Jed shut the door and took a seat in the chair opposite of where I sat.
“Seth, thank you for meeting with me.” I clasped my hands in my lap, hoping my trembling didn’t show. “I’m a very hands-on investor, and I think it’s important for me to get to know the men who work closely with Mr. Malcolm.” I crossed my legs and leaned toward him. “And perhaps you’d like to know more about me too.”
His eyes were glued to my cleavage. “Yeah . . .”
“I’ve been studying everyone since I walked into the conference room, and I can tell that you are a man who will be instrumental to Mr. Malcolm. Tell me about your position in the organization.” I cast a quick glance at Jed, and he tipped his head slightly with a tiny smile.
The alcohol on his breath loosened his tongue. Seth spent several minutes telling me how important he was to Skeeter, which had something to do with fencing stolen goods in his pawnshop.
“I’d love to know about your prior experience. An enterprising man such as yourself has surely worked his way up the ladder.”
He filled me in on his petty thefts and burglaries, none of which was useful information.
“I have a question,” Seth said, leaning toward me.
Jed’s jaw tightened.
“I’m listening.”
“Why do you always wear a veil?”
I should have expected that. Reaching my hand to my chest, I said, “I was in an accident that left me with a terrible scar. I’m embarrassed to be seen with it, so I cover it with a veil.”
“I’m sure you’re beautiful without it.” He reached over and put his hand on mine.
Jed shifted in his seat as though he was ready to pounce, but I grabbed Seth’s hand and held it between both of my own.
“Can I read your aura?”
“What?” he mumbled, his eyes on my chest again. It was easy to see which part of me he found most beautiful.
“I know it sounds new-agey, but I read auras. You’re such an interesting man, and I’d love to read you.”
He leered at me. I suspected the fact that I was still holding his hand gave him courage. “I’d love for you to read me.”
“Thank you.” I lowered my voice. “You sit still. I’ll be quiet for a bit while I concentrate, and then I’ll blurt out some nonsense before I tell you about your aura. Don’t worry—it’s all part of the process.”
“Okay.”
I cast a glance at Jed, who seemed tense. I could hardly blame him. Who knew what would pop out of my mouth and what this man would do afterward? Jed was in a terrible position of both having to protect me and maintain damage control.
“Then let’s get started.” I closed my eyes, wondering what to focus on. If I tried to find out if he was connected to Mason’s attempted murder, what would I see if he wasn’t involved? I supposed it was worth a try. I concentrated on his connection to Mason’s murder and the inky blackness gave way to a gray haze. I squinted, concentrating harder until a fuzzy image appeared.
I was sitting in lawn chair, holding a beer in my hand. A man sat in the chair next to me with a beer of his own.
“You gonna mow the lawn?” a woman screeched behind me.
I took a guzzle from the can. “Quit your naggin’, woman.”
“You hear about Billy Jack?” the guy asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing good can come from that.”
Suddenly a woman with baby on one hip stood in front of me, her hand on her other hip. “Get your worthless ass up and mow. Now.”
“You don’t want to mow the grass,” I blurted out.
“What?” Seth asked, sounding confused.
My heart raced. Did Billy Jack have anything to do with the attack on Mason? But Seth was waiting for an answer. “I told you I’d talk nonsense at first. You’re such a complicated man, I’m having trouble honing in on your aura. Let me try one more time.”
“Okay.” He slid closer to me so that his thigh touched mine, giving him a better view of my chest. Pervert.
I closed my eyes again, still holding his hand between both of mine. I considered holding both of his hands, since he was close enough for his other hand to fondle me, but I figured Jed had me covered. This time I focused on whether Seth had betrayed Skeeter and if so, who he was working with. But when the room faded, I saw the same gray nothingness I’d experienced before the start of my previous vision. I felt stuck in the haze, and I was starting to panic when I thought of something else I was sure I’d see—what Seth was going to have for lunch tomorrow. Instantly an image of his hand holding a hot dog topped with sauerkraut popped into my head.
The vision faded, and I said, “You’re going to have a hot dog for lunch tomorrow.”
“That’s weird,” Seth said. “I was just thinking about hot dogs tonight.”
“That’s quite a coincidence,” I said, a dull ache starting in my forehead.
“So what color did you see?”