“What on earth could that possibly be?”

I smiled. “I think you have one of the best brothers a girl could ever hope for. Once Joe knows the truth, he’s liable to annoy the dickens out of you, callin’ up all the time to make sure you’re safe.”

“What if he hates me because of it?”

“Hate you? Impossible. Who could hate you? Besides, Joe knows his father. I think he’ll feel lucky to find out he’s related to someone as amazing as you. Now come here.” I beckoned for her to come out of the car.

She climbed out. I shut the door behind her and pulled her into a hug, hanging on a little longer than I’d intended. “I love you, Neely Kate. You’re an amazing person. Don’t let anyone let you think different.”

She chuckled in my ear as she squeezed tight. “You sound like you’re buttering me up for something.”

I laughed as I let her loose. “I mean every word. I know better than to try to pull something over on you.”

Jed stood to the side, looking serious.

I cast a glance inside the car, relieved to see the engine was still running—that fit with my plan.

Then I pointed behind the service station. “Would you believe I chucked a diamond bracelet in those bushes a few weeks ago?”

Neely Kate gave me a skeptical look. “Where’d you get a diamond bracelet?”

“It was a gift to the Lady in Black,” I said, looking over at Jed for confirmation. “One of Skeeter’s frenemies was trying to buy my good graces.”

“Skeeter was none too happy about it,” Jed added, playing along.

“I wore the thing,” I continued, “but when I got back here and changed, I ripped it off and threw it into the bushes.”

“Why on earth would you throw it away?” she asked in dismay. “We could have sold it and used the money for the landscaping business.”

I shrugged. “Skeeter was there, and I was trying to prove my loyalty . . .” I lied. “But I got to thinking about how much it might be worth. While we’re waiting for Skeeter, maybe we should look for it. If we can find it, we can take it to the pawn shop tomorrow.” I pointed to the leafless bushes several feet from the back of the building. “I tossed it in that section. Jed, maybe you could shine your flashlight out there so that Neely Kate can look for it while I check my phone. I want to see if Mason called or left a message about his search.”

Neely Kate looked suspicious, but Jed dug out his phone and turned on the flashlight to support the ruse. He gave me a slight nod when Neely Kate turned her back to us and moved deeper into the thicket.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “I don’t see a thing.”

“Yeah,” I said, moving toward the front of the car. “But I chucked it pretty good. Maybe look a little deeper inside the thicket.”

As Jed leaned over with his flashlight, I tried to inch my way to the driver’s door. I didn’t want Jed to catch on that I was leaving him too. My nerves felt like jumping beans, but if I acted too twitchy, I’d catch their attention sooner than I’d like.

They seemed intent in their search, so I used the opportunity to sneak into the driver’s seat and shut the door carefully behind me. I’d just shifted the car into reverse when Jed caught on to my plan. He bolted for the car, but I hit the gas pedal hard enough to send it shooting out onto the empty highway. I slammed on the brakes and shoved the gear shift into drive, tearing off as Jed ran after me.

Seconds later, my phone rang. I grabbed it out of my pocket and turned on the speaker phone.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doin’, Rose?” Neely Kate demanded.

“Doin’ what needs to be done. This is between me and J.R. Simmons. It doesn’t involve you or Jed.”

“Bull honkey!” she shouted. “This has just as much to do with me as it does you. He’s my father.”

“There’s no need for all of us to show up to the meeting. Only me and Skeeter,” I said. “So I’m goin’ alone and hopin’ I can get this resolved before he gets there.”

“Skeeter’s gonna kill you,” Jed said in disgust. “You’re gonna wish for J.R. to finish you off.”

I released a nervous laugh as I tore down the county road. “I’ll take my chances.”

Jed’s voice tightened. “He’s gonna kill me.”

There was a greater likelihood of that happening. “No, I’ll make sure Skeeter knows I tricked you.”

“I don’t see that happening if you’re dead,” he said, still seething. “Come back here right now. You’re a sitting duck without me or Skeeter.”

“No. I’m gonna end this.” I still had the gun in my pocket. I’d figure out a way to finish him off.

“You don’t even know if J.R.’s gonna be there,” Jed countered. “It could just be crazy Kate.”

“No,” I said quietly. “He’ll be there.” My vision confirmed it.

“Rose!” he shouted, sounding angrier than I would have thought possible. It sounded strange coming from the man who had dedicated himself to protecting me and who treated me with nothing but kindness and compassion. “Stop this fool nonsense right now!”

“Thanks for everything you’ve done, Jed,” I said, tears burning my eyes. “This is me repaying you for all the times you’ve put yourself in danger on my account.”

Before he could respond, I hung up. I was about to toss the phone to the passenger seat when I saw I had two missed texts.

You are cordially invited to The End. When? 8:00 tonight. Where? Atchison Manufacturing. Sincerely, Kate.

Seconds later, she’d sent: Come . . . or else.

Or else what? Was she sending me the information directly because she was worried Skeeter wouldn’t do it? Or did she really not know I was the Lady in Black?

I tried to calm down and come up with a plan, but it was hard given all the unknowns. Things tended to go my way when I winged it. It was probably my best option, so I sure hoped it worked out this time.

I pulled into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. A single car was parked in the lot, and I wasn’t sure whether to be worried or relieved. Had Kate and J.R. come to the plant together? Since I had no desire to walk through the equipment graveyard like I’d done the time Hattie and I met here, I searched through the glove compartment for a flashlight. Instead, I found a gun—a big shiny silver pistol that must have been Jed’s backup piece. I popped open the clip of the bigger gun to verify that it was loaded. Then I got out of the car, thankful I still had my smaller gun in my coat pocket.