by Ali Vali
Joe and Lionel were shocked when they saw Cain genuflecting before the altar. She scooted into a pew, pulled the kneeler down, and folded her hands together in prayer once she was on her knees. From their position on the other side of the church, they could see that her lips were moving in obvious prayer. Her behavior was certainly new and interesting.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Watching a man pull a cart full of art and finding the entire situation absurd, Emma didn’t bother to notice her surroundings. Why should I, since I have someone to do that for me? She glanced behind her at the loyal Lou. The surveillance van Cain had pointed out earlier was still there, so she kept her comments to a minimum.
Juan Luis and three of his men rushed from the coffee shop on the corner and surrounded Lou before he could pull his weapon.
“Good morning, Emma,” Juan said.
Judging by his dark suit with a white shirt and red tie, she would’ve pegged him as a bank president or something just as mundane if she hadn’t known he sold drugs.
“Perhaps you’d like to join me for a cup of coffee or breakfast?”
“I thought I made it clear last night I don’t want anything to do with you, and my name is Mrs. Casey. Is it really that hard to remember, or do we have a language problem?”
“Let me explain something that I imagine your servant here understands. I asked merely to be nice, but answering no isn’t an option. As for ‘Mrs. Casey,’ we both know that title doesn’t exist, so I’ll call you whatever I like.”
From the expression on Lou’s face, Emma was sure he wanted to kill her for antagonizing Juan, but she kept up the sarcasm. “Do women in your country find this attitude appealing, Mr. Luis?”
“Any woman in my country would die to be in your position now. You’re the first woman who touches a place in me that makes me want to conquer something or someone to prove myself to you.” With the calm movements of a man used to being in control, Juan folded his hands in front of him and gave her his best smile. “How could you possibly say no to that?”
With the movements of a woman who’d reached her breaking point, Emma started laughing, aware from one of her college courses that a proud Hispanic man wouldn’t take too kindly to a woman deriding him when he was trying to prove just how powerful and charming he was.
“How could I possibly say no to that?” She repeated the question between gasps of air. “Easy. I’m not one of the many women from your country who wants to be in that position. Just in case I wasn’t crystal clear last night, I’m with Cain. I’m with her not only because I love her and we have children together, but also because I’m gay. If I hadn’t picked Cain years ago, I’d have some other woman in my bed, so thank you for the invitation and the dramatic way you chose to deliver it, but no thanks.”
“You’ll find that what you’ve been missing is the right—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence with ‘the right man.’” Emma quit laughing as her anger returned, and she lowered the tone of her voice. “Lou, let’s go. Even though Mr. Luis isn’t from the United States, I’m sure he knows the consequences of shooting someone on a busy intersection. New Orleans’s finest would love such an open-and-shut case with so many witnesses around.”
“Not so fast,” Juan ordered. He held his hand up as if trying to regain control of the situation, but the gesture didn’t stop Lou from moving. “I said stop.”
With a small wave, Lou greeted the newest person to join in on the fun.
Emma, expecting Cain, was surprised when she saw Shelby waving back.
“Mrs. Casey, could I have a word with you?” The three men with Juan hid their guns behind their backs when Shelby arrived. “You too, Lou.”
“Emma is busy at the moment, so get lost,” Juan said, returning his attention to Emma.
“Too busy to talk to an FBI agent?” Shelby pulled out her identification and thrust it in Juan’s face. “We really frown on uncooperative individuals.”
“What can I do for you, Agent Phillips?” Emma asked, thinking that the morning had truly spun off into the bizarre.
“Just a few minutes of your time. Unless you have unfinished business you’d like to wrap up.”
Emma snorted and motioned back to the Café du Monde across the street. “Why the hell not.”
“We aren’t finished, Emma,” Juan warned as she started to leave.
“Listen to me. There’s nothing to finish since nothing ever started. I tried to caution you last night, but I’ll have to tell Cain about your idiotic behavior. Perhaps if she speaks to you, you’ll believe I’m not interested.”
“I’m not afraid of the infamous Cain, so don’t make idle threats.”
“You should be, butthead,” Lou added. “When she has something to say to a woman, she doesn’t need three guys to back her up. I’ll admit, you caught me unawares today. But that won’t happen again, so I suggest you bring more guys to back up your big cojones act.”
Luis made a fist and spoke to Lou in a controlled tone. “This isn’t over. Tell your boss that.”
“I’m sure Mrs. Casey will tell her everything she needs to know. Now why don’t you take your thugs and slither back to whatever jungle you come from, spunky.” Lou offered his arm to Emma and walked her back across the street.
Shelby followed but crossed walking backward, not taking her eyes off the men standing ramrod straight in the alley.
“As you Americans say, this isn’t over by a long shot,” Juan whispered.
*
“Claire.” Joe spoke softly into the mike hidden in the mouthpiece of his cell phone.
“Yes?” Claire sat in the van alone, watching Shelby take a seat across from the most fashionable woman she’d seen in ages. Studying Emma Casey, she understood what kept Cain so interested. Emma didn’t just have looks; the confrontation with Luis confirmed that.
“Anything interesting happening outside?”
“That would be putting it mildly. I’d explain, but I’m busy right now. What can I do for you?” She adjusted the focus on the small telescope bolted to the floor at one of the widows, bringing the players at the table into better view.
“Just checking in. Cain’s praying, of all things, so we’re stuck in limbo here until she’s done.” He laughed before adding, “Considering how short her confession was, we may be wasting our time chasing around after her.”
“Or maybe she had a hotline set up at home to save time?” Claire ventured, waiting for the waiter to finish so Shelby could begin her talk. “Sorry, Joe, gotta go.”
“Problems?” Shelby asked, and pointed to the spot where Juan and his men had encountered Emma and Lou. Lou was sitting at the next table with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Emma answered, meaning herself and Lou. “Since I’ve become Miss Popularity, maybe I just should stay home more. Can’t go anywhere these days without attracting an unwelcome crowd.”
“Does that include me?”
Emma drummed her fingers on the Formica-topped table much like Cain had done that morning and expelled a long breath. “Look, I appreciate you sitting with me that night Cain got shot. Perhaps I never took the time to say that, but we’re not friends. We’re not friends now, and I don’t plan to include you in my appointment book for shopping and lunch dates so, yes, that includes you.”
“I just worry about you.”
“Ha!” The short laugh came out so loud that several people stopped what they were doing and stared. “Is that sort of like the IRS showing up at your house just to see if you’re financially secure and help if you’re not?” Emma moved her hand so the nice young woman who was waiting on them could put the mugs down. “We’ve already entertained one of your coworkers today, so forgive me if I come off a little short. I was an idiot to think you’d ever really leave us alone.”
“What do you mean you entertained one of us this morning?”
“That’s it.” Emma pushed the mug to the middle of the table and
stood up. “Lou, could you call for the car. We’re leaving. I’ve had enough bullshit for one day.”
“Wait,” Shelby tried. She stood up, but she instinctively refrained from touching Emma. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then call the office and get an update. I’d think, as FBI, you’d be better informed than this.” She strode out and started up the street from where she’d come earlier that morning, leaving Shelby confused.
“Claire,” she whispered.
“I’m on it. None of our team members should have contacted the Caseys this morning. I personally checked with Agent Hicks before we headed out. You’d think she would know, since she is in charge.” She spoke to Shelby as she held up her phone to the other ear, waiting to be put through to operations.
Shelby returned to the van. “There’s one thing I know for sure,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
Claire held up a finger and finished her call. “What’s that?”
“The farm girl’s here to stay, and she’s grown a long set of claws and fangs since she left the city four years ago. I thought she was the sweet and innocent one.”
“Silly rabbit,” Claire joked. She switched off all the equipment, since they were in a wait pattern. “No one’s scheduled to visit the Casey house today, but the small team assigned to the location saw Curtis go in and come out about fifteen minutes later. Since he’s a fellow agent, they didn’t call it in.”
“I wonder—”
“What he was doing there?” Claire finished. “Whatever it was set off this shitstorm we’re riding out now.”
“What could he have told them to make both Cain and Emma venture out with so little protection?”
Shelby voiced the question out loud, but Claire didn’t think it was directed at her. She hadn’t been with the team long enough to know the dynamic among the agents. So far she surmised that Shelby, Joe, and Lionel worked as a cohesive team, but Anthony had his own agenda and played it out with no thought of keeping the others informed. He was following the path of the infamous Barney Kyle.
“Do we break up and follow Emma?”
Shelby closed her eyes for a long moment and shook her head. “No, we follow the plan and wait for the guys to report in.”
“Joe did report in while you were across the street. They’re hanging out by the gift shop until Cain finishes her prayers.”
“She’s praying?” Shelby’s eyes popped open. “God help us all.”
Claire laughed, then stopped when she saw that Shelby was serious. For once in her life she wanted to slap herself for giving up a nice comfortable desk job.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Ready?” Andrew asked when Cain finished her prayers.
Both agents saw the problem facing them when Cain and the priest stood up and walked toward the altar and the door to the left of the ornate area. No way could they follow without blowing their cover.
Andy bowed his head and said the appropriate prayers before removing his vestments, kissing some of the items before storing them in their proper place. When he was done, he wore the black shirt with the stiff white collar and the dark pants Cain remembered from her childhood.
“It must be nice to have such an orderly and predictable job.”
Andy laughed. “God manages to throw in a few wrenches for even us of the cloth to deal with, child, so don’t be thinking I have it too easy.” They headed to the rectory for the tea he’d offered. “Though I don’t have the luxury of sex to take the edge off when things get too out of control, like you do.”
Cain felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She was glad she’d accepted Andy’s invitation to visit, which he’d offered by phone late the night before. He might be a priest, but every so often he reminded you that under the collar still beat the heart of a man.
“True, Father Andy. Sometimes I like to compare people who don’t like women to vegetarians.”
“Interesting analogy, and I do like the way your mind works, so lay it on me.” He opened the door and waved her in.
“If God had meant for people to be vegetarians, a good steak wouldn’t taste so divine. Following that line of thinking, neither would a woman.”
“You owe me another set of prayers for that one.” He shook a finger at her before speaking into the intercom. “Megan, please bring in some tea for two when you have a chance.”
The leather chair next to Cain’s, set in the alcove of a large bay window, let out a woof of air as Andy fell into it. Outside, the gardens were being tilled for their spring plantings.
“You know, the day they made me bishop of this area, I sat in this room with your father and enjoyed quite a few drinks from a rather good bottle of whiskey he’d brought. In spite of all that pomp and circumstance, I remember our conversation more vividly than anything else.” He sighed as if lost in thought. “Strange where we both ended up—those skinny little boys who used to throw rocks at passing trains way back when.”
“Trying to corrupt you even back then, huh?”
“Heavens, no. More like reminding me about life and taking time to live it.”
“Why did you like my father so much, Father Andy? You had to know some of what he stood for, all of it going against the church’s teaching.”
Megan’s entrance with their tea gave Andrew time to think of an appropriate response. He knew how important Dalton had been in Cain’s life and how much she still missed the man who’d molded her. He looked Cain in the eye and waited to hear the click of the door before he answered.
“If you ever tell this to anyone, I’ll have to deny it,” he began. “The church sometimes misses the old proverbial boat on a lot of things. I loved your father, and he was one of my best friends until his death because he was an honorable man who loved his family and those loyal to him. How can that be wrong, no matter what he did for a living?”
“You won’t get me to disagree, and I’ve tried my best to follow in his path, but I don’t think I’m walking it as well as he did.”
Andrew realized that from Cain’s slumped shoulders that the admission had cost her dearly. Cain’s father had brought her up to ignore and defeat weakness, no matter what her action cost in terms of her soul.
“The wolves are baying at my door, and I don’t know how to keep them out.”
Andrew recalled Dalton’s final visit. He’d taken time to visit Andrew the day before Bracato’s henchmen had gunned him down. As if a premonition had sent him to seek out his old friend, he’d come to ask a favor.
*
Sixteen Years Earlier
“Andy, is it true that confession is good for the soul?”
“And for the spirit, but only if you mean it.” Andrew often had theological discussions with Dalton’s wife Therese, but seldom with Dalton. “What troubles you, my son?”
“Wiseass,” Dalton shot back. “I want you to hear my confession and say a prayer for my family.”
“Could you clear the rest of my afternoon?” Andrew asked the secretary on the other end of the intercom. “I’m not making fun of you, Dalton, but if you’re here asking me that, you must think it’s important.”
He had spent a couple of hours after that trying to keep a neutral expression on his face as Dalton spoke. Several times, Andrew longed for the barriers of the confessional so his look of surprise wouldn’t halt the words streaming from his friend’s mouth.
When Dalton finished, Andrew stood, placed his hand on his friend’s head, and prayed for his soul with all the fervor in his heart. “Now that we’re done with that, what’s the favor you need?”
“In case something happens to me, I want you to promise you’ll offer the same absolution to Derby Cain and Billy if they ever come to you. My life is so unpredictable at times, I’d feel comfortable moving on if I know they can rely on you. Your friendship has been a gift for me all these years, and I wanted to thank you.”
“It would be my honor, Dalton. You didn’t even have to ask.”
>
In a voice tainted with weariness, Dalton said, “I just feel better knowing for sure. If I leave Derby all alone, I want her to have somewhere to go.”
*
Dalton had died the next day, and if the church teachings were true, he’d gone with a clean slate. Therese and Billy had followed not long after, then Marie. Andrew pondered how much self-reliance Derby Cain must possess to bear that pain every day.
“If my life of watching other people live their lives and giving advice on how to do it better has taught me anything, it’s this,” Andy said, wanting more than anything not to let Dalton down. “Those who want to beat you down can’t succeed unless you give them a lot of help. God grants us free will to live life as we choose, Derby. You’ve taken a wife, you’re raising a fine son, and you’ve done everything possible to protect them both from harm.”
“But look at how I failed Marie and my mother.”
He took her hand. “No, you had nothing to do with that. What happened was God’s will, and nothing, no matter how hard you tried, could have prevented it from coming to pass.”
“God’s will? That’s the best you got?”
“Just like your father, I swear,” Andrew said, shaking his head. “You simply can’t control everything in your life. Things happen, and you have to accept them and try to find a way to keep going forward.” He held up his hand to keep her from interrupting. “I know it’s easy to say, but sometimes simple is exactly what’s needed. Would it be fair to Emma and Hayden if you just accepted defeat?”
“What kind of question is that?” A little of Cain’s fire seeped into her answer.
“One that begs an answer.”