Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments
Page 90

“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.
“Then I’m goin’ to order it. And I’ll let you tell Violet it’s coming.”
“Scared?” I chuckled.
“No sense pushing my luck now that she’s toleratin’ me.”