The nurse checked the door opposite the one we’d used to enter the small space, then motioned for us to follow.

We slipped out the door and into a longer hallway, moving away from the waiting room. She opened a door and motioned for us to go in. As soon as we did, she shut us inside, and I couldn’t help but feel trapped.

We were in an office. A desk sat in front of the window, and a wall of bookcases lined the wall to the left. Several diplomas lined the wall to the right. I took a closer look—Kristy Anne Tilton was a psychologist with a PhD from the University of Arkansas.

Jed motioned to the desk. “Take a seat.”

“Behind the desk?”

“We’re here for you.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but I supposed he wouldn’t be there without the excuse of accompanying me.

I tossed my bag behind the desk and had barely gotten settled in the chair when the door opened and Kate appeared. Just like the last time I’d seen her, she was wearing yoga pants and a fitted T-shirt. Her eyes widened when she saw us, and a rough laugh escaped her.

“This is a surprise, and those are so few and far between these days.”

Jed stood behind me as though he was my bodyguard. “Come in and have a seat, Kate.”

She looked amused by Jed’s command, but she walked in and let the door close behind her. Flopping down in one of the chairs across from the desk, she gave me a smirk. “Got yourself a new beau, Neely Kate?”

I kept my emotions hidden. “You wanted me here, so I’m here.”

“But not in the waiting room . . . I told you that we’re alike. Much more alike than you and Joe.”

I saw no reason to beat around the bush. “What do you know about Beasley?”

She laughed, a hysterical sound that bent her forward at the waist, making her look downright crazy. My back tensed as I waited for her to calm down. “Have you ever heard of small talk, sis?”

“I don’t see the point in making small talk about the weather. Especially since you only get to see it through a window.”

“Good one.” Her smirk spread. “How about girl talk? What do sisters normally chat about?”

“I have no idea,” I said, piercing her with my gaze. “I don’t have a sister.”

She covered her chest with her palm. “Ouch, Neely Kate, and here I thought we were bonding.”

“Bonding?” I spat in disgust. “This is not bonding. Sisters build a relationship based on love and trust. We have neither.”

“We could have love, little sister,” she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “But you refuse to love me. I love you.”

“You don’t love me. I suspect you’re incapable of love, let alone unconditional love.”

Her mouth scrunched into a mock frown, but her eyes twinkled. “Poor, poor Neely Kate. You of all people should have learned that unconditional love doesn’t exist.”

“What do you know about Beasley?”

She flung her arm wide and rested it on the arm of the chair. “The real question is what do you know about Beasley.”

Banging my hand on the desk, I lifted my butt out of my chair as I leaned forward. “Enough with the circular talk. What the hell do you want?”

A triumphant grin spread across her face, and I knew I’d messed up.

“Glad to see you finally realized who’s in control here,” she said.

I sat down and stayed silent.

“Good girl,” Kate said as though I were a disobedient dog. She waited several seconds before speaking, no doubt to get her point across. “I have to hand it to you, Neely Kate. You were good at covering everything up, very good, but you misjudged Beasley.”

I tasted bile on my tongue.

“Go ahead and ask me, Neely Kate.”

“Ask you what?”

“Ask me how Beasley got out of jail.”

Beasley was out of jail? How? “What do you want, Kate?”

“I want you to be a better sister. I want you to visit me more often.” She glanced up at Jed and licked her upper lip. “Mmm . . . and bring him back with you.”

“You’re doin’ this because you want me to come visit?”

“And tell me about Joe. How’s he doing? I haven’t seen him since you both came together.”

“I’m not spying on Joe for you.”

“Spying? What are you talking about? He’s our brother. I want to hear about his life. Is he dating anyone?”

I shook my head in disgust.

“Is that a ‘no, he’s not dating anyone’?”

“How did you know about the azaleas?”

She leaned closer and tapped the desk with her index fingernail. “That was a tough one, I’ll give you that. And you have no idea how hard it was to get those flowers out of season.” She gave me a patronizing smile. “See what a good sister I am?”

“You dragged me up here to tell me you want me to visit you more often?”

“Is that a problem?”

“You couldn’t tell me in a letter?”

“What would the fun be in that?”

I wasn’t getting anything, but then again, why was I surprised? She loved the smell of fear and desperation, and right now I reeked of it.

“I want weekly visits,” Kate said, examining her nail beds. “Bring fire-engine red nail polish and paint my nails next time. That’s something sisters do, right?”

I didn’t answer.

“And I want Joe to know about the visits, but he can’t come. Just you and me.” She flicked her finger toward Jed. “But you can bring him. He’s a pretty picture.” She got to her feet and slowly glided toward him. “If you make your weekly meetings, then the letters will stop and your secret will be safe.”

“Until you change the rules,” I said.

“Rules are always changing, sis.” She stopped in front of Jed and ran her fingers from his shoulder to the crook of his elbow. “You should have learned that lesson by now too.”

I wasn’t about to admit she was right.

Kate looked up into Jed’s face. “Do you have a name, handsome?”

To his credit, his expression of disinterest could have been carved from granite. “What do you know about the Murray portfolio?” he asked.

Her eyes flew wide and she burst out into gleeful laughter. “Oh, you are a surprise. I suppose meeting in this office was your doing?”

Jed didn’t respond.

“And what makes you think I know anything about the Murray portfolio?” Kate asked.

He remained silent.

“Does Neely Kate know about the Murray portfolio?” She glanced toward me. “No, I don’t think you do. But does your man know about Beasley?”

Panic demanded I do something, but there was nothing I could do. I was at her mercy, and we both knew it.

Kate ran her finger over Jed’s jaw. I wanted to snap it. “Did she tell you about Beasley?”

Jed didn’t say anything.

“So . . . you’re a man of few words. You must be a man of action.” Her finger brushed over his lip. “Maybe we can work out a deal. It’s very lonely in here.”

I expected Jed to shake her off like a flea, but he just stood there and let her touch him.

“So, you’re here to find out more about the Murray portfolio, are you? Since you’re here with Neely Kate, and my sister has befriended that terrible woman, Rose, I bet you work for James Malcolm.”

I was surprised she knew Skeeter’s real first name. No one but Rose used it.

“Tell Mr. Malcolm,” she continued, “I have needs that aren’t being met here. If he can help supply resources to fulfill those needs, I think we can work out an exchange.”

He glanced down at the desk. “Make a list, and I’ll let him know.”

She shook her head with a sly grin. “I couldn’t possibly come up with a list in so little time. Come back next week, and I’ll give it to you. Bring my sister with you.” She reached up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on Jed’s chin. “See you two next week.”

Then she sashayed out of the room.

“Okay,” Jed said as though she hadn’t nearly sexually assaulted him. “Let’s go.”

I stared up at him in disbelief.

“She’s not coming back, and the less time we’re here, the less likely we are to get caught.”

What he said made total sense, yet something was irritating the crap out of me. I told myself it wasn’t because Kate had come on to him so strong. It definitely wasn’t because I was pissed that he hadn’t shrugged her off.

I almost believed it.

I got out of the chair and started around the desk before realizing Jed wasn’t following me. I turned around and found him still standing behind the desk, holding my bag in his hand.

“What do you have in here anyway?” he asked, hefting it up and down.

The room suddenly felt like it was too hot and tight.

“None of your business.” I marched back and snatched the bag from him. “Let’s go.”

I stormed out, bolting back the way we’d come. When I made it to the elevator, I repeatedly jabbed the down button, hoping I could make my escape before Jed showed up.

I should have known better.

“I know you’re disappointed,” he said quietly.

“Is that what you think I am?” I snapped. What the hell was wrong with me? I’d come to get answers and barely gotten anything other than the demand I come back every week and the news that Beasley was out of jail.

How was Beasley out of jail?

But I hadn’t expected any real answers. Kate only spoke in riddles. This was just a last-ditch effort to find out what I could before I left.

The elevator doors opened. I entered the empty space with Jed on my heels, and he pressed the button for the lobby.

When the doors closed, he turned to me. “Who is Beasley?”

“None of your business.”

“Did you ever think maybe I could help you?”

“Why?” I looked up at him and demanded, “Why would you help me?”

He hesitated, then said, “Because you’re Rose’s friend.”

His answer made sense and my fluctuating emotions made none, yet I was still hurt to the core. I gave a knowing nod. “Because of Rose.”

“Neely Kate.”

I shook my head. “I’m not doing this. I’m not going to be Kate’s little puppet.”

“What does that mean?”

“If you think I’m going to come back here with you week after week and watch you two make out or worse, you have another think coming!”

Surprise filled his eyes and he leaned closer, lowering his voice. “What part of watching us make out would bother you?”

Me and my stupid mouth.

I backed up until the wall stopped me, but Jed advanced until he was only inches away. He leaned down, his face so close he would barely have to move to kiss me. “I don’t want to make out with Kate Simmons.”

“Well, I guess you have some standards,” I conceded dryly.

To my surprise, he laughed.

“We can’t do this, Jed,” I said, more to convince myself than him.

His amusement vanished, but he didn’t back out of my personal space. “We have to come back here, NK.”

I shook my head. “Maybe you do, but I don’t.”

The elevator door opened, and I gave Jed a shove as I walked out of the elevator. An elderly woman gave us a questioning look before she got on.

I needed to ditch Jed, but he was attached to me like a tick to a coon dog, and I had no doubt I’d lose a foot race. These sandals weren’t designed for running.

“We have a two-hour drive ahead,” I said. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Let’s get something to eat. You can go to the bathroom there.”

“I need to go now.”

“Okay.” He pointed to a restroom sign. “They’re that way. Let’s go.”

“What? Am I five years old? Wait in the lobby. I’ll be right back.”

He gave me a long look. “I’m not your enemy, Neely Kate.”

“I never said you were.”

“But you never said I wasn’t. I know you’re ashamed of—”

“Let’s continue this conversation when I get back.”

Disappointment washed over his face, but he nodded.

I spun on my heels and hurried away from him before I could change my mind. When I reached the restroom, I looked over my shoulder to make sure Jed wasn’t watching, then bolted down the hall and never looked back.