her mother died—separated from her sisters and sent to live with strangers. At seven years old, she hardly had a choice, and I’m of the opinion that those girls got screwed worse than you. Bottom line is that Purcell lied to you. He knew that the estate would go to Ophelia’s children when he died.”
“You think I don’t know that now? But what good does it do me? Ophelia’s daughters will get everything and my daughter will still be sick in her bed because I can’t afford the specialist in New Orleans she needs to see.”
Carter frowned. He’d heard that one of the children had respiratory problems, but he hadn’t known how serious it was. Apparently, Jack had been counting on money from Purcell’s estate to pay for the treatment. No wonder he was livid.
“I’m sorry, Jack. What Purcell did to you was wrong, but Ophelia’s children aren’t to blame for that. Only Purcell is.”
“Whatever.”
“And drinking isn’t going to solve any of your problems. That girl and her mother need you to be strong, now more than ever.”
Jack glared. “I’m plenty strong. You’ll see.”
The cook whirled around and strode off to his car. He gunned the engine as he pulled away, the tires scattering dirt and gravel behind them. Carter watched him drive off, not the least bit happy with the situation. He hoped Jack wouldn’t be stupid enough to harass Alaina, but with his drinking again, there was no way to be sure.
When Jack’s headlights disappeared around the corner of the alley, Carter headed back to his truck. As soon as he got a chance, he needed to check on Alaina and make her aware of the situation with Jack. If she planned on frequenting the café, she needed to know that the cook wasn’t likely to treat her well.
* * *
A LAINA BARELY HEARD her cell phone over the iPod she had blasting in her ear. She dropped the mop and dashed for the kitchen counter where she’d left her phone, pulling out her earbuds as she ran. She grabbed the phone and answered without even looking at the display, but all she heard was static.
She glanced down at the display and frowned. The call was from the law firm. All of her cases had been passed off to other attorneys or were being handled by Everett, so there was no reason for anyone to call about business. Which meant it was personal. She pressed Redial, but the same static cut off the call after the first ring.
Glancing outside, she saw thick clouds hanging over the swamp. It wasn’t raining here, but she’d bet it was somewhere close by. She tossed the cell phone back on the counter and blew out a breath. If Everett was calling again so soon, he must have more information about the vandal. Maybe they’d caught him.
Or he’d struck again.
Either way, that still put the perp in Baton Rouge, not Calais. Whatever Everett had to tell her could wait until she got a better signal. If it was important, he would call Carter, who’d have no problem driving out to the estate and raining on her parade.
Mind made up, she stepped over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water. The air-conditioning in the house worked surprisingly well, but with the rain clouds hovering, the humidity was sky-high. Seventy-five degrees felt like eighty-five. She ran the cold bottle across her forehead, relishing the cool plastic against her hot skin.
“You’ve been busy.” Amos’s voice sounded behind her.
She turned around as the caretaker hobbled into the kitchen. “I figured I may as well be useful,” she said.
He nodded. “Well, you’re doing a mighty good job of it. I’m sorry the place is such a mess. I don’t get around like I used to.”
“It’s a big house for one person to maintain.”
“Your stepfather wouldn’t let no one on the property but me and that one man who ran errands for him—buying supplies and such. I don’t suppose he liked people overly much.”
“I don’t suppose he did. I’m surprised William didn’t hire someone to clean it after
“You think I don’t know that now? But what good does it do me? Ophelia’s daughters will get everything and my daughter will still be sick in her bed because I can’t afford the specialist in New Orleans she needs to see.”
Carter frowned. He’d heard that one of the children had respiratory problems, but he hadn’t known how serious it was. Apparently, Jack had been counting on money from Purcell’s estate to pay for the treatment. No wonder he was livid.
“I’m sorry, Jack. What Purcell did to you was wrong, but Ophelia’s children aren’t to blame for that. Only Purcell is.”
“Whatever.”
“And drinking isn’t going to solve any of your problems. That girl and her mother need you to be strong, now more than ever.”
Jack glared. “I’m plenty strong. You’ll see.”
The cook whirled around and strode off to his car. He gunned the engine as he pulled away, the tires scattering dirt and gravel behind them. Carter watched him drive off, not the least bit happy with the situation. He hoped Jack wouldn’t be stupid enough to harass Alaina, but with his drinking again, there was no way to be sure.
When Jack’s headlights disappeared around the corner of the alley, Carter headed back to his truck. As soon as he got a chance, he needed to check on Alaina and make her aware of the situation with Jack. If she planned on frequenting the café, she needed to know that the cook wasn’t likely to treat her well.
* * *
A LAINA BARELY HEARD her cell phone over the iPod she had blasting in her ear. She dropped the mop and dashed for the kitchen counter where she’d left her phone, pulling out her earbuds as she ran. She grabbed the phone and answered without even looking at the display, but all she heard was static.
She glanced down at the display and frowned. The call was from the law firm. All of her cases had been passed off to other attorneys or were being handled by Everett, so there was no reason for anyone to call about business. Which meant it was personal. She pressed Redial, but the same static cut off the call after the first ring.
Glancing outside, she saw thick clouds hanging over the swamp. It wasn’t raining here, but she’d bet it was somewhere close by. She tossed the cell phone back on the counter and blew out a breath. If Everett was calling again so soon, he must have more information about the vandal. Maybe they’d caught him.
Or he’d struck again.
Either way, that still put the perp in Baton Rouge, not Calais. Whatever Everett had to tell her could wait until she got a better signal. If it was important, he would call Carter, who’d have no problem driving out to the estate and raining on her parade.
Mind made up, she stepped over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water. The air-conditioning in the house worked surprisingly well, but with the rain clouds hovering, the humidity was sky-high. Seventy-five degrees felt like eighty-five. She ran the cold bottle across her forehead, relishing the cool plastic against her hot skin.
“You’ve been busy.” Amos’s voice sounded behind her.
She turned around as the caretaker hobbled into the kitchen. “I figured I may as well be useful,” she said.
He nodded. “Well, you’re doing a mighty good job of it. I’m sorry the place is such a mess. I don’t get around like I used to.”
“It’s a big house for one person to maintain.”
“Your stepfather wouldn’t let no one on the property but me and that one man who ran errands for him—buying supplies and such. I don’t suppose he liked people overly much.”
“I don’t suppose he did. I’m surprised William didn’t hire someone to clean it after
Similar Books
