Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(48)

“Not yet. One more time,” Ethan told the tech.

As the pictures rolled by again, Ethan watched closely, then he asked the tech to pause on a shot of Jennie whispering something to Albion.

After a long moment he asked the tech to move on, but by the next shot she was back with Barry and Grant.

“What are you thinking?” Randy asked him.

Ethan let out a sigh. “I’m thinking I’d like to know what Jennie was saying to Corley.”

*

Charlie was grateful that Jude managed to come up with easy conversation as they made the drive to Baton Rouge. It wasn’t a long trip, but Ethan was quiet, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. She herself felt unnerved, certain that he was still angry with her and worried that an explosion was coming somewhere along the line.

She assumed they were heading for a police station, and she would need to wait somewhere while Ethan and Jude did their FBI thing.

Baton Rouge was a beautiful city. Built along the river, it had fantastic museums, a blossoming business district filled with high-rises, but it also offered the old, charmingly mixed in with the new. The old Governor’s Mansion, for example, which was now a museum, was an impressive building. She didn’t know what area of the city they would be in, but she figured she could probably just walk around a bit.

They didn’t head for a police station, but rather a quiet, lower middle income neighborhood. Kids were actually playing kick ball in the street. They stopped at a small house with a white picket fence, and Ethan, who had been driving, looked back at Jude, who nodded and said, “This is it.”

Ethan got out, then came around and opened the door for Charlie. “Are you coming?”

She didn’t ask him where they were or why he wanted her there; she just got out of the car.

They walked up the front steps, and Ethan knocked on the door, which was thrown open by a tall man with a thin, haggard face and a grim look. “Special Agents Delaney and McCoy?” he asked.

“Yes,” Jude said. “Julio Rodriguez.”

The man nodded and looked curiously at Charlie.

“This is Charlene Moreau,” Ethan said.

“Charlie,” she murmured, offering her hand.

“Mr. Rodriguez, we’re truly sorry to intrude, but we need a few minutes of your time,” Ethan said.

“I am happy to speak with you,” Rodriguez said. “Please, come in.”

Charlie lowered her head, wincing. She realized that they had come to the home of the murdered woman, Selma Rodriguez. A younger man, who seemed to be in his twenties, came forward as they entered, ready to rush to the defense of the older man—maybe his father, Charlie thought—if their presence was upsetting him.

“We’ve answered all the police questions,” the younger man said angrily. “We’re in mourning and need to be left alone.”

“It’s all right, Sean,” Julio said. “They’ve come to help.”

Sean nodded. “Tio, the family will be here soon.” He glared at Ethan. “They questioned us, us! As if we would do this to Tia Selma.”

“We only need a few minutes,” Ethan said soothingly.

“Come, sit in the parlor. May I get you something? Selma would be very upset if I did not offer refreshment to guests,” Julio said.

“We’re fine, but thank you,” Ethan said. “I promise we’ll be quick.”

“You’d better be,” Sean said, giving Ethan a lethal glare.

Ethan ignored him and addressed Julio Rodriguez. “I know your wife worked at the college, Mr. Rodriguez. Did she ever mention a Professor Corley, Albion Corley?”

Before Julio could answer, Sean suddenly spoke up, pointing at Charlie.

“I know you!” he exclaimed. “You’re Leticia from Banshees on the Bayou. Tia Selma loved that show. I had to show her how to watch it on YouTube.”

Charlie flushed and nodded. “Yes, I play Leticia.”

“This is so sad,” he said. “She should be here to meet you.”

“I wish I could have met her,” Charlie said. “At least now we have the chance to help find her killer.”

Sean suddenly turned back to Ethan. “Professor Corley? My aunt spoke of him often. He was a generous man and never forgot her at Christmas.”

“He never forgot her birthday, either,” Julio said. He frowned. “Professor Corley was also murdered. Do you think his death and Selma’s could be related?”

“To be honest, we don’t know,” Ethan said. “That’s why we’re here, to find out everything we can that might help. Do you know if your wife had any enemies? Can you think of any reason why someone might have targeted her?”

“Tia Selma had no enemies,” Sean said. “She was sweet, and she loved everyone.” He drew a deep breath. “She would say what she thought, but she didn’t argue with people. There is no reason for anyone to have murdered her.”

“The police probably already asked you this, but did she keep an appointment book of any kind?” Jude asked.

Julio shook his head. “No book. Selma went to work and came home. We never had our own children, but we’re very close to our nephews and nieces. Every Sunday, whoever was free would come here.”

“As I told the detectives, I talked to Tia Selma the day she died,” Sean said. “She was talking about Professor Corley, in fact. The school had asked her to clean out his office. She was very sad. He had said something to her about meeting an old friend, and that he was worried that his old friend was changing.”