Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(58)

“Damn it!” he yelled. “Why haven’t you brought me anything? What the hell are you waiting for?”

“Taylor or Raissa, whatever she calls herself now,” another guy said.

“Forget her,” Sonny said. “Have any of you found out anything at all about that kidnapping?”

There was silence for a couple of seconds, then finally another guy said, “There’s no word on the street, Sonny. That kid wasn’t taken by anyone we know or have business ties with. Maybe it’s just some perv, you know?”

“Get out,” Sonny said. “Except you, Rico.”

They heard the door click shut and then someone sighed.

“I don’t like this,” Sonny said.

“Neither do I, but the guys are right. This wasn’t any of our associates or competitors. They’re baffled we’re even asking.”

“I want to know what Monk Marsella involved this family in.”

“Does it really matter, now? I mean, Monk’s been gone for months now.”

“Yeah, it matters,” Sonny said, “because I want to know what was so important that it got him killed, and why it’s happening again. Don’t tell me the cases aren’t related.”

“I’m not saying that. Our sources indicate the police are looking into the old cases as well. They’ve made the connection. Probably from Taylor. She’s a problem, you know. I think you ought to let me take care of her.”

“No. If anyone can figure out what’s going on, it’s her. She’s brilliant, or she’d never have fooled me. Leave her to work with the police. They’ll never figure this out without help, and time’s running out.”

“You going soft, Sonny? This really ain’t none of our business.”

“Watch what you’re saying, Rico. I ain’t soft, but this is a kid we’re talking about. We don’t deal in wives, and we damned sure don’t deal in kids. You know the rules. You want this family associated with whatever perverted shit is probably being done to those girls?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“What about Hank Henry?”

“Ain’t nothing going on there that I can see,” Rico said. “I’ve been watching him close like, but he only goes to work and home. Ain’t nobody else hassling him or anything.”

“Keep watching. I’m sure that’s the name Monk said before he died. If Hank isn’t doing anything, then he must know something.”

“Maybe, or maybe Monk just thought he did. The guy wasn’t all that bright, you know?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t take smarts to run up on something bad,” Sonny said. “Keep checking on Taylor, too, but you do not have authority to move on her, got it?”

“I got it, for now. But afterward…when this circus is over?”

“I’ll deal with it then.”

There was some shuffling and the door opening and closing, then silence. Maryse looked over at Raissa, her eyes wide.

“What in the world is Hank involved in now?” Maryse asked.

“I don’t know, and I’m willing to bet Hank doesn’t know, either. Apparently he’s mixed up in something to do with Monk, but even Hank doesn’t know what.”

“Are you sure?” Maryse asked, drily.

Raissa nodded. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. He was spooked that night we talked. I can usually tell when someone’s holding back, but Hank just looked clueless. Whatever he knows, he doesn’t realize how important it is. Or maybe he doesn’t know or remember at all. Either way, he’s not safe. I need to call and warn him.”

Maryse nodded. “So if the Heberts didn’t take that girl, who did?” Maryse asked.

Raissa looked at Maryse, a million thoughts—mostly bad—rolling around in her head. “I have no idea, but apparently Sonny thinks I can find out.”

“I don’t understand. If Sonny told his guys to leave you alone, then who’s been trying to kill you?”

“That’s a really good question.”





It was close to midnight when Zach let himself into the Mudbug Hotel. He half-expected to find Raissa already in bed—or at least he hoped—but when he pushed the door open, it wasn’t exactly the scene he’d envisioned on the forty-five-minute drive to Mudbug. Raissa was in bed, but she was wearing more clothes than he’d imagined, and he hadn’t counted on her being surrounded by paper, either.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked, realizing she was so engrossed in whatever she was doing that she hadn’t even heard him open the door.

“Crap!” Raissa jumped up from the bed at the sound of his voice. “Why are you sneaking up on me?”

Zach laughed. “Are you kidding me?” He waved one hand at the rows of computer equipment. “You could have seen what I was wearing as soon as I drove into town if you were watching your security. Unlike your ghostly friend, I cannot walk through walls, nor am I invisible.”

“That’s a good thing, or you’d be dead.”

“True. Speaking of dead people, she’s not in here, right?”

“Helena? No, why?”

“Well, I was sorta hoping you’d have on fewer clothes, so I thought maybe she was here.”