He chuckled. “I’m going to be surrounded by a bunch of sheriff’s deputies. I don’t think I can get much safer than that. I’ll be home as soon as I can. If I’m late, promise you’ll set the alarm.”

I made a face, but the alarm system was a better idea than ever right now, so I promised I’d do it and then hung up. I stared at the landscaping office, thinking about Merv hanging around earlier. Jed still hadn’t contacted me, but I decided I was sick of sitting around and waiting on other people. I was gonna take the bull by the horns and deal with this head on.

I called Skeeter and he answered on the third ring. “Where the hell are you?” he growled.

I didn’t waste any time letting loose. “Why did I see Merv hanging around outside my office on the town square? Someone recognized him, Skeeter!”

“Who recognized him?”

I wasn’t about to throw Carter Hale under the bus. “Never you mind. I dealt with it, so we’re good, but what on earth were you thinkin’? You’re smarter than that.”

He was surprisingly quiet.

“I’m coming to see you to settle this nonsense. Where are you?”

“I’m at the pool hall, but I don’t want you comin’ back here. I’ll meet you at the Sinclair station in twenty minutes.”

“Make it thirty. Now that I know I won’t be kidnapped on the streets of Henryetta, I need to get my truck back.”

“Fine.” He hung up without so much as a goodbye, not that I was surprised. Skeeter wasn’t so fond of formalities, but the conversation had me stumped. He was acting surprisingly docile.

I drove to Maeve’s, calling her on the way to let her know I was coming to get my truck back. Moments after I parked in the alley behind her house, she came out to greet me. I pushed her garage door opener button so I could pull her car in next to my truck.

“I take it the coast is clear,” she said as soon as I climbed out of the car. “You no longer have to hide?”

“No, and while I’m not asking you to lie to Mason, I’d prefer for him not to know about this.”

She smiled and handed me the keys for my truck. “Your secret is safe with me. I’ll help in any way I can.”

I grinned. “Well, in that case I may need you to help with our grocery shopping when things settle down. I hate going to the Peach Orchard store.”

“I thought Mason got your Piggly Wiggly shopping rights reinstated.”

I grimaced. “He did. Until I lost them again.” No need to tell her Mason was the one who’d told them off and pledged never to shop there again.

She laughed. “I’m sure there’s a story there you can tell at Sunday dinner. And of course I’ll help.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a hug and waved goodbye as I got into my truck.

I was nervous about meeting Skeeter, and I knew I needed a plan, but darned if I had one. I knew I needed to stick to my guns about quitting the Lady in Black business, but it didn’t feel right to renege on our deal, even if he was a criminal. Skeeter was right—it didn’t take a genius to see that he was a better option than Daniel Crocker or Mick Gentry.

My anxiety over Maeve’s pronouncement had mushroomed too. It had taken me a couple of hours, but I’d figured out the other powerful man in her vision. Of course it was Skeeter. Maeve had told me I was supposed to save them both. The visions I’d had for Skeeter seemed to support the theory that his life and Mason’s were tied together, and I knew both were likely on Mick Gentry’s list. What if playing the role of the Lady in Black was the only way I could save them both?

A sedan was backed into the space behind the Sinclair station and Skeeter got out of the driver’s door as I pulled in next to him. I was surprised he didn’t drive a flashier car. Or a truck.

He opened my door. “Lady.”

“Just Rose,” I said as I slid off the seat.

Rather than answering, he opened the back door of his car and waited for me get in.

I looked up at him, surprisingly not scared. “Do I need to worry about getting into the back of this car?”

He still didn’t answer, his expression guarded. I had no idea where he planned to take me, but I had my Taser in my purse, should I need it. But I wouldn’t. Skeeter might be a dangerous man, but I knew there was a different side to him—one I had seen but that he usually hid from the rest of world. Maybe that’s why Jed wasn’t here with him.

I climbed in, surprised when he slid in next to me. After moving over to let him in, I waited for him to speak. I’d asked for this meeting, but he’d made sure it was held on his turf. I was okay with that. That’s where the Lady in Black belonged.

He stared straight ahead for several moments, resting his hands on his knees. When he spoke, he didn’t budge his gaze from the windshield. “I may have overreacted this afternoon.”

“You think?” I let out a laugh before I realized what I was doing.

He shot me an irritated glance. “I’m trying to apologize and it doesn’t come naturally, so cut me some slack.”

“Sorry. Go on.”

“You’re more valuable to me than I think you realize. When you interrogate people for me, you’re protected. You’re no good to me dead,” he said, sounding irritated.

“That’s the sweetest thing you could ever say,” I teased.

His gaze found mine. “I mean it, Rose.”