Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(27)
“So what happened to him? Somebody’s got to know.”
“I’m sure someone does, but I’m guessing he’s not in rehab or taking a leave of absence in Bermuda. Even if someone suspected what happened, they’re not going to say. It’s not exactly safe to have an opinion on the boss’s cousin coming up missing, especially if the boss is the only one with the rank to make that call.”
“Yeah, I guess not.” He tapped his fingers on the table for a minute, then asked, “So what do you think happened?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I can’t prove anything.”
“It matters to me. I trust your instincts. You’ve been right about everything. In fact, you’ve been one step or ten ahead of me.”
“Well, I did have the advantage of a historical point of reference, but you’re right, I do have an idea. I think Monk is vacationing at the bottom of the Mississippi River.”
“Then who kidnapped Melissa Franco?”
Raissa stared at him, her expression mixed with frustration and fear. “I have no idea.”
She rose from her chair and put her glass on a tray on the dresser. “So, do you still want to pin me to a wall and frisk me?”
Her tone was light, but Zach could tell it was anything but sexual. He didn’t blame her one bit. “Between being electrocuted, going partially blind, and finding out my main suspect is a damned FBI agent—who I’ve been forbidden to contact—and my new main suspect is likely dead, I think I’m too overwhelmed to perform.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” Raissa sat down next to Zach with a sigh. “Besides, I figure I’ve got another hour or so before Agent Fields shows up here looking for me. It would be best if your car’s not parked out front, I imagine.”
“He’s going to be a problem.”
“Who, Fields? Hardly. Fields is lazy. He’ll come here once, find out Sabine’s out of town. Mildred will tell him no one’s seen me and that will be the end of it. Hell, he’ll run from a town like Mudbug. The man thinks camping out means a four-star hotel instead of five.”
Zach laughed. “Then you might have found a home base. I just hope you packed well. Your apartment is likely off-limits.” He rose from his chair. “I guess I better get my car off the street, but I’m coming back tomorrow. I want to check a couple of things, and then I want to pick your brain.”
“Next time, call first.”
“Next time, I’ll come in with police lights flashing and wearing a cowbell.”
Raissa placed her hand on his arm. “That might be enough.”
Chapter Eight
Hank Henry glanced up and down the street in front of the construction site and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t see Rico Hebert’s car anywhere. He was in the clear, at least for the moment. He had no doubt that Rico would turn up sometime that day. The man was a thug but completely reliable. If Rico said he was going to do something, you could bet on it.
Hank got out of his truck and saw Chuck waving at him from the doorway of the building. A young woman stood behind him. As Hank crossed the street and approached the building, his felt his pulse shoot up. He knew the woman, and that might not be a good thing at all.
“Hank Henry,” Chuck said, “I want you to meet Lila Comeaux. Lila will be running this facility when it’s open, and she’s got some specific ideas about the look and feel of the place.”
Lila smiled and extended her hand to Hank. “It’s good to see you again, Hank. You look well.”
Hank felt relief wash over him as he shook her hand. Apparently, she wasn’t going to make an issue of his past. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“You two know each other?” Chuck asked.
Lila froze for a moment, and Hank knew she was struggling with exactly how to answer the question without betraying a confidence. He quickly decided to take the decision off her plate. “Yes, sir,” Hank said. “Lila worked at the rehab center I stayed at in Mississippi. She was a huge factor in me getting straight. I’m glad to know you’re opening your own place. I know you wanted to move back home, and I think you’ll be able to help a lot of people here.”
Chuck looked over at Lila. “Are you okay with Hank working on this job? If there’s any discomfort, I can make other arrangements.”
“I’m thrilled Hank is going to work here,” Lila reassured him. “Hank was a huge success for the clinic. He really has the determination to make his life something of merit.” She smiled at Chuck. “And I’m very pleased to know that you’re the kind of man that gives people an opportunity to do something worthwhile for themselves, despite their past. It makes me even more certain of my decision to hire you.”
Chuck blushed a bit and looked down at the ground. “Well, hell, we all made mistakes. Youthful indiscretions and the like. Some of us were just lucky enough to pull our head out of our ass before getting caught. Don’t mean you can’t do things right going forward.” He looked up at Lila and grimaced. “Oh, hell, now I’ve gone and said ‘ass’ in front of a lady. My wife will have my hide.”
Lila laughed. “You said ‘hell,’ too, but I won’t tell if you don’t.”