“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve never really had to think about someone worryin’ about me.”

I smiled even if he couldn’t see it. “Well, you do what you need to do. I love you and nothing’s goin’ to change that.”

“You’re amazing,” he sighed.

I wasn’t so sure that he’d be saying that if he knew where I was planning to go later tonight. But his undercover plans took away the guilt of my own secret mission.

I told him about eating lunch with Neely Kate and what she’d found out about the investment company buying the murder victim’s house.

“It’s definitely worth checking into.”

“Neely Kate also said they were goin’ to wrap the trial up on Wednesday. If I don’t prove Bruce Decker’s innocent by then, he’ll have to go through appeals and that could take years. Is that true?”

“Yeah, that’s most likely what would happen.”

My cold chicken wasn’t sitting well in my stomach.

“Rose, this is not your responsibility. I appreciate that you feel that you have to help him, but think about what he was doin’ when he saw the murder. He was robbin’ the hardware store. He was going to go to prison for that anyway.”

“For how long?”

“Five to ten years, most likely. Out in three to six years for good behavior.”

“And second-degree murder?”

“At least twenty.”

I sighed. “I gotta go.”

“Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not, I promise. But I told Neely Kate I’d meet her later. Girls’ night out.” There, I’d told him. No guilt.

“You have fun and be careful.”

“I will.”

“I love you, Rose.”

“I love you too, Joe.”

I glanced at the clock. 7:15, which didn’t leave me much time to get ready.

Standing in front of my bathroom mirror, I put on my makeup. While I’d never been to a pool hall, I suspected that if I was going to get information, I had to dress up more than I usually did. And by dress up, I meant wearing the right costume.

The situation reminded me of the night I went to meet Daniel Crocker at the Trading Post, a local bar. Crocker had threatened to hurt Violet if I didn’t show up with a flash drive that was supposed to be full of information.

But that was different. Tonight I was going to the pool hall on my own free will. And I was meeting Neely Kate. Completely innocent.

As long as I kept telling myself that, maybe I’d believe it.

I left the house at ten to eight. I’d considered wearing jeans, but it was too doggone hot. Instead, I wore a white skirt and a silky light blue blouse. I’d bought it a couple of weeks earlier to go out with Joe but hadn’t worn yet. I hated to waste it on the pool hall, but the black blouse I’d worn to the Trading Post had gotten ripped open by Daniel Crocker. The only other sexy thing I owned was my red dress, and that was too fancy. I just had to make do. There wasn’t time to shop for slutty clothes. My hair was curled and I had on twice as much makeup as I usually wore. With Neely Kate’s help, I might be able to pull this off.

As I drove, I tried to figure out a plan. I didn’t know anything about the bookie, other than he or she worked at the pool hall. I’d just have to wing it. Besides, Neely Kate was smart and worldly. She’d figure something out.

The parking lot wasn’t very full when I parked, but then, it was a Monday night. Business probably wouldn’t be booming. Staring at the building, I realized I didn’t know what kind of car Neely Kate drove. She might already be inside. My hands wrung the steering wheel while I tried to figure out what to do.

A man walked past my Nova, casting a quizzical glance my direction. If I didn’t go in, I was going to look suspicious.

Sucking in a breath to steady my nerves, I got out of the car.

Here goes nothing.

A flashing neon sign advertised beer in the window and the smell of it hit me when I opened the door. I expected the place to be dimly lit, but the lamps over the tables created puddles of light, brightening up the room.

Scanning the hall for Neely Kate, I quickly realized she wasn’t there. My heartbeat picked up. I was on my own.

I could do this. I survived my encounter with Daniel Crocker at the Trading Post, and he’d planned to kill me if I didn’t provide the flash drive. Then I reminded myself I hadn’t gotten myself out of that mess at all. Joe had. And Joe was two hours away.

Oh, crappy doodles.

What on earth was I doing here?

If I turned around and left now, I might not get any information at all. I should at least get a drink and think this through.

I ordered a bottle of beer and sat on a stool. It was next to a small table against the wall and gave me a good view of the premises. After taking a good look around, I decided most of the men didn’t look scary. Most looked like guys wanting to spend a night away from their families, hanging out with their friends. But a group of three in the back reminded me of Crocker and his men. They swaggered around a pool table, leaning on their sticks like the world was theirs for the taking. I watched them for a second before turning my attention elsewhere. But not before I noticed the gaze of one of the men fall on me.

I’d bet a lifetime supply of Suzanne’s tanning lotion that those were the men I needed to talk to.

Where was Neely Kate?

The guy who’d turned his attention to me sauntered my direction. I took a big chug of my beer, hoping it would give me the courage I lacked at the moment.