Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(51)

“I have my ways,” Maryse said, “and I’d really rather not explain them. The autopsy didn’t prove anything as far as Helena’s being murdered, but it clearly shows she had cancer. No one who knew Helena, including Hank or Harold, was aware of that. I was hoping you could explain.”

Dr. Breaux frowned and opened the folder. He flipped the pages over one at a time, his brow scrunched in concentration. Finally, he placed the file on the table and shook his head. “I had no idea. The tests clearly show lung cancer and a rare form of leukemia, but Helena’s complaints were the usual sort for someone with asthma. I never even thought. My God. So many people in this town lost to that disease. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me so much, with her house sitting right on that polluted bayou.”

“All we can figure,” Maryse said, “is that she wasn’t in a lot of pain and was dismissing it as age or whatever. You said she complained about something before she died?”

“Not just before she died—chronically. Her asthma always bothered her, and she aggravated the situation with her weight and constant exposure to plants and flowers with her gardening.”

“So did she come to see you any time right before her death?”

Dr. Breaux frowned. “No, but she might have seen the nurse. I could check my rec ords if you think it’s important.”

Maryse sighed. “It probably isn’t.” Maryse looked over at Raissa. Raissa gave her a nod to move on to the next topic. So far, Dr. Breaux had been forthcoming, not that it had gained them any ground. They might as well hit him with the doozy.

“There’s more,” Maryse said. “In looking over some of that information I got, I noticed something odd. When I looked into it, I got more confused.”

“What’s wrong, Maryse?” Dr. Breaux asked. “You sound so troubled by this.”

“There’s no way Hank could have been Helena and Harold’s son. The blood types rule it out.”

Dr. Breaux stared at her, his mouth partially open. “I…well…that really doesn’t have any bearing on anything, does it?”

“It might for Hank.” Maryse narrowed her eyes at Dr. Breaux. “You already knew, didn’t you?”

“I was the family doctor, so of course, I’d requested blood work on all of them at times, especially Hank, since he was prone to be anemic. The irregularities were hardly something a good doctor should miss.”

“Stop hedging. His mother is dead, and his father is in prison. Hank might need to know his real medical history.”

Dr. Breaux sighed. “I noticed the discrepancy, but I never asked about it. I always assumed that Helena had another man while Harold was in the service. I’m afraid many of the men I served with arrived home to children that weren’t their own.” He paused for a minute. “I have to say, I never saw signs of it, though. If the other man was still around when Harold came home, no one in Mudbug was aware. I figured as long as it was in the past, no good would come of letting anyone think any different than that Hank was Helena and Harold’s son.”

“So the babies couldn’t have been switched at the hospital or anything like that?”

“Heavens, one wouldn’t like to think so, although we hear about it in the news. I guess anything’s possible, but that is far less of a possibility than a lonely woman seeking comfort.”

Maryse looked over at Raissa, looking for advice on how to proceed. Raissa gave her a small shake of her head. There was nothing else to be done here. Helena had already been clear about her lack of outside relationships, and Raissa believed her. The ghost simply had no reason to lie and was obviously distraught over the entire mess.

“Dr. Breaux,” Raissa began, shifting topics. “I wondered if you might know someone.”

There were a couple of seconds’ pause before he responded, but finally Dr. Breaux looked over at Raissa. “Who would that be?”

“A Dr. Spencer.”

“I know two Dr. Spencers, as a matter of fact. Husband and wife pediatricians. Have a large practice in Miami.”

“No, this Dr. Spencer is in New Orleans. He’s a cancer specialist and works only with children.”

Dr. Breaux frowned for a moment, then brightened. “Yes. Dr. Spencer was a guest speaker at a medical seminar I attended earlier this year. He did a very interesting panel on the increased rate of leukemia in children near manufacturing plants.”

“But you don’t know him personally?”

“No, can’t say that I do. Why? Has he done something wrong?”

“Not that I know of. He was treating that little girl that was abducted on Monday.”

“Really? They never said anything on the news about her being ill. Why, that’s horrible. I hope she’s found before her treatment is compromised.” He shook his head, his expression sad. “I wonder what her prognosis is.” He gave Raissa a curious look. “Did they say that on the news? I watched this morning, but I don’t remember them covering anything like that.”

“No. Dr. Spencer’s office is across the street from my shop. The girl always came into my store with her mother after the appointments. She looked very healthy, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Yes, that’s good news. I guess we’ll just have to pray that she’s found before things worsen.” Dr. Breaux looked over at Maryse and shook his head. “What interesting lives the two of you lead. You seem always to be right in the middle of the action.” He gave them both a stern look. “Be certain you don’t put yourself in a bad position with all this. There are lots of people who don’t relish their secrets being exposed. You should both be well aware of that after the last couple of months.”