“You’ll never get away with this, Jimmy.”

“Sweetheart, that is so cliché. Seriously. I expected better from you, but in case you hadn’t noticed: I already have got away with it. I just have to keep you from talkin’ any more than you already have.”

My cell phone rang in his pocket and his eyes filled with irritation and worry.

I needed to get myself together. I fought this man off last night in the dark. Alone. So why was I freaking out now? I took a deep breath. I could use the phone call to help me. “That’s probably my boyfriend. The state police detective. He’s at the Henryetta Police Department, which is only a couple of blocks away. If I don’t answer, he’ll rush right over and check on me.”

Jimmy looked down at his gun.

“You know, if you leave now, you could have a good head start. I’ll even let you take my cell phone. I’ve got plenty of minutes left this month.” That was a lie. I’d used most of my minutes with Joe.

He reached into his pocket and read the caller ID. “Mason Deveraux.”

My pulse pounded in my temple. “That’s the assistant DA.”

Growling, he pushed a button to make the ringing stop and put the phone on the table. “I know who Mason Deveraux is. The question is, why is he calling you?”

“He’s expectin’ me to come over to the courthouse. If I don’t show up, he’s going to send the police out looking for me.”

He cocked his head, suspicious. “I don’t believe you.”

I flashed my sweetest smile. “You can call him and ask him if you want.”

“Why in the world would I do that?”

“You said you don’t believe me. That way you’d know that I wasn’t lyin’.”

The phone rang again.

“Good Lord. Do you run a call service?” he asked, disgusted. He picked up the phone and checked caller ID. “Joe.”

I smiled again. “My boyfriend. The state police detective.”

“You already said that.”

“Just tryin’ to help you keep everyone straight.”

He rubbed his eyes and I was about to hop up and run for the back door when he dropped his arm and reached for the newspaper. “Don’t even think about it.”

“I have to pee.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do. I swear it. I have the bladder of a thimble, not to mention coffee goes right through me, if you know what I mean.”

“You can wait.”

“I can’t be held responsible for accidents.” I grumbled, but the longer we sat here the longer I’d stay alive. There was no telling what he had in mind when he said have a chat, although his attempt to kill me the night before gave me a pretty good idea.

Waiting was good, although Violet was the only one who knew I was here. No, Neely Kate knew and was meeting me for lunch. I nearly groaned when I realized Neely Kate wouldn’t come until Jimmy went back to the office and Jimmy was detained, plotting my murder. I needed to stall him until I figured out what else to do. “Why did you come to my house last night?”

He snorted, his eyes bulging. “You’re kidding, right?”

I tried to look innocent. “Why would I ask if I knew?”

“I thought my motive was pretty clear when I tried to strangle you.”

My nausea brewed. “How’d you pass off your scratch marks?”

“Cats are vicious things.”

They didn’t look like cat scratches to me, but this was the normally mild-mannered Jimmy. No one would suspect anything ungentlemanly from him. “You still didn’t answer.”

“I already—”

“No. Why?” I tried to keep my voice light and breezy, not an easy task when talking about your attempted murder with the man who tried to do it. “I get that you wanted me dead.” I laughed. “Hello, anyone could figure that out. Even the Henryetta Police Department.”

Jimmy’s eyes narrowed in irritation.

“Come on, even you—especially you—have to admit that the HPD’s investigating skills are like two dogs in heat lookin’ for an acorn.”

He smiled with a shrug. “Well…”

“You’re gonna be like a local legend, you know it?” I asked, excited. “You’re gonna be known as the guy who outwitted the HDP.”

He shook his head in confusion. “Wait. How do you figure that…?”

I lifted my coffee cup. “To the guy who outwitted the HDP.” I started to take a sip then put it down on the table. “Oh wait. You don’t have a drink. I’ll go get you one, my treat.” I grabbed my purse and stood. “What can I get you?”

“Sit back down.”

“It’s really rude to drink in front of you, especially when we’re drinking to you.”

“Sit. Down.”

I sat. “You don’t have to be so grumpy about it.”

He sighed in exasperation. “Here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna get in your car and drive out Highway 82, out past Watson’s Garage. You’re pretty acquainted with that area, aren’t you?”

I was only too familiar with it and he knew it. That’s where Daniel Crocker’s operation had been based. Muffy and I had traipsed through the woods and brush around there to rescue Joe. If Jimmy DeWade planned to take me out there, they wouldn’t find me for a long time. If ever.