Page 31 of Family Jewels

“No. It was weird. I was trying to have a vision of him, but then you touched my shoulder. It was like I had visions of both of you, only they got mixed up.”

“What happened?”

“My vision of you was of me in the kitchen in the farmhouse. I was dressed all in black and checking my gun.”

“Were you saying anything?”

“My mouth was moving, but my voice didn’t come out. Iheardthe vision I had of Hugh. I’m pretty sure he was talking to the guy in the doorway.”

“But how can you be sure if you didn’t see them?”

“I’m pretty sure the guy in the doorway is Hugh’s brother, Kip.” I paused and sat up, sending a spike of pain through my head. “Neely Kate, I think Kip is the one who’s making a run for James’ position in the Fenton County underground.”

“What?”

I took a breath, wondering how much to tell her.

“But . . . how would you reach that conclusion?” Her shoulders stiffened, and then her voice became sharp and clipped. “Your mysterious afternoon. You saw Skeeter and he told you about that guy.” She shot me a glare. “Is that why you got your gun? Because you knew we were going to see Skeeter’s competition? Only, you kept it from me?”

“No! We didn’t even know we were going to Ripper. Besides, I had no idea Wagner was connected to the pawn shop. James told me over a month ago that a man named Wagner is after his kingdom, but he refused to tell me anything about the threat. Once—after I pressed him more—he finally told me Wagner works in retail.”

“The pawn shop.”

“Yeah.”

“So what made you decide to have a vision?”

“I was confused. I knew the guy after James is named Wagner, but Hugh seemed too nice to just barrel into the pool hall and start shooting.”

“What?Why would you think he’d start shooting?”

I glanced at her. Time to come clean. “James asked me to meet him this afternoon so I could have a vision. He was worried Wagner’s about to make a move. So I forced a vision of Friday night and saw him and Jed in the middle of a gunfight in the pool hall. Then one of the other guys threw a Molotov cocktail onto a pool table and started a fire.”

“Oh my word. Was Jed—and Skeeter—okay?”

I gave her a startled look. “Yeah, he and James were fine in the vision. But there was a raging fire, and they were trapped. It wasn’t looking good.” I paused. “So when I heard that Hugh’s last name was Wagner, I looked for what he would be doing on Friday night. I couldn’t figure out why such a mild-mannered guy would shoot up James’ pool hall.”

“So in the vision, you were getting ready for battle,” she said.

Well, crap. I hadn’t even pondered that part of the vision yet, but it made sense. I wasn’t about to spend Friday night re-watchingGilmore Girlsepisodes if I knew James and Jed were in danger. “Yeah, I was. But Hugh was trying to talk Kip out of doing whatever he had planned—without success.”

“So you still didn’t explain why you’rereallycarrying a gun.”

I sighed, my headache starting to fade. “James was worried. He figures it’s unlikely anyone would associate me with him considerin’ how much time has passed since last winter—we’ve been careful not to be seen together—but just in case, he wanted me to be prepared to defend myself.”

“Well, dang.”

“I know,” I sighed. “We gave fake names, so I doubt Wagner will track me back to James.”

“Yeah.” She rubbed her temple. “Unless he saw the landscaping name on the side of the truck. Then he could figure out who you really are and connect you to James.”

“Crappy doodles. Do you think he might have noticed?”

“No,” she said firmly. “We didn’t give him any reason to look. Sure, you looked a little weird when you had your vision, but if anything, he was probably happy to see you go.”

I paused, thinking it through. “Do you really believe that one of Raddy’s friends is gonna spring five grand for a vintage necklace?”

“No,” she said. “It seems unlikely.”

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