by Sandra Brown
Following the Civil War, the house had fallen into ruin because no one
could afford to own it and pay the property taxes. In the early 1880s, a
northern entrepreneur fell in love with the mansion He poured money into
the refurbishing of it until it surpassed its original splendor.
That lasted until his grandson and heir was caught swindling his
partners and lost not only his family's fortune, but his own life in a
suspicious shooting "accident" beneath the Dueling Oaks.
The house again sat vacant until the 1920s, when a group of investors
converted it into a speakeasy. The upstairs rooms saw as much, if not
more, action than the elegant salons on the ground floor. Flesh was
peddled as actively as bootleg liquor. Soon the madam had made enough
money to buy out her partners. Under her management the business
flourished.
When she died, the business was passed down to her daughter, and now,
the present owner, Ruby Bouchereaux, was the third-generation madam.
The elegant establishment had been under Ruby's control since the
sixties.
She had outprospered even her enterprising mother and grandmother.
Ruby Bouchereaux's house was part of the Big Easy's mystique.
Local law enforcement had an understanding with Ruby. She was allowed to
run her business without any interference, except where drug trafficking
was involved.
Occasionally one or more of Ruby's girls saw a way to make a little
extra cash on the side while promising a client heightened sensitivity
and staying power with the help of a controlled substance. Ruby didn't
like the temporary interruption in business that a raid created, but she
liked even less the prospect of being permanently shut down if one of
her well-heeled clients died of asphyxiation or heart attack while in
the throes of ecstasy. Nor was she too keen on her girls having an
enterprise of which she got no percentage. So she regarded the
occasional raid as a necessary evil and remained on good terms with the
authorities.
Burke had been to the house twice in the line of duty. Naked men,
clutching their three-piece business suits and Rolexes, were pulled from
the luxurious beds and shaken down with no more deference than
hollow-eyed junkies who begged for coins around Jackson Square. If one
of Ruby's customers was caught using drugs to spike his sex, Burke
didn't have any compunction about arresting him no matter how wealthy he
was or which public office he held.
The door was answered by a bouncer who greeted Burke with a suspicious
scowl."Please tell Miss Bouchereaux that Burke Basile would like to see
her."
"Aren't you a cop?"
"You got something to hide?"
He closed the door in Burke's face and left him standing on the
threshold for five full minutes before reappearing."She'll see you," he
said, sounding none too pleased about it.
He led Burke to an office that could have belonged to any hardworking,
overachieving executive who delegated little and insisted on exercising
absolute control over everything. It was equipped with a multiline
telephone, two fax machines, and a computer. Prostitution had gone
high-tech.
The woman seated behind the desk motioned him into a chair."This is an
unexpected pleasure, Lieutenant Basile."
"Thank you for seeing me without an appointment."
She offered him something to drink, which he declined. After dismissing
the bouncer, she said, "I hope you've come to establish a line of credit
with us. My girls will be thrilled. Your rugged good looks, especially
that attractive mustache, haven't gone unnoticed whenever you've graced
us with your presence, even if it was to carry out your unpleasant
duty."
She was a diminutive woman, no more than five feet tall, with platinum
hair that was said to be natural. Her skin, it appeared, had never been
exposed to sunlight, because it was as white and smooth as a gardenia
blossom. Rumor had it that she had undergone a facelift without
anesthesia so that she could oversee the surgeon's work and make certain
he was acting on her precise instructions. But the story was a little
too far-fetched to be believed, even for Ruby Bouchereaux, about whom
rumors abounded. In any event, she was stunning.
Since he entered the office, her lavender eyes hadn't wavered from his.
She was old enough to be his mother, and he knew her art of flirtation
had been perfected over years of practice. Nevertheless, he felt himself
blush at her compliment.
"I'm afraid I can't afford your services."
"We've made allowances for other city officials." Eyeing him with
interest, she toyed with the strand of pearls around her neck.
"I'd be pleased to discuss several discount options with you."
He smiled, but shook his head."Sorry, no. But I appreciate the offer."
Her lips formed a rueful pout."The girls will be.disappointed.
And so am I." Then, folding her small hands together on top of her desk,
she inquired why he had come to see her.
"Pinkie Duvall."
The change in her expression was so subtle, only someone with Burke's
experience in gauging people's reactions could have detected it.
"What about him?"
"You two were partners in a club down in the Quarter before you had a
falling out a couple years back."
"That's correct."
"What happened?"
"Off the record?"
"Entirely."
"Pinkie wanted one of my girls to come dance in the club. She wasn't
interested, and politely turned him down. Shortly after that, Wayne
Bardo paid us a visit and requested this girl. After an hour with him,
she couldn't even walk, much less dance."
"Bardo was sent by Duvall to teach her a lesson." When Ruby agreed with
a slight inclination of her head, he asked if he could please speak to
the girl.
"I'm afraid not, lieutenant. Two days after her session with Bardo, she
took a razor to her wrists. She didn't believe that her face would ever
look the same, and, frankly, neither did any of the doctors we
consulted. She was a gorgeous girl. Mr. Bardo ruined her not only for
this profession, but for any other where meeting the public is
required."
"I don't suppose you reported this to the police." "A whore getting
assaulted in a whorehouse?" she said with a harsh laugh."How sympathetic
do you think the authorities would be? I couldn't prove that the assault
had taken place here, or that Bardo was the culprit, or that he was
carrying out Pinkie Duvall's directive.
"Besides, it would have been bad for business. I don't advertise our
mistakes and misfortunes. Anytime a girl goes into a room alone with a
man, she runs the risk of being hurt. I and my staff do everything to
prevent that sort of thing from happening, but we can't be in the rooms
to guarantee that it won't. It's a hazard of the profession."
Burke leaned forward slightly."Ms. Bouchereaux, as a former partner, do
you know anything about Duvall's sideline businesses?"
"I assume you're re
ferring specifically to drug dealing." "So you're
aware of it?"
"Of course, but I couldn't prove it, any more than you can. He's
incredibly shrewd. Pinkie and I only discussed business relating to the
club we held in common. He didn't pry into my other interests, and I
didn't pry into his."
"You see my dilemma?" Burke said."District Attorney Littrell won't touch
Duvall without hard evidence, and there's not a chance in hell that he's
going to make a mistake and give us any room to maneuver."
"What has all this got to do with me?"
"I was hoping that you'd be willing to cooperate with the Narcotics
Division. Help us out, maybe work out an arrangement."
"Like no more raids for a while if I help you catch Pinkie Duvall?"
"Something like that."
She gazed at him unflinchingly while still fiddling with the strand of
pearls."You're in no position to be making deals on behalf of the
Narcotics Division. You no longer work for the police department."
Caught, there was no point in denying it. Expelling his breath, Burke
sat back, appraising her with heightened respect."It was worth a try.
I'm sorry."
"I thought it was very strange for a policeman to come calling before
noon. While you were waiting to see me, I placed a call."
"I turned in my badge this morning."
"Why?"
"I'm going after the bastard on my own."
Her eyes narrowed slightly."How intriguing. A personal vendetta."
"I suppose you could call it that."
"No doubt because of Stuart's death. I followed the story."
He nodded, but didn't elaborate."I knew the partnership between you and
Duvall had gone sour, and figured there would still be some animosity.
Even so, I took a chance by coming here. If something unfortunate were
to happen to him, I'm trusting you to forget that I was here."
"You have my word on it, Mr. Basile."
"Thank you."
"How can I assist?"
"You're willing? Even though I tried to trick you?"
"Let's just say that I appreciate passion in all its forms."
Returning her smile, Burke sat forward eagerly."Where does Duvall keep
his records? Not for his law practice. His personal records." "Here,"
she said, tapping her temple."There won't be any records of what you
need to know, either written or on computer disks."
"-You're certain?"
"As certain as I can be. This is no small undertaking you've chosen for
yourself. After the incident with my girl, I tried to think of a way to
repay Pinkie. Blackmail. Embezzlement. I even considered killing him."
She laughed musically."I guess I'm trusting you with secrets, too, Mr.
Basile."
"You have my word that I'll never recall this conversation to anyone
else, either."
Her smile gradually faded."I never got my revenge. I devised a dozen
schemes, but abandoned them all because they left me too vulnerable."
"You see, that's the beauty of this," Burke told her."I've got nothing
to lose. Absolutely nothing." Looking deeply into his eyes, she said
softly, "You may surprise yourself."
"I don't think so."
"I hope you're wrong." A moment passed before she stood up and crossed
the room to a cabinet where glasses and liquor were stored."You're
determined to have your vengeance?"
"Whatever the cost."
"It might be more costly than you think. From here on, trust no one."
"Including you?"
He meant it teasingly, but she responded seriously."Including me.
Pinkie keeps his former clients indebted to him. When they fall behind
on their payments, he lets them work off their fees. Since he deals with
criminals of all types, I can't stress to you enough how deadly he can
be."
"I'm aware of the danger."
Burke had resolved last night that he was going for broke. He didn't
care if he lived or died, as long as he took Duvall and Bardo with him.
Nevertheless, he would be a fool to dismiss the madam's advice.
She poured two shots of bourbon and brought one to him, which he
accepted and thanked her for, even though he'd declined a drink earlier.
Thoughtfully, she sipped from her tumbler. She tapped her fingernail
against the crystal as she held it to her lips."There might be a way,
Mr. Basile. Pinkie's one Achilles' heel is his Remy."
Burke tossed back his shot. The whiskey stung his throat, his eyes.
He coughed."What's a remy?"
"I don't think I need remind you that this makes the third episode this
semester."
"No, Sister Beatrice. I'm all too aware of my sister's infractions."
She smoothed her skirt, an unconscious gesture of contrition held over
from her days at the academy."I agree that Flarra's behavior is
unacceptable."
"Not only are we responsible for our girls' educations," the nun
continued, "but for their spiritual harmony and emotional stability.
Here at Blessed Heart we take very seriously the responsibility of
guiding our students in every area of their lives."
"It's because of those high standards that Flarra is enrolled here."
"Yet she seems determined to break the rules, which are in place for her
safety, as well as to instill self-discipline. If something like this
happens again, we will be forced to expel her." "I understand," Remy
said, feeling soundly chastised herself.
Although it had been twelve years since she graduated from Blessed Heart
Academy, the few lectures she'd received for disobedience or poor
performance were embedded in her memory. For all the benevolence of
their profession, the boarding school's administrators knew how to
magnify a minor infraction until it seemed a cardinal sin.
"May I see my sister alone now, please?"
Sister Beatrice stood."Certainly. You may have use of the office for
fifteen minutes. Please give my regards to Mr. Duvall and thank him on
behalf of the faculty for his latest endowment. His generosity never
ceases. God will bless it."
"I'll tell him."
As Sister Beatrice moved past, she paused and laid her hand on Remy's
arm."How are you, Remy?"
"Very well."
"Happy?"
"Certainly."
The nun had taught Remy English literature before becoming principal of
the school. She could be stern when required, but she was as kind as she
was strict. Her life and her career had been devoted to education, but
she might have been equally as successful as a psychologist. Or a
detective. With unsettling perception, she peered deeply into Remy's
eyes.
"I still think of you often, Remy. And when I do, I pray for you."
"Thank you, sister."
"Sometimes I question ..." She let the thought trail off without
vocalizing it, saying instead, "I love all the young ladies God places
in my charge. But I'm human. Every now and then one comes along who
touches my heart in a special way. You can't be surprised to know that
you were one of those select few, Remy. I doubt I hid my partiality from
anyone, especially you."
"I sensed your love, yes. I'm still grateful for the attention y
ou gave
me when I needed it most."
"I wanted very much for you to be happy. I would hate to think that your
life hasn't been all that you hoped it would be."
"If I seem a little out of sorts today it's because I'm upset by
Flarra's latest stunt."
Sister Beatrice studied her face a moment longer, then patted her arm
before releasing it."Don't worry too much about Flarra. Your sister is a
delightful girl. A bit more headstrong and impulsive than you."
"Or simply more courageous." "Perhaps," the nun said with a small
laugh."You came to us much later than she did. You had seen more of the
world."
"What I had seen of it didn't hold much allure for me."
Sister Beatrice smiled sympathetically."Flarra regards that lack of
exposure a curse, not a blessing. Her problem isn't disobedience so much
as curiosity. She feels constrained." After a slight hesitation, she
added, "As much as I'd hate losing her, it might be time for you to