Catahoula: Shallow End Gals (A Shallow End Gals Book 4)

by Vicki Graybosch

  Cat hit the visitor buzzer and was greeted by Dr. Ames, himself. Seventy four years old and still working. Clumps of uneven white hair topped his pink face. He handed Cat a scrub robe and pointed to the autopsy room. “Who are you here for?”

  Cat answered, “I wish I knew.” Cat pointed to the row of bodies. “Our crypt people?”

  Dr. Ames nodded. “All but one. Finishin’ him up now. Judge has already been picked up by the funeral home.”

  Cat asked, “All shot?”

  “Yep and I’m bettin’ with the same gun.”

  Dr. Ames crooked his index finger for Cat to follow him. “Found one unusual substance on every single one of them.”

  Cat asked, “What’s that?”

  Dr. Ames held up a small glass sample slide. “Moonshine. The real crude stuff.” Dr. Ames walked over to his microscope and said, “I’m no forensic genius, but I also see the same two sets of fingerprints all over the clothes of these people. You have the same two people touching all of these clothes.”

  Cat asked where Dr. Ames’s reports would be sent when he completed them. “To your place, I would assume. You have another idea?”

  “Yes. Send a duplicate report to the local FBI office to the attention of Roger Dance.”

  Dr. Ames frowned and walked over to his desk. “Say that again.” The doctor wrote the information on his pad.

  Cat had a thought. “Doctor, did you work here during Katrina?”

  “On and off some. Officially, I was still in Baton Rouge. I tried to help Guzzy when I could get away. He was gettin’ on in years and totally overwhelmed.”

  “Guzzy?”

  Dr. Ames started laughing, “Dr. Orlick. We called him Guzzy. Don’t know who started that or why. Probably don’t want to know. Why are you asking?”

  “I have heard that the post mortem samples from William Jarvis’s autopsy, his personal effects and his tox screen reports all came up missing. Most people blamed Katrina.”

  “They aren’t missing. I have them.” Dr. Ames looked dumbfounded. “Why would they be missing? We didn’t flood down here.”

  Cat couldn’t believe his ears. “How did you get them?”

  “I always had them. Guzzy said they were too important to leave here. All the mess after Katrina, I suppose. Sent them back to Baton Rouge with me the day he died. I never even looked in the box. Always wondered why nobody asked for them though. Jarvis being such an important man and all.”

  Cat asked, “Wasn’t that unusual? Sending evidence samples to an outside office?”

  Dr. Ames nodded his head, “Yeah, well…My office is as secure as this one. That whole day was unusual. Guzzy got more pissed every time the phone rang. All about that Jarvis body, people were rushin’ him maybe. He shoved that box at me and told me to go back to Baton Rouge. He said he’d get with me about it later. Never did, rest his soul.”

  Cat dialed Roger, “Can you send someone from your Baton Rouge office to the Medical Examiner’s office there? Dr. Ames claims the reports and samples from William Jarvis are in their storage.”

  Roger couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He asked to speak with Dr. Ames himself to find out specifically where the items were. Roger also told Dr. Ames that he was not to let anyone know the FBI was coming for the box.

  Dr. Ames hung up from the call and stared at Cat. “I’m no genius, but I think I just stepped in somethin’.”

  Cat said, “You might have just become a hero. I’m going to ask you for a favor.”

  Dr. Ames raised a bushy, white eyebrow and asked, “What favor?”

  “Keep this our secret. Hey, I also want to be the first to know these IDs on the cemetery people.”

  Dr. Ames answered, “That’s two favors.”

  Sasha walked up to the front door of the Voodoo shop and stared at the man in the black suit guarding the door. More men in black. She leaned out and saw there was a second man standing at the other front door.

  Sasha smiled, “You best both step inside right fast. That city water truck be coming around the corner any minute.”

  The Agent looked confused. Sasha sighed, “They come by here every morning and spray down sidewalks and streets with lemon scented water. ‘Bout one hour in this heat and the whole place will smell like lemon puke. You, too, if you don’t move it.”

  The Agent looked around the corner and yelled, “Carl. Get inside.”

  They no sooner entered the store and what looked like a huge Zamboni turned the corner and sprayed water up to the windows.

  Spicey had heard voices and came from her apartment in the back into the store front. She was wearing a long flowing dress with bright colored flowers and a beaded scarf wrapped around her head. A large turkey foot was pinned in the center of her headpiece to rise above the folds of bright fabric. The turkey foot was surrounded by feathers and had two small bells that dangled onto Spicey’s forehead. Spicey’s bracelets crawled up from her wrist to nearly her elbows. Around her neck were a variety of leather straps with amulets and long gold chains with charms. All of them seeking refuse in her deep cleavage.

  Sasha stood looking at her with her mouth open.

  Spicey held her arms out, “What? Too much?”

  Dakin entered the room looking like a college co-ed. Blue jeans, an old t-shirt and a pink stripe in her hair. She had put on some of Spicey’s makeup and fixed her newly cropped hair to have a whimsical shaggy look. She was beautiful.

  Sasha mouth stayed open. Finally she spoke, “Can’t believe how good a job we did.”

  One of the agents looked at Sasha and said, “I’m Agent Thompson, FBI. This is Agent Cross. We’re here to protect you today.”

  Sasha giggled, “You ain’t here for me. It’s the Hoodoo Princess everybody tryin’ to kill.”

  Agent Thompson walked over and extended his hand to Spicey. “So sorry, my mistake.”

  Spicey frowned, “I ain’t Hoodoo! I be Voodoo. Big difference.”

  Spicey pointed at Dakin, “That be your Hoodoo Princess.”

  Dakin wiggled her fingers in a wave.

  Thursday 10:00 am

  Ellen had us meet her back at the FBI field office. “Good job in the Bahamas, gals! Sarah, Megan and Chelsy are on a flight home right now. We need to finish sorting out these communications for Roger and Cat. I just sent your transcripts from yesterday to Roger. This morning is going to be very busy with these calls. All the bad guys are just now finding out that the Jarvis case is being reopened. We can’t miss a single call. And we can’t make any mistakes.”

  Ellen looked at me.

  “What?”

  Ellen said, “I want you to listen to this.”

  She played a piece of Bromley talking to Dooley: “You need an air tight alibi.”

  I looked at her, “Yeah, so?”

  “This is what you wrote down: You need an air flight to Uruguay.”

  “Close?” Dang. Wish I could hear. I smiled, “Did you fix it?” I had visions of Roger sending a team of FBI agents to the airport. I thought Uruguay was a strange place to go.

  “I fixed it. Just be careful. If you aren’t sure of something, put a question mark next to it, okay?”

  Teresa said, “That’s how I ended up in Iraq. Won’t they see our machines at this table?”

  Ellen answered, “No. These are for your benefit. Mortals won’t know you’re here. They plan on having a meeting soon and I wanted you guys to listen in on that, too.”

  Mary said, “I like meetings with mortals. My mortal mind still misses them.”

  Linda nodded agreement and we all had a melancholy moment remembering life before we became angels. I still felt a little guilty that Heaven arranged for Kim to be able to see and hear all of us. Linda, Mary and Teresa didn’t have that kind of connection left with their loved ones.

  Linda must have been reading my mind. “I go visit Bob and the boys all the time. I leave them little hints I’m still around.”

  Teresa laughed, “I do that, too! I love picking on S
heila!” Sheila is Teresa’s little sister.

  Mary looked at Ellen, “I have a feeling that Roger, Paul and Cat might get enough information from these transcripts to piece this mess together.”

  Ellen shrugged, “It’s hard to know what is really helpful and what’s just noise. That’s really one reason you gals have been so successful. You can still think like mortals.”

  I didn’t want to seem argumentative, but it seemed as if every time I thought like a mortal I got in trouble as an angel.

  Ellen pointed at me and smiled, “It’s called moderation. That was a term that proved a challenge even before you were an angel.” True.

  Just then Roger and Paul walked into the conference room and placed files and notebooks on the table. Paul walked over to a large whiteboard and began drawing a chart. “I don’t want to completely fill this in until we are done with Ed.”

  Roger added, “I have a call in to Ed’s son, Reuben. I think Cat wants to go public on Ed this afternoon. Reuben should be the one to break the story but after Marla being killed last night, I don’t know how he is doing.”

  I looked at Linda, “Marla was killed? Who’s Marla?” Linda shrugged.

  Edward Meyer walked in the room with Izzy. “Gentlemen, I would like you to meet my friend, Izzy.”

  We all went, “Aww.”

  Mary’s eyes twinkled and the elementary school teacher in her beamed. “I bet she’s smart, too!”

  Stone listened to his New Orleans contact with disbelief. Finally he said, “It was a suicide mission you gave Acer. Do any of you read or watch TV? They always try to kill the guy in the hospital with a hit man dressed as a doctor. Who’s in charge over there?”

  The contact responded, “That is precisely why we thought he could succeed. It is so cliché, it would be unexpected. Mr. Marks had only been out of surgery and in his room a few minutes; there was no time for the security people to get into place. Let alone identify who was authorized and who wasn’t.”

  Stone shouted, “Do you hear yourself? Obviously they were prepared or Acer wouldn’t be dead. You are dangerously underestimating the FBI.” Stone didn’t care at this point if he pissed them off. Virgil Holmes was his real boss now.

  The contact interrupted Stone’s thinking. “Federal evidence storage is a block building on Parish Rd. 42 in Jefferson Parish. I’ll forward you the exact location. Many boxes from other facilities were moved there after Katrina for safe keeping. The evidence we need retrieved can be found in the more organized section. I need you to enter the building and subdue the guard. Do you have any G190?”

  Stone answered, “Of course.”

  The contact continued, “Fine. Spray the guard, do not injure him. When he comes to, he won’t remember anything. We can’t alert anyone that the security there has been compromised. I’ll be available, so wear your earpiece. There is only one small box to be retrieved, but I have to obtain the ID number. I’ll have it by the time you are in position.”

  Stone couldn’t believe they were going to pay his price for something this menial. “Ordinary evidence storage? I should be insulted. Just send your cop.”

  The contact paused before answering, “He is no longer an option. This may sound menial, but it is vital. This evidence belongs to ‘us’ not authorities. It has been purposefully mislabeled and concealed. Authorities will be combing that building sometime today for other items. We cannot risk ours being found. Do you understand?”

  Stone considered not taking the assignment at all. It seemed things were heating up for the machine. That wouldn’t bear well for him. “Pay me double. I want half transferred before I go. The last half when I turn it over.”

  “Your demand will be met. Notify me when you are in position.”

  Stone called Virgil and relayed the assignment given him by the New Orleans contact.

  Virgil sounded troubled, “Obviously there is another new problem in New Orleans that I have not been made aware of. Retrieve that evidence box, but get it to me.”

  Linda shouted, “This is important! Hello? What do I do?”

  Mary looked at Roger talking to Ed and Izzy. She saw Cat and Thor outside the door talking in the hall. Mathew Core was walking into the conference room. Mary went to the white board and guided Paul’s hand to write…get Roger to call Kim, hurry.

  Paul stared at his hand as it was writing. He knew he wasn’t moving it. Paul looked at the board and then Roger. “Uh, Roger? You are supposed to call Kim, now.”

  “What?” Roger saw what Paul was pointing to on the board. Paul shrugged, erased the board and shook his hand out by his side. Paul was creeped out even though he knew it was angels touching him.

  Roger excused himself and called Kim from the other room. “I’m supposed to call you?”

  Kim answered, “Yes, Linda has a recording that just came through. She said both you and Cat have to listen to it right now. They are going to send the audio to your computer for you. Roger? Ellen says there will be a lot of audio communications that Cat has to listen to. Ellen says Cat can only piece this together from the angel technology, not yours.”

  Roger told Kim thanks and turned to his monitor. He wasn’t sure how he could convince everyone at the field office and Cat, that the FBI truly was able to capture audio transmissions from both sides of encrypted calls. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cat in the hall. “Cat, come here a minute. I need you to listen to something.”

  Roger hit play and they both listened. When it was over Cat asked him to play it again. Roger said, “I recognize the one voice is Stone Carson. He’s one of the hit men we think killed Senator Dalton. I don’t know the other two voices.”

  Cat stood, “I know one of the voices. The other I’m not sure, but it sounds like Virgil Holmes. He’s in the National Security Division of the Solicitor General’s office. That would certainly explain a couple of things. Can we set a trap at the evidence storage building? I need that box.”

  Cat asked Roger, “Do you mind if I just work from here for a few? I want to hear what you get and I want to see this evidence the minute it arrives.”

  Roger nodded yes. Cat wasn’t disclosing the identity of the other voice he recognized. Roger had seen that look on Cat’s face before. He was on to something. His steel blue eyes now glared with intensity. Roger could almost see Cat’s keen mind scheming. Roger thought that for once, the press had gotten something right.

  Cat was pacing, “When will we have the Medical Examiner box?”

  Roger answered, “Within the hour.”

  Roger found it fascinating to watch Cat’s process. He was sure Cat didn’t realize how intense he had become. His body language was purposeful, stealth, cautious. Cat excused himself to make a few calls while he waited for the evidence to arrive. Cat had two theories playing in his mind each dependent on the target, Molly or William. Roger’s technology was getting him conversations almost as they were happening. Each conversation seemed to point to a different target.

  Mathew Core stuck his head in Roger’s office. “Lisa and Jamie should be here any minute. Hope this works for Izzy. Jamie is beside herself to have a playmate.”

  Roger smiled, “You and your family are being very kind Mathew.”

  Core chuckled, “I didn’t have to sell Lisa at all. Just mention a kid that doesn’t have family, and she’s all in. It should be fine.”

  Roger played the message about the evidence locker for Core.

  Core asked, “Do you want me to stop Stone and get the box?”

  Roger’s expression was serious, “I do, but Stone is a high level threat. I want you safe.”

  Core said, “I’m down a guy with Zack out. There is a guy from the PD I think would do. Can you get him for me?”

  “You could have anyone you want from here. Are you sure you want PD?”

  Core nodded, “He’s SWAT trained and shows promise. Besides, I could probably take Stone alone.”

  Roger asked, “I’m sure you could. I just don’t want to take unneces
sary risks. This is a very important box. What’s this guy’s name?”

  Core answered, “Nathan Cottard. You’d be smart to grab him for the FBI.”

  Roger placed the call to the Police Chief and was assured Nathan would report to the field office shortly. Roger stood and invited everyone to the conference room. “Let’s see if we can get Izzy comfortable with Lisa and Jamie.”

  In the conference room, Jamie and Izzy were already paired off in the corner. Cat paced by the door. He noticed Izzy showing Jamie how to make some origami animals. Cat cautiously walked over to the girls and took a seat across the table from them. Izzy’s body immediately stiffened.

  Cat smiled, “Izzy, you saved me in the alley a couple of nights ago. Do you remember?”

  Izzy nodded her head and stared straight into Cat’s eyes.

  Cat put his hand out. “Would you allow me to shake your hand and thank you?”

  Izzy relaxed and smiled. She put her hand across the table and Cat gently shook it and held it for a minute. Cat looked in Izzy’s eyes and said, “You are my friend. You are a very special little girl, Izzy. I want you to call me if you ever need anything.”

  Izzy asked, “What’s your name?”

  Cat answered, “Sabastian Delacroix, but my friends call me Cat.”

  “Cat?” Izzy started to giggle. “That’s as funny as Izzy!”

  Cat laughed, “Yes it is. Here is a card with my phone number on it. I want you to call me anytime you need anything. Even just to talk. We are friends now, do you understand?”

  Izzy took the card and put it in her treasure bag. She looked at Cat, “Does your head hurt?” Cat nodded. Izzy asked, “Would you like a hug to make it better?” Cat nodded.

  Roger looked over to the corner and saw Izzy walk over to where Cat was sitting and give him a hug. He saw Cat wipe his cheek, stand and walk back out to the hall.

  Lisa waved and smiled as the men entered the room. Core walked up to her, kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. Roger saw Lisa walk over to the girls.