Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(20)
“Maybe suspect is too strong a word. Person of interest is probably better.”
“And just how did you come up with this person of interest, and why haven’t I been informed?”
“She came into the station yesterday and claimed to have psychically received information on the kidnapping.”
“And you believed her?” The captain stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“Of course not. But when I ran the case through the national database, I realized that she was right. She’d given me information on all the previous kidnappings with a similar MO. Things that were never released to the papers.”
The captain’s face turned red. “Jesus H. Christ, Blanchard! And you didn’t think that was something the rest of us should know? That woman either took those kids or knows who did.” The captain looked over at Agent Fields. “Someone better start explaining. Why does the FBI want this woman?”
“That information is confidential,” Agent Fields replied.
“Confidential, my ass!” The captain rose from his chair and glared at Fields. “If that woman was involved with kidnapping the mayor’s granddaughter, I want to know why.”
“She wasn’t involved with the kidnapping,” Agent Fields said.
“Says who?” the captain asked.
“Says the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Agent Fields replied, a bored look on his face. “Now, if Detective Blanchard would provide me with this woman’s alias and her address, you’ll be free to go about your business.”
“And if I don’t?” Zach challenged.
Agent Fields smiled. “It wouldn’t be very good for your career to refuse. Federal prison is generally not a pleasant place for cops.”
Zach clenched his fists and fought the urge to clock the condescending butthole. “Her alias is Raissa Bordeaux. She owns a shop on Landry Street.”
Agent Fields removed a BlackBerry from his front pocket and tapped the keys. “Address?”
“I don’t have it memorized, but you can’t miss it. It’s the only shop on the street with tarot cards and a crystal ball painted on the window.”
“Great,” Agent Fields said. “This department is under orders not to contact Ms. Bordeaux in any way. Is that clear?”
“Now, hold it one minute,” the captain argued. “This woman is the only lead we have in a kidnapping, and you’re telling us to step off but giving us no good reason why?”
“Exactly,” Agent Fields said. “I’m so glad you understand.” He slipped the BlackBerry back in his pocket and walked out of the office without another word.
Zach stared at the captain. “He can just leave like that?”
The captain stared after Fields and muttered something that sounded like “worthless motherf*cker,” but since Zach wasn’t completely sure whether the captain was referring to Agent Fields or himself, he didn’t comment.
“Yeah,” the captain said, “he can leave just like that.” He pointed at Zach. “You are going to sit down and tell me everything you know about this Bordeaux woman.”
Zach sighed. “I could tell you everything I know before I even finished sitting.”
Five minutes later, the captain was convinced that whatever Raissa was into, it probably wasn’t going to help their case. Or he just didn’t want to admit that they would be in deep shit if they talked to her again. Either way, Zach had his walking orders from the FBI and his captain: no contact with Raissa Bordeaux.
It was a shame he had no intention of listening to either of them.
Chapter Six
Maryse looked over at Raissa, tapping away on her laptop, and bit her lip. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Raissa opened the glove compartment of Maryse’s car and tucked a black box with a wire inside, hoping her hastily rigged equipment worked as planned. “Of course it’s not a good idea. Why do you think we’re here at midnight?”
Maryse stared out the driver’s window at the mansion across the street. Sonny Hebert’s mansion. “Trying to get ourselves killed?”
“God, you’re such a whiner,” Helena bitched from the backseat. “All that shit you went through in the last couple of months, and you’re getting all worried about sitting in a car on a public street.”
Maryse turned around and glared at Helena. “Do I need to remind you that all the ‘shit’ I went through the last couple of months was your fault, and I never did anything to put myself in the middle of it? And that I’m still taking antacids?”
“When you put it that way…” Helena grumbled. “Maybe you should double your dose, just for to night.”
“I’d love to, but the pharmacy was out…again.”
“The pharmacy is always out of medicine. Call Dr. Breaux and ask for samples. I don’t think I paid for medicine the last three years.” Helena looked over at Raissa. “You want to help me out here? I’m sorta getting killed on this one.”
Raissa smiled. “Don’t worry about your stomach, Maryse. We’re not getting any closer than this, and his security cameras don’t scan farther than the curb in front of his house. Besides, it’s not like we’re going to walk up to the door and ring the bell.”