Aponi placed two glasses of tea down on top of scuffed plastic Dixie Beer coasters. “You said Cozy was in trouble. What kind of trouble?”
Tara answered. “She might be involved in the murder of a local drug dealer.”
“You must be mistaken,” Aponi shot back. “But, who ever killed him, I’m sure he deserved it.”
Ashton chuckled, his pimples glowing.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“You ever see her dismantle an alligator? Or shoot the eye out of a nutria from a hundred yards? You don’t mess with Cozy where Haley’s concerned.”
“She even saved Haley from her father,” I added.
The blood left Aponi’s face as she stood and wiped down a spotless counter. “Ashton’s opinion is a bit biased. What proof do you have of this murder?”
“We can’t go into the specifics, but we’re just looking to question her for now.”
“Well, I know this will all be cleared up as soon as we find her.”
I inspected my glass of tea as I slowly spun it in a circle. “Aponi, I know what happened with their father and the stress that abuse must have created.”
“Girls tend to exaggerate… Not remember things properly.”
“Nevertheless, what Cozy believes is what’s important at the moment, true or not. Does Cozy have any psychological disorders? Schizophrenia? Bi-polar? Rage issues?”
Again, the two of them glanced at each other. Aponi said, “No, but Dr. Clair, her therapist, thought she needed more therapy past what the court mandated.”
“What’s Dr. Clair’s full name?” Tara asked, taking out a notepad.
“Dr. Clair Shipman. She’s got an office in Kenner,” Ashton offered. “I took her a few times.”
Aponi’s eyes smiled at him. “Ashton’s been so good to both my daughters.”
“Both? How so?” I knew, but I asked anyway.
Ashton spoke softly. “I was Hale’s boyfriend for a while.”
I took a long drink from the delicious glass of tea, thinking Ashton could have information we need. “Would you say you loved both of them?”
Ashton shifted on his feet. “Love? I think I loved Haley. I might’ve been falling in love with Cozy. I think I’m too young to know for sure.”
Aponi grabbed my tea to refill it. She spoke toward the ceiling, “You think she killed this drug dealer because he killed Haley?”
“It’s possible. My guess is, she was attacked and it was self-defense. The most she’d get is tampering with a crime scene.”
Ashton said, “Would it be that big a deal if she keeps killing scumbags until she finds the guy?”
“You think it’s no big deal to kill someone.”
“If they’re scum.” His lip curled like Elvis Presley.
“You want her to possibly kill an innocent man?” I asked and looked to Aponi.
Aponi moved to the seat next to me, leaning in close to my face. “Detective, my husband is dead. My oldest daughter ran away and was killed. If my youngest daughter leaves me, I’m going to be all alone.” Her wrinkles grew to show her age, yet her eyes were that of a twenty-year-old.
“It seems you have Ashton.”
She paused. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Ashton’s Daddy, Paul Bergeron, is sweet on me and also comes over often. Our families are close.”
“How often does Ashton come by when you’re home alone?”
“What are you trying to say?” Ashton’s voice rose. “I don’t care if you are a cop, I’ll bust your nose.”
Aponi and I shared a look where the meaning was understood. Her shoulders slumped and her head dipped, before establishing her posture again. “Nothing is going on, Detective. What kind of lady would that make me?”
“Lonely… Desperate.”
Aponi slapped my face, but I had been building to that. I needed her to open up, to expose herself, and my seeming like a total dick was a small price to pay. My eyes returned to hers, which never wavered, piercing like a tribal warrior’s.
Ashton stood rigidly. “I don’t have to listen to this shit.” He left the kitchen through the back door, slamming the screen against the wood frame.
She scolded me. “That boy’s been like a son to me, a man around the house for me, fixin’ things and whatnot. That’s what we do for each other out here. I wouldn’t expect someone from that toilet of a city to understand.” She pointed to the window behind the ragged curtains as if she could see New Orleans from here.
“I apologize for Detective Peyroux,” Tara said. “He’s used to dealing with thugs and witnesses who keep their mouths shut. It’s frustrating.”
I blinked in agreement. “Sorry if I was harsh. Maybe you should go talk to him. We’ll let ourselves out.”
“I don’t want you back here. Send someone else if there’s news.”
She met Ashton out on the pier who burst into an indecipherable rant. I picked up my napkin and placed it around Ashton’s glass, a nice gift for Dr. Jerry to process.
Chapter 27
They planned to meet at a Daiquiri shop on Bourbon Street because Cozy wanted to try the famous frozen creation. Tabby people-watched at a small table with a large white cup and straw, not noticing her newest squire glide in. Cozy purchased a Jungle Juice in a small Styrofoam cup without an I.D. from the apathetic bartender. She pretended to search for a table before getting close enough to face her boss. She took off her glasses and Tabitha did a double-take.
“Keri? What in the world did you do to yourself?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“It’s so short and auburn. Look at those highlights. Makes you look five years older.”
She sat down. “You like?”
“It’s stunning, like an after picture. Plus, with that hair, it’ll be easier to wear those wigs.”
“That kind of leads us to why we’re here.”
“Shoot.” Tabby wrapped her cherry-red lips around her straw.
“I can assume you haven’t heard.”
“Heard what?”
“I saw a news report this morning. That bouncer you warned me about – Vince? He was murdered early this morning.”
“What?” Tabitha’s mouth hung open. “Ray didn’t call me.”
“Maybe he hasn’t heard, either. I don’t know the details, but he was shot in some old guy’s house in the Quarter.”
She dug in her clutch for her phone. “I have to call Ray.”
“Wait a second. Me and Vince were together last night.”
“Keri, you didn’t…?”
“Sex? No, God, no. But, he was alive when I left him.”
“After I warned you?”
“He followed me to the Moon Walk. I had no idea. We ended up talking a while. That was it.”
“Were you involved in this shooting?”
“I left him on Decatur Street with an empty bottle of Jack. But the cops are sure to come sniffing around Molly’s. I can’t be there for that.”
“If you didn’t kill him, you’ll be fine.”
“In what world? People saw us together. The police will put together that I’m dancer where he worked. Tabby, I can’t talk to any cops.”
She closed her eyes. “So, what kind of trouble are you in?”
“No warrant for my arrest, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“We have no paperwork on you, so that’s good. You’re not the first dancer to be skittish of the cops.”
“So, I can maybe skip tonight?”
“No. Ray wants to talk to you. I’ll call you when it’s safe. You have a cell?”
“I do, but no one else has my number.”
“You have a phone and no one has the number? You are truly alone, aren’t you?”
Cozy reached out and put her hand over Tabby’s. “Just keeping a low profile.”
“Give me the number.”
#
Whether or not my acquisition of the glass with Aston’s prints would hold up in a court of law remaine
d to be seen. I entered it into evidence just before Dr. Jerry left for the day. He promised to get the prints in the morning as he paved through his workload, but my breath I would not hold. After dinner with my family where I made sure to stay engaged with meaningful conversation, I left my house again to have my interview with Raymond Corondelet.
Molly’s Girls had the typical cast of patrons, including a mix of obvious tourists. Like most other places we investigate with an alcohol license, Tara and I located the bartender first. They tended to have a wealth of information, not to mention their own take on things. The longhaired, blond German prototype stopped in front of us and stared me down, smelling our badges.
“Two Cokes, please.”
He silently obliged and I left a five on the bar, which probably didn’t cover it.
“I assume everyone here heard about Vince?” I asked.
“Yep. That old cop shoot him?”
“We’re still working the investigation.” Tara said.
I added, “And I understand Haley Robicheaux also worked here?”
“I don’t ever learn their real names. You talking about the girl found in the river?”
We both nodded.
“That was Lacy Mastergator.”
Tara looked at me. “Mastergator?”
I spoke as if she was a child. “Like masturbator… Someone who masturbates. I’ll use it in a sentence…”
“I get it. Masta-gater. That’s a new one.”
The bartender chuckled. “The audience loved it. She’d come out in redneck costumes with a stuffed alligator.”
“What’s a redneck costume?” I asked.
He pushed the five back towards me. “Overalls, Daisy Dukes, or shirts tied up in a knot under her tits. That kind of stuff.”
“What do you think happened to her?”
He settled onto his elbows as he leaned on the bar. “C’mon detectives; stripper, alcohol, drugs, money, sex… Any number of things could have got her killed. I don’t get close with any of them, so I wouldn’t know what she was into.”
“Fair enough. Is Raymond Corondelet here?”
“Yep, in the back.”
We followed the bartender’s finger to a little hallway in the rear corner, dodging a dancer whose body was barely hanging on to its youth. The bouncer allowed us safe passage into a corridor where I found an open door. The man inside stood as he waved us in.
“Detectives, I’m Raymond Corondelet, but please call me Ray. We were expecting your visit. Have a seat.”
Other officers had told me that Molly’s had a nice working relationship with the NOPD. Any place with a liquor license had to in this city. My cop buddies gave no warning of any underhanded dealings because a cop would do most anything not to be exposed. I noticed that one of Ray’s many pictures on the wall was of him and my friend Mayor Chance Picaud, smiling at some dinner function.
“Mr. Corondelet… Ray, I’m Detective Peyroux and this is Detective Gray. Do you mind if we ask you and your employees a few questions about Mr. Dean?”
“Of course not. Quite a few of my customers are policemen. You should come by to enjoy some of the perks we offer the boys and ladies in blue.”
“We’ll see.”
Tara stood. “How about I go talk to the staff while you chat with Mr. Corondelet? We’ll cut our time in half so we can get out of here.”
“Sounds good, the quicker the better,” I said.
Ray watched her leave his office before speaking to me. “Vince’s murder has shaken us all up. I actually just got off the phone with his mother. I’m going to take care of the cremation costs.”
“That’s kind of you.”
“We liked Vince a lot. So, my staff and I are totally at your disposal.”
“Can you give me your overall impression of Mr. Dean?”
“Sure, but from what I understand, you know who killed him. That old man, right?”
“There are just some unanswered questions. We need to understand what happened that night.”
“Vince was a great bouncer, good with the customers and with the dancers. I heard he had some personal issues outside of work, but he never brought them here.”
“Like what?”
“This is second-hand, mind you, and please don’t repeat this to his poor, grieving mother, you know how Italian moms are, but I heard he was abusive to his girlfriends. Possessive, too. That’s what’s so strange about his murder; he wasn’t a burglar or gay. Not that I know of.”
“Everyone has secrets, Ray. Speaking of his girlfriends, do you remember his dating a Haley Robicheaux?”
He shifted slightly. “I feel I need to be honest.”
“Please.”
“Haley Robicheaux came to work here on contract a couple of years ago.”
I didn’t react. “Explain contract.”
He sighed. I couldn’t tell if this was rehearsed or not. “Contract is kind of like an extended trial basis.”
“Off the books.”
“Yes. She was the type of girl that brought in men and alcohol is where I make my money. What she made on stage is what she kept. I didn’t pay her a dime. She gave me a cut for use of my establishment and we kept it at that.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not vice or the IRS. We’re here to help each other.”
He nodded. “Vince was dating her for a while, but they broke up a year ago.”
“Her death wasn’t a good enough reason to contact the NOPD?”
“I’m ashamed I didn’t, but I didn’t want to lose other girls through fear, or lose customers for that matter, with uniformed police sniffing around. It was selfish and the poor girl deserved better. She – Haley – had her own thing going on the side. From what I understand, she was basically prostituting herself, and I was cutting back her hours here. I was ready to let her go.”
“And then she was murdered and your problem solved for you.”
He smiled and nodded before snapping his index finger at me. “I understand how that technique would draw information from reluctant witnesses, so I won’t hold that comment against you personally. It means nothing to me to fire someone, so why would I resort to murder? Plus, if my girls started thinking they’d be murdered, I’d be ruined.”
“And now Vince is murdered.”
“Yes.” His lids dropped.
“Do you know of anyone here who would want both of them dead?”
“Like a girl that was seeing Vince and was jealous of their past relationship?”
“Perfectly said.”
“No one I know of was dating Vince. Tabitha tells all the girls not to date the bouncers.”
“Tabitha?”
He pointed to one of the pictures on the wall. “Tabitha Wheelhouse, my manager. What about this retired policeman I saw on the news? You don’t think he shot him?”
“There may have been a third party in the house.”
“Well, that complicates things for you.”
“So, you know nothing of Vince’s personal life.”
“Nothing.” He shook his head.
“Anything else you can think of about Haley?”
“I’ll admit, when she first came to Molly’s, she was one of my favorites, but this past year, I bowed out of her affairs. Some of the other girls might be able to point out certain customers that especially liked her, but other than that, I can’t help you.”
I held up a picture of Cozy. “Have you ever seen Vince with this girl?”
He studied the picture. “Keri Sullivan. She just started working here on a probationary period, but she doesn’t have any ties to Vince that I know of. She’s not from New Orleans.”
“We have a witness that places them together hours before his murder,” I lied. “Is Keri coming into work tonight?”
“She should be here now, actually.”
“Can you call her?”
“She doesn’t have a phone. I don’t even know where she’s staying, but Tabitha might have that information. I figure she’s in
a motel somewhere. As soon as she’s set up in an apartment, I’ll have her fill out the proper paperwork.”
“Naturally. I guess that’s about all for now, but I do want to ask Ms. Wheelhouse about Keri before I leave.” I retrieved the photo of Cozy, then motioned to the wall. “Tell me, how do you and the mayor know each other?”
He smiled, glad I noticed. “That was taken at LaPlace on Bourbon at its grand opening. Mayor Picaud didn’t realize I was the owner of Molly’s Girls or he might not have taken that picture with me, but I promised it was for my private use. Nice man. We talked for hours.”
I stood, handing him my card. “If Keri doesn’t show by the time we finish questioning your staff, can you give me a call when she does? Otherwise, I’ll try back tomorrow.”
“Of course. Good luck, detective.”
I almost expected to feel a hundred folded up against my fingers after Ray reached out and shook my hand. Before I exited his office, I turned. “By the way, what’s Keri’s stage name?”
“Spitfire. A real find, that one.”
Chapter 28
Her vantage point from the crowded balcony lining Bourbon Street kept Cozy well hidden from view. The burner cell rang for the first time and she examined it like a bomb that had just started a countdown, but then she relaxed. Only one person had the number, unless it was someone trying to reach Sal.
“Hello,” Cozy answered, putting her finger into her other ear.
“All clear, Sugar. Ray wants you here right away.”
“I’m just around the corner. Be there in a sec. And Tabby, thanks.”
Cozy kept her wits about her, waiting for Lucas to blip on her radar like an enemy warplane. She entered Molly’s expecting a possible ambush if Ray had betrayed her, however she rushed to the changing room uninterrupted. Coincidently, she brought a police bikini for the first show. However, before she could undress, Ray poked his head in.
“Keri, you’re not working tonight. Put your clothes back on and come in my office.”
Cozy felt her blood pressure drop, glancing at the other girls. “Sure, be right there.”
She entered the office for only the second time, but with more confidence.
“Am I doing something else tonight?”
“Close the door.”
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