Bayou Treasure

by Georgia Tribell

  She sighed in relief as the safe door swung open. Removing a square box, she opened it and placed the remainder of Black’s diamonds in with the others. After securing the stones and locking the safe, Marie returned to the bedroom and looked around.

  The beautifully remodeled room, which normally made her feel secure suddenly left her cold and empty. It was as if she were a stranger in her own world, her own skin.

  She woke each morning, in this room, in her bed, and yet lately, she felt as if she didn’t belong. Each time she looked in a mirror, she saw the same face reflected that was always there, but she no longer recognized the person within. She truly didn’t know the person she had become.

  Never would she have thought herself capable of lying, stealing and outright deception. When Black’s diamonds were returned and everyone was safe, she would go away for a few weeks and figure out how to move on with her life. Or maybe she needed to move back. Back to the person she was before Boston, before Black, before LD. Until then, she must remain strong and do what needed to be done. She’d only wished there was someone she could share her fears with.

  No, that wasn’t right.

  There was someone, but every time he brought up the subject, she pushed him away, rejected every opportunity to tell him the truth. It hurt to do that. The truth would endanger her family, but if she was honest with herself, all she wanted to do was fall into his arms and never, ever leave.

  That wasn’t about to happen. Not now. Not after she took that bag this afternoon. Truly, taking the stones was not the worst crime she’d committed today, not by a long shot.

  No, today she’d taken something far more precious than a bag full of diamonds and far more fragile. What she’d stolen couldn’t easily be repaired or replaced. Trust.

  Trust was a fragile commodity and she hoped the damage she’d done today to LD’s trust wasn’t permanent.

  Marie turned and looked at the phone as it rang for a second time. Crossing to the nightstand, she picked up the receiver as she sat on the bed. “Hello?”

  “Marie. What’s wrong? Why are you crying? I’m coming over.”

  Running a hand across one check, she was surprised to feel tears. She was crying and didn’t even know it. She needed to get a grip on her emotions and hearing Tammie’s voice was just the reminder she needed. “I’m not crying, Tammie.”

  “Yes, you are. I can hear it in your voice. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, really. It’s been a stressful day and I’m tired. That’s all.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You are not backing out on me. I stood in the rain for six hours to get these tickets so we could see the Good Time Boys. Don’t tell me you forgot.”

  Yes. “No.”

  “Good. I’ll be there in thirty minutes to pick you up.”

  “I’ll be ready.” The last thing she wanted to do was go to a concert, but she was grateful for the distraction.

  “You better be. And Marie, please don’t dress like an old lady.”

  Marie heard the phone disconnect before she could find a proper response to her sister’s snide remark. Hanging up the receiver, she released a long sigh and dashed a hand over her cheeks once more. The pity party was over. It was as good a time as any to pretend life was getting back to normal.

  She stood and moved to the closet. Standing in front of the full-length mirror attached to the inside of the closet door, she surveyed her appearance. She didn’t dress like an old lady. She dressed like the businesswoman she was. The outfit she was presently wearing wasn’t uptight. Then again, she had been with Tammie when she bought it.

  Okay, so maybe she was a little on the conservative side, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a decent outfit to wear. Marie checked her watch. She just needed to find the perfect outfit in the next twenty-four minutes.

  Chapter Twelve

  LD mumbled the word police and flashed his badge as a means of clearing a path through the crowd. Thirty years ago, the warehouses that lined the streets of Algiers, Louisiana had bustled with dockworkers and tradesmen. The boom died and most of the buildings remained vacant up until three years ago when a businessman got the bright idea to renovate the area for tourism. Now, the six-block area LD walked through was an adult-only hotspot that came to life every evening after seven.

  Fifteen years ago, as a teenager, LD made the trip across the bridge connecting New Orleans to Algiers more times than he cared to remember. Most of those trips were with Rob. They always said they were going across the river to smoke and drink, but truly they both were escaping their homes. Their reasons were different, but their needs the same.

  Turning the corner onto Morgan Street, LD spotted Club Raga. The crowd grew thicker directly in front of the club. He continued to make his way discreetly toward the club’s entrance, but as he crossed the street, he spotted a few reporters lurking to the right of the front door. With reporters hanging around, he could no longer afford to flash his badge.

  “No ticket, no entrance. If you have a ticket, hold it in the air. The rest of you move out of the way.” The man bellowing the orders was small in stature and didn’t look as if he could stop a butterfly from gaining entrance to a dance recital. The two men who flanked him were another story. LD pulled a ticket from his pocket and held it in the air. The crowd reluctantly parted so he could pass, but only after the doorman yelled some more and added a few descriptive phrases to his words. He snatched the paper from LD’s hand as he reached the front of the line.

  “This is a parking garage ticket. I don’t appreciate jokes mister, especially tonight.”

  “It’s not a joke. I was told to come here and ask for Rob Jackson.”

  “Carmouche?”

  “Yeah, I can show you some identification.” LD reached for his wallet.

  “No need. If you ain’t who you say, Rob will handle it.”

  He found Rob inside by the bar. As he took in the sight of his looming friend, he was grateful Rob was on his side. Rob learned to fight at an early age, self-preservation did that to a person.

  “You made it!” Rob shouted over the music.

  “Barely! This place is a zoo!”

  “Follow me!”

  Rob led him to a winding staircase that took them to a second floor balcony where the inside wall was draped in black velvet. Wait staff carrying trays laden with food and drinks scurried along the corridor and disappeared behind heavy curtains.

  “Check out the small red lights next to the ceiling. They mark the entrances to the private boxes.” Up here, the noise level decreased enough the two men could walk side by side and not have to shout to be heard.

  “Private boxes in a club?”

  “Expensive private boxes.” Rob pulled back a curtain and motioned LD inside.

  “Rob, you’re back.” A tall, well-endowed redhead stood and walked toward him, draping a possessive arm across his shoulders.

  “And you brought a friend.” A blonde rested against the back of the couch and surveyed LD. After a moment, she turned her attention to Rob. “I thought it was only going to be a threesome, but if your friend is interested, I think we could have some fun.”

  LD turned and stared at Rob.

  Rob continued to talk to the women. “Later. Now, why don’t you two head downstairs and dance? The two of us have business to discuss.”

  The blond stood and walked across the small room, stopping in front of LD. “We were hoping to start our own party before the Good Time Boys took the stage.”

  LD stopped the woman’s hand before it made contact with his crotch. “Not now.” Not ever, was what he really wanted to say.

  “Go on, we want to watch the two of you dance.” Rob put an arm around each woman as he ushered them to the door.

  “If you stay here, then who do we dance with?” the redhead asked as Rob pushed her out the door.

  “Each other.”

  LD walked to the edge of the box and peered down at the crowd and stage before he returned to Rob’s side.
The large L-shaped couch and square coffee table were on a raised dais that gave the occupants an unobstructed view of both the stage and the other boxes. The balcony level wrapped around three sides and overlooked the stage on the ground floor, which was set against the fourth wall. Their booth was located on one of the long walls at about its midpoint. “Was that necessary?”

  Rob shrugged. “It’s what they expect, LD. We’re in a modern-day brothel.”

  LD followed the direction of Rob’s gaze to the booth across from them. Arms and legs meshed in an obvious orgy. “I’m getting too old for this crap.”

  “Yeah, you are.”

  LD didn’t take the bait, knowing full well Rob wasn’t indifferent to the shocking scene before them. Instead, he changed the subject. “Where’s Marie? Why is she here? Who is she with? And why didn’t you call me?”

  Rob arched one eyebrow at him. “You told me to watch Marie, which I’m doing as we speak. I didn’t think I needed to check in with you every time she made a move.”

  LD glared at Rob, then rubbed his eyes. “Sorry. I stopped by Marie’s house to see how it was going. When I got there, neither of you were around but her car was parked in the drive.”

  “And you panicked.”

  Did not was on the tip of his tongue, but he managed to contain it. It was bad enough knowing Rob knew the truth; he didn’t need to confirm it by acting like an eight year old. “I need to know she’s safe.”

  A heavy sigh escaped Rob. “She’s across the way. In the large corner booth.”

  LD caught sight of Marie, but the distance was too great to make out details. “Who’s she with?”

  “Tammie picked her up and brought her. By the time I talked my way in, she was already hanging with Nic Langtry.”

  LD vaguely remembered Nic growing up. Even though their parents moved in the same circle, they never socialized. If memory served him correctly, Nic had left the country. “So Nic’s back in town.”

  “And doing things in a big way.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning he showed up three years ago with money to burn and started this.” Rob spread his arms in a sweeping gesture.

  “I didn’t think the Langtrys were that well-off.”

  “They’re not.” LD and Rob exchanged a quick look and he knew they were both wondering where the money came from. But it wasn’t his concern at the moment. From where they were situated, his view into Nic’s box was unobstructed. “One of the doors leads out, but what’s behind the other?”

  “Haven’t a clue. My guess is that’s where the real party is taking place.”

  LD tensed as Nic approached Marie, then dropped down beside her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Think I’ll go pay old Nic a visit.” LD stood and started for the curtained entrance.

  “That’s a private party over there. Very private. Don’t count on getting in.”

  “Didn’t let you in, did they?”

  “Nope, got cut off at the knees.” Rob made a slicing motion with a hand. “And if I couldn’t talk my way in, you don’t stand a chance.”

  LD chuckled. “But I have something you don’t.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “A father who’s the governor.”

  Rob caught up with him. “You’ve never played that card before. Not even when we were teens and your father was mayor. Lord knows we could have used the help scamming the girls back then.”

  “You never needed any help with the girls.” LD glanced over and saw the pained expression that flicked across Rob’s face before a smug grin masked it.

  They reached the entrance to Nic’s private box and the two men let their conversation drop as LD extended his hand to the man guarding the entrance. “Hey, there. I’m LD Carmouche. You may know my father, Governor Carmouche?”

  The door opened.

  LD circled the small room, searching the faces for the one that mattered. He reached the drape which covered the entrance to the second room and pulled it aside.

  “She’s not here.” Nic stood inside the door as if he’d been waiting for LD.

  “Don’t remember saying I was looking for anyone.” LD watched Nic take a drag off a cigarette.

  Nic gave a short bark of laughter. “You never could lie worth a damn.”

  LD shifted to a more casual stance. “Thought I’d drop in and see how you’re doing.”

  Nic’s smile was small and hard. “I don’t think you’re here to reestablish our friendship.”

  LD couldn’t recall a friendship with Nic but decided not to belabor the point. “Okay, have it your way. If you know so much, then who am I looking for?”

  “Marie Bernard.”

  LD stood there, silently wondering how he knew this.

  “Rumor has it she’s your woman.” Nic dropped his cigarette on the floor and ground it out with the toe of his shoe. “I didn’t believe it at first, because there was no way you would ever get involved with any woman. But then she shows up tonight and not two seconds later, you come sniffing around.”

  “I’m working a case, nothing personal.” His words were hard and low, but the undercurrent was deadly and he knew Nic picked up on it by the way he arched an eyebrow back at him.

  Nic’s words were spoken in the same unnerving tone. “You’d better do something then, because Black is back in town, looking for action. If he even thinks there’s a possibility of a relationship between you two, he’ll use it to his advantage.”

  LD’s heart lurched. He’d been right all along about Black and now he had his proof. “You would be telling me this because?”

  “Black was here a few days ago and he was showing off some samples of exceptional ice he needs to move fast. He said some very unkind things about you. Marie Bernard is a decent lady. Not many of those left these days and she doesn’t deserve to be hurt in any form or fashion.”

  LD wondered when Nic had gotten into diamond brokering. “If I were looking for Ms. Bernard, where would I find her?”

  Nic didn’t answer in words, but instead nodded toward the large window that looked down on the party below.

  Tuning to look, LD searched the crowd for Marie, his eyes scanning the sea of moving bodies below. The area looked more like a mob scene than a dance floor. Panic gripped his gut as he finished his initial survey and couldn’t find her.

  Then a flash of red caught his eye before it disappeared. Leaning closer to the glass, LD searched the area almost directly below him. A couple was slow dancing at the edge of the crowd, but the man was blocking his view of the woman.

  Turn. Turn. LD chanted in his mind as he fought the urge to pound on the glass. After several long, excruciating seconds, the pair turned.

  Several colorful expletives escaped him as he turned away from the window.

  “LD.”

  LD stopped and turned back to Nic. “What?”

  “Black knows she’s your woman.”

  “She’s not,” he lied, throwing the words over his shoulder as he continued toward the door.

  “Remember, there are more ways than one to die. Watch your back,” Nic shouted.

  Crossing the outer party room, LD signaled for Rob to follow.

  “Did you find her?” Rob asked as they reached the dimly lit hallway.

  “Marie and Tammie are both down on the dance floor. I want you to get Tammie out of here, take her home and make sure she’s watched. I’ll take care of Marie tonight.”

  * * * * *

  “You’re shivering. Are you cold?”

  The arm around Marie tightened, and then expertly her partner guided her out of the path of another couple. “No.”

  The hand at her back slipped under the edge of her short leather jacket and caressed the exposed skin above the waistband of her pants. Marie caught her breath and shivered as the cold fingers grazed her skin.

  “Then perhaps it is desire that leaves you gasping and shivering in my arms.”

  Marie looked up into the most startl
ing blue eyes she’d ever seen. “I don’t think so.”

  One dark eyebrow arched. “Then perhaps it’s fear.”

  Marie instinctively pulled back, but the arm held her fast. “Fear is almost as powerful an emotion as love. It’s definitely a strong aphrodisiac.”

  Marie’s heart skipped a beat, and then started racing hard inside her chest. Searching the crowd, she tried to find a friendly face. At the moment, she’d settle for a sober face, friendly or not. She was being expertly extracted from the crowd and her sister. Despite her efforts to redirect their path, her partner was herding her toward a side exit. “No, I’m not aroused.”

  “Pity, because we could have so much fun together.”

  Marie stopped. There was no way she was moving an inch closer to the door. Her hands dropped to her sides. “Thank you for the dance, but I’m going back to find my sister now.”

  Claw-like fingers wrapped painfully around her upper arm. “I don’t think so.”

  Marie tried to pull her arm free, but the grip on it only tightened. “I’ll scream if you don’t let go.”

  “Go ahead. No one will even notice.”

  Panic welled inside her because she knew he was right. In this mob, another screaming woman would never be noticed. With no other option at hand, Marie dug in her heels, took a deep breath and choked as a strong arm wrapped around her middle, stopping her forward movement. “The woman doesn’t want to go with you.”

  The hold on her arm fell away as her dance partner stepped back. Predatory eyes evaluated the new threat standing behind her. With a slight nod of his head, her former partner turned and left the building. The fear she was holding tightly inside escaped, causing a shiver to pass through her.

  “There’s nothing to be frightened of, you’re safe now.”

  She stepped away from the arms that rescued her. As she turned to face her savior, a slightly hysterical laugh escaped from between her lips. “Safe? From whom? You? There are those who would disagree with that statement—Black.”