"You know Larkin will be suspicious."
"Yeah, I know. Just say I want you there and this is something I need to tell her in person; but if she does see a news report, please, help me out. She'll understand. Now, let me talk to her. Okay? Raif? Raif, are you there?"
"Not Raif." Larkin took the phone. "Ray, what's happened? Don't lie to me. Who died?"
She knows me too well. "Angel, I don't want to tell you about this on the phone. You've got enough on you tonight. Just keep the kids away from the media."
"Ray, you know better than to try and protect me. Yes, I'm heartbroken over Cyclops, but he had a good, long life with us. Something has you seriously upset. Where are you?"
He sighed. "On my way to Baton Rouge. I have to do this. It wouldn't be right for anyone else to do it."
"Do what, Ray? Please, talk to me. I know you told Raif. If you don't tell me, I'll wheedle it out of him while he glues boards together for Cyclops's coffin."
"Oh, Larkin, can't you trust me on this?"
"It's not a matter of trust, Ray. Just tell me who died. You can save the details until you get home. You need to tell me."
He sighed deeply over the phone. "Do I always underestimate you?"
"No, but you always overprotect me. You will never realize that I'm strong, and you need me as much as I need you."
"I know that, Angel. I would be lost without you." He took a deep, steadying breath. "You win. Robert is dead. He was murdered, and I'm going to tell Deanna."
"Robert?" She snorted. "Was he with another woman?"
"Yes, and she's dead also. Larkin, it was extremely brutal. I'll talk to you about that later. I don't want the kids to see this on the news though. They know Kyle and Kimberly. All the kids need to be protected, ours and Robert's, even if he chose not to do so."
"I understand."
"I've asked Raif to stay tonight. I'm sure Chris will be back before I am. We need to be a family right now. Tell Raif to call Lindsay. I know with the time difference between Louisiana and California they won't be in bed, and I don't want them to see this on the national news either."
"Of course. I'll be here when you get home. Be careful. I love you."
"I love you, too, Angel. I'll be home for breakfast." He ended the call
Ray continued toward Baton Rouge as a migraine began to creep up on him. With a healthy diet and herbal remedies his wife brewed, his migraines had become rare, but occasionally, one still hit. Ray reached into his glove box and retrieved his prescription of rizatriptan. He had finally found a medication that did not knock him out, and with three hours looming ahead, he did not need to get sleepy. He popped a capsule into his mouth and washed it down with a bottle of water. He concentrated on his dreaded task with a heavy heart made even heavier by the loss of his furry family member. He brushed unwanted tears from his cheeks. I'm pretty sure I'm mourning Cyclops more than you, Rob. Maybe.
♥♥♥ Larkin turned to Raif and handed him the phone. "Call Lindsay. She doesn't need to hear this on the morning news."
"Ray told you. Good." Raif dialed Lindsay in Los Angeles.
His stepdaughter answered cheerfully, "Uncle Ray or Aunt Larkin, happy anniversary. What's up?"
"It's Dad."
"Dad, has something happened to Uncle Ray?" Her voice took on a hint of panic.
"No, nothing like that. Calm down. I do have some bizarre news to give you though. Is Dupree home?"
"Yes, it's dinner time. Where else would he be? He's not on tour right now, and you taught us to sit down as a family at dinner."
"Yes, I did, although I only had a couple of years to teach you anything, Rottenness. I'm glad you came to live with your mother and me. I love you kiddo, even if you are an old married lady who made me a grandfather."
"I love you, too, Dad. Now, what's up?"
"Tell Dupree to get on another extension. I only want to say this once."
"Okay."
Raif heard two-year-old Roxanne giggle about something as Lindsay said to her husband of seven years, "Dupree, it's Dad. He wants to tell us something. Will you get on the other phone?"
Dupree tweaked his daughter's nose and left the table. "Hey, Dad. I'm here," he said a moment later.
"I'll say something positive first," Raif began. "I love the new album cover. Love the short hair, Dupree. Glad you decided to lose the braids. I'm so proud of you. After what I put you through…"
"Dad," Dupree interrupted, "that was a lifetime ago. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have met Larkin, and I wouldn't have found my dream. I'd be either dead or in prison. As it is, I have a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter, not to mention a successful recording career. Why are you so focused on the past?"
Raif replied, "I hope you're both sitting down. Ray didn't want y'all to hear this on the news. Robert LaFontaine has been murdered."
"Oh, my God!" exclaimed Lindsay. "How? Who?"
"I don't know any details yet. Ray is on his way to Baton Rouge to break the news to Robert's family."
"He was in Eau Boueuse?" asked Dupree.
"Yes, with another woman. They're both dead. That's all I know right now."
"Wow!" Lindsay snorted. "Sounds as if somebody finally got fed up with his cheating."
"Maybe. I don't know. Uncle Ray just didn't want y'all to see it on the news first."
"Thanks, Dad. How is Aunt Larkin?"
"She's strong as always."
"Is Mom investigating this?"
"Of course, Chris is investigating this. Who else besides her and Baker would be doing it?"
Dupree chimed in, "Colbert and Tynes."
"Not a chance. Uncle Ray will want the best. Mom's the best."
"That's true," husband and wife said together.
Lindsay followed with, "Thanks for letting us know."
"There's one more thing you should know before you visit."
"More bad news?" Dupree asked.
"Yes. Cyclops passed away today of all days."
"No! Aunt Larkin must be bawling," Lindsay said with her own sniffle. "That cat saved her life."
"She cried earlier. Now she's being practical." He caught sight of the sign his brother had jokingly placed in one window. It read, "Attack Cat on Duty. Beware." Raif remembered how the creature had pounced on Latrice Descartes, a serial killer who escaped on her way to prison and had come to kill Larkin. His attack with claws to her face had been brief, but long enough for Larkin to get free. Raif smiled at the memory.
"Go have dinner. I'll call when I know anything else."
The call finished, he completed the simple wooden box on his brother's front porch and gently laid the beloved pet into it. He stroked the fur once more and put the lid in place.
♥♥♥ "Are you okay, babe?" Dupree asked as he returned to the dining room and saw Lindsay brush tears from her cheeks. "Hey, I loved Cyclops too. He was one very cool cat."
"Daddy!" Roxanne blurted. "Mommy cwy."
"It's okay, sugar bear." Dupree wrapped his arms around his wife and leaned over to kiss his daughter's caramel cheek. You're the perfect mix of your mother and me, my little island girl. He kissed Lindsay's dark blonde hair and took his seat. "Mommy's okay."
Lindsay gave a sarcastic laugh. "I'm crying over a cat when a human was killed."
"Cycwops?" Roxanne squeaked.
"Yes, sweetie," Lindsay said. "He went to kitty heaven."
The little girl put on a serious pout and refused to eat another bite. "I've got this," Dupree said. He picked up the child, washed her face and hands, brushed her teeth, and tucked her into bed.
When he returned to the table, Lindsay still toyed with her wine. He sighed. "I feel more grief over Cyclops than LaFontaine too. He would have had me under the jail if Larkin hadn't forgiven me for my part in putting her in a life-and-death struggle. She's the one who helped me get out of the ghetto."
"I sort of feel guilty about thinking the worst of the man." She laughed lightly. "I remember flipping him the bird behind his b
ack when he was at Aunt Larkin's on a 'date.'" She did a one-handed quote signal.
Dupree laughed louder. "I'm the one that ratted him out to Larkin at the musical review. He was a horse's ass, but I am sorry his family has to suffer." He took her ivory hand in his milk chocolate one and brought it to his lips. "No more sad thoughts. Tomorrow we'll send Aunt Larkin a sympathy card and I guess one to the LaFontaines."
"Okay. I love you."
♥♥♥ As Raif talked to Lindsay, Larkin herded Christopher and Courtney, along with Raif's children, Patrick and Trista, to bed. The youngsters protested, but Larkin took a firm hand with her own two children and her nephew and niece.
After the kids were tucked snuggly and safely into bed, Larkin and Raif waited together as they had many times before when Ray and Chris were partners. "Just like old times," she said, but her brown eyes looked troubled. She sat on the sofa and tucked her feet under her over-sized sweater. Tossing her long auburn hair over her shoulder, she put her head back.
"Yeah," Raif agreed. "However, the news of the evening makes the wait much more stressful. Mind if I have a beer?"
"No, but you must be stressed if you're drinking."
Raif popped open one of his brother's Bud Lights and kicked back in Ray's recliner.
"Did he give you any details?" Larkin asked.
"No, only that Robert was with another woman, and that both were dead. Larkin, how could he reject the love of a woman as kind and lovely as Deanna? How could he reject the love and forgiveness and mercy of Christ?"
"I don't know, Raif. I've wondered that many times since I shared my faith with him years ago. You know, I never would have married him even if Ray hadn't come to the musical review and proposed. Robert never would have shared my faith, and I loved Ray. He was the man of my dreams— literally. And even though you look just like Ray, you aren't Ray. I love you dearly, but Ray…I would die for him. I already killed for him." Larkin shivered and her heart raced as she remembered shooting Latrice Descartes, the serial killer who had planned to sacrifice Larkin as the thirteenth victim in a bizarre, satanic ritual. To save both Ray and herself, she had taken a life. It still haunts me that I killed someone, as evil as she was.
Raif laughed lightly and patted his sister-in-law's hand. "I know. Isn't it amazing how the worst experience of our lives brought us the love of our lives? I would be broken without Chris."
She looked toward the front of the house where she knew her little hero lay after a life of devotion to his family. She brushed a tear from her cheek.
"You know, I think all beloved pets go to Heaven," Raif said. "Cyclops is romping with Sunbeam again."
Larkin sighed. She knew her friend was trying to lighten the mood. "I wish Chris would hurry up and get here. It's bad enough to have to wait for Ray."
He squeezed Larkin's hand. "She's doing her job. You know she's thorough."
They did not have to wait much longer for Chris to get in, but she looked tired when she walked through the door. Her short dishwater-blonde hair looked damp as the humidity was high, and her soft brown eyes drooped. She asked simply, "Did Ray tell you?"
Larkin replied, "Only that Robert and his—companion— are dead."
Chris nodded. "They were apparently engaging in a sex act. That's all I can say except an FBI team will be here tomorrow afternoon. Thank God!" She put a hand to her forehead. "At least Lawrence Dantzler is heading the team. I'm sure that fact will ease Ray's mind a bit. I know how much he hates working with the feds, but at least he and Lawrence have become friends since the Latrice Descartes case."
Chris finally sat down on Raif's lap. She sighed, "I'm so tired," as she laid her head on her husband's shoulder.
Raif kissed her on the head. "Go to bed, baby. I'll sit with Larkin until Ray gets home. And don't worry. I called Lindsay and Dupree. Go rest. You'll be up early."
Chris stood and took Raif's hand. "Come tuck me in." Raif escorted his wife upstairs to the room they always used at Larkin and Ray's restored antebellum home, leaving Larkin alone to pray.
♥♥♥ Around one o'clock, Ray stopped at the guardhouse at the entrance to the exclusive subdivision where the LaFontaines maintained their home in Louisiana. He displayed his badge and announced, "Police Chief Raiford Reynolds from Eau Boueuse. I need to see Mrs. LaFontaine."
"Has something happened to the Senator, sir?" asked the guard with genuine concern.
"I must see Mrs. LaFontaine," Ray insisted.
"Yes, sir. I understand. Your reluctance to answer says enough." The guard opened the gate. "I'll buzz the house for you, sir. Someone should be up when you get there. Do you know which house it is?"
"Yes, I've been here before. Thank you."
As the first large raindrops fell in the approaching storm, Deanna LaFontaine waited wrapped in a rose-colored satin bathrobe on her front porch when Ray got out of his car. Deanna had always been attractive, but she looked worn. Her shoulder-length, light-brown hair hung limp in the humid night air and her hazel eyes looked tired. Her thin, five-foot-eight frame stooped. "What's happened to Robert, Ray?" she demanded as Ray reached the porch.
"May we go inside and sit down?" Ray asked sympathetically.
"Just tell me. Is he dead?"
"Yes, Deanna. He was murdered."
Deanna nodded her understanding. She indicated the porch chairs at the right side of the door on the white stone porch.
"Let's talk out here. I don't want the kids to wake up and hear this tonight. I'll tell them tomorrow. You do understand, don't you, Ray?"
"Of course, I do." Ray and Deanna sat down in the wicker chairs.
Deanna jumped back to her feet. "Would you like some coffee, Ray? I can make some quickly. I need some, so, please, join me."
"That would be nice. Thanks."
Deanna disappeared into the house for about ten minutes while Ray waited. The white five-thousand-square-foot stone house that loomed behind him was a Raiford Gautier original design. Ray remembered when Raif had come to his office in complete shock at being asked by Robert to design his house.
Ray was lost in thought when Deanna returned with two large mugs. "Just sugar if I remember correctly," she said. "It's been a while."
Ray took the mug and sipped the hot coffee. "Perfect. Thank you."
Deanna sat down. "I knew it had to be bad if you drove all this way to deliver the news yourself. Was he alone?" Ray hesitated.
"Oh, come on, Ray. How young was this one? Did she kill him? I know all about Robert's little indiscretions." Her hand shook as she sipped her coffee. "I think he actually tried the first five years of our marriage. We had Kyle and Kim. Since then, I've lost count. They got younger and younger. However, he swore he never actually had sex with any of them. A former president made the other stuff acceptable for an entire generation." She shook her head. "What neither of them understood is that what's good for the goose is good for the gander." Deanna finished with a huff.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"Get a grip, Ray." Like an angry filly, she tossed her head to the side. "Don't look so shocked. Nobody, not even the tabloids, has a clue that I've had my own comfort. I've been very discreet, unlike my husband. I've covered his tracks for him for years. I wanted to be First Lady. On the other hand, I don't want my kids to know about any of it." She gusted out a large irritated puff of air. "Honestly, if Robert had been faithful, I would've been. So, I suppose, the gentleman I've been seeing started out as revenge. I knew when Robert said he needed to run to Eau Boueuse today he would be meeting up with somebody. So, just tell me the whole ugly story. You can't shock me."
"I wouldn't count on that, Deanna." He took a deep breath. "It's really ugly and apparently personal. No, the young woman, twenty-two, didn't kill him. She's dead, too. They were parked in the bayou. It looked as if she must have been…" Ray fumbled for the words to use.
"Going down on him, Ray? Would that describe the scene? Perhaps you would prefer to be more professional. Would performing fellatio
be more appropriate for you?" Unable to contain her bitterness, Deanna barked, "I don't recall you being so shy."
Ray frowned and said, "I respect you." He sighed. "Yes, that would sum it up. Someone shot her in the back of the head while she was in the act. Then, he or she shot Robert in the temple. After they were dead, someone removed their hearts. I wanted to be the one to tell you." He rubbed his head. "I'm a little confused. I thought you would be crying your eyes out. I thought you loved the man."
Deanna laughed bitterly. "I did once. I guess part of me still does. I'm just so angry that he would do this to his family. Why couldn't I have been enough for him? I would give anything to have what you and Larkin have. You truly love her. I don't think Robert was capable of love."
"I'm so sorry, Deanna. I wish there was more to say."
"Thank you, Ray. You were thoughtful to come yourself."
"Is there anything I can do before I leave?"
"No, I'll handle everything from here. I'll call Robert's parents when I go inside, and I'll tell the kids in the morning. Then, I'll deal with the press's feeding frenzy."
"Well, I have to get back and hold a press conference myself. Needless to say, I'm not gonna reveal the details to the press. We'll let them speculate."
"Thank you again, Ray. Would you like a travel mug for your trip home?"
"Do you have one?"
"Oh, yes, with our wonderful slogan on it."
"I would greatly appreciate it. I'll be in touch."
Ray left with fresh coffee to keep him awake on the hundred-fifty-mile drive back home. Glancing in his rear view mirror as the rain gathered intensity, he saw that Deanna LeCoeur LaFontaine was, indeed, crying her eyes out in the wicker chair, and her body shook with sobs. His heart broke for her because he understood that she would mourn alone.
He looked at the lettering of the mug as it reflected in the dash lights: In uncommon times—a common man for common people. Ray took a deep breath. Oh, Rob, you were far from common in both good and bad ways.
♥♥♥ Ray tried to enter the house quietly. Larkin was curled up on the couch while Raif was kicked back in Ray's recliner. As the door creaked ever so slightly, Larkin sat up. She went straight to her husband and slipped into his arms.
Heartless (The Raiford Chronicles) Page 2