Thirty-Six and a Half Motives
Page 64

“It was a performance, Lady. And a weapon.”
“What does that mean?”
“Did you stop to think about why he called me?”
“Yeah,” I said offhandedly. “As a test to see if you’d tell me.”
“And also as a wedge. He hates that we’re working together. He wants to sow the seeds of distrust between us. Which is why he was purposely vague. So you’d think I was hiding the truth from you.”
His explanation made sense. “So what did he say?”
“He called and said he hoped I was enjoying the chase.”
I nodded. J.R. got off on the game.
“He told me that I’d brought this on myself. Then he made his ultimatum.”
“And what did you say?”
He held my gaze. “I said there was no way in hell I was letting you walk into that barn with an army, let alone by yourself. Then he said he was counting on it and hung up.”
I watched him for several seconds. “What does that mean? That he didn’t expect you to tell me?”
“It’s J.R. Simmons. Who can tell?”
“Were you going to tell me?”
He scowled. “I called you, didn’t I?”
“Because you knew Jed would end up telling me,” I said. The defiance in his eyes confirmed my statement. “So why did you call me?”
He hesitated. “Because you deserve to be able to make your own decisions. I’d kill anyone who made mine for me.” His expression softened, and a teasing glint filled his eyes. “Besides, on more than one occasion you’ve hinted at what you’d do to the family jewels if I crossed you.” He winked. “If you’re ever in the vicinity, I’d prefer for you to be there for other reasons.” Then he laughed and took a drink.
Neely Kate choked on her drink, and I spun around to pat her back. She rounded her shoulders and said, “Maybe she should go. Maybe we can figure out a way to work it in our favor.”
“No.” Skeeter set down his glass with a thud, his good mood gone. “Playin’ into J.R. Simmons’s hands has never once worked for anyone. Hell is littered with the fools who have tried to best him.”
I pushed out an exasperated sigh. “So what am I supposed to do?”
“Nothing,” he said. “You wait.”
“I can’t just sit back and let something happen to Bruce Wayne.”
“Maybe Jed will get a lead from the owners of that building.”
“Maybe.” But it seemed like we were all looking for needles in a haystack. What if they didn’t remember who’d rented the shack twenty-five years ago? What if Jed didn’t even find them?
We spent the next hour at the pool hall. Jed had called and said the Pelgers weren’t home, but he was going to try again after he visited the barn. After we ate, Neely Kate became more like her usual bubbly self, although I was starting to wonder if that was just a persona she used to hide all the pain beneath the surface. She challenged Skeeter to a game of pool, and they went several rounds before Neely Kate squeaked by with the most wins.
Skeeter had just ordered her a congratulatory beer when my cell phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize.
“Rose,” the woman said in a cheery voice after I answered. “This is Mellie. We’ve got your paper translated already.”
“Really?” I asked, trying to contain my excitement. I wasn’t sure how a twenty-five-year-old clue could help us now, but at least it was more than what we had at the moment. “Anything interesting?”
“Oh, sugar, I didn’t look at it,” she said. “I know better than that. How do you think I manage to keep my job with Mr. Malcolm?”
“I’m not sure when I can get out there, Miss Mellie.”
Skeeter’s face perked up. “Is she done?”
I nodded.
“Tell her we’ll be out there in less than half an hour.”
I gave him a surprised look, then did as he’d said.
“I’ll be here waitin’ for ya,” Mellie said before she hung up.
I looked Skeeter square in the face. “And how are we gettin’ out there?”
“I’ll take you.”
“You? Shouldn’t you and I stay out of the public eye together?”
“You’re hangin’ out in my pool hall. That’s pretty public.”
“True . . .”
“Trust me,” he said. “If it’s Simmons you’re worried about, he isn’t going to snatch you right now. He’s excited about seeing you slink into that barn tonight. He loves the smell of fear and anxiety. He gets off on it. We’re safe for now, but tomorrow will be another story, so we might as well take advantage of it.”
He had a point.
We were at the bookkeeper’s office within twenty minutes. Skeeter parked in the lot, and he and Neely Kate waited in the car while I ran inside. When Mellie handed me a sealed envelope, I opened my purse and grabbed my wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
She waved her hand and laughed. “Put your money away. It’s been taken care of. Mr. Malcolm told me to put it on his bill.”
That didn’t surprise me, but I hated relying on Skeeter’s money. “How much will you charge Mr. Malcolm?”
A teasing grin lit up her eyes. “He warned me you might ask, and I’m supposed to say not to worry. It’s taken care of.”
Of course he had.
“Thank you, Mellie,” I said as I walked out the front door.
Playing pool with Skeeter had seemed to pull Neely Kate out of her doldrums, and now she was practically bouncing in the backseat of his sedan. “What’s it say?”
“I don’t know. It’s still sealed.”
“Well, open it!”
I got the envelope open and pulled out three papers. One was the original copy Mellie had made. The second was a copy that had words filled in around the shorthand. The third was the translated version. I started with that one and read out loud: He is not to be taken lightly. He has killed for lesser things. He will kill again.
“Sounds like J.R.,” Neely Kate murmured.
I nodded and then continued.
I have been gathering information. I have two copies. One is under the baby bed. The other is in my barn. Use this key in the trap door. If anything happens to me, give it to the police chief.