Thirty and a Half Excuses (14 page)

“I have no idea what kind of truck. And price? I know I want something reliable. I don’t want something that’s going to break down all the time.”

“Then this might not be the place to get a truck.” He pushed open his car door. “But let’s check it out. If we don’t see anything, we’ll drive to Magnolia.”

“Okay.”

A short man with a large belly waddled out of the small building. Back in the day, this lot was a gas station. It had been converted to a used car lot about ten years ago.

“Can I help you young folks?” the salesman asked, wiping his hands on his jeans and smearing orange powder down his legs. There were still chip crumbs on his chin. “You two look like you’re in the market for a nice sedan.” His eyes lit up as he cocked his head to the side. “Or maybe a minivan? Getting ready to start a family?”

I looked down at my stomach. Was he insinuating that I looked pregnant?

“No, actually,” Mason said. “We’re looking for a pickup truck.”

“Ho boy!” the guy said. “So we’re shopping for the man of the household today. Just brought the wife along to keep you company, aye?”

I expected Mason to correct the guy, and he did, but not about our relationship. “The truck is for the lady.”

“Oh.”

It wasn’t unusual for women to drive pickups in Fenton County, but they usually owned farms.

He extended his hand and Mason shook it. “I’m Earl.”

“Mason.”

I shook Earl’s hand next. “I’m Rose.”

“Can I just say that you two make a really cute couple?” Earl grinned.

A blush rose to my cheeks. “Actually, we’re—”

“Looking for truck that has working air conditioning. Also it has to have less than sixty thousand miles.” Mason turned to me. “Do you care if it has stick shift?”

“Uh…”

“Do you know how to drive one?”

“No.”

He turned back to Earl. “We won’t discount a truck with stick shift at the moment, but we’d prefer an automatic.”

Earl led us to the section where the trucks were parked, and I glanced up at Mason with confusion.

Trust me
, he mouthed.

Turned out I was trusting Mason Deveraux with lots of things.

Chapter Eleven

It also turned out that Mason knew what he was doing. Between what he knew about trucks and what he learned on the Internet browser on his phone, he decided a Ford F150 with a backseat and a longer truck bed was my best option on the lot.

When I gave my driver’s license to Earl so that we could take it for a test drive, Mason handed his over too. As Earl was writing his name in a binder, Mason said, “That’s Mason Deveraux III, the assistant district attorney.”

Earl looked up, wide-eyed, before glancing at the papers again, his hand shaking as he finished writing.

Mason winked at me.

Earl let us take the truck on a test drive alone, saying he was supposed to go with us, but if he couldn’t trust the assistant DA, who could he trust?

Mason chuckled as we walked over to the vehicle. “I bet he’s in there hiding all evidence of his illegal activities while we’re on this test drive.”

“Why would you let him get away with that?”

“No harm in putting the fear of God into him. Besides, you never know. This incident might scare him straight.”

“Do you really think so?” I asked.

We reached the back of the truck, and Mason tossed the keys to me. “Nah, but hope springs eternal. Contrary to popular belief, it is not my goal to put half of Fenton County behind bars.”

I got behind the wheel, nervous to be driving something so big. Maybe Violet was right. Maybe it would be ridiculous for me to buy a truck.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Mason said, buckling his seat belt.

I turned to him in surprise.

“I know what you’re thinking, and your sister is wrong. There is no reason on earth you can’t drive this truck. In fact, I won’t let you out until you drive it around Henryetta.”

I laughed. “You think you can keep me in here until I drive it?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m probably the most stubborn man in southern Arkansas. You’re driving this truck. You may decide you don’t want to buy it, and I’m fine with that, as long as it’s not for the wrong reason.”

“And what’s the wrong reason?”

“Fear. It’s okay to be frightened trying something new, but don’t let fear stop you from living your life.”

Fear had been my enemy for my entire life, and although I’d vowed not to let it stop me anymore, I realized that was exactly what was happening right now. “You’re right.”

Mason’s face lit up with a smug smile. “About damn time someone admitted it, now drive.”

I pulled out of the parking lot, terrified that I was going to run over a mailbox or small car, but once I got on the road and got the feel of driving the pickup, I not only got used to it but liked it.

“Well?” Mason asked after we’d driven around Henryetta and were on our way back to the car lot. “What do you think?”

“I think I like driving a truck.”

“You look good driving it too.”

“You’re just saying that.”

He laughed. “You’d probably look good driving just about anything.”

I cast a sideways glance at Mason, looking at him in a new light. Did Mason like me as more than a friend? If he did, I knew I shouldn’t lead him on, but I really valued his friendship. Selfish or not, I wasn’t willing to give that up. Besides, I was probably imagining things. Violet was right. I was terrible at this kind of thing.

After I parked in the lot, Mason stopped me as I was about to get out. “Do you want me to see what kind of deal I can get you for this truck or do you want to think about it?”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure what there is to think about. I need a truck. I like this one. Let’s do it.”

“Okay.”

As I grabbed the door handle, everything faded to black, and I was in the courtroom facing Judge McClary, the judge who’d presided over Bruce Wayne’s trial. He was looking over the bench at me, his face red with anger. “I can’t believe you tried to submit this as evidence given what you know about the questionable chain of custody.”

The parking lot came back into view. “The judge is going to throw out your evidence.”

Mason’s mouth dropped open, and my face flushed.

He immediately laid a hand on my shoulder. “Rose, don’t do that. Don’t be embarrassed by something you can’t control.”

“I’m sorry. I…I just…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Can you tell me what you saw?”

I studied my hands in my lap. “I was in the courtroom where Bruce Wayne’s trial was held, and Judge McClary was looking over the bench at me, which means he was looking at you. Then he said he was throwin’ out the evidence due to a questionable chain of custody. He looked really angry.”

Mason sat back in his seat. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

I looked up in confusion. “Are you mad?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad? You just helped me.”

“What? How?”

“There was some question about a time stamp in the chain of custody on a blood sample for a DUI case I’m prosecuting next week. I won’t submit it as evidence now.”

“Oh. But my vision might not be true.”

“But there’s a good chance it is. I was worried about building my case on it. Now I’ll take a different tactic.” Mason’s eyes locked on mine. “Don’t let people belittle you, Rose. Don’t be ashamed of who you are.”

Joe and Neely Kate had told me the same thing. So why had Violet always believed the opposite? Mason had given me something to think about. “Let’s go buy a truck.”

Mason was right about getting a better price because he was the assistant DA. I paid less for the truck than I’d anticipated, partly because Mason got a better trade in for the Nova than I’d thought possible. When Mason was satisfied, I signed the paperwork and wrote a check.

After we were finished, we got into the truck, and I sat behind the steering wheel, shaking my head. “I can’t believe I just did that.”

“You did it. Now you need your business name on the side. Do you know who’s going to do that for you?”

“No, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“Stan runs the body shop on Third Street, and he’d do a good job. Tell him I sent you, and he’ll give you a deal.”

My eyebrows rose as I looked at him.

Mason shrugged. “I helped him collect on some hot checks. He’ll help you.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

My cell phone rang before I put the truck into reverse, so I pulled it out of my purse, hoping it might be Joe. It was Neely Kate.

“You were right, Rose.” Her voice was hushed but determined. “A quit claim deed was filed last week on Dorothy’s house.”

“Who’d she put on it?”

“You’re not gonna believe this part. Jonah Pruitt.”

I cast a glance at Mason, trying to contain my shock. “So he owns her house now.”

“It looks like it.”

Mason had noticed my change in demeanor and was outright staring at me.

I tried to ignore him. “Can you find about the other…person?” I didn’t want to say Miss Laura’s name or he’d know for sure what I was talking about.

“One step ahead of you. When I found out about Dorothy, I asked Marta to look into it. I’ll let you know when she gets back to me.”

“Thanks, Neely Kate. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Anytime.”

“Is everything okay?” Mason asked when I hung up the phone.

“Yeah. Fine.” I wasn’t sure what to do with this information. I needed to let it sink in before I decided how to tell Mason, so I focused on something else. “Why didn’t you correct the salesman when he thought we were a couple?”

“Rule number four of negotiating a deal: Never correct the other person’s assumptions. You never know when you might be able to use it to your advantage, one way or the other.”

“Hmm…okay.”

“What are you insinuating? I’m well aware that you’re with Joe. I would never stand in the way of your happiness.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Rose, it’s no big deal. We’re friends, all right? I like us being friends.”

“Me too.”

I parked at the square, close to Mason’s car. The truck was wider than the Nova, but not by much. It was easier getting into a parking spot than I would have thought.

“What are you going to do now?” he asked.

“I’ll get the big pots Violet and I made and deliver them.” I really didn’t want to go back to the church now. What if Jonah was involved in Dorothy’s murder? What if he killed Miss Dorothy and Miss Laura to get all their money? Heavens knew he was throwing money around like it was holy water.

“What’s bothering you?”

I lifted an eyebrow. “How do you know something’s bothering me? Are you a mind reader?”

“No, I can read your face. It’s my job to read people.”

His words sent a shiver down my back. “Funny,” I said, “that’s what Jonah Pruitt said to me.”

Mason stiffened. “When did you talk to Jonah Pruitt?’ His eyes widened with realization. “Oh. You’re working at his church.”

I nodded.

“Rose, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to do business with him.”

Given Neely Kate’s news, I wasn’t so sure either. “What do you know about Jonah Pruitt that makes you concerned about me doing business with him?”

“Rose, you know I can’t give you the details of an active investigation.”

My mouth dropped. “So you’re investigating him too?”

It was his turn to be surprised. “
Too
? Who else is investigating Jonah Pruitt?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I wondered if I should tell him, but I was already in this deep. I might as well tell him what I knew. “The state police must be looking into him. Joe warned me to be careful, but he insinuated that I’d be okay as long as I got the money to cover my costs up front. When I asked for details, he gave me the same crappy answer you just did.”

“I think Joe’s right, but I also don’t think you should spend much time alone with Jonah.” Mason stared at me for several seconds. “But there’s something else you’re not telling me. What did Neely Kate just call you about?”

I twisted my hands around the steering wheel, avoiding his gaze. “I think Miss Dorothy added Jonah Pruitt to her will last week. Miss Mildred said she drove her to her attorney’s office to change the document.”

“Holy shit.” He sat back in the truck seat, staring out the window.

“That’s not all.”

He sat up. “There’s more?”

I turned to him. “She added him to the deed on her house. She filed a quit claim deed last week. That part’s been verified.”

Mason shook his head. “From the way he’s been courting the elderly women in his town, I suspected he was up to something like that.” His eyes narrowed. “Why are you only telling me this now?”

“I just found out. You heard me take the phone call.”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about. Why did you have Neely Kate check on it instead of telling me?”

I expected to hear anger—Joe would have been angry—but there was no anger, just curiosity. “Did Detective Taylor find out anything about the shouting?”

“He said he asked around when he questioned the neighbors about the attempted break-in, but no one heard anything.”

“Hmm.”

“Rose, I told you that I’m not putting a four-year-old boy on the stand.”

“I don’t want that little boy on a witness stand either, but I don’t believe Miss Dorothy died of a heart attack. I think someone killed her. I think someone killed Miss Laura too.”

Mason looked deep in thought for several seconds, and then pulled out his cell phone.

“Who are you calling?”

“I suspect you’re right. I’m going to arrange to have your neighbor’s body shipped to Little Rock for an autopsy.”

“But the funeral is tomorrow.”

Mason grimaced. “Not anymore.” Then he cursed under his breath. He called the coroner and the police department while still sitting in my truck. They talked about digging up Miss Laura’s body and doing an autopsy on her too, which inspired more cursing from Mason, but in the end they decided to wait on Miss Dorothy’s results first. In light of Miss Dorothy naming Jonah Pruitt as her beneficiary, Mason told them to investigate any connection Miss Laura might have had with the minister. When he hung up, he asked. “You’re planning on going to the church this afternoon, aren’t you?”