“Doughnuts?” Norma Ray asked.
I might have to slap someone before this conversation was over. “No, about my problem with Sluggs.”
“Oh,” Norma Ray said, eyes wide. “I forgot all about that.”
“We know,” Malene snipped. “Clem, what are you thinking?”
Here went nothing. “What if we announced to the town that I would make another premonition?”
Malene folded her arms. “About what?”
“Well,” I said slowly, letting the words form in my mouth. “What if we told the town that I could see who would be arrested for Crystal’s murder?”
Suddenly the doorbell rang. I quirked a brow at Malene. “Expecting someone?”
“Just someone who can help us out, is all.”
“Who would that be?”
She made her way to the door and opened it, revealing Rufus.
“Am I late?” he asked, striding in.
“Just in time,” she said.
Why did she invite him? And why hadn’t he returned my call? “I thought this was going to be a meeting for the ladies.”
“If I’m crashing anything, I can always leave.” He pointed to the door. “If you don’t want me.”
“No,” I quickly added. “You can stay.”
Rufus sidled up beside me. “Sorry I didn’t call you back. Malene rang me before I had a chance to respond, and then I knew you would be here.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured.
He smiled softly, and I couldn’t help but admire his high cheekbones and sculpted features, how his dark eyes and hair nearly matched and how, when you stared into his eyes long enough, how soft he was on the inside. There was no longer the malice in his gaze that had been there when I first met him. Now Rufus was kind, generous.
“Tell me what’s going on,” he said.
“Clem wants to set a trap for Crystal’s killer,” Norma Ray informed him.
Rufus’s brows shot up. “Intriguing, and dangerous.”
“Tuney Sluggs thinks that I coerced you into saying you saw the premonition with me.”
He smiled slyly. “I haven’t been arrested yet.”
Urleen set the curling iron down. “That’s because he needs more evidence. He couldn’t find an egg if he had to stick his hand up a chicken to get it. That’s how lame Tuney Sluggs is.”
“Again,” I said, exasperated. “Why is this person the chief of police?”
“Folks don’t like change,” Malene said. “It’s as simple as that. Now, back to this cockamamie plan you’ve got. Tell Rufus.”
I exhaled a deep breath. Here went nothing. “We should tell the town that I’ve seen who’s going to be arrested for Crystal’s murder. Folks know that I saw her dead, but that’s as much as they know. But if I say that I know who did it, then maybe the person who killed her will start acting funny.”
“And murder you?” Rufus shook his head. “It’s risky and foolish. It puts you in unnecessary harm’s way. No. If we’re going to use the premonition to our advantage, we need to go about it a different way.”
“My plan will work,” I argued.
