Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(64)

Raissa clenched her phone. “What happened?”

“Looks like someone snagged him from his work site yesterday eve ning or last night. He came to see you damned near in the middle of the night, Raissa, and I already ran a check on him. I know all about Hank Henry’s past. The construction company owner said some guy was at the site yesterday. He thought the guy was hassling Hank. Who’s tailing him?”

“Rico Hebert.”

“Damn it! You told me he wasn’t involved in the kidnappings.”

“I don’t think he was.”

“Then what did they want from him? The fool didn’t learn the first time?”

“It wasn’t Hank they wanted. Rico was shaking down Hank for information on me. He told me about it immediately after it happened.”

“So that night he came to your place…”

“Was the first time I’d ever met him.”

“And he thought it would be smart to accost you in an alley? What in the world did he tell you that couldn’t wait until the next day?”

Raissa took a deep breath, knowing Zach wasn’t going to like that she’d kept this from him. “He told me that one of the Heberts asked him to kill me.”

There was dead silence on the other end of the line, and Raissa could practically feel Zach’s anger over the phone. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because if they’d wanted me dead, I already would be. I think they were sending a warning, hoping I’d pack and leave. They knew Hank was no killer and probably figured he’d tell Maryse, who’d tell me.”

“And that’s why this Rico kept hassling him? You did leave. Why stay on the guy?”

“I don’t know for sure. All I can figure is that since Monk mentioned Hank’s name before he died, Sonny thinks he knows something about the kidnappings. I think he’s got a tail on him to see if it leads anywhere.”

“Like figuring out what Monk was into?”

“Exactly.”

“And what do you think?”

“I think Hank is clueless. If he saw or heard something he wasn’t supposed to, he has no idea what it is. I covered that ground with him already. He’s not faking, or I would know.”

“So maybe he just owed this Monk money, like he did everyone else in the state.”

“Maybe, but then why was he kidnapped? Easier to just put a bullet through his head to leave a message for others who are thinking about banking with the Heberts.”

“Shit. This situation is getting out of hand. A missing girl, a missing gambler, a lying doctor, a mayor with a shaky background, and far too many black Cadillacs for my taste.”

“I know, I know. I’m trying to make sense of it, but then something else happens and I get even more confused than before. There has to be something we’re missing. Did you get the check on Spencer yet?”

“No. I’ll run it as soon as I get to the station and tell my captain about Hank. Not that I have any idea what I’m going to say.”

“Just tell him what you got from the crime scene and witnesses. We’ll figure it out, Zach, I promise. I need to call Maryse. I need to warn her and Mildred to be extra careful.”

“Good idea. I’ll call as soon as I can. Worry about keeping yourself safe, while you’re at it.”

Raissa disconnected with Zach and dialed Maryse’s number. No answer. Damn. She didn’t want to panic Mildred or Maryse. This might all amount to a bunch of nothing, even though she had a very bad feeling. Finally, she sent Maryse a text message asking her to call as soon as she got a chance.

She’d use the time in between to get everything down in writing, including this latest bit of trouble. And she’d figure out how to tell Maryse that her ex-husband was missing…again.

Ten minutes later, she shut her laptop and looked up to see Helena exiting Spencer’s office. She glanced down at her watch. That was fast. She shoved the laptop in her bag and bought a coffee for Helena before leaving the shop to meet her on the street. How in the world was she supposed to tell the ghost that her son was missing? Raissa quickly ran through all the facts she had on Hank and potential scenarios, and fi nally decided to hold off for now.

They could be wrong. Hank could have fallen off the wagon and gone on a gambling bender and would show up in a day or two. Then she would have worried Helena for nothing.

And if the Heberts have him…

Her gut clenched. But it didn’t change her decision. If the Heberts had gotten to Hank, then telling Helena now or later wasn’t going to change the outcome. She tried to look normal as she hopped into the car. Helena was already sitting in the passenger’s seat, gazing longingly at the latte. Raissa passed the cup over and pulled away from the curb.

“You weren’t there very long,” Raissa said. “Did Spencer show up or something?”

“No. There wasn’t a lot to look at.”

“What do you mean?”

“The place is almost bare. There’s still a receptionist area with all the décor and computers, and the exam room looks like an exam room, but his office is almost wiped clean. No files, no books, no pictures. Did he say anything to you about moving?”

“No. In fact, he told me a couple of months ago that he’d renewed his lease for another three years.”