Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law #5)(18)

“I know the place,” Maryse said. “Lots of truckers and shrimpers. A little rough but the chicken-fried steak is decent.”

“I like chicken-fried steak,” Helena said.

Jadyn counted to three, then looked at Mildred. “Colt and I will be in the swamp all day tomorrow, but there’s nothing stopping us from going to the diner tonight.”

“But we’re not cops,” Maryse said. “We don’t have any right to question people.”

“No, but we’re friends of the victim, and people may be more willing to talk to us than to the police.”

“She’s right,” Mildred said. “Play up the worried friend angle to the hilt and lips tend to loosen a bit.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Maryse said, “but I don’t think all three of us should go. That might seem overwhelming. But you and Mildred should do it.”

“Why me?” Jadyn asked. “Wouldn’t you rather go with Mildred?”

“Yes,” Maryse said, “but I’m not the best choice. I suck at reading people and aside from science, I don’t have a logical bone in my body. If they know anything at all, you’ll be able to get it out of them, and figure out what it means.”

Jadyn felt her face flush slightly at the compliment.

“Besides which,” Maryse continued, “if I’m going to get into hot water with Luc over sticking my nose into this, then I’d rather it be when I’m sure I can make something happen.”

“Okay,” Jadyn said, “then Mildred and I will go to the diner and see if we can drum up some information. We’ll call you as soon as we leave.”

“Great,” Maryse said. “And Jadyn…thanks.”

“You ready?” Jadyn looked over at Mildred, who frowned.

“I was thinking,” Mildred said, “we may be able to get more out of people if we said Raissa was family. We wouldn’t really be lying. She may not be my blood but I love the girl like she is.”

Jadyn considered the potential pitfalls. “Any chance the diner employees will know you and your family well enough to call bullshit?”

“I don’t think so. Mudbug is the end of the road as far as the highway goes and I know everyone living here. The diner is far enough away that most people working there probably live closer to New Orleans where there’s more retail.”

“And no one should know me yet,” Jadyn said, “so I can be a cousin.”

“I like chicken-fried steak,” Helena repeated.

“You’re not going,” Mildred said.

“Actually,” Jadyn said, “as much as I hate to admit this, Helena could come in handy.”

“See, I’m handy.” Helena looked at Jadyn and frowned. “What am I handy with?”

“Not handy ‘with’ but handy ‘for,’” Jadyn said. “Lots of people don’t want to get involved with the police on any level. So even if they think Mildred and I are family, they might still clam up. But when we’re talking out front, the cooks may whisper in the back, and after we leave, some of them may talk among themselves. That’s where you come in.”

Helena’s expression cleared. “I get it. I’m covert operations.”

“Something like that,” Jadyn said.

“Will you buy me a chicken-fried steak?”

Jadyn sighed.

[page]###

Colt had no sooner turned on his shower than his cell phone rang. He looked at the display and held in a curse. It was Eugenia.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Old Man Humphrey called up here all in a snit. The fool says someone stole one of his cars.”

“You shouldn’t call him ‘Old Man Humphrey.’”

“Why the heck not? He was old when I was born and I’m old now. That makes him ancient.”

Colt held in a sigh. “Old Man…er, Mr. Humphrey hasn’t driven a car in at least a decade.”

“Yes, but that hasn’t stopped him from piling them up in his yard like an extra on Sanford and Son.”

“Well, send Deputy Nelson over there.”

“Do you think I’d be bothering you if that was an option? Deputy Nelson is tied up at the high school. Bunch of kids smoking weed and drinking beer. A parent caught them and all hell broke loose since everyone’s pointing fingers at the mayor’s kid as the supplier.”

He closed his eyes and groaned.

“If you’d prefer to take over at the school, I can send Deputy Nelson to Humphrey’s house.”

“No! God no, I wouldn’t prefer that. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from the mayor soon enough. Deputy Nelson can take a few licks. Tell Humphrey I’m on my way.”

He shut off the shower and complained to thin air the entire drive to Old Man Humphrey’s house. It was set back a ways in the swamp at the end of a dead-end road. Which was all good news for Mudbug. Eugenia hadn’t been exaggerating when she likened his place to Sanford and Son. It looked like the place cars came to die.

The entire front lawn was littered with automobiles—trucks, cars, convertibles, hardtops, sedans, and sports cars.

Stan Humphrey was standing on the front porch holding a whiskey glass and smoking a cigar, apparently intent on openly defying death. He frowned when Colt got out of his truck.