RG2 - Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (37 page)

My breath came in short bursts and my face started tingling.
Get a grip, Rose
. Hyperventilating wasn’t going to help anything. “Hello?”

“Rose! Where the hell are you?” Mason’s angry voice shouted through the earpiece.

Jimmy flinched. He must have heard the yelling.

“Uh…”

“Tell him you went to lunch with a friend.”

I put my hand partway over the phone and whispered, “He’s never gonna believe that. He knows Neely Kate is covering the personal property department until you get back.”

I tried to laugh into the phone, which came out sounding like the squeaky breaks on Miss Mildred’s Cadillac. “You said I’m in trouble? Because I didn’t show up for court? I’ll try to make it in later.”

“Rose, are you in trouble?” Mason whispered. “And it has something to do with Neely Kate? Someone she works with?”

I released a snort. “What are you gonna do? Put me in jail?”

“Where are you, Rose?” Mason sounded frantic. “Does someone have you?”

“Well, I don’t care what Joe says.” I tied to sound indignant, but it wasn’t working so well. “Tell him…tell him…” I choked on a sob. “Tell him I love him anyway.”

Jimmy snatched the phone out of my hand and ended the call, a grim expression on his face. “That didn’t go the way I wanted it to, Rose.”

Anger seethed in my gut. “Well, this whole morning hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to, so consider us even.”

“You’re forgettin’ who has the gun here.”

“Then shoot me already!”

“Not until you get that diary.”

That meant I had a little time. He wanted the nonexistent diary and was willing to delay my execution until he got it. However, he seemed agitated enough that I wasn’t sure that he’d take the time to drive to the woods before finishing me off.

Thinking about Joe opened the door to my fear and it swamped my head, stealing all my senses. I shoved it back before I started bawling. I suspected Jimmy would rather deal with a babbling woman than a sobbing one.

“I still don’t know why you killed Frank. I know you’re a murderer and all, but you’re still a Southern gentleman and I would hope you’d keep your word.”

“Well, you keep interrupting.”

“I’m not interruptin’ now!”

“After the pensions were stolen, I was eating lunch at Merilee’s. I happened to be sittin’ behind two zoning employees and they were discussing the rezoning for the superstore. I already had two rental properties in Forest Ridge, but realized if I bought houses in strategic locations, I might get more money. Most of the owners were willin’ to sell. They didn’t know anything about the superstore and with the economy being so bad, I practically stole those houses out from under ’em.”

“Except for Frank.”

“His house was dead center. But that stubborn son of a bitch flat-out refused. He was in debt up to his eyeballs and I kept raising the offer but nothing. They had to get sixty percent of the owners to agree or the deal fell through. If he refused to sell, they might have moved the parking lot further north and I’d be stuck with all fifteen houses.”

“But I don’t understand. Killing him didn’t help anything. He couldn’t sell it if he was dead and his son sold it to an investment company in Louisiana.”

He grinned. “Owned by my third cousin. We split the profit from the sale to the superstore.”

“So it couldn’t be tracked back to you. It would look suspicious if you bought it a couple of months after he died.”

“Exactly, although the Henryetta Police had already arrested Bruce Decker. Besides, I didn’t mean to kill Frank. I just wanted to scare him. But we got to arguing, and the next thing I knew, I picked up a crowbar off a shelf and whacked him.”

“And you stole the money to make it look like a robbery.”

“Yeah, I would have taken more, but I realized I’d lost my grandmother’s pin and I was searching for it. I heard a noise in the warehouse and took off before I remembered the cash.”

“Not that it mattered. The police didn’t care.”

“Gotta love the Henryetta Police Department.”

I didn’t see the point in disagreeing.

Jimmy was only a block from my house. I needed to come up with something fast. “But an innocent man is takin’ the blame. You don’t feel guilty about that?”

“I did at first. Until I realized he had a long arrest record.”

“But nothing violent.”

Jimmy shrugged.

“What about me?” I didn’t mean for it too sound strangled. I took a breath and forced myself to sound brave. “I don’t have an arrest record. I’m an innocent citizen.”

He laughed. “You are far from innocent. I’ll admit, I felt bad when I first decided you had to go, but it’s you or me. And let’s face it, you’ve annoyed a lot of people.”

Jimmy pulled into my driveway and I pondered the truth of his statement. Maybe I’d annoyed half the town, Jimmy included, but that wasn’t a crime worthy of execution.

I wasn’t going out without a fight. Jimmy DeWade had messed with the wrong woman.

Miss Mildred walked out her front door, watering can in her hand and I knew exactly what she was up to. Only a fool would water her flowers in the heat of the day, and while Miss Mildred was a lot of things, a fool wasn’t one of them.

For once, I might be able to use Miss Mildred to my advantage.

Jimmy looked through the windshield. “Is that your shed?”

“Yeah, but I need the key. It’s inside.”

“Okay, we’ll get the key then wander back there. Do anything stupid and I won’t hesitate to shoot you, got it?”

I didn’t see the point of all of this. Jimmy had noticed Miss Mildred out on her porch, but maybe he was fooled by her age, especially after I’d told him she was blind and deaf. Well, he was in for a rude awakening. Not only could Miss Mildred give a perfect description of any suspect from fifty feet away, I wouldn’t be surprised if she couldn’t draw the photographic likeness herself.

“I still have to pee.” My bathroom had a window. If he let me go take care of business, I could climb out and run for help.

“You keep saying that but so far, you seem to be doing fine.”

I lifted my eyebrows in indignation. “Would you rather I pee on your seat and leave DNA evidence?”

“Fine…”

It took me three pushes to get passenger door open. Jimmy walked around the back of the car and stood next to the door. As I climbed out, I glimpsed Miss Mildred crossing the street with a broom in her hand.

Oh crappy doodles.

“I’ve had enough of this nonsense!” she shouted.

Jimmy’s mouth dropped open.

She waved the broom over her head and stopped three feet in front of us. “What kind of a neighborhood do you think this is, Rose Gardner? How many different men have you had here this week? Three?”

I struggled to get my wits about me. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You’re running a brothel outta that house and I’ve plumb had enough!” Miss Mildred whacked Jimmy on the head with the broom.

“Oww!” he shouted, covering his head with his arms. His gun fell to the driveway.

“Rose!” I turned toward the sound of the voice and saw Heidi Joy standing in her front door, her mouth gaping at Miss Mildred. Muffy appeared at her feet and took off running, barking as she went.

Miss Mildred’s beating continued, her momentum picking up. “Get out of here, you filthy vermin! This is a God-fearin’ neighborhood and we don’t allow filth in!”

Jimmy had accidentally kicked the gun under the car. I dropped to my knees, but Jimmy still had enough sense to realize what I was doing and lunged for me.

We fell to the ground, me on my stomach and Jimmy lying on my back. I tried to get to my knees to throw him off, but he pushed me back down.

Miss Mildred moved over and hit him on the head with renewed force. “Devil! Satan!
Fornicating
! In broad daylight!”

I stretched my hand under the car, the gun only inches out of reach. Jimmy crawled up my back, but I lifted my shoulders and we rolled around grunting. He got both feet planted into the driveway and slammed down onto my back, throwing me to the ground.

“Never,” Miss Mildred shouted, getting in several swings, “have I seen such
filth
!”

Muffy stood next to us, growling while Jimmy and I continued our tussle. She lunged, but Jimmy and I rolled into the front yard, away from my brave dog’s teeth.

“
Heathens
!” Miss Mildred shouted before turning the hose on us.

Jimmy jumped to his feet, yelling, his eyes dark and dangerous as he faced his five-foot-two nemesis.

I took advantage of his distraction and crawled to the car, reaching for the gun.

Sirens filled the air, still a distance away.

Releasing an ominous growl, Jimmy charged Miss Mildred, who continued to spray him with the hose. Muffy jumped and bit Jimmy on the leg. Howling, Jimmy bent down to swat her off, but Muffy latched onto his arm. Jimmy squealed in pain and dropped to his knees.

Miss Mildred continued to douse him, holding the hose with both hands. “
Damn Yankee carpetbagger scum
!”

Gasping to catch my breath, I moved toward them, pointing the gun at Jimmy.

Joe’s car skidded to a halt in front of my house. He threw open his door and tore across the yard, sliding to a halt when he saw us. He stared in disbelief.

Oh crappy doodles.

Two police cars pulled up behind Joe’s and the yard swarmed with police, all circling around, pointing their guns and not doing anything.

“Joe…I can explain.”

Joe’s face was expressionless. “You can explain
this
?” He pointed to the sight in front of him.

Jimmy screamed while Muffy nipped his arms. Miss Mildred had turned the nozzle on the hose to high. And I stood next to the mess holding a gun.

Maybe I couldn’t explain.

I waved the gun in the air. “This isn’t mine.”

Joe and the police ducked, shouting.

“Rose, toss the gun to the ground!” Joe said, easing himself toward me.

Was he mad enough to arrest me?

I dropped the gun and it landed on the grass with a thud. “Joe, I swear!
I didn’t do anything
! I was just sitting there mindin’ my own business.”

He pulled me into a hug. “I know. It’s okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Trouble seems to find you wherever you go, Rose Gardner. I give up.”

I titled back my head, my stomach flip-flopping in dread.

His mouth lifted into an ornery grin. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

Then he kissed me to prove it while mass chaos swirled around us.

But by now, Joe was used to it.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Joe and I walked out of the courthouse, his arm around my waist. Storm clouds brewed on the horizon, and a cool wind swept through the streets of Henryetta.

“Looks like our heat spell may have broken.” I said, breathing in the sweet smell of rain and hope.

Joe nuzzled my ear. “It depends on which heat spell you’re referring to.”

I giggled and nudged him in the ribs as Mason Deveraux descended the courthouse steps toward us.

“Congratulations, Rose.” Mason grinned. “You were right. Bruce Decker was innocent just like you said all along. He’s been released and James DeWade has been charged with the second-degree murder of Frank Mitchell. The police in Louisiana are picking up his cousin for questioning.”

I squinted in confusion. “But I thought Bruce would still be prosecuted for robbing the hardware store. How can he be released?”

“He didn’t break in—the back door was open. And the only thing he stole was the crowbar.”

“Oh.”

His eyes softened. “So what’s next for you? I heard you officially quit your job.”

I looked up at Joe, my heart fluttering with nervousness. “I’m not sure yet.”

Mason held out his hand and I took it, his fingers holding my hand with tenderness. “I wish you happiness with whatever you do.”

I smiled up at him. “Thank you, Mason.”

Mason turned his gaze to Joe, his eyes turning cold. “Simmons.”

“Deveraux,” Joe said in his detective voice.

I looked up at Joe, narrowing my eyes. “What was that about?”

“It’s between the two of us. Don’t you worry about it.” He led me to a bench on the sidewalk. “We need to talk.”

My stomach tossed around my insides.

We sat down and Joe draped his arm around the seat back behind me.

He was silent for several seconds, his face serious. “This morning I decided to break up with you.”

I looked down at my lap, a lump filling my throat. “I know.”

“It’s just…you just…you drive me crazy.”

A tear fell down my cheek, dripping onto my lap.

“You’re like this storm of confusion and unpredictability, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

Why was he doing this here? In downtown Henryetta? “I know.”

He rubbed his face with both hands. “I have no idea what you’re goin’ to do next, and you scare the hell out of me.”

I looked up into his face, biting my lip. “I’m sorry.”

His hand reached up to my cheek, careful of my bruises. “But the thought of life without you scares me even more.”

I held my breath, not sure what he meant.

“I’d made up my mind. I was going to break up with you as soon as I knew you were safe. But the thought of never seeing you again, or holdin’ you. Or kissin’ you.” His lips lowered to mine, kissing me with a surprising tenderness. “The thought sent me into a panic. You’re full of excitement and spontaneity. You’re like a roller coaster ride, and I suspect life with you will be a series of ups and downs, but I don’t want it any other way. I love you, Rose.”

“I love you.” I reached for his face, crying with relief. I kissed him, hoping my next words didn’t send him away. “But I can’t move to Little Rock with you.”

He leaned back, staring into my eyes. “I know.” Sadness filled his voice.

“It’s not just Violet—”

“I know.” His mouth lifted into a small smile. “I found your list at the coffee shop.”

“Oh.” I closed my eyes for a moment. I still had Joe. Why was my heart breaking so? “What are we gonna do?”