by Jana DeLeon
As they began to walk back up Main Street, Richard heard a big splash. He turned and saw the alligator pop up on top of the water. The creature shook his head for a moment, then submerged completely and was gone. Richard looked at the small man sitting on a crate on the dock calmly smoking a cigarette. Ripley's Believe It or Not had nothing on Gator Bait, Louisiana. He hoped things at the boat shop weren't quite as exciting.
Oblivious to all of the happenings at the shrimp house, Joe walked into Pete's Bar and took a seat at the counter. It was still early, not quite five o'clock, and the place was empty except for him and Pete. Which is just the way Joe wanted it.
Pete came out of the storeroom and gave Joe a nod. "What can I get you, Joe? Soda?"
"No. I think I'll take a beer."
Pete looked surprised. "Don't tell me it's after five already." He glanced down at his watch. "It's not quitting time, Joe. You having a beer before quitting time?"
"I am today."
Pete gave him a curious look and popped the cap off a bottle of beer. He walked over to Joe and sat the beer on the counter. "What's wrong? I haven't seen you this worried since your daddy caught you peeing in the baptismal at church."
Joe sighed. "I was six years old, Pete."
"I know. That's my point. So what is it that's driving you to drink at four-thirty in the afternoon on a weekday?"
Joe took a sip of his beer and thought about how to proceed. "You know about this DEA agent that's in town, right?"
"Yeah. He's been in here a couple of times. You saw him the first time he was in. He came back again a day or two after that. We had a pretty good conversation."
"Really? What in the world did the two of you have to talk about?"
Pete shrugged. "He wanted some information on the people in Gator Bait. Major players. I knew Dorie had decided to help him out, so I figured if I could give her a hand, why not. I told him the names of everyone that owned businesses and such and a little about the people themselves. Nothing much, really."
Joe took another drink of his beer and considered this bit of information. "So he had already decided before he ever arrived in Gator Bait that someone who lived here was involved. It might have been nice for him to let the rest of us in on that from the beginning.”
Pete gave Joe a look. "l got the idea that he didn't want you or Dorie put out because he might be arresting one of your friends. It didn't take him long to figure out how close Dorie is with most everyone in town. If someone here is involved in something like what Dick's looking into, it's going to be a real blow to her."
Joe nodded. "I know. It already is." He put his beer down on the counter and looked Pete squarely in the eyes. "Someone tried to kill them today."
Pete dropped the basket of peanuts he was holding and it fell to the floor. "What? What do you mean tried to kill them? Where at? Are they all right?"
"Yeah, they're fine," Joe said, trying to read the expression on Pete's face for any indication of guilt, but only came up with horror and disbelief. "Someone had been squatting at Buster's camp. They went back today to check it out for any changes, and someone took a couple of shots at them." No use telling everyone that a crazy drug dealer was running around firing an automatic weapon in broad daylight, Joe decided.
Pete shook his head and leaned against the counter. "Someone shot at them during the day? That's serious business, Joe. I don't have to tell you that. What in the hell are you doing about it?"
"Exactly what Dorie didn't want to have to do - question everyone in town and try to find a motive for why anyone would be involved in this sort of mess."
"Well, look at me all you want, but don't waste too much time here. I don't want that shooter getting away. I just can't believe it. Fifty-two years I've lived in this town and nothing like this." He shook his head. "Nothing even close. If I didn't know you, Joe, I'd swear you were lying."
"I know. It doesn't seem right, does it? Anyway, I just wanted to ask you a few questions, a formality really."
Pete picked the basket off the floor and placed it on the counter behind him. "Sure, shoot," he said and realizing his words, stammered a bit, "ugh, I mean, go ahead."
"When was the last time you were at your camp?" Joe asked.
"Last weekend. I went to mow."
"Any sign of a break-in? Anything out of order? And I mean anything at all, even something tiny?"
Pete thought for a moment and shook his head. “No, nothing at all. It was the same as it always is."
Joe nodded. "What about your boat? Have you loaned it to anyone lately? Been away from the dock at any time that you didn't know where it was?"
"Buster borrowed it this morning to pick up a couple of crab traps over in the channel. He said his flat bottom wouldn't start."
Joe nodded and made another note. "That's the only time, then?"
“Yeah. Aside from mowing, I haven't had it out lately. Been too busy arranging shipping detail with Stella."
"Stella?" Joe said, feeling a bit confused. "What in the world would the two of you be shipping together?"
Pete shook his head. "We're not shipping the same thing. It's just that we both have to pay a ton extra for the vendors to deliver here in Gator Bait. Her boat parts and motors, my alcohol and frozen food, Sammy's grocery stock, too, and none of us have the storage for a full truckload. We end up paying full delivery prices for a quarter of a truck of merchandise."
Joe nodded, so Pete continued. "Well, Stella found a hotshot service out of Lake Charles that would load all of our merchandise from another delivery point and charge us half what we're paying to deliver to Gator Bait. Amounts to several hundred dollars a month between the three of us. So we've been trying to coordinate delivery times and central locations for a pickup."
"Makes sense," Joe said. "In fact, it's a pretty damn good idea."
"You know Stella," Pete said with a smile. "She knows how to make a profit better than anyone. I guess she spent enough time learning the wrong way from her daddy."
Joe nodded. "Yeah. Guess so." He looked down at his watch and realized it was about time to meet Dorie and Richard."I suppose I better get going. You let me know if you hear anything." He tossed a couple of bills on the counter.
Pete nodded. "See ya, Joe. I'll keep my ear to the ground, or the counter, if you will. If I hear anything, I'll let you know"
Joe nodded and walked out of the bar, wondering if Dorie and Richard were making better progress.
Dorie and Richard walked into the boat shop and up to the counter. Of all the business owners, Stella was the most volatile and opinionated of the bunch, and Dorie wasn't looking forward to questioning her. A young man behind the counter smiled. "Hi, Dorie," he said. "What can we do for you?"
"Hi, Bill," she said. "I need to talk to Stella. Is she around?"
Bill shook his head. "Not right now, but I expect her back any minute. She had to run to Lake Charles this morning. Her grandson was sick and her daughter didn't have anyone to watch him."
Dorie nodded. "Is it all right if I take a look at the list of boat rentals?"
Bill looked a bit surprised at the request, but nodded. "Sure. Help yourself. It's the blue binder at the end of the counter."
"Thanks," Dorie said and motioned to Richard. They walked over to the end of the counter and opened the rental book. There were only three rentals listed for the past two days and all of them had been returned before this morning's adventure.
"Let's check the boat launch," she said and pointed to the marina. "Make sure they're all accounted for."
He nodded and they made their way out to the marina and checked the boats, but all were present and accounted for. They took a cursory look inside each one, but didn't really expect to find anything.
As they finished inspecting the last boat at the marina, a voice sounded behind them. "What the hell is going on, Dorie?" Stella asked.
Dorie looked up from the boat and saw the older woman standing on the pier, hands on her hips and a disapprovi
ng look on her face. "Billy said you checked the rental sheets, and now I come out here and find you going through the boats."
Dorie stepped out of the boat and onto the pier, Richard close behind her. "I'm sorry, Stella. If I'd have known you'd be upset, we'd have waited for you before looking."
Stella waved one hand in the air. "Oh, hell. I'm not upset about you looking around. I'm worried that you're looking around. I know you wouldn't be asking questions unless there was a big problem." She gave Richard a less-than-complimentary look. “And since we all know why this one is here, I can about guess what your problem is. But please, tell me how I can help you."
"This morning someone took a couple of shots at us down near Buster's camp," Dorie said. "We're trying to establish his mode of transportation."
Stella looked from Dorie to Richard, clearly shocked. "Took shots at you? Why, Dorie, that's just insane."
Dorie nodded. "I know. But obviously we're a little too close for someone's comfort. We're talking to people around town trying to see if anyone has seen someone that could help us. We checked here to see about boat rentals, even though showing his face in town would be a long shot. We came down to the marina to make sure none of the boats were missing."
Stella nodded, apparently understanding their unauthorized inspection. "We haven't had any rentals since yesterday. I had Billy out here this morning repainting the numbers. If one was missing, I'm sure he would have told me straight off."
"Have you seen anyone different around lately?" Dorie asked. "Anyone you didn't know, besides your fishermen rentals, of course?"
Stella looked out across the bayou, considering the question for a minute. "The rentals and motel people have been ones I've seen here before. Many times, actually. Mostly businessmen from Lake Charles interested in fishing and escaping their wives for the weekend." She slowly shook her head. "I just can't think of anything out of order."
Dorie glanced at Richard, who nodded. "Thanks for your time, Stella. Let me know if you see anything, all right?"
Stella nodded but didn't reply. "There was one thing," she said just as Dorie and Richard began to walk away. "One thing that was a little strange."
Dorie and Richard stopped walking and turned back to face Stella. "What was it?" Dorie asked.
Stella gave her a puzzled look. "This morning when I was on my way out of town, I saw Buster's bass boat going down the ship channel, but it wasn't Buster driving it." She waved one hand in the air. "Oh hell, it was probably nothing. Could have been someone who worked for him." She paused a moment again, obviously deep in thought. "Of course, Buster don't really have any business in the ship channel. All his traps and nets are back in the bayou."
Dorie's senses went on high alert, and she felt Richard stiffen beside her. "Did you get a good look at the man?" she asked.
Stella shook her head. "Not really. The morning sun was too glaring to get a good look. He was taller than Buster and thinner. Had on jeans and a T-shirt, a black ball cap and sunglasses. I couldn't really tell anything else from a distance."
Dorie nodded. "Thanks, Stella. And if you think of anything else, anything at all, please let me know. And be careful. No one in this town is out of the woods until this man is caught."
Stella sighed. "I just don't know what this world is coming to when you're not even safe in a place like this." She gave Dorie a stern look. "You make sure you get to see your dad as soon as possible. You know this shooting story of yours has probably already made it to him. He'll be a nervous wreck until he sees for himself that you're all right."
Dorie gave her a small smile. "Yes, ma'am. I'll take a drive over there tonight. I promise."
Stella nodded her approval and walked down the pier and into the boat shop.
"What do you think?" Richard asked.
Dorie considered the options for a moment then replied. "I think we should go ahead and check in with Joe as planned. See if he's discovered anything else."
"And then?"
"Then it looks like we need to have another talk with Buster."
Dorie and Richard hurried back to the sheriff's office and filled Joe in on their afternoon adventures. Then Joe took his turn and Dorie wasn't exactly surprised to hear about Buster borrowing Pete's boat, especially since all indications pointed to Buster being short a boat that morning. But the information left her unsettled. Resolved to her task, she hurried out of the office, hoping to catch Buster before he left the shrimp house. It was time to get an answer to their questions.
An answer that made everything right, if she was lucky.
Richard agreed to remain behind with Joe, all of them deciding Buster might be a little more forthcoming with information if Dorie was alone. She caught Buster getting into his truck, just about to leave the shrimp house. "Buster," she said, "I've got a bit of a problem."
He turned to look at her, clearly surprised at her tone of voice and the statement. "What's wrong?" he asked, his brow puckering in obvious concern.
"I've got a witness that says they saw a strange man going down the ship channel today in your boat. And I've got Pete saying you borrowed his boat this morning to check your traps because your boat wouldn't start." She crossed her arms in front of her and stared at him. "I guess I'm wondering how someone else was driving your boat when it wouldn't start."
The frightened look on his face was unmistakable. "Someone saw a man in my boat?"
She nodded but remained silent, waiting to see if he would volunteer the information.
He blew out a breath and ran one hand over his balding head. "I'm sorry, Dorie. I don't know what to say. I didn't tell you the boat was missing this morning because I thought it was kids. He looked straight at Dorie and slowly shook his head. "I would never have withheld that information if I'd have thought my boat was being used by that drug dealer, I swear. You've got to believe me."
Dorie studied his face and frowned. He wasn't lying, but she was sure he wasn't telling her everything. "You still should have called me the minute your boat was missing. Whether we have other problems in this town is not the issue. A stolen boat is still a crime."
Buster kicked at the ground. "Oh hell, Dorie. I'm not calling you every time some kids take my boat on a joy ride. I seem to remember you and Joe having quite a few rides yourselves when you were younger."
Dorie blew out a breath. "Things are different now. The world is changing, Buster, and taking Gator Bait right along with it. You just can't keep doing everything the way you used to." She raised one hand and pointed a finger at him. "And I want you to promise me that the first change you are going to make is gathering up all of those damn keys and locking them up. And I want you to stop leaving doors unlocked. You have a collection of rifles that could arm a small country."
Buster sighed and looked beaten. "I guess you're right. I would have felt awful if something had happened to you this morning, and I found out he used my boat to do it. I'll do as you ask, Dorie. But it's a sad day when people aren't safe in a place like Gator Bait." He climbed in his truck and backed out of the parking lot.
Dorie watched until his tailgate was a small blur in the dust and wondered if she'd just made things harder for Roland, or had simply put him on notice. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was talk to Richard and Joe, especially since she knew they'd jump to the same conclusion as she had over Buster's weak explanation.
Still, there was nothing to be done about it now. Buster had made his choice and Dorie could only hope that this time she was wrong in her analysis, regardless of how unlikely that may be. "Damn it." She kicked some loose gravel in the parking lot and looked up Main Street, knowing she couldn't keep Joe and Richard waiting much longer. Wishing she had taken on any profession but her current one, she headed back up the street to the cafe.
Dorie found the guys having a burger over at Jenny's and slumped into a chair across from them, then waved at Jenny so she could place an order. Both of them looked up fro
m their plates as she sat down, the unspoken question written in their expressions.
She took a minute to give Jenny her order then repeated her conversation with Buster. They listened intently until Dorie finished her story, their food forgotten.
"So what do you think?" Joe asked. "Is he telling the truth? You'd probably know better than most."
Dorie sighed. "Yeah, you would think so, but lately I think everything looks suspect. Maybe being shot at has made me paranoid. Imagine that. Still, I could tell he was upset, possibly scared, but then that could have been because he realized someone could have used his boat to kill me. Doesn't mean he knew who it was, and it definitely doesn't mean he loaned him the boat."
She tapped her fingers on the table and stared over Joe's shoulder at the wall. "Still, I get the feeling he was hiding something. I just don't know what" She looked at Richard. "I'm sure you get that a lot in your investigations"
Richard nodded. "Of course. The key is to figure out if what they're not saying is relevant to your investigation or just something they would find embarrassing if anyone else knew. It's usually about half one and half the other."
"Great," Dorie said and stared at Richard. "Then there's only a fifty percent chance that my dad's oldest and dearest friend tried to kill me. That's one to sleep on."
"What about tonight?" Richard asked.
"What about it?" she asked, and looked down at her plate, hoping the attraction she felt for the man across from her didn't show plainly on her face.
Richard placed one hand on her arm, causing her skin to tingle, and she looked back up to find him staring at her. "You sure you won't reconsider staying with Joe?" he asked. "Or even getting a room at the motel? I'm sure the DEA won't have a problem with covering the expense."
Dorie frowned at the hopeful look on their faces. The offer of Joe's place was bad enough. Why in the world would Richard tempt her with the motel? The proximity alone would leave her sleepless, or even worse, committing acts she'd regret the following morning. "Sorry, guys," she said finally. "No can do. We've already discussed this. I'll be fine."
