She smiled, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“I’ll meet you there.” She didn’t know I had them with me and I was still too angry to let her into my truck. I didn’t trust her enough to climb into her car.

She hesitated. “You know how to get there?” She looked nervous.

“Yeah.” That was a weird question. Everyone in town knew how to get there. My trust in her dropped even more. Something about this situation didn’t add up.

“I don’t want anyone to see us together. Give me a five-minute head start.” She took off for her car and part of me screamed to run to Mason and tell him everything. I decided to listen this time.

Hattie took off and I grabbed my phone, not wanting to waste any time before calling Mason. But his cell phone went straight to voice mail and when I called his office, his secretary answered.

“He got called into an arraignment. Then he said he had a meeting afterward.”

Oh, Lordy. Had they arrested Skeeter? “Do you know what it was for?”

“A robbery case,” she murmured. “You don’t usually ask about those things.”

“I’m just trying to be a good girlfriend and find out more about Mason’s work. Thanks, Kaylee.” I hung up before I could make myself sound even more suspicious.

I called Joe next, no hesitation, but he answered sounding breathless. “Are you in trouble?”

“No.” I wasn’t. Not technically.

“Can I call you back in about an hour? I’m up to my elbows in shit at the moment.” He sounded really pissed.

“Sure. Don’t worry.”

My stomach rumbled as I stared at the run-down restaurant. I was starving and I had no idea what to do, so I decided to stall and get some lunch. While I stood in line waiting to order, I ran through the whole sorry situation in my head. Something Hattie had said niggled at me. Why did Hattie and Daddy think keepin’ my parentage a secret was protecting me? Protecting me from what?

Oh crap.

I left the lunch line and called Jed as I ran to my truck.

“Rose?” He sounded surprised to hear from me.

“Skeeter told me that if I ever found myself in a dangerous predicament, I should give you a call.”

“Are you?” His voice was tight.

“Not yet, but something doesn’t seem right. I’d feel better knowing that you were close by.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m headed to the old Atchison Manufacturing building.”

“Why?”

“I’m meeting someone who knows secrets about my past. I had intended to tell Mason and Joe, but both of them are busy. Anyway, after I got to thinkin’ about it, I realized this seems more like a job for you. I don’t think the woman I’m meeting would tell Mason or Joe anything, and then I might never learn what I need to know.”

“You think she’ll tell me?”

“No, I think she’ll tell me, especially if she doesn’t know you’re there.”

I expected him to put up an argument. “You said you’re headed there now?”

“Yeah.”

“The Sinclair station is on the way. Meet me there and I’ll get into the backseat of your truck. Otherwise she might see me drive up.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” I said in surprise.

He chuckled. “I’ve done this a time or two.”

I hung up and dug a granola bar out of my purse, left over from when Neely Kate had been pregnant and hungry all the time in between waves of nausea. It was the first time a granola bar had ever made me feel guilty. I considered calling her to update her on the situation, but she’d only worry and maybe try to come. I wasn’t sure Hattie posed a real danger, but I wasn’t willing to take the risk.

When the Sinclair station appeared, I slowed down and was about to turn in when I saw a sheriff car pull out. My stomach dropped to my feet when I recognized Joe. Thankfully, he seemed intent on getting out of there and kept going, but I wasn’t so lucky with the next car that pulled out from behind the station.

Mason recognized me straight away and his mouth parted in surprise. He motioned me over and we both parked in front of the building. My heart seemed to be beating out of my chest as I tried to figure out what to tell him.

He got out of his car and walked over, looking more guilty than accusatory. What had he and Joe been up to?

I rolled down my window. “Hey, Mason. What are you doin’ all the way out here?”

He cast a glance toward the direction Joe had gone before returning his gaze to me. “You know I love you, right?” The fear in his eyes scared me.

I pushed open the truck door and slid out, standing in front of him. “Mason, what’s goin’ on?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure. But we really need to get out of town this weekend. You can still get away, right?”

“But this morning you said you couldn’t leave.” Fear stole my breath. What was going on? “What happened to change your mind? Is this about someone trying to kill you?”

He paused as though thinking over what he wanted to say. “Joe thinks something big is looming. It might happen as soon as next week.”

My anger rose. “Then why doesn’t he have someone protecting you?”

He offered me a sad smile. “He’s doin’ the best he can, Rose. If he ruffles too many feathers, his job might be at risk too.”