“Rumor has it you need money.”

My mouth dropped open. “How do you know that?”

He grinned and took a sip before answering. “Your trip to the Piggly Wiggly has already become Fenton County legend.” Then he watched me for a second, turning uncharacteristically serious. “I know we made this arrangement as a barter.” He rested an arm on the chair and leaned toward me, lowering his voice. “But if you need money, I would be more than happy to put you on my payroll. You’re worth it.”

I scowled. “And what would you have me do, Skeeter Malcolm?” There was no way I’d take money from him, but I couldn’t help asking.

He laughed. “I’m not offering you money to sleep with me, Lady, if that’s where your mind is goin’. I have plenty of women who are more than happy to accept that offer free of charge.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

He turned serious again. “Our arrangement only requires you to show up when I call you. But tonight you took initiative I hadn’t expected, and while you caught me off-guard, your risk paid off.”

“Even though I asked to meet Gentry?”

“Especially since you asked to meet Gentry.”

“I thought you were furious.”

“I was.” He paused. “But what you said makes sense.” His gaze pinned mine. “Where’d you learn something like that?”

“Watching Marco Polo,” I said. “On Netflix.”

He burst out laughing.

I scowled. “What’s so funny about that?”

“You never cease to surprise me.” He shook his head, wearing an amused grin.

“I was doin’ my job. A deal’s a deal.”

“No. You could have just sat back and bided your time until Jed took you home.”

He was right. So why hadn’t I?

Skeeter set his glass on the table and shifted his chair sideways. Leaning over his legs, he clasped his hands together. “Rose, I know this is hard for you. You’re working for a criminal.” He smiled slightly when I started to speak. “I know what I am. It’s not a secret.”

“I entered this particular arrangement of my own free will, Skeeter. I gave my word. My feelings have no bearing on the matter.”

“I disagree. Your feelings do bear on the matter.” He paused. “Rose, there will always be bad guys in the world. There will always be theft and murder. But there are varying levels of evil.” He looked into my eyes. “Do you agree?”

Momma always saw the world in black and white, but not me. I realized very early on that most everything in life was some varying shade of gray. “Yes. I think there are.”

“Daniel Crocker was a power-hungry maniac. He was insane and this county suffered for it. Mick Gentry is a sadistic bastard. You’ve met the man, so you’ve seen that for yourself.” He shifted in his seat. “While I might be a criminal, I believe in fairness. No matter what the sheriff does to stop it, there will always be criminal elements in this county. So if the underworld is here to stay, wouldn’t it be better to have someone run it who actually has a code of ethics?”

What he said made sense, but we were talking about criminal activity, which made it hard to condone no matter who ran it.

“I think we can both agree that there are two men vying for control of Fenton County right now. Me and Gentry. If you could pick, which one would you choose?”

“Of course, you.”

He shook his head. “No, think about. Which of us would you choose to succeed?”

I waited a few moments before answering, but I didn’t have to give it more than a millisecond of thought. “You, Skeeter.”

He nodded and swallowed, looking nervous. “I need you to help me, Rose. When Crocker ran things, quite a few of us didn’t like it, but we had no choice. Crocker knew the men who weren’t one hundred percent behind him. Things have changed. Gentry has infiltrated my organization. I don’t know who I can trust anymore. What’s worse, there’s someone higher up directing him. Someone who wants me dead.”

“I already told you that I’ll help you, Skeeter.”

“But what I need from you isn’t just help. I need your loyalty. Tonight you showed me that you’re capable of it. But I need you to believe in it.”

I sighed. “Skeeter…”

“Deveraux and I are enemies, but I wouldn’t consider killing the man. Even before I started using you. Gentry wouldn’t bat an eye at eliminating him. If he were in control, he’d eliminate him out of sheer principle after that sting operation at Gems.”

I knew Skeeter was right, but it still made me light-headed to think of it.

“So by helping me thwart Gentry, you’re protecting your boyfriend. And not just him. The citizens of Fenton County. Believe it or not, I meant what I said. I do have a code of ethics. No one hurts kids and gets away with it. I don’t condone rape. And while I’m responsible for the deaths of more than a few men, it wasn’t without just cause. Gentry doesn’t give a shit about any of that. You yourself said Humphrey would wipe out the town if his check was big enough.”

“So you’re your own judge and jury?”

“Are you suggesting I hand them over to the bumbling Henryetta Police Department? And let them spill my secrets while they’re at it?”

“Yes.” I closed my eyes. “I don’t know.”