The Devil Be Damned

by Ali Vali

  “I reassigned her, but I don’t plan to waste my breath on something you won’t understand.”

  “You took away something important to her because of me, and I’m asking you to reconsider.” The group of gardeners putting in spring bedding plants all said good morning as Cain walked by. The view out the large expanse of windows when they started blooming would be nice, but because of whatever was on the glass she couldn’t see which room it was. The coating was like Cain’s life. Unless she opened up a sliver and let you see inside, you wouldn’t.

  “You make it sound like I’m being petty by punishing Muriel.” Cain stopped at the side of the house and studied the higher wall with its walkway that surrounded the side and back. A guard could walk the perimeter and check for any threat trying to come over. “What I did was for Muriel’s benefit.”

  “Don’t patronize me, Cain.” Shelby looked up at her, having to shield her eyes from the brightness because Cain had her back to the sun. “What you may not realize is how much Muriel’s hurting.”

  “I talk to her every day, and I’ve stopped by numerous times, so I know exactly how she’s doing. She’s my family and I haven’t forgotten that,” Cain said, starting their walk again.

  The property, even by old New Orleans money standards, was huge, with manicured gardens in various spots that made it seem like a park. This was the first time Shelby had seen the yard since Cain and her family had moved back in, because the front wall blocked their view. She tried to take it in as what Cain said computed. Muriel had never mentioned the calls or the visits.

  “I’ll always be in Muriel’s life, Shelby, no matter what you think of me.” The grass was still wet with dew but Cain stepped off the slate path toward the rose garden ahead of them. “You’ll never understand our family because you’ll never truly be a part of it, but Muriel does understand. Sometimes I’m sure she doesn’t agree with me, or is pissed because of my decision, but she does understand.”

  “Aren’t you worried that all she does is sit around all day?”

  A pair of snippers was hanging from the wrought-iron fence that surrounded the garden, and Cain used them to cut a long-stemmed pink rosebud. “Her father just died, and she’s doing better than I did when my father passed away. If you love her—”

  “What do you mean, if I love her?” Shelby screamed at Cain, making the guard pacing a few feet above them stop. “You’re an idiot if you think I don’t.”

  “There are different types of love, and all I have to compare yours to is my own experience. Love is a partnership that shouldn’t require sacrifice from only one side.”

  Shelby usually enjoyed talking to Cain, though she seldom got the chance, but no matter the situation Cain delivered her words in that same confident voice that wasn’t exactly monotone, but revealed very little emotion. Her intelligence, combined with the cool tone, made you either admire her or want to take a swing at her. That she spoke that way about Muriel made Shelby favor hitting her.

  “So you blame me?”

  “Between you and me,” Cain lowered her voice and smiled, “and your buddies outside,” she pointed toward the front, “I know a few things for sure. Muriel and I are a lot alike because we were raised by parents who were a lot alike. She’s strong, independent, and loyal.”

  “I know all that. It’s why I’m with her.”

  “It’s not often easy but someone like that can be broken, and when it happens it’s easy to worm your way through the cracks. The allure of something new and unknown can be blinding, but I’ll give you a warning.”

  Cain was smug but not really condescending, so Shelby held back her annoyance. “Don’t you mean a threat?”

  “What I’m talking about has nothing to do with me.” Cain smiled, holding the rosebud to her nose. “Muriel’s one of the smartest people I know, and if what you feel for her is genuine there won’t be a problem.”

  “But if the great Cain Casey says there is, then what?”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Shelby.” Her smile vanished. “I won’t have to say anything because Muriel will figure it out on her own. Up to now she’s been the one making big changes, and you, I’m sure, are there encouraging her to fix what was never broken.”

  “You can’t have forgotten everything I’ve done for you,” Shelby said, trying to change tactics. Going head-on with Cain was always a losing proposition. “I was there for you and Emma when you needed me.”

  “You and your little band of thieves out there wasted time chasing me while you were breeding your own little Barney Kyle.” Shelby was amazed that Cain could be so clear speaking through clenched teeth. “Only Barney was a man who went after me, though the same can’t be said of Anthony.”

  “Things happen that we can’t always control. You’ve lost enough family to have learned that lesson.” Her answer hit a nerve because Cain pulverized the rosebud in her fist.

  “Thank you,” Cain said calmly.

  “For what?” If she momentarily had the power it was gone, because Cain looked to have repaired the momentary crack in her façade.

  “I was a bit conflicted as to how to proceed with Muriel, but now my direction can’t be more crystal. Your input has been invaluable.”

  “Wait,” she said, but Cain turned to cut another flower.

  “I’d think you’d quit while you were behind, Agent Phillips,” Emma said, standing behind her. “You’ve worn out your welcome, so be nice enough to follow Lou to your car.”

  Damage control was the first thing on Shelby’s mind because she was sure Cain would be on the phone before she could make it to the street. She followed Lou but glanced back right before they turned the corner. Emma had accepted the second rose Cain had cut and was looking at her while she stood by Cain’s side.

  “Muriel, if she gets to you first, please give me a chance to explain,” she said as she turned back toward Muriel’s.

  *

  “What was that about?” Emma asked.

  “A lecture about how I’m ruining Muriel’s life.”

  Emma laughed. “Doesn’t she mean how she’s ruining Muriel’s life? But hoping she’d be that honest is wishful thinking, I guess.”

  “Feel better?” Their day had started with Emma’s morning sickness.

  “A few more weeks and I promise I’ll stop throwing up on your shoes.”

  She kissed Emma and hugged her hard enough for her feet to leave the ground. “You can throw up on my head, lass, if it means we get another cute kid at the end of all this.”

  “And the Feds wonder why I fell for you.”

  Lou walked back alone and lifted his hand as if asking for permission to interrupt the intimate moment.

  “Did Agent Phillips peel out of here to get back to Muriel and explain herself?” Cain asked.

  “She did, but you’ve got another visitor.”

  They walked back to the house along the back so they could enter through the sunroom. New Orleans police detective Sept Savoie stood and kissed Emma’s cheek before she excused herself. The tall white-haired officer had gone to school with Cain and they’d become friends despite the fact that their families had chosen opposite sides of the law. The Caseys were who they were, and the Savoies’ family business was law enforcement, with generations of officers on their family tree.

  When they were alone, Sept accepted Cain’s brief hug. “You look good, Sept,” Cain said, waving her into a chair. “How are your parents and siblings?”

  “Mama’s upset you haven’t introduced her to your daughter yet,” Sept said, crossing her legs and tapping her fingers on the heel of her shoe. “She hasn’t taken Dad’s warning about hanging out with the city’s criminal element to heart.”

  “This criminal element got you plenty of dates in high school, Detective Savoie, so don’t go knocking me right off,” she said, and laughed.

  “Is that an admission?”

  One of the house staff brought in a tray with coffee so Cain smiled at Sept until the woman had finished
serving. “I keep telling you I’m a simple barkeep, but you don’t listen, so I like to play along every so often.”

  “The nuns would rap your knuckles with a two-by-four for telling lies like that, Casey.” Sept put her cup down and reached into her jacket pocket. “I’d love to sit and reminisce, but unfortunately this is an official visit.”

  “Unfortunately after you accepted that badge they’re all official visits, old friend.”

  Sept nodded and handed her some photos. “Recognize any of these guys?”

  Six men, all Hispanic looking, all dead. She flipped through the pictures slowly before glancing up at Sept. “The last time I saw them they were taking boxes out of a truck behind Emma’s that contained some people who didn’t deserve what happened to them.” She gave the stack back to Sept and sighed. “So you’re here to ask me why I hit back?”

  “Only two of these idiots are my cases, and no matter what you think, I don’t believe you’re responsible for this,” Sept said, flicking her finger on the pages.

  “Why are you here, then?”

  “You’ve had people out asking a lot of questions, that I’ve gotten from some of my CIs, but you haven’t seemed to get anywhere. I could be wrong, but I have a hunch whoever ordered the murders and deliveries was clamping down on any potential leaks.”

  “I have no idea who these people are, and I don’t have a clue about the motivation behind all this either.”

  Sept put the pictures back in her pocket and picked up her coffee, then held the cup between her knees as she sat forward. “I believe you and I’m not here to accuse you of anything. Just hear me out before you get pissed and have Lou fling me out on my ass.”

  “You think I need Lou for that?” She laughed. This was an opportunity to see if the police had found something her people had missed. “Let’s treat this talk like we did English and religion classes.”

  “It’s an ongoing investigation, Cain. There’s only so much I can tell you.”

  “Then you can do your English homework all on your own, good Catholic girl, and I’ll find someone else to work on the religion help I need.”

  Sept shook her head and muttered something Cain took for a curse. “I’m only doing this because I know you’re better at keeping secrets than the pope,” Sept said, making Cain laugh harder. “Your buddies outside told me Hector Delarosa came to Jarvis’s funeral. I’m sorry about that, by the way. He was a good man.”

  “Hector was a surprise to me, and I’m not sure what he’s angling for since I told him I’d never do business with him.”

  “We were starting to make strides into Luis’s operation, but now the city seems to be up for grabs. Six murders in one night scares the administration, so I want to know if we’ve got a turf war on our hands.”

  Because of their positions they’d never be totally honest with each other, but they could give enough to help the other get what they wanted. “Rodolfo Luis is losing his grip on the area. I don’t have any proof, but that’s the rumor on the street. Hector’s in town but I think he’s here buying real estate.”

  “Like this, you mean?” Sept tapped her jacket pocket where the pictures were.

  “Understand that Hector and I are barely acquaintances, not friends, but that doesn’t look like his style.”

  “He’s a drug dealer, Cain.”

  “You want to hear this or not?” She waited until Sept nodded and sat back. “He’s much more than a dealer, and I’m not telling you how to do your job, but I’d start putting a task force together if I were you.”

  “We already know he’s at the top of the cartel’s food chain, and we know how they stay in power.”

  “True, but I don’t think he’s doing this. Hector has a little more style, like I said, or he acts like he does. But pushed, I’m sure he can be as much of a butcher as any of these guys.”

  “So you’re going with your gut here?” Sept asked, sounding like she was wasting her time.

  “If you’ve got a ditch to dig and some guys show up with shovels and fight over the stretch that needs digging, what would you do? If you’re smart you sit back and wait.”

  Sept blinked a few times as if considering what she’d said. “There’s another player?”

  “We’ve all got the worst situation here, then, because I was hoping you’d tell me who killed my people.”

  “Our guys were working the angle that it was Delarosa.”

  That answer wasn’t completely off, but her instincts told her that Hector hadn’t started applying pressure yet. “What happened is strange at best, and extremely stupid. I don’t know who it is because it makes no sense.”

  “You’ve got no idea?”

  “I’m not holding back on that, and I really don’t have a clue. Actually, if Remi hadn’t gotten her own delivery, the message would’ve been lost completely—whatever that message is. All this managed to do was piss me off, and I’ve got nowhere to take my anger.”

  “It’s unbelievable you’ve got no clue.”

  “My crystal ball’s in the shop. If I find out anything, though, I’ll make you my first call.”

  “I’m sure,” Sept said, smiling. “Just remember that a turf war doesn’t help anyone.”

  “Noted, and keep your head down. When stuff like this goes down, no one’s safe.” Cain stood and offered Sept her hand. “When someone doesn’t respect business, they won’t fear the badge either.”

  “That’s why I thought the Feds were wrong. Emptying a clip into a bunch of cars isn’t your style.” They talked while walking to the front door.

  “Don’t believe everything the gray suits tell you. You have to know there’s a pecking order and they’re not about to let you into their sandbox.”

  “I grew up with you, so I know when someone is blowing smoke up my ass,” Sept said, laughing. “Congratulations on the new baby. Lou told me you’ve got other things on your mind besides plotting revenge on a pack of idiots.”

  “You know me, I play nice with everyone. It’s the people who harm my family that change that.”

  “And a beautiful family it is, so you keep that head of yours in one piece.” Sept hugged her and slapped her on the back. “I can help you this time, Cain, if you let me. These types of people don’t deserve for you to do something stupid.”

  “I wasn’t joking about calling you, and come back if you have any other questions.” She was willing to help Sept as long as she stayed away from her business. Someone like Hector or Rodolfo, though, she’d serve up on a silver platter if it meant fewer headaches for her.

  “Ms. Casey,” Carmen, the housekeeper said, “Mr. Delarosa’s on the phone.”

  “Maybe it’s time to start polishing the silver,” Cain thought as she closed the front door.

  Chapter Twelve

  His face was still swollen, but that wasn’t what he found strange. Staring at himself in the mirror was like looking at a stranger with his hair. A stranger named Jerome who now had the things he’d always envied as Anthony.

  “Do you see something you don’t like?” Gracelia asked, pressing her naked breasts into his back. They’d spent most of their time since getting back from the doctor’s office in bed, where she’d fucked any reservations he’d had right out of him.

  “You must’ve really not liked my face,” he said, rubbing the jawline that was now much squarer and had a slight cleft in the chin. He hadn’t been sure about that feature, but Gracelia had spent so much time running her tongue along it while she rode him that he’d come to appreciate it.

  “What I like is that I get to keep you now,” her hand went to his groin, “and I don’t have to worry about everyone who’s after you. To answer your question, I loved your face before and I like you. I’ll get used to this one.”

  “You’re going to kill me,” he said, not removing her hand. The shower was running behind them and they had dinner reservations at the resort Ventanas, but his mind softened as he got harder. “It’s time to return the favor, babe.” He sa
w her smile as he faced her and she dropped to her knees, taking the length of him in her hand before she did with her mouth.

  It didn’t take long. He needed rest before he could hold an erection to give Gracelia what she wanted. As she had for the past couple of days, she scrubbed his body with a sea sponge and bath gel as soon as they got wet. Up to now she’d stirred his passion by talking to him like an experienced phone-sex operator, but it was time to go back to work.

  “Did you think about what I said?” Gracelia asked, rubbing his stomach in small circles.

  “First tell me where Juan is.”

  “He’s doing something for me,” Gracelia said, her circular motions going lower.

  It was the first time he’d stopped any of her advances. “Where is he?” She looked up at him with her right eyebrow raised. “You want this to work, you let me in, or you can work alone.”

  She hesitated a few more moments but started talking when he let her hand go. “I sent him to New Orleans with orders to start putting pressure on Rodolfo’s business.”

  “That’s it?” Her response sounded incomplete. “Juan isn’t known for his obedience.”

  “You’ll have to get used to Gustavo, Jerome, and he knows better than to deviate from what I told him.” He rinsed and shut the water off, leaving her standing in the large stall alone. “What? I told you what you asked.”

  “You’re either lying or you left out a big part.” Pissing her off was a gamble, but this wasn’t going to be the kind of relationship he had with Annabel, who had no respect for him.

  “From what you both told me, the city has its power players,” she said, before he made it out with a towel wrapped around his waist.

  “New Orleans is a perfect location for what you have in mind, Gracelia, because the cops are understaffed and overworked, but they’re not totally incompetent. Add to that the eager agents Annabel’s got working for her, and you have to be careful being too ambitious.” He propped one hip against the counter and crossed his arms. “What exactly did you have Gustavo do?”