I wanted to lift my paddle, but I was struggling to breathe.

“Twenty-seven going once…twice…”

The men next to me were staring me in shock. “Skeeter! Make the damn bid!”

But I dropped to my knees, my vision fading, my lungs refusing to inflate. Every muscle in my body had become useless.

Everything went to black as I heard the auctioneer yell, “Sold to number fourteen.”

The vision faded and my eyes flew open. “Someone’s gonna kill you at the auction.”

Then my knees buckled and I started to drop.

Bruce Wayne reached over and helped me back into my chair.

Skeeter’s face was beet-red. “What did you see? Who did it?”

I was struggling to catch my breath.

“Rose?” Bruce Wayne asked. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, trying to keep my fear under control. “I’ve never died in one before. Give me a minute.”

Skeeter wasn’t so patient. Bending down in front of me, he growled, “What did you see?”

“What happened to don’t shoot the messenger? Give me a minute! I’m a little freaked out.”

“You’re freaked out?” he shouted. “I’m the one who’s gonna die!”

“Stop,” I said. “You’re not gonna die.”

He threw his hands into the air. “You just said I was.”

“And I also told you we could prevent something from happening if we knew about it in advance.” I told him what I had seen. When I was finished, he looked angrier than before I’d started. “You have guys watching out for you in a situation like that, right? Just make sure they’re being extra careful. But the needle hit your leg while you were bidding, so I’d bet anything one of those other three guys in Batman’s team did it.” Then I smacked his arm. “You cheater!”

“What did I do?” he shouted, looking confused.

“Those guys had enough money to bid on Crocker’s business, which means you didn’t get my cash back. You weren’t even gonna try!” I smacked him again. “Serves you right that they killed you.”

Skeeter scowled.

I stood and picked up my purse, pulling out a piece of paper on which I’d already printed my cell phone number. I slammed it on his desk with a thud, then pointed my finger at him. “When you have some information for me, text me. But Mason sees my phone sometimes, so be discreet.” The last thing I needed was for Mason to know I’d made a deal with the devil.

Then, as I stomped out of the office, Bruce Wayne trailing behind, Skeeter broke out into laughter.

“I’m gonna like working with you, Rose Gardner.”

Too bad I couldn’t say the same.

Chapter Twenty-One

I called Neely Kate on the way home to let her know that we were safe and sound. I hadn’t planned on telling her everything, but I couldn’t tell Mason and I had to talk to someone.

Since I’d originally planned on being home much earlier, I’d told Mason I would cook dinner. The pickings were slim at home, so I decided to stop at the Piggly Wiggly. I still needed to shop for Thanksgiving, but I only had time to grab some pork chops and potatoes, along with a few rolls from the bakery department.

I was trying to figure out which ones were freshest when I saw a man out of the corner of my eye who looked like the Batman robber from the bank. My head jerked up and I moved down the aisle, trying to get a better look at him, but no one was there.

I was officially losing my mind.

Mason’s car was parked in front of the house along with his mother’s. I burst through the front door, the shopping bags hanging from my arms.

They were both in the living room, and they got to their feet as soon as they saw me.

“I’m so sorry I’m late!”

Mason’s mom moved toward me and pulled me into a hug, grocery bags and all. She was a startlingly beautiful woman in her early sixties, but her warm heart was what drew me to her.

“Rose! It’s so good to see you again. Thank you so much for inviting me to stay with you for the holiday.”

I gave her a warm smile. “You are always welcome here, Maeve.” It felt strange calling her by her first name, but she’d insisted against Mrs. Deveraux and Miss Maeve was out of the question. “You have no idea how happy it makes me that you’re here.”

“Mason tells me I didn’t need to come to Henryetta so early. He’s going to stay with you here at the farm?”

I looked for any hint of disapproval in her expression, but found none. “Yes.” I set the bags down on the coffee table and hugged Mason’s arm. “I’ve grown very fond of your son. I suspect if he moved out, we’d just take turns staying at each other’s place’s anyway, so why not keep living together?”

She clasped her hands together. “Well, I’m thrilled. I was just telling Mason he couldn’t find a sweeter girl.”

I tilted my head to look into his face. “I think I’m the lucky one,” I said.

Mason leaned down to give me a kiss. “Let me help you with dinner.”

I stepped away from him and grabbed the bags. “Don’t be silly. You talk with your momma.”

“Rose, I don’t feel right not helping,” Mason’s mother said.

“Don’t you worry! I’ll put you to work on Thanksgiving. But tonight you relax and let us take care of you.”

I hurried into the kitchen to get started, but Mason rounded the corner and pulled me into a hug to give me a better kiss hello.