Tell Me Something Good (38 page)

“I have to say, some of those stories about
my ancestors are pretty embarrassing. My grandmother has been
hiding out for weeks.” Noel rubbed his jaw.

“What about my ancestor? I was told he died
young, a broken man, because his art had been stolen and his family
left destitute.” Lyrissa snorted in disgust. “Between bouts of
drinking and marathon sex orgies, I’m surprised he didn’t drop dead
sooner!”

Noel laughed. “He wasn’t that bad. My
skeletons beat yours by sheer numbers.”

“I don’t know. If we give your grandmother
and Julie more time, I’m sure they’ll dig up more.” Lyrissa smiled
at him. “Why are we laughing? There’s nothing funny in all
this.”

“Sure there is. Both our families are trying
to preserve their good names. The problem is, our dirty laundry
keeps tumbling out in public.” He smiled back at her.

Lyrissa’s expression became serious again.
“Noel, let’s have the lawyers handle it quietly. We have to stop
these nasty stories from being published.”

“The press is like a pack of wild dogs. You
can’t stop them once they’re let loose. They’re selling papers and
magazines like crazy.”

“Yes, but the whole thing will eventually die
down if our grandmothers stop feeding them.” Lyrissa sat
forward.

“You just said your grandmother has been
waiting to let us have it for years. She’s having too much fun to
stop.” Noel lifted a shoulder.

Lyrissa shook her head. “No, she’s not. Mama
Grace didn’t count on just how ugly things would get.”

He rubbed his face harder. “My problem is
more complicated.”

“Your cousin and the board,” Lyrissa
said.

He exhaled. “I’ve spent the last twenty-four
hours doing damage control. Carlton wants my ass roasted and served
on a silver platter. Julie is in on it I’m sure.”

“Julie? It’s a thin line, huh?”

“Obviously.” Noel scowled.

“You’ve got more to worry about than me,
mister. Julie wants your ass, too. Don’t doubt it.” Lyrissa pointed
a finger at his chest.

“Carlton doesn’t need much help being
vindictive.

She’s probably just giving him a shoulder to
cry.” Noel waved a hand.

“The woman has been planning your wedding
since she was in kindergarten. She’s obsessed. I’ll bet she’s
helping him a lot.”

“Julie has known for a long time we weren’t
going to be a couple.” Noel shook his head.

“She’s probably still hoping you’ll change
your mind.”

“I won’t. I don’t really give a damn about
that painting, Lyrissa.” He pulled her from her seat and into his
arms.

“Hey! You’re in enough trouble, Mr. St.
Denis. If they walk in and catch you smooching with the enemy—”

Noel kissed her before she could say more.
Lyrissa didn’t try to escape, despite her words. Surprise and
desire made her skin sizzle. She moaned when his wide hands slid
down her body to her hips. He pressed his pelvis against hers. They
both sighed when the kiss ended.

“I was in trouble the first day I saw you,”
he whispered.

“We’ll have to fight one battle after
another. You'll have to fight most of them.” Lyrissa clung to
him.

“I don’t mind at all. Are you sure you want
all the hassle?” Noel kissed her nose, then her eyelids.

“I’m sure that being with you is worth
anything any-body can throw at me,” she said.

“That’s all I need to hear.”

Noel kissed her long and hard. He guided her
to the leather sofa and eased her down onto it. His hand lifted her
skirt. Lyrissa panted when he trailed his fingertips along the
inside of her thigh.

“Cut it out,” she murmured and squirmed to
allow his hand to go higher.

“Uh-uh, feds too good,” he replied
softly.

Lyrissa planted her palms on his chest and
pushed him away. “We’ve got work to do, hot pants.”

Noel smiled at her. “You’ve got that right.”
He tried to kiss her again.

Lyrissa slid from his grasp. “You know what I
mean.” “Okay, okay. Rain check.”

“Agreed.” Lyrissa gave him one last kiss on
the cheek. “Now, where do we go from here?”

He straightened his tie as he sat back.
“Someone is trying to play both of us. I say we find ’em and kick
ass.”

“Don’t get mad, but my money is on your
family. Staging the fire and the burglary would keep me busy. Our
claim would be discredited and you—”

“Hey!” he protested.

“Your family would keep the painting. Sending
me to jail would be icing on the cake.” Lyrissa gazed at him with
her head to one side. “Well?”

“My grandmother has her faults, but she
doesn’t do lunch with felons. I don’t see anyone in my family
planning such a thing. Not even Carlton. He’s devious, but not
smart enough.” Noel shrugged.

“You have been reading the papers, right?”
Lyrissa quipped.

He winced. “Ouch! But that was
history—ancient history, at that. I’m talking about now. I know
these people, baby.”

“So Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé
walked to my house and into my garage? Please!” Lyrissa rolled her
eyes.

“Good point. Someone is responsible. Guess
we’d better get to work on the who and why.” Noel put a hand on her
knee.

“ ‘We,’ I like the sound of that word,” she
murmured. “Me and you, you and I, us,” Noel leaned close and
whispered in her ear. “I love you.”

“I love you back,” she whispered. Lyrissa
lifted his hand and placed it on his knee. “But if you don’t stop
we’ll never make it off this sofa.”

“A brother has to try.” He grinned at
her.

“We’ll make up for lost time later. Now,
where do we start in this quest for truth and justice?”

He thought for a minute. “I say we keep our
alliance a secret.”

“What?”

“I want to stir the gumbo pot until it boils
over. If whoever is behind this whole thing thinks they’ve
succeeded...” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“You mean lie and set a trap?” Lyrissa
smiled. “You sneaky devil. In the blood, huh?”

Noel laughed again. “Using my powers for good
this time. Let’s do it.”

He nodded toward the door. Lyrissa nodded
back. She retrieved her purse and followed him. Noel jerked the
door open.

“I don’t think there’s anything left to say,
Lyrissa. Our painting didn’t just walk to your house!” he said
loudly. “Did you really think that act would work?”

“How dare you call me a thief, after what
your family has done? I should have known you’d stick up for them.
You chump!” Lyrissa shouted.

“Goodbye and get out,” Noel growled.

Lyrissa slammed the door in his face.
“Cold-blooded snake.”

Eddie gasped. “Lyrissa, I thought—”

“Forget it, Eddie. To hell with him—and all
of ’em.” Lyrissa waved a hand and stormed off toward the
elevators.

Julie appeared out of nowhere wearing a
malicious smile. “Guess the thrill is gone, Miss Thang!”

“Kiss my ass,” Lyrissa hissed at her. She
smiled when the elevator doors whisked shut and she was alone.
“Perfect timing, Miss Thang”

“Come in, Carlton.” Noel beckoned him inside
with a wave of his hand. He stood behind his desk with his back to
the window.

Carlton strolled in, his expression mild. He
glanced around the office. Noel would have sworn he was calculating
how to redecorate the comer office to his satisfaction. Good. Let
him be sure of himself, for a while, at least. Noel went to the
table in his seating area. He poured two cups of coffee and handed
one to his cousin.

“Let’s talk.” He nodded at a chair and waited
until Carlton had sat down. Noel stood gazing down at him.

Carlton crossed his legs. His mouth shifted
sideways in a smirk when he gazed up at Noel. “What’s this about?
You lonely in here, or something?”

“It’s been a hell of a week,” Noel admitted.
“The board is really on my back. But then, you knew that.” “Too
bad,” Carlton said in a monotone that lacked sympathy.

“ ‘Bad’ isn’t the word. They’re furious about
this whole mess with the collection. They blame me for trusting an
outsider—Lyrissa Rideau.”

“We did warn you,” Carlton replied.

“They say I allowed her to influence me and
now the company is suffering. They’re questioning all my decisions,
including my plans for the warehouses, the micro malls,
everything!” Noel blew out a gust of breath in frustration.

“Really?” Carlton leaned forward with a
predatory gleam in his eye.

“You know how I wanted to develop the Crowder
Boulevard property, right?”

“We talked about it.” Carlton pursed his
lips.

“Argued, is what you mean. Anyway, all of a
sudden, Uncle Laurence is against it. I don’t get him or any of
them.” Noel dropped down onto a chair.

“Interesting. He was your biggest supporter.
Too bad.” Carlton sipped from his cup again.

“Our net profits have risen steadily since I
became CEO. You have to admit that, even though we’ve had our
disagreements.” Noel gazed at him as though anxious for a sliver of
support.

Carlton shrugged. “That’s gratitude for
you.”

“But this financial report really puzzles
me.” Noel picked up a file folder from the table between them.

“What financial report? The audit was clean.”
Carlton’s satisfied pose slipped a notch.

“I know. But one of the accountants became
curious about certain contracts and payments.”

“I didn’t hear anything about problems in
that area.” Carlton sat at attention.

“You know about the recent scandals involving
certain companies and the way they do business,” Noel said.
“Yes.”

“This young man researched the companies we
do business with, just to see if any red flags popped up.” Noel
flipped through the pages of the report

“What did he find?” Carlton blinked
rapidly.

“Look at page seventeen.”

Noel handed him the open report. He watched
him read in silence for several moments. Then he stood over him and
clamped a hand on Carlton’s shoulder. His cousin jumped.

“Someone has been diverting money. Clever
method, but this sharp young man was able to trace it all the same.
I couldn’t believe it.”

Carlton grimaced. “These figures aren’t
conclusive. I’m sure there’s a good explanation.”

“God, I hope so. I can’t afford more
problems. The board will blame me for this, too.” Noel frowned and
raked a hand through his hair.

“I delegated a lot of work to Andre and
Keisha. Maybe that was a mistake. I’ll look into this for you,
Noel. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. I’m sure we can straighten this
all out,” Carlton said in a rush as he sprang from his chair.

Noel looked up at him. “You think Andre or
Keisha could be responsible?”

“I don’t want to accuse anyone yet, but they
did handle some of these transactions.” Carlton stared at the
report in his hands. “I have confidence in my employees, but I’ll
get to the bottom of this and do what I have to.”

“Yes, I’m sure you will.” Noel stood.
“Thanks, Carlton. I knew when it hit the fan I could count on you.”
He put an arm around his cousin’s shoulder.

“Like you said, we have to stick together.
I’ll look into the questions raised by this report immediately. Can
I keep it?” Carlton clutched the report as though Noel would have
to rip it from his hands.

“Definitely. Read it cover to cover. I know
you’ll find it interesting.”

Noel watched his cousin scurry out. He balled
his hands into large, menacing fists when his office door
closed.

Lyrissa walked into the small cafe on the
comer of St. Charles and Third Street. Only a few customers were
scattered around at the tables. She checked her watch. Ten minutes
before two in the afternoon. Most of the lunch crowd had cleared
out. Lyrissa took a seat and waited for Julie. She’d arrived early
to get the advantage, since Julie had suggested where they meet.
Also, Lyrissa wanted to appear anxious.

Five minutes later Julie drove up in her
late-model dark red two-seater BMW. She turned a comer and parked
on a side street.

Julie strolled inside wearing dark
sunglasses. A waitress approached, took her order for diet soda,
then left. She scanned the dining room, then smiled briefly when
she saw Lyrissa. Lyrissa folded her hands and rested them on the
table as she approached.

“Are you sure this is a good idea, under the
circum-stances?” Julie tucked her navy leather clutch bag under one
arm.

“Hi. Thanks for coming,” Lyrissa said with a
jittery smile that faded quickly. “I know Noel and the others would
be angry if they knew. I—”

“I meant for you. I’m not the one in deep
trouble.” Julie raised her eyebrows until they arched above the
gold rims of her sunglasses.

“I’m an arson and theft suspect, my boss
fired me, and Noel doesn’t believe me. What have I got to lose?”
Lyrissa swallowed hard.

Julie stared at her for a few seconds, then
lifted a shoulder. She sat down. The waitress brought their drinks
and left.

“Good point, but I don’t see why you’re
talking to me. Make your case to Noel,” Julie said.

“I tried. We had a terrible fight. I couldn’t
believe the way he talked to me!” Lyrissa’s bottom Up trembled.
Then she reminded herself not to lay it on too thick. She stopped
short of squeezing out a tear.

“He’s not stupid. You must have known he’d
see right through you eventually. And he’s very loyal to his
family.” Julie removed her sunglasses and gazed at her.

“I’m innocent. Okay, I didn’t tell him about
the painting,” she added quickly, when Julie’s expression turned
skeptical. “But I didn’t set that fire or steal anything!” “Fine.
Your lawyer will get you off. The fact that the police found the
stolen painting at your house looks bad, though.” Her mouth
twitched into a smirk.

“I don’t understand how it got there, Julie.
I swear!” Lyrissa frowned. “A lot of people have decided I’m guilty
already. Noel is one of them. My career is probably ruined in this
business.”