by Ali Vali
“Thanks,” she told Libby for the latte she’d handed her.
“So the hole comes in college?” she asked Pasco.
“Beginning of her senior year, to be exact. It’s weird that she went from superstar student to thin air.” He flipped to the section of the report that documented Kara’s college days in Texas. “She skipped two semesters, then went back and finished. Her grades and her entrance exam got her into medical school right after that.” He flipped to the back and ran his finger down the page. “Like you already know, she came to New Orleans last year. According to hospital gossip, she started her affair with Jessica not long after she arrived.”
“Any other suspicious cases?” Tully asked, ignoring the comment about Jessica. She realized Pasco hadn’t meant to embarrass her, just to complete the picture she was asking him to paint.
“We’re digging, but the staff is tight-lipped. You should know that from your hospital days. These guys are worse than cops when it comes to not flipping on each other.”
“Attorneys aren’t much different. No one wants to be the one to turn on their own. You do, and the gloves come off when it’s your ass in the vise.” She sipped her coffee and slowly took in the information. Something was off, but it wasn’t jumping out at her yet. “We’ll assume that there’ve been some close calls, but Evangeline has been the only patient she’s lost to suspicious circumstances.”
“Why are we assuming that?” Libby asked. She was sitting at Tully’s desk updating some information on the computer.
“Because a surgeon that something like this happens to is either unskilled or has some other factor impeding her skills. You don’t get to Children’s Hospital or any other hospital with questionable skills. Medical school has the best possible vetting system. Those who don’t belong with a scalpel in their hand are weeded out there.”
Libby stopped what she was doing and put her elbows on the desk so she could look at Tully. “Then how do you explain Dr. Nicolas?”
“I can’t…not yet, anyway.”
The answer to that question resembled wisps of fog as the sun started to burn through. Tully was positive those missing months would eventually snap into place. That time was the key to the present, and that truth would give the Heberts peace.
“All these new privacy rules slow us down, but I’ll keep in touch and let you know how it’s going,” Pasco said as he got up and gathered his papers. “Nice seeing you again, Libby.”
“You too, and take care.”
After he left, Libby stepped behind the sofa, put her hands on Tully’s shoulders, and kissed the top of her head. “Are you just having coffee for lunch?”
“It’s nutritious, and from what I hear, the milk does a body good.”
“What’ll do this body good is to join Bailey, Ralph, and me for lunch.”
Tully tilted her head back and laughed. “And if I say no?”
“Then this body will be busy tonight when you want to watch television on the couch after the kids go to bed,” Libby teased. “Come with us, because I know you’re planning to work late this afternoon, and I worry about you skipping meals.”
“I have some other cases to get up to speed on, but I’ll try not to be too late. And since I’m dying to watch TV tonight, let’s get going.”
Libby kissed her forehead this time. “Is something good on?”
“The best show in town,” Tully said. “A little romance, a little kissing, and a lot of holding the girl.”
“Sounds like must-see TV, honey.” Libby moved away reluctantly. “Let’s go so we can get you back early. Tonight I’ll cook and stay until you get home. I e-mailed the list of realtors you asked me to compile, and the kids and I started looking at properties on their Web sites.”
“I should’ve offered you a job the day I met you.”
“That was two years ago, and you wouldn’t have given me the time of day. That’s why I love you.”
“The same applies now,” Tully said. “I’m with you now, and no one’s going to come between us. You know that, right?”
“I know that. Jessica was a fool, but I’m not going to be.”
Tully laughed. “You’re so much more diplomatic than me. A lot of words pop into my head when I think of Jessica, but ‘fool’ never makes my list.”
“I’m hungry, guys,” Ralph said, walking in without knocking.
“What’s on the menu today?” Tully asked.
“Debris po-boys at Mother’s, but Libby said you guys are having a salad.”
He turned around to get Bailey, leaving a smiling Libby behind.
“A salad?”
“Honey, we want to keep those pinstripes looking good,” Libby said, pinching her on the butt. “Have the salad and I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I’m counting on it.”
At lunch as Tully methodically worked through her salad, she thought about Kara Nicolas. Their two very brief meetings had left an impression, but nothing she could use to build her case.
“Either that salad is that good or you need a bite of my sandwich to bring you back from the coma you’re about to go into,” Bailey said. She waved her roast beef po-boy under Tully’s nose.
“I’m thinking about something that’s bugging me, sorry.”
“Why don’t you tell us, and we can help you with whatever it is,” Ralph said.
“That’s the problem, buddy. I’m not sure what it is, and that’s what’s bugging me.”
“It has to do with the Hebert case, huh?” Bailey asked. “Did Mama’s girlfriend really kill that kid?”
Tully put her fork down and wiped her mouth as a delay tactic. “Where did you hear that?”
“We overheard Frank and Jo talking about it, but we got most of the details from Mama.”
“Guys, I trust you, so I’m not saying this because I don’t, okay? You can’t discuss this case or anything else you see or hear at the office with anyone, especially your mother.” She took a deep breath, trying to squash her dread that she had inadvertently opened an information leak. “This is important to our clients.”
“She asked us, Mom, but we didn’t tell her anything,” Ralph said. “Roxanne told us about confidentiality when we started.”
“I think Mama was trying to find out if we knew anything,” Bailey said, “and I meant to tell you that, but then she didn’t come get us, and I got mad and forgot all about it.” She put her po-boy down and shook her head. “That woman killed some kid, and Mama’s protecting her? She keeps preaching to me about my behavior, so how screwed up is that?” She looked Tully in the eye. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
“The truth is what I’m looking for, Bailey Bean, so I can’t answer that for you.”
“What do you think happened?” Ralph asked.
“Just go with your gut, Mom,” Bailey said.
“When I finished medical school, do you know what I liked best about being a doctor?” All three of them shook their heads.
“The exactness of the discipline. A patient comes in with certain symptoms, you use your skills to find what’s wrong with them, and you treat whatever it is. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It might look impossible when you start, but if you put the pieces together right, you end up with a clear picture.”
“Then why’d you quit?” Ralph asked.
“Because the law offered me the same opportunity, and it’s where I thought I could make the biggest impact for good. You can’t make up the law as you go along, and you always have to find all the facts before you can do something about the problem.”
“I get you, but why are you telling us this stuff?” Bailey asked.
“Because right now, I know only the basic facts. A sick little girl had surgery and died. Kara Nicolas did the surgery, and Evangeline’s parents blame her for their daughter’s death. It’s not enough for me to answer your question and tell you what I think happened. A good attorney understands there are three cardinal rules of success, and the first is to know t
he answer to every question before you start asking them.” She picked up her fork and speared a piece of chicken from her salad. “When I start asking questions, it’s because I can answer them all as well.”
“What if we ask Mama if we can meet Kara? We might be able to find out something to help you,” Ralph said.
“If you want to meet her because you think your mother has a future with her, then sure. But don’t ask because of my work.” She pointed her fork at Bailey, then Ralph. “Promise you won’t.”
“Scouts’,” Bailey said.
“Honor,” Ralph finished.
“Keep an eye on the Eagle Scouts,” Tully told Libby when they got back to the office. “We already have an investigator on this case.”
“They just want to help.”
“Libby, you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Kara. For a surgeon she’s a little unhinged, and I don’t want my kids on the receiving end of her temper.”
“I’ll keep my eye on them, don’t worry. I’m not going to let anything happen to them.”
“We’re all lucky you found us, especially me,” Tully said with a warm look.
Chapter Twenty
The week was ending, and during another meeting with Pasco, Tully made one more request. After listening to something Bailey said, and her own gut, she was willing to pay for this item herself.
While Tully worked, Libby accepted the assignment of putting the house up for sale, using a realtor who also supplied a list of potential properties for Tully to buy. She’d recruited Bailey and Ralph for that part of the deal.
After the third day of summer vacation both kids had told her they wanted to spend the summer with her instead of working at the summer camp, and because they had found their own replacements, she agreed, glad she had done so because they worked diligently filing and doing other tasks.
She didn’t really expect them to become attorneys, but she liked that they were focusing on something constructive instead of getting into trouble. She realized that most kids changed their minds dozens of times before they knew what they wanted to be.
“Is everyone packed and ready?” Tully asked Friday morning during breakfast. “I want to leave from the office, so throw your bags in the truck.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be taking Libby out on a first date tomorrow?” Bailey asked.
“I am.”
“Then why are we going to Gran and Pop’s place? It’s taken you forever to get moving on this, and you know we’re going to the most boring town on the planet, no offense, with no nice restaurants.” Bailey rolled her eyes and sighed. “You want the girl to like you, clueless.”
Ralph jumped in. “Mom knows what she’s doing.” He glanced at Tully with a question in his eyes. “You know what you’re doing, don’t you, Mom? Bailey’s right. You want her to like you, and we want her to keep cooking for us.”
“Thanks for the confidence, dating professionals, and Libby isn’t just here to cook.”
“We know that, but we like her, so please tell me you put some thought into this,” Bailey said.
“I’ve put plenty of thought into it. Don’t panic thinking you’re going back to daily Pop-Tarts.”
“If I find those things in the pantry again, Badeaux, there’ll be hell to pay,” Libby said as she entered the kitchen. “Just so you know.”
“We’re eating the bran muffins you made last night, and our colons thank you,” Tully said before she kissed her. She waved the kids out of the room to the pool house to help with her surprise.
“Why do I smell a conspiracy?” Libby asked when they broke apart and she noticed they were alone.
“Such paranoia, pretty lady. The kids just know how much I want to spend time alone with you. I’m sure they think they’ll get a raise if they vamoose every so often.” Tully pulled her closer and kissed her with a little more passion. “Thanks again for agreeing to reschedule our date.”
“It’s your mother, honey. Of course I don’t mind. What exactly is the problem again?”
“They got some legal papers and she’s not sure why. If it’s nothing, I’m sure we can make it back in time to go somewhere.”
Though Libby was a little disappointed, she understood how important Tully’s family was to her. “There’s always next weekend, so if we have time we can take the kids to a movie or something.”
Libby turned around when she felt Tully’s hand come off her back. Bailey was standing in the window waving for no apparent reason, but she didn’t ask and just followed Tully to the door. “I’m confident we’ll get to do something,” Tully said as she started the car.
She drove toward the office, but when they got to the interstate she turned onto the up ramp. Libby just looked at her, then back at the kids, and sat back in her seat, silent. She was just going to trust Tully since she’d never been given a reason not to.
At the speed Tully was going, they soon left the city behind. The marsh, its huge cypress trees draped in moss, dominated the scenery, and the white cranes napping in the morning sun provided the only color in the deep green of the tree canopy. As Libby slipped her hand into Tully’s lap, she tilted her head to the side so she could enjoy the landscape.
Gaston was loading the Alma Mae with supplies when they arrived, and Tully drove up to the dock instead of turning into the drive. She was surprised to find both her brothers coming off the boat after her father, both with huge smiles. While Tully had excelled in the classroom and in her career, Jerrold and Walter Badeaux had wanted to stay home and continue the family tradition on the water. Both had graduated from college with business degrees and with Tully’s help now ran a seafood processing plant not far from their father’s dock.
“You guys got everything ready?” Tully asked as soon as she opened her door.
“We’re set, but we aren’t going anywhere until we meet your new friend,” Jerrold said. He and Walter had missed Sunday dinner the week before to attend a boat auction.
“Libby, these two overgrown troublemakers are Jerrold and Walter, my brothers. Try not to embarrass me now,” she said to the boys as she put her arm around Libby’s shoulders. “This is Libby Dexter.”
Once the men had said hello, they greeted Bailey and Ralph by picking them up and tossing them around like they had since the kids were born.
Out of the corner of her eye, Libby noticed Ralph load two bags onto the boat and vaguely wondered what he was up to, but she was distracted when Gaston approached her.
“It’s nice of you to come out here today, Libby,” he said. “Alma and I realize that y’all are busy, but sometimes you just got to put all that aside and have a little fun.”
“That’s true, sir, but we’re here to go over some papers she received in the mail.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I was just trying to help my little girl plan something nice for you,” Alma said as she walked up. She handed Jerrold a covered dish, and he jumped on board to put it away. “You best get on that boat before she leaves without you.”
Everyone except Tully and Libby got into Tully’s Explorer, Walter and Jerrold slapping Ralph and Bailey on the back after they hugged Libby before leaving.
Libby watched the vehicle cross the road until it disappeared around the slight bend. Only then did she turn and put her hands on her hips as she faced Tully.
“If you say so, we’ll go back to town and go with plan B,” Tully said.
“What’s plan B?”
“We drive back and go to the restaurant that I made a reservation for tonight.”
“And plan A?” Libby smiled and walked toward her like a woman who really wanted to go on a boat ride.
“I get you alone for the night on the water, catch you dinner, and show you how bright the stars look when you don’t have anything around you but fish.”
“And you thought I’d pass that up to go with the second choice? Shame on you, Badeaux. I get you alone for the night someplace where I really get you alone, and I’m going to want a dinner in the city ins
tead? I think not, baby.”
“Then step aboard and I’ll cast off. I just thought this would be a memorable first date.”
With the ropes clear, Tully started the engines and turned the wheel to head down the bayou. The usual four-hour cruise into the open Gulf of Mexico would take just a little longer with what Tully had in mind. Once underway, she went into the cabin and changed, and when she came out in shorts, an old T-shirt, and bare feet, Libby went in search of her bag to change too.
The trawl net was dragging behind them when Libby emerged in an outfit similar to Tully’s, and she listened, apparently really interested, as Tully explained the process of catching shrimp. The local fishermen trawled in the bayous close to the Gulf for brown shrimp, which most cooks believed had more flavor, but which didn’t sell as well. The white shrimp most diners were used to seeing on their plates were found in the Gulf, but Tully had grown up in her mama’s kitchen with big pots of wonderful dishes that centered around the browns.
Her months of working out and dieting made it easy to lift the nets up when she was ready. While they were culling their catch, Libby laughed and shrieked a few times as a few crabs scampered along the box Gaston had set up to use when they separated what was in the net. Afterward, Tully sat with a beer and a bushel of shrimp and started peeling while she told Libby which direction to steer the boat in.
Soon the dark waters of Bayou Terrebonne started to clear as they entered the Gulf of Mexico, and the birds that had been feeding off the shrimp shells that Tully was throwing overboard flew back to their perches in the trees. With enough clean shrimp, she took the wheel and headed east. The longer they traveled, the fewer boats they saw, and most of the owners called out to Tully in French to welcome her back to the water.
“Hungry?” she asked Libby when the sun was directly overhead.
“You’re going to cook?”
“I’m going to cheat a little, but if you make yourself comfortable I promise I won’t make you sick.” Tully went into the small galley, found the bowl in the refrigerator that contained their main course, and set it on the counter.