I thought Skeeter was gonna have a stroke based on the look of the pounding vein in his temple, but I interjected before he could do something drastic. “It hardly surprises me you would jump to that conclusion. Since I’m a woman, I must be incapable of using my little ol’ brain, yes?” I kept my voice calm and controlled even though I was furious. “If I were a man, would you accuse me of sleeping with Skeeter Malcolm? Or would you call me a smart investor?”

His face turned red, but he didn’t answer.

“Believe me, Mr. Humphrey, I’m sure the dangling appendage between your legs has addled your brain a hell of a lot more times than my lack of one has affected mine.”

Sommers burst out laughing and clapped Humphrey on the back. “Ho, boy, Humphrey! I suspect she’s right. Especially after what that Cheryl did to your dangling appendage.”

Humphrey’s mouth pressed into a tight line.

“I am a business woman, Mr. Humphrey,” I continued, wanting to settle this matter once and for all. “And I make my business decisions after careful analysis. Not by relyin’ on hormones and my crotch.”

Skeeter stared the man down before saying in a growl, “Are there any more questions or comments about Lady?”

None of the men said anything, although Sommers was still snickering to himself.

Skeeter took his seat. “Lady’s right. Gentry wants to make bank, and he’ll sell off every last piece of the empire if it gets him what he wants. Fenton County be damned. Is that what you want?”

Seth Moore and Sommers agreed with Skeeter right away, and though he held out a little longer out of pride, Humphrey finally relented too. They spent the next twenty minutes discussing the three men’s roles in the organization, which seemed to involve fenced goods and drug trafficking. I watched Humphrey closely while they talked. After our initial tiff, he seemed to fall in line as a team player, going so far as to convince Sommers to accept Skeeter’s decision on how to handle a territory dispute. But although I couldn’t put my finger on what, something about him didn’t sit right with me. When it was clear they were done with their business, I decided it was time for me to act.

“Mr. Malcolm,” I said, turning my gaze on him. “I’d like to speak privately with Mr. Humphrey. I hate that we got off on the wrong foot. And since he looks to be a very valuable member of your team, perhaps we can work on letting bygones be bygones. I would hate for our misunderstanding to stand in the way of your future business dealings.”

Skeeter turned to face me, a war raging in his eyes before he tipped his head slightly, his way of saying he trusted me, and turned to Humphrey. “If you’re amenable…”

He grinned, but there was a glitter in his eyes that made me uneasy. “I’m itching to get a chance to work on those bygones.”

I could tell Skeeter sensed the implied threat. He flicked his hand toward the door and said, “Jed, take Lady and Humphrey to the office.”

His gaze held Jed’s for several seconds, and a world of understanding seemed to pass between them before Jed nodded and stood.

I rose from my seat and walked to the door, but Jed opened it before I could reach for the knob, Humphrey fast on my heels.

As Jed led us down the hall and through the recreation room I’d been in last December, I tried to figure out what to focus on when I read Humphrey. I suspected he worked with Gentry and this was a fact-finding mission for him, although I wasn’t sure what basis I had to go on other than gut instinct. Maybe I could ask some questions first and read him later. Once I was done, Jed could pull him away and I’d talk to Skeeter about what I’d seen. I glanced at the clock on the wall. 9:15. At this rate, I could still get home at a reasonable hour without alarming Mason.

Jed opened the door to the windowless office and allowed me and Humphrey to enter before him. When Jed started to come in and shut the door, Humphrey grunted, “Not you.”

Jed’s hand tightened on the knob. “I stay with Lady.”

“Are you insinuating she’s not safe with me?” he asked. “Is that any way to start off our new business relationship?”

Jed’s gaze landed on me and I knew he wasn’t about to leave me. But it was obvious that Humphrey wasn’t going to talk to me unless I did things his way. If he was really in cahoots with Gentry, I suspected he had some ties to the person who’d run me off the road the day before. I tried to control my racing heart. I was scared to death to be alone with this man, but if I could get information to protect Mason, it was worth the risk.

“Jed,” I said. “I think Mr. Humphrey and I will be fine on our own for a few minutes.”

He stood in the doorway, hesitating. I knew I was putting him in a difficult situation. I was sure Skeeter had made it very clear he was to protect me at all cost. Leaving me alone could get him into trouble.

I moved closer to him and rested my hand on his arm, leaning in toward his ear. “Give me ten minutes,” I whispered. “I need to do this.”

His gaze shot to Humphrey, anger filling his eyes. “I don’t like it and neither will Skeeter.”

“Y’all are gonna have to trust me or this is never gonna work.”

He took two breaths in and out, his arm tense, before he said, “Five minutes. Then I’m coming in.”

“Fine.” I’d just have to work fast.

Jed lifted his chin and addressed Humphrey. “I’ll be right outside this door.”