#
Back at the station, Tara confirmed what we had assumed. “Vince was a bouncer at Molly’s Girls.” She put her cell down.
“Aponi claims Cozy still hasn’t come home,” I said.
“You think her mother’s protecting her? Hiding her?”
“I don’t think Aponi would do that. Cozy has the same line of thinking we do. If her revenge stopped with Porter, she wouldn’t have run.”
“Probably.”
“So, Cozy finds ex-cop Sal, who gives her a mattress in return for some naked pictures. She tracks down Haley to Molly’s Girls and hooks up with Bouncer Vince to see if he had anything to do with her sister’s murder.” I jotted down quick notes.
“Why take him to Sal’s?” Tara stared at me for answers.
“Good question.”
“So, once there, Sal doesn’t like that Cozy brought home a boy, grabs his gun, and hilarity ensues.”
“And Cozy runs.”
“Yeah, but not because she’s guilty. She’s still digging into Haley’s murder.”
Tara inspected her fingernails. “So, Cozy found Molly’s Girls before we did.”
“We need to find a connection between Harry Winslow and the owner of Molly’s Girls. We should go see the owner tonight.” I hesitated, looking at my notepad. “One Raymond Corondelet.”
“I hate strip clubs. I always feel like I need to shower when I leave.”
“I usually have to change my drawers.”
“I so feel for your wife.”
“Hey, you had your chance to object at the wedding.”
Captain Dobson entered the floor with a man and a woman wearing business attire. Each of them glanced at us before heading into her office. Through the glass, we could see the seriousness of their discussion. Dobson had trouble controlling her cool.
“Feds?” I asked.
Tara shrugged as Superintendent of Police Gregory Thornberry burst onto the floor, dispensing with his normal greetings. He too, gave Tara and me a once over before opening Dobson’s door and joining the debate.
“Think Harry kept true on his threat?” Tara said.
I pulled at my ear. “It’s not far-fetched that this is some kind of high profile, D.C. Madam-type shit. I have this bad feeling Chance was right. We might have kicked a hornet’s nest.”
“Full of political wasps.” Tara’s wide eyes volleyed to me.
“Looking to… Sting… Us worker bees.”
Tara frowned.
“What? Don’t get pissed at me if you can’t keep the metaphor going.”
“Lord, do I feel sorry for your wife.”
The muted conversation lasted ten minutes before the man and woman expedited out of the room. Dobson and the Super remained, speaking in a more casual manner considering their body language. Five minutes later, Thornberry left, however this time he acknowledged us with a nod of his head.
Dobson waved us into her office, shutting her door behind us.
“That looked intense, Cap.” I sat, throwing my arm behind the chair.
“Feds?” Tara inquired.
Dobson eased into her chair. “Yes, Feds. It would seem that your questioning of Harry Winslow is interfering with an ongoing federal investigation.”
“You gotta be kidding me.”
“Thornberry ordered me to cease and desist in the questioning of any employees from Winning One about the Robicheaux murder. Basically, anyone associated with the company.”
I faced Tara. “We must be close.”
“Cap, we’re on the cusp of exposing a trafficking ring.” Tara looked ready to blast off into space.
Dobson picked up a tablet just to throw it back down. “Maybe they are, too. They said once they’re through with their case, they’ll share all their info.”
“That’s bullshit.” I thought of Cozy out there alone. She was a scrapper, but she had to feel scared, out of her element.
“So, what do you really want us to do, Cap?”
She didn’t answer. Then Dobson’s phone rang, breaking the silence. “Captain Dobson here. Yes. Yes. Where? Isn’t that…?” She wrote something down and looked at both of us. “They’re on their way.”
“What’s up?” Tara asked.
“A body was found in an abandoned house in the East. The same house as Cozy Robicheaux’s abduction.”
“The same house?” I looked at Tara. “Titus?”
“Could be.”
“That drug dealing punk?” Dobson asked.
“Sure.” I pinched my chin in thought. “He was going to visit Haley and found Cozy instead?”
“But how did Cozy get the body to the East?” Tara asked.
“Maybe Porter took him, knowing the house was abandoned. One last act before they killed him.”
Tara’s eye shot to me. “Murder, now?”
“Maybe. They make it look like a suicide because Cozy recognized him. Whether Cozy killed Titus or not, Titus’ body would draw too much attention to their operation. My money’s on Porter transporting the body.”
“I’ll have his car towed in,” Dobson said, pointing at me. “So, this means that you would be investigating Titus’ murder, which would make Cozy Robicheaux or Edgar Porter the prime suspects, right?”
“Right.” I agreed.
“And Cozy Robichaux didn’t kill her sister, right?”
“Nowhere near a suspect.” I confirmed.
“So Cozy has nothing to do with the Feds, correct?”
“That is correct, Cap.” I stood along with Tara, not needing to look at the address she wrote down.
Dobson motioned for us to go. “I’ll have a trooper see if Cozy returned to Manchac and pick her up if she did.”
Chapter 25
With Vince and Sal’s death, Cozy had a hard time falling asleep, despite the Jack Daniels filtering through her liver. She had sat in the lotus position on the Day’s Inn bed at three in the morning, enveloped in darkness. Murder surpassed anything stimulants could do. In an attempt to calm down, she imagined her happier childhood moments—the teasing, the chasing, the laughing, that she had shared with her sister. And her favorite memory, the camping trip when she and Haley both slid into the same sleeping bag one chilly night. She had never felt so warm and safe and loved, and being wrapped in that memory allowed her to finally drift off.
The pampered accommodations at the Day’s Inn on Canal Street impressed her, despite only semi-sleeping for three hours, dreaming she had become the Grim Reaper. She had figured Vince not to be Haley’s killer, and yet he died anyway. He seemed the type to just hit women, not rent them out. If anyone at that club had anything to do with Haley’s death, it would be Ray or possibly Tabby, if only indirectly.
Maybe she had brought Vince to Sal’s place with the more sinister motive of creating a confrontation. Did she expect Sal to be calm about bringing that brute into his home? Vince deserved to be punished with ass-rape in prison for his sins, probably, but not shot to death. And Sal died as a result of poor decisions and chemistry. She would have to reconcile those feelings at some point, but not now.
Cozy collected herself, needing to keep busy before meeting Tabby for a drink later in the day. She consulted a map of the Quarter taken from the lobby of the hotel, studying it to get intimately familiar with the city grid. When things get hairy, she was going to need an escape route. She thought about how well Ash had known the Quarter the few times he took her to Dr. Claire. Did he have that good a memory? Was he that good a navigator? No, not unless…
That bastard.
She pulled out the burner phone and dialed a number she knew by memory.
“Hello,” her boyfriend’s familiar voice answered.
She clenched her jaw, not bothering to disguise herself. “Meet me on the front steps of Harrah’s at 3pm - today.”
“Cozy?” Ash said, off-pitch.
“Front steps of Harrah’s at 3pm” She hung up, fighting the urge to whip the cell at the wall. When she glanced to her right, her
reflection in the mirror showed a sitting duck. She still looked too much like her old self.
#
The warm breeze tickled the tops of the Palm Trees that had been planted along the side of Harrah’s Casino. The low-key exterior masked itself beautifully on the edge of the Central Business District, not sticking out as much as one would think. Cozy approached from the foot of Canal Street, keeping an eye out for Lucas, who always seemed to like to appear at the worst times.
She rounded the corner to the front of the casino to see Ash sitting on the second step, leaning against the railing as if he had lost his savings at the blackjack table. He looked different, less handsome then before she had left home. His hair was styled shorter than before and his sunglasses made him seem arrogant. His charm no longer had any power.
He finally noticed her storming toward him. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you knew where Haley was this whole time?”
He stood, but held onto the railing. “Cozy, what did you do to your hair? Is that you behind all that makeup?”
“Don’t change the subject. How did you find out?”
He fidgeted and couldn’t meet her eyes. “She didn’t want me to tell you.”
Cozy hopped up onto the third step and slapped his face. “She’s my sister.”
When she reared back for another, Ash caught her wrist. “She made me promise not to tell you. I loved her. You don’t think I felt a world of guilt keeping this from my best friend?”
“Best friend? I thought you loved me. You were having sex with me while you were coming here to have sex with her? In what world does that make you the good guy?”
“I’m a shit, all right? A dick. But, we weren’t having sex. Haley didn’t want to be with me anymore. I do love you. But, Haley has my heart. She always had. I didn’t want to let either of you down. You are my best friend.”
“I’d sure hate to be your enemy.” She broke from his grasp and almost shoved him over the rail. The people walking by had stopped to watch. “What exactly was she into? Give me something.”
“She danced at Molly’s Girls. That’s all I know. She told me how that landlord was always watching her, too. I think he might’ve killed her.”
“Maybe you couldn’t handle her stripping for other men. You got blind with jealousy and lost control, since she ‘has your heart’ and all.”
He stepped to her. “Jesus, Cozy. You’re accusing me? You’re crazy.”
“You have no idea what’s going on inside my head.”
“I guess I don’t. But are you sure this isn’t just a convenient way to get rid of me?”
Cozy palmed her head with both hands. “Get rid of you? Convenient? Don’t pull that shit with me. What you did is a bigger betrayal than the douche-bag trio raping me and don’t you dare say that’s a gray area because they’re your friends.” She wiped her dripping nose. “I didn’t ask for it. It’s not a gray area.”
“Hales made me promise. I kept my promise. Either way, I guess someone would get betrayed.”
“You know things about her life that’re eating away at me to know.”
“Hales wanted to get out of that apartment and into a house. I thought if I kept helping her, she’d get back with me. She wanted me to bring you here.”
It took a good ten seconds for her breathing to relax while staring a hole through him. Then she spat, “I’m done here.”
She pivoted to leave, but he grabbed her arm. “I knew there would come a day when I couldn’t do any more for you. When you didn’t need me around. Here it is.”
“You still haven’t apologized.”
He kept his mouth closed as his eyes broke contact. She pushed him down the steps as pedestrians started pointing their cameras. However, the scene didn’t escalate any further as Cozy rushed away down Canal Street, hearing her name shouted several times.
Chapter 26
Noon hour approached as we came out of the house where the kidnapper had taken Cozy just months ago. Every piece of rotting furniture looked clear in the daylight. CSU had just put Titus in a body bag, telling us he had died from a stab wound to the heart several days ago. His killer had perfect aim. The place was still otherwise undisturbed from when it was cleaned by the hazmat crew.
I leaned against the car’s fender with Tara at my side, thinking aloud, “Remember Cozy’s puffy red cheek? What if Titus went looking for Haley and found Cozy? Cozy wanted to ask him questions, and Titus had other plans. Things got out of hand and he didn’t realize she carried a switchblade. And if Titus had a gun, then Cozy now has a gun.”
“This makes her someone to look at for the Vincent Dean murder.”
“I don’t know. Vince was found in the spot he was shot and Sal’s heart attack makes sense. It was his gun. She would have had to stage the scene perfectly. I don’t see Jerry disproving the obvious theory. At the very most, she was present at the time.”
We stared at each other as the sun intensified, each going through our process of deduction when my cell rang. “Yeah, Cap.”
“The troopers said Cozy’s not at her home in Manchac. Hadn’t returned since she left with you, according to the mother. Plus, traces of blood were found in Porter’s trunk. Most likely Titus.”
“So, he at least disposed of the body. Thanks, Cap. I noticed you called me instead of Gray.” I glanced at my partner.
“She said you’re doing fine.”
“She’s such a liar. We’ll be in shortly.” I hung up.
“Too bad we can’t grill Corondelet about Harry Winslow,” Tara said.
“We can grill Corondelet about Dean, Haley and Titus. That’s not off limits, right? We’ll do that later tonight at the club when we can talk to the whole staff. Plus, we can make him more uncomfortable at his work. For now, let’s go back to Manchac and put a little more pressure on Aponi Robicheaux.”
“Let’s do it.” Tara patted my shoulder before getting in the car. “You think old Harry Winslow, Esquire could be a patron of Molly’s Girls? Could that be the Haley-Winslow-caviar connection?”
“I’d say that’s a definite.”
“So, Harry or another employee of Winning One or someone at Molly’s killed her after a party?”
I started the engine. “Still a good theory. Winslow has a political party with Molly Girl strippers walking around.” I adjusted the air conditioning. “Either way, I’m willing to bet Raymond Corondelet is in bed with Winslow.”
Tara laughed. “All this from a Jane Doe in the river. So, we go to Manchac?”
“Yee-haw.”
#
The drive to Manchac just before rush hour took a bit longer than the first time. It allowed me to think of how much I’ve become involved in the Robicheaux’s lives and how I’ve extracted myself from my own family’s lives. Too many cops fall into that hole and it won’t be me.
The house appeared sturdier on the second visit, like it had withstood many hurricanes. No movement registered through the window, so I knocked loudly on the screen door.
“Hello? Aponi?”
Tara’s attention focused on the road and nearby Cypress Trees for surprises. I couldn’t blame her. When the locals get wind that the law was after one of their own, they could get ornery.
I rapped my knuckles on the wood again, this time hearing something stir inside. A moment later, Ashton from the picture answered. The side of his face was red with a small cut as if he had been punched. “Hello?”
“I’m Detective Peyroux.”
“Ashton.”
“Is Ms. Robicheaux here?”
I noticed he was barefoot when he moved aside to let us in. His clothes hung from his frame like hand-me-downs. “You’re the one who took Cozy to New Orleans.”
I nodded.
“And now she’s missing,” he accused.
“Have you talked to her recently?”
“Hell, no.” He charged forward toward the kitchen like the man of the house, speaking over his shoulder. “I actually just got back from lo
oking for her in the Quarter. Of course, I didn’t find her.”
“There’s a difference between being missing and not wanting to be found.”
Aponi came from the hallway as if she had just awoken, but not surprised to see us. “Detective Peyroux, perhaps you can explain why the state troopers were looking for Cozy. They certainly wouldn’t say.”
“No one knows where she is. You’re not concerned?”
“She called me. Told me she was taking care of Haley’s paperwork, so I assumed the police would know where she is.”
“Haley’s body hasn’t been released yet, Aponi.” Tara told her.
Aponi gave Ashton a glance. “She’s staying in the Quarter to punish me.”
Tara stressed her voice. “She’s in trouble… Serious trouble.”
“Let’s have some tea.” She turned before anyone could argue. Ashton, Tara and I sat at the kitchen table. Aponi seemed to need to keep her hands busy, a coping mechanism I’d guess.
She took a pitcher out of the refrigerator. “I’ve never been able to control her. She always sought out danger, that one.”
“I’m going back to try to find her again tomorrow,” Ash confirmed.
“How many times did you visit Haley at her apartment?” I asked.
Ashton’s eyes grew. “None. What do you mean?”
“We interviewed the landlord after discovering Haley’s body. He placed you there,” I sounded convincing, knowing that Porter never actually said Ashton’s name.
He blew air out his lips. “He’s wrong. He might’ve described someone that looked like me. If I knew where she was, I would have brought her home… Or at least let Cozy and Ms. Aponi know she was safe.”
“Sure. I can buy that. What about you, Tara?”
“Sure.” She shrugged.
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