by Emery, Lynn
“Stop! Walk slowly towards the car, hands held high!” A male voice shouted from somewhere to his right. Instinctively, Paul began to turn in the direction of the voice.“No sudden moves! Walk straight ahead to the car! Now! Do it!”
Louisiana state troopers dressed in dark blue surrounded him. Sheriff Triche and one of his deputies stepped forward. When he reached the car, Paul was shoved face down onto the hood and handcuffed. While one trooper patted him down roughly another explained his rights. Sharply pulled upright again, Paul was put into a patrol car.
“Good capture, boys. Real good.” Sheriff Triche grunted with satisfaction as he leaned down to stare at Paul.
*****
“So, I figure Claude Trosclair went back to his office and was killed there. Quentin and LaShaun are strong suspects. They had more to lose than your friend Paul. As for Kyle Singleton, he’s had his hand in the profits covering gambling debts. Maybe the old man found out about him, too.” LaMar sat back dressed in a khaki green work clothes, a plastic hard hat on his knee. He was the epitome of the working class man.
“Well, Savannah, what do you think?” Charice poked Savannah’s arm.
“I admit, it’s interesting.”
“Interesting!” Sam and Charice yelled together.
“We got at least three people with motive enough to waste a whole town, and all you can say is `It’s interesting’?” Sam said.
“You are unbelievable!” Charice said.
“All right, okay.” Savannah held one hand. “Let me think a minute.”
“We need to be over at the Sheriff’s office telling him all of this stuff.” Sam stood up.
“No, we got to prove one of them did it. Get the evidence on him, or her.” Charice chewed on a fingernail.
“No. We don’t need to do either one. We just have to present enough evidence to create reasonable doubt. LaMar, they don’t have a witness or physical evidence linking Paul to the murder, do they?” Savannah, still calmly seated, turned to the private detective.
“No.” LaMar flashed a smile.
“People have been convicted on circumstantial evidence, but not often. Police usually count on a suspect making a slip during questioning or a confession.”
“Right.” LaMar’s eyes had a gleam as he regarded her with increasing interest.
“Since he didn’t do it, he has nothing incriminating to let slip and reveal. And nothing to confess, either.”
“You got it.”
“I’m no criminal lawyer, but the case against him is dripping with reasonable doubt.” Savannah took a deep breath. “But I do think he’s going to wind up on trial.”
“You don’t think the district attorney will decline to prosecute since the evidence is circumstantial?” Sam sat down heavily.
“Sam, both he and the Sheriff are elected officials. Claude Trosclair was a rich, powerful man from a rich powerful family. What do you think?” Savannah said.
“Damn! No way could that be kept from Paul’s father.” Charice sat down next to Sam and held his hand.
“Yeah, and he was doing so well coming back from his stroke and all.” Sam looked dejected.
“I didn’t know.” Savannah went to the picture window of Charice’s living room. The lush green growth of late spring was everywhere.
“I know what you said about circumstantial evidence, but there are thousands of brothers in prison behind less than what they’ve got on Paul.” Sam let go of Charice’s hand to rub his eyes. A vein stood out on his neck.
“Cheer up. Somebody might just confess, you know.” LaMar, standing at the door, tipped his hard hat to them all before striding out to a full sized tan pick-up truck with a tool kit across the back.
All three stared at him then each other, mouths hanging open, eyes wide in astonishment. They were like statues, unmoving for about thirty seconds.
“What the hell!” Savannah rushed to the door only to watch the tailgate moving down the street.
“Honey, don’t try to figure it out. I gave up the second time I met him.” Charice patted Savannah on the back. They stood at the door as the truck turned a corner. A grinning LaMar waved at them before the truck was lost from view. The phone began ringing behind them.
“Hello. Oh God.” Charice closed her eyes. “Okay. They’re here. Yeah, thanks for calling.”
“What is it? Not the kids?” Sam’s brows drew together in concern.
“No, that was Mr. Antoine. Paul’s been arrested.”
Savannah had calmly discussed the possibility that Paul would not only be charged, but put on trial. Goose bumps spread on both arms as the cold reality of the danger he faced washed over her. All three came to stand close to each other, huddled for warmth.
*****
“Gentlemen please. Circumstantial evidence is all you’ve got.” Gralin eyed the district attorney, Morton Daniels, and Sheriff Triche. Paul sat next to him.
“We found a button matching one from a jacket your client owns at what we believe is the crime scene.” Daniels held up a sheet of paper from a folder in front of him.
“Which could have been dropped at any time since Mr. Honorè has admitted being in that office. He met with Mr. Trosclair a number of times at that location.”
“Your client left the country.” Sheriff Triche. “Went to one of them Arab places.”
“Kuwait. And we have ample evidence to show this trip had been planned for months. Look, let’s stop this game. We all know the reason the judge released my client on bond is because of the flimsy case you have. Taking this to trial is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
“Our investigation is continuing. There are certain promising leads. It might be to your advantage to tell us what really happened. We might even be willing to discuss involuntary manslaughter,” Daniels said, taking the tone of a solicitous uncle.
“And we might even consider not filing a wrongful prosecution lawsuit when this is over. Goodbye gentlemen.” Gralin said. He and Paul left.
“Well?” Sam and Charice hovered around them as they exited the courthouse.
“They won’t budge. Can’t afford to give up their only suspect and admit they’ve got no real leads. Hang in there, Paul.” Gralin shook his hand before going back into the courthouse.
“At least he thinks it looks good for you.” Charice tried an encouraging smile but failed.
“I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with something, anything, to prove that I didn’t go back to that office or see him again,” Paul said.
“Come on, let’s get some coffee.”
“What y’all staring at?” Charice faced down the other patrons at the donut shop. “Idiots.” Charice muttered when they averted their eyes self-consciously.
“Take it easy. This is a small town. Not only is it the first murder of anybody in six years, but Trosclair was the town’s richest citizen.” Paul sipped his coffee.
“I hate small towns.” Sam grumbled to no one in particular.
“So, is Savannah okay?” Paul played with a paper napkin.
“Fine. She would have been here but—” Sam stammered looking to Charice for help.
“You know, she— had stuff at the shop. Man, since they went on television business has been just— taken off. I mean, she is working constantly to keep up.” Charice’s voice trailed off lamely. She gave Sam a helpless shrug.
“Yeah, that’s great.” Paul took another sip of coffee.
“Why don’t you give her a call?” Charice said.
“Nah, not a good idea.” Paul stirred his coffee needlessly.
“Go on. She’s over there now.” Charice pulled his hand as if trying to tug him out of his seat.
“She doesn’t think you did it,” Sam blurted out.
“But she’s not exactly a fan either. I understand.”
“Paul, really she—”
“It’s okay, Charice. Drop it. Hey, thanks for everything. I’m going to the office. Might as well catch up on some work, right? See ya.” P
aul left.
“Will you talk to her? She’s your friend,” Sam said.
“I’ve tried, believe me. There’s nothing else I can say. Why don’t you talk to him?”
“I’ve tried. He won’t even call her on the phone.”
“Well, that’s it then. It really is over I guess.” Charice chewed a corner of a donut.
Sam nodded.
“I’m through with it.” Charice said.
“Me too,” Sam said.
“They’re grown and you can’t make grown folks do what they don’t want to do.”
“You’re right.”
“I have no more to say. I’m not wasting my breath on it anymore. She doesn’t have to worry about me bringing it up.” Charice waved her hands for emphasis.
“I agree totally.” Sam slapped the table.
*****
“This is crazy, Savannah.” Charice threw up her hands in frustration.
“Charice, leave it alone.” Savannah tied a white ribbon around a gift basket filled with Tante Marie’s pralines and spices.
“Number one, you agree that he didn’t do it.” Charice held up one finger.
“Right.”
“Number two, you say you understand why he didn’t tell you about his grandfather being Claude Trosclair.” Charice flipped up a second finger.
“Sort of.” Savannah raised an eyebrow at her.
“And number three, you even understand him getting upset about Devin.” Charice held up a third finger. “Three, count ‘em, three good reasons to get back together with the man.”
“You want to keep those fingers you better quit waving them in my face. Now you listen. Number one: I agree that he is no murderer. I had my doubts before LaMar Zeno gave me his information just because, no matter how angry he’d made me, Paul is not a violent man. Number two: though I understand his secrecy, I still think we had become close enough that he could have trusted me. And number three, it wasn’t so much his objection to my seeing Devin as some of the things he said to me in anger over it.”
“You are some kind of stubborn.”
“Besides, he doesn’t want to see me. I mean, he hasn’t broken his neck getting over here now has he?”
“But what if he did come over here?”
“He won’t.”
“He might.”
“Have you talked to him? If you’ve been talking to him about me I’ll strangle you, so help me.” Savannah moved towards her menacingly.
“No, no! You know I wouldn’t do that after you told me not to. Um-humm.” Charice back away.
“See that you don’t.” Savannah resumed her work on the basket.
*****
“Call the woman, man!” Sam thrust the telephone receiver at him. They sat in their Lafayette office.
“Forget it. The last thing I need right now is rejection.” Paul plowed into a mound of papers on his desk.
“She would love to hear from you.”
“Yeah, that’s why she rushed over to the jail to stand by me. Right?” Paul snorted.
“Well… Maybe she’s hesitant to approach you no knowing how you’ll react. Y’all didn’t part on the best of terms, you know.”
“I guess—”
“She is kind of upset about some of that stuff you said about her and that guy Devin,” Sam spoke haltingly, testing the waters.
“Maybe I overreacted.” Paul looked up sighing.
“So call her. Better yet, go by the shop. Go on. I’m telling you, she’d like to see you.”
“Wait a minute. Have you been talking to her about me?”
“I, uh, well, er-umm….”
“Have you?” Paul rose from the desk scowling at his friend.
“No, man. You know me better than that!” Sam held both hands out palms up.
“Keep it that way if you wanna stay healthy.”
Chapter 17
“Isn’t this great?” Charice kept craning her neck to look around.
“It’s a gorgeous day.” Savannah sighed as she adjusted her sunglasses.
The sat at a table on the combination boat landing and cafe at the edge of Bayou Des Glaises. At Charice’s suggestion, they’d packed swim suits, sunscreen, and a radio leaving right after Sunday mass. Charice left her girls happily playing with a large group of their cousins at her mother’s house.
“Yes, just us grown folks. That’s one thing about being a single parent, you’re always alone with your children. Plus teaching twenty kids all week. There are times I catch myself telling Sam to eat all his vegetables when we’re out on a date.” Charice started to giggle then sat up suddenly at the approach of a car. Seeing the red convertible with a group of college age kids, she eased back in her chair.
“Why do you keep bouncing up every time a car passes? And what is this about?” Savannah swiveled her head around in an exaggerated fashion to imitate her.
“Hey, I’m curious. Okay. Just looking around.” Charice grinned.
“Nosey is more like it.” Savannah leaned back in the lounge chair.
Savannah was enjoying the scenery in spite of herself. The warm breeze rippled the water. Both wore swim suits under a pair of shorts in case they wanted to swim or just wade. They waved at water skiers zipping by recognizing a few friends. The radio played New Orleans boogie music from a station in Breaux Bridge. She kept glancing at Charice who seemed to be making a supreme effort not to peer around.
“I’m telling you we never came here to go fishing. What is up with you today? Dragging me out here when we could have just as well gone to Bayou Teche.” Paul’s voice came from behind them.
“Look who’s here!” Charice yelled waving at them eagerly.
“Yeah, what a surprise to you I bet.” Savannah hissed under her breath. “Hello.” Behind the dark glasses her expression was unreadable.
“Hi.” Paul came to a halt, shifting his feet awkwardly under her inscrutable gaze.
“Say, Sam, want something to drink.” Charice jerked her head towards the cafe. “They’ve got a wide variety of cold drinks.”
“Yeah, yeah. That sounds good.” He followed her inside, neither daring to look back.
“Take a good look at her. This is the last time for a long time you’ll see her without bruises all over her butt.” Savannah stared after them.
“Well, I guarantee they’ll be a matched pair when I get through with him.” Paul tapped his thigh with a clenched fist.
“You, ah, doing okay?” Savannah cleared her throat.She couldn’t help but notice the way his yellow cotton knit shirt stretched across his chest or the way the navy blue shorts showed off his brown muscular legs.
“Under the circumstances, okay.” Paul tugged at his collar, shifted to another foot, and then cleared his throat. “You look good— I mean you look fine— I mean.” Paul forced his gaze away from her legs.
“Sit down.” Savannah finally offered after long silent minutes had stretched between them.
“Yeah, uh, sure.”
“Sorry about everything you’re going through.”
“Thanks.”
“LaMar Zeno seems to be on it though,” Savannah said, twirling the straw in her soft drink cup.
“That’s what Sam tells me. I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“Really? You are in for a treat. He’s different, that’s for sure.”
“Oh, you’ve met LaMar?” Paul turned to her.
“Sam and Charice got us together.”
“I see.”
“Arresting you was ridiculous. They haven’t got a case.” Savannah waved a hand dismissively.
“You’ve kept up with it?”
“Yeah, sort of,” Savannah said with an embarrassed smile.
“I didn’t think you cared. After, well you know.”
“Yeah.” They both stared out over the water, not speaking.
“I said a lot of stupid things in my life, but I topped myself that day at the courthouse.” Paul looked out over the water.
“I
guess I should have told you I’d be seeing Devin.”
“Telling you about being related to the Trosclairs scared the hell out of me.”
“I wish you had though. Still,” Savannah quickly added hearing him suck in a deep breath.“You were right. No way would I have trusted you after that. You know how I am. But, you can’t choose your relatives. If you could, I know I’d be less about five of my cousins.” Savannah gave a short laugh.
“My dad—”
“I know. Sam told me.”
“I really want to make things right with us. I’ve missed you.” Paul got up to kneel beside her.
“Me too.” Savannah took of her sunglasses.
Savannah wrapped both arms around him. Pulling him close, she tasted the kiss she’d craved for weeks. Deeper and deeper she allowed his tongue to explore until they were both gasping, clutching each other excitedly.“Whoa!” Savannah yelled. With a loud crack, the lounge chair collapsed beneath them. Her giggle was cut off when his mouth covered hers again.
“Oh non! Who gonna pay for ma chair, huh?” The owner of the café, a dirty white apron stretched across his pot belly, pointed at them from the door.