“You noticed?” I teased. “I thought you were completely focused on finding the restroom.”

“Very funny.” But she didn’t sound amused. “Yes, I noticed, which is why I did some digging. And I found out something else: the car belongs to a guy who worked at the Henryetta Bank.”

“Mr. Sullivan? But he wasn’t one of the bank robbers. I’m sure of it.”

“I don’t know. My cousin didn’t know his name. Mr. Sullivan would have been stupid to let them use his car if he was involved, but I doubt he drove that Charger around town. I never saw it in the bank parking lot before. Did you?”

“I can’t say I paid much attention.”

“Which is why I know so much more than you,” she gloated. “I bet no one even knew he owned it. My cousin said it was one of those collector cars, so he probably kept it tucked away in a garage. Maybe we should go snoop at his house.”

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

“Have you got a better one?” she asked.

“Don’t you think the police or sheriff’s deputies are all over his house, especially since they just found his body?”

“Oh, yeah,” she grumbled. “I suppose you’re right. But we have all kinds of questions we need answered. Why was Mr. Sullivan killed and who killed him? Why was his body dumped at the farm next to yours? Who were his accomplices?” She paused. “You didn’t have a chance to go through his pockets, did you?”

“No!” I practically shouted, but after a second I added, “A sheriff’s deputy showed up before I got the chance.”

“I wonder if we could sneak into the morgue.” She sighed. “Probably not, and I suspect the police have already confiscated all the good stuff anyway.”

We were silent for a few moments. “So does this mean Samantha Jo is innocent?” I pondered out loud.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that she’s desperate for money and happened to be working at the bank three weeks before its first robbery in fifty years.”

Maybe, but I didn’t think so, and obviously Neely Kate didn’t either. Something stank worse than a three-day old herring.

“Since we can’t go through Mr. Sullivan’s house or things, I think we need to corner Samantha Jo,” Neely Kate said.

“And I suppose you already have a plan for that?”

“I do, but as much as I hate to admit it, it’s gonna have to wait until tomorrow. I promised Grandma I’d bring Ronnie over and spend the day with her and all my aunts and uncles and cousins.”

“Well, let’s hope it’s less eventful than your dinner last night,” I said dryly.

She laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. I kinda like the excitement you bring with you.”

“If I remember correctly, you brought some of your own excitement.”

“True…”

I heard yelling in the background.

“I’m comin’, Granny!” Neely Kate shouted. “I gotta go,” she said to me in a lower voice. “I’m supposed to help Granny make a batch of pickled pigs’ feet. My cousins are all taking bets on how long I’ll last without barfing.”

I cringed. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, I need it. I’ve placed my own bet for fifteen seconds.”

I heard more yelling on the other end of the phone.

“Oh, Lordy. I gotta go. My cousin Witt has Ronnie in a headlock. Can you get away tomorrow afternoon? I think I know where we can find Samantha Jo.”

I glanced back toward the bedroom. “Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Great. Let’s go after church.” Then her voice rose before she hung up. “Witt! You put my husband down, right now!”

When I went back downstairs, Mason was on his laptop in his office, so I went into the kitchen to figure out dinner. I started a pot of chili, then sat out on the front porch with a cup of tea while Muffy played in the front yard.

The front door opened after I’d been outside a bit. I glanced up to see Mason staring out into the yard. “Something smells good in the kitchen.”

“I’ve got a pot of chili cooking.”

Mason sat in the chair next to mine. “She seems happy romping around,” he said, gesturing to Muffy.

“I figured this was a good alternative since our walk got cut short.” I turned to him. “Did you get all your work done?”

He sighed and stretched his legs out in front of him. “No.” There was an awkward pause before he asked, “How’s Neely Kate?”

“Good…” I almost cringed, waiting for his interrogation.

“Does she think less of me after what happened last night?”

That wasn’t the question I’d expected. “No, Mason. I’m sure she thinks he deserved it. She’s been pretty aggravated with him herself. The only one feeling badly about you right now is you. Well…” I added with a little laugh. “And maybe Joe’s cheek bone.”

Mason kept his gaze on Muffy. “Did my behavior last night influence your behavior with Joe this morning?”

“What?” I asked in shock. “No. I promise you it didn’t.”

“I love you, Rose, and I forgive you, but I keep seeing it in my head. It’s going to take a little while for it to go away.”

I closed my eyes to keep from crying. “I’m so sorry, Mason. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I hurt you. I’m sorry.”