Bayou Corruption by Robin Caroll

all the earmarks of a big story—drugs, police corruption, attempted murder. Simon was wrong; the entire state would be interested in this story.
    â€œYou know, maybe you could try and find out something more.”
    She dropped the carcass of a crawfish to her plate. “From whom?”
    â€œThe deputies? That Gary Anderson seemed interested in you.”
    Snorting, she wiped her fingers, now coated bright red, on the wet towelette. “Yeah. Right.”
    â€œOne of those Fed boys looked attractive enough to think all women doted on him.”
    â€œYou mean the guy from the Federal Bureau of Intimidation?”
    Jackson laughed, nearly sputtering the iced tea he’d just sipped. “Haven’t heard that one before.”
    She smiled, choosing to ignore his asinine suggestion. “What do you think these numbers mean?”
    â€œCould be a code to indicate what the payment’s for. Or a date or time.”
    â€œSounds plausible.” Alyssa wiped her mouth, pushing away her plate. “How do we break it?”
    â€œWe just keep digging.”
    She liked the way he thought. Slick. “What’re we waiting for?”
    Â 
    Rain had lessened the humidity, but moisture was still heavy in the air. Even the inside of Bubba’s house felt damp. Sticky.
    â€œI made copies of the bills of lading at the dock, but I can’t retrieve them until Monday night when I go back to work.”
    She pressed her lips together in a fine line, making that little pink circle more prominent against her pale face. He had the sudden urge to touch it. He clenched his fists in response. “Alyssa, if you want to stop investigating with me, I’ll understand. This reeks of danger. Bubba’s barely hanging on.”
    â€œNo. I want to know what’s happening.” She shivered and hugged herself. “I’m already in danger.”
    He took a step closer to her, the instinct to protect so strong. “How’s that?”
    â€œIf a cop is involved, then they know I heard someone’s voice the night they dumped the sheriff.”
    Chills crept up his spine. How could he have missed the connection? He gave in to instinct and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
    Did she have to be so logical? He didn’t like the idea of her being in danger. He’d seen what they did to Bubba.
    She ran her fingers through her spiky bangs and shook her head. “No, I have to follow through on this.”
    â€œI understand, but we need to be careful.” He stared at her, picturing Bubba’s injuries on her.
    â€œVery careful.”

NINE
    S pinning out of control. Hot, so hot. Metal grinding.
    Screaming—was it hers?
    So hot.
    Pain on her face, under her lip.
    Crying.
    So hot. So painful.
    Alyssa bolted out of bed, ignoring the tears wetting her cheeks, and headed to the window. Stupid nightmares. Worse now that she was here in Lagniappe. In Shreveport, she could ignore the nightmares, memories and the past. But not here. Never in Lagniappe. She sucked in air, forcing her breathing to steady.
    Bright streaks of yellow and orange zigzagged through the cloudless sky as the sun ushered in Sunday morning. She watched CoCo bank and tie off the airboat. The past couple of times she’d been back in Lagniappe, Alyssa had noticed a subtle change in her older sister. Not so emotional, calmer, more at peace with life in general. Maybe CoCo’s relationship with Luc made the difference. Well, not quite. This was the first time Alyssa had returned to Lagniappe since the two had gotten back together. What had brought about the transformation in her sister? Maturity, perhaps? Nah. CoCo was only two years older than Alyssa’s twenty-seven.
    The front screen door slammed, jarring Alyssa from her musings. She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t even noticed her sister leaving the boat. Alyssa took a final glance at the morning. The sun had crested over the tree line,