Putty in Her Hands

by Lynn Shurr

  Remy shrugged. “Probably too far out of town anyhow.” He swept a glance past Julia to see if she’d been impressed by his effort to find a new location for his project. Her usually expressive face remained as stiff as a plaster of Paris figurine. Not impressed.

  Hartz fingered through a second proposal. “What if I became your partner to restore the Bayou Queen? I buy out your current investors and provide forty-nine percent of the funds to leave you in control of the project. We use my money to get matching grants giving other organizations some stake in the renovation. The more diverse the support we have, the better.”

  Julia spoke for the first time. “Jane is already looking into available grants. Your matching funds would make the process so much easier.”

  Yeah, maybe if Remy were as rich as Jonathan Hartz he could buy her love. No, no, he meant her admiration.

  Hartz shoved the papers Remy’s way. “Study this. Take the idea to your investors. See what they think. They can go in with us, or I can buy them out. Then their cash will still be available for Black Diamonds when an alternate place is found.”

  “I can ask them, but I don’t think…”

  The doorbell rang at the front of the house, followed by the thud of running shoes, and the appearance of Jane Tauzin flapping a set of papers. She wore a rumpled skirt and blouse, having obviously been in and out of her car so often the vehicle did not cool off between stops. Her brown bangs hung in sweaty strands glued on her forehead. “We got it—the historical designation for the Queen. And more! An injunction against its demolition.” Jane rounded the table and kissed Jonathan Hartz on the forehead and both cheeks. “Thank you, thank you for making those calls. I can start writing the grants now.”

  His nerd-pale face colored. “Happy to do it, Jane, but don’t tell your husband you kissed me, okay?”

  “Ha! He’ll understand. If you kissed me, it might be another story.”

  Remy closed his eyes for a moment, then said the words that would only anger Julia further. “We’ll fight that injunction—because I doubt my investors will buy into the plan. They like things their own way.”

  Hartz nodded. “The Broussards. Stubborn people. Hard to deal with them. But you will present the plan?”

  So, he did know the ins and outs of the parish. “Yes, but don’t get your expectations up.”

  He addressed this statement to Julia whose blue eyes blazed with new hope. Behind her, Todd wore a self-satisfied smirk. Remy gathered the paperwork and stood to let Julia pass, but he cut between her and the intern. She couldn’t leave without Todd—or without speaking to him. They left Jane behind glugging a bottle of water.

  Out on the portico, he headed Jules off before she could bolt for her truck. “Give me a minute! You did see I tried to suggest another site for Black Diamonds.”

  “You knew it wasn’t possible. Weren’t you the one who told me how precious land is around here?”

  She’d remembered, but she wasn’t done with him. “You owe Todd an apology for accusing him and—and embarrassing him—in an attempt to keep your own kin out of jail.” She shoved the intern forward and between them.

  “NuNu isn’t in jail. He had an alibi too.” Remy tried to peer around the guy, skinny as a beanpole without the greens growing on it, but Julia evaded his try. “Okay, okay, Todd, I’m sorry I implicated you and caused Sheriff LeDoux to drag you out of bed in your tighty-whities. At least, you had something on. He would have caught me in the raw.” Maybe he implied that’s the way real men slept.

  Though Julia’s eyes peeking through Todd’s akimbo arms showed a flicker of interest at his last statement, she wasn’t ready to relent. “Now, you’ve embarrassed him again. I doubt your sincerity.”

  “It’s the best I can do. I’ll take this proposal to the old man and see what he says, but Julia, you have no idea how dangerous it is to interfere.”

  “You mean he’ll send another arsonist to burn the Queen.”

  “The sheriff did say he thought I should post a guard, but I can’t see the expense to protect a building that will be demolished sooner or later. Not what I meant though. Intimidation is the Broussard style. I don’t want anything to happen to you—or Todd, I guess.”

  “I can take care of Ms. Rossi and myself,” Todd stated, folding his arms across his thin chest.

  “Please do that.” Remy found he meant it. Talk about heartfelt sincerity. He gave up and turned to leave.

  Julia stepped out from behind her defender. “When will you talk to your grandfather?”

  “Probably tomorrow.”

  “Well, you be safe too.”

  Maybe she cared a little. “They probably won’t kill me.” At least, he hoped so.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Julia’s team of preservationists scored big with the historic designation and the injunction. She should be buoyant, but felt as if she had her feet stuck in her own plaster unable to move forward without trampling Remy’s dreams. She realized it wasn’t simply a project to him, something to be put on the back burner until he found another site. His plans were elegant and would bring new life to the parish consistently losing population as young people moved away for better jobs, or so Celine told her. If only they might compromise, but she didn’t see how. Having to stay away from him physically didn’t improve her mood either.

  But she had work to do both at Alleman and with her volunteers. “Todd”—she said as they drove away from Pecan Grove—“activate the phone tree. We’ll need people watching the Queen twenty-four seven since Remy won’t pay to protect her. They can park across the road from the property, and everyone should have a buddy and a phone in case the Broussards try to intimidate them. If Miss Lolly doesn’t understand, tell her it’s like perpetual prayer. Set up a schedule. I’ll let the sheriff know what we’re doing. Maybe patrols can drive by at night and make sure all is well.”

  “I’d be happy to do that.” Todd had a narrow face but perfect teeth thanks to great orthodontia. Still, his smile came across as somewhat vengeful.

  “He did apologize to you.”

  “Only because he wants to be on your good side. I can’t figure out what you see in him.”

  Julia believed that didn’t require an answer, but she enumerated one in her mind. Handsome, fit, intelligent, talented, visionary, and generous in bed. No need to tell Todd. Her mouth watered a little. She swallowed as they turned in at the white brick pillars of Alleman.

  “Get to work on that schedule. I’ll check on the uncles and see how the crack repair is coming along. We’re almost done here. The next phase belongs to the painters and paperhangers.”

  “New Orleans here we come!” Todd appeared overly happy about that.

  “This has been an interesting project and more exciting than most with the Queen in the mix. Back in NOLA, we’ll be working on bids and estimates for new projects. Not much chance to get our hands dirty.”

  “Yeah, I’ll miss that, but not Mr. Remington Broussard.”

  She’d miss Remy though. She certainly would.

  ****

  Remy returned to his tower and reluctantly set up a meeting with his great-uncle. Not much else he could do now with the injunction in force, but he’d arrange for a bulldozer and dump trucks to clear the fire debris. Perhaps, rent storage and remove the magnificent bar that he’d use one way or another. Just a step closer to razing the Queen to the ground, and he didn’t feel good about it anymore. Julia had a point. No more buildings would be created out of huge cypress timbers. Trees of great size barely existed anymore. Craftsmen doing that type of meticulous parquet—gone. Those handmade bricks, not easy to duplicate unless a person did their own. He built with steel and glass and wondered if his work would last as long.

  Good, in a stroke of luck both the dozer and the dump trucks were available first thing in the morning. One more item to check off his list. At least, it was progress. Too bad he wasn’t making any with Julia.

  ****

  Miss Lolly and Miss Maxie
pulled their behemoth of an old Lincoln Continental in behind the economy car holding the persons doing the second night shift protecting the Queen. They’d signed up for this time slot because it fit their regular attendance at early Mass. Julia provided them with one of those phones you had to be smart to use and patiently showed them how to call her number embedded somewhere inside the gadget. Along with a thermos of coffee and a couple of croissants stuffed with ham and cheese, they stood ready to do their duty until noon. If they had to pee, well, Remy had rented a couple of portable toilets for his men. They’d sneak in and use those since the high weeds were gone.

  Miss Lolly and her constant companion got out and rapped on the window of the smaller vehicle. The ancient veterans in the backseat startled awake along with their assisted living aide asleep behind the wheel. “Is the enemy creeping up on us?”

  “Not yet, but if you can’t stay awake, you should take a daytime shift. This is dereliction of duty,” Miss Maxie said, rather severely. “Go back to the home and get your breakfast. We brought ours along.”

  “We only nodded off around dawn. Tell her, Benita.”

  The aide, a heavy-set woman who’d spent an uncomfortable night with her belly pressed against a steering wheel for the sake of overtime pay, answered, “Don’t know. I was sleepin’. Y’all ready to go now?”

  “The Queen might have burned to the ground while you napped!” Miss Lolly accused.

  “Woman, we witnessed the destruction of Europe. I think we’d notice.”

  The sound of heavy equipment trundling down the road drowned out their spat. A bulldozer led the way making a wide turn onto Remy’s property. Three dump trucks followed. Remy brought up the rear flashing the little confab a what-the-hell-is-going-on-now glance.

  “A bulldozer! Y’all saw it. Remy is breaking the law and starting the demolition. Because he’s a Broussard, he thinks he can get away with it. Where’s the phone. We must call Julia.” Miss Lolly fumbled in the big black purse that held the croissants and her rosary. “Now how do I work it?”

  “Gimme that. It’s a burner, only got one number in it.” Benita took over. “Two women here say a bulldozer is on the property. Okay. She be right over to stop whatever is up. You GIs ready for your oatmeal?”

  “Eggs, we want eggs.”

  “We can do that.” Benita returned the phone to Miss Lolly who immediately lost it in the depths of her purse. The aide wasted no time leaving.

  “Should we march in there and sit down in front of the dozer, Lolly?”

  “Let’s see what Julia has to say.”

  They didn’t have long to wait before Julia’s truck parked in the space left by the economy car. “In there! In there! Dump trucks too.” Miss Maxie pointed a wobbling finger toward the Queen.

  “And portable toilets in case we need one—which I might. Overly excited. You lead the way, Julia.”

  She did with the two old ladies close behind vowing their willingness to throw themselves on the dozer immediately after they used the facilities. Julia marched right up to Remy and poked her chin at his face. “What’s the meaning of this? We have an injunction!”

  Remy waved a hand at the pile of charred rubble. “Removing what has already been demolished. Not attacking your beloved Queen.”

  “Oh well—we’ll be watching.” Julia turned on her heel and marched away with her small contingent following. “Mind you don’t trip on the oak roots, ladies.”

  Miss Lolly threw Remy a defiant backwards glance. “He almost looks sad you didn’t stay and argue with him longer.”

  “Maybe some other time.”

  ****

  Newly returned from their second surreptitious trip to Remy’s necessaries—convenient he’d rented several—Lolly and Maxie prepared to finish their turn at guarding the Queen the next morning. Patty Broussard, the boy’s own grandmother, and his Great-aunt Pammy, were due to spell them in half an hour. They’d passed the time reading and eating their snacks, trail mix full of peanuts for protein, dried fruit for fiber, and M&Ms for fun, occasionally throwing some out the window to feed the birds who flitted in the oak trees. No sign of action on the property, and Maxie had brought her bird watching binoculars to make sure no one approached from the bayou side without being spotted.

  They didn’t suspect the moving van until it drove across the culverts and down to the charred plywood blocking the rear entrance to the Queen. Two men got out and began tearing away the barrier. Miss Lolly’s hand dived into her purse and fished out the burner phone. “Let’s see, I put my finger here to get Julia’s number—and then what?”

  “For heaven’s sake, Lolly, you push the thing that sort of looks like a phone to make the call. I’ll bet Remy is removing the stuff he wants to salvage out of the building even if he’s forbidden to tear it down. Give me that thing! I’ll do it.” In the struggle for possession, Maxie spilled the bag of trail mix into her lap. She opened her door and dumped it out before connecting with Julia.

  “You’d better come quick. They’re tearing the Queen apart. You should bring your uncles. These guys are pretty brawny if comes to a fight.”

  “What’s she saying?”

  “To stay in the car and out of the way. She’ll be here shortly—with her uncles and the puny young man. Meanwhile, to call 9-1-1 and get the police out here. I guess we have to punch that in and hit the telephone thing again.” Maxie beamed when someone on the other end said, “9-1-1, what is the nature of your emergency?” Unsure of what to say, she guessed, “Robbery?” and gave directions.

  Lolly pointed at an oncoming red truck. “Remy is here. Good you called the cops, or it would be an unfair fight. He can easily take that skinny boy.”

  Remy ignored them and went to join his workers. Lolly took up the binoculars and watched the three men enter the hotel through the gap in its walls. When Julia arrived with her own men in tow, Lolly hissed, “They’ve gone inside. Be careful.”

  No walking in this time, Jules drove straight to the Queen. Todd jumped out of the cab with her, and her uncles got down from the back. Miss Lolly applied the binoculars again. “They have their tool belts on and are going inside. Looks like a rumble to me.”

  The police arrived with their siren silenced. Officers Chauvin and Ancona got down. Ancona muttered, “Why us, why always us?”

  Officer Chauvin stuck to the script. “What’s the problem, ladies? Where’s the daylight burglary in progress?”

  “At the Queen. Remy Broussard is preparing to take things away in a van.” Maxie waved her liver-spotted hand at the hotel.

  “Ah, doesn’t he own the place?” Ancona asked.

  “Well, yes, but a judge said he can’t tear it down.” Lolly gave an empathic nod of her dyed-black head. “You’d better get in there. Julia Rossi and her uncles went to stop them. There might be violence.”

  “Amateurs, always amateurs. We’d better go down there with sirens. Might break it up.” Chauvin agreed with Ancona. In they went.

  “We should get to walking, Maxie. No way can we steer the Lincoln over that bumpy ground.”

  “Julia said we should stay put.”

  “Well, we sure can’t see or hear anything out on the road. Let’s go!”

  By the time they hobbled to the hotel and stepped carefully through the hole in its rear wall, all the action appeared to be over—or maybe it had never begun. No blood on the floor, no bruised bodies, though Julia and her crew stood facing Remy and his with the two cops and a pile of tool belts in the middle.

  “Miss Lolly, Miss Maxie, we were only removing the old mahogany bar for restoration. Officers, could we just call this a false alarm?”

  “For all we knew, you were tearing up the parquet,” Julia said with a stubborn tone to her words.

  “Well, I’m not. Like I said, the bar will be repurposed somewhere. With the injunction in place, it’s about all I can work on right now thanks to you.”

  “Yes, thanks to me, the Queen will be saved.”

  Lolly and
Maxie clapped their fragile hands. The sound echoed in the vault of the hotel’s lobby.

  Julia hadn’t finished. “You’d better not try to remove the roof slates. In this climate, that’s a sure way to kill a building.”

  “That never occurred to me before you said it—but I won’t be doing it unless we demolish the queen. Look, I meet with the Broussards this afternoon. I’ll present all the proposals and let you know how it goes. Then maybe, we can put all this behind us and end the ridiculous surveillance.”

  “I beg your pardon. There is nothing ridiculous about well-meaning people trying to save an endangered landmark.”

  “Not at all, but do you really think these ladies could stop anything bad from happening?”

  “That’s why we called the cops!” Maxie exclaimed, showing her red-haired temper.

  “Okay, okay. Sort out the tool belts. Ms. Rossi, take your men home. Remy, get on with your business. Miss Lolly, Miss Maxie, can we give you a lift to your car?” Officer Chauvin offered.

  “We’d love to ride in the squad car. But first let me have a private word with our leader.” Lolly drew Julia aside. “Maybe you should try being less confrontational with Remy. I see yearning in his lovely dark eyes. Perhaps, you might go back to doing what you two were doing before—some say. I mean you’d be sacrificing yourself for a good cause.”

  Unfortunately, sound carried so well inside the empty Queen. Remy’s laughter rebounded off the ceiling. “Small towns, big mouths, and bigger ears to hear what anyone has to tell. But yeah, I’d be willing to go back to the way things were before all this.” He gestured to the police, the two sets of muscular men, and the frail old ladies.

  Julia’s cheeks bloomed with dusky rose. “Come on, guys, time to leave.” She led her now very hostile uncles and a fuming Todd outside. The officers and her preservationists followed, getting into the squad car. A small parade, they moved down the rough lane to the road where the next shift of watchers waited.

  “What happened?” asked Miss Patty and Miss Pammy.

  Julia paused to answer them. “Nothing, really. Remy was removing the old bar for refurbishing.”