The hard look in Jed’s eyes suggested he believed the same thing.
I shook my head. While I knew he was likely right, I still struggled to believe Kate could be jealous of me. “Then we need to find and catch her.”
“She’s sneaky,” Joe said. “And she’s whip-smart. She’s schemed up something, and we need to bide our time. Wait for a mistake.”
“You want to wait?” Jed asked in a deadpan tone. “I’m not leavin’ Neely Kate as bait.”
“I bet she’s plannin’ something for tomorrow night,” I said. “She knows about the fundraiser dinner. She’s gonna come.”
Joe’s mouth parted, and then he quickly closed it. “You’re right.”
“There’s no way Neely Kate’s goin’ to that thing,” Jed said. “I’m not putting her in that danger.”
“We don’t have to make a decision yet,” I said. “Let’s see what else we can find. Why would she plant a body in my basement if she wants to pull something tomorrow night?”
“It’s a test,” Jed said, turning his attention to Joe. “A test of Joe’s loyalty to you.”
Joe stared at him in shock. Then he sank back in his seat. “Carlisle’s right.”
“What else does she have planned?” I asked.
“She left a dead body in your basement,” Jed said. “With possible ties to a drug syndicate in Dallas. I’m not waitin’ to see how this plays out.”
“What the hell are you gonna do?” Joe asked.
“I’m gonna track down Branson Desoto.” He turned to me. “Do you feel up to searching that laptop?”
While I wasn’t looking forward to it, I needed to do something. “Yeah.”
Joe’s jaw locked tight, but he didn’t protest.
“You’re not goin’ to Ardmore, are you?” I asked.
“No. I think I can get what I need from here, but I need to go talk to a couple of people about Hardshaw.”
“Who?” Joe asked. “And why?”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m gonna tell you who, and as to the why, Neil Franken might have had other reasons for showin’ up here. Things have been unsettled over the last few months and the Hardshaw Group might be tryin’ to insert themselves into Fenton County. I aim to find out if they’ve reached out to anyone.”
Joe groaned. “Okay, it’s a good idea, but I don’t think Neely Kate and I should stay here. I’m gonna take her to my house. Do you know where that is?” Then he snorted. “What am I askin’? I’m sure you’ve staked out the place a time or two.”
Jed gave him a look of disgust. “Don’t flatter yourself, Simmons.” Then he stood and tugged me up with him. “Walk me to the door.”
I shot Joe a warning look not to intervene and followed Jed through the swinging door into the living room. When we reached the staircase by the front door, he pulled me to his chest, wrapping me up in his arms. “I hate leavin’ you, and the only reason I’m considerin’ it is because I know Joe will take care of you. I’d take you with me, but I don’t want to risk it.”
“The sooner we put an end to this nonsense, the sooner our lives can get back to normal.”
“You’re right.” He tipped my head back and stared into my eyes. “We might have to postpone our plans tonight.”
I hadn’t given our date much thought, but now that he mentioned it, I knew he was right. I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. But the turmoil in Jed’s eyes proved he cared about me, so why had he been so distant? “Don’t worry about that.”
“I was lookin’ forward to it,” he said. Then his face tightened. “When we catch Kate Simmons, I’m gonna make her pay for that too.”
I forced a grin to ease the tension. “You’re keepin’ a tally?”
“I have been since the first time we went to see her. She touched me just to get a rise out of you, and it went on my list.”
“Well, it couldn’t be that long of a list,” I said.
He started to say something, then stopped himself and started again. “As long as Kate Simmons is alive, she will continue to hurt you. I refuse to let that happen. Do you understand what I’m sayin’?”
Fear skated under my skin, making my hair stand on end. I captured his face between my hands, our eyes locking. “There will be no killin’ unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
He leaned down and kissed me, lightly at first, his lips brushing mine as though they were butterfly wings. Then he groaned and held me tighter, his mouth and tongue growing bolder. My hands found their way around his neck, and I pressed myself against him, surprised that my body fit so perfectly with his, especially since he was a good half foot taller than me.
Jed lifted his face, his eyes hooded with lust. “I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure tonight still happens. I’m not lettin’ Kate take that from us too.”
The fact that his plans for tonight were a good thing filled me with far more relief than it should have. “What were you plannin’?”
“Dinner, like I told you. And a few surprises.”
“Surprises?”
“That’s what I’ve been workin’ on all week. And I really want to show you, so let’s find a way to make it work.”
I smiled, surprised at the giddiness that filled me. He’d been planning this all week. “Okay.”
He kissed me again, with a hunger that caught me by surprise. “I’m scared to leave you, but I take comfort knowin’ Joe would sooner take a bullet than let Kate hurt you. When I leave, pack a bag to take with you. I’d rather you not come back here until we decide what to do with that body. Tell Joe I’ll make arrangements to get you sometime around eight, and he can have you back tomorrow morning.”
“Be careful, Jed,” I said. “You’re gonna visit some dangerous people, aren’t you?”
“My list is short, but they aren’t people I would have enjoyed visitin’ even when I was workin’ for Skeeter.”
That scared me even more, and my imagination ran wild. “Are you visiting Denny Carmichael?”
He was a drug dealer Skeeter had warned Rose to stay away from while we were investigating our last case. One of the witnesses we’d talked to had wound up dead under mysterious circumstances, and she’d had strong ties to Denny. Jed had told me later that he was positive Denny had killed her, but he had no proof.
He gave me a light kiss. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll bring backup.”
“How?” I asked. Jed had tried hard to stay away from Skeeter’s men to show he’d made a clean break. But if he showed up with Skeeter’s men now… “Oh, Jed. Don’t do anything to get yourself into trouble because of me.”
“You stop that,” he said softly. “I’ll do anything and everything necessary to keep you safe, NK. Surely you know that by now, but I’ll be careful. I’ve got too many plans for us to let someone like Denny Carmichael get in my way. I plan on asking Dermot to send one of his higher-ups to go with me. He won’t want Hardshaw inserting themselves into Fenton County affairs either.”
My stomach churned. “Maybe you should wait for Skeeter.”
“I don’t need him for this, and I’m doin’ him a favor.” He paused. “But if I’m bringing one or more of Dermot’s men, then maybe I should bring Reacher too. Make a united front.” He got a far-off look in his eye, but then he shook it off and gave me a warm smile. “I’ve got a lot to do today, so call me if you find out anything on the laptop, and I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Be careful, Jed.”
He smiled down at me. “I promise.”
Then he kissed me again and headed out the front door.
As soon as the door closed, I peered out the living room window, watching him get into his car.
“He really cares about you,” Joe said behind me.
I gasped and spun around to face him, my anger erupting. “You were eavesdropping?”
“I had to be sure, Neely Kate. You’re my baby sister and I had to know he has your best interest in mind.”
“And now you believe he does?”
He frowned. “Unfortunately, I do.” He paused. “And for some reason, I also believe he’s makin’ a break from Malcolm. I still wish I knew what this mysterious business he’s openin’ is about.”