Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments
Page 51

I’m home safe and sound.
I’m just getting home after dropping Granny off. How’d it go?
Good, I texted back. I’ll fill you in tomorrow. xoxo
I was worried about her. Given how tired she’d looked all day, I didn’t like the thought of her being out this late. But I didn’t have time to think about it. Muffy’s face was pressed to the living room window and she was barking her head off. Mason’s car was already parked in front of the house, so he had to know I was home.
I stuffed my bag of Lady in Black clothes on the floorboard of the backseat and headed inside. Mason greeted me at the door, sweeping me into his arms and giving me a sweet kiss that reminded me how much I loved him.
“Did you have fun at Bingo?” he asked.
I forced a laugh and hoped it wasn’t too obvious I was faking it. “It was an experience, all right. Neely Kate’s granny takes her Bingo seriously.”
“Did you win?”
“Apparently, I’m unlucky at Bingo but lucky in love, which is all that matters.” I kissed him again to prove the point.
“How’s Neely Kate?”
I pressed my cheek to his chest and slid my arms around his back. “It’s hard to say. Better, I think, but she gets really tired, and one minute she’s fine and the next she’s upset. I think it helped her to be out with friends today, but she’s still a ways off from being okay.”
He kissed my forehead. “You’re a good friend.”
“I’m trying. I hope I’m doin’ enough.”
“I’m sure Neely Kate thinks you are.”
I looked up at him. I needed to figure out how to tell him about the vision. “How long have you been home?”
“Not long. I took Muffy on a short walk when I got home, so she’s ready for bed.”
“Good, because I’m exhausted.” I paused. Since there was never a good time to bring up your boyfriend’s potential murder, now seemed as good a time as any. “Mason?”
He gave me a kiss as his fingers lightly stroked my neck. “Hmm?”
“Has there been any progress in catching Mick Gentry?”
His hand stilled. “Why?”
“I just have a bad feeling about him.”
“Just a bad feeling or something more?” When I didn’t answer, he lifted his head to look into my face. “Did you have a vision?”
At least I could tell him the partial truth, but I was going to have to fabricate part of it, which gnawed at my gut. “Yeah, on the way home from Bingo. I stopped at the gas station. There were several men around, so I’m not sure which guy prompted it.”
“What did you see?”
“I was in a bar, next to another guy sitting at the counter. He had a ball cap pulled low, trying to hide his face. I’m positive it was Mick Gentry.”
He straightened. “You saw Mick Gentry in a vision?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you walked through the door?” he asked in alarm.
“Telling you five minutes ago wouldn’t matter a hill of beans.” I frowned. “And the vision sickened me…I wanted a moment to enjoy your welcome home.”
“What did you see?”
“He was telling someone he had a list of people he was supposed to take care of, but he was waiting for confirmation. I got the impression it was a hit list.”
“Did he say who was on the list?”
This was where things got tricky. I didn’t want to lie, but would I be putting Skeeter at risk if I mentioned his name? I decided to do it anyway. Maybe it would help Mason catch Mick, and I wouldn’t feel as much pressure to help Skeeter directly. “Skeeter Malcolm.”
His face paled. “You’re positive?”
I nodded, but his reaction worried me. Why would he be so concerned over Skeeter? “Yes, but Mason, if he has a list, you’re sure to be on it after what happened at Gems.” I grabbed his shirt with both hands. “What if my accident was related to this list?”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.
“He was waiting for someone to tell him when to start,” I added.
“And you have no idea who?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
He gently grabbed my shoulders. “Was there anything else? I know you said he was in a bar, but did you recognize which bar? Was there a sign or something?”
Skeeter had sent his men to the bar, but what difference did it make if Skeeter caught him or the sheriff’s department? I may have had the vision at Skeeter’s request, but I owed it to Mason to tell him everything I could to save his life. “There were Mexican decorations on the wall—a hat and maracas. And I think saw a sign…Pedro’s?”
His eyes lit up and he leaned over and kissed me hard before grabbing his phone out of his pocket. He started to place a call and stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
He shook his head and took a step backward. “Nothing. I just better make this call in my office.”
“Why?”
“Fenton County business.”
“But I gave you the lead!”
He ignored me and headed into the library, closing the door behind him as he held the phone up to his ear. He paced as he talked and lifted a hand to the back of his neck. I wondered if I should head upstairs and get ready for bed so I could give him some privacy, but I was still aggravated he was making his call behind those doors. I wasn’t going anywhere.