“I’ll be thirty-nine in January. Why are you asking?”
I gave a half-shrug. In some ways he seemed both older and younger. “Just curious.”
“I’m not too old to give you the best night of your life.”
“You wish.” I shot him a glare, not that he could see it through my veil. “You’re old enough to know that it’s time to stop sleepin’ with every loose woman in the county.”
“Are you suggesting I settle for one woman?” He laughed. “And accept a life of boredom? That would be like eating toast for breakfast every morning for the rest of my life.”
I shook my head in disgust. “And that right there shows that while you might be thirty-nine years old, you’re as stupid as a stump. Maybe you should be looking for pancakes and bacon for breakfast instead of settling for toast.”
Skeeter’s smug grin wavered as Jed returned and handed me my glass.
“I’m ready to do this. Let’s get started.”
Skeeter’s eyes darkened. “There’s been a change of plans. Instead of just having a vision, I want you to ask them general questions about their involvement in the business—see if you can get anything out of them that might be helpful to me. Save the vision for last.”
I shook my head, starting to panic. “No, I can’t do that.”
“Look at me.” His eyes narrowed. “You can, and you will.”
I took a deep breath and tried to see a positive side to this tactic. If I could question them, maybe I could get some answers of my own. “Okay.”
His mouth tipped up into an appreciative grin. “Jed will be there listening to everything. Go through the first door to the left of this room.”
“We were going to use the corner,” Jed said. “So we can keep it in the public eye. For Lady’s reputation.”
Skeeter considered the suggestion. “No, use the office. You’ll be in there to dispel any lies that might pop up. I think you’ll get more from them if you talk to them in a separate room.”
Jed nodded.
My hands began to tremble as the insanity of the situation hit me full on. I was about to question hardened criminals.
“I’ll send them in to see you, so when one guy leaves, wait until the next comes in.”
“Okay,” Jed said.
Skeeter leaned close, peering through my veil. “You can do this. Now go find out who’s responsible.”
Jed led me into the office and flipped on the light. I expected a utilitarian space, but the room was larger than I’d expected. A large wooden desk sat toward the back wall with a luxurious leather office chair behind it. The back wall was a solid bookcase filled with books.
In the corner opposite the door was a leather sofa with two leather chairs in front of it. A table topped with an unlit lamp was tucked next to the couch.
“Is this Skeeter’s real office?”
“The pool hall office is just a front. The guys in the other room had to prove themselves trustworthy to be here.”
“That can’t be too true since Skeeter has me questioning them. I thought you said Skeeter could read people’s characters?”
“And I also say they could change, although it’s rare. But some will change if there’s a powerful enough incentive. Like greed.”
I suspected a lot of people would change for greed.
“The first guy will be in here soon. Where do you want to do this?” Jed asked.
I stood in the center of the room, spinning around to take it all in. “If I sit at the desk, I’ll show more authority, but I’ll have to get up to force a vision.” I turned to study the sitting area. “If I sit there, they might want to sit next to me and . . . be more inclined to talk.” My voice trailed off. I knew why some of them might want to sit by me.
“I think the sofa area is a good idea.”
“But let’s turn on the lamp and turn off the overhead light. So it’s more . . . comfortable.”
“Good idea.”
I nodded and sat on the sofa close to the table, setting my glass on a coaster. “Is it gonna be that bad?” I asked.
“With most of them? No. And I suspect Skeeter will send the easy ones first to get you warmed up.”
My nerves kicked in. There were eleven men in the other room, so this could very well go on all night. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Jed opened the door, and the first man walked in. He paused in the doorway, but Jed said, “Come on in, Seth. As Skeeter probably told you, Lady would like to meet you. Lady, this is Seth Moore.”
So much for starting with the easy ones. Mr. Moore was on the questionable list.
Seth moved toward me, his eyes moving from the empty chairs to the sofa. I’d chosen where to sit strategically. If the guy I was questioning sat next to me on the sofa, it would be easier to reach over, grab his hand, and have a vision. But it also meant he would probably be more forward. It was a double-edged sword.
He sat on the cushion next to me.