Page 109 of For the Birds

“He gave you fair warnin’,” I said in a robotic voice. Then the icy coldness I often felt when I had a vision of someone’s death setin.

“Amen,” Neely Kate said in a cheerfultone.

“Thanks for lunch,” Jeanne said, starting to stand. “Could you let me know if you hear something?”

I tugged her back down. “Can you wait just a moment? I need to talk to Neely Kate before yougo.”

“Okay . . .”

I grabbed Neely Kate’s arm, pulling her from her chair and toward the hall to the bathrooms.

“Why is your hand so cold?” she asked, then started rubbing it. “It’s like ice. What did yousee?”

“Paul’s gonna kill Jeanne for talkin’ tous.”

Neely Kate gasped. “What are we gonnado?”

“I don’t know, but we can’t let her go. We have to protecther.”

“How are we gonna dothat?”

“Do you have any suggestions? She needs to be guarded.”

Neely Kate pushed out a breath. “Maybe we should turn to Skeeter. Scooter is his brother.”

“We promised her that we wouldn’t, NeelyKate.”

“I know, but we’re out of our league, Rose.” She paused for a moment, looking past me toward Jeanne. “Maybe we should callJoe.”

I gave that one some consideration. “She could tell Joe about the kidnapping, and I can tell him she’s in danger. They can protect her . . .” I said, thinking out loud. “What’s the downside?”

“The sheriff would get involved in the investigation,” Neely Kate said. “Our paths could cross, and we’d no longer have the excuse that it’s not an opencase.”

“Do you have any other ideas?”

She shook herhead.

“Then let’s hope we can convinceher.”

All the luck in the world wouldn’t have helpedus.

“No. No way,” Jeanne said in a panic, pushing her chair back. “I ain’t talkin’ to no police.”

“You’re in danger, Jeanne,” I said. “You need protection.”

“The police aren’t gonna help me. I’m better off on myown.”

“Do you have any family out of town?” Neely Kate asked. “Anyone you can go staywith?”

“My sister lives in El Dorado.”

“Go stay with her,” I said. “Don’t even pack. Just leave here andgo.”

She released a harsh laugh. “And where am I gonna get gas money when I can’t even buy my own lunch?”

I pulled my wallet out and handed her the rest of my cash. “It’s only sixty dollars, but it will get you to El Dorado. Call us when you get there so we know you’resafe.”

She took the money and gave me a look of disbelief. “Why are you doin’ this?”

“Because we care about you,” I said. “We want you to besafe.”

“Why?”

“Because people have helped me,” I said. “I’m just payin’ it forward. Now go to your sister, and we’ll let you know when it’s safe to come home. But if you feel unsafe at any point, you need to call the police, okay?”

“Yeah.” She lurched over the table and threw her arms around me. “God bless you girls.” Then she jumped up, grabbed her purse and to-go bag, and ran out thedoor.

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just screwedup.

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