Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments
Page 47

“I did something in here that made him suspicious.”
“What?”
I swallowed. How was Skeeter going to take this? “I told him I knew that he was playing sides. And I told him to ask Gentry to set up a meeting with me.”
“You did what?”
I cringed, the boom of his voice hurting my ears. “It was before I had my vision. I needed to know more about Gentry’s involvement.”
He was beyond furious. “Now he thinks you’re a damned traitor!”
I squared my shoulders. “No, I told him you’d given me full leeway to do anything to expand your business. I said I wanted to see about a negotiation.”
He released two heavy breaths, shaking with anger. “I don’t negotiate.”
I fought to stay calm. One of us needed to keep a clear mind. “I know that. And so did he. But it’s a moot point now. In my vision, Gentry said he wouldn’t meet with me until after you were dead.” I glared at him. “And that’s not gonna happen, so there won’t be a meeting.”
“You’ve made it look like I can’t control my people!”
“Skeeter.” I was proud that my voice didn’t shake with fear.
His blazing eyes met mine.
“Everyone knows that a ruler who won’t budge is soon toppled by his own arrogance. But a ruler who changes his stance as frequently as he changes his underwear is no better.” I swallowed, relieved he was still listening. “A smart ruler has people who do the negotiating for him. He has emissaries who test the waters and work out deals for him so he doesn’t lose face.” I tilted my head forward, imploring him to listen. “That’s me.”
His chest continued to heave, but the anger in his eyes faded some, so I moved on. Skeeter wasn’t the only one at risk. For all I knew, that list could be a mile long. “Humphrey is evil, Skeeter. Just as evil as Gentry, if not more so. Humphrey said he’d take out the town if he was paid enough.”
He pursed his lips. “I’m not surprised.”
“You have to stop them.”
His eyes flew open. “Me?”
“Who knows who’s on that list, but I don’t think Humphrey would hesitate to kill anyone for a profit. Innocent people could die. For all I know, I could be on there too, either as Lady or as Rose. And we both know that Mason’s probably on there too.” While Skeeter didn’t give a flip about Mason, he saw me as an investment and I knew he wouldn’t risk losing something so valuable.
His jaw set. “And Humphrey had no clue who else was on the list?”
“No. Only Gentry seemed to know. And he wouldn’t say a word about who was hiring him. Do you have any idea who it is?”
He cast a glance at Jed, who had ended his call, then back at me. “Yeah, but it doesn’t make a lick of sense.” He shook his head. “You did a good job.” He looked pained to admit it.
“So I’m done? I can go home now?”
He was silent for a good five seconds, just staring into space before he said, “No, not yet.”
Jed shot Skeeter a look of surprise.
“Do you want me to read someone else?”
“No,” he said, still tense. “I want you to have a drink with me.”
I shook my head. “I already swiped some of your good whiskey, so there’s no need. I should get home.”
His eyes narrowed. “We have an agreement and doing what I say is part of it.”
I glared at him. “Fine. One drink. Then I’m goin’ home.”
Skeeter moved toward the console. “Jed, you can leave us.”
Jed’s mouth dropped open and his gaze turned to me, almost as if he were asking me for permission.
My heart began to race. Why would Skeeter want to be alone with me?
“Jed,” Skeeter barked as he grabbed a fresh glass for me and began to pour.
Jed didn’t move an inch. “Skeeter, we need to follow up on this Gentry lead. If we can get him now, it’ll save us a lot of trouble later.”
“Merv and Tig are following up. It can wait. Leave.”
Jed moved to the door, casting one last glance at us before closing it behind him. If Jed was nervous, I had every right be terrified.
Skeeter turned around, holding the two glasses. “Come sit.” He motioned to the seating area.
Trying to keep my breath even, I sat in the seat Humphrey had vacated.
Skeeter chuckled as he handed me a glass. “Why do you look so nervous? Are you afraid I’ll bite?”
I studied him for a long moment. Less than five minutes ago I’d given him just about every reason to whip out his gun and shoot me execution style. Yet here I sat, about to drink whiskey with him. Skeeter Malcolm was many things, but he was no immediate threat to me. “No,” I finally said.
He sat in the chair next to me and held up his glass. “To a successful partnership.”
I raised my glass and clicked it against his. We both took a sip, his more generous than mine.
“You’ve surprised me, Rose. When we started this endeavor, I never expected you to be so adept at this business.”
Again, I felt a pang of guilt and fear. It wasn’t Skeeter who frightened me; it was my own startling aptitude for his business. “I thought we’d already established my feelings about that.”
“If you were anyone else, I’d offer you a paid position.”
I laughed despite myself. “If my landscaping business goes belly-up, I might take you up on it.”