Thirty-Two and a Half Complications

by Denise Grover Swank

  Chapter Nineteen

  Monday brought more sunshine and warm weather, which was ideal because Bruce Wayne and I were hard at work trying to finish the Timberland job.

  “You didn’t tell me that David had a girlfriend,” I said to him. Muffy was stretched out in the sunshine. Since Mason and I were both working through lunch so we could be home before his mother arrived at dinner time, I had brought Muffy with me.

  “Oh, yeah. He does,” he mumbled. “I guess it didn’t seem important.”

  “You two used to spend all of your time together and he’s probably gone a lot now. I bet that’s hard for you.”

  He made a face. “It ain’t nothin’. He’s happy.”

  But I realized he’d been quieter than usual over the last two weeks. I’d been so self-absorbed with Mason I hadn’t noticed. Some friend I was.

  “I saw Samantha Jo with her boyfriend at Carla’s trailer. I can’t figure that guy out. One minute he was groveling at her feet and the next he was talking like he hated her.”

  “I think he does.”

  I looked up. “Does what?”

  He shrugged. “Hates her.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Then why is he with her?”

  “He thinks she had something to do with that bank robbery, and he’s hoping to benefit off it.”

  My mouth dropped. “Well, did she?”

  He looked up at me and rolled his eyes. “That girl’s dumber than a dried stick in a match factory. What do you think?”

  I sighed.

  “Moose needs to give up the hunt. Even if Samantha Jo was part of the bank robbery, he’s not gonna get two pennies to rub together from it. It certainly wouldn’t be enough to help him raise the money to buy Crocker’s business.”

  “What?” I screeched.

  Bruce Wayne’s face puckered in annoyance. “There’s going to be an auction on Friday night for the territorial rights to his business.” He shrugged. “Not Weston’s Garage, but the drug part of his business as well as some equipment.”

  My eyes widened. “And someone would need a lot of money for that.”

  “Yep.”

  “Do you know who’s interested?”

  “Well…they don’t exactly go around advertising it, but it’s common knowledge that Skeeter Malcolm wants it. He and Crocker always had a rivalry. Skeeter’s trying to head off any competition at the pass.”

  “Does he have enough money?”

  “Who knows? Skeeter makes a lot of money, but he ain’t exactly frugal with it. And no one knows what it’s gonna go for. Could be five thousand, could be fifty.”

  “But who owns it? Crocker’s dead.”

  “His second-in-command, Bull Tribideau. But he don’t want it. The whole thing’s been run into the ground since Crocker’s arrest last summer. There’s been competition from Columbia County as well as some from Shreveport. Bull’s tired and ain’t got the heart for it anymore. It’s gonna take someone gunnin’ to be king and that ain’t Bull. So he’s selling it on Friday.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  Bruce Wayne shrugged.

  When we took a break later, I called Jonah’s cell phone.

  “Hey, Rose,” he answered. “You don’t happen to know anything about the robbery at Big Bill’s, do you?”

  “No,” I said in annoyance, then softened my tone. “Do you?”

  He laughed. “Probably the same as what you know through Mason.”

  “We had a huge fight last night. After that, we spent the rest of our time making up, so I didn’t get much information at all.” My cheeks burned when I realized what I’d said. “In any case, all I heard was that it had been robbed and they got about eight thousand dollars. Also, they had on the same ski masks those bank robbers had on, so there’s no question it was them.”

  “The Fenton County underworld in an uproar. Big Bill’s is considered sacred. No one local would rob that place.”

  “Mason said that Taylor suspected that was the case. That made us wonder if whoever robbed it was from out of town.”

  “There’s a strong likelihood of that.”

  “Bruce Wayne told me that Crocker’s business is going up for auction on Friday.”

  “So it’s true,” Jonah muttered. “I’d heard rumors, but they seemed crazy. How do you auction off something like that?”

  I told him everything Bruce Wayne had told me. “I bet Lars is going to try to buy Crocker’s business. Bruce Wayne says whoever buys it will have to be hungry for success. He looks ravenous.”

  “I agree.”

  “But Moose had access to the hats, so maybe they are both part of it and the group is a lot larger than we think.”

  Jonah was silent for a moment. “This is getting dangerous, Rose. You need to tell Mason. Did you tell him everything you found out yesterday?”

  “Yes, I told you I would. And I told him everything else too…”

  “Good.”

  “Bruce Wayne says Skeeter Malcolm isn’t frugal with his money,” I said, steering us back on task. “What does he spend it on?”

  “Booze. Women. Cars. The same things a lot of guys spend their money on. Skeeter just has more of it to spend.”

  “Do you think he’d go after Crocker’s business?”

  “I know for a fact he would.”

  “At this point, I think it’s safe to assume that the bank robbers—who have now robbed Big Bill’s too—are stealing the money to make a bid for Crocker’s business.”

  “I think you’re probably right. And I think there’s probably enough evidence available for the police to do something about it.”

  “Really? The guys in my vision still don’t think they have enough money to make a bid. I suspect I was having the vision from Lars’ or Moose’s perspective. How is it that we can’t figure out who the other guys are?”

  “Like you said, Rose, it could be that they live out of town. They could be from Columbia or Lafayette Counties. It’s a short enough distance to drive over, rob a place, then be home before dinner’s on the table.”

  “I wish I’d seen the license plate numbers on those cars.”

  “And I wish I hadn’t flubbed that great line in my sermon on Sunday, but we both did the best we could, right?”

  I grinned. “Yeah.”

  “Say, Rose, I have to go. Jessica’s hollering for me.”

  My grin widened. “So did you ask her out yet?”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m working up the courage.”

  “You need courage?”

  “Everybody needs courage, Rose.”

  “Say, Jonah. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”

  “Uh…”

  “If you don’t have anything pressing, I’d like for you to come out to the farm.”

  “Oh.” I heard the gratitude in his voice. “I don’t want to put you out, Rose. It’s the first Thanksgiving you’re hosting.”

  “No, we’d love to have you, Jonah. I meant to ask you yesterday, but I got caught up in all the excitement. Bruce Wayne and David are coming. And Mason’s mother.”

  “I’d love to join you, but I don’t want to be an imposition.”

  “We’re like family now, Jonah. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be right without you, and I won’t take no for an answer. Dinner will be at around five.”

  “Thank you, Rose.”

  Bruce Wayne was back to working when I hung up. I could tell he wanted to tell me something, but he was acting like it would be easier to birth a breech cow than to spit out what he wanted to say.

  “Bruce Wayne,” I finally said, “if you don’t tell me what’s buggin’ you, you’re gonna drive me plum crazy.”

  “David texted when you was talkin’ to Reverend Jonah. He wants me to ask you something.”

  “Okay…” I said, wondering if he had some information on Samantha Jo.

  “I told him you invited him and me to Thanksgiving dinner and he wants to know if Carla can come too.”

  “Oh.” I stopped pullin
g a shrub out of a pot. “Of course.” Especially since I doubted Violet and her kids would come. And even though we were fighting worse than ever, I was still sad that this would probably be the first Thanksgiving we’d spend apart.

  He grinned. “Thanks.”

  “Bruce Wayne…” My voice trailed off. I was afraid to put a voice to my fears, but he needed to be prepared. I owed him that. “What would you do if you weren’t working for me?”

  His gaze lifted to mine, his eyes wide. “Are you not happy with my work, Miss Rose?”

  “Oh! No! Of course I am. But you know I lost all that money, and Violet…well, let’s just say I need to find that money or neither one of us might have a job.”

  “Oh. I guess your brainstorming didn’t pan out.”

  “No. Not yet and we only have until Friday.”

  We worked in silence for several minutes, my mind running over everything I knew about the robbery. There had to be a way to get my money back without risking my life. “Say, Bruce Wayne. Do you think Skeeter Malcolm knows who his competition is gonna be at the auction?”

  “Not all of them, but I suspect he has a pretty good idea of most of ’em.”

  “So Skeeter might know who committed the robberies?”

  “Maybe… But you can’t walk in there expecting him to just give you information if that’s what you’re thinkin’. He’ll expect something in return.”

  I knew that firsthand from when I’d met him this past summer. “What if I had information to give him in exchange?”

  He released a low whistle. “I don’t know, Miss Rose. Making a deal with Skeeter Malcolm is kind of like makin’ a deal with the devil, only at least you know you’re gonna have a toasty bed when it comes to the devil.”

  “I only want to talk to him,” I said defensively.

  His eyes narrowed. “You’re not gonna stop, are you?”

  “Bruce Wayne. It’s our business. You and I both put our sweat equity into this endeavor, and look at all we’ve done in such a short time! I’m not willing to let this go without a fight. You of all people have to understand that.”

  He watched me for so long I started to squirm. “I can’t be lettin’ you go alone. Let me call Scooter and ask him to butter up his brother before we talk to him.”

  “I don’t want to involve you in—”

  “Mason’s let you ask a bunch of questions around town without puttin’ up a fuss. But what do you think he’s gonna say when he finds out you went to see Skeeter Malcolm on your own?”

  Bruce Wayne was right. Mason would be furious.

  “We’ll do it my way,” Bruce Wayne said, digging his shovel into the ground and spilling over a pile of dirt. “Then if we get caught or into trouble, you can blame it on me and say you were there trying to stop me.”

  I shook my head. “No, I can’t do that.”

  “I think it’s a smart plan. Skeeter might help you if you really have information that can help him. It’s worth the risk.”

  “But you risk your parole if you get caught in something. And I can’t guarantee Mason can get you out of it.”

  He pushed his shovel so deep into the ground it stood on its own then lifted his shoulders, standing more erect than I’d ever seen him. “Rose, this job has saved my life and I’m not gonna let it go without a fight. This here’s war, and sometimes there’s casualties. You hope to God not to be one, but you go in accepting the risk. Especially if something’s worth fighting for.”

  I couldn’t let him do this. I shook my head. “Bruce Wayne…”

  “Rose, I had nothin’ before this. Nothin’. For the first time in my life I feel like I know what I’m supposed to do. Where I fit. I can’t give that up without a fight. What kind of man would I be if I did that?”

  “But you can find another job. I’ll give you a wonderful reference.”

  “Not like this job and you know it, Rose. What you and I have ain’t a normal job.”

  He was right, but it still seemed too much to ask. “You’d really risk everything for this?”

  “Yes.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing myself not to break down. He was right. What we had wasn’t a normal job. He’d proven that time and time again. “Okay.” I wiped a tear from my cheek with the back of my dirty glove. “But only on one condition.”

  “What’s that?” he asked warily.

  “Violet and I…us being partners isn’t gonna work anymore. We burned that bridge with a huge, roaring bonfire this weekend. So once we pay off this debt and save the Gardner Sisters Nursery, I’m gonna split it up into two businesses. Violet can have the shop and you and I can have the landscaping business. Co-owners.”

  His eyes widened and he shook his head. “No. I can’t let you do that. You’re the one puttin’ up all the money.”

  “You work just as hard as I do, if not harder. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be nearly as successful as we are. And now you’re risking everything by coming with me to see Skeeter.” I lifted my chin. “Co-owners or I let it die.”

  His eyes widened in dismay. “Miss Rose, you can’t mean that.”

  “But I do.”

  “Shouldn’t you talk to Mason first?”

  “Don’t you worry. I’ll talk to Mason about drawing up the papers to make it official, but as far as making this decision about the business? It’s mine. He has no say.”

  His mouth moved, but nothing came out.

  I stuck out my hand toward him. “Partners?”

  He stared at my hand for a moment before slowly extending his. He grasped my hand firmly and gave it a good shake, all while staring me solidly in the eyes. “Partners.”

  I beamed at him, thrilled with my decision but a little overwhelmed with what we had to do next to make it all work. “Why don’t you call Scooter to arrange a meeting? I’ll finish up here since we only have a few more shrubs.”

  “Okay.” He walked over to his beat-up car, pulling off his gloves before grabbing his phone out of the front seat.

  Muffy was giving me a look like I was crazy. “Stop staring at me like that, Muffy. It’s a good plan and you know it.”

  “What plan are you talking about?” Joe asked from behind me.

  Startled, I jumped, then spun around. Joe stood about six feet away, wearing his sheriff uniform. That look was gonna take some getting used to. “What are you doing here, Joe? And how did you know I was here?”

  Muffy jumped up and ran to him.

  “Violet told me.” Joe squatted and rubbed my little dog’s head. “I’m here looking for you.”

  I turned my back to him and pulled the next shrub out of its plastic container. “Well, here I am. Is this an official duty, Deputy Simmons?”

  “Partially.”

  “Should I call my attorney?”

  I could feel the anger radiating off him. “You can leave Mason out of this.”

  I hadn’t meant Mason, but I was fine with letting him think what he would.

  He stood even though a still-excited Muffy was still jumping on his legs. “Rose, will you turn around and face me?”

  “Is that an official order?”

  “Rose.” Irritation laced his words.

  Frustrated, I did as he’d asked. “What do you want, Joe?”

  “I want to know what you know about the robbery at Big Bill’s Barbeque.”

  I gave him a fake smile. “Oh? You want me to tell you who did it? Or were you hoping I’d know where they hid the money too?”

  He scowled. “I’m not foolin’ around, Rose.”

  “I don’t know anything other than what I heard from Mason, so you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

  “Why were you talking to Lars Jenkins yesterday at church?”

  “I already told you. I wanted to talk to Samantha Jo. I figured it had to have been scary havin’ a gun pointed at her head, so I offered her my support.”

  Joe snorted and turned to face the street, his gaze trailing Bruce Wayne as he moved to sit o
n the hood of his car. “You would know all about that, wouldn’t you? How many times have you had a gun pointed at you now? Two? Three?”

  “I don’t know,” I grumbled. “I’ve lost track.”

  He laughed, but it was a bitter sound. “You’ve lost track.” He enunciated each word carefully. “For someone who was so determined to live her own life, you sure seem headstrong to end it.”

  I put my hand on my hip, starting to get really and truly pissed. “What do you want, Joe?”

  “I told you I want—”

  “I don’t know anything about the robbery and that’s the God’s honest truth. Now, is there anything else? Because as you can see, I’m busy.”

  His face softened, contrition and regret flickering in his gaze. “I wanted to apologize.”

  “Oh.” I took a half step back. I hadn’t expected that.

  “You were right. I thought if I kissed you, you’d see you were wrong about us.”

  I sighed, weary of this fight. “Joe, even if I decided to leave Mason and be with you, it wouldn’t work. Your father still holds my life in his hands. Pretending like he’s never gonna use it is folly and you know it. He will. It’s just a matter of time. Are you really willing to do that to me? To Violet and Mike?”

  He swallowed. “There has to be a way.”

  “To save me from your father or to be with me?”

  “Both.”

  Profound sadness seeped into my bones. “Why does saving me from your father have to be a two-for-one special, Joe? If you cared anything about me, you’d want to save me even if you couldn’t be with me. Mason would.”

  I started to turn around, but he grabbed my arm and spun me back around to face him, his face contorting with anger. “Don’t you dare trivialize my feelings for you,” he said through gritted teeth. “And don’t you try and compare my love for you to his.”

  I tried jerking my arm out of his grasp, but his fingers dug in. “Let go of me.”

  “Not until you listen to me, dammit!”

  “There’s nothing to say! You just can’t handle the truth.”

  Bruce Wayne sprinted toward us and stood several feet away, his hands clenched into fists. “Let her loose, Joe.”

  Joe turned his steely gaze on my friend. “That’s Deputy Simmons to you, Bruce Wayne,” he said, his voice full of authority. “And this is none of your concern. You can leave. Now.”