“Momma always made one or the other. I want to start my own tradition by having something else. With you.”

His eyes softened. “I’ll make sure this is the best Christmas you’ve ever had, Rose. I promise.”

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. “It already is.”

“One more question,” he said as he grabbed his coat off the hall tree. “Real or artificial tree?”

“Real, of course,” I said. “I love the smell of Christmas trees.”

Mason left for work, and I started some laundry and cleaned up the kitchen, Muffy fast on my heels all the while. I needed to leave her at home while I was out with Neely Kate, and she could clearly sense it and followed me around, as if to complain about her impending abandonment.

Since I had nothing pressing to do at the office, I called Bruce Wayne to tell him I was going to stay home with Muffy for a while and take her for a long walk.

“Take your time, Rose. There’s nothing to hurry in for. There’s still no word from Mr. Darby.”

“What about from Skeeter’s brother?”

“He says Skeeter’s under a lot of pressure right now, but he doesn’t know any details other than that Skeeter’s dealing with some new people in his organization. But he insisted it wasn’t a big problem. Just some smoothing over. I didn’t bring up your name. I figured the less there is to tie you to him, the better.”

I released a sigh. He was right. “Thanks, Bruce Wayne.”

After I took Muffy out the front door, I considered heading south on my farmland, but the last time I’d gone that way, I’d found a dead body on my neighbor’s property. The fact that Joe was about to move in there was an even bigger deterrent. Instead, we headed north, following the road that bordered the fields. Muffy chased several squirrels and romped around for a half hour. My cell phone rang when we were on our way home, and I pulled it out and answered it without checking the number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Lady,” Skeeter said, sounding amused. “I need you to meet me in thirty minutes.”

“Remember what I said. I can’t be seen talking to you, Skeeter. Especially after yesterday with Mason.” I took a quick breath. “What on earth was that about?”

He laughed. “I was just messin’ with him. It’s easier to push his buttons now that you’re in the picture.”

“Do you really think threatening me in front of my Assistant DA boyfriend is going to make me more compelled to help you out?” I shook my head even if he couldn’t see me. “Even if I felt inclined to help you—and I don’t—I can’t risk being seen with you.”

“No offense, Lady, but I have no intention of being seen with you either. Meet me at the old abandoned Sinclair gas station on County Road 110. The one with the giant dinosaur statue next to the building. You know which one I’m talking about?”

“Everybody knows that one.” But even though everyone knew the spot, most people didn’t pay much attention to it now. It had been closed for years.

“Then you won’t have any trouble finding it. See you in thirty minutes.” Of course, he hung up before I had the chance to respond.

I figured it would take me fifteen minutes to get there, and I was still a good five minutes from home. Stupid Skeeter. I considered not going. What was the worst that could happen if I didn’t show?

I wasn’t sure I was willing to risk it.

Thirty-three minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot. A black sedan with tinted windows was already idling behind the run-down station. The car Skeeter and I had taken to the auction.

The driver’s door opened, and Jed got out. The move would have been more effective if he’d been wearing a chauffeur’s suit instead of jeans and a light brown canvas work jacket.

I reluctantly climbed out of the truck. “Good morning, Jed.”

He grinned. “Lady.”

I gritted my teeth. I hated that name. “I thought I was meeting Skeeter.”

He opened the back door without saying a word. When Skeeter didn’t emerge, I realized he wanted me to climb inside.

Skeeter sat in the back wearing a black thermal shirt, jeans, and a shit-eating grin. “Lady.”

I slid in next to him. “Make this quick, Skeeter. I have things I need to do.”

“It’s only ten-thirty. You can’t be rushing home to cook one of your dinners.” His eyes lit up in amusement.

I grimaced. “Very funny. What do you want?”

His smile faded. “I’ve got competition.”

“What does that mean?”

“I won the auction fair and square, but the way it ended left a bad taste in some people’s mouths.”

“You mean the bust?”

He shifted in his seat. “The fact that we won the bid and then the sheriff showed up immediately afterward—not to mention we got away . . . Well, some people think I set up it all up.”

I shook my head in confusion. “Why would you do that?”

“Although the auction itself wasn’t illegal—they had no proof of what was being auctioned—some of the people in that barn had outstanding warrants. It would be a great way for me to get rid of some of my enemies.”

“Did you set it up?”

He laughed. “What do you think?”

I studied him for a moment while thinking about what Mason had told me about Skeeter. “No. I think you’re smarter than that.”