Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(58)

Mrs. Boudreaux continued, “You were just beginning your senior year of high school when I started to notice the change. Before, you’d always been so sweet, so outgoing, but over time you became more and more withdrawn. You barely spoke to people in town and when you did your voice was clipped and filled with anger. Your teachers were at their wits’ end. You were their best student, but your marks had slipped so low they were afraid you wouldn’t even graduate. Then you got meningitis and after a prolonged recovery, Catherine insisted on private tutors for the rest of your education. Why, we hardly saw you again in town after that.”

“And that’s when my parents shut themselves away, also?”

“Well, Catherine was always busy with her church charities and such, but William was never the same after Vietnam.” She frowned. “Such a shame what that kind of tragedy can do to a man. A real shame.”

“Yes, it is,” Sabine agreed.

Mrs. Boudreaux leaned forward in her rocker and patted Sabine’s leg. “I’m so glad you got well, Frances. It’s been so nice talking to you, but if you young people don’t mind, I’m going to take a nap before dinner.”

“Of course,” Sabine said and rose from her chair. “Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me, Mrs. Boudreaux. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

Mrs. Boudreaux nodded once, then dropped off to sleep. Sabine and Beau quietly left the room and let the nurse know they were leaving. They had no sooner turned onto the freeway when Sabine’s cell phone rang.

“Maryse,” Sabine said. “What’s up?”

“Something went wrong with the car. Mildred’s been in an accident,” Maryse said, her voice shaky. “I’m at Mudbug General.”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” Sabine said. “Call me as soon as you hear anything.” Sabine closed her phone and looked over at Beau, panic already sweeping over her. “We have to get to Mudbug General. Mildred’s been in a car accident.”

“Don’t start worrying until we know the score,” Beau said. “I’m sure she’s going to be fine. Maryse is with her, right?”

Sabine shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

“She was driving my car.”





[page]Chapter Fourteen




Beau tried to get control of his emotions as he raced into the hospital parking lot. Until he had more information, he needed to remain calm, objective. One thing he knew for certain, though: he’d paid far too many trips to the hospital in the last couple of days. They rushed into the emergency room and found Maryse waiting for them right inside the door.

“How is she?” Sabine asked.

“The doctors say she’s going to be fine. Her foot is broken and there’s some burns on her hands and arms, but they can’t find anything else.”

“Burns!” Sabine cried. “Oh my God. What happened?”

Maryse shook her head. “I’m still not quite sure. All I know is Mildred was on her way back from an errand in New Orleans and drove off the road and into the ditch. I don’t know if the car caught on fire before or after she ran off the road. She was only half conscious when they brought her in and all I could make out was her saying ‘Tell Sabine it was the car.’ Then the doctors took her away and now she’s out for the count.”

Beau felt his jaw clench. Cars did not arbitrarily catch fire. “Do you know where they took the car?”

Maryse nodded and pulled a business card from her pocket. “One of the state troopers gave me his card. He wrote down a number on the back for the shop they towed the car to.”

Beau took the card from Maryse and looked over at Sabine. “I’ll need you to call the garage and give them permission to talk to me about the car.”

Sabine nodded, her face pale. “You don’t think it was an accident, do you?”

“No, and neither do you. You didn’t from the moment Maryse called.”

Beau pulled out his cell phone and stored the number to the garage, then gave the card to Sabine. “I’m going to the garage now, so give them a call before I get there. If you need to leave the hospital before I get back, do not go alone.” He looked over at Maryse. “I want someone with her at all times.”

Maryse nodded. “I know the drill.”

Beau studied her for a moment. “Yeah, I guess you do. The safest place is the hotel, so if you leave before I get back, go straight there. Eat at the hospital, or get something here to go, but don’t under any circumstances have anything delivered or eat any food Mildred or Sabine have on hand.”

“No problem,” Maryse agreed.

Sabine’s eyes were full of fear. Fighting the overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms, he squeezed her arm instead. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’re going to get to the bottom of this. I promise you.”

Sabine threw her arms around him in a crushing hug. Surprised, Beau circled his arms around her, trying not to dwell on how their bodies molded together in a perfect fit, or how his heart leapt at the warmth of her body. He buried his head in her neck, breathing in the sweet smell of her hair.

“Thank you,” she whispered, giving him a final squeeze before she dropped her arms and took a step back.