Resurrection in Mudbug

by Jana DeLeon

  “Your buddies Bart and Tyler.”

  “They’re not my buddies,” Jadyn protested. “But they do seem to be around a lot. Are you sure Marty or Bill couldn’t be involved?”

  Colt threw his hands in the air. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

  Jadyn sighed. “Me either.”

  Colt’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his jeans pocket and answered. Several seconds later, he slipped it back in his pocket.

  “That was Shirley,” he said. “She wants me back at the sheriff’s department as soon as possible.”

  “She didn’t say why?” Jadyn said, starting to worry that the body count had risen again.

  “No, but she sounded excited, not scared.”

  “Well, that’s good. Right?”

  He shrugged. “I think we better see.”

  It took them ten minutes to nail Junior’s front door onto the frame and put police tape on the front of it. Then they both headed to the sheriff’s department. Shirley met them at the door, a huge grin on her face.

  “I’ve been meaning to sort out those old files forever,” she said. “I started with the top drawer, which took an hour, and then when I got to the second, look what I found.” She held up the iron key.

  Jadyn struggled to contain her glee. Shirley had just eliminated one huge problem from her day.

  “Wow!” Jadyn said.

  Colt’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding me! It was in there the whole time?”

  She nodded. “You must have accidentally dropped it inside a folder instead of in the bottom like you thought, which means the killer wasn’t in here stealing it in broad daylight.”

  “It also means your car seriously needs a service,” Colt said.

  Shirley frowned. “Yes, I suppose it does. I also got a call from the hospital, and that news is not nearly as good.”

  “Did something happen to Leroy?” Colt asked.

  “He skipped. Walked out sometime early this morning.”

  “Didn’t you have a guard on him?” Jadyn asked.

  “Apparently,” Shirley said, “he waited until the officer went into the restroom, then made his getaway.”

  Colt cursed. “I hope he’s not as stupid as I suspect he is.”

  Jadyn blew out a breath. “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now, except hope that the people who got to Duke aren’t looking for him.”

  “It can’t come as much of a surprise, really,” Shirley said. “The man’s entire life has been one bad decision after another. Well, I best get back to my filing.” She lifted a stack of files out of the cabinet and headed to her desk.

  Colt stared out the window, frowning.

  “Are you worried about Leroy?” Jadyn asked.

  “I’m worried there’s something he didn’t tell me, and even more worried that I didn’t catch on to that. I’m usually pretty good at judging when someone’s hedging an interview.”

  Jadyn nodded. “Then let’s just hope he’s smart enough to hide somewhere that he can’t be easily found.”

  “Yep. Well, enough about Leroy—let’s talk about the key. I intended to visit Earl again this morning but got sidetracked with Junior. Let’s go now.”

  “Actually,” Jadyn said, “I talked to Mildred last night and I think I have a better idea. I don’t think anyone would risk hiding merchandise in Mudbug cemetery. It would be too hard to get in and out without being seen, especially given that the only entrance is right off the main street.”

  Colt frowned. “What did Mildred think?”

  “She said that Helena Henry’s family had a private cemetery in the swamp.” Jadyn reached in her jeans pocket and unfolded a sheet of paper. “She drew me a map—of sorts. It’s been years since she’s been to the place, but she thought it was in this vicinity.”

  Colt studied the map. “It’s northeast of town and definitely isolated—no homes within ten miles that I’m aware of. She may be onto something. We should check it out.”

  “Yeah, there’s only one problem.”

  “What?”

  “Mildred remembered the cemetery having a huge iron fence with spikes on it. If that key opens a crypt and not the gate, then it sounds like we’re not getting in there without the gate key.”

  Colt blew out a breath. “Who would have the key?”

  “Mildred’s guess was the estate attorney in New Orleans.”

  “Which means Hank Henry is likely the only person who could get the key.”

  Jadyn nodded. “That’s what Mildred thought, so she called him first thing this morning and asked him to check into it. Let me call and see if she’s heard anything.”

  She pulled out her phone and called Mildred, who gave her an update. Smiling, she slipped the phone back in her pocket. “The attorney had the key and Hank picked it up an hour ago. He should be here soon.”

  “Great.” Colt grabbed a key from Shirley’s desk and motioned her into his office.

  “I don’t want Shirley worrying about us any more than she already is,” he said as he closed the door behind them. “I didn’t tell her about last night. Have you told anyone?”

  “No one but Mildred, but she’s not going to say anything.”

  He nodded. “I think the fewer people who know what we’re up to the better. We also have to be far more prepared than we were last night. We got lucky. Really lucky. I’m not willing to risk my life and especially yours on luck again.”

  He unlocked a cabinet on the back wall, pulled out two bulletproof vests, and handed her one. “Before we walk out of this building, I want you wearing that. And I want you to promise me you’ll keep it on unless you’re showering or sleeping, at least until this is over.”

  Jadyn took the vest, the weight of it already giving her comfort. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”

  He pulled a shotgun and a small nine-millimeter out and handed those to her as well. “We’ll both take shotguns and our regular piece to the cemetery, but I want you to put that smaller nine on your leg for backup.” He reached back into the cabinet and pulled out an ankle strap and tossed it to her, then motioned for her to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

  She sat down and strapped the pistol to her leg, making sure the strap was secure before pulling her jeans over it. Colt placed his vest and shotgun in the middle of the desk, then sat on the end of it, facing her.

  “I owe you an apology,” he said.

  She stared up at him, surprised. “For what?”

  “For being condescending when you first arrived, for insinuating you’d be a burden to my investigation, and most importantly, for putting you at risk when it wasn’t necessary.”

  “The risk is part of both our jobs. No apology is necessary.”

  He smiled. “And the rest.”

  “The rest is sketchy, but I can see how you might have felt things would be easier without me tagging along.”

  He shook his head. “I’d love to agree with you and let it go, but then I’d be compounding bad behavior with a lie. The truth is, I didn’t want to work closely with you because you remind me of someone I don’t really want to remember.”

  “Oh.” It was one of the very few times in her life that Jadyn didn’t have anything to say.

  “I don’t want to get into the dirty details, so I’ll just say this—she was a cop, we had a thing, then we didn’t any longer.”

  Jadyn studied his face, trying to gain a deeper understanding than what his words offered. He didn’t look sad or angry or even wistful. In fact, if she had to attach any emotion at all to his expression, it would be resignation.

  She felt a twinge of jealousy that another woman had meant so much to him that he still harbored feelings for her. What kind of woman inspired a man like Colt to carry a torch long after the flames had been doused with water?

  “I’m sorry,” Jadyn said finally.

  “Don’t be. The things about you that remind me of her are the good things.”

  “Then maybe
you should tell me some of the bad ones in case I need to piss you off.”

  He laughed. “You know, I bet you’d do it, too.” He studied her for a moment. “But I don’t think you could ever match her evil side. I don’t think you have it in you.”

  Jadyn shook her head. “I can be pretty bitchy, though.”

  He smiled. “So I’ve seen. Anyway, long and short of it—the problem is mine, it shouldn’t be yours, and I’m going to correct it. How about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “How are you doing with all this? You seem to be handling some hard-core stuff pretty well, but you’re new here and don’t have the support system that you would have back home.”

  “Ha. Like you, I have things I don’t want to dwell on, so let’s just say I have more support here with people I’ve known a couple of days than I ever did with those I’ve had a lifetime with.”

  His expression shifted, but the pity she’d dreaded seeing wasn’t there, just understanding. “My mom always said we can’t pick our family,” he said, “but we can make our own. I’ve got some relatives I prefer at a distance and some friends I’d give the shirt off my back. Mildred and Maryse are good women. A bit odd at times, but then it wouldn’t be Mudbug without a little oddity.”

  His words made her heart swell just a bit. In a few sentences, he’d captured what she’d been feeling since she arrived—that this was where she was meant to be, where she fit. That everything about her life prior to Mudbug had been wrong, the people toxic. In Mildred and Maryse, she could have the family she’d always wanted. It may not be traditional, but that didn’t matter.

  “They are good women. I’m lucky to have them. Lucky to be here.”

  He sighed. “Maybe not this week. Are you sleeping all right—I mean, given the circumstances? That scene at Duke’s…well, let’s just say I expected to be scraping you up off the floor like I did the coroner.”

  “There was a moment or two I thought you might. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t haunt me some, but I figure catching the guy who did it will go a long way to curing my problems sleeping.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He rose from the desk and placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “If you ever need to talk, no matter the time, you can call me. I know what it’s like to sit alone in the dark, waiting for daylight.”

  His touch warmed her body even more than his words. Such a simple thing, a hand on her shoulder, and yet every inch of her skin went on high alert. Everything about Colt Bertrand was so right, but yet so risky.

  “Thank you,” she managed, afraid to say more for fear of what might come out. At least she was at a safe distance, sitting in the chair. If she’d been closer to him, eye to eye, it would have been far harder to stop herself from reaching out to touch him as well.

  A knock at the door broke the moment and he released her shoulder as Shirley stuck her head inside. “Hank Henry’s here and wants to see you.”

  “Great. Send him back.”

  Jadyn rose from her chair, anxious to get her first look at Helena’s son and Maryse’s ex. According to the Mudbug gossip, Hank’s reputation had preceded him for years, but he’d recently turned his life around, settled down with a good woman, and was now expecting a child. Jadyn liked redemption stories and couldn’t wait to meet the man who’d actually accomplished it.

  A few seconds later, a tall man with an athletic build and a gorgeous smile pushed open the office door and strolled inside. He shook hands with Colt, then turned to her.

  “You must be Jadyn,” he said. “I know because you’ve got those same beautiful eyes with the no-nonsense glint as Maryse.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Jadyn couldn’t help smiling, immediately understanding why Maryse had gone against conventional wisdom and hooked up with the man in front of her. Hank Henry was, quite simply, charming.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” she said.

  He pulled a key out of his pocket and handed it to Colt. “Not so much under these circumstances, though. Mildred gave me the CliffsNotes version of what’s going on. I’m happy to help, but you two have got to promise me you will be careful. If anything happened to either of you in that cemetery, I’d never forgive myself.”

  “We’re taking every precaution,” Colt reassured him. “Do you know anything about the cemetery? The layout maybe?”

  Hank shook his head. “Not a thing. Until Mildred called asking about it, I didn’t even know we had a family cemetery. I doubt I’ve ever set foot in it. If I have, I don’t remember. I did ask Wheeler about it though.”

  “The attorney?” Colt asked.

  Hank nodded. “He said it hasn’t been used since my great-granddad’s time. It’s been over forty years since he’s seen it but he recalls several crypts. He just has no idea as to location of the crypts or the overall scope and size of the cemetery.”

  “I’ll get this back to you as soon as we’re done, maybe over a beer down at Bill’s,” Colt said.

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” Hank said and turned to Jadyn. “You keep him out of trouble. He was always in trouble.”

  “Ha,” Colt said. “Given that this is the first time I’ve seen you in the sheriff’s department without wearing cuffs, I think you’ve got me beat.”

  Hank grinned. “You were just better at not getting caught. Be safe,” he said and exited the office.

  Colt looked over at Jadyn and shook his head. “Why do all women get that look on their face when they’re in the presence of Hank Henry?”

  “Because he’s handsome and charming?”

  Colt grinned. “Honesty. I liked that.”

  Jadyn smiled. “He’s happily married with a baby on the way. I’m allowed to appreciate him from the bleachers.”

  “Is that what you call it? Heck, I always thought I was breaking some rule when I found attached women attractive. I didn’t realize bleacher admiration was perfectly acceptable.”

  “It depends on who you’re admiring, or more accurately, who who you’re admiring is attached to.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” He sobered and took a step closer to her, leaving only inches between them. “Are you sure you want to do this? I can go alone.”

  She tried not to think about his body so close to hers. Tried not to think about how easy it would be to lean forward, wrap her hands in his unkempt hair, and press her lips to his. Such thoughts had no place between them—not now, not ever if they were to maintain a professional relationship.

  “No,” she said finally. “It’s too dangerous. He may not be working alone.”

  She could tell by his expression that he knew she was right. Had known before he’d ever said a word, but some part of him required that he give her an out.

  She wasn’t about to take it.

  ###

  Maryse waited on the bench outside of the sheriff’s department for Hank to exit. As soon as she’d seen him pull into town, she’d hurried down the street, hoping to catch him before he left. For days, she’d been trying to reach him, but they’d never managed to connect. Now, she needed to hurry up and get everything on the table in case Helena spotted him in town.

  The wait was excruciating, but finally, he walked out of the sheriff’s department. He glanced over at her, then drew up short and smiled. “Maryse!”

  She rose from the bench as he walked over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. “I swear I haven’t been dodging your calls—it’s just that work has been crazy and we’re trying to remodel one of the rooms to be a nursery. I was going straight to the hotel from here to see if Mildred knew where to find you.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I know you’re busy. How’s Lila feeling?”

  Hank beamed. “Great. Hasn’t been sick a single day and says she feels better than ever.”

  Maryse shook her head. “She’ll probably never have a labor pain and will deliver that baby while simultaneously knitting it a bla
nket and filing your tax return. The woman is perfect. It’s scary.”

  Hank laughed. “Yeah, I’m going to agree with you, but don’t tell Lila I’m scared of her. She’ll just add to my chore list.”

  “It’s our secret,” Maryse agreed. “Look, I’ve got something to tell you that you’re not going to like, so I’m just going to come right out and say it—your mother’s back.”

  Hank’s eyes widened. “What do you mean ‘back’?”

  “Still dead, but back on earth. In Mudbug, to be exact.”

  “What the hell is she doing here?”

  “She says God has no sense of humor and she pissed him off…I don’t know. With Helena it could be anything. Bottom line, it looks like she’s here to stay for a while, and she knows Lila is pregnant.”

  Maryse held up a hand to stop Hank before he yelled. “None of us told her. She claims God let her watch what we were doing, like some really inappropriate reality show.”

  He ran one hand through his hair. “What the hell am I going to do? I can’t have her around all the time. With the business and the baby, we’re already stretched to capacity. If you throw Mom in the mix, it’s a recipe for an insanity plea.”

  “Don’t I know it, but I don’t think you’re in as much risk as the rest of us. Helena hasn’t learned to fly, or anything equally as onerous, so unless she hitchhikes to New Orleans, or one of us agrees to bring her, she’s not going to show up on your doorstep.”

  Hank relaxed a bit as he processed Maryse’s words. “That doesn’t sound quite as dire.”

  “No, but you need to visit her, and if she’s still around when the baby comes, you need to establish some sort of visiting schedule. Otherwise, she’ll make us all crazy.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” He blew out a breath. “A visiting schedule for my dead mother. This may just be the thing that causes perfect Lila to break rank.”

  “She wouldn’t be the first.”

  Hank placed his hand on top of Maryse’s and squeezed. “I really appreciate you taking this on. I mean, I know Mom doesn’t give you much choice, but I feel better knowing you and Mildred will attempt to ride herd over her.”

  He looked down Main Street, then back at Maryse. “Do you think I’ll be able to see her? I mean, I did for a little bit before, but not the whole time she was here.”