Page 75 of For the Birds

“Oh,” Neely Kate said, sending a scowl my way. “Did I not mention that we started working with Kermit Cooper?”

“Kermit the Hermit?” he asked in disbelief.

That name explained somuch.

“How in God’s name did this come about?” he shouted.

“Funny you mention the Lord’s name,” Neely Kate said. “Because it was definitely the work of divine intervention.”

“Kermit Cooper is one of the sloppiest, laziest private investigators in southern Arkansas.”

“Really?” Neely Kate asked in a sweet voice. “He’s been so helpful tous.”

Joe took a step closer and leaned forward, alternating his gaze between the two of us, probably trying to determine which one was likely to crack first. “Is Kermit working Scooter’scase?”

Neely Kate lifted her chin. “I’m not at liberty tosay.”

“Actually,” Joe said in a dry tone, “you are. Who hired him? Malcolm?” Then he turned his attention on me. “Were you with Skeeter Malcolm last night?”

His question caught me so off guard I could only stare at him wide-eyed. How did I answer? Tell him I was wearing James’ clothes because mine had been ruined during my kidnapping? Or admit that I’d slept with James?

I was going with neither.

“Excuse me?” I finally said. “Did you just hear yourself?”

“Yeah, and the words came out exactly as I’d intended. Did you leave your date with Levi Romano and go sleep with the head of the crime syndicate in this county?”

An oh crap look filled Neely Kate’seyes.

I sucked in a deep breath and gave him a deadly glare. “Who I sleep with is none of your business, and why do you automatically assume I slept with someone? Levi left me high and dry in the carnival parking lot. If you must know, something happened to my clothes.”

That caught his attention. “What?”

I scowled. Me and my big mouth. “It’s none of your concern, and I didn’t mean that aboutLevi.”

“He didn’t leave you? Because he came in here acting like hedid.”

I shook my head, then took a long sip of my coffee. “He did leave me, but he had a good reason. I told him to go.” I frowned, feeling terrible. “I shouldn’t have painted him in a bad light. I didn’t meanthat.”

“What happened after he left?” Joe was picking up on far toomuch.

“Nothing. Let itgo.”

“Who took youhome?”

I opened my mouth, still trying to figure out what to tell him, when Neely Kate said, “Me. I came and gother.”

“I still don’t understand why she was wearing men’s clothes when I walked in. Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like she went home with you last night.”

“That’ll just have to remain one of those mysteries of life,” Neely Kate said, starting to push her brother toward thedoor.

“You know this only makes you two look more suspicious, right?”

Neely Kate chuckled. “Sounds like you’re needin’ a good case to work on if you’re lookin’ for a mystery in Rose’s choice of clothing.”

Joe let her continue to push him, but he stopped at the door. “Rose, you can call me if you ever get into trouble. Once upon a time, I used to be that person for you. I still canbe.”

“You were on a date, Joe. How was it gonna look to Dena if your ex called you to take her home?” I shook my head. “I’m fine. You’re makin’ too big a deal out ofthis.”

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