Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (35 page)

I woke up the next morning to the sound of a door squeaking. Mason stood in front of the open closet, his hair wet, pulling out a shirt. He was already wearing a pair of dress pants.

“You’re up,” I said lazily. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

He slipped his arms into his shirt, his gaze on me. “You were sleeping so soundly. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You have to go in early?”

“Yeah. I have a meeting at the sheriff’s office.”

I stretched, accidentally pulling the covers to my waist. The cold air hit my bare skin, making me shiver. I was about to reach for the covers when I noticed he was grinning at me.

“I
do
love to see you naked in our bed.”

“Come join me.” I kicked the covers all the way off and lifted my arms over my head as I faked another stretch.

He abandoned buttoning his dress shirt and pulled a tie out of the closet before he walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. Leaning over, he kissed me passionately and fondled my breasts, then lifted his head to give me an ornery grin.

“What was that?” I asked, coming to my senses.

“I’ve hardly seen you the last couple of days. I don’t want you to forget about me today.”

I laughed as I sat up and fastened his last two buttons. “I think you’re safe.”

He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me to his chest to kiss me again. I was beginning to have second thoughts about buttoning him up.

He lifted his head, grinning again.

“And what was
that?
” I teased.

“To give me something to think about during my morning meeting.”

I took his tie and looped it around his neck. “What’s your meeting about?” I asked, expecting him to give me a vague answer about Fenton County business.

“The murders from yesterday.”

I started to knot his tie. “Deputy Miller said it was gruesome.”

He cringed. “I wish he hadn’t told you that. You have enough to worry about without hearing about a horrific double homicide.”

“I’m fine.” I slipped the knot to the base of his throat and smoothed out a wrinkle on his chest. “He didn’t give me any details.”

“Good. I’m sure I’ll have nightmares for weeks after what I saw.”

I shivered and his arms tightened around my back, pulling me to his chest again. “Be careful today. Joe thinks it might be tied to Skeeter Malcolm.”

I jerked away as a cold chill washed through me. “What?”

“Scott Humphrey was a known adversary of Malcolm’s. It looks like Humphrey and Marcus Tilton, one of his cronies, were tortured in an abandoned barn south of town.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t know Marcus Tilton, but I’d questioned Humphrey a few days ago. Had I gotten him killed? Would Skeeter have tortured him to get his answers?

“Rose?” His hand brushed my cheek and I opened my eyes to see worry on his face. “Are you okay? You’re as white as our sheets and you’re shaking.”

I forced a smile. “I’m sorry I’m bein’ such a baby. It’s just hard to imagine something like that happening in Fenton County.”

“Thankfully, it’s pretty rare, but Joe is determined to find out who did this and get them off the streets.”

I nodded, but I was lightheaded. “Thank goodness.”

“Rose, you’re more shaken up about this than I expected.” Understanding lit up his eyes. “Are you scared because of our encounter with Malcolm back in December?”

I shook my head. “No. Of course not.” Mason and I had seen Skeeter while we were out for breakfast. Skeeter had tormented Mason by paying attention to me, which had in turn caused Mason to panic that I was in harm’s way. “Why would I be concerned? I’m nothing to Skeeter Malcolm.”

His thumb brushed my cheek as he searched my eyes. “I’m not so sure. He has it out for me. He might use you to get to me.”

Little did Mason realize how safe I was. “Mason, Skeeter Malcolm has bigger fish to fry than me. I’m fine. I just overreacted.”

“Maybe you should stay home today.”

I groaned. Why hadn’t I hid my shock? Now I was making him worry over nothing. “I can’t. I promised Violet that I’d cover for her at the nursery this morning. She has a doctor’s appointment.”

“Doctor’s appointment? Is she sick?”

Now that he mentioned it, I hadn’t asked. “I’m sure it’s just a check-up, but the new girl can’t handle the nursery on her own yet.”

He gave me a gentle kiss. “I’m sure
I’m
the one overreacting now. But if anything happened to you—” He gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but I think we need to cancel our trip to my uncle’s cabin.”

“Mason, it’s okay.”

He shook his head, his eyes full of sadness. “No, it’s not. Not really. I keep canceling things on you. I’m giving you the message that you’re not important to me.”

I grabbed both sides of his face. “I assure you, that couldn’t be further from the truth.” I still hadn’t told him about my own discoveries and now he didn’t have time to hear them. “I know how much you love me. I’m counting on it.”

He kissed me again, giving me a good idea of what he had in mind to help fill our time if we had gone to the cabin. When he leaned back he shifted on the bed and gave me an ornery grin. “I better go before I lose all volition to leave your side.”

I gave him a look of mock reprimand. “We can’t have you getting in trouble, so get goin’ and I’ll see you tonight.”

He started to get up, then sat back down. “You wanted to talk to me about something.”

I wanted to tell him everything, but I didn’t want to make him late or give him the thirty-second version. Besides, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if he found out now or tonight, would it? I rubbed his chest, staring into his eyes. “It can wait. I’ll tell you later.”

He looked at his watch, then back at me, clearly torn.

“Mason. I promise. It’s okay.” I offered him a smile to assure him. “I love you.”

He gave me another kiss, then stood, taking in the sight of my naked body. “My mind will definitely not be on my work.”

I pulled the covers up to my chin, grinning. “Go.”

“I’ll take Muffy out before I go.”

“Now I really love you.”

“Come on, Muff.” He headed out the bedroom door, Muffy racing after him. As soon as I heard the door open and close downstairs, I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, intent on sending Skeeter a text. My own investigation paled in comparison to the double murder. I couldn’t believe the man I had come to know, the man who’d assured me he was the least dangerous ruler of all the criminals in Fenton County, would do such a thing. So why did I need his reassurance that he hadn’t?

But when I pulled out my phone to type a message, I was surprised to see a text from a number I didn’t recognize, which had come in at around midnight.

I heard you would like to meet with me to talk about Dora. How about we meet for lunch at Big Bill’s Barbecue before I head to the hospital for my shift? Say 1:00? –Hattie

In all the excitement of the morning, I’d forgotten I was waiting to hear back from her. I texted back.

I’ll be wearing a black wool coat and a red scarf.

I got out of bed and pulled on my robe, putting my phone in the pocket before I headed downstairs to start a pot of coffee. I was at the base of the stairs when the front door swung open, and Mason’s head poked in as Muffy raced toward the kitchen.

“I’m headed out, sweetheart. Lock the door and turn on the alarm after I leave.”

I rolled my eyes. “Go already.” I gave him a quick kiss, then shut the door behind him and locked it, watching through the window as he climbed into his car and took off. After I started the coffee, I found the courage to text Skeeter, hoping he would understand my message if I kept it vague.

Did you have anything to do with the incident south of town?

About thirty seconds passed before my phone rang, SM showing up on the screen.

“Did you?” I asked without bothering to preface it with a greeting.

“Not my style.” He sounded gruff. And offended. “Do you believe me?”

I knew he had his own style of justice, but I didn’t believe torture was part of his repertoire. Or maybe I just couldn’t connect the man I’d shared my troubles with last night to a man who would condone such a thing. “Yes, I believe you, but the sheriff thinks you did it.”

“Shit.” He was quiet for a few moments. “Do they have any hard evidence linking me to it?”

My temper flared. “Why would you be asking that if you weren’t a part of it?”

“Because someone is probably setting it up to look like I was!” he barked. “Just like that damn knife in your boyfriend’s desk drawer.”

I pushed out a breath, feeling guilty about accusing him after I’d just finished saying I believed him. And he was right. Back in December, the farmhouse had been broken into and Mason’s office had been rifled through. Joe had found a pocketknife that belonged to Skeeter, although neither Joe nor Mason had actually believed he’d left it there. “So who do you think did it?”

“Gentry? The person pulling the strings behind the hit list? Although I can’t figure out why anyone would go to the trouble of framing me if they want me dead.”

I had to agree. It didn’t make a lick of sense. “What are you gonna do?”

“Nothing for now. If you hear anything—”

“I’ll let you know.” I was surprised I didn’t feel more guilt over betraying Mason and Joe, but the way I saw it, Skeeter could possibly be in the exact same situation as Bruce Wayne the summer before, and
he’d
been a total stranger when I helped him. Hopefully, this would all blow over and that would be the last piece of information I’d pass along. But I didn’t believe that for a New York minute.

I finished getting ready and thought about the second journal. Dora’s message to Bill had been to look for the journal in
the room
. What room would she mention without specifically identifying it? The police chief would have to know where to look. My gaze drifted to the sheer-covered windows that overlooked the nursery that had been set up for me on the sun porch.

Crappy doodles, I was an idiot.

According to her journal, everything she’d done was for me.

I ran through the door and started opening drawers, rummaging around through all the baby clothes. When I didn’t see anything, I started pulling the drawers out and dumping their contents onto the floor. Still nothing.

I grunted in frustration. If I didn’t leave soon, I was going to be late. Where would Dora have hidden it? Then I remembered the gun tucked under own bed.

Could it really be that easy?

I dropped to the floor and rolled onto my back, scooting under the dusty baby bed. There, taped to the frame in the corner, was a book. I fought with the tape and worked the book loose, then quickly flipped through the pages.

It was filled with numbers and dates and marks that looked like they could be shorthand, marks secretaries used to use when taking dictation. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to read it. I needed more time to look it over, but I was already running late.

I climbed off the floor and tried to brush off the dirt and grime that had accumulated over twenty-five years, but soon realized it was a hopeless case. So I stripped off the sweater and pulled on another. Then, clutching the journal to my chest, I raced down the stairs and into the kitchen to set the alarm.

I stuffed the book into my purse with the other journal and ran out the door. Muffy hung her head with a major pout. Against my better judgment, I had decided to leave her at home. Between covering for Violet and my lunch with Hattie, I would be busy and I didn’t want to worry about leaving her at the office or the nursery.

My phone rang as I climbed in the truck, and I answered as I started down the driveway, not surprised to see it was Neely Kate.

“Hey,” I answered, focusing on the traffic on the highway as I waited to turn left.

“Rose, I think I’m going to stay home today.”

“That’s fine,” I said, worried by the strange tone of her voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Ronnie’s taking off and we’re going to spend the day together.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Yeah.” But she didn’t sound so sure.

“Neely Kate, Ronnie loves you.
You.
You
have
to believe that.”

“I know.”

I considered telling her about finding the other journal and my meeting with Hattie, but I had a sneaking suspicion she might desert Ronnie to come join me. Ronnie had to be her first priority right now. “I love you too. Everything’s gonna work out. You just
have
to believe it. I’m here for you. Just let me know if you need me.”

“I love you too, Rose.”

I hung up, more worried about my friend than ever.

I had hoped to stop by the landscaping office and check on Bruce Wayne, but I was barely going to make it to the nursery on time to cover for Violet as it was. Instead, I called him.

“How’d it go at the nursery yesterday?” I asked.

He paused. “Good.”

“Violet was thankful you helped her. Was she nice to you?”

“Yeah. If she needs more help, I wouldn’t mind goin’ over.”

I couldn’t stop my smile of happiness. “The new girl, Anna, seems nice.”

“Yeah,” he choked out.

I chuckled. “I’m covering for Violet this morning while she goes to the doctor. I’m excited to get to know Anna better.”

He coughed. “Um, I think I found a good deal on some woodchip mulch, but we have to buy it in bulk, and we’ll need a place to store it.”

“Huh.” Obviously he was changing the subject, and I wanted to encourage his potential new relationship, not detour it. “Do you have a place in mind?”

“I do.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m scared you’ll read more into my answer than you should.”

I grinned. “The nursery? That’s actually a good idea. The north side of the lot with the new greenhouse would probably work. Since we’re working out of an office and there’s some empty space on the nursery lot, it seems logical for us to keep a few things there. Besides, Violet can sell some of the mulch too.” This splitting off the landscaping business from the nursery was bound to get messy at times.