“I don’t know much.”

His eyes pierced mine as he snarled, “I didn’t ask what you knew. I asked how.”

Jed shifted his weight behind me, and Mason was just sitting there and taking it all in, ready to pounce into the fray himself.

Crappy doodles.

“Skeeter,” I said, trying to keep my anger in check. “Calm down. I have my sources, and I promised this person not to say anything. So if I told you, my word would be worthless, and you’d have no reason to trust me whatsoever. Which means I’d be good as dead.” I pushed out a breath. “Last night was as close to death as I’d like to come for a long time.”

“What else do you know?”

“I told you. Not much. Only that you left Fenton County when you were eighteen and came back when you were twenty-five with enough money to open the pool hall. You told everyone that you made your money in Memphis, but you were probably learning from J.R. You came back as one of The Twelve.”

His eyes narrowed to slits.

I forged on anyway. “After you came back, you would disappear for days at a time, and no one knew where you went. You were doin’ J.R.’s handiwork, but then five years ago it all stopped. You probably quit, but that’s the strange part. You can’t quit being one of The Twelve. It’s a position for life.”

Skeeter released a low growl. “You call that not much? Who the hell told you that?” His gaze swung to Jed, and he jumped to his feet. “Was it you?”

Jed’s face contorted with anger. “Are you calling me a traitor?”

“I know you’re loyal to her over me,” he growled as he stalked toward him. “I’ve tolerated it until now, but if you—”

I jumped up and stepped in between them. “Skeeter, stop! It wasn’t Jed! He didn’t tell me a thing!”

“Then who?” Anger radiated off him, and he looked like he was about to explode.

I put both hands on his chest and pushed him back. “Someone who will keep your secret, if that’s what you’re worried about. Now sit down and let’s discuss this.”

Skeeter stared down at me, and I noticed Mason had risen from his chair and was standing beside the table, ready to jump in if necessary, but I knew it wouldn’t come to that. Skeeter wouldn’t physically hurt me. I would bet my life on it.

I lowered my voice. “Look. I was the one who put together the connection between you and Mason. And we both know J.R.’s the common denominator. You should know me well enough to realize I had to piece it together.” I worried I had been leading him on a path straight to Carter Hale. Maybe the last statement would send him off my lawyer’s trail.

Skeeter rubbed the back of his neck, then headed back to his seat.

I snuck a glance at Jed. His shoulders seemed to relax as I caught his eye. We stared at each other for a long second, and he nodded slightly. He’d proved he would defend me to the death. It went both ways.

“Jed’s as much a part of this as the three of us. He needs to be sittin’ at this table helpin’ make decisions.”

“He’s guardin’ the damn door!” Skeeter bellowed.

“And I’d bet my grandmother’s Blue Willow china that Merv or somebody else is on the other side. That’s your real threat, not what’s going on in here.”

Skeeter studied me and then groaned. “Jed, get your ass over here.”

Jed took a seat between Skeeter and Mason, and Mason and I sat back down too. It worried me when I saw Mason’s expressionless face. What was he thinking?

Once we were all settled, Skeeter pushed back his chair and crossed his legs. “What I’m about to say does not leave this room. If I find out any one of you has told a soul, I will cut out your tongue and feed it to you. Do you understand?”

“Did you really just threaten us?” Mason demanded. “Do you think that’s the right way to get our cooperation?”

Skeeter looked vaguely surprised.

“What?” Mason asked in disgust. “Did you expect me to say I was going to bring charges against you?” He shook his head. “I’m not stupid, and I’ve worked with plenty of informants before.” He turned to me. “More than either of you realize.” He returned his attention to Skeeter. “Besides, I’ll remind you again that I’m currently out of a job. I couldn’t press charges against you if I wanted to.”

“And what’s to stop you from running off and telling someone?”

“Because as Mason Deveraux, private citizen, I could give a rat’s ass about your past, and I’m sure as hell not feeding anything to the crooked DA. The only thing I care about is keeping Rose safe, so if telling us about your past will help ensure that, then I’m not only interested in hearing about it, I’ll also swear on my life to keep it secret.”

Skeeter grinned, eyeing Mason with new appreciation. “You surprise me.”

“I told Rose I’d do anything to protect her, even if it means getting my hands dirty. She begged me not to do that, I listened to her, and look where we are now. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, short of murdering someone. Now tell us what we need to know.”

“And what about your own life?”

“I don’t have a death wish, but protecting Rose takes precedence over my own safety. Otherwise I’d be under twenty-four-hour protection right now.”

“What?” I gasped.