“But you…”

“Not another word.” He said through gritted teeth, gripping the steering wheel so tight I thought it would bend under the pressure.

Joe pulled into a space near the back of the parking lot. “I’ll wait here.” He looked straight ahead, his mouth in a tight line.

I started to protest, but changed my mind. It was probably better this way.

I bought the flash drive in the electronics section and headed out of the store, suddenly uncertain I made the right decision about Joe. I stood outside the entrance doors, people streaming past me on either side. If I wanted to ditch Joe, it was now or never. I had my keys in my purse and I could easily walk the mile to my car at the funeral home. I’d hide somewhere until it was time to meet Daniel. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a win/win situation. If Joe was bad, I needed to ditch him when he least expected it. If he wasn’t, I’d apologize later.

I walked down the sidewalk in front of the store, away from Joe’s car. I stopped at the corner of the building, preparing to cross the parking lot.

“Going somewhere?” Joe asked, leaning against the side of the building. He sounded bored, but I knew he was anything but.

My heart stopped and I twisted the bag in my hands. “Uh…I was looking for you.”

“You must have really gotten turned around. The car’s back that way.” He looked casual, standing with his back against the brick wall, pointing in the opposite direction with his thumb. But he clenched his jaw and his eyes were cold.

“What are you doing over here?” I asked, keeping my tone light, as though we had just run into each other by accident.

“Making sure you don’t get lost.” He pushed away from the wall and took my hand in his, but it wasn’t a friendly hold. He meant it when he said he was making sure I didn’t get lost.

We walked to the car and drove home, both of us on edge. Joe’s anger simmered under the surface and my anxiety choked all conscious thought. We were almost home when Joe finally spoke up. “Where were you going, Rose?”

“I told you….”

“Where were you going?” He growled.

“My car.”

He let out a long breath. “Why didn't you just ask me to take you there?”

“I didn’t want to bother you.”

Joe pulled into the driveway, looking toward my house. “I wish I could ask you what you’re up to, but I don’t want to know, not now.” He turned to face me, his eyes serious. “But I’m begging you to stay home and wait this out.”

“Wait what out?” Did he know about my meeting with Daniel?

Joe sighed and closed his eyes. He opened them and the anger was gone, replaced with worry. “You’re gonna do it, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer, just stared at him, wondering what he knew. He got out and went into his house, leaving me in his car.

I sat there for a moment, wondering what had just happened. I got out and brought Muffy outside, watching her sniff around the yard. Maybe Joe was right. Maybe I should just stay home. I didn’t have the flash drive. If I showed up without it, Daniel Crocker would kill me. If I didn’t go, Daniel Crocker would kill me. I decided I’d rather be dead in the comfort of my own home. I’d just hide my rolling pins.

Relieved to have made a decision, I went inside and found an envelope on my kitchen floor. My name was handwritten on the front, a photo inside. A photo of Violet. Written on the back of the picture, in carefully printed block letters:

See you tonight.

I squashed the paralyzing terror that wanted to take me over. I had to think this through and panic wouldn’t help anything. I sat down and took several deep breaths trying to clear my head. What was supposed to be on the flash drive? I decided to call the other employees at the DMV. While I doubted they would tell me anything, I figured I had nothing to lose. But I needed to hear Violet’s voice first.

“What’s up, Rose?” The children’s voices were in the background.

“Nothing, I just wanted to call and check on you.”

“Why? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just wanted to call and say I love you.”

“I love you, too, Rose. Hey, I think we’re throwin’ together a cookout tomorrow, want to come?”

“Sounds fun,” I said, forcing the cheerfulness in my voice.

“Great! See you at four.”

I’d just have to figure out how to live until tomorrow afternoon.

I’d started looking up employees’ phone numbers in the phone book when I heard the sirens in the distance, coming closer to the house.

My cell phone rang in my purse. I picked it up, surprised to see Joe’s number.

“I’m sorry,” was all he said.

The sirens stopped out front. What did he do?

The police pounded on the door and shouted for me to come out with my hands up. Muffy whimpered next to my leg. “It’s okay, girl,” I said as I rubbed her head, positive it wasn’t. I opened the kitchen door.

Five of Henryetta’s finest greeted me at the door. Apparently, it was a slow crime day.

“Keep your hands up where we can see them,” one of them shouted.

I walked out with my hands in the air, fuming. I could wring Joe McAllister’s neck with my bare hands. Then the Henryetta police department would really have a reason to arrest me.

“Ms. Gardner, we have reason to believe you murdered Sloan Cooper on Wednesday night and the murder weapon is on your premises. Do you give us permission to search your property?”