’d had multiple visions at his last business meeting, and while I’d gotten some valuable information, I’d pissed off a couple of guys enough to get a gun pulled on me. Skeeter had told me he considered my “gift” too valuable to put me at unnecessary risk.

By the time Jed arrived at the plant, I had my hair up and my black hat pinned in place.

Jed sent a text as he pulled into the parking lot, so I wasn’t surprised to see Skeeter exiting the back of the building as Jed parked parallel to the entrance.

Skeeter opened the back car door and reached for me. I took his hand and stood, leaving my street clothes and coat in the backseat of the car. Skeeter took notice and gave me a questioning glance, then bent down. “Jed, get those things out of sight before you come in.”

“Will do, Skeeter.”

Skeeter closed the car door and led me to the back entrance. “Let’s get you in out of the cold, Lady.”

I hurried inside, not needing to be asked twice. When the door shut behind us, Skeeter pressed a hand on my lower back and leaned into my ear. “You’re late.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

“What was so important it kept you from my meeting?”

I considered making up an excuse, but went for the truth instead. “I was playing Bingo.”

I expected anger, so I wasn’t prepared when he burst out laughing. “You were playing
Bingo?
”

I nodded. “I needed an excuse for coming tonight, so I met Neely Kate and her granny there.”

Merriment filled his eyes. “I didn’t know you were a gambling woman, Lady.”

Bingo didn’t seem like gambling, but I supposed he was right. “I’m not usually. I like the safe path.”

His eyebrows hitched and he gave me a quizzical look. “Lady, you are anything but safe.” Stopping outside the conference room door, he gave me a stern look. “I’ll introduce you, but as before, let me do all the talking,” he said in an undertone. “I’ll probably have you talk to one or more of the guys individually, but we’ll figure out the how of it after the meeting.”

I pushed out a breath, fighting a rush of anxiety. “Okay.”

He leaned into my ear again. “You’ll do great, and Jed will join us in a moment to be your bodyguard.” He paused. “If things go south, get the hell out. You understand?”

“Do you expect things to go south?”

“No. But it’s always good to be prepared.”

“Like a boy scout.”

He chuckled. “I am the furthest thing from a boy scout.”

He pushed the door open, revealing three men arranged around a table. I recognized Seth Moore from before, but the other two men were unfamiliar. “Gentlemen,” Skeeter drawled. “I’d like to introduce you to the Lady in Black.”

“Good evening, gentlemen,” I said as I sat in the chair Skeeter had pulled out for me.

Seth Moore nodded in response, a grin plastered on his face. We’d had our own individual meeting in December and he’d made it perfectly clear he’d like to get to know me better.

Skeeter made a sweeping gesture with one arm. “Lady, you remember Seth Moore. Meet Howey Sommers and Scott Humphrey.”

Howey looked like he was in his forties. He was compact in size and shape, with dull black hair and some deep-set wrinkles on his forehead. Scott was younger, brown-haired, and probably in his thirties. A toothpick hung out of his mouth. His eyes were hard and focused on me. I wondered if I should offer them my hand, but they didn’t seem like the kind of guys who gave handshakes.

The door opened as Skeeter sat down, and Jed entered and took the chair next to mine.

Skeeter placed his forearms on the table and held out his hands. “Gentlemen, I think you know why I’ve invited you tonight, so let’s get to the heart of the matter. Gentry is still runnin’ loose and the sheriff’s department seems to be chasing their tails. It’s no secret he’s got it out for me. Gems was just one of his multiple attempts to chip away at my empire.”

Howey Sommers leaned back in his chair, taking a casual stance, but I noticed his jaw was tight and his fists were clenching and unclenching at his sides. “Your empire ain’t been your empire for all that long, Malcolm. Maybe Gentry thinks he has a legitimate claim to it.”

“I paid my dues in blood, sweat, tears,
and
money. I’ll take on any man who challenges that.” Skeeter’s voice came out in a low rumble.

“So you aim to take Gentry on?” Scott Humphrey asked, taking the toothpick out of his mouth and spinning it around in his hand. His gaze turned to me, or more accurately, my cleavage.

Skeeter stood and leaned over, placing his palms on the table now. “I aim to defend what’s
mine
.”

Howey shifted in his seat. “Gentry’s gathering men from Columbia County. They want a stake here, and he intends to give it to them.”

“That’s a mistake,” Skeeter growled. “Once you start selling it all off, it loses its value ten-fold.”

I wasn’t sure what
it
was, but I could tell every man in the room, with the exception of Jed, wanted
it
.

“What about her?” Humphrey flicked his hand toward me. “She’s from Louisiana, ain’t she? At least Gentry wants to keep it in state.”

Skeeter’s arms tensed and I was worried things were about to
go south
. The time to sit here quietly had passed.

I leaned forward. “You’re missing a vital difference, gentlemen.”

Skeeter gave me a look that wasn’t exactly warm and cuddly, but I forged on anyway.

“And what’s that, little lady?” Humphrey asked.

“Those boys from Columbia County want all the money to ultimately end up in
their
county. They’ll rake y’all over the coals to get a profit. I, on the other hand, plan to leave my investment in Fenton County. I realize it’s in my best interest for Mr. Malcolm’s business to flourish.”

“So what’s in it for you?”

“A healthy dividend that doesn’t harm Mr. Malcolm’s empire, so I can keep making a profit off it for years to come. Consider me a bank.”

“Oh, I get it.” Humphrey started laughing. “You’re screwin’ ’im.”

I thought Skeeter was gonna have a stroke based on the look of the pounding vein in his temple, but I interjected before he could do something drastic. “It hardly surprises me you would jump to that conclusion. Since I’m a woman, I must be incapable of using my little ol’ brain, yes?” I kept my voice calm and controlled even though I was furious. “If I were a man, would you accuse me of sleeping with Skeeter Malcolm? Or would you call me a smart investor?”

His face turned red, but he didn’t answer.

“Believe me, Mr. Humphrey, I’m sure the dangling appendage between your legs has addled your brain a hell of a lot more times than my lack of one has affected mine.”

Sommers burst out laughing and clapped Humphrey on the back. “Ho, boy, Humphrey! I suspect she’s right. Especially after what that Cheryl did to your dangling appendage.”

Humphrey’s mouth pressed into a tight line.

“I am a
business
woman, Mr. Humphrey,” I continued, wanting to settle this matter once and for all. “And I make my business decisions after careful analysis. Not by relyin’ on hormones and my crotch.”

Skeeter stared the man down before saying in a growl, “Are there any more questions or comments about Lady?”

None of the men said anything, although Sommers was still snickering to himself.

Skeeter took his seat. “Lady’s right. Gentry wants to make bank, and he’ll sell off every last piece of the empire if it gets him what he wants. Fenton County be damned. Is that what you want?”

Seth Moore and Sommers agreed with Skeeter right away, and though he held out a little longer out of pride, Humphrey finally relented too. They spent the next twenty minutes discussing the three men’s roles in the organization, which seemed to involve fenced goods and drug trafficking. I watched Humphrey closely while they talked. After our initial tiff, he seemed to fall in line as a team player, going so far as to convince Sommers to accept Skeeter’s decision on how to handle a territory dispute. But although I couldn’t put my finger on
what
, something about him didn’t sit right with me. When it was clear they were done with their business, I decided it was time for me to act.

“Mr. Malcolm,” I said, turning my gaze on him. “I’d like to speak privately with Mr. Humphrey. I hate that we got off on the wrong foot. And since he looks to be a very valuable member of your team, perhaps we can work on letting bygones be bygones. I would hate for our misunderstanding to stand in the way of your future business dealings.”

Skeeter turned to face me, a war raging in his eyes before he tipped his head slightly, his way of saying he trusted me, and turned to Humphrey. “If you’re amenable…”

He grinned, but there was a glitter in his eyes that made me uneasy. “I’m itching to get a chance to work on those bygones.”

I could tell Skeeter sensed the implied threat. He flicked his hand toward the door and said, “Jed, take Lady and Humphrey to the office.”

His gaze held Jed’s for several seconds, and a world of understanding seemed to pass between them before Jed nodded and stood.

I rose from my seat and walked to the door, but Jed opened it before I could reach for the knob, Humphrey fast on my heels.

As Jed led us down the hall and through the recreation room I’d been in last December, I tried to figure out what to focus on when I read Humphrey. I suspected he worked with Gentry and this was a fact-finding mission for him, although I wasn’t sure what basis I had to go on other than gut instinct. Maybe I could ask some questions first and read him later. Once I was done, Jed could pull him away and I’d talk to Skeeter about what I’d seen. I glanced at the clock on the wall. 9:15. At this rate, I could still get home at a reasonable hour without alarming Mason.

Jed opened the door to the windowless office and allowed me and Humphrey to enter before him. When Jed started to come in and shut the door, Humphrey grunted, “Not you.”

Jed’s hand tightened on the knob. “I stay with Lady.”

“Are you insinuating she’s not safe with me?” he asked. “Is that any way to start off our new business relationship?”

Jed’s gaze landed on me and I knew he wasn’t about to leave me. But it was obvious that Humphrey wasn’t going to talk to me unless I did things his way. If he was really in cahoots with Gentry, I suspected he had some ties to the person who’d run me off the road the day before. I tried to control my racing heart. I was scared to death to be alone with this man, but if I could get information to protect Mason, it was worth the risk.