Polished Off (12 page)
Authors: Barbara Colley
“Yes.”
“Ms. LaRue, this is Will Richeaux. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I have some bad news. I’m arresting your nephew for the murder of Ricco Martinez.”
Charlotte felt her knees grow weak, and she sank onto the sofa. “That’s absurd!” she cried.
“ ’Fraid not, ma’am. And another thing. I understand that your nephew’s wife is missing at the moment, or so your nephew claims. Have you seen her?”
As if she would tell him if she had. “N-no, I haven’t. Not since last night.”
“Well, if you do, you need to let me know right away. Or if you hear from her, you need to persuade her to contact the police. For her own good,” he added with emphasis. “And another thing, unless someone in the family can be responsible for the kid, I’ll be forced to call child welfare to come get him.”
“Don’t do that!” Charlotte protested. “I’ll come. I’ll be right over. It won’t take me ten minutes.” Without giving him a chance to say no, Charlotte hung up the phone.
Grabbing her purse, she rushed out the door.
As soon as she was in the van and headed up Milan, she fumbled in the purse for her cell phone. Her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely punch in the numbers of Judith’s cell phone number and still drive. Judith finally answered on the fourth ring.
“Judith, where are you?”
“Aunt Charley, what’s wrong?”
“Nadia’s missing, and Will Richeaux just arrested your brother. He said if someone didn’t come get Davy, he was calling child welfare. I’m on my way over to Daniel’s house right now.”
“Whoa, Auntie. Take it easy,” Judith told her. “Where is Nadia,?”
“I don’t know,” she answered, then she explained about the call from Daniel.
“Is Richeaux still at Daniel’s?”
“Yes, he is—or at least he was just a minute ago.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Judith disconnected the call.
Charlotte had to park half a block away due to the two squad cars and some other vehicles parked along the curb in front of Daniel’s house. Much to her relief, she recognized Judith’s tan Toyota, and she caught sight of her on the porch just before Judith disappeared inside the house.
As Charlotte approached the steps to the porch, she saw that there was a policeman standing guard near the front door. But even from the bottom of the steps, she could hear muffled voices arguing inside the house.
Charlotte was halfway up the steps when the policeman blocked the entrance to the porch.
“Sorry, ma’am. You can’t go in.”
Over the noise, Charlotte said, “My name is Charlotte LaRue and Detective Richeaux is expecting me.”
“I’ll need some I.D., ma’am.”
With a sigh of impatience, Charlotte yanked her billfold out of her purse and showed him her driver’s license. He glanced at it, then nodded and stepped aside, allowing her access to the porch.
When Charlotte stepped inside the living room, the first person she saw was Daniel. He was seated on the sofa, and tucked in next to him was Davy, his eyes wide and red-rimmed, his lower lip quivering.
Standing just behind Daniel was a uniformed policeman and another man that Charlotte recognized as the detective who had showed up with Will Richeaux at Patsy’s house.
At first no one paid any attention to Charlotte. They were too focused on the argument going on between Judith and Will Richeaux.
“This is stupid, Will!” Judith shouted. “And you know it!”
“Back off, Judith,” he shouted back. “This is my case, so just butt out.”
“Like hell I will!” she retorted.
“I’m warning you—”
“And I’m warning you!”
“Judith!” Daniel interrupted. “It’s okay,” he told her. “My firm will eat this idiot’s lunch before they’re done with him.”
Will Richeaux spun around and glared at Daniel. “You!” he yelled, pointing his finger at Daniel. “Shut your mouth now!”
But Daniel ignored him. “Hey, man, all this shouting and arguing is upsetting my son.”
Will Richeaux took a step toward Daniel, and Charlotte cleared her throat loudly. “Ah—excuse me.”
As if on cue, all four of the adults in the room turned their heads toward her.
“You come for the kid?” Will Richeaux demanded.
Charlotte nodded. “Yes—yes I did, and it looks like I’m none too soon.” She stepped farther into the room. “Shame on you.” She shook her finger at Will Richeaux. “Shame on all of you.” She glared at each of the others in turn. “Can’t you see that poor child is already frightened enough without all the screaming and shouting.”
Not waiting for a response or for permission, she marched over to Daniel and lifted Davy into her arms. “Hey, Davy,” she cooed, adjusting him so that he was riding on her hip. “How about going home with Aunt Charley for a little while, huh?” For an answer, Davy wrapped his arms around her neck and tucked his head against her shoulder.
“Daddy Danol come, too?” he pleaded.
Charlotte kissed his cheek. “Not just right now, sweetheart, but he’ll come later.” Ignoring Will Richeaux’s glare, she turned to Daniel. “Are you okay, hon?”
A defeated shrug was the only answer she got. “You hang in there, honey. Now—which room is Davy’s? I’ll need to get some of his things. And a key—I’ll need a key to the house.”
Without waiting for Daniel’s reply, she turned and faced Will Richeaux. Though her insides were quivering with fear, her voice reflected her indignant fury. “You should be ashamed,” she scolded. “How would you like it if someone submitted your child to such a scene? This child does not need to be exposed to any more than he already has been, and you can darn well wait until I leave to finish your business here. Now”—she turned back to Daniel—“does Davy need a car seat?”
“No, ma’am,” he answered. “He’s passed the forty-pound mark.”
Charlotte nodded. She suspected as much from the weight of the little boy, but it was best to make sure. “And his room?”
“First one on the left at the top of the stairs. And there’s a spare key hanging on a hook near the phone in the kitchen.”
Again she nodded. “Okay, Davy,” she told the little boy as she slid him down to the floor and took him firmly by the hand. “Show Aunt Charley your room.”
With Davy’s help, Charlotte found a small suitcase and was able to gather a few clothes, his toothbrush, and a few of his favorite toys.
When she and Davy returned to the living room, Daniel and Judith were seated side by side on the sofa, and Will Richeaux was staring out the front window.
Charlotte knelt down beside Davy. “Go give Daddy Daniel a big hug now.”
“Me first,” Judith told the little boy and held out her arms. Once Davy had hugged her, she lifted him and sat him in Daniel’s lap, then stood and stepped over to Charlotte.
“Why don’t you let me be the one to call Mom, Auntie? Once I explain the situation, then I’m sure she will help out with Davy.”
Though Charlotte nodded, she had her doubts about getting any kind of help from her sister, and the look on Judith’s face mirrored her doubts.
Davy sat as still as a frightened mouse and barely said a word all the way to Charlotte’s house. He’d been to her home on several occasions, and once she parked the van, she was vastly relieved when he went with her inside without protest.
The moment they entered the living room, Sweety Boy began squawking and prancing back and forth on the perch in his cage.
“You remember my little bird, don’t you, Davy?”
The little boy nodded.
“Do you remember his name?”
Davy stared thoughtfully at the bird for several moments before replying. “Weety Boy. Name, Weety Boy.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Well ... that’s almost right. Close enough. Tell you what. If you’re a really good boy, I just might let you pet him. Would you like that?”
Even as Davy nodded that he would, tears filled his eyes and he looked up at Charlotte. “Where’s Mommy? I want Mommy.”
Charlotte felt like crying herself. “Oh, honey, of course you do.” She knelt down beside the little boy and pulled him into her arms. “There, there, don’t cry now. I’m sure your mommy will be home soon.” But she wasn’t sure, not sure at all, and the lie left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Chapter Nine
A
t the sound of the phone, Charlotte jerked upright on the sofa. Afraid that the noise would awaken Davy and praying that the call was from Judith, she grabbed for the receiver and mumbled, “Hello.”
t the sound of the phone, Charlotte jerked upright on the sofa. Afraid that the noise would awaken Davy and praying that the call was from Judith, she grabbed for the receiver and mumbled, “Hello.”
“Aunt Charley?”
“Yes, hon, I’m here.”
“Were you asleep?”
Charlotte yawned. “Hm, guess I was. Must have nodded off.” Squinting, she peered up at the cuckoo clock on the wall behind the sofa. Almost nine.
As if Judith had read her mind, she said, “Sorry to take so long in getting back to you, Auntie, but I just got home.”
“No, that’s okay. I figured you were busy.”
“So how’s Davy doing?”
“I guess he’s okay. After we got home, he watched some cartoons on TV; then I fed him and gave him a bath. He finally went to sleep a little after eight or so. Poor little guy.”
“And how are you holding up?”
“Well, to be honest, I’m exhausted. It’s been a long time since I took care of a three-year-old, and I’m not as young as I used to be. That’s for sure.”
There was a slight pause, then Judith said, “You haven’t by chance heard anything out of Nadia yet, have you?”
“No—no, I haven’t.”
“That’s too bad. For her sake as well as Davy’s,” Judith added. “The longer she’s missing, the more guilty it makes her appear.” Judith hesitated. “Ah, Auntie, you will tell me if you do hear from her, won’t you?”
“Judith Monroe!”
“Now, now, don’t get all insulted. After all, you didn’t tell me when Jeanne Dubuisson called that time.”
“That was different,” Charlotte retorted.
“Not really that much different, but, then, we could argue the finer points all night. Anyway—about Davy. I talked to Mother about keeping him.”
“And?”
“Aunt Charley, I know this is an imposition on you, but it might be better all around if Davy could just stay at your house. Just until Daniel makes bail.”
“I figured as much.”
“I’m really sorry about this, and you know that
I’d
keep him in a heartbeat. But my schedule is so erratic, and what would I do with him if I got called out at midnight on a case our ...” Her voice trailed away.
I’d
keep him in a heartbeat. But my schedule is so erratic, and what would I do with him if I got called out at midnight on a case our ...” Her voice trailed away.
Even through the phone line, Charlotte heard the frustration in Judith’s tone. “It’s okay, Judith. I understand.”
“If Mother wasn’t so unreasonable, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But she’s too busy blaming Nadia for Daniel being in jail, and I just don’t think her attitude would be good for Davy right now. I don’t mean she would mistreat him or anything, but—”
“Judith, hon, it’s okay. Really it is. Believe me, I understand. All too well,” she added. “Davy and I will manage just fine. And hopefully Daniel will make bail.” Charlotte had more than a few qualms about how she and Davy would manage, but she figured she’d just have to take it one step at a time. After all, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t done it before.
“There is another option, Auntie.”
“If you’re going to suggest the child welfare agency, then just forget it. Davy is part of our family now, and we take care of our own.”
“Well ... if you’re sure?”
Charlotte wasn’t really sure about anything at this point, but what choice was there? And what was the point in worrying Judith more than she already was or making her feel worse than she already felt? “I’m sure enough, hon. Besides, lately I’ve been thinking a lot about grandchildren. And this will give me a chance to see what it’s like, sorta kinda.”
“Grandchildren? Oh, yeah, right, Auntie,” Judith said. “But there’s this teeny-tiny problem. First Hank needs to marry Carol, and, knowing my cousin, he’s not in any big hurry.”
“Well, yes, marriage to Carol would help.”
Judith laughed. “Now all we have to do is convince him. I don’t know Carol that well, but I do know she likes kids and she adores Hank. From what I’ve seen, he couldn’t do much better. But, then, almost anyone would be an improvement over Mindy. What a loser she turned out to be.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Charlotte avowed. Just the mention of her ex-daughter-in-law’s name churned up all kinds of mixed emotions within her, anger being the foremost. Mindy had never wanted children, and when she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d gotten an abortion without telling Hank. When he’d discovered what she’d done, he’d been devastated. And furious—so furious that he’d immediately filed for a divorce.
“Auntie, on another subject, there’s something you need to be aware of,” Judith said, interrupting Charlotte’s thoughts. “I spoke to Daniel earlier, and he said that lately Davy has been having some disturbing dreams. They’ve tried to question him about the dreams, but all they can get out of him is that his daddy—meaning Ricco—comes to see him at night.”
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