I started to walk around her, but she blocked my path.

Anger filled her eyes. “Do you know what you put poor Joe through? He was overcome with grief.”

I didn’t need to be reminded of my guilt, particularly not by her. Besides, how could she have the audacity to chastise me for getting kidnapped? “I’ve already talked with Joe, but perhaps I should call him to apologize again for letting someone accost me in Jaspers, haul me off to a cabin in the woods, and almost kill me. How incredibly thoughtless of me.”

Her mouth pursed into a thin line, and her cheeks tinged pink.

I released a sigh. “I’ve had a very exhausting week, and I’m really tired of this thing we do, so I think I’ll be on my way.”

I started to step around her again, but she blocked my path.

“Hilary. What the Sam Hill do you want?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but someone behind me interrupted.

“Rose Gardner,” Carter Hale drawled behind me. “Just the person I was looking for.”

I spun around to face him.

He shot a glance to Hilary. “Sorry to steal her away from you, Ms. Wilder, but my client and I have important things to discuss.”

Hilary looked like she’d just swallowed a toad. Then she took a breath and a serene look covered her face. “Rose, you’re one of the unluckiest people I know. You really do need to be more careful and stop worrying everyone in town.”

“What just happened?” Carter asked as he watched her sashay away. “She looked like she was about to rip your head off, then she turned all peaches and cream.”

“That’s Hilary.” I watched her turn into Merilee’s and shook my head. She was probably the unhappiest person I knew, including Miss Mildred. Given my own current situation, I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit sorry for her.

A grin plastered across Carter’s face. “You sure know how to make friends.”

“Ha. Ha,” I muttered. “You just keep findin’ me with unpleasant people.”

“Be mindful of the company you keep. You keep jumping deeper into the cesspool.”

His meaning wasn’t lost on me. “Did you really need to see me, or were you playing white knight?”

“I just left the courthouse, so I really was on my way to see you.” He winked. “Rest assured. I only play white knight if I have ulterior motives.”

I considered calling him on his statement—he’d helped Neely Kate before without ulterior motives—but I was more interested in what he had to say. “Do you want to head into your office?”

“No need. This will be quick.” He grinned. “All your charges were dropped.”

“What?”

“I just left your boyfriend and the state investigator. When one of the DA’s cohorts heard J.R. is facing big time charges, he admitted to knowing the judge was bribed by the big guy to put you away.” He shifted his weight. “The thing about living at the top is that people are often eager to see you fall, and once you do, they’ll turn into piranhas. I suspect this assistant is the first of many.”

“But why didn’t Mason tell me himself?”

He shrugged, oblivious to the drama of my love life. “He was busy with the investigator. So he asked me to tell you.”

I felt the blood go rushing to my toes. Before Tuesday night Mason would have never left that errand to Carter Hale.

Carter blinked in surprise. “Why don’t you look more excited about this?”

“Oh! I am!” I said, forcing myself to recover. “I’m just in shock is all. I didn’t expect it to happen so fast. Thank you.”

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Skeeter informed me about everything that happened over the last forty-eight hours. I’m glad it all worked out.”

I nodded. “And Glenn Stout? What happens to the bail money?”

“He’ll get it all back. But you can bet we’ll be keeping an eye on who picks it up.”

I knew exactly who he meant by we, and it had nothing to do with anyone in law enforcement. “Tell Skeeter not to do something stupid on my behalf.”

“Skeeter Malcolm doesn’t do stupid, Rose. He’s trying to rebuild his shattered empire.” He saw my concern and tapped my nose. “Now don’t you be worrying about Skeeter. He’s tough as the hide on a bull. He’s gonna rebuild it all bigger and better than it was before.” A grin twisted his lips. “If you ever need help again, whether Skeeter’s involved or not, give me a call. You’ve been one of my most entertaining clients to date. And that’s saying something.”

I muttered thanks as he ambled toward his office. Hilary was still in Merilee’s, and after talking to Carter, I was fairly certain I was the last person Mason wanted to see.

I headed back toward the landscape office, defeat and worry slowing my footsteps. Neely Kate met me at the door. “What happened with Hilary?”

I started to answer her, but I noticed a man coming around the corner of the courthouse. He crossed to my side of the street, then stopped on the sidewalk not far from the office. Watching me, he pulled the stocking cap on his head down the side of his face.

“Who is that?” I asked, walking out onto the sidewalk.

Something about him set off bells in my head.

“He looks familiar.” But I wasn’t sure how. Almost every part of him was covered up, including his cheek.