Page 108 of For the Birds

“I’m committed to findin’ Scooter,” Isaid.

“And I’ll help you with that, because you’re right—if Scooter Malcolm turns up dead with no clear-cut answer as to who did it, this county will become a war zone. But after that, I’m done, and I’m gonna do my best to convince Neely Kate to leave it behind too. And if that means distancing herself from you, so beit.”

I gasped.

“It’s not personal, Rose, as stupid as that sounds. But NK’s been through way too much. I just stood back and let it happen in the past, but this time I’m steppin’ up.”

I nodded. “I understand.” And I did. “She’s lucky to haveyou.”

“Rose, I want youto—”

I held up my hand and cut him off. “Let’s just stick to the task at hand, okay?”

He looked a little hurt by that, but he’d hurt me too. “I showed Jeanne the photo, and she recognized Elijah Landry and Paul Beagle. We have a connection.”

His eyes widened.

“We’re fine in the café, and as you pointed out, someone else is watchin’ us. So why don’t you head back to the office and look him up? With Neely Kate’s friend looking for addresses for their parents and grandparents, and you looking for something on Paul, we’ll have plenty to goon.”

“You want to head out to the junkyard where Landry worked?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. It seems like we should check it out, but I feel like we need to be armed with more information first.”

He nodded and stood. “Thanks for lunch.”

“A deal’s adeal.”

“Rose,” he said in a pleading voice.

I stood and lifted my gaze to his. “You’re right. I’m bein’ careless with my best friend’slife.”

“I know you would never intentionally hurther.”

But I could hurt her all the same. Was that what my vision of Witt was about? Would the situation get too risky for me to continue to involve NeelyKate?

I went back into the diner and found the waitress handing Neely Kate the bill. I snagged it as I sat down, pulled my wallet out of my purse, and laid some cash on the table.

“Before you go,” I said softly to Jeanne, “I’d like to say a prayer for you. Would you mind?” It felt like sacrilege, but I was using the gift the good Lord had given me, and I was praying that we’d find Scooter safe and sound, so surely He wouldn’t smiteme.

Neely Kate shifted in her seat next tome.

“Yeah . . .” Jeanne said, sounding surprised. “Sure.”

I grabbed her hand and closed my eyes. How many visions could I get away with? There was only one way to findout . . .

“It’s a silent prayer,” Neely Kate said, explaining my silence.

I focused and asked, Does Jeanne see Scooter? I was met with a familiar gray fog. I switched the question to Will Jeanne see Paul again?

This vision burst forth. I was in Jeanne’s head, staring at a gun pointed at my chest. I was sobbing out, “I didn’t mean to tell them, I swear.” The gun went off and my chest burned as I fell to the ground, something sharp poking me in the side. I struggled to breathe, my chest rising to suck in air, but pain radiated through my chest. I heard gurgling blood, and panic flooded me when I realized I was dying.

Paul’s face leaned over me, wearing a crocodile smile. “I gave you fair warning.”

“Finish her,” another mansaid.

Paul aimed his gun at my head, and I heard the explosion before everything went dark and I was shoved into the icy darkness of death.

The vision ended, and the abrupt change from the horrific scene to the noisy, chaotic diner was beyond jarring.

---