by Jana DeLeon
She crept to the edge of the balcony and lay down flat, peering over the edge. Mommy was standing next to the bad man near the front door. All she could see of the raspy man was his legs as the rest of him was hidden by the staircase.
“You’ll tell me or you’ll pay,” the bad man said.
“I don’t know,” Mommy cried, her voice shaking.
“Lying bitch,” the bad man said and struck Mommy with his hand, knocking her to the floor. “Grab her!”
Joelle saw hands reach from behind the staircase and clutch Mommy’s shoulders, preventing her from rising—preventing her from escaping. The bad man pulled something from his pocket and poked Mommy in the arm with it. She struggled, but couldn’t get away. Then she went completely limp and her eyes rolled back in her head.
Joelle began to scream and everything went black.
* * *
“JOELLE, WAKE UP!” The voice sounded above her and she bolted upright, then clutched her head as a wave of nausea ran through her.
“Can you hear me?” Tyler’s voice registered somewhere in her frantic mind, and she looked up at him and nodded.
He dropped onto the bed next to her and gathered her in his arms. She clutched him, her heart pounding so strongly in her chest she swore she could hear it echo in the dead silence of the room. Her mind spun with what she’d seen—what she’d remembered.
Tyler pushed back from her and studied her face. “Are you all right? You started screaming and I couldn’t wake you.”
“I remembered something—something horrible.”
“What?”
She sucked in a breath, her heart pounding in her temples and making her head swim.
“I saw Purcell kill our mother.”
Chapter Nineteen
Tyler placed a cup of coffee in front of Joelle along with cream and sugar, then he took a seat next to her at the breakfast table. It was only 5:00 a.m. when Joelle had startled him out of bed, but one look at her wide eyes and pale skin and Tyler knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep again anytime soon. Her terror-filled screams had sent him hurtling back to a past he’d been trying to lock away, and his pulse still beat stronger even twenty minutes after he’d sprung up from his bed, certain someone was killing her.
After her statement, she’d collapsed in tears, then after gaining a bit of composure, locked herself in the bathroom for a bit. When she’d finally emerged, Tyler suggested they head downstairs for coffee and to talk. With all the overhead lights on, the kitchen would be bright and cheery, and Tyler wanted her to wind down enough to tell him what she’d remembered.
Her hands shook as she added sugar to her coffee and Tyler’s guilt over adding a shot of whiskey to it melted away. His anxiety grew with every second she continued to stir, staring blankly into the cup, but finally, she pulled the spoon out and lifted the cup to her lips.
When she took the first sip, her eyes widened and she looked at him.
“Whiskey,” he said.
She nodded and took another long sip, then she lowered the cup and frowned.
“I can get you something else,” he said.
“No. That’s not it.” Her brow creased and she took another sip, then stared at him. “The milk.”
He jumped up from his chair. “I’ll get the milk.”
“No!” she said.
He sat back down, completely confused.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t want milk. I remembered something about milk. Every night before bed, Purcell made us a glass of warm milk. He claimed it made you sleep better, but I never liked it. It always tasted bitter to me—like the coffee did.”
“You think Purcell doctored your milk?”
“It would make sense, right? He usually left the room long enough for me to dump it out, but Alaina always drank it. When I started remembering things that happened when I was roaming the house at night, I wondered why none of the fights woke Alaina up, but whiskey would explain that, right?”
Tyler clenched his jaw at the thought of Purcell drugging his stepdaughters so that he could abuse their mother. Truly, there was no end to the evil he’d brought into their lives. “It may also explain why her memory is so foggy despite her being the oldest.”
Joelle’s eyes widened. “You’re right.” She shook her head. “For a bodyguard, it seems you’ve spent a lot of time helping me work through my childhood issues.”
“It’s all part of the same service,” he said and gave her an encouraging smile.
“Well, the service has been exemplary. And you’ve been very patient, fixing me coffee and coddling me, but it’s time I tell you what I saw.”
“Were you dreaming?”
“Yes, but I’m certain that what I saw really happened.” She paused for a second and stared out the window into the darkness, then looked back at him. “I didn’t tell you everything about the last time I remembered something from my childhood.”
“I had a feeling that was the case, but I think you need to tell me everything now.”
She nodded. “That night in the hallway wasn’t the first time I remembered what I told you about—the argument between my mother and Purcell. I’ve carried that with me for as long as I can remember, but being here and recalling it made it feel so much worse.”
He nodded. It made sense that being back in the house would make everything seem more vivid.
“He hit her,” Joelle blurted out, almost as if she had to get it out before she changed her mind. “I saw him hit her so hard she fell and then just stayed there, huddled up and crying while he stood over her and screamed.”
Tyler’s jaw involuntarily clenched and anger coursed through him as he processed her witnessing her mother’s abuse so young. “I’m sorry. No one should ever have to see such things.”
“That’s the reason why...”
“Why, what?”
She looked directly at him, her eyes filled with tears. “Why I do the work I do. I couldn’t help my mother, but if I can prevent another child from living that nightmare, then I have to do it.”
A rush of regret ran through Tyler as he remembered his harsh words to Joelle about her profession. Her choice of profession was so personal, and he’d used her doing the right thing as a reason to prevent her from entering his life. Shame followed the regret, and he tried to push it down. For all those medals he had locked away in a box, he was a coward.
“I can’t quit,” she said. “Even if I wanted to, my conscience wouldn’t let me.”
He put his hand over hers. “I shouldn’t have assumed you would. What you’re doing is important. I was selfish to think you’d give it up simply because I was too afraid to deal with my own issues.”
The relief on her face was so clear that a second wave of guilt washed over him. He’d let his own inability to deal with his past allow him to try to force someone else into a neat little box just so he could feel better about caring for them.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “What did you see in your dream?”
She took another drink of coffee, then began to talk. He listened intently—his pulse increasing with every word—as she described in horrifying detail what she’d seen looking down from the banister.
When she finished, he blew out a breath. “You didn’t see the other man?”
“No. I just heard his voice.”
“Raspy...could it have been Amos?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he hated saying them, but now was not the time for sentimental thoughts. Every angle must be explored.
Her eyes widened. “No! No way.”
“You’re one hundred percent positive that it couldn’t have been him?”
“Of course...well, I’m sure....” She clasped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, no. I can’t be positive, but surely it couldn’t be. Amos loved us
girls and our mother.”
Tyler nodded. “That’s what we’ve all thought, but he’s been in the perfect position to know everything that goes on in this house, including knowing about any valuables that Purcell acquired.”
“But his foot is broken,” Joelle argued, refusing to buy into Amos being a bad guy. “He couldn’t have been out on my balcony or strolling in front of your cameras.”
Tyler frowned. “No, none of those could have been him, but he could be working with someone else.”
“I hate this! Suspecting people who claim they care about you.”
She was so distressed that he rose and pulled her up from her chair to hold her. They stood there, arms wrapped around each other for a while, and when he finally released her, he placed his hands on both sides of her face and lowered his lips to hers. She responded with such passion, and his heart swelled with emotion.
“Are you sure about this? About us?” she whispered when they finished the kiss.
“It may be the only thing I’m sure about.”
She broke into a smile so beautiful it made him feel warm all over. He wasn’t about to fool himself into thinking it would be easy. A lot of unresolved issues lay in the back of his mind, just waiting to resurface at the most inconvenient times. If he wanted to move forward, he was going to have to face them all.
But for the first time in years, he thought it might be possible.
* * *
ALAINA TOSSED A stack of paper in the recycle box and stretched before flopping back onto the recliner. She and Danae had been sitting in Zach’s living room, sorting through LeBeau estate paperwork for three hours. They still hadn’t unearthed anything that gave them a clue as to who else Purcell was involved with or what exactly had happened to their mother, and not even a hint of information on the elusive diamonds.
“How’s Zach?” Alaina asked. She’d been waiting for Danae to offer the information, but either her sister was dense or being protective. Alaina didn’t believe Danae was capable of being dense, so the second option was the most likely.
Danae glanced over at her, then back down at the coffee table. “He says he’s all right.”
“But you don’t believe him?”
Danae shook her head. “He’s better than before but the guilt is eating him up. Every day that passes and we don’t know what happened to Mother’s body, it’s like adding five pounds to the weight he’s already carrying.”
“He’s not responsible for what his father did. None of us think that.”
Danae gave her a grateful smile. “I know, and deep down, so does he. But I’m afraid of what will happen if we never find the answers. I’m afraid of what he’ll become if he lives his whole life under this shadow.”
“Oh, baby sister.” Alaina rose from her chair and sat next to Danae on the couch to give her a hug. “We’re not going to let that happen.”
Alaina released her and grabbed a stack of paper. “I have a good feeling about this stack.” She divided the stack in half and held half out to Danae.
Danae laughed and grabbed the papers. “You’ve said that about every stack for the last three hours.”
“Those were practice runs.”
“Eternal optimist.”
“Nope,” Alaina said as she scanned the first page. “Desperate realist.”
Danae laughed and started reviewing the papers. Alaina scanned the first sheet for large dollar amounts, then finding none, flipped it over and started on the next sheet. She trailed her finger down the yellowed paper, expecting that this was another page of house supplies and gas bills and suddenly she froze.
An entry for twenty thousand dollars—the same amount Purcell had used to pay off others.
She looked to the left, hoping the entry was legible. Her heart leaped in her throat when she saw a single last name.
Picard.
“I found something,” Alaina said, her voice cracking. “Look.”
Danae leaned over to view the paper. “It’s the same twenty thousand,” she said, the excitement clear in her voice. “Do you know anyone in Calais with the name Picard?”
Alaina slowly shook her head. “I’m mentally running through everyone, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone by that name in Calais. How about you?”
“It doesn’t ring a bell, and I’m sure I met everyone when I worked at the café.”
“But it sounds familiar.” Suddenly, Alaina bolted off the couch. “I got it!”
Danae jumped up beside her. “Who?”
“The family doctor. Doc Broussard said our mom took us all to her doctor in New Orleans—the doctor her parents had always used. I’m almost positive Doc Broussard said his name was Picard.”
Danae flopped back down on the couch and grabbed her laptop. She tapped in a search, and Alaina leaned over to see the screen.
“There’s a Dr. Richard Picard in New Orleans,” Danae said and clicked on a link. “But it looks like he’s retired.”
“That would be reasonable. If he was our grandparents’ doctor, he can’t be young. What about a home address?”
Danae tapped again and came up with an address in a wealthy historic district. “No telephone number. Do you think Carter’s friends at the New Orleans Police Department would be willing to get it for him?”
“Probably, but I don’t know that it’s a good idea to call. You can’t see someone’s expression over the phone, and even scheduling an appointment would let them know you’re coming.”
“So you’re thinking just show up and have Carter flash a badge?”
Alaina smiled. “It is really handy sleeping with a cop.”
A knock on the condo door interrupted them and Alaina went to open it.
“Speak of the devil,” she said as she gave Carter a kiss.
“What did I do now?” he asked.
“Nothing yet,” Alaina said as Danae jumped up from the couch to give him a quick hug. “It’s what you’re going to do.”
He narrowed his eyes at them. “You found something.”
“Oh, yeah,” Alaina said and she and Danae showed him their work.
“So what are we waiting for?” Carter asked. “Let’s pay him a visit.”
Alaina jumped up and down and clapped her hands. Danae checked her watch and groaned. “I have class in half an hour, and we’re having a test. Go, then come back and tell me everything!”
“Of course,” Alaina said and grabbed her purse.
Fifteen minutes later, Carter steered his truck up a huge circular drive and parked in front of a plantation-style house with white columns and blue shutters. They walked to the front door, and Alaina bit her lower lip as Carter rang the doorbell.
Within seconds, an older lady wearing light blue scrubs opened the door. “Can I help you?”
Carter showed her his badge and her eyebrows went up.
“I’m Sheriff Carter Trahan from Calais and this is Alaina LeBeau. I’m conducting an investigation and need to ask some questions.”
“The police? I can’t imagine what anyone in this household would have to do with the police.”
“It’s an old matter,” Carter said, “and one that I’d like to put to rest. Can we speak to Dr. Picard?”
“I’m sorry,” the woman said. “You’re about five years too late for that.”
Alaina’s hopes fell. “Perhaps Mrs. Picard could help us. Do you care for her?”
The nurse nodded. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Mrs. Picard can’t even help herself. She’s in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Most days, she thinks she’s back in grade school. By the time he passed, she’d already forgotten the doctor, and they’d been married over forty years.”
“Oh, that’s so sad,” Alaina said.
“Yes, ma’am, it is. I wish
I could help.”
“Thank you for your time,” Carter said and he put his arm around Alaina as they walked away.
“Wait!” The nurse hurried down the sidewalk after them and grabbed Alaina’s arm. “Did you say your name was LeBeau?”
“Yes. Alaina LeBeau. My mother, Ophelia, was a patient of the doctor’s.”
“All these years... I never thought...” she said, her eyes wide. “I better explain. Dr. Picard died of pulmonary disease, but it took a while to happen. Toward the end, he gave me an envelope and said if anyone by the name of LeBeau came looking for him, I was to give them the envelope.”
Alaina sucked in a breath. “And you still have it?”
The nurse nodded. “I stuck it in the desk drawer and forgot all about it. I figured it was the ravings of a dying man. I never actually thought someone would come. Let me go get it.”
She hurried back inside and Alaina clutched Carter’s arm, unable to control her excitement. “Maybe he felt guilty like Zach’s dad. The letter might explain everything.”
“Let’s not get our hopes up just yet,” Carter warned, but Alaina could tell he was as excited by the potential as she was.
It seemed like forever, but was probably only minutes before the nurse hurried back out with the envelope. She handed it to Alaina and smiled. “I hope it has the answers you’re looking for.”
Alaina clutched the envelope as the nurse walked back into the house and shut the door. She looked up at Carter. “I’m afraid to open it. What if it doesn’t say anything? What if he was out of his mind and he stuffed his grocery list in here?”
“Then we’ll keep going,” he said. “I’m not going to quit until we have answers to all of your questions. Every single one.”
She smiled at him, her heart swelling with love and pride for the man she was going to marry. She’d never even known a man like him existed, much less that she’d find him and he’d want to be with her.
Her hands shook as she tore the corner off the envelope and slipped her finger inside to tear it open. For a second, she worried that it might be empty and all of this buildup would have been for nothing, but a single sheet of paper lay inside.