Up Shute Creek: Rose Gardner Investigation #4

by Denise Grover Swank

  Wouldn’t that be for the best? We’d agreed our relationship could only be short term, but these weren’t short-term feelings.

  I worked for another half hour, but my thoughts kept straying back to James. Hoping a caffeine fix and a visit with Neely Kate and Carly might help me reset, I pocketed my phone, my keys, and some cash and left the office.

  The Daily Grind was a couple of storefronts down. Since it was early afternoon, there were only a few people inside and one of them was Dena Breene, Joe’s girlfriend. She ran the cupcake shop on the other side of the square, so I was surprised to see her here in the middle of the day, deep in conversation with a woman whose back was to me.

  I placed my order for a nonfat latte—deciding to ignore the call of the chocolate chip scones—then asked them to make a caramel mocha for Carly and a cup of Neely Kate’s current favorite drink. (Since it was usually complicated and always changing, they kept a copy behind the counter for when Joe and I came in to place an order for her.) After I paid, I stood to the side and waited for the barista to make my drinks.

  “Rose?” I heard Dena call out. I tried to hide my cringe.

  Dena and I hadn’t gotten along too well ever since she started dating Joe, mostly because she was jealous of me. Or, more likely, she was worried Joe wasn’t over me. But she sounded sweet now and there was no way to ignore her, so I turned and smiled. “Hey, Dena. How are you?”

  “Great,” she said with a beaming smile. “Takin’ a coffee break?”

  “Yep,” I said, casting a wistful glance at the counter, hoping my drinks were ready. No such luck.

  “Have you met Margi?” Dena asked, motioning to her companion. “Margi, this is Rose Gardner.”

  The young woman turned to face me, and I realized I’d seen her in a vision. She was Levi’s sister.

  Her bright blue eyes had lifted with polite interest, but they’d shuttered over with contempt as soon as she heard my last name. “We haven’t been introduced.”

  “Hi,” I said, really wishing I were anywhere but here. “Nice to meet you.”

  Her response was a glare.

  “I’ll let you two get back to your conversation,” I said, taking a step toward the counter.

  Dena didn’t seem as eager to let me off the hook. “I talked to Joe earlier,” she said in a friendly tone, and I wondered if she’d finally accepted I wasn’t a threat to her relationship with my ex-boyfriend. “He said you and Neely Kate solved your latest case.”

  I just smiled, not wanting to volunteer any information. I wasn’t sure how much Joe had told her.

  “What case is that?” Margi asked, acting slightly interested.

  “Rose and Neely Kate were lookin’ for a missing person… but it looks like someone confessed to the girls that they killed her. That and the fact they found her purse by Shute Creek means that Joe’s got a locked-up case.”

  It wasn’t nearly that cut and dried, but I still didn’t feel like I should be confirming anything. In fact, I was shocked Joe had told her so much.

  Margi looked close to passing out. “Is it Sarah? Did they find her body?”

  I was shocked she knew who we were looking for, but then I realized Levi must have told her I’d stopped by the office asking about her. Was she keeping tabs on Sarah because she knew her? It had to be shocking to find out your employee had possibly been murdered. “No,” I said, before I thought better of it. “Not yet.”

  Margi pressed a hand to her chest and took several deep breaths.

  “Did you know her?” Dena asked as she reached over to pat Margi’s other hand on the table.

  “She worked for Levi. Sweet girl.” She still looked stunned. “Who confessed?”

  I didn’t even know if they’d arrested Karen yet, or if they would arrest her at all, and I didn’t want to be the one blamed for this leak. “I can’t say. I’ve already said too much as it is.”

  “But you haven’t said anything,” Dena protested.

  And yet it still felt like too much. “I’m sorry, but you can’t tell anyone about any of this. As far as I know, Joe still hasn’t told Sarah’s mother.”

  Dena shook her head. “How horrible!”

  “Yes, of course,” Margi said, her face still pale. She took a deep breath, then said, “I’m not feeling well. Excuse me while I go to the restroom.” She got to her feet and hurried down the hall.

  “I feel terrible that we upset her,” Dena said, but she did a poor job of hiding her excitement. “I had no idea there was a connection between them or I would have been more discreet.”

  “Of course you had no way of knowin’.” But the glee in her eyes suggested she loved being the one to tell her. “Still, I’m sure Joe doesn’t want you spreadin’ around confidential information regarding an active case.” I couldn’t stop the bite the words held.

  Her friendliness evaporated, and she said in a snippy tone, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Rose,” the barista called from the counter.

  “Good to see you, Dena,” I said, trying not to sound catty and failing miserably. It sounded lame after our less than pleasant exchange, but she didn’t respond either way. I walked over and picked up my drink tray, then headed out the door. She was too busy tapping on her phone screen to acknowledge that I was leaving.

  Even more anxious after upsetting Margi, I headed to the hair salon. Neely Kate was sitting under a hair dryer with foils in her hair, while Carly was sitting in the chair getting her hair cut. I didn’t hide my look of surprise.

  “Hey, Rose,” Neely Kate called out over the roar of her dryer. “Everything okay?”

  I forced a smile. “I got you your special latte.”

  She grinned as I handed her a cup. “Thanks.”

  “Carly changed her mind?” I asked, gesturing to her in the chair.

  “She’s just getting it cut.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I told Beulah that Carly is my cousin.”

  “Good thinking,” I whispered back, then walked over to our mystery guest and pulled her coffee out of the carrying tray.

  “I thought you and Neely Kate might need a caffeine boost. How’s it goin’?”

  “Oh! Thank you.” She took the cup and savored a sip before she gestured to her head. “I decided to get it cut shorter.” She glanced back at her hairdresser. “Neely Kate told Beulah that I needed a change after my breakup with my cheater boyfriend, and she had some ideas for a new look.”

  Beulah nodded. “Nothin’ like a change to help you get over a funk.” Then she caught Carly’s gaze in the mirror. “Not that you should spend much time mopin’ over a dirty, cheatin’ liar.”

  Carly glanced at me and held back a smile.

  “Rat bastard,” the hairdresser said. “Don’t you girls worry. I’ll take good care of her.”

  “I’m sure you will. I can’t wait to see it.”

  I walked back over to Neely Kate and sat down in the empty chair next to her. “I ran into Dena chatting with Margi Romano at the Daily Grind. Dena said more about our case than Joe would probably want her spreadin’ round. Margi figured out we were talking about Sarah and looked pretty upset. I asked her to keep it quiet. Dena too. She didn’t appreciate my admonishment.” My mouth twisted to the side as I reflected on our exchange. “Admittedly, I was a bit snippy.”

  Neely Kate frowned. “As you should have been.” Worry filled her eyes. “I wonder if we should tell Joe. Last we heard, no one’s talked to Marsha yet.”

  “I know,” I said. “That’s got me worried.”

  “I’ll call Joe and give him a heads-up. I’ll also tell him to mind what he shares with his girlfriend.”

  After all the frustrations Neely Kate had endured with Dena, I was surprised there wasn’t more venom in her tone. “Thanks. I’m gonna head back to work.”

  “We should be done in a couple of hours. We’re doin’ our mani-pedis next.” A guilty look filled her eyes. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

  “No, I’m
too antsy to sit still that long, but after this weekend, you need some pampering. You girls take your time,” I said. “No hurry gettin’ back.”

  I left the salon and headed back to the office. I wasn’t feeling any less anxious, but I’d settled down enough to nearly finish the landscaping plan I was working on when the bell on the door jangled. A man wearing a ball cap and sunglasses walked in and headed right for me. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, along with a denim jacket. He was tall and had some muscle behind him, but it was the hard set of his mouth and his clenched fists, like he meant business, that gave me pause.

  I pulled open the drawer where I’d stashed my purse, then grabbed my canister of pepper spray and clamped it in my fist.

  “I hear you’re lookin’ for Emmitt Lincoln,” he said, a rough edge to his tone.

  I might be alone, but I reminded myself the pepper spray wasn’t my only weapon. My gun was also strapped to my thigh. I could protect myself if necessary.

  “And you are?” I asked with raised eyebrows, channeling the Lady in Black’s attitude.

  He sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk and rested his hands on the arms. His jacket parted enough to show me a glimpse of the strap of his gun holster. “That’s not anything you need to know.”

  “Obviously you think I need to know something since you’re sitting here, interruptin’ my work.”

  He snorted. “Looks like you can’t figure out what your job is.”

  “I don’t see what business that is of yours. If you’d like your yard landscaped, I’ll be happy to schedule a consultation.”

  “It’s not me you’ll be consultin’ with.”

  “Then why are you here?” I retorted, sounding more courageous than I felt.

  “Because my boss is too busy to fetch you himself.”

  “And your boss is?” I prodded.

  “Denny Carmichael. And he’s eager to meet you.”

  Chapter 26

  The bottom fell out of my stomach. James had called him a maniac, and Mason had just told me about an hour ago that he was a rapist and a murderer. Now this man was telling me that Denny Carmichael wanted to meet me. I gave my visitor a patient smile even though I was quaking inside. “Tell Mr. Carmichael that I’ll check my schedule and get back to him. I might have an opening tomorrow.”

  He crossed his legs. “Mr. Carmichael doesn’t like to be kept waitin’. He wants to see you now.”

  I tilted my head slightly. “And if I say no?”

  “Then my friend will shoot your friend at the beauty shop.”

  I fought to hide my alarm. “Excuse me?” Why had I thought it was an acceptable idea for Neely Kate to go around without a bodyguard? What if my nonchalance got her killed?

  “I have a guy who’s standing outside the beauty shop, and he’ll shoot her if you say no.”

  Dammit all to hell. “Why does Mr. Carmichael want to see me?”

  “You’ll find out when you get there,” he grunted.

  “And how do I know I’ll leave Mr. Carmichael’s presence unscathed?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Huh?”

  I sighed. “How do I know he won’t hurt me?”

  “I guess you don’t.”

  “Then maybe I don’t want to go.”

  He grabbed his phone out of his front jacket pocket. “I guess I’ll tell my friend to shoot.”

  He could be bluffing, but I couldn’t count on it, not with Neely Kate’s life on the line. I was backed into a corner, and he knew it, but I needed to get the upper hand somehow. I stood and walked around the corner of the desk, hiding my pepper spray in my fisted right hand as I reached for his shoulder with my left.

  I quickly closed my eyes and asked, What will happen if I go with him to see Denny?

  A vision quickly sucked me under. I was in the same area I’d seen in James’s vision of Denny Carmichael. Denny’s face and clothes weren’t dirty this time, but his hair looked like it should have been washed a few days prior. He was wearing an AC/DC T-shirt and a shit-eating grin. Vision Rose stood in front of him with a look of disgust.

  “Well, I’m here,” Vision Rose said. “What do you want?”

  “I’m the one callin’ the shots,” Denny said, his grin spreading. “Where do you get off demandin’ anything?”

  “Let’s get one thing straight,” I said. “I could have taken out Clyde over here anytime I wanted. I still can if you’d like. I came out of curiosity—now what do you want?”

  He laughed, glancing back at a few of his men. “She’s a spitfire all right.”

  “You gonna let her talk to you like that?” one of the guys asked in disbelief.

  “I want to see the infamous Lady in Black in action. I hear she’s neutral now,” Denny said, then turned back to me. “I have a job for you.”

  The vision shifted. I was standing outside in the same place, surrounded by a group of angry men, but this time it was pitch-black outside. Denny stood in front of us on top of something that made him a good four feet higher than us. He was holding a flaming torch.

  “Are we gonna sit back and let him keep what’s rightfully ours?” Denny shouted, waving the torch. Flames whipped wildly around his head, and the crackling sound filled the cool, damp air around us.

  “No!” I shouted with all the other men.

  “Are we gonna demand it back?” Denny shouted, spittle flying out of his mouth.

  “Yes!” the men shouted.

  “Then let’s get to it!” Denny held his torch into the air as men started running off toward pickup trucks. Then he turned to me and said, “Clyde, get the lady and put her in the truck with me.”

  The vision cleared, and I was back in the office. “He has a job for me,” I blurted out.

  I jerked my hand from his shoulder, wondering what I’d just seen in the second part. Was I the lady he was referring to? Were they about to go after James?

  Clyde stared up at me like I’d lost my mind, then jumped to his feet. “Don’t put up a fuss or I might shoot you too.”

  “No worries, Clyde,” I said, sounding braver than I felt. If I’d learned nothing else, it was that I couldn’t show fear or I’d lose all control. Not that I had much control at the moment, but I had my visions and my reputation as Lady. That had to count for something. I took comfort in the loaded holster on my thigh.

  I only hoped they didn’t search me.

  “I have no problem goin’ with you.” It sounded more believable since it was true. After my vision, I was curious about what job Denny Carmichael wanted me to work on, but even more so about what I’d seen in the second vision. If he wanted me to harm James, I’d pretend to go along with it and then find an out later. A bonus was that I might get information to help save us all.

  If he didn’t kill me first.

  Of course, James would never see it that way, but I decided to see this through.

  Clyde’s eyes widened at my use of his name, and my smug attitude returned. Let him be freaked out by me. I’d use it to my advantage.

  He ushered me out of the office and into a beat-up pickup truck with only a front seat and gestured for me to sit in the passenger side.

  “No hidin’ me?” I asked. “No blindfolds?”

  He chuckled as he started the engine, although he still sounded nervous. “Done this a time or two?”

  I decided not to respond.

  “There’s nothin’ to hide. People can find Denny if they really want to, and you’re goin’ of your own free will.”

  “Not free will,” I said. “Coercion.”

  “Huh?”

  Rather than respond, I took solace in the fact that he wasn’t hiding my presence in his truck and paid close attention to the scenery as he headed south. If I needed to escape, at least I’d know where to go. Then I remembered his threat to Neely Kate.

  I addressed him in a stern tone. “I’m goin’ with you, which means you need to call your man off my friend.”

  A smug grin spread across his face, and I realized
I’d been hoodwinked.

  “You didn’t have anyone watching Neely Kate, did you?” I asked.

  “Denny knew the threat alone would be enough,” Clyde said. “No need to send anyone else.”

  I didn’t try to hide my disgust. “One would hope any decent human being would try to save their friend.”

  “Denny Carmichael ain’t a decent human bein’.”

  His employee’s confirmation of what I already knew from hearsay didn’t make me feel any better.

  At least Neely Kate was safe from getting shot. Now my only worry was whether I’d made the right call. In hindsight, I could have pulled out my gun and held Clyde hostage while I called James. Part of me now wondered if that’s what I should have done, but it was too late to try it now.

  Or was it? I could pull my gun on him and make him pull over to the side of the road, but it would be a huge risk. We were close enough together that he could try to grab the gun out of my hand.

  If you point a gun at someone, you should be prepared to use it. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to shoot the messenger, or in this case, the driver. I was likely to learn more by just going along with their plan.

  For now.

  After about twenty minutes of driving south, Clyde turned off onto a one-lane gravel road tucked between trees.

  My stomach started to twist. Sure, I’d seen a vision of Denny saying he had a job for me to work on, but I hadn’t seen Vision Rose leave his property. It struck me that it would be a feather in his cap if he sent the woman he thought to be his archnemesis’s girlfriend back violated.

  Had I made the wrong decision? At this point, there was no putting that horse back in the barn. I’d just have to bluster my way through this.

  Clyde pulled up to what looked like a small compound with a couple of houses, a barn, and a few other ill-kempt buildings. My phone was in my pocket, and I considered trying to surreptitiously call James so he could hear what was going on, but we were in the middle of nowhere and the terrain suggested there might not be cell service. Even if I found the opportunity to actually place the call, which seemed unlikely.