Trouble in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #1)(48)

Christopher blinked and stared at her, wide-eyed. “Lou Marcel is Emily’s father?”

Maryse nodded and gave him a big smile. The orderlies chuckled beside her.

“Oh shit!” The color drained from Christopher’s face, and he glanced down both corridors. “I’ve got to get out of here.” With that, he spun around and sprinted down the hall. At the end, he made a sharp turn and slid on the waxed floor of the hall until he had to place one hand down to maintain his balance. The orderlies dashed after him, either wanting to see more of the show or to ensure he didn’t leave the hospital before the director got a hold of him.

Maryse stared after them, shaking her head. What the hell had she been thinking? For once, she should have listened to Helena, and that was just wrong on so many levels.

First Hank, then Dr. Deviant. What a track record.

Maryse heard laughter behind her and spun around, afraid she recognized that voice. She did. Helena Henry stood in the hall, her shoulders shaking. Her guffaws would have carried to the next state if anyone could have heard her besides Maryse. “Oh my God,” Helena said as she tried to regain control of herself. “That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I wish I would have caught it from the beginning.”

Maryse glared. “I am not in the mood for you, Helena. I left you back at the cabin for a reason. Why did you follow me here?” Maryse stalked across the hall toward the lobby. She needed the correct room, and apparently a new doctor. “My blood pressure is going to be through the roof when they take it, no thanks to you. I’ll end up hospitalized for sure.”

Helena looked contrite as she struggled to keep up with Maryse’s pace down the hall. “I know you’re mad, and I can’t say that I blame you, but I had to make sure you were all right. I checked at your office, but when I saw your boat docked and Luc’s Jeep gone, I hoped he took you to the hospital.”

Maryse stopped short and gave Helena a hard look. “We need to talk, and we will, but not right now. You have a lot to answer for.”

Maryse pushed the door to the lobby open and stalked through. Luc jumped up from his chair, looking somewhat surprised. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Bachelor number two,” Helena said and hooted.

Maryse shot her a dirty look and mumbled, “Don’t even start.” She waved one hand at Luc. “Nothing’s wrong. I just need to find out if I’m actually going to see a doctor today.”

Luc raised his eyebrows and looked from Maryse to the admitting nurse, who was standing behind the admissions desk frowning at both of them. “I saw that doctor take out of here like he’d been shot,” Luc said, and gave Maryse a questioning look.

“Ha!” Helena said. “He hasn’t been shot yet.” She looked over at Maryse and shook her head. “I still can’t believe you went out with him.”

Maryse tried to block Helena from her mind and walked over to the nurse. “Can you please find someone else to take a look at me? I really need to get on with my day, and I’ve had quite enough of this hospital. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

The nurse gave her a curt nod and pointed back to the doors. “Take a seat in room two. The first one on the right. I’ll have Dr. Breaux right in. But Ms. Robicheaux, the hospital director will want to speak with you about this situation with Emily.”

Maryse sighed. “If he can’t make it down before the exam is over, he can reach me at the Mudbug Hotel. Leave a message with Mildred.” Maryse turned from the desk and stalked off to room two. She had just perched her hiney on the cold, hard table when Helena entered the room, followed closely by Luc.

Luc sat in a chair in the corner and looked over at Maryse. “So am I getting this right? Those orderlies said you caught that doctor in a storage closet with a loan shark’s underage daughter?”

“Yeah,” Maryse replied. “That’s pretty much it.”

Luc whistled. “Boy, I don’t give him ten minutes to hide after her dad hears.”

“Serves him right.”

Luc gave her a curious look. “And you went out with this guy?”

Maryse stared at him. “How in the world did you know that?”

Luc smiled and pointed at Helena. “The ghost said so.”

Chapter Eleven

Maryse froze at Luc’s words and knew that she had stopped breathing altogether. After a couple of seconds of complete immobility, she cast an anxious glance at Helena, who was standing stock still, staring at Luc in obvious shock.

Maryse realized he was looking straight at Helena. “You can see her?” she managed to squeak out.

Luc nodded. “Plain as day. Absolutely horrid pink suit.”

Maryse gasped and struggled to maintain her cool.

Helena stared at him in disbelief. “But how is that possible?” she asked.

Luc shrugged, not the least bit bothered by the situation. “I don’t know. Family tradition, I suppose.”

Maryse stared. “You hear her, too?”

Luc grimaced. “Unfortunately. Why do you think I looked behind you when you entered the lobby? I heard two voices approaching clear as day, but then you were the only one who came through the door. Helena walked through the wall a couple of seconds later.” He looked from Maryse to Helena. “How long has she been hanging out with you?”