Trouble in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #1)(52)

“It’s sort of a long story. Why don’t you put on a pot of coffee, and I’ll take a shower. Luc will fill you in on the high points in the meantime.”

Mildred pursed her lips, obviously wanting an answer right away but not about to argue the fact that Maryse could obviously use a shower. “Okay,” Mildred said finally. “I’ve got a new caramel blend I can put on and some butter cookies I just baked yesterday. You go on with your shower. Sabine brought some clothes by earlier to tide you over until you can buy some more.” She pointed a finger at Luc. “You can follow me to the kitchen and start explaining exactly what the hell happened and how you got in the middle of it.”

Maryse smiled at the look of dismay on Luc’s face. She knew he was probably itching to make phone calls or revisit the blast site or something that proved his cleverness or masculinity. Instead, he was stuck answering to Mildred over caramel coffee and butter cookies.

“Go ahead and tell her everything,” Maryse instructed.

Luc nodded and headed through the double doors that Mildred had indicated. The hotel owner pulled back her shoulders and followed him. Maryse took one final look at Luc’s retreating figure and sighed. Like she needed to feel any more attraction to Luc LeJeune. She’d spent the last couple of days trying desperately to ignore the sparks between them, and now here he was, looking out for her and seeing her ghost.

The first time she’d met him, Maryse had thought he was just another playboy with a roving eye, but apparently there was another side to Luc that he obviously didn’t let out for just everyone.

He’d shown Maryse that other side, but for the life of her, she had no idea why.


Luc watched the hotel from across the street and saw Maryse close the blinds to her hotel room window. Good. She should stay put for a while, and if she got any foolish ideas about leaving the hotel before he returned, Mildred had promised to handcuff her to the stair railing. She’d even showed him the handcuffs, which had given him a moment of pause.

He looked across the parking lot, half-expecting to see Helena strolling around like she hadn’t done anything wrong, but apparently the ghost had decided to lay low for a bit. He shook his head and walked toward his Jeep. He wasn’t happy about seeing Helena, but it did explain why Maryse had been acting so strangely. In fact, given everything she had going on, he was somewhat surprised she’d held things together as well as she had.

He took one final look at the hotel, satisfied that Maryse was in capable hands, and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket as he climbed in his Jeep. He’d already had one text message today from his boss, and with everything that had happened, he hadn’t had an opportunity to call in without blowing his cover. But he couldn’t put off calling the office any longer. Wilson rarely called Luc when he was in the field. If he felt the need to leave a message, something must be up.

He dialed his office and his boss picked up on the first ring.

“Damn it, LeJeune!” Wilson shouted. “Where the hell have you been all day?”

Luc moved the phone a couple of inches from his ear until he was sure the yelling was over. “There was a situation with my suspect.”

“Spill it, LeJeune. I don’t have all day like you do.”

“Someone tried to kill her.”

“Are you positive?”

“Her house exploded.”

There was a couple of seconds pause, and Luc knew Wilson was rolling this piece of information around in his mind. “Well, I guess that might be hard to construe any other way. So I take it she wasn’t in the house?”

“On her way up to it when it blew. We just got back from the hospital.”

Wilson groaned. “Do not tell me you’re white knighting this woman around to doctor’s appointments and to have her hair done. Are you trying to look suspicious? As far as she’s concerned, you barely know her, LeJeune. Act like the stranger you’re supposed to be before someone makes you.”

“I’m not going to hair appointments, and I just happened to be in the vicinity when her cabin exploded so I took her to the emergency room. Any decent person would have done that—stranger or no.”

“Maybe, but be careful. Remember, I never wanted you on the assignment in the first place. Your grandparents lived entirely too close to Mudbug for my comfort. There’s still the possibility of you being recognized.”

“My grandparents moved almost five years ago,” Luc argued, “and I haven’t been there to visit since I was in high school. They preferred to come to the city to see me.”

“Family visiting preferences aside, you better stay low on this one or I’m going to yank you out.”

“I understand, but I’m wondering if all this is related to our case. There’s no way this was an amateur job. There’s not a single piece of that cabin left over two feet long.”

Wilson sighed. “Well, keep an eye on her for now, but I have to tell you, it’s looking more and more like the informant is that accountant that Agent Duhon is on. I’m expecting a break anytime. And when I get it…”

“I understand,” Luc said, and closed his phone. His time was running out. As soon as they had the informant, his business with Maryse was over and he would be expected back in New Orleans. And that left Maryse with no one to protect her but a fake psychic, a hotel owner with a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, and a ghost wearing bad polyester.