Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law #5)(56)

He pulled out his cell phone and called Deputy Nelson, then instructed him to draft whoever and whatever was necessary to drag the cars out of the channel. When he was done explaining himself three times, he disconnected and sighed.

“Is Deputy Nelson confused?” Jadyn asked.

Colt snorted. “You could say that, and the damned shame of it is, he’s the more capable of my two deputies. I inherited Deputy Simon, and have been trying to figure out a kind way to relieve him of his duties ever since.”

“I might be able to help with that one. The other day, I overheard someone say they saw Deputy Simon smoking weed with the kids behind the high school.”

Colt stared at her in obvious dismay. “Who said that?”

“I didn’t recognize him,” Jadyn hedged. “But now that you’ve busted the mayor’s son, I bet you can get some others to talk. It might not stick in court, but it would probably be enough for Deputy Simon to gladly resign if you let it go.”

“Jeez Louise. This town is going to hell in a handbasket.”

“All problems with questionable personnel aside, can Deputy Nelson handle the car extraction?”

“Oh yeah. They’ve both had to haul things out of the bayou and know whom to contact for equipment and the like. My guess is Deputy Nelson is wondering why I’m so worried about some trash in the bayou when the mayor’s son is still locked up in the jail.”

A flash of the mayor and his obscenely young girlfriend raced across Jadyn’s mind and she grimaced. “I guess the mayor is lying low and letting his son hang out to dry?”

“As it currently stands. Serves the little moron right.”

Jadyn nodded. “So are you going to call Bart or are we just going to show up?”

“I prefer just showing up. That way, people don’t have time to plan things. And as of this morning, I’m officially back from vacation, so no issues with my being in a professional capacity.”

“I guess since we found Raissa in the swamp, I can claim jurisdiction. That gives us both the right to question Bart, even though I doubt Agent Ross will see things that way.”

Colt slowed his speed as he pulled through downtown Mudbug, then accelerated again once they’d left the last building behind. “Ross dug his own grave over the car situation. He overreacted and now he’s paying for it.”

Jadyn nodded. “Is Bart’s house far?”

“No,” he said as he made a turn on a one-lane road. “It’s about a half mile. The road dead-ends right into his place. Nothing else back here.”

Minutes later, they pulled up in front of a two-story home. The clapboard siding dated the house, but it had a fresh coat of paint on it and after seeing the state of his camp, Jadyn was surprised that the lawn and building were neatly kept. A large metal shop stood about thirty feet to the side of the house with Bart’s truck and an enclosed trailer parked nearby.

As they climbed out of the truck, the door to the shop opened and Bart stepped outside. He stopped short and his eyes widened, then he quickly recovered and headed their way. “You two are out and about early. You still looking for Raissa?”

“No,” Colt said. “We found her last night. She’s a little banged up but will be all right.”

Bart brightened. “Ah man, that’s great news. Was she in the swamp?”

“Yes. We found her collapsed on a bank after she’d escaped from her captor. She was being held in one of the remote camps.”

Bart nodded. “Probably the least occupied given the heat right now.”

“She was held in your camp,” Colt said.

Bart’s eyes widened and he looked back and forth between Jadyn and Colt. “No! That’s not possible. I mean, I guess it’s possible, but…” A flash of fear washed over his face. “You don’t think I had anything to do with her kidnapping, do you? I haven’t been to that camp in months, maybe half a year. I swear to you!”

Colt studied him for several seconds. “Someone shot at Jadyn and me last night when we went to leave your camp. Sank my boat and left us stranded.”

Beads of sweat began to form on Bart’s brow. “Probably someone hunting out of season.”

Colt raised an eyebrow. “At night? Deputy Nelson put together a search party last night. He says he called you but your phone went straight to voice mail.”

Bart stuck his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He fumbled a moment with the power. “I was working on a job last night. I turned it off so I wouldn’t be interrupted and must have forgotten to turn it back on.”

“Have you loaned your camp out to anyone recently?” Colt asked.

“No. I mean, everyone in Mudbug probably knows it’s unlocked, but then most of the camps are.”

Colt nodded. “What kind of job?”

“Huh?”

“You said you were working on a job last night. I thought all your work was in New Orleans.”

“Oh…ah, sometimes I can do some prep work here. Cuts down on the time I have to be on the job site.”

“Makes sense,” Colt said. “Thanks for your time, and if you recall anyone who might have been using your camp, give me a call. I’m sure the FBI will close it off as a crime scene. Check with an Agent Ross to see when you can get back in.”