Thirty-Six and a Half Motives
Page 23

“You may very well be right. We’ll deal with that later. Just get your ass to that shed.”
“Why do you sound so anxious?” I asked.
“I still can’t get through to Merv.”
“Is Jed with Neely Kate?” I asked, starting to panic. “If they think I’m not at the office, they might go lookin’ for me at the farm next.”
“Already taken care of.”
“Where is she?”
“Jed took Neely Kate and your dog to a safe house. She’s fine. Now get your ass into that shed.”
I climbed a one-foot incline to the final building, which was wider than the others and had a six-by-six structure in the middle. A small building in the back corner looked like it housed a staircase.
When I reached the door, I wasn’t surprised to find the doorknob wouldn’t turn. “It’s locked.”
Skeeter cursed. “What kind of lock? Deadbolt?”
I bent over and turned on my flashlight for a quick moment before flicking it off. “No, just a keyed doorknob.”
“Are you wearing any hairpins?”
“What?” I asked, and then I realized what he wanted me to do. “I’ve never picked a lock before.”
“No time like the present to learn. Do you have some?”
I didn’t have any pins in my hair, but I felt three in my pocket. Thank goodness I tended to carry them in case I needed to go out and do an estimate on a windy day.“How many do I need?” I asked. “Two?”
He chuckled, but there was an anxious edge to it. “You’ve been watching cop shows. That’s good. Yeah, bend one out flat. Keep the other like it is, but bend the hooked end at a forty-five degree angle. Tell me when you’re ready.”
I did as he instructed, but I had to stop a couple of times to rub my numb fingers together so I could finish the task. “Done.”
“Okay, now listen close—you don’t have much time. Turn the knob like you’re trying to open it. Then slide the bent end of the hair pin in until you meet resistance.”
I followed his instructions. “Okay.”
“Good. Now take the other pin and gently slide it in over the other, keeping the knob turned. Again, stop when you meet resistance.”
As I performed the maneuver, I tried not to think about the fact that two men with guns might appear at any time. I hoped to God this would work. “Okay.”
“Now push up gently, and you’ll feel it catch. Do you feel it?”
I closed my eyes and felt the pop. “I think so.”
“Good, now push it deeper until you meet resistance.”
Keeping my eyes closed, I tried to feel for the resistance. “That sounds like a bad that’s what she said joke,” I murmured as I felt the pin give. I slowly pushed deeper.
Skeeter chuckled. “Why, Rose Gardner, I expected you to be a blushing innocent.”
“Haven’t you figured out by now that I’m far from innocent? The fact that I’m picking a lock is proof enough of that.” I felt another pin give, and then the knob turned and the door opened. “I did it!” I whisper-shouted in amazement. “It’s open.”
“Good. Get inside and lock the door. You’re about to get company.”
“How do you know?” I glanced over my shoulder as I opened the door wider.
“Merv sent me text. Go.”
I stumbled into the room, bumping into a table, and turned to shut and lock the door behind me. “What’s to keep them from picking the lock?” I whispered, pulling the gun out of my pocket.
“Nothing. They could also shoot the lock, but I doubt they’ll do either. They’ll never expect you to be hiding in there, especially if they’re hiding out in Kate’s apartment. You just sit tight and wait them out.”
“Is Merv okay?” I made my way along the edge of the table. It felt like it was made with 4x4s.
“He’s been better, but you let me deal with Merv. You concentrate on what’s going on around you. Do you hear anything?”
“No.”
“Stay on your toes. I expect them to be quiet. They’re hidin’ from Henryetta’s finest. They may think to hide in your shed, too.”
“Oh, crap.”
“What’s in there with you?”
“Uh . . . I didn’t see anything before I came in, but I bumped into a large table. About four feet long, I think. I figure I shouldn’t turn on my flashlight in case they’re close enough to see light at the bottom of the door.”
“Good thinking. But use the light of your phone screen. It should be dim enough to keep you hidden. Look for someplace to hide in case they decide to join you in there.”
I dug out my phone. The illuminated screen revealed a table constructed out of plywood and rough lumber, covered in stacks of papers. There was also a bottom ledge stacked with large cardboard boxes.
“I think I may have found a good spot,” I said, moving around to the back of the table. I shifted two heavy boxes onto the floor. The table was wide enough that I could hide in the middle of the boxes and go undetected—unless they started searching. But it seemed like my best chance. “I found a place that should work unless they go snoopin’.”
“Have your gun drawn just in case this all goes south,” he said, his voice even and cool.
“Already done,” I said as I moved the boxes back into place next to me. And I finished in the nick of time.
Seconds later, I heard low voices outside the shed, followed by the click of metal in the lock and the sound of the door swinging open. They were either experts at lock picking, or they had a key. Considering the familiar way they rushed into the room and shut the door behind them—neither of them hitting the table—I was going with the latter. Someone turned on a dim light, and I could hear their soft footsteps, pacing back and forth next to the table.
I struggled to keep my breath slow and steady. The last thing I needed was for them to hear me hyperventilating.
“Rose?” Skeeter whispered in my ear, reminding me that my phone was still in my hand. The screen was locked, but I turned it over just in case. I didn’t dare tell Skeeter what was going on. He’d figure it out soon enough.
“Do you think he saw us?” one of them asked. He sounded like his vocal cords were made of sandpaper. I heard something metal clang on the table. He moved again, and I realized that he was the one wearing dark jeans.