Thirty-Six and a Half Motives
Page 94

She grinned. “All part of the game, Rosalina.”
“I’m not too crazy about games, so I think I’ll be goin’.” I took a step backward, but Kate’s gaze narrowed.
“You’re one of the guests of honor,” Kate cooed. “We can’t have you going anywhere.”
Did that mean she was working with her father after all? The evidence was supporting that theory.
But before I could ponder it all, Sam Teagen started toward me. I reached to the small of my back and pulled out Jed’s silver gun, which I then pointed at Teagen. “Come any closer and I’ll shoot you.”
He stopped and glared, his empty hand twitching at his side. The fact that he didn’t have a gun drawn meant he had underestimated me. Good.
His gaze darkened. “You try to shoot me, and I’ll make you suffer for these scars you put on my face.” He still sported healing scratch marks on his cheek. It sure had to be tough for a guy like him to go around with claw marks marring up his good looks.
Kate released a loud sigh. “Nobody’s shooting anyone . . . yet. There’s plenty of time for that later. We’ve got too much sharing to do first.”
“You said you were waiting for other guests,” I said, casting a quick glance at Kate without lifting my attention from Sam Teagen. I didn’t trust him for a minute, and I truly was prepared to shoot him. I’d come a long way from that scared girl who’d purposely let Daniel Crocker drag her to a private office. “Who else is coming?”
“It’s a surprise party, Rose Petal,” Kate said. “You’ll just have to wait and be surprised.”
I turned my attention to Hilary, though Sam Teagen was still in view. “Do you know?”
“How would I know?” Hilary asked. “I thought Kate had invited me to work out our differences. In the name of family unity.”
“In a deserted warehouse?” Kate laughed, but her annoyance was clear. “You always were so gullible.”
Scowling, Hilary crossed her arms, but she turned back to me. “Where’s Skeeter Malcolm? I thought he was your new shadow.”
“Why would she come with Malcolm?” Kate asked in confusion.
Hilary laughed. “Because Rose is the Lady in Black, of course. She’s Skeeter Malcolm’s little pet. He treasures her above all things.”
Kate shook her head. “The Lady in Black? Rose Gardner?”
“Didn’t you catch that she entrapped your father?”
“Yeah, but she was impersonating her.”
“Keep up, Kate. Rose Gardner is the Lady in Black,” Hilary said, her voice harsh. “She’s been working with Malcolm since the auction at Thanksgiving.” She rolled her eyes. “And you call me gullible.”
“Does Joe know?” Kate asked, sounding less confident.
“Joe doesn’t know a blessed thing.” Hilary flipped a strand of hair over her shoulder. “He still sees her as a blushing virgin.”
Kate turned livid and she jumped off the desk. “You’ve been making my brother look like a fool?”
Hilary took a step closer to the center of the room, walking between the candles on the floor. “What is this about, Kate? I know you have a personal vendetta against me, but why are we meeting here, and why is Rose along for the ride?”
Kate’s body shivered, and then she seemed to be back in control. “We’re not starting this yet.”
“If you’re waiting for J.R.,” Hilary said, “he’s not coming.”
Kate’s laughter had an unstable edge. “Oh, you stupid bitch. You don’t know anything.”
It was a sad day when someone looked loonier than Hilary. But then I’d totally underestimated Hilary. I’d never once suspected her of working with Sam Teagen—and the implications of that error were now becoming clear.
Common sense told me I should leave. I had a gun. I could make my escape, although I suspected Sam Teagen would have something to say about that. But as soon as that thought occurred to me, I dismissed it. I was done hiding. Last June, the old Rose had hidden naked in a linen closet, dripping wet and shaking with fear. But no more. I was done cowering. I was going to demand answers.
I gave Hilary a hard look. “You hired Sam Teagen to kidnap me. I thought it was Kate, but it was you.”
Hilary didn’t answer, but she didn’t gloat either.
Kate burst out laughing. “You thought I was the one behind your kidnapping?”
I ignored her, anger igniting in my chest. Months of frustration broke loose. “I understand why you wanted me dead, but why Mason?” I asked. “He never did anything to you.”
Hilary took two steps toward me, her eyes hard. “You have no idea about my past with Mason.”
My heart slammed into my chest. “He told me about the way you used him to get information about his sister.”
She shook her head. “No. He used me. Then he moved on to you.”
I fought the urge to panic. “How did he use you?”
Her eyes glittered with excitement. “That’s between me and Mason.”
The woman I was facing now was a far cry from the nearly hysterical woman I’d encountered this morning.
I was stuck in a creepy abandoned factory with two crazy women and a man who looked like he wanted to rip off my head with his bare hands. I was rethinking my strategy. But it was a little late for that. “There was nothing between you. You were the one to approach him at all the social events. You were the one who got information from him that led to Savannah’s death.”
Hilary shook her head. “Is that what he told you?”
Kate chuckled. “You really are naïve. Are you really falling for this?”
“Then tell me your side,” I coaxed. “We all know there’s no way you’ll let me walk out of this alive, so at least give me answers. No more secrets.”
“I agree. No more secrets.” A gun appeared out of the darkness of the gathered equipment, aimed at the back of Hilary’s head, and Skeeter walked into the light. “So answer the lady.”
If Hilary was afraid, she didn’t let on. A smile lit up her eyes even though her back was still to him. “I knew you’d show up.”
“And now I’m here, so someone better tell me what the hell is goin’ on.” He turned to Kate and gestured toward the room. “Is this your doin’?”