by Ali Vali
“I’ll connect you to the office. Hold, please.”
A woman he knew wasn’t Keegan answered. “Blanchard’s. Can I help you?”
“This is Sept’s partner, Nathan. It’s important I talk with Keegan,” he said as he flagged the ambulance in their direction.
“Nathan, this is Jacqueline. Tell me what’s wrong.” She said “okay” a few times during his short explanation, then asked him to hold.
“Nathan, where are you?” Keegan asked, clearly upset. “Is she okay?”
“She’s alive, and we’re on our way to the hospital. Hold on,” he said, putting his hand over the phone. “Where are we going?” he asked the EMT.
“Tulane downtown. You can ride with us if you want,” the woman said as they carefully lifted Sept onto the gurney.
“They’re loading her up, so meet us at Tulane,” Nathan told Keegan. “Call when you get there, and I’ll come get you. She’s going to be fine, so don’t worry,” he said, hoping to hell Sept wouldn’t make a liar out of him.
* * *
“I’ve got to go,” Keegan said, grabbing her bag and heading to the door. This couldn’t be happening again so soon after Sept had recovered from her injuries.
“Not without me,” Jacqueline said, shouldering her purse, keys in hand. “Let’s go, and I’ll call Mom and Gran on the way. Where are they taking her?”
“Tulane,” Keegan said, her stomach hurting so much she was nauseous.
“Carla’s got privileges there so she might actually be useful to us for once,” Jacqueline said, giving the kitchen a brief explanation before leading Keegan to the car. “Gran, we’re on our way to Tulane Hospital. Sept’s been in an accident.”
“I’m watching it on television, so keep your sister away from the news. Melinda’s here and is calling Carla. We’ll meet you there once I’m dressed.” For once, Della sounded subdued.
“Thanks. Call me, and I’ll tell you where we are.”
“Why does this keep happening?” Keegan asked, staring out at the neighborhood as Jacqueline sped downtown. She thought about their conversation after Sept had proposed. “She offered to get a desk job to make me stop worrying so much, and I talked her out of it.”
“Don’t, sweetheart,” Jacqueline said, grasping her hand. “This isn’t your fault, and you were right to do that. You knew going in who Sept was and what came along with that. If you love her, and I know you do, you have to let her be who she is.”
“Lately, she seems to be a target for crazed killers. I can’t lose her, and I’d never ask her to quit, but this is making me nuts.”
“It was an explosion, so it could just be a freak accident.” Jacqueline turned in the direction of the emergency room and sighed when she saw the number of police crowding the area. She was going to have to park five miles away but stopped when an officer stepped in the middle of the street and flagged her down.
An older policeman tapped on her window and asked, “Are you Keegan Blanchard?” when she lowered it.
“Yes, sir.”
“Pull up right here, and we’ll watch your car for you. They’re waiting for you inside.”
Jacqueline held her hand, and she didn’t start crying until she saw Nathan talking to Sebastian and Sept’s older brother, Gustave. “Am I too late?” she asked in barely a whisper.
“No. The doctor’s in there now, so Nathan was filling us in,” Sebastian said as he and Gustave put an arm around her. “We’re waiting for the boys to pick up Camille, so I’ll let Nathan take you in until she gets here.”
Nathan and Gustave walked her and Jacqueline into a room, and she was relieved to find Carla in there with the ER doctor. “Hey,” Carla said, smiling. “Her vitals are good, and she’s coming around from what seems like a hard blow to the head from some flying debris. We’ll know more once we run some tests, but let me squeeze you in before it gets any crazier in here.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking Carla’s hand but not letting Jacqueline’s go. Sept’s face still had traces of blood and soot on it, but her eyes were open to slits, as if the bright lights were bothering her. “I can’t let you out of my sight,” she said, and Sept’s lips twitched in a smile. “Are you okay?”
“Perfect now,” Sept said softly. “Sorry about this.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just be okay.”
“Let’s let these guys finish, and then you can fuss at her for not ducking,” Carla said, placing her hands on Keegan’s shoulders. “I just wanted you to see her before she went.”
“I love you, and I’ll be right here when you get back,” she told Sept as Carla moved to allow the medical transporter to take Sept. “Will she be okay?”
“She’s talking and is aware of her surroundings, so I’m optimistic everything will be fine.” Carla walked them back out, where a lot of the NOPD was waiting and giving Nathan support.
Keegan saw Sept’s mom and immediately hugged her.
“I’ll walk Sept through her tests and come get you when she’s done,” Carla said before she headed back in.
“Did you see her?” Camille asked when Keegan relaxed her embrace a little.
“She’s awake and talked to me, and Carla thinks she’ll be fine. They’re just being cautious.”
“I swear one or all of these kids are going to drive me into an early grave,” Camille said, taking Keegan and Jacqueline’s hands. “Let’s go sit and wait.”
“Nathan,” Keegan said when she saw the guys he’d been talking to walk off. He hugged her and then Jacqueline. “What the hell happened?”
“We followed a lead to the Palm Court, where we think our victim was taken, and wanted to check it out. While we were waiting for a warrant she ordered, the damn place blew up.” He scrubbed his thighs with his hands and shook his head. “Either this was a big coincidence, or the bastard booby-trapped it.”
“Man, that’s messed up,” Jacqueline said.
“Why would it have blown up right when you and Sept were there?” Gustave asked when he joined their group with one of Sept’s other brothers, Francois. “If that was the first stop in your investigation, and the perp didn’t have time to clean the room, it could explain what happened.”
“We never got close enough to the door to trip any trap, and the clerk said the maid had checked the room and nothing happened.” Nathan and Keegan watched him visibly pale. “Do you think this guy followed us?”
“I’ve got Alain and Joel over there with the bomb squad to make sure nothing is missed,” Francois said about their other two brothers. “If you were followed it won’t happen again.”
“No, it won’t,” Della said as she entered with Fritz. “How are you?” she asked Keegan. “And how’s Sept?”
“She’ll be okay, and I’m starting to calm down a bit. This job of hers takes some getting used to.”
“It’s hard to believe this rarely happens, but our kid sister is an overachiever,” Gustave said, finally making her laugh.
“The full force of the police department is on this, Ms. Blanchard,” Fritz said, sitting next to her when Jacqueline moved. “We’ve already lost too much today, so this is our top priority. You have my word.”
“Thank you, and knowing Sept, she’ll be back at work as soon as they discharge her,” she said, and they all nodded. “If she’s ready, then let her do just that.”
“She’s going to appreciate that,” Fritz said. “This job is hard enough without the support of our families and those we love.”
“Just take care of her,” Della said. “She put a ring on my granddaughter’s finger, so we’re having a wedding no matter what’s going on.”
“Gran, I’m sure the chief has things to do,” Jacqueline said, as if trying to reel Della back in.
“And one of those things is not getting banned from any Blanchard establishment, so I’ll do anything to keep Della happy.” Fritz took her hand again and kissed her cheek. “I’m a call away if you need anything, so stay in touch. It’s good to see you again, C
amille.”
“Thanks, Fritz,” Camille said as he went to talk to some of the others standing around. “Don’t worry. He means well,” she told Keegan.
“Keegan,” Carla said, coming in and smiling at Melinda. “We put her back in the same exam room. The results shouldn’t take too long, so if you want to go in two at a time, I’ll come back with the attending to give you the rundown.”
“Thanks so much,” she said as she gripped Camille’s hand so she’d come with her. “Hey, baby,” she said, glad they’d dimmed the lights. Sept seemed more comfortable now.
“Hey. I see you picked up some company,” Sept said as Keegan leaned over and kissed her. “Sorry to get you out so late, Mama.”
“Are you kidding? The coffee here is worth the trip,” Camille said, kissing her hand. “Now don’t lie to your mother. Tell us how you really feel.”
“My head hurts, but I’m okay. I was on the side of the building, so a bit of the collapsing wall hit me, but I was lucky. If it’d gone off while I was in front, I wouldn’t have been so fortunate.” Sept seemed more alert than before, which helped Keegan stop thinking of the worst. “Is Nathan okay? No one told me.”
“He’s a little unhinged from thinking he’d lost his partner, but he’ll be okay if you don’t shoot him on sight,” Keegan said and kissed her again. “Let’s wait for Carla and the other doctor, and then I’ll go get him.”
“I don’t think we need to wait that long,” Camille said. “I’ll get him, but it might take a minute, so behave until I get back.”
“I really love your mom,” she said when Camille closed the door. “And she had a good point. You really feel okay? If you don’t, you can tell me.”
“Just a headache. I got a couple of stitches that might mess up my good looks, but I’m fine. The blast itself knocked me for a loop, but it wasn’t serious.” Sept raised her hand and cupped Keegan’s cheek. “Nothing’s going to stop me from meeting you at the altar, my love.”
“You make me crazy, but only because I don’t want to lose you. Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I feel the same way, so you really have to be careful. Losing you or you getting hurt would kill me.”
“No one’s dying for a very long time, Seven. I want…no, I demand a long and happy life with you. That includes plenty of good days, good memories, and a gaggle of grandchildren who’ll either cook or fight crime.”
“That sounds good, and I really am sorry for worrying you,” Sept said, stroking the slope of her neck. “You didn’t burn anything to get here, did you?”
“There isn’t anything I’m not willing to do for you, stud, but I draw the line at burning something.” She smiled and kissed the tip of Sept’s nose. “I’m worried, though, that whoever this is might be watching and following you. If that’s true, then they’re really determined to hurt you.”
“Someone’s going to a lot of trouble to get my attention and to copy what Perlis did,” Sept said as Keegan enjoyed their closeness. It was helping fight back the terror of that initial phone call. “But now they have my undivided attention.”
“I hope that’s not completely true,” she said, rubbing Sept’s abdomen. “I’m not going to enjoy being left alone too often.”
“That’ll never happen. Even when I’m in the middle of everything at work, at the center of me, you’re always there.”
“God, the things you say to me.”
“Detective.” The ER doctor interrupted at the worst time when he entered with Carla.
“Hey. I’m ready to go whenever you get the paperwork done,” Sept said, and Keegan pinched her side.
“Della wanted me to remind you she’s right outside with a rolled-up newspaper if you get out of hand,” Carla said, pointing over her shoulder. “I’d take her at her word, since she scares the hell out of me.”
“Uh-huh,” Sept grunted.
“Our life together will never be boring, baby. You have to admit that.” She kissed Sept’s temple, ready to head home herself.
Chapter Nine
Keegan was surprised the next morning when she came down and found Jacqueline and their dog Mike entertaining a bunch of cops in their kitchen. They’d all left the hospital together the night before, after Carla promised to make a house call to check on Sept. They’d gone to bed, and Sept had thankfully gone to sleep right after she was under the covers. She was a little bruised, but fine in the light of day, so she was planning to do her best to take care of her while Sept was still in the house.
“Cousin Mackey’s delivering breakfast, so don’t cook anything,” Jacqueline said when she spotted her. “Gran called him last night after asking plenty of questions while you were with Sept.”
“What kind of questions?”
“The police-procedure learning curve we have no clue about. If the lead investigator can’t work because some nut tried to hurt her, the investigation comes to her.” Jacqueline spoke softly as Joel Savoie, the only remaining single brother Sept had, stood next to her sister with his arm around her, nodding at everything she said. “I came back from my run with a police escort.”
“Well, the investigator is finishing up so she shouldn’t be too long,” Keegan said, headed for the coffee.
“You might want to wait for Mackey, since whoever made that knows nothing about coffee or how it’s supposed to taste,” Jacqueline warned her.
“Is he bringing everything?” she asked, noticing more people arriving.
“He said not to sweat anything. It’s handled. All you need to do is relax and eat.”
She nodded and opened her arms when Joel seemed to reluctantly release Jacqueline to give her a proper hello. “Did you have to stay out late last night?”
“The bomb guys got a hand from the feds, so it wasn’t too bad. Once Smokey gets down here, we’ll give y’all a rundown,” Joel said, and Keegan appreciated his humor. Joel wasn’t much older than Sept and was the only Savoie still in uniform every day. It was something he loved, so it had no bearing on his ambition. “She did okay last night? I’m sorry I didn’t finish in time to see you guys.”
“She slept fine and is ready to go, so I should be grateful for that hard Savoie head,” she said, and he laughed as he knocked the side of his own head.
“Thanks for making things easier on her,” he said and hugged her. “She’s really lucky for a lot of reasons, but the main one is finding you. She loves you, and it would really bother her if you didn’t understand what we do.”
“I’m going to worry no matter what, but I’m trying my best not to add to her slate.”
“These guys would line up to have Sept’s back, so you don’t have any concerns there. She’s earned their loyalty and respect by always doing the same for them.” He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. “And there’s going to be food and way better coffee than the department buys.”
“You’re hilarious,” she said and noticed Mackey’s guys setting up in the yard. When he said everything was covered, he meant all the way down to tables and chairs. “Let me go see if they need anything.”
“I’ll do it,” Jacqueline said as Joel moved back to her side. “These guys are here to see you, not me.”
“I think they’re here to see Sept,” she said, folding her arms over her chest.
“You’re with Sept, so you’re part of not just our family, Keegan, but part of the NOPD family, so get used to it. They’re here for you too. We all are,” Joel said.
The rest of the Savoies came in as Joel was finishing his pep talk, so she accepted hugs from the Savoie brothers, ending with Sebastian. “Thanks for coming, and if you give Mackey a minute, he’ll feed you,” she said as she turned to watch Sept come down the stairs.
“Hey, guys,” Mackey said, starting another round of hugs. “I’ve got everything set up outside, but how about I put the family and Nathan in here? Gustave told me you all have some stuff to go over, so I figured that would be good.”
&nbs
p; “Thanks, man,” Sept said, embracing Mackey and kissing him on the cheek. Ever since they’d met, Sept had really come to enjoy their cousin’s company since they’d bonded over steaks and bourbon when Sept had been recuperating.
“Shit. You’re the one with the hard job. Eggs are easy. Go sit, and I’ll get you guys fed.” Mackey patted Sept on the back before going outside.
“You want us to go eat with the masses while you talk to your family?” Keegan asked, taking her hand but not getting too close so Sept wasn’t uncomfortable about showing too much affection. Sept seemed to notice and tugged her closer. “I’m sure we can find a seat out there.”
“Are you going to run to the papers?” Sept asked, clearly joking. “If you think you can handle it, I’d like you to stay. I think you’ll feel better if you’re aware of what’s going on.”
“That would make me feel better.” She kissed Sept’s chin and led her to the head of the table.
Once everyone had a plate, Sebastian pointed to Joel to start. “From what we found last night, we can definitely say the explosion was the result of a device and not a gas leak, but they’re still gathering information about how it was put together and detonated.” Joel read from his notes and passed Sept a file with pictures of what they’d found.
“That was a quick, hot fire,” Sept said, flipping through each picture. “Do they at least know what kind of accelerant was used?”
“You know those bomb guys, and then mix in the feds, so until they’ve tested every inch, they’re not going to give us anything,” Joel said.
“The device had to be activated remotely. If not, the maid would be dead.” Sebastian covered Keegan’s hand as if to comfort her from the words. “This person definitely has eyes on Sept.”
“If that’s true, though, he had every opportunity to kill me when I was closer. If he was watching, he waited until I understood he could’ve killed me but then spared me,” Sept said.
