Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(70)

“Oh, heavens, no. Susannah was an old maid, like me. That’s why we were such fabulous friends. Neither of us had others to answer to once our parents passed away. Why, we were fancy-free and living the life.”

Zach smiled. “Sounds like a good life.”

“Oh, it was the best, up until Susannah got sick. Breast cancer. Wasn’t testing then like there is today. Why, she just wasted away. It’s such a shame.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that. I’m sure you miss her.”

“Every single day. So tell me, what’s a New Orleans detective doing all the way out in the boonies asking about Susannah?”

“Her name came up in a case I’m working on as a possible relative to a suspect. I thought maybe if she had kids…But looks like I’m out of luck.”

“She never had her own kids, but she had a niece she was very fond of. Used to send her money from time to time.”

“Do you remember the niece’s name?”

“Annabelle was her name. Annabelle Forrester. Her father was Susannah’s brother, who died in the war.”

“Did Annabelle have any children?”

“Oh, I don’t know. After Susannah passed away, I never saw her again. She’d just recently married before Susannah’s death, but I don’t recall anyone telling me the young man’s name. I’m really sorry I can’t be more help.”

Zach rose from his chair and took her hands in his. “You’ve been a great help, Ms. LeBlanc. Thank you for your time and the tea.”

Zach left the house and hopped into his car. If Annabelle Forrester had married and had a child, she might have named that child after her favorite aunt. He’d passed the court house on the way into town. He’d try to find a marriage license and birth record there.





Chapter Nineteen


Raissa burst into her hotel room and ran straight to the laptop linked to Sonny’s house. She sat down at the table and clicked to start the audio file. Sonny’s voice was the first thing she heard.

“How the hell could you let this happen, Rico?” Sonny yelled. “You were supposed to stay on Hank Henry until I said otherwise.”

“I was on Hank. He went back inside the work site. I had the GPS on his truck, so I drove around the block and picked up something to eat. I wasn’t even gone ten minutes.”

“Apparently, ten minutes is all it took for him to disappear. You are going to make this right, Rico.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“You’re going to put out word to every family member, bookie, prostitute, and bum in New Orleans that we’re looking for Hank. Someone had to see something. If anyone gives you information that leads us to Henry, I’ll pay ten g’s.”

“Ten grand for Hank Henry? You gotta be kidding me.”

“Just do it, Rico.”

The sound of the door shutting echoed over the computer; then Raissa heard Sonny slam his hands down on his desk, as she’d seen him do so many times. And that was all of the recording.

She checked the time—four hours before. Sonny’s guys had a four-hour jump on trying to locate Hank. Not that it mattered. Raissa didn’t have the network that Sonny had. But why did Sonny want him so badly? There had to be a reason, but damned if Raissa could come up with anything that made sense.

She needed her files, and they were in the trunk of Mildred’s car. Surely there was something in those files that would connect the dots. They were so close. Raissa could feel it. She checked the monitors, but all she saw in the alley was the city garbage truck, making its weekly pickup. She grabbed Mildred’s car keys and headed out the back of the hotel, pulling the door shut behind her. The sun was already setting behind the row of cypress trees on the west side of town, reducing the sunlight to a dim glow on the alley between the hotel and the garage.

She hurried across the alley in front of the garbage truck and slipped the garage key into the lock. The garbage truck passed and she heard the footsteps behind her, but before she could reach for her weapon, a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Looking directly at Sonny Hebert, Raissa realized she’d made the miscalculation that might cost her her life.

“Don’t yell,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t afford for anyone else to notice me. I’m sure the garbageman already thinks I’m crazy for following that stinking truck down the alley, but I knew if you were staying here you’d have cameras.”

Raissa nodded, her heart pounding as if it would beat out of her chest. She wondered if this was how it was all going to end—in an alley behind the Mudbug Hotel.

“I hear a friend of yours is missing,” Sonny said. “He’s in a warehouse on Canal Street. A brown building with blue stripes. You’ve got about two hours before he’s removed.”

“Removed?”

Sonny glanced nervously over his shoulder. “Yeah, and I’m afraid this time might be permanent.”

“This time?”

“Shhhh. I can’t tell you everything, because I don’t know all of it. What I do know is if you want to see him again, you better get over there now.” He whirled around, hurried down the alley. A couple of seconds later a nondescript late-model sedan passed the end of the alley, with Sonny at the wheel. He barely slowed and cast one glance at her, then drove away.