Come Rain or Shine: Rose Gardner Investigations #5 (Rose Gardner Investigatons) Page 4

I walked into the office, grateful Margi had helped me calm down after my encounter with Dena, but I still felt bad about the whole thing. I hated that Dena couldn’t move on, but I reminded myself that was up to her, not me.

  I turned on my computer as I took a bite of my muffin. The proposal was ready. I just needed to print off a few copies, then run through everything I planned to say. I’d intended to go over everything the previous afternoon, but I’d had to leave early to pick up a prescription dietary supplement drink for Violet. Over the last few weeks, she’d been feeling nauseous and hadn’t been eating much, so her doctor—well, her previous doctor—had suggested she start drinking the high-calorie supplement.

  After a few bites, my muffin churned in my stomach. I chalked it up to a side effect of the anxiety that had wreaked havoc on my own digestive system over the last month or so, causing me to lose six pounds. But my body was finally adjusting to the stress, because I’d started feeling better over the last week, enough so to eat entire meals. Nevertheless, I gave up on the muffin and focused on preparing the proposal copies.

  I was sitting at my desk, clipping the printed copies together, when the back door opened.

  I whipped around to face my intruder, but it was only Bruce Wayne.

  Placing a hand on my chest, I sank into my chair. “You scared me half to death. What are you doin’ sneakin’ in through the back?”

  He cringed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. The last time I came in through the front, a woman pulled me aside and asked me half a dozen questions about gardening, so I figured I’d…”

  I chuckled. “Get out of dealing with people by slippin’ in through the back.”

  He nodded, offering no further explanation. Bruce Wayne had come a long way since we’d first started working together a year ago, but he would never be an extrovert. He still felt uncomfortable around strangers. After years of being beaten down by everyone around him, he had trouble believing he was worthy of other people’s time and attention. Those of us who loved him tried to show him otherwise, but I’d been beaten down too, so I understood how hard it was to break free from those chains.

  “I’m surprised to see you at all,” I said. While Bruce Wayne had his own desk and computer, he was rarely in the office.

  “I need to pick up the updated plant list for the job we’re workin’.”

  I groaned. “Bruce Wayne, I’m so sorry! I plum forgot.”

  “No worries, Rose. Violet’s more important, and besides, I was happy for the chance to see you,” he said with a soft smile. He rested his butt on the edge of his desk and studied me. “How’s she doin’?”

  I sucked in a breath, willing myself not to cry. “Not so great. We’re askin’ for a day nurse to come in and help Carly.” I gave him a sad smile. “Part of me feels guilty for not bein’ there. I should be the one helpin’ her.” I’d stayed home for several days over the last few weeks, but work had been steadily piling up at the office. It seemed awful to think about a thing like paperwork when Violet was so ill, yet someone had to pay the bills. She wasn’t the only one relying on me.

  “Rose,” he said, leaning forward. “You can take more time off. We can move Neely Kate back here. I’m sure Anna and Maeve won’t mind workin’ extra.”

  I shook my head with a bitter laugh. “Violet wouldn’t allow it anyway. She said having me there all the time was like havin’ a vulture circling over a dying animal. She made me come back to work.”

  Bruce Wayne burst out laughing. “Your sister is somethin’ else.”

  I grinned. “That she is.” Then I turned serious. “I have that presentation with Sonder Tech this morning. Do you mind if I run through it with you? Do you have time?”

  “This is a huge job. I’ll make time.”

  I had him sit at his desk, and then I laid out the plans and ran through my presentation, showing him one of the copies of my proposal. When I finished, he made a few suggestions, all of which would make for a better pitch.

  “You should do this with me,” I said as I rolled up the plans. “We’re partners.”

  He shook his head, looking adamant. “No, thank you. I like workin’ outside and lettin’ you deal with all the business aspects.”

  “You’re smarter about business than you give yourself credit for, Bruce Wayne. We wouldn’t be doin’ nearly as well if you hadn’t had the foresight to purchase some of our equipment at that auction last year.”

  “Nevertheless,” he said. “You’re the perfect face for RBW. I’ll stick with the grunt work.”

  “You’ve got just as much to lose as I do if I screw this up,” I protested.

  He beamed at me. “You’ve got this, Rose. Just do your best, and if they say no…” He shrugged. “No big deal. It’s not like we’re losin’ money if we don’t get the job. We only stand to gain.”

  “Still…”

  “There will be plenty of other jobs, Rose. Don’t sweat it.” His phone buzzed in the holder on his belt, and he pulled it off and looked at the screen. He declined the call but got to his feet. “I’ve gotta get back to the job site, but I’m not worried in the least. You’re gonna wow ’em. No doubt about it. If we don’t get it, it won’t be because you messed up.”

  “Thanks, Bruce Wayne. I’m glad you have faith in me.”

  He laughed. “And I’m glad you have faith in me.” He headed for the back door, but he turned back once more before leaving. “Just remember, if you need more time off, we’ll make it work, okay?”

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Bruce Wayne left and I slipped the rolled-up plans into a cardboard tube and slid the copies of the proposal into a folder. I was reaching for my purse, ready to get up and go, when the bell on the office door clanged.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, without looking up. “I’m about to leave, but I’ll be back this afternoon if you want to make an appointment to discuss your landscapin’.”

  “Good thing I ain’t interested in any landscapin’,” a man said in a gruff voice, and my heart kickstarted as I glanced up at a man I didn’t recognize. From the look on his face, he probably wasn’t someone I wanted to recognize. He wore a dark T-shirt and jeans. A scruffy beard covered most of his face and hung down to his chest. His dark beady eyes were so cold a chill went down my spine.

  He turned to lock the front door.

  I took advantage of his distraction to grab my gun out of my purse and set it on my lap. I suspected I knew who had sent him, but I needed to find out for certain.

  “Since you seem determined to stay,” I said in a firm voice, “what can I do for you, Mr.…?”

  “You don’t need to know my name,” he said as he took several steps toward me. “You just need to keep your mouth shut.”

  I knew I should be scared, and I was, but it had been one heck of a morning already and it wasn’t even ten a.m. If this man made me late for the most important meeting I’d had in months… I was ticked.

  “If you don’t want to hear me talk,” I said in a flippant tone, “then maybe you should turn around and march on out of here.” I waved my free hand toward the door.

  His jaw worked and his eyes hardened as he slipped a large hunting knife out of its sheath. “You’ve got a smart mouth.”

  I was done with being threatened. I stood and pointed my gun at his chest. “And a smart brain to go along with it. If you’ve got a message to deliver, spit it out, then get the heck out of here.”

  A look of pure hatred filled his eyes and his fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade. “You’re one lucky bitch. If I had my way, you’d be dead, but the boss says he’s got plans for you.”

  “And who might your boss be?” He didn’t need to tell me. Denny might as well give out uniforms, because all his guys had the same rough look. I shouldn’t be surprised he’d sent one of his men to check up on me. The subpoena had shaken everything up. Skeeter Malcolm wasn’t the only man who could be hung out to dry by my testimony.

  “Someone with a vested interest in w
hat you have to say tomorrow afternoon. This is your friendly reminder to keep your mouth shut.”

  “Friendly?” I asked. “I’d sure hate to see unfriendly.”

  “Trust me, you will if you say the wrong thing.”

  I gave him a withering glare. “You’ve said your piece, now get out.”

  He pointed his knife toward me. “You’re a little too uppity for my likin’. I’d love nothin’ more than to put you in your place.”

  “Then lucky me that your boss would string you up for messin’ with the merchandise before he’s used it. Now get out.”

  If Denny Carmichael hadn’t put this guy on a short leash, I suspected he would have tried to give me a scar to remember him by, gun or no gun. His face turned bright red and he picked up one of the chairs in front of my desk and threw it out the front window. The entire pane of glass shattered into pieces, some scattering across the wood floor but most ending up on the sidewalk.

  “That was incredibly stupid,” I said, my heart racing. “Now I have to explain that mess to a whole lot of people, and they’re gonna want to know who’s been threatenin’ me.”

  He released a loud roar of frustration, likely realizing he’d screwed up, climbed out through the busted window, and stomped off in the opposite direction of the courthouse.

  With shaking hands, I set the gun on my desk and took a second to calm down. I still had a presentation to do, and I couldn’t let Denny’s threat put a damper on that. We needed this job too much.

  But what was I going to do about the busted window and the chair?

  Not a damn thing.

  I returned the gun to my purse, put the reports in my tote, then grabbed the tube and walked out through the busted window.

  A passerby stood on the sidewalk, staring gape-mouthed at the broken glass and chair, then lifted his gaze to me in shock.

  “Have a good day,” I said, walking over to the truck. Moments later, I was on the road, using my voice command to call Jed as I headed out toward my appointment.

  “Hey, Rose. What’s up?”

  “I need you to text me Denny Carmichael’s number.” I was proud of myself for the level tone of my voice.

  He was quiet for so long I was sure he’d hung up. Finally, he choked out, “Why?”

  “It doesn’t matter why,” I said, still sounding reasonable. “Just give me the number.”

  “Has he made contact?”

  I debated whether to tell him about Carmichael’s goon showing up, but I didn’t want to deal with the fallout right now. I needed to be centered and focused for my presentation. “Just give me the number, Jed,” I insisted, “or I’ll drive to his property on my own. I know where to find him, remember?”

  “Where are you?” His voice sounded strangled.

  “I’m on my way to the Sonder Tech presentation, but I need Carmichael’s number like two seconds ago.”

  “I’ll give it to you after you tell me what this is all about.”

  “I’ll tell you tonight.” When he didn’t respond, I said, “I’m not gonna do anything stupid, Jed. I need you to trust me.”

  I was certain he was going to say no, but he said, “I’m gonna trust that you know what you’re doin’, Rose. Call me if you run into any trouble.” He hung up, and my phone’s text alert went off seconds later.

  Although the last thing I wanted to do was talk to Denny, I knew the longer I went without contacting him, the weaker I’d appear.

  But who said I had to call him? I pulled over to the side of the road and sent him a text. Your buddy left a heck of a mess on the sidewalk outside of my office. Too bad it’s directly across from the county courthouse and the special prosecutor will be sure to ask me about it tomorrow.

  I pulled back onto the road, knowing that a response was coming, so I wasn’t surprised when my phone rang seconds later from the same number. I put him on speaker phone.

  “Are you threatening me, Rose Gardner?” Denny Carmichael asked in a low growl.

  “Threatening you?” I demanded. “What about your guy who showed up in my office, brandished a knife, then threw a hissy fit before tossing my office chair out the window?”

  He hesitated before he said, “That was just a friendly reminder.”

  His tone was slightly off, which suggested he hadn’t known about his goon’s fit.

  “A reminder to keep your name out of my grand jury testimony,” I said dryly. “Consider this to be my friendly suggestion for you to get someone to clean up the mess, because I refuse to take responsibility for it. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

  “You’ll think of something,” he said.

  “The hell I will. I’ve got enough malarkey to deal with without adding this nonsense to the mess.” I took a breath. “You best figure out how to deal with this before someone shows up askin’ questions.”

  “You think you can just call me up and threaten me?” he asked, his voice rising. “I know where you live. And don’t think that sheriff deputy livin’ with you can protect you. Just remember that when you’re testifying tomorrow.”

  My breath stuck in my lungs but only for a moment. The helplessness I’d felt this last month, watching my sister step closer and closer to death, knowing the man I loved was out there risking himself in ways I didn’t understand, erupted into a powerful anger. “Don’t forget that goes both ways, Denny Carmichael. I know where you live and work. I took Daniel Crocker down, and I can take you down too.”

  I could hear him breathing on the other side of the phone before he said, “Be careful what you threaten, Lady.”

  “Likewise, Mr. Carmichael.” Then I hung up.

  Well, crap. I was pretty sure I’d just declared war on the drug czar of southern Arkansas.

  CHAPTER 4

  I felt amazingly calm by the time I pulled into the parking lot of the office for Sonder Tech. I was five minutes early, and I considered taking a few moments to cleanse my thoughts of Denny, but I figured I was better off walking in a few minutes early to make a good impression.

  Sonder Tech was taking over an old building that had once been an insurance office, and they were in the process of giving it a face-lift. As part of the redesign, they wanted a new landscape design, which was really a misnomer considering the building didn’t have much landscaping other than a few dead bushes and a patch of dandelions on the west side. It reminded me of the big job that had first launched us into the landscaping business—the revitalization of Jonah’s church.

  When I walked in the front door, a young woman behind a sleek receptionist desk looked up from her computer screen and greeted me with a huge smile. “Rose?”

  I smiled back. “Yes.”

  “I’m Rebecca, your contact up to now. Stewart and Chris are already in the conference room waiting for you.”

  My nerves rose up again, and a wave of nausea hit me, but I took a breath and kept my smile plastered on my face. “Lead the way. I’m eager to show you what I came up with.”

  I followed Rebecca down a short hall and into a conference room with a new whiteboard on the wall and windows overlooking the parking lot. Two men in polo shirts were sitting at the table, talking about some type of installation, but they stopped their conversation and stood when we walked in.

  “Hi,” I said. “I’m Rose Gardner with RBW Landscaping. Thank you for inviting me to create a design for your property.”

  They all settled in their chairs, and we made small talk about how much they loved the quaintness of Henryetta and the charming downtown—which was how they’d found me—and by the time we’d talked for nearly five minutes, I was relieved to discover I’d calmed down again.

  “I’m so thrilled you love Henryetta,” I said, wondering if they’d experienced the same town I had, but then to an outsider, I was sure it looked lovely. “I hope you love my plans for your property just as much.”

  I spent the next ten minutes showing them my designs. When I finished, I handed out the proposals and we went through the numbers.
They wanted clarification on a couple of areas, and when I was satisfied they understood everything, I said, “We’d love to work on this project with you, and we can definitely fit your install into our schedule. Just let me know when you’ve made your decision.”

  Stewart, a gentleman in his forties, stood and said, “I, for one, love what I see here. We’ll discuss it and get back to you within a few days. Thank you, Rose.”

  “If you have any questions after I leave, feel free to call,” I said as I moved toward the door.

  “I’ll walk you out.” Stewart followed me out of the conference room and down the hall.

  Nerves had gotten the better of me earlier, so I hadn’t noticed the changes they’d made to the building. For the most part, it appeared the updates were done, and they were setting up offices.

  I gestured toward a room decorated in mid-century modern style. “This looks so great. I came here as a girl when my mother paid a visit to her insurance agent, and it’s completely different.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “We got the property for a steal, which gave us a higher budget for renovations.”

  “And landscaping,” I said. “You’d be amazed at how many people underestimate the curb appeal good landscaping can provide.”

  “Maybe things are different here in Henryetta,” he said, “but in Dallas we understand the importance of curb appeal.”

  My heart stuttered. “You’re moving here from Dallas?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I thought Rebecca told you that we’re in the process of opening a new branch here.”

  If Rebecca had told me, I would have remembered. The crime syndicate that was interested in Neely Kate was based in Dallas. It seemed like a strange coincidence, but coincidences did happen. Carly was from Dallas, after all, and although we’d initially worried she might have some connection to the Hardshaw Group, that worry had quickly faded. Besides, surely they wouldn’t uproot an entire business on account of my best friend.

  “No,” I said. “I only knew that y’all were relocating from somewhere else. In fact, she never told me what y’all do exactly. She said it was an internet-based business.”