“What about Mason?”

“Especially not Mason.” When I shot him an angry glare, he lifted his hands in defense. “Not my rules. Your boyfriend could be Charles Manson for all I care. We love who we love.” He didn’t sound too happy about the last part. “But if they went to the trouble of kicking him out of his position, I suspect they won’t want him communicating with you.”

“But I can see him on Monday at my arraignment?” When he nodded, I asked, “So what happens after my arraignment? Will they put me back in jail?”

He grimaced. “It depends on if they give you bail. With a case as hopeless as this one, Simmons and the judge who’s handling the arraignment are probably worried you’re a flight risk. But I’ll assure them you’re a productive member of society—that you’ve sunk all your money into your businesses and are dedicated to making them work.”

“How do you know all of that?”

He rolled his eyes. “Rose Gardner, owner of RBW Landscaping, has an office right across the square from mine.”

My face burned with embarrassment. Yes, of course he knew. Neely Kate and I had practically barged into his office the other day while we were trying to duck one of Skeeter’s guys.

“In the arraignment, I’ll do all the speaking on your behalf, including entering your plea.”

“You are going to plead innocent, aren’t you?”

His gaze held mine. “If I pled guilty—even if you asked me to do it—I suspect I’d face repercussions that would haunt me to my dying breath, which would no doubt be much sooner than I’d like.” His mouth twisted into a condescending smile. “So the answer to your question is yes, I will be pleading innocent.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure where his sudden hostility had come from, but if he really was the only one willing to take my case, I couldn’t afford to alienate him.

“So,” he drawled, tapping his pen on the tablet. “Any messages?”

I had more messages in my head than he had paper to write them down on, but I felt awkward about sharing my soul with Carter. Especially after his latest display. “Could you please tell Mason not to worry? That I’m okay.”

He nodded.

I shifted in my seat, worried about the next one. “I need you to give Neely Kate a message too.” I paused. “But it must remain completely confidential, even from Mason. Can you assure me of that?”

His eyebrows lifted, but he nodded. “Yes.”

“Ask her if she’ll make sure my closet is clean.”

His head cocked to the side, and his eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Most women aren’t concerned about housekeeping when they’re sitting in jail for murder.”

I shrugged. “Call me a neat freak, just make sure she gets the message. Do you need her number?”

He gave me a half-grin. “No. She put her number in my speed dial and told me to call her after I saw you.”

That caught me by surprise. “When did you see her?”

“Right before I came here to see you.” He grimaced and absently rubbed his arm. “She can be very persuasive.”

I couldn’t help grinning, but the smile slipped off my face when I realized a hard truth: Carter was about to walk out of this room, which meant I was going back to that jail cell. Where I’d sit for the next sixty hours or so. If Janie didn’t decide to add to her sentence by murdering me.

“Any more messages?”

I shook my head.

“Chin up, Rose Gardner. You’ve got people in your corner, me included. And you don’t have to worry about Janie Parsons beatin’ the shit out of you. You’ll be gettin’ your own cell when you walk out of here.”

My head jerked up. “What? Why?”

“Let’s just say I used my own powers of persuasion to convince them your safety was at risk given your personal connections and your past with Crocker.” He winked, then stood. “I confess, you’ve piqued my curiosity for some time, Rose Gardner. I’m looking forward to peekin’ behind the curtain.” He walked to the door and rapped with his knuckles. The door opened seconds later. Carter glanced back at me with a grin. “See you Monday morning.”

It was gonna be a long weekend.

Chapter 2

On Monday morning, my stomach cramped as the sheriff cruiser that was transporting me pulled up to the side entrance of the Fenton County courthouse. Deputy Randy Miller opened the back door, took one look at me, and frowned at the driver.

“Shackles, Abbie Lee?” he asked in disbelief. “Is that really necessary?”

Deputy Hoffstetter shot him a glare. “I wouldn’t be surprised if her blonde bimbo friend showed up and tried to make a break for it with ’er.”

In all honesty, I wouldn’t have been too surprised by that either. And after all the evasion maneuvers we performed the day of the fire at Gems, the strip club Neely Kate’s cousin had worked at and disappeared from, I wasn’t all that surprised Deputy Hoffstetter was being so cautious.

Deputy Miller’s face reddened. “Well, I’m not walking her in like this, so hand over the key.”

“She’ll take advantage of ya, Miller.”

He searched my eyes. “Rose, if I take these shackles off, are you gonna make a break for it?”

I shook my head. “Not only would it be a foolish move, I think you’re fast enough to have me recaptured in less than five seconds.”