She moved in front of me, blocking my path. “Stay away from Joe.”

“Here’s an idea: Why don’t you tell him to stay away from me? Because the next time I see him, I’m not going to be responsible for what I do to him.”

A sad smile spread across her face. “Poor, poor, Rose. Caught up in a game you don’t understand and aren’t clever enough to figure out. Fate has a funny way of choosing our paths for us, don’t you think?”

She didn’t wait for an answer, not that I had one to give. She spun around and walked out the door, leaving me speechless.

“What just happened?” Bruce Wayne asked several seconds after she shut the door behind her.

“I’m not exactly sure.”

“Do you really think she’s gonna help you?”

“No. She just likes to hear herself talk. Plus, I suspect she’s convinced herself that her vague warning was actually helpful.”

“This town’s got more than its fair share of nuts.”

“You aren’t kidding,” I murmured, shaking my head. “We sure don’t need any more imports like Hilary and Kate.”

“You really going to see Carter?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna run my theory about J.R.’s end game by him. Maybe he’ll see something we’re missing.”

But I knew it probably wouldn’t be that easy. Nothing ever was.

Chapter 9

“You need to let sleepin’ dogs lie,” Carter said with a groan. “You’ve got no business diggin’ around in Mick Gentry’s business. Gentry is wild, uncivilized, and dangerous. You need to leave him to Skeeter while you and Deveraux focus on Simmons.”

“Skeeter ran off. Mason’s hit dead end after dead end. I have Joe’s sister givin’ me cryptic messages and his pregnant ex-girlfriend doing the same. I’m not just gonna wait around to let someone else figure this out. I’m doin’ it. Besides, Simmons and Gentry are a package deal.” I was pacing his office floor, too anxious to sit still. “What I need to know is if J.R. Simmons has any ties to Fenton County other than supporting Mick Gentry and backing that contract at Atchison Manufacturing twenty-five years ago—rumored or otherwise.”

“Well, there are always rumors …”

“Spill it.”

He sat up in his chair. “You do realize that I’m supposed to be interrogating you, not the other way around.” He waved his hand back and forth between us. “That’s how this attorney-client thing works.”

“You’re hidin’ things from me.”

“I’m telling you everything I know that will help your case.” I glared at him, and he lifted his hands in self-defense. “God’s honest truth.”

I stopped and put my hands on my hips. “Don’t you go trying to invoke the Lord’s name in this, Carter Hale. I suspect it’s been so long since you set foot in a church that a choir of angels would burst into a hallelujah chorus if you did.”

He chuckled. “Be that as it may, I am a God-fearin’ man, and if you’re smart, the fear of meetin’ your maker will keep you from embarking on this foolishness.”

“You said there had been rumors of J.R. bein’ here. What are they?”

“Simmons’ name has never come up. Not once. But there have been rumors of a rich businessman who has been backing certain illegal activities.”

“Such as?”

“Daniel Crocker’s drug business.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I saw the guys who were Crocker’s business partners. J.R. Simmons definitely wasn’t one of them.”

He snorted. “You think J.R. Simmons is going to show up at a drug deal? He’s too high class to get his hands dirty. J.R. would send one of his Twelve to do his work.”

I shook my head. “Wait. One of his Twelve?”

He folded his arms in front of him. “Rumor has it that J.R. Simmons has twelve men spread across the state to do his bidding.”

“His enforcers?”

“No. Not ordinary criminals. These guys are special. Kind of like his inner circle, his equals.”

“J.R. Simmons has equals?”

“Okay.” He shrugged and unfolded his arms. “Less than equals, but still in high regard. They’re powerful in their individual kingdoms. It’s said that the state is sectioned off into twelve separate areas. Each of The Twelve has their own empire, but they all answer to J.R.”

“Do you think Daniel Crocker was one of his Twelve? And that’s how he got his money?”

“No. I think Crocker was just a pawn.”

“So none of The Twelve is in this area?”

“On the contrary. I think Skeeter is one of The Twelve. Or used to be.”

“What?” The blood rushed from my head, and I sat down in a chair in front of his desk. “Skeeter?”

“I don’t know for certain, but I wouldn’t be surprised. He left Henryetta when he was eighteen. He came back at twenty-five with enough money to open his pool hall.”

“You think he was with J.R.?”

“Not that he’d tell anyone, and I mean anyone, even Jed, his best friend.”

“Skeeter says he doesn’t have friends.”

“Skeeter can’t see what’s right in front of him.” Carter kept his gaze on me. “If Skeeter has a critical flaw, it’s that he looks too far into the future. He doesn’t always give the immediate present the attention it deserves.”