by Carol Ross
“Reporter,” Henry said quickly as one particularly alert man noticed them and broke away from the crowd.
All smiles, like they were old friends, he approached and said, “Henry, hi. Nice to see you again. You must be Seth James. My name is David Belt, with the Florida Navigator. Can you gentlemen spare a moment for a quick chat?”
“Afraid not,” Seth replied in a not-quite-as-friendly tone. “We have to get to a thing.”
Seth kept walking. Henry was one step ahead of him. With Hazel flanking him on the other side, they managed to skirt the crowd still clustered in front of the elevators. Where the hallway narrowed, a bottleneck of people halted their progress. Two security guards were keeping the mob at bay. Upon spotting Seth and Henry, one of them waved and stepped forward to meet them.
That’s when someone else realized who they were. Questions were shouted, and cameras flashed, but not for long as they were swiftly escorted inside the room. Where there were more newspeople. Seth braced himself, but they all kept a respectful distance.
Under the right conditions, Seth would have taken the time to appreciate the elegant atmosphere, including the vintage-inspired angling gear decorating the space. It felt wrong to indulge without Victoria there.
In addition to the three finalists and their respective guests, the head table was slated to include the Romeo family, Marissa, Gerard and other key company people along with their partners or guests. Henry remained near the door, waiting for his daughter to arrive. Bering had texted to say that he, Tag and Cricket were standing in line and would be seated at a nearby table.
“Do you really believe all of that?” Seth asked Hazel once they’d found their places. “About Victoria possibly being innocent?”
“I don’t know what to believe yet. I need more information. Which I’m going to get. And even if Vic did make a mistake as a teenager, something I think most of us on this planet can relate to, and even if it was a crime, she doesn’t deserve the treatment she’s getting. That Olivia person—I don’t even want to call her a reporter—deserves to be called out.”
“I agree with that. What can we do?”
“I’m working on it.”
There was no time to discuss it further because the Romeo Reels people were now filtering into the room. Soon they gathered around the table, and greetings and small talk ensued while everyone settled into their places. Henry and his daughter arrived, taking two of the final three seats. Everyone was smiling and laughing, but to Seth, the atmosphere felt forced. There was an underlying tension and he knew he wasn’t the only one who felt it.
Then Marissa appeared and, standing between him and Henry, leaned in to say, “The CEO will be making an announcement.”
Three people were bunched near the podium as if gearing up to start the proceedings, but the room was still buzzing with conversation when Seth’s phone, tucked inside the pocket of his jacket, vibrated with a call. Making him cringe a little, both because he realized he’d forgotten to silence it and also because he didn’t want to silence it in case Victoria called. While his fingers fumbled to find the right button to silence it, he saw Quinn’s smiling face lighting up the screen.
Which gave him pause. Why would Quinn be calling now? A text wouldn’t be unusual, but a call felt off. He very much wanted to answer, but now a man stood behind the podium, fiddling with the microphone.
Seth silenced the call and began tapping out a text. Before he could finish, a message popped on the screen. And for a horrifying moment, the world stopped spinning. If anyone else he knew had sent the same two words, he wouldn’t have a clue what they meant, but from Quinn, that was all it took to communicate a tragedy: Scarlett. Cottonmouth.
Bolting upright, he nearly toppled his chair.
“Good evening, and welcome, everyone,” Microphone Man said at the same time.
“Awfully confident there, aren’t you, James?” Wyatt joked. “They haven’t announced the winner yet.”
Seth ignored him as he attempted to absorb the news, the repercussions; Scarlett had been bitten by a cottonmouth snake.
“Seth?” Hazel tugged on his sleeve. “What’s wrong?”
Head shaking, he sat again, handing her his phone so she could read the message. How quickly could he get there?
“Oh no!” she whispered before passing it to Henry.
Henry paled. “She’s only eleven,” he said aloud, blatantly ignoring the man at the microphone.
Seth looked at him. “I have to go.”
Everyone at the table was staring curiously at them now.
“Of course, you do,” Henry agreed. “Do you want me to book you a flight?”
“Hazel can do it. She’s like a professional.”
Hazel, already on her phone, started nodding. “It’s already done. You’re flying to New Orleans because that’s the only direct flight leaving anytime soon. I’m getting you a car, too. Don’t worry about packing all of your stuff. I’ll do that. Just grab what you need and go. Get moving. I’ll text you all the information you need.”
“Keep us posted,” Henry said and then a more urgent, “Seth!”
Seth met his gaze again.
“We’ll get this straightened out. All you need to do right now is be there for them however you can.”
“Seth!” Marissa, who was seated next to Henry and listening to the exchange, had gone wide-eyed. “You’re going somewhere? Where are you going?”
He stood again. “I’m sorry, but there’s an emergency. I have to go. My sister and Henry will explain.”
“Can’t you wait a few more minutes?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “I can’t.” Turning away, he added softly, “I never should have waited this long.” He should have gone after Victoria the moment he’d realized she’d gone.
Seth hurried out the door and into the hall. Pausing, he looked right and then left, trying to decide which direction would give him the best chance of avoiding people and reporters.
He went left, remembering there were stairs down to the lobby. From there, he could take a different set of stairs up a few flights, grab an elevator, and hopefully avoid...
“Excuse me?” a woman’s voice called out. Seconds later, she caught up to him. Stretching out a hand, she said, “Seth James, right? It’s nice to meet you. My name is Olivia Wallace from Gulf States Law Dog. Any chance I could speak with you about Victoria Thibodeaux?”
Seth stopped so quickly that the woman nearly stumbled, trying to keep him close. “Olivia Wallace,” he repeated. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself with this story, haven’t you?”
“Thank you. Would you care to comment on the situation?”
“That wasn’t a compliment. What situation would that be? The one where people are now repeating bits and pieces of your story that is only part of a story? An unsubstantiated one at that. Go back to journalism school and retake your ethics course, and then I’ll consider giving you a comment.”
“Excuse me?” Olivia looked affronted. “What are you accusing me of exactly?”
“I read your so-called article. You reported that Victoria Thibodeaux committed a crime, and you did so without any evidence to corroborate the claim. What you did was unconscionable.”
“I cited a source. The fact that she even has a sealed record indicates criminal activity.”
“Do you personally know for a fact that she has a sealed record?”
“I don’t... Um.”
“And isn’t outing a sealed juvenile record illegal?”
“Well, in certain cases—”
“And you have an anonymous source with no documentation.”
“Who is extremely credible,” Olivia said defensively, although Seth could see she was losing steam.
“Here’s an actual real tip for you from a person who isn’t an anonymous coward. What’s the real st
ory here, Olivia? Do you even know? That’s the one you should be chasing. And I’m going on record stating that Victoria Thibodeaux is being unfairly maligned. By you. If you want to go after Austin Galbraith, go after him. Leave Victoria alone.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“WITH SUCH DISTINCTLY delineated fang imprints we are confident it was a full-impact bite.”
Fang imprints. Full-impact bite. The words were like dialogue from a horror film. Victoria had lived her entire life in the South. Much of it outdoors where snakes reigned supreme. Showing respect and exercising caution was second nature, all the while knowing an altercation was always a possibility. Quinn’s presence in their life added additional knowledge and awareness. But it wasn’t something she dwelled on. A fact she was incredibly grateful for at this moment because the reality was so much worse than she could have anticipated.
Victoria’s stomach churned but her focus remained razor sharp as she listened to the doctor.
“It was definitely a cottonmouth and a large snake, not huge, but your daughter is thin and light. That can mean a high ratio of venom. The photo and details from your daughter’s friend, Quinn, were very helpful. Dr. Duquette was wise in calling ahead and luckily Dr. Larkin was available. He’s our snakebite guy, one of the leading experts in the country. He’s administered more antivenom and is in with Scarlett now. We won’t know the extent of damage for a while.”
“But she’s going to live.” Victoria didn’t ask. She stated it as a fact. Because her daughter had to live. Scarlett was her heart, her soul, the best parts of her and the only thing that truly mattered.
“I am very confident on that count. Cottonmouth bites are rarely fatal. Barring an infection or a reaction to the antivenom, which so far has been smooth sailing, she should have an excellent long-term recovery. However, she is in an incredible amount of pain, which we’re attempting to manage.”
Victoria blinked away tears. Mémé squeezed her hand. Her mama exhaled a relieved breath. Immediately shifting beyond relief about Scarlett’s prognosis, the next concern had her recalling one of Quinn’s many lessons. The pain of a cottonmouth bite is like a searing red hot poker beneath your skin. Except it doesn’t stop. It just keeps burning and burning... She would give anything if she could take it and bear it in Scarlett’s place. No doubt, poor Quinn was thinking about that, too.
Her heart twisted with anguish and love for the boy, too. She worried about the guilt he’d feel because they’d been out searching for snakes. But Victoria knew it could just as easily have occurred when they were fishing, birdwatching, exploring, working around the resort or any of the other myriad activities they got up to on a daily basis.
Right at dusk, they’d been on their way back to Quinn’s house when Scarlett had spotted a frog. Moving closer for a better look, she hadn’t realized that hidden in the reeds something else was stalking it, too. Without warning, unusual for the species according to Quinn, the cottonmouth had struck her forearm.
Because he knew it could be important, Quinn had snapped a photo of the snake before scooping Scarlett up in his arms and sprinting for home. Somehow, he’d managed to call his dad Griffin who’d met the kids in the driveway, loaded them into the car, and then raced to the local hospital. Being a doctor himself, he’d had the foresight to call ahead. They’d given her a dose of antivenom and loaded her into a helicopter and flown her to Baton Rouge where Dr. Larkin had been waiting.
“What about her arm? Will she be able to use her hand?” Austin asked, which irritated Victoria, even though she knew that wasn’t fair. Thorough, meticulous and detail oriented, those were some of the man’s only positive traits. He’d want to know all the statistics.
“I can’t predict anything yet. The swelling is significant. And, as I mentioned, tissue damage begins with envenomation. Muscle damage is inevitable but the antivenom halts the progression. It’ll be days before we have an idea.”
Victoria had had enough medical talk for the time being. There would be bridges to cross no doubt, but for now she needed to be with Scarlett. “Can I see her?”
“Of course. But we’re going to do one person at a time for now.” A nurse appeared and led Victoria to Scarlett’s room.
* * *
SETH WASN’T FAZED by the fact that it was the middle of the night when he landed in New Orleans. He found several texts waiting, including one from Quinn relaying that Scarlett was in a hospital in Baton Rouge. Another contained his rental car information, thank you, Hazel. After picking up the car, he drove straight to the hospital. A quick stop at the information desk told him where the waiting room was located. His plan consisted of camping out there until Victoria or her mom or grandma appeared. If no one showed by morning, he’d text Quinn and make a new plan.
Walking through the main lobby, he noticed two people on a sofa. A man was reading with a kid curled up beside him. The kid’s face was half-covered by his arm but he recognized Quinn.
Approaching the man, Seth whispered, “Dr. Duquette?”
The man smiled. “You must be Seth.”
At Seth’s nod, he said, “Please, call me Griffin.” They exchanged handshakes and Seth took a seat in an adjacent chair.
“Do you know how Scarlett is doing?”
Seth expected a complicated summary seeing as how the man was a biologist. But that wasn’t what he got. In layman’s terms, Griffin explained the severity of the bite, but that Scarlett had received multiple vials of antivenom to which she was responding well. In the doctors’ opinions, and his, she was out of the woods, or at least through the most dangerous part.
Seth felt a surge of relief at the news. Nudging his chin toward Quinn, he asked, “How is he?”
“Worried. Guilt-ridden. He refuses to leave.” Griffin scrubbed a hand across his jaw. “He says he’s staying as long as Scarlett has to stay. This is one of those parenting moments that leave you completely baffled. Do I force him to go home and get some proper sleep and food? I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to leave either. I don’t want to leave.
“Scarlett means so much to Quinn. To my wife and me, too. These two kids are like...” He shook his head. “Soul mates? No, I don’t like what that implies.” He slipped Seth a small smile. “They are just simpatico—you know what I mean? Since they were this tall.” He held out a hand a couple of feet from the floor. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve certainly never had a friendship like theirs.”
Seth agreed. They acted like siblings, the kind who genuinely liked each other like him and Hazel. “I can’t imagine anyone blaming him.”
“No, of course not. The Thibodeauxs are the best people I know. My wife and I work a lot. Too much, if I’m being honest. She’s a doctor, too. Microbiology research. I probably wouldn’t work as much if Quinn didn’t have Scarlett and her family. When he was little, I offered to pay them because he was there so much.” Chuckling at the memory, he added, “That did not go over well with Ms. Effie.”
Seth smiled. “I can imagine.”
“They’ve always treated Quinn like part of the family. The kids are over there more often, but we treat Scarlett the same way when she’s with us.”
Quinn stirred and then popped upright. “Seth!” He shot off the sofa and into Seth’s arms. “You came.”
Seth hugged him. “Of course, I did. You got my back, kiddo, I got yours. That’s how this works.”
Quinn stepped back and nodded somberly. “This is good. Victoria is going to be so happy.”
Until that moment, Seth hadn’t realized just how much he wanted that to be true.
* * *
“SETH IS HERE?” Victoria stared at her grandmother and tried to process this next revelation. Revelations comprised her life right now, didn’t they? One soul-shattering shock after another. Admittedly, this one wasn’t nearly as traumatic as the last few. Even though it might not be a good move on his part, she couldn’t
deny the mix of happiness and relief blooming inside of her.
“That’s what I said. He was in the waiting area when I came through. We talked a bit.” Effie moved around the hospital bed where Scarlett was sleeping. Leaning over, she pressed a soft kiss to her great-granddaughter’s cheek. “Our poor baby.”
“How? Why is he here? What do I say?”
“From what I understand, Quinn texted him last night and he caught the first flight he could get. Been here since early this morning, with Quinn who still refuses to leave, and his daddy. As for that second question, I don’t think you’ll have to say much at all. For now, anyway.” Mémé gave her a pointed look and Victoria knew what it meant. She wanted her to “make this right.” But there were things her grandmother didn’t know. Victoria could only imagine what she would say if she knew the whole story. She didn’t want to think about that now anyway. It no longer mattered. Scarlett could have died.
But Seth mattered.
And yet, Victoria stayed put, trying to get a handle on her emotions and thoughts. Who had gotten the job? She wanted that for him, even as she’d be sad for Henry. If he had gotten it, he definitely should not be here but now that he was, she realized how much she wanted him to be. But...
“Victoria!” Only her grandmother could manage to make a whisper sound stern.
Turning her head, she met the scowl she knew would be waiting. “Hmm?”
Mémé’s features softened along with her tone, “Stop thinking so hard and go talk to the man. You don’t have to resolve everything right now. There will be time for that later, however. Because, Victoria, I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”