He nodded, then leaned forward. “Now that we’re partners, I’ll do some digging into Kate Simmons. See if I can find her bank accounts. See if there was a major withdrawal.”

“You can do that?”

He shrugged. “You just have to know the right people.”

Why hadn’t I thought of that before? Maybe his connections would help me solve another mystery.

“Do you think you can find me someone who can read shorthand?” I blurted out.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise.

“Remember me telling you about the book of evidence my birth mother had?”

“Joe Simmons took it.”

“Yeah, but a photocopy of one of the pages was hidden in a safe at the factory. Mason’s mother used to know shorthand, so we gave it to her to decipher. But she’s forgotten most of it, and even though she bought a book to help, she’s makin’ slow progress. All we know is that it mentions something about a bank account, a shed, the police chief, and a key.” I paused. “We found a key taped under one of Henry Buchanan’s desk drawers.”

“You think a journal from twenty-five years ago is gonna help us now?”

“I don’t know, but several people have died over that journal—it has to be important. Not for a minute do I believe the police chief’s death was a coincidence,” I said, prepared to fight him over it.

He held up his hands, palms forward. “Whoa. Wait a minute. What police chief’s death?”

“This happened about a week or so after J.R. came to Henryetta and threatened Dora in person. She went to see Henry Buchanan in his office with her baby—me—in her arms. According to her journal, she made a real ruckus and told him about J.R.’s threats. When he refused to do anything, she took off, but the factory burned down only days after that. Dora and Henry supposedly went to the police chief, Bill Niedermier, who said he was going to investigate the evidence they had on J.R., but he was murdered before anything came of it. Then my mother died in a car accident, and Henry hung himself.”

Skeeter’s eyes hardened. “Something stinks here.”

“I know for a fact that Beverly killed Dora. She confessed in the factory, but she swore she didn’t have anything to do with the police chief’s death, and I believe that Henry killed himself.”

“So Simmons had the police chief killed so his involvement would stay buried.”

“Or in this case, taped underneath a baby bed for twenty-five years.”

“We need the book.”

I shook my head. “I have no earthly idea where it could be, but the page is at least a start.”

He studied my plate as though it held the secrets of life before he lifted his gaze to mine. “Okay, I’ll ask my bookkeeper. She knows anything from me is strictly hush-hush. She’ll find the right person.”

I should have come to Skeeter in the first place, but there was no denying that Mason was the reason I hadn’t. It was further confirmation that I’d made the right decision to break up with him. I was going to do everything it took to bring J.R. Simmons to his knees and castrate him, and that was going to require some outside-the-law scheming.

My phone vibrated in my jeans pocket. I dug it out, cringing when I saw the name on the screen. I glanced into Skeeter’s guarded eyes. “It’s Joe.”

“What’s your gut instinct on that? Answer or let it go to voice mail?”

“After what went on at the square, he’ll waste time and manpower if he thinks I’m in danger.”

He gave a curt nod. “Answer it.”

I hit accept and tried to sound breezy. “Hey, Joe.”

“Rose, where are you?” He sounded anxious and exhausted.

I glanced at Skeeter. “Out.”

“A lot’s been going on downtown, some of it close to your office.”

“Well, no need to be worried. I’m not there.”

“I think someone is after you again. And I think it has to do with my father.”

“Why would you think that?”

He paused. “Because my father escaped tonight.”

Joe was only confirming what Skeeter had already surmised, but a shiver still ran down my back.

“How did your dad escape?” I asked, locking eyes with Skeeter.

His face hardened.

“During the transfer. They were ambushed while they were unloading him from the ambulance in front of the county jail. Two deputies and an EMT were shot.”

“Oh, God,” I choke out. “Who were the deputies?”

“I’m not allowed to say until we’ve notified the next of kin.”

“Who were the deputies, Joe?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

“Rose.”

“Is Randy Miller okay?”

He hesitated. “He’s in the hospital. Last I heard, they were taking him to surgery, but they aren’t sure if he’s going to make it.”

I squeezed my eyes closed. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

“Why are you asking about Randy?”

Of course. He had no idea that we were friends. “He’s always been so nice to me. I hate that this happened to him.”

“I’d love to spare the manpower to watch you, but I’m—”

“I’m fine.”

“Mason’s still at his office. I know you two are fighting right now, but maybe you should go stay with him anyway.”

“Yeah,” I said, resting my forehead on my hand. “I’ll give him a call.”

“Rose, whatever you do, be careful. I know I don’t have to tell you that my father is dangerous.”

“Thanks.” I hung up and put my phone on the table.

“A friend of yours get hurt?”

I sucked in a breath and wiped tears from the corners of my eyes. “Yeah. He’s in surgery.” I gave him a hard look. “How ironic that I’m friends with people on both sides of the law. You. Jed. Randy. Joe. Mason.” My voice broke on Mason’s name. “You’re all sworn enemies, but I’d be devastated if anything happened to any of you.”

“It’s like I told you in the Gems parking lot when it was burning to the ground. You don’t see black and white. You see gray. People aren’t all good and bad. You have a way of bringing out the good.”