Relentless Pursuit: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (14 page)

He was glad Adele Woodmore had been so insistent that he eat at Zoe B’s and stay at Langley Manor while he was waiting on her to get back to him. If nothing else, he had been introduced to fabulous food, a quaint, quiet room, and extraordinarily nice people. He glanced over at the three old guys playing checkers and realized he was smiling. Genuinely smiling.

Shelby crossed his mind. What was he going to do if this trip turned out to be a big waste of time? Could he bear to go back to New Orleans and resume his miserable, empty life? He blinked away the thought. He had twelve more days.

Chapter 15

Zoe stood on the gallery outside her apartment, the sky pale blue streaked with pink, and looked down on a sleepy
rue Madeline
, which was
starting to come to life. The early morning breeze was thick with humidity and the faint aromas of coffee freshly brewing, bread baking, and bacon frying.

She had lain awake half the night, dreading Dominic Corbin’s visitation and funeral. She had offered up so many prayers for Margot and Josh; what else could she possibly say to the Lord about the situation? She couldn’t let it drag her down. She needed to be strong for the Corbins. But she had her own family to care for. And a business to run.

Across the street, the Jourdain Dairy truck was parked in front of the Hotel Peltier. On the gallery that jutted out over the Coy Cajun Gift Shop, Madame Duval stood amid a garden of flowers and potted plants, her white poodle in one arm, and waved at Zoe.

Zoe waved back, just as the open sign went on at Breaux’s and customers standing at the door were let in. Only a few sat at tables out front, under the awning. Normally the place would be overflowing with tourists eager to have breakfast and get their day started before it got too hot.

A couple with three school-age kids wearing GatorWorld T-shirts walked up on the sidewalk, and she heard the door to Zoe B’s open and close.

Thank You, Lord, that my children are safe. And that our business isn’t suffering. Help all these vendors. Please don’t let this horrible ordeal adversely affect our town’s economy.

The sliding glass door opened and closed. A pair of arms went around her, a smooth cheek next to hers, the familiar, woody scent of Tuscany cologne filling her senses.

“Good morning, Mrs. Broussard.” Pierce pressed his lips to her cheek. “And what are you thinking about? You’ve been out here twenty minutes.”

“The Corbins are dominating my thoughts. I’m dreading the visitation and funeral. I’m so grateful our children are alive and well. And so sorry their little boy isn’t.”

“Me, too.”

“But I was also thinking how blessed we are to live here in Les Barbes—and especially on
rue Madeline
. You know how I love watching things come to life every morning.” She waved at the paperboy. “I keep hoping and praying that business will be good for the other vendors.”

“Well, it’s certainly good for us right now. Our customer count was up thirty percent over the same day last week. That’s a record, babe. You should call Jude and Colette, thank them for the plug, and have them come in for a complimentary dinner.”

“Good idea. Are the kids up yet?”

“Not when I peeked in on them a minute ago. I thought we should let them sleep and have Maddie get them dressed and fed.”

“I promised Grace she could have her breakfast with Hebert, Father Sam, and Tex. She misses them. Me, too. Long gone are the days when I could sit her at their table to have her snacks. I could leave her with them and go get a few things done. But I can’t do that with Tucker. He’s a handful.”

Pierce chuckled. “You mean just because that skinny wicket can wiggle out of the high chairs at the eatery?”

“It’s really not funny. Once he’s loose, he runs all over the dining room.”

“Just working those little legs,” Pierce said. “The kid just learned to walk and he’s like a wind-up toy.”

“Well, we can’t allow him to run all over Zoe B’s. I just hate that he won’t have the special relationship with the guys that Grace does.”

“I know. But by the time Tucker’s old enough to understand, I doubt Hebert will still be around. I can’t believe he’s going to be a hundred.”

“I don’t want to think about that,” Zoe said. “I can’t imagine life without him, or Father Sam and Tex. They’re such a part of this place—of me. They’re my adopted family.”

Pierce squeezed her a little tighter. “When the three of them are in heaven, you’ll still have the kids and me—and all the Broussards.”

“And Adele.”
I hope
. “I can hardly believe she’s eighty-eight. I know I won’t have her forever, but I don’t know what I’ll do without her.”

There was a long pause.

“All the more reason why you should consider contacting your real mother,” Pierce said. “Things might be different now.”

Zoe slid out of his arms and gripped the railing. “We’ve been through this enough times that you already know the answer. I’ve done the counseling. And I’ve forgiven her. I really have. But that doesn’t mean I need to see her.”

“People change.”

“Not
that
much.”

“Our kids will never know their maternal grandmother.”

“They’re better off. Now let’s change the subject.”

“Okay,” Pierce said. “I’ve got to get downstairs and help Dempsey fill orders.” He stroked her cheek. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Zoe. But this is an unresolved issue that, sooner or later, you’re going to have to confront.”

“Then it’ll have to be later.” She sighed. “Maybe when Adele is gone, I’ll feel a need to contact my mother. But I sincerely doubt it.”

“All right. I won’t press you about it. But the people you’ve
adopted
as family are all well up in their years. And you’re right—they’re very much a part of you and your everyday life. The dynamic you’ve created will dramatically change when any one of them dies. I think you should start preparing yourself.”

“And you really think I could fill that void by reconnecting with my
mother?” Zoe turned around and held his gaze. “
Cher
, when my dear friends are gone, the void will be huge—especially when I lose Adele. But my mother could never fill that void with anything but baggage. Besides, you and the kids need me to be the best wife and mother I can be. Once I open that door, it’s going to consume my thoughts and energy.”

Pierce traced her eyebrow with his thumb. “Conversely, you don’t know how long you have. You may regret it someday if you don’t try.”

Emily sat on the deck at Langley Manor, enjoying a cup of coffee and watching the early morning haze that had hidden the cane fields under a blanket of white.

Vanessa came outside, wearing her floral bathrobe and capturing a yawn with her hand. “You’d better come eat something. You need to leave soon.”

“I don’t have to time-in until seven. We set the tables last night. And
rush
hour in Les Barbes is a joke. I’m sure the New Orleans traffic will be a culture shock all over again. Between Sophie Trace and Les Barbes, I’ve almost forgotten how to drive in it.”

“I love to sit out here and watch the sunrise,” Vanessa said.

“Me, too. It’s amazing how the haze turns pink—but just for a couple minutes.” Emily glanced at her watch. “I should call Chance. I feel bad I won’t see him until after three.”

“Is he up this early?” Vanessa said.

“He won’t care if I wake him up. I really hate it that I can’t be there for him today.”

“Aren’t his relatives arriving for the visitation and funeral?” Vanessa said.

“Yes, but I know he would like me to be there with him.”

Vanessa sat in the rocker next to Emily. “Shortcake …”

“Ah, here it comes,” Emily said. “Shortcake is always followed by advice.”

“Don’t you think it would be good to give Chance a little space—some time to grieve with his family?”

“That’s not what he wants.”

“But maybe it’s what he needs—and what
they
need. Laying his parents to rest is about a lot more people than just Chance.”

“Yes, but he’s the most affected. Anything I can do to help him through it, I should do.”

“Are you the only friend he has?”

Emily felt her face warm. “I guess. I told you he’s a geek. Not that many people can relate to him.”

“But you can?”

Emily took a sip of coffee. She was not going to have this conversation. “I’m loving my neighbor as myself, Vanessa. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the Lord.” She stood and picked up her cup and saucer. “I’m going out on the front steps to call Chance, and then I’m leaving for work at twenty till seven. Just so you know: I get off at three. I’m going to change and go right over to Chance’s so I can drive him to the funeral home for the visitation. I doubt I’ll be home early. Try to remember your baby sister is nineteen, okay?”

Vanessa held up her hand. Emily took it.

“I just want you to have a lighthearted summer,” Vanessa said, “and have space to unwind before you start school.”

“I know. But I can’t pretend I never met Chance. It’s not his fault his parents were murdered. If he were your friend, what would
you
do?”

“Touché.” Vanessa squeezed her hand and let go. “Just make sure you’re not getting enmeshed in his grief in an unhealthy way.”

“You sounded like Ethan just then.” Emily smiled wryly. “Look, I appreciate your wanting to watch out for me. I do. But I can’t avoid Chance’s grief. That doesn’t mean
I’m
getting depressed. Or falling into that dark pit with him. I’m just helping him to think clearly so he can do what he has to do. Between us, we managed to deal with funeral arrangements, pick out clothes for his parents, order flowers, work with Monsignor Robidoux about the details of the service, write the obituaries, and hold off one very controlling relative.”

Vanessa looked at her sheepishly. “Sometimes I forget how take-charge you are.”

“I’m fine. I’m pumped when I’m helping. You should know that by now.”

“I do.”

“So lighten up,” Emily said. “Nothing is more important to me than becoming a doctor. I’m not going to jeopardize my dream with any relationship. But I happened to be there when Chance found out his parents were murdered. The Lord allowed me to be the one to walk through it with him, so there must be a reason.”

“Let’s just hope the reason isn’t so you can learn a difficult lesson.”

Emily sighed. “You just had to say it. I’ll see you tonight.”

Jude walked into his office, startled when he saw Aimee sitting in the chair next to his desk.

“You couldn’t whistle or something so I’d know you were in here?” Jude said.

“Sorry.”

“You’re waiting for me. Could this mean good news for a change?”

“I wish. We went back and scrutinized Marcotte’s outside security tapes from the day of the crime but didn’t spot anyone dressed like the guy we saw at the food bar. We enhanced all sorts of images, and he’s just not there. We also reviewed the outside images over the next forty-eight hours. No one stood out. I hate to say it, but we’re right back where we started.”

Jude exhaled. He walked over and sat at his desk.

“Gil has a team looking deeper into each employee at Marcotte’s,” Aimee said. “Especially those with access to the kitchen and stockroom. Maybe that will yield something.”

Or maybe not.
“Have you got enough law enforcement to control the crowds at the funerals today and tomorrow?”

“Probably more than enough,” Aimee said. “We’ve got officers from five departments and all the deputies we can spare. The funeral that will probably draw a big crowd is Dominic Corbin’s. It’s tomorrow. So is the Durands’. The others are this afternoon.”

“Make sure you keep the investigation moving. I want every person who has worked at Marcotte’s in the past five years put under a microscope.”

There was a knock at the door, and Jude turned at the same time as Aimee.

Gil Marcel came in, wearing a somber look. “Bad news. A man and his six-year-old daughter were just admitted to the ER at Hargrave—cyanide poisoning.”

“Are they going to make it?” Jude said.

“The father should. Too soon to tell if the little girl will pull through. She’s in critical condition.”

“Do the doctors know how they were poisoned?” Aimee said.

“The wife said the family was on a camping trip, and her husband and daughter collapsed after drinking from a bottle of water they got out of the cooler. Her ten-year-old son ran to where he could get a cell signal and called 911. Fortunately, the campsite wasn’t far from Hargrave, so it didn’t take the EMTs long to get there.”

“Was it Gaudry water?”

Gil nodded. “Same numbers on the bottle. The family had six more in the cooler, which we’re taking to the lab.”

“How could this happen?” Jude slammed his hands on the desk. “We’ve emphasized through every media venue, day and night, for people not to drink Gaudry water!”

Gil sighed. “They were camping, sir. Listening to the news was the last thing on their minds.”

Jude took a slow, deep breath and spoke softly. “Aimee, get Chief Norman, and tell him to meet me in front of the courthouse. We need to go on camera and reemphasize that anyone who has a bottle of Gaudry water in his or her possession is at grave risk. We’ll appeal specifically to campers, travelers, tourists—and any friend or family member who can contact them and make sure they’re informed about this crisis.”