by Ali Vali
“Are you sure you’re okay with what we have planned?”
When Shaun had called and told them Juan was on the move and headed toward them, Cain had formulated a plan instantly. If this new man who appeared more American with a slimmer nose and sandy-blond hair really was Juan, the satisfaction of killing him would have to wait. By using him and guiding him in a certain direction, they could perhaps lure Anthony out, along with Gracelia.
The first step toward that was the very public view of their deteriorating relationship for Juan’s benefit. They’d had a physical fight before, for the FBI’s sake, so Cain had sacrificed her cheek again. Then came the illusion of Emma out in public alone, or barely alone, to lick her wounds away from her supposed tormentor. Cain had been right again when Juan saw her at the table. He’d been so fixated on her, he’d missed the four guards around her, aside from Lou.
“It’s not often I get to help you, so please don’t ask me to stop now.” Emma kissed Cain and placed her hand on her chest. “I can do this, and I’ll feel good about it. Juan didn’t want me because he secretly loved me. He wanted me to get to you and because I wasn’t interested. You might be a great motivator, but I think when I said no he became obsessed. I want to be part of getting rid of him because of what he did to both of us.”
“I’m not comfortable or crazy about putting you out there, though.”
“You know I’m forgiving to a fault sometimes.” Emma caressed the cheek she’d slapped and smiled, which made her appear sadder. “It’s cost us so much…you so much when I mistakenly put my faith in someone else. Not this time, and when he reached out to touch our baby, it confirmed it for me. That’s something sacred to you and me, a child that’s ours and will be such an important part of who we are together, but I know he doesn’t see it that way. I’m sure Juan wants nothing but to destroy this baby to complete his conquest.”
“Okay, but we stick to the whole plan. No ad-libbing and no trying to ditch the people I put with you.” Cain tapped the tip of Emma’s nose with her finger.
“Trust me. I don’t want a repeat of what happened any more than you do. You want to go by Remi’s place before we head home?”
“Yeah.” Cain helped Emma to her feet and kissed her again. “We still have too many unknown variables in this, and with any luck, Remi’s found the answer to some of them.”
“We’ll need to fill them in on what’s going on, so I’ll meet you there. If we get home early enough, we can call the kids. I’m surprised Hayden hasn’t phoned already. He seemed okay being left behind, but I’m sure he’s learned to hide disappointment well,” Emma said.
Lou pressed the elevator call button for them and kept his eyes pointed at the door.
“He called on my way over here, and he sounded okay with us reporting in later. He was really sweet about it.”
“Of course he’s sweet. He gets that from me.”
Lou’s shoulders shook from laughter after he heard her squawk from Emma’s pinch to her side. They rode down and she waited ten minutes before going out the back. Emma and Lou had gone through the front, where she hadn’t spotted Juan in any monitor. Patience might be a virtue, but it was damn hard when she had this guy in her sights.
“Where is he?” she asked Shaun.
“Fell in line with Lou and Miss Emma. He’s doing his best to hang back, but he’s as subtle as chickenpox.”
“Any luck with a name?”
“Unfortunately the staff at the Piquant is immune to bribes for stuff like that, so I don’t have it yet. The guy he was with took off and headed into the Quarter. I’ve got someone following him, and he said he looked pissed and is drinking it off at Pat O’s.”
“Stay with Juan and have whoever’s watching his friend call me. There might be a way to speed up this process without showing my hand.”
“You got it, boss.”
“Well, it’s within sight now, anyway.”
*
Remi took her jacket off in the elevator and rolled her head from side to side to crack the bones in her neck. The studio was getting busier here and in LA, which meant more travel in her future, as well as for Dallas. They’d signed a few projects that her people said Dallas would be perfect for, only they weren’t going to be filmed in New Orleans. Now that Dallas didn’t have to fear the past and she’d decided to take them, it’d mean star billing and the paycheck to go with it.
The condo was quiet and she headed for the bedroom and changed for a night in, then fixed herself a drink. After Dallas and Kristen moved in she’d promised not to smoke inside, so she took her cigar and aged rum to the balcony. Dallas didn’t particularly care for the habit but had gotten her a comfortable chair to enjoy the view and the Cuban Cohibas she was fond of.
As she watched the huge freighters go by she thought about the house they’d bought and the history of the place. She remembered visiting often as a child and playing with Cain and Marie while Mano ran off with Billy. Their fathers were starting to do business together, and her family had been fortunate that Dalton had instantly liked her father when they met. It wasn’t often that her dad humbled himself to anyone like that, but he’d lowered his head and forgotten his pride when he begged Dalton to give him a chance.
She’d committed her family to the amount of business they were doing with Cain because of how Dalton had received him that day. Dalton had listened to his story, his requests, and the manner in which he’d asked for them. An hour later he had the keys to the Pescador Club, the loan that launched the place, and Dalton’s protection. Dalton had also told her father to bow to no other man again, especially him, and if someone wanted him to, he gave him his personal number. It took a day for their friendship to take root, and Dalton had kept his word about everything he’d promised. His final gift had been the deed to the club.
When it was her turn, she found the same kind of friendship and loyalty in Cain. Even her father was impressed with the profits they’d made with the purchase of the studio and using it to launder money for both families. Cain had shown selflessness there as well because she’d only wanted 49 percent to keep the authorities away from them as much as possible.
The sliding-glass door opened behind her and she held her hand up, assuming it was Dallas. Someone’s hand slowly slid down hers and she immediately knew it wasn’t Dallas, and when she lowered it and pulled the person closer, she found Kristen smiling at her. Maybe Simon had a point, because the caress wasn’t what you’d expect from an in-law. She let Kristen go and decided to set things straight between them when she leaned against the railing in a pose that made her breasts jut out.
“How was school?”
“It was good. A summer semester is always fun since you get it out of the way faster. Did you have a hard day?” Kristen asked, and she nodded. “Want a neck rub?”
“Your sister will take care of that when she gets here.” The statement made Kristen’s smile vanish and her shoulders slump slightly. “So no more cute stuff, okay? Dallas sacrificed plenty to keep you safe, and I’m not interested. She doesn’t deserve the disrespect from you, and I’ll never hurt her like that. Do we understand each other, or do I need to make it plainer?”
“I was just being nice so you’d like me. I didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, I’m lonely.”
“I’m not mad, but I also don’t want any misunderstandings. We’ve got a new house to enjoy, and I want you to think of it as home. Hell, it’s big enough that you can stay for however long you want, even if it’s forever. But try to find someone who’ll give you everything your sister and I have. Until then, get a cat if you’re lonely.”
Kristen’s focus went to the elevator doors and Remi stood and turned. She’d been expecting Cain and Emma, and they were a great diversion to end this conversation. Before she moved to open the door she hugged Kristen and kissed the top of her head. “It’s been a hard life, I know that, but you’ll get there.”
“Thanks, Remi.”
“I love you, and we’ll
be fine.”
“I ordered dinner.” Cain winked at her when she rolled her eyes from behind Kristen. “When’s Dallas finished for the night?”
“She should be scrubbing makeup off now, so give her a few minutes. Drink?”
“I’ll have whatever you’ve got.” Cain helped Emma into one of the leather chairs in the den. “And my partner will take juice, if you have it.”
Remi came back with two glasses and found Kristen sitting close to Emma, Cain near the door to the balcony. “Cigar?” she asked when she handed her the drink.
“Only one,” Emma called out from the other room.
They went out and she listened to what Cain had discovered, amazed that Juan had gone to such lengths to get close to them again. But the really bizarre part of what had happened was Anthony actually going along willingly with these people.
“You’re probably his first target, but I can’t imagine we’ll be too far behind. What do you need from us?”
“If I’m right, Juan has walked through your new house so he’s familiar with the layout. He’s got to eliminate me before you have to worry about anything, and in reality he might not have any plans for you or your family at all. To play it safe, though, tell Emile to keep Dallas close. Someone like Juan is set on what he wants to do, but if an easy target jumps out at him, he’d probably risk it.” Cain took a long drag from her cigar and seemed to follow the smoke as the wind blew it south. “Don’t repeat my mistakes.”
“Have you spotted Anthony at all?”
“Not yet, but we might have a lead on Gracelia. Even if I find her I believe it’s smart to wait until I have them all. Mother and son might be easy targets, but I don’t want to give Anthony the opportunity to run back to his former employer and cut a deal.”
“Whatever you need, it’s yours.”
Cain smiled and held up a finger when the phone rang. “Where is he now?” She listened and pointed inside. Dallas had just come in and was already making over Emma. “Wait until he’s closer to Canal Street, where it’s less crowded, then offer him a ride. Once you have him, call Katlin.”
She dialed Katlin next. “Go by the electric company and find out what you can.”
“What are you curious about?”
“The good. We’ve got the bad and the ugly covered.”
*
Fiona drove with more confidence now that she was becoming more familiar with the streets and their sometimes stranger names. She’d done her best to get assigned with Sept whenever possible, but so far Special Agent Ronald Chapman’s request had come to nothing. After Cain pulled Sept aside at the Columns, Sept had never mentioned her again.
The call from Ronald that Cain was back, but with only a skeleton crew, had surprised her. A coward like Casey seemed to always need a crowd around her. It was the only way for such people to stay in power. She’d waited at the lakefront airport but never saw the Caseys get off any aircraft. The place was basically closed for the night, the manager had said, so she was headed back downtown to pick up her mother.
They only had two more days together, and her opportunity to talk her mother into staying was getting slim. Her mom seemed driven not only to return to California, but to take her back as well. She’d hinted and prodded, but so far her mom hadn’t given her anything as to why that was so important to her.
As she got closer she saw her mother outside on her cell, having what looked like an intense conversation. Something was up and she wanted to know what it was. Her mom had always been secretive, but if she was in trouble she needed to say what the problem was so she could help.
“Call me if there’s anything else, and I mean right away. I don’t care what time it is,” Judice said, loud enough for her to hear her through the open window of the car. Judice hung up when she spotted her and immediately plastered a smile on her face. “Hey, you’re early. That’s great.” Judice hugged her and did an amazing transformation from frustrated to happy.
“Is there a problem?” Fiona asked.
“No, well, a problem with an extension for one of my clients. Nothing a call to the IRS in the morning won’t fix, even if it’ll be a pain in my ass.” Judice laughed, but Fiona couldn’t help thinking that it was all an act. “Let me treat you to whatever you want tonight. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
It wasn’t the time to start an argument, so she put the car in Drive without another word. The place she wanted to try was crowded, but everyone seemed content to wait at the bar while waiters performed a dangerous ballet with loaded trays of food between crowded-too-close tables. The atmosphere was really too loud to have a good conversation with her mother, but that wasn’t why she’d wanted to venture in.
The Irish pub and restaurant wasn’t all that far from the one Cain owned, and from what some of the beat cops had told her, Cain liked to stop by often for the potato stew made from her mother’s recipe. She needed more contact with Casey so she could figure out the crack in her defenses. Once she was in she’d rip her to the ground.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try somewhere nicer?” her mother asked. “New Orleans isn’t exactly known for their Irish cuisine.”
“Let’s just stay for a beer. Then we can go.”
“This has to do with this case of yours?” The veneer of happiness dropped off her mother’s face, and she appeared more angry than hurt.
“You don’t talk to me anyway, so why shouldn’t I get something done while I can?”
“Then play with fire on your own time.” Her mother turned to leave. Fiona grabbed her by the biceps to keep her from going. “Fiona.” Judice stared at her hand. “You want to work, then work, but it’s best you leave me out of it.”
Fiona stood and looked at her mother’s finger as if it were a gun, since she pointed at her. A few of the rowdier patrons bumped into her, but she stayed in place as her mother left. The smart move would’ve been to go after her, but she was tired of playing twenty questions and getting no answers. It didn’t matter right then that their time was limited; she needed to do something constructive.
“Get you something, my darlin’?” The bartender’s Irish accent sounded authentic.
“A Guinness and a few minutes, if you’ve got them.”
The man poured and set her glass on the counter to let it settle. “There you go.” He wiped his hands on a bar towel. “I get off at two, if you’re interested in my time.”
“Not like that. I only want to ask if you know Cain Casey.”
“Who’s asking?”
She showed him her badge and put a ten on the bar for her drink. “Detective Fiona O’Brannigan.”
The man glanced at the badge then at her money before taking the glass back and throwing it in the sink. “Keep your money and take your questions out the door with you.”
“Loyalty can sometimes buy you more trouble than favors, so you want to try again?”
“Get out of my place before you get hurt, little lady.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down his somewhat crooked nose at her.
“Threatening the NOPD isn’t a wise move. Is Casey worth jail time to you?”
He picked up the old yellow phone on the wall and dialed a number he obviously knew from memory. She felt her phone vibrate against her hip when he hung up, and she read the number from her precinct on the display.
“Get the fuck out of there, and get back here now.”
“Yes, sir.” She didn’t have to ask who it was; her superior officer had a recognizable voice.
The smug expression on the bartender’s face made her realize how far Cain’s reach went in the city, but also how deeply she’d corrupted the police. “The answer to caging you for life might not be found in whatever the Feds think you’re doing, Casey. It might lie on a more local level,” Fiona said as she drove the couple of blocks to work. “That’d be hilarious since you think you’re so smart.”
She dialed Ronald’s number, but this time there was no answer.
“
Call me. I might have something.”
*
Ronald had gone by the office when they’d landed and ordered a team out to find wherever Casey was in the city. The sarcasm in everything Annabel had said, along with her sweet, sickening smile, had irritated him from the second she’d greeted him. “You lost Casey in a small backwoods café in dairy-town Wisconsin? Really, Ronald. I thought your being here was the answer to all our prayers.”
It hadn’t gotten any better throughout the day, and in a way he’d lost the upper hand because she’d been right. Casey had waved every single time she’d seen him, insulted him in front of the others, and pretended she knew something about him. She was nothing but a lying punk, like every other asshole he’d ever confronted. No way in hell Casey or anyone else knew anything about him, at least not anything he didn’t want them to.
He’d gone to his hotel room and changed into jeans, T-shirt, and biker boots, but that wasn’t all he’d done to hide the rigid personality he prided himself on. The wig made him appear younger, since the hair was longer and braided in a Jamaican style. So far, his theory that people concentrated on shit like hair and tattoos instead of facial structure had held true. He laughed about it as he glanced at the large snake tattoo that ran down his forearm. It’d come off later in the shower, but for now it was yet another clue someone would eventually give police if they were brave enough.
From the reports the Bureau had on file, Airline Drive—a few miles out from downtown—was where he’d find what he was looking for. It was maddening that he had to do this, since he found it disgusting that he actually needed it, but it was like the steam release on a pressure cooker. If he blocked it too long then the whole pot exploded, and he’d do anything to avoid that.
The first guy was too fat and actually appeared grotesque in the tight pink leopard-skin Lycra pants he wore. When he smiled at him he was also missing teeth, so he kept going. He was cursing as he reached the end of the strip, but the last guy who stood by a few women was the one. He was a slight, light-skinned teenager—perfect. Ronald was about to give him the night of his life.