by Emery, Lynn
“A friend is cooking for me. We’re working on projects for store catalogs.” MiMi closed the door. She hesitated as she faced her mother in the foyer.
Pauline took control as usual. “The living room is fine. I’ll had breakfast, yogurt with fruit and organic cranberry juice. Bacon? I don’t think that’s the best choice, especially not for Sage.”
“It’s turkey bacon,” MiMi replied crisply, though she wasn’t sure. She frowned trying to remember what kind she’d bought on her last trip to the store.
“Hmm.” Pauline sat on the sofa. She lifted her eyebrow again at MiMi until she sat as well. “I might as well address the elephant in the room, this thing between you and Adrienne.”
“Adrienne plans to tell a judge I’m a drug using ex-con who puts men and street life before my baby.” MiMi’s temper flared. “That’s more than ‘a thing’. She’s declared all out war.”
“She’s honestly concerned about Sage, and she’s very attached to her. There’s no need for our family business to be aired like one of those grimy reality shows. Your father and I talked to Adrienne.” Pauline set her purse on the cocktail table.
“Mother—”
“And she’s seriously considering what we think is a sensible solution. You’re going through a rough time with no job and the police question your every move.”
“I still have my job,” MiMi clipped.
“For now. I understand there are difficulties with your supervisor,” Pauline replied.
“The police aren’t ‘questioning my every move’. They’ve only talked to me once. I’m not a suspect.”
“Yet…” Pauline let the rest of her thought hang in the air.
“What’s your point,” MiMi said through clenched teeth.
“Dear, I’m not trying to make you feel bad, but face the facts. Taking care of an active toddler is added stress. Adrienne can take temporary physical custody, not guardianship,” Pauline added quickly when MiMi’s mouth flew open.
“No.”
“I’m not talking about a permanent arrangement. Adrienne can satisfy her need to mother a small child. While you’ll be able to resolve all of these troubling issues you’re having.” Pauline nodded at her own reasoning.
MiMi pushed against rising panic in her chest. She’d always had trouble standing up to her mother. But not when it came to her daughter. “I said no.”
“You’re being stubborn. Adrienne is doing you a huge favor, though frankly I don’t know why. You’ve spoiled Sage terribly. She’s as unruly as you were at that age. But there, Adrienne is determined to help you…”
“No, Adrienne can’t have another baby so she’s decided to steal mine,” MiMi cut in sharply.
“Listen, I think she should have discussed this arrangement with you. I told her going to court was extreme.”
MiMi stood. “So you knew. Adrienne discussed attacking me, taking my child and you simply went along with it. What kind of mother are you?”
Pauline sighed. She picked up her purse and took out a tissue. “Good Lord, both you girls are so theatrical. I just said I didn’t agree with her approach.”
“But you agree that she should take Sage away from me?” MiMi balled both hands into fists. She took a step closer to Pauline.
Elle stood in the archway that opened from the foyer to the living. “Um, is everything okay?”
“We’re having a private family discussion, so please excuse us. Now MiMi, I—”
“I don’t care if the whole city hears my answer,” MiMi cut her off a second time.
Pauline’s eyes narrowed to slits as she stood to face MiMi. “Watch your tone, Miliana Elise Landry. You wouldn’t have this house, a very nice car and more if not for us. Your life has become as chaotic as those friends of yours.”
“What are you saying?” MiMi’s voice pitched higher with fury.
Her mother seemed not to notice she’d pressed her luck one step too far. She drew herself up. “I mean you’ve forgotten where you came from. Our families have never been connected to crime. They certainly have never been arrested.”
“Only because they either didn’t get caught or bought their way out of being prosecuted. You don’t think I remember Uncle Jonathan’s ‘difficulties’ in nineteen-ninety eight? Or what about the rumors that Daddy’s father took money for his votes as city councilman?” MiMi drilled her gaze into Pauline as she spoke.
“How dare you repeat those lies in front of a stranger.” Pauline’s eyes flashed fire. “You’re testing me, MiMi. That’s never a good idea. I’m trying to help keep all of the unsavory details of your private life from spilling out in open court.”
“If Adrienne wants a fight, she’s damn sure going to get one. So if you came over here thinking you could bully me into handing her over, think again.” MiMi stared her mother down.
Pauline’s expression softened. “I’m not doing a good job of keeping the peace in our family. Let Adrienne look after Sage like she did when you were in that prison. She adores the child.”
“Elle, does the word ‘no’ sound ambiguous to you, like I’m open to negotiation?” MiMi glanced at Elle for a second, but faced her mother again without waiting for an answer.
“Only a few weeks, a month at most. I’ll remind Adrienne that it’s just temporary until you can get your footing again.” Pauline’s conciliatory expression barely covered the irritation just beneath the surface. Her attempt at a warm smile failed miserably.
“Hell no.”
“You wait a minute, talking to me like this,” Pauline snapped, her voice rising.
“Goodbye, Mother. I have work to do, and a lawyer to consult.”
MiMi spun around and headed through the archway and into the foyer. She stood waiting for Pauline. Her mother huffed in outrage, but picked up her purse after a few seconds. Elle backed away when Pauline got closer.
“You’re making a big mistake,” Pauline said tightly.
“Not nearly as big as the one Adrienne made. I’ll fight to the death for my daughter. Something I could never count on from you.”
Pauline blinked as though the words had hit her in the face. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead she threw a look of contempt at Elle like she was at fault. Then her mother lifted her nose in the air, walked to the door and yanked it open. MiMi pushed the door shut the second Pauline’s rear end cleared the threshold.
“Whoa,” Elle breathed out after a few seconds of charged silence. “Are you okay?”
MiMi inhaled and exhaled five times to calm the rage boiling inside. She resisted the urge to throw the front door open and scream insults at her mother’s retreating back. Then a kind of determined calm took over. She turned around slowly to face her friend.
“No, but I’m not going to let them bulldoze over me. I have a plan that involves a nasty, cheap underhanded move. I’m talking about something that not even those reality show housewives would stoop to. Things are going to get messy,” MiMi said, her voice knife-edged sharp.
Elle blinked at her for a second before a smile tugged her full ruby red lips up. “Please let me watch or at least get video.”
MiMi smiled back at her. “Game on.”
****
“What do they want?” Willa muttered for the third time.
After only one day of feeling back in control, MiMi walked around the conference table at her lawyer’s office waiting for the police. Detective Drake didn’t tell Edselle anything beyond they had additional questions for MiMi. Willa agreed to come for moral support.
“Making us wait is part of their strategy I’ll bet,” MiMi said.
She went to the window looking out on the historic downtown neighborhood. The three-story home was built around 1896. A mature magnolia tree bloomed in the backyard. The rooms had polished pine and oak furniture. Pictures on the walls depicted scenes from Baton Rouge in the late nineteenth century. Some were ink drawings, but there were vintage photos as well.
“These guys must make good f
ees. This is expensive real estate so close to the Capitol Building.”
“This was Brad’s great-grandfather’s house. Or maybe it was his great uncle. Anyway, his family goes way back to almost when the neighborhood was founded, before even.” Willa swiped a finger across the screen of her smart phone. Bradford Craft was the senior and founding partner of Craft, Mouton and Laplace. Willa had worked for the firm as a paralegal before she became her own boss.
“He can trace his family to before 1803? My parents would be so jealous.” MiMi gave a sharp laugh. Her mother especially relished talking about her great-great-greats.
“Speaking of family, how…”
“I haven’t spoken to any of them, and that’s fine with me,” MiMi cut in.
“You really think Adrienne is trying to take Sage permanently? Sounds pretty cold,” Willa drawled.
“Adrienne could keep frozen food in her panties,” MiMi retorted. “At least your monster mother lives a few hundred miles away in Houston. I keep hoping my parents will retire out of the country. I even brought them brochures about how cheaply they could live in a Latin American country.” MiMi grinned at the look Willa gave her.
“Shame on you,” Willa said. “Hmm, they could give Vivienne a ride.”
They were still laughing when Edselle came in through the double doors followed by Detective Drake. They all exchanged good mornings. Detective Drake accepted a cup of coffee. Edselle poured, offered him sugar and cream, and sat down.
“Thanks, I take it black. And I need it with the schedule I’ve had lately.” Drake took a sip. Then he put the paper cup down and glanced from MiMi to Willa. Then his gaze settled on MiMi. “I suppose you’re going to let Mr. Underwood answer the questions.”
“Ms. Landry is willing to help in any way she can, within reason of course,” Edselle replied.
Detective Drake gave a grunt and nodded. He took out his smart phone. After a few minutes of browsing, he cleared his throat. “Your client stated that she had no business relationship with Roderick Jefferson, just a personal one. Correct?”
When Edselle gestured for her to answer MiMi said, “That’s right.”
“Yet you went with him to the Dominican Republic where he had business,” Drake looked up from the notes on his phone.
“Our trip was primarily for pleasure, a getaway. He may have made a few phone calls, but I don’t know who he talked to or why.” MiMi shrugged. “Roderick worked constantly. He was always on his phone.”
“A representative of a DR business group visited your home. Was her visit connected to the victim?” Detective Drake’s gaze drifted to Edselle as if he expected him to object.
Edselle held up a hand when MiMi started to speak. “Ms. Villa’s visit had nothing to do with Roderick Jefferson.”
“Are you sure?” Detective Drake stared at MiMi.
MiMi looked at Willa, who was furiously tapping on her smart phone. When Willa didn’t look up, MiMi turned back to the detective. “If Roderick knew these people it’s news to me.”
“Detective Estrada in the DR seems to think the murder of this Benito Herrera is somehow connected to our case. How well did you know Mr. Herrera?” Detective Drake raised an eyebrow at MiMi.
MiMi crossed her arms. Then she thought better of the defensive posture and relaxed. “I didn’t know him at all.”
“So the court records in the DR said,” Detective Drake replied in a dry tone.
“Excuse me, but what aren’t you telling us?” Edselle broke in before Detective Drake could form a follow-up question.
“He wasn’t a street dealer at all but an employee working for this DR group. We have information that Ms. Landry not only knew Mr. Herrera, but she had a part in whatever business arrangement Mr. Jefferson got himself tied up in.”
MiMi’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s a load of—”
Edselle cut her off by raising a palm. “Are you suggesting that Mr. Jefferson was involved in something illegal?”
“We’re unraveling the details now. Those guys in the DR might be ‘businessmen’, but they’ve got shady reputations. The DR National Police suspect they’re laundering money, some of it might even be for terrorists groups in the Philippines and Peru.”
“What?” MiMi jumped to her feet.
“Ms. Landry has no information about illegal money transactions or terrorists groups,” Edselle spoke up quickly as he stood. He placed a hand on MiMi’s arm. “Keep calm. Detective Drake is only gathering information.”
“Counselor, we’ll need a DNA sample and fingerprint impressions from Ms. Landry,” Detective Drake said.
“I dated him, of course you’ll find my fingerprints and DNA in his condo,” MiMi blurted out.
“So then you shouldn’t mind providing them.” Detective Drake gazed at her steadily.
“Fine.” MiMi sat down.
“You can come to our headquarters tomorrow. Nine o’clock?” Drake took out his smart phone, but held his finger poised over it.
MiMi glanced at Edselle, who nodded slowly. “Tomorrow at nine works for me.”
“You’ll be in and out in less than an hour. I appreciate your cooperation.” Detective Drake stood and shook hands with Edselle, smiled at Mimi and Willa.
“Thank you, Detective. My client is happy to help in any way possible,” Edselle replied.
He opened the conference room door and followed Detective Drake. He gave MiMi and Willa a quick glance before he left. They heard their voices fade away. MiMi chewed a fingernail. Willa got up and went to the window. When Edselle came back moments later, they started talking at the same time.
“We need to find out what he’s up to,” Willa said.
“I swear I didn’t know anything about Roderick being in business with that weed guy.” MiMi threw up both hands.
“Okay, okay, let’s regroup.” Edselle grabbed the carafe and poured three cups. He passed them around. “Obviously Detective Drake is trying to throw us off balance.”
“Humph, then score one for him because he sure as hell succeeded,” Willa retorted. She walked to the conference table but didn’t sit. She picked up a cup. “I texted Cedric what Drake said, shorthand of course. He’s working on it. You think this Nairoby Villa is his source?”
MiMi frowned. “She didn’t say anything about Roderick. Nairoby came about Jack.”
“Yeah, she would have said something about Roderick. I don’t know.” Willa sipped coffee. “I doubt coffee will calm my…” MiMi sipped. “Hey, that is delicious.”
Willa sat back. “We need to find out where Roderick met these people and what they were up to.”
“We should ask Ms. Got-Herself-Some-Nerve,” MiMi snapped angrily.
“One, you should stay away from her. And two, you don’t know where she is.” Willa looked at MiMi.
“You have resources, investigate and find her,” MiMi shot back.
“No need to spend time calling all over town. Edselle can ask for another conference call and tell her bosses she needs to be there,” Willa said.
“Great idea. I’ll check my schedule.” Edselle strode out, coffee cup in on hand.
“All I did was date a guy and now I’m a suspect.” MiMi pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ve got to figure out who put a voodoo curse on me.”
Willa grunted. “No, you need to pick better dates and put a whipping on your sister.”
“I’m taking a long break from dating. But that second suggestion? Yeah, kicking her scheming, backstabbing butt is at the top of my to-do list.” MiMi indulged in the fantasy of slapping her sister silly.
Chapter 15
At eight o’clock that night Jazz and MiMi cruised by the Hotel Indigo in MiMi’s SUV. The Lexus fit right in with the upscale feel outside the expensive hotel. Police officers on bicycles cruised by. One of them flashed a smile at MiMi. She waved back. A limo pulled up to deposit passengers. Then a BMW arrived, and the valet moved quickly to help a well-dressed blonde from the passenger side. MiMi turned on Lafaye
tte Street.
“I’m going to make the block and let the valets park my car,” MiMi said as she pulled up to a stop sign.
“Are you nuts? Find parking on the street. We’ll walk.” Jazz glanced around. “We can’t be flagging down a valet if trouble breaks out.”
“Don’t be so paranoid. Besides, do you see any close parking? No. I can’t walk in these shoes,” MiMi said.
“You should have worn different shoes,” Jazz shot back.
“Calm down. We’re going to find out what we need, put a scare into this witch and get out.” MiMi wheeled the SUV up to a red light.
“Sorry I even told you where she was,” Jazz muttered. “Dumb idea. Your lawyer was going to arrange a meeting with her.”
“They’ve been putting him off, which confirms they’re bluffing. I don’t want to wait another day to find out the real story.You were smarter than any of us to have your guys follow her.” MiMi pulled away when the light turned green. “Now relax.”
“I don’t relax when I’m walkin’ into a situation and don’t know what might come at me. Neither should you. Remember she’s got a bodyguard.” Jazz gave their surroundings a 360 degree scan.
“Yes, but so do we.” MiMi winked at her.
“Bullets go through bodyguards, too.” Jazz sucked in a breath and let it out when MiMi pulled up to the hotel.
MiMi released her seatbelt but didn’t open the door. “And she’ll be thinking the same. Besides, we have an advantage.”
“Which is?” Jazz gave her a skeptical frown.
“We know her back is against the wall with her ‘partners’,” MiMi said.
She flashed a smile at the waiting valet. She swung open the door and exited gracefully. Another valet opened the passenger door for Jazz. They’d agreed to leave their larger purses at home. MiMi wore a small yet fashionable shiny silver cross body bag. It was only big enough to hold a few bills, her driver’s license and one credit card. Jazz carried her essentials in the pocket of her red leather crop jacket.
“Good evening, ma’am.”
“Hello. Charge our room, 588. Thank you so much,” MiMi said without hesitation.