“And me.” I reminded him, my voice cold. “Until you thought I had the flash drive. You really wanted it for the police, but it got you into Crocker’s good graces.”
The look on his face confirmed it. I tried to step around him again.
“So what’s on this precious flash drive everyone wants? It must be somethin’ special to kill people and waste time foolin’ stupid me.” I glared up at him.
“Rose, I swear it wasn’t like that!”
“You just saved me last night because it was gonna look bad that an innocent taxpayin’ citizen got killed by mistake.”
His face hardened. “You’re wrong there. They offered you immunity up until Saturday afternoon, the phone call I got after lunch. Then they said they wanted you to go through with meetin’ Crocker. They were worried if you didn't show, the big meetin’ today wouldn’t happen.”
My heart dropped into my toes. “I see,” I said, letting it sink in. “So how did you save me then? Why?”
“By disobeying direct orders. When my superiors find out what I did, I’m liable to lose my job. But I wouldn’t have been able to live with the guilt.”
“Am I supposed to feel grateful or sorry for that?” I shouted, about to burst into tears. “I saved you because I care about you Joe McAllister! Not because I felt guilty! Okay, a little because I felt guilty, since I thought you were gonna die because of me. But I saved you because I couldn’t bear for somethin’ to happen to you. I like you. Or I thought I did.” I stepped to my left to get around him.
Joe moved in front of me again. “Rose, that came out wrong, that’s not what I meant!”
“You were gonna arrest me, weren’t you?”
He didn’t answer, guilt in his eyes.
“Get out of my way, Joe McAllister.”
Hilary stood in the doorway. “Joe, we need you downstairs.”
I stared at her, then back at Joe. “So is she your girlfriend or not?”
“Was. What I told you the night we ate Chinese was true.”
I studied the man I thought I knew, my heart shattering into pieces. “Thanks for tellin’ me the truth about somethin’.” I walked around him and Hilary backed out of the doorway onto the stairs.
“Rose! Wait!” Joe shouted, running after me.
Hilary blocked his path. “She just needs some time to think this through and you have work to do.”
I walked down the stairs, realizing my shirt still hung open, my black bra hanging out for the world to see. Even though it seemed the least of my worries, I grabbed the torn edges with my hand to hold it shut.
“Rose, you can’t leave yet,” Hilary called out. “We still need a statement from you.”
“I don’t care. I’m goin’ home. You know where to find me.” I walked through the handcuffed men and DEA agents in bulletproof vests, then headed for the wide open doors in the center. Muffy appeared next to me.
“Come on, Muffy. Let’s go home.”
I parked Mildred’s car in her driveway, like nothing had ever happened. I would have filled up the gas tank, but I didn't have any money. Heavens knew where my purse was.
As soon as I got in the house, I called Violet at Aunt Bessie’s. I assured her I was fine and that it was all over. When she asked about Joe, I told her he was fine, too. I didn’t feel like explaining anything else. Turned out he'd told her the night before that he was with the state police. I guessed I was the last to know.
I took a long shower, my body aching from all the beating it had received. I was thankful I didn’t have to worry about someone coming in and surprising me. I also felt a sense of relief, knowing that Muffy stood guard next to the tub if they did. I’d never doubt her guard-dog capabilities again.
I spent the rest of the afternoon sorting through my house, the events of the last couple weeks playing in my mind, exhausted but too riled up to sleep. Around seven, I heard the whine of a small motor in the kitchen.
The side door stood partially open and Joe had a drill, removing my locks.
“What are you doin’?” I asked, irritated at the little skip in my heart at the sight of him. I stopped in front of the opening.
He stood up and reached out his right hand to me, wanting to shake my hand.
I tilted my head and looked at him like he’d just escaped from the funny farm.
“I’m Joe.” He shook my hand and gave me a hesitant smile. “I’m your next door neighbor. I saw you had some broken locks and thought I’d do the neighborly thing and fix ‘em for you.”