Trouble in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #1)(67)

“How’s that?” Helena asked.

“I’d bet my boat that Harold’s still talking to Hank. As soon as Mildred finds out where Harold is staying, you can sit tight with him until he talks to Hank or leads you to where he is.”

“Absolutely not,” Helena said, and shook her head. “I am not spending my day watching over that man and whatever whore he’s taken up with. No way.”

Maryse leaned over, her face just inches from Helena’s. “You’ll do it all right.”

“Or what?”

Maryse pointed at Sabine. “Or she’ll start the proceedings for an exorcism.”

Helena looked back and forth between Maryse and Sabine, not entirely convinced Maryse was serious but afraid of the alternative. And since Helena knew as much about ghosts as Maryse, even though she was one, she had no way of knowing whether or not an exorcism would do something harmful to her.

Which is what Maryse was counting on to keep her in line.

“You’d do that?” Helena asked, looking at Sabine and Maryse made the translation.

Sabine gave the couch a solemn nod. “In a heartbeat.”

“Well,” Helena said, and huffed. “Fine lot you are, ganging up on a defenseless ghost.”

Luc snorted. “You’re about as defenseless as a rattlesnake, Helena.”

Sabine smiled and rose from her seat. “Means to an end, Helena. I’m going to get out of here. I need to put a closed sign on the shop and head to New Orleans to catch Raissa before she gets too busy.” She leaned over to give Maryse a hug, then gave Luc a stern look. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”

Luc raised one hand as if giving his oath. “I promise.”

As Sabine left the office, Helena turned to Maryse. “So what am I supposed to do until Mildred finds Harold—plot ways to kill him, write my memoirs, bikini wax…?”

Maryse grimaced. “Sit tight at the hotel and keep a watch for anyone who might attempt to blow it up. When Mildred gets the info, Luc and I will pick you up and take you wherever.” She looked over at Luc, who nodded in agreement.

“Stay at the hotel?” Helena pouted. “This has got to be one of the most boring places on Earth.”

Maryse grinned. “There’s a whole group of traveling salesmen on the second floor. I bet they’re on the pay-per-view movie log.”

“Yuck,” Helena said as she rose from the couch and disappeared through the wall.

Luc raised his eyebrows, and Maryse smiled. “Old joke.”

Luc shook his head and put one arm around her shoulder, giving a light squeeze. “Let’s go take care of things at the office.”

Maryse nodded and started toward the door, not wanting to think about how nice Luc’s arm felt draped across her shoulder. Not wanting to remember how her hair raised on her arm when he’d kissed her the night before. But that thin strip of lace beneath her yoga pants gave her away. She may be fooling Luc for now, but she wasn’t fooling herself.


It took a five-minute phone call to confirm that the local cops didn’t know any more now than they did the day before. Then Maryse and Luc headed out for the office. When they pulled into the office parking lot, Maryse was momentarily surprised to see cameras mounted on each corner of the building. She looked over at Luc who hurried to explain. “I had a buddy of mine who does security put up a couple of things. Just in case.”

Maryse absorbed this for a moment, not sure how to feel about her every move being watched or recorded, but she couldn’t argue with the advantage the cameras provided. “Thanks,” she said, even though the thought of starring in her own movie made her more than a little self-conscious. “I really appreciate this, Luc.” She squeezed his arm and pulled out her keys, wondering why Luc had gone to so much trouble for someone he barely knew.

After all, he was just another low-paid governmental scientist. He could study rat droppings in any set of mud and water across the state of Louisiana. There was no reason for him to stay here, especially with the danger that was very, very real.

Unless his reasons are personal.

She shook that thought off and unlocked the door. Luc insisted on entering first and did a quick inspection of all the rooms. When he was satisfied everything was clear, Maryse took a seat at her desk and checked phone messages. The first three were from Aaron, and he sounded excited. The fourth trial had worked and the mice hadn’t gotten sick yet—something most cancer treatments couldn’t offer at all.

Ecstatic, Maryse made a hasty call to Aaron, explaining that she was temporarily staying at the Mudbug hotel, just in case he needed to reach her after hours and couldn’t get her on her cell. Aaron asked what was up with the hotel, but Maryse figured her house exploding would be information overload, so she played it off as repair work being done. She didn’t want Aaron’s focus to be on anything but the trials. After getting a few more details on the tests, she hung up the phone, jumped up from her desk, and danced a jig.

Luc looked over at her and smiled, her excitement obviously infectious. “Good news, I take it?”

“The best! Aaron said the mice came through the fourth trial with flying colors and haven’t even had to take a sick day.”

Luc frowned, and she felt her spirits drop a bit. What could possibly be wrong with that news? “What’s the matter?” she asked.