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grudge against him forever. He and I breakin’ up was for the best—I have Mason now.” She forced a smile, trying to ignore the pain and worry over the real reason they broke up, a secret even her best friend didn’t know. And the reason she suspected Mason was in Little Rock right now: digging up dirt on Joe’s father to get him to drop the fabricated blackmail information he had on Rose and held over Joe’s head. Mason asserted that as long as Joe Simmons cared the slightest bit about her, she would never be safe. She suspected he was right.
    “Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled you’re with Mason, but I can’t forgive Joe for tossing you to the side to run for that state senate seat. And I definitely can’t forgive him for hooking back up with the Wicked Witch of Southern Arkansas.”
    “Be that as it may, Joe would help you and you know it. Look how worried he was about Ronnie Junior when Tabitha tackled you to the ground.”
    Neely Kate didn’t protest, but she didn’t answer, either.
    A man approached the two women, wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. The hood hung low over his forehead and covered most of his face except for a short red beard. He grabbed the strap of Neely Kate’s white Gucci knockoff and started to pull it off her shoulder.
    But after dealing with all her rowdy cousins, Neely Kate had fast reflexes and a good center of gravity. She twisted the strap around her hand and jerked the bag out of his grasp. The man reached for it again, but Neely Kate swung the purse back and began to whack him over the head.  
    He released several yelps and covered his head, taking several steps backward. But Neely Kate kept swinging her bag until he finally broke free and took off running away, shouting, “You’re crazy!”  
    “Oh, my word, Neely Kate!” Rose cried out, trying to gather her wits about her. “Are you okay?”
    Neely Kate lowered her arm, her chest heaving from her exertion. “That man tried to steal my purse!”
    “You should have just let him have it. You could have gotten hurt.”
    “He’s the one who got hurt. I have three cans of Vienna sausages in here.”
    Rose started to ask her friend why she had Vienna sausages in her purse, then shook her head. “Never mind. Let’s go get you some lunch.”
    Both women held their purses closer until they reached the restaurant. They ordered their sandwiches and sat down.  
    “I know it’s been a crazy day already,” Rose said. “But I was hoping to do some shopping this afternoon. I figured you’d need a nap before we go to see Wicked tonight.”
    “I can probably last a few hours. We can’t waste the opportunity, since we definitely don’t have shopping like this back home.” Neely Kate gave her a wry grin. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
    “A present for Mason.” She took a bite of her po’boy, avoiding eye contact.  
    Neely Kate winked. “We passed a lingerie store. We’ll go back and you can find something special. Anything else?”
    Rose hesitated. “A dress to wear tonight…something black.”
    The blonde’s head jerked up. “ Rose Gardner —”
    Rose’s phone rang and she snatched it out of her purse, hoping to avoid the lecture she knew was coming.  
    “Hey, Mason,” she answered, raising her eyebrows in mock innocence at Neely Kate.
    “Are you girls having fun?”
    Rose considered telling Mason everything, but stopped herself. Neely Kate hadn’t been arrested. Taylor was a PI and she was looking for clues to solve the case. But she knew Mason well enough to know that he’d drop everything and drive down to New Orleans. She’d let him come if there was something he could do to help them. But for now, Taylor was their best bet. Besides, if Mason was doing what she suspected, he was of more use in Little Rock.  
    “We’re great.” She flashed Neely Kate a big smile. “We’re in the middle of eating po’boys for an early lunch.”
    “Sounds delicious. What else