Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte

by Susan C. Muller

  “Adam wants me to stick the bug back in Guidry’s office. I told him it was a waste of time, the guy does nothing but play video blackjack, but he asked me to try. There’s no way they haven’t beefed up security after last time, but neither of us can sleep, so we might as well drive by and see.”

  Gabby’s hands trembled as they parked behind the station, but not from nerves this time.

  “We’ll do it exactly the same as before, only I promise not to be as long. Remember, you’re out of here if I text 9-1-1, okay?”

  She bit her lip and nodded as chills raced down her spine.

  Remy slipped out of the passenger-side door without a sound. Within seconds she couldn’t distinguish his shadow among the trees. How had he learned to do that? Could she?

  He’d probably be angry if she tried to join him. Another example of men getting to have all the fun.

  The crickets were in fine form, even a bullfrog croaked, but if Remy made a sound, she couldn’t hear it. A few minutes later, she jumped when an owl hooted. The flap of its powerful wings couldn’t have been more than a few feet away.

  She’d unfastened her seatbelt and had her fingers on the door handle when Remy slid in beside her. Crap. How did he keep doing that?

  “No luck,” Remy said, panting. “They put a padlock on the back door of the ‘Adventure Tours’ office and boarded up the windows. I might have been able to get past that, but not the brand new, state-of-the-art security camera.”

  Disappointment flooded through her. She’d been hoping for a little adventure of her own.

  “Don’t worry. I have something planned for tomorrow. Are you up to some more playacting?”

  “Start shining up my Oscar.” She grinned.

  Remy didn’t look too tired. There was something else she’d seen on TV one time. Maybe they could try that when they got back home.

  Son-of-a-bitch. Didn’t Ruben know what time it was? Remy glanced at the time stamp on his phone. Okay, maybe most people were at work by now.

  But maybe they hadn’t been up all night tromping through the woods playing secret agent, and other things. He glanced at Gabby as he crawled out of bed to answer the phone.

  Good, she was asleep. Let her stay that way. She needed it.

  “What?” he whispered into the phone. His back ached. When had he ever been this stiff?

  “Not even a hello? Man, somebody must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. No, don’t tell me I woke you.”

  Remy bit back a groan. Ruben’s belly laugh was not what he needed to start the day. Coffee, that’s what he needed. Thick, strong, black, chicory coffee. No one should have to face Ruben before coffee. That ought to be a law.

  Ruben had always been a force of nature early in the morning, but since he’d found Tessa, he was actually cheerful. That was too much to expect any human to bear.

  Remy moved silently. The pine floor felt cool under his feet as he limped silently into the kitchen. “What did you call about, Ruben? Are the druggies making their move?”

  “Nope, not a peep. Did you get the new bug planted?”

  Remy measured the coffee, studied the pot, and added another half a scoop. He inhaled deeply. The aroma would have to hold him until it finished brewing. “I couldn’t get anywhere near the place. They’d upped security like you wouldn’t believe. I do have a plan, though. You’ll know soon enough if it works.”

  “If you’re sure you’re not too tired from your, uh, evening’s activities.” Ruben chuckled again.

  The coffee gurgled, and Remy watched the rich black liquid drip into the pot. Time to change the subject. “What about Adam? How’s he holding up?”

  “He’s not worth a damn. Tomorrow they’re inducing and he’s a wreck. He keeps checking the battery on his cell phone and he’s afraid to leave his desk long enough to take a piss. So far I’ve refilled his coffee cup three times and he’s squirming in his chair. I have a bet with Tenequa on how long he’ll last.”

  A loud slap sounded over the phone, as if Ruben had hit his desk. “Hot damn, there he goes. I just won five bucks if I can convince Tenequa to pay up. I have to go. I’ve got to call his phone so the message light will be blinking when he gets back.”

  Wait. Ruben couldn’t leave him like this.

  Remy took a deep breath, but his voice quivered anyway. “What about Adrienne?”

  Ruben remained silent for so long Remy wondered if they’d been disconnected. Finally the big guy answered. “She’s still safe, but the time is coming. You need to find her.”

  Remy had never been so glad to hang up a phone in his life. Or to see the light go on signaling the coffee was ready. He poured two cups and set them on a tray.

  He glanced at the tray and darted outside, snipped a rose, and stuck the stem in a bud vase before heading for the bedroom.

  Standing beside the bed, he called to Gabby, his voice soft as a priest’s. “Gabby, chère, how about some coffee?” He didn’t plan to sit until she was awake. He’d learned that lesson.

  She stretched, slow and lazy, and his heart lurched.

  “Ummm, that sounds perfect.” When she saw the rose, a smile spread across her face.

  He groaned slightly as he leaned down to kiss her. A burning pain radiated from his hip down one leg.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “Just a little stiff this morning.” He chuckled. “I think you broke me last night.”

  “Ohhh, poor baby.” She kissed him again.

  “That’s okay.” He handed her the coffee. “I’ll take a few sore muscles any day. I’ll do some stretches after breakfast and be just fine. When you’re ready, we have an errand to run. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  “And you don’t want to come in with me?” Gabby twisted to see Remy, slumped low in the back seat.

  “No, let me out here. Park square in front of the window so they can see you’re alone.”

  She nibbled on her lip. Sure, she’d wanted to do something exciting, but she’d had Remy with her before.

  He patted the hand she had rested on the seat back. “You can do this, chère. Give me as long as you can and try to keep them looking in your direction.”

  The door latch clicked as Remy eased out of the car. She was on her own. But Remy was right. She could do this. Adrienne needed her.

  The sheriff’s station was another half block. Gabby made sure she drove below the speed limit, resisting the temptation to look at Remy, keeping pace on the far side of the car.

  She parked directly in front of the grimy window, as close as possible to the Hummer without scraping the side.

  Could they even see? Whether they could or not, the security camera could.

  The day was already heating up and gray clouds did nothing to help. Even the breeze only moved around hot air. Gabby stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. The air felt like steam in her lungs.

  The warped door to the sheriff’s station stuck when she tried to open it, so she gave the bent wood a slight kick with the toe of her shoe. The door flew back and the two deputies sitting at their desks looked up as if caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

  They were both drinking coffee and Potbelly, Doyle, had his feet on his desk. Didn’t they do any work? No wonder they couldn’t find Adrienne.

  She bit her lower lip and thought back. Had she ever seen them cruising the neighborhood or checking for speeders? Her daughter was missing and they were drinking coffee?

  Merde.

  She hoped Adam and Ruben brought them all down. She’d visit them in prison and spit on them. If Adrienne was hurt, she’d piss on their graves.

  “Hi, fellas,” she cooed, using her Marilyn Monroe voice. “Is the sheriff in?”

  “He’s busy right now. May we
help you?”

  At least the young one, Ethan, had some manners. Maybe she’d just shoot him the finger, not spit on him.

  “Adrienne’s been missing for a week now, and I’m at my wit’s end. I left Remy asleep because I know he can be a pain in the ass at times, but I don’t think I can take much more of this. Are you sure you don’t have any new leads?”

  “No, ma’am. I’d have called you if we heard anything.”

  He certainly sounded sincere. Maybe Ethan wasn’t as bad as the other two.

  “What about the sheriff? Does he know anything?” She leaned forward, letting the counter edge dig into her breasts and push them up until they almost spilled out of her blouse.

  “Sheriff Guidry?” she called. “Are you back there?”

  Both deputies turned toward the footsteps that echoed down the hall. Gabby leaned so far forward her toes almost left the ground and the counter made breathing difficult.

  Fine. That would help with her breathing voice. She didn’t have to worry about her facial expression. Three sets of eyes were trained on her boobs. That was good, because her nose wrinkled as the sheriff’s aftershave hit her.

  “Sheriff, is there anything at all you can tell me? I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I’m worried sick.” She parted her lips slightly and licked the upper one.

  Three seconds passed before the sheriff dragged his eyes up. “Not so far, but we’re still looking. Actually, that’s good news. We haven’t found any sign of foul play.”

  Gabby let a sob escape. That part wasn’t even playacting. “I know Remy came in here and tried to push his weight around, but please, promise me your dislike for him won’t keep you from doing everything you can to find my baby.”

  The sheriff smiled and it sent a chill through her blood. “Don’t you worry, Mrs. Hough.” The sheriff patted his stomach. “He doesn’t have enough weight to push me around.”

  She watched his eyes. That was the first true thing he’d said. Obviously Remy had been right. Dan Cryer hadn’t said a word about their encounter.

  Chapter 23

  Gabby watched through the screen door as Remy pushed the lawnmower up and down the yard. The familiar hum of the mower seemed right, natural as the smell of the fresh-cut grass swirling around her. How many times had she watched him do just this?

  He’d tossed his shirt on the porch and sweat covered his body. He must have found those shorts in his gym bag. Man, he looked good.

  She frowned. Was that a slight limp as he rounded the last corner? Maybe he wasn’t as strong as she thought.

  He disappeared behind the house and the mower cut off. She already had a glass of lemonade poured when he came through the back door.

  “Pheew, I needed that. Thanks, chère.” He took the glass and gave her a peck on the cheek. “It must be ninety-five out there. Looks like rain headed this way from the Gulf, but it can’t get here quick enough for me.”

  She peeked out the window. “I hope it doesn’t ruin the graduation ceremony tonight. Sherri Lynn called and asked if we could give her a ride. You don’t mind, do you?” Without Adrienne, she needed someone to clap for.

  “Of course not, but what about her mother and all those brothers and sisters?” He swirled the glass, letting the ice clink against the side. Condensation formed as the lemonade got colder.

  “I don’t know. She didn’t say.”

  She was pouring her own glass when the sound of “The House of the Rising Sun” cut through the air and Remy limped over to the counter where his phone was charging. “Adam, where you at?”

  Adam’s voice boomed over the speaker. “Still at the office. I don’t know how you did it, but you hit gold a second time.”

  “You mean that fat, useless sheriff actually talks in his car?” A grin split Remy’s face.

  “The fool turns on the radio and thinks he’s safe. Where’d you plant the bug?”

  “Behind the rearview mirror. Close to his head but far from the electronics. He didn’t discuss any plans to pull something on me or Gabby, did he?”

  “Nah, you’re safe. He’s written you off as a harmless pain-in-the-ass. He called you a petite peste. What’s that, a little pest?”

  Relief flooded Remy’s eyes and he smiled. “Yeah, kind of.”

  “Maybe he knows you better than you think.”

  Gabby leaned closer to the phone. “Did he mention anything about Adrienne?”

  “Unfortunately, no.”

  Her heart dropped, and a lump formed in her throat. Her hands began to tremble and she pressed them together so that Remy couldn’t see. What was the use of all this if it didn’t get her daughter back safe?

  “But once they bring him in he’ll give up anything he knows to make it easier on himself.”

  Adam sounded convincing. She had to cling to that thought. It was the only hope she had.

  Remy nodded. “I agree, but we can’t wait around any longer. When are they going to make the bust?”

  “According to the ridiculous code he uses, Crybaby, who has to be Danny Cryer, is already on his way. The Texas Rangers are going to take him down when he meets with the Houston connection at a rest stop just over the state line on I-10 at noon tomorrow.”

  “Will you and Ruben be in on the arrest?” Gabby knew she sounded desperate, but she trusted Remy’s two friends.

  “Our Narcotics squad is planning to hit the Houston gang at the same time.” The disappointment in Adam’s voice carried over the air. “Ruben and I were invited to tag along, but Jillian is going to be induced first thing in the morning so I’m not joining them. My folks are headed this way. Jillian wants my mom in the delivery room with her, and Mom is over the moon. She didn’t see my nephew until he was almost three weeks old and that almost killed her.”

  A wave of nostalgia washed over Gabby. Her mother had been long gone when Adrienne was born, but Grand-mère was there, holding her hand while keeping Remy calm. Would it have hurt her to invite his mother into the room?

  Remy must have had the same thoughts. He glanced at her and squeezed her hand. “What about Ruben? Is he going without you?”

  “Yep. He wants to be there in case they have any information on Adrienne. He says if they know anything, he’ll get it out of them.”

  Gabby flashed Remy a grateful smile. Having his friends watch out for them offered some degree of comfort, but not enough to melt the chill forming in her heart.

  He leaned against the counter. “I realize you’ve got a lot going on, but did you have a chance to check out any of those names I sent you?”

  “Now that was one weird bunch of shit. None of those guys overlapped. One would show up in a remote part of Louisiana as an adult, stick around for thirty or forty years, sell off all his assets, and disappear. A few months later the next would show up in a different town and do the same thing.”

  Adam paused, and Gabby heard papers shuffling. “There was one gap after the hurricane of 1910, but I found a guy that showed up in Natchez, Mississippi, who fits the description, but he only lasted twelve years. I’d think it was all the same person, but it’s been going on for a hundred and eighty years. The only thing that ties them together is a patch of land in the middle of Bayou Lafonte, but there’s no GPS coordinates and I can’t figure out exactly where it is. Just somewhere a few miles northeast of Comeaux.”

  “Put Ruben on it.” Remy’s voice took on a sharp edge. “His mind is clearer and he’s good with a paper trail.”

  “Who do you think came up with this much? He did say he’d call you when he had anything more, but you’re to stay there, don’t try to join the Staties when they take down your favorite sheriff. You need to be ready to move fast. I wish I could join you, but I haven’t been married long and I’m not ready for a divorce.”

  Remy hung up. She followed
him as he took his lemonade into the living room and flopped down on the sofa. He slipped his arm around her, but groaned under his breath as he raised one leg and propped his heel on the coffee table.

  His foot hit a magazine, which nudged a small brown paper package tied with string onto the wood floor. “What was that?” he asked at the soft plop.

  “Not sure.” Gabby circled around to the far side of the coffee table to check.

  She picked up the package then yelped as she grabbed burning lava. The pain seared through her hand and raced up her arm.

  A scream tore from her throat as she dropped the package and wiped her hand on her shorts. A second scream sounded as her leg caught fire.

  “What is it? What is it?” Remy yelled in her ear.

  She supported one hand with the other as she blew on the burned flesh trying to cool her skin. She ran for the kitchen, almost knocking Remy down in the process, then held her hand under running water.

  “Ice, ice,” she sobbed.

  He returned in seconds that felt like hours with a bag of frozen peas.

  “Here,” she said, shaking her leg at him. “On my leg.”

  “Where? I don’t see anything.”

  “Right here.” She lifted her hand from under the water long enough to point to her leg. But there wasn’t anything there except a damp spot on her shorts.

  She grabbed the bag with her burned hand and held the welcome relief on her leg. Her breath came in short gasps. The excruciating pain kept her mind from functioning. “What is that stuff? Acid? Do I need to go to the hospital?”

  Remy placed her good hand on the bag of frozen peas and took her burned hand in his, inspecting the palm closely. He ran his fingers across the surface. “Does this hurt?”

  She eased her hand from him and placed the injured area back on the icy bag of frozen peas. “Maybe not as much as a minute ago, but still pretty bad.”