somewhere safe.”
With a quiver in her voice, Miss Dauphine asked, “What makes you think your attack had to do with Ma Chérie?”
“I can’t know for sure, but to me it’s a bit coincidental this happens two days after you transfer ownership.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus, do you realize what you’re saying?”
“Yes, that someone in our family is behind it. Grandmère, I don’t want to think that any more than you do, but until we know for sure, we have to be careful.”
“I don’t understand. What would they achieve by abducting you?”
Caterine hesitated. Her grandmother was upset enough; she didn’t need to hear that she thought killing her was their goal. “I don’t know Grandmère, but we can’t worry about that right now. It’s your safety I’m concerned about.”
“This is all my fault.”
“Don’t even say such a thing.”
“If you’re right, how can I not? I thought I was doing what was best. I never imagined there could be such evil in my own family.”
“Grandmère, we’ll figure this out later. What you need to do now is leave that house. I’ll meet you at a hotel.”
“Caterine, I will not be run out of my own home. It’s you we have to worry about. Do you have identification and a credit card on you?”
“Yes, I have both. Why?”
“Then get on the next plane and leave New Orleans.”
“Grandmère, I can’t do that. What about you?”
“I’m of no importance. It’s you who’s in danger. Until we know what we’re up against, I want you out of this city.”
“I can go to a hotel. Nobody will think to look for me there.”
“For all we know, we’re both being watched. We can’t take any chances.” Miss Dauphine’s voice cracked. “Caterine, I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you. Please do as I ask and leave.”
“All right, I’ll go, but I want you to join me. Once we’re settled, we’ll call Paul and tell him what’s happened, and he can advise us on what we should do next.”
“I plan on calling Paul as soon as I hang up from you. I want him to send someone to be with you and keep you safe. So as soon as you get where you’re going, call me and let me know where you are.”
Caterine opened her mouth to protest but, knowing her words would fall on deaf ears, gave up. “Fine, I’ll call you. But please ask Paul to send someone to look after you as well.”
Caterine dropped the phone back in her bag and looked around for a monitor listing departures. Spotting one, she started to rise, then abruptly sat back down. No, if Grandmère isn’t going to allow them to run her out of her home, then by God I’m not going to let them chase me out of New Orleans.
An anger she didn’t know she possessed burned through her veins. Damn them to hell. I’ve had a lifetime of their abuse. No more. I’m going to find out who’s behind this, and God help them when I do.
She rose from her seat and, with a determined stride, headed for the exit.
Remi paced back and forth, smoking a cigarette he knew he shouldn’t be smoking, while waiting for Paul to arrive. After he’d found the hair clip and the blood, he’d called Paul only to have the phone answered by a nearly incoherent Elaine. All Remi was able to understand was that her friend Caterine was in trouble and Paul was on his way.
“We got samples of both blood smears, along with the smaller drops we found,” Vince said, stopping beside Remi. “And we found this in the gutter.” He held out an evidence bag. “It may have traces of blood.”
Remi tossed his cigarette into the street and reached for the bag. His eyes narrowed when he realized what he held. “It’s the remote alarm for the store.”
“Since the damn fog has lifted, we can get some lights out here and see if we find anything else.”
Remi nodded and reached for another cigarette.
“Remi, man, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He let out a long stream of smoke. “I may know whose blood that
With a quiver in her voice, Miss Dauphine asked, “What makes you think your attack had to do with Ma Chérie?”
“I can’t know for sure, but to me it’s a bit coincidental this happens two days after you transfer ownership.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus, do you realize what you’re saying?”
“Yes, that someone in our family is behind it. Grandmère, I don’t want to think that any more than you do, but until we know for sure, we have to be careful.”
“I don’t understand. What would they achieve by abducting you?”
Caterine hesitated. Her grandmother was upset enough; she didn’t need to hear that she thought killing her was their goal. “I don’t know Grandmère, but we can’t worry about that right now. It’s your safety I’m concerned about.”
“This is all my fault.”
“Don’t even say such a thing.”
“If you’re right, how can I not? I thought I was doing what was best. I never imagined there could be such evil in my own family.”
“Grandmère, we’ll figure this out later. What you need to do now is leave that house. I’ll meet you at a hotel.”
“Caterine, I will not be run out of my own home. It’s you we have to worry about. Do you have identification and a credit card on you?”
“Yes, I have both. Why?”
“Then get on the next plane and leave New Orleans.”
“Grandmère, I can’t do that. What about you?”
“I’m of no importance. It’s you who’s in danger. Until we know what we’re up against, I want you out of this city.”
“I can go to a hotel. Nobody will think to look for me there.”
“For all we know, we’re both being watched. We can’t take any chances.” Miss Dauphine’s voice cracked. “Caterine, I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you. Please do as I ask and leave.”
“All right, I’ll go, but I want you to join me. Once we’re settled, we’ll call Paul and tell him what’s happened, and he can advise us on what we should do next.”
“I plan on calling Paul as soon as I hang up from you. I want him to send someone to be with you and keep you safe. So as soon as you get where you’re going, call me and let me know where you are.”
Caterine opened her mouth to protest but, knowing her words would fall on deaf ears, gave up. “Fine, I’ll call you. But please ask Paul to send someone to look after you as well.”
Caterine dropped the phone back in her bag and looked around for a monitor listing departures. Spotting one, she started to rise, then abruptly sat back down. No, if Grandmère isn’t going to allow them to run her out of her home, then by God I’m not going to let them chase me out of New Orleans.
An anger she didn’t know she possessed burned through her veins. Damn them to hell. I’ve had a lifetime of their abuse. No more. I’m going to find out who’s behind this, and God help them when I do.
She rose from her seat and, with a determined stride, headed for the exit.
Remi paced back and forth, smoking a cigarette he knew he shouldn’t be smoking, while waiting for Paul to arrive. After he’d found the hair clip and the blood, he’d called Paul only to have the phone answered by a nearly incoherent Elaine. All Remi was able to understand was that her friend Caterine was in trouble and Paul was on his way.
“We got samples of both blood smears, along with the smaller drops we found,” Vince said, stopping beside Remi. “And we found this in the gutter.” He held out an evidence bag. “It may have traces of blood.”
Remi tossed his cigarette into the street and reached for the bag. His eyes narrowed when he realized what he held. “It’s the remote alarm for the store.”
“Since the damn fog has lifted, we can get some lights out here and see if we find anything else.”
Remi nodded and reached for another cigarette.
“Remi, man, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He let out a long stream of smoke. “I may know whose blood that
Similar Books
