Page 33 of Family Jewels

I looked down at Joe’s name on my screen. He’d just tell us to leave, which wasn’t the worst idea, but there was no talking Neely Kate out of it now. So I switched apps and quickly typed out a text to Jed.

We’re at Mable Dyer’s house off County Road 110 asking about a necklace. If I don’t text you back within twenty minutes, I need you to come check on us.

No need to tell him who “we” was. He’d know. I climbed out and stuffed my phone into my pocket, hoping he got my message.

Neely Kate was headed toward the house, so I followed her to the porch, already having major regrets about suggesting this visit to Raddy’s mother. The barking dog, tied to a tree, still lunged at us as we walked up to the house.

“Don’t stand there all day,” Mable called through the screen door from inside the darkened interior. “You’re getting Zeus all riled up.”

It took me a moment to let my eyes adjust to the light, but I soon realized the living room, dining room, and kitchen were all in one small square room that couldn’t be more than twenty by twenty. Mable was standing in front of the sink, already peeling potatoes.

“Whaddaya want to know?” she asked, her eyes focused on the potatoes.

Neely Kate steeled her back. “Raddy says he’s missing a necklace that belonged to his grandmother.”

Mable stopped peeling for a second before resuming her task. “So? What business is it of yours?”

“Raddy hired Rose and me to help him find it,” Neely Kate said.

Her head jerked up. “Why would he do a fool thing like that?”

“He wants it back, and he asked us to look for it.”

Mable pointed her potato peeler at us. “You listen here—you stay away from our family business.”

“We mean no disrespect,” Neely Kate said. “We’re only doin’ what Raddy asked, and we wanted to ask you a few questions about the necklace.”

“I ain’t answering shit. That fool’s got himself mixed up with some questionable characters.”

“Raddy?” Neely Kate asked in disbelief.

The older woman pursed her lips. “He’s started playing poker at the Trading Post. Everyone knows there’s nothing but trouble up there.”

I cast a glance over to Neely Kate. Great. Daniel Crocker had been the previous crime lord, and through a gigantic misunderstanding, I’d become involved in the police force’s attempt to convict him. Crocker had been arrested and ultimately killed (by me) after he escaped. The former crime boss had been certifiably insane by the end—he’d tracked me down and attempted to murder me—but his men still held a grudge. Had Raddy really fallen in with that crowd?

Neely Kate sucked in her bottom lip, then asked, “Do you mind if I go to the bathroom real quick? I had a bunch of Grannie’s sweet tea earlier, and it always makes me feel like a tropical storm’s rollin’ into my bladder.”

What was she up to?

Mable’s face seemed to soften at the mention of Neely Kate’s grandmother.

“Grannie’s still trying to get your apple crisp recipe, you know,” Neely Kate teased. “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna tell her that I tried to get it out of you while I was here. That’ll earn me some brownie points over my cousin Dolly Parton, and I could definitely use ’em.”

“Half the county wants that recipe,” Mable said with a hint of pride.

“I think that half of the county went into mourning when you stopped bringing it to the annual church picnic at the Pickle Junction Christian Church,” Neely Kate said.

The older woman bobbed her head as if to say,I know.

Neely Kate used to go to church? Regular church attendance was part of living in southern Arkansas, but according to Neely Kate, her grandmother hadn’t brought her much when she was in her teens. Her grannie used to say that the Good Lord had deserted her after Neely Kate’s grandfather and mother took off years ago, and she was deserting him too. So how had she known about the church picnics?

“So, can I use your restroom?” Neely Kate asked.

Mable studied her for a moment, then said, “Yeah, but don’t flush the toilet. Homer says we can only flush twice a day.” She grimaced. “The septic lines are clogged.”

Neely Kate nodded like it was no big deal. “Thanks, Miss Mable.”

Then she disappeared down the short hallway, leaving me alone with our less-than-welcoming host. And from the look on the older woman’s face, she wasn’t happy about it.

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