by Rebecca Deel
“You aren’t helping.”
“What I’m trying to say in a lousy way is you’ll be walking into an unknown situation with total strangers who might be hostile. You need someone to watch your back so you can focus on what’s important. I want to be the one you turn to for support and, if need be, for protection. Let me do that for you, honey.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?” Lily couldn’t give him more than that at the moment. Her emotions churned so much, no one feeling rose to the top for her to deal with. They were all a swirling mass of jumbled chaos, much like the French Quarter nightlife.
“Good enough. Why don’t you turn in, Lily.” He stood, drew her to her feet. “The stores open at ten around here, so don’t feel like you have to be up early.” Remy leaned down, gave her a brief, gentle kiss. “I’ll see you in the morning, elf.”
A shiver worked its way down her spine. She couldn’t let him see how he affected her. He already held too much sway over her as it was. No point in giving Remy Doucet any more ammunition. The man was lethal to her heart.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Remy stood on the balcony, sipping chicory coffee, something he missed when not at home. His mother sent a supply every couple of months, but nothing beat the real thing brewed fresh in the French Quarter.
He wondered if Lily would like the drink. It was definitely an acquired taste. He hoped to take her to Cafe du Monde this morning, wanting to watch her face as she took her first bite of a beignet. The Acadian fritter was addicting. It was one of the many foods he missed while living in Nashville.
“Hey.” Lily’s light tread sounded behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Good morning. You look rested.”
She smiled. “I slept like a baby since I didn’t have to worry about Lucifer joining me in the house.”
Remy laughed. “Hungry, sweetness?”
“Yes.” She eyed his mug. “Is that coffee?”
“It is. If you’re ready to go, I’ll take you out for breakfast at an outdoor cafe not far from here.”
He walked with her to Decatur Street, ordered chicory coffee for them both as well as beignets. While he waited for their order, Remy watched Lily take in the atmosphere and smiled. She looked like a kid in a candy store. The woman loved the city and seemed charmed by the French architecture and old-world atmosphere. He wished this wasn’t a business trip. He’d love to play tourist with her for a few days. Hopefully, she wouldn’t kick him to the curb after this mission was complete. The more he spent time with Lily, the more he realized how perfect she was for him.
By the time their order was ready, Lily had scored a table at the railing where she could watch the people stroll down the street and the horse-drawn carriages roll past. A light rain began to fall, a common occurrence in New Orleans. This probably wouldn’t be the last time today, either. As the afternoon heated up, the rain chances rose.
He carried a tray with their breakfast to the table and sat across from her.
Her eyes widened at the powdered sugar covered treats. “What is that? It looks fabulous.”
“It’s called a beignet.” Remy gave her the hot drink. “This is a specialty here. It’s chicory coffee. The taste is distinctive, strong. I brought cream if you need to tone it down some. I can also get you plain coffee if that’s not to your liking.”
“If I can survive Brent’s brew, I can handle this one.”
He flinched at the memory of his boss’s coffee. Couldn’t figure out how the man drank the sludge he called coffee. He was surprised Brent didn’t have an ulcer by now drinking that stuff.
Lily sipped the steaming contents of her cup. Her eyes widened. “Whoa.”
“Bad or good?”
“Incredible.”
“Mom keeps me supplied. I’ll tell her to add you to the list.” He nudged the plate of beignets closer to her. “Try one.”
After another sip of the coffee, she lifted a fritter to her mouth and bit in. Immediately her eyes closed. “Oh, Remy. This is amazing. Can your mother send these too?”
He chuckled. “Cold beignets just don’t taste the same, sweetness. She does send me the mix, though. If you have a deep fryer, I’ll be glad to come make them with you.”
“A what?”
Remy grinned. “A deep fryer. I’ll take that as a no. I’ll bring that, too.”
“You’re hired. If we have any leftovers, I’m keeping them.”
After they finished breakfast, they walked to French Quarter Boutique on Chartres Street. A bell over the shop door rang, announcing their entry into the feminine establishment. Remy glanced around, his eyebrows rising. Wow. No wonder Christine liked this place. It had everything from clothes to lingerie. Some of the items he saw made his cheeks heat. Yep, he was really out of his element here. A look at Lily told him she was just as uncomfortable as he was.
“Can I help you?” A tall brunette with the skin tone of a Cajun approached them, her gaze on Lily.
His partner smiled. “Are you Erin Hughes?”
“I am. I own French Quarter Boutique.”
“We’re looking for a friend. She usually shops here and we heard she’s in town this week.”
“Really?” Curiosity lit Erin’s eyes. “What’s your friend’s name?”
“Christine Wilder.”
A quick smile. “Chris is in town?”
That’s what he was afraid of. “You haven’t seen her?” Remy asked.
“Not for a couple weeks. She usually stops by when she’s here.” Her smile faded. “Why are you looking for her? Is something wrong?”
“She’s been missing for over a week. Her husband asked us to look for her.”
All color drained from Erin’s face. “Oh, no. That can’t be.”
“Are you all right?” Lily asked as she reached for the other woman’s arm. “Is there someplace you can sit down? You look like you’re about to faint.”
She waved vaguely in the direction of the cash register. Remy spotted a couple stools behind the sales counter. He escorted her to the stool and got her settled before he said, “Do you have any water I can get for you?”
“There’s a small kitchenette in the back with bottled water.”
“I’ll be right back,” he murmured to Lily. He crossed the store in a few strides and walked into a small kitchen area. In the refrigerator he found a case of water. Grabbing one bottle, he returned to Erin and Lily. He pressed the cold bottle into Erin’s hand. “Drink some of this. It will help.”
Erin’s hand shook so much Lily had to help her hold the bottle steady. After she drank part of the water, she said, “I don’t understand. What’s happened to Chris?”
“We’re not exactly sure, but we think she went to a doctor for a special treatment. Her husband is very concerned about her.”
“He knows?”
Remy tilted his head. “That’s she has cancer? Yes, he knows.”
She sighed. “I’m glad she finally said something to him. I told her James loved her and wouldn’t care if she couldn’t ever have children. It’s not like there aren’t a lot of children available for adoption. They need good homes, too. She was so afraid of disappointing him.”
“Do you know the name of this doctor she was seeing?”
Erin shook her head. “She never told me a name, just that he was here in the Quarter.” She frowned. “If she’s here for treatment, she’d stay at the Grand Hotel. That’s where she always stays.”
“I already inquired at the hotel, Erin. She’s not registered.”
“This is really bad. What if something has happened to her?”
“We’re going to find her,” Lily said. “Did she indicate where the doctor’s office might be? A street name?”
“I think he’s on Dumaine Street.”
Well, that was a direction at least. “Do you know how she heard about this guy?”
“From Trina at the hotel.”
“Does she work the desk?” Lily asked.
“
She’s the concierge. I think she starts work about mid-afternoon.”
Probably the three to ten shift. “Do you know anyone else Christine might spend time with in the area?”
“She loves to shop at Wicks, down the street to your right.”
“Do you know of anyone who might have gone to Oak Hill and transported her here?” Lily asked.
Erin looked startled. “She didn’t drive here?”
“Her car was found near a bayou along with her purse.”
The other woman squeezed her eyes shut. “It sounds like she was kidnapped. Is that what happened?”
“No ransom demand,” Remy said. “Can you think of anything else that might help? She’s been gone too long and the trail is getting colder by the hour.”
“If I did, I’d tell you. This just isn’t like her to worry James. Look, I’ll call around to places where she normally goes, see if anyone has talked to her in the last week.”
“That would be helpful.” He dug out his contact card. “Call me if you hear anything we need to know. Lily and I will go to Wicks. Who do we talk to?”
“Katie Benson. They became friends a few months ago when Chris was in charge of decorations for some charity event in Oak Hill.” She glanced at the card in her hand, froze. Her gaze darted to his. “You’re Chris’s Remy?”
He blinked. “Not for twelve years. Christine and I dated for a year in high school.”
“She talked about you a few times, wondered where you were, if you were happy. I think she felt bad about how she treated you.”
“She made the right choice, Erin. James is a good man and it’s obvious he’s crazy about her. I got over her a long time ago.”
“I hope you find her so you can tell her that.” A small smile curved her lips. “She’d love to see you so content.” Her gaze shifted to Lily. “Is this your wife?”
“Lily is my girlfriend.”
“Nice to meet you, Lily. Remy, I’ll let you know if I find out anything about Chris. Please, let me know when you find her.”
He gave a nod. “We’ll be in touch soon.”
Outside on the sidewalk, they turned in the direction of Wicks. “Impressions?” he asked.
“Honest, concerned about Christine.” Lily’s head turned in his direction. “Are you surprised Christine mentioned you to her?”
“I am. After she dumped me and married my best friend, I figured she hadn’t given me another thought.”
“Where do we go after we visit Katie?”
“I recognized two jewelry stores on Christine’s shopping list as we walked down here. We’ll check those out, see if she sold her jewelry to the stores. By the time we finish that, I’ll be ready for lunch.”
They walked into Wicks to find the shop busy with tourists. One woman was running the register. From what Remy could see, there were no other employees present. “We’ll have to wait until the people clear out of here before we talk to her,” he murmured.
“Do you think your mother would like something from here?” Lily asked.
“She loves candles. Why?”
“I want to send her a thank you gift for her hospitality.”
Warmth spread throughout his body. She might not have any experience with families, but she would fit well in one. “It’s not necessary, sweetheart, but she’d appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
While waiting for the tourists to complete their purchases, Lily browsed through the selection of candles, picking up one after the other, checking scents. “Do you mind holding a few?”
“Mom trained me well. Load me up, honey.” He grinned as she took him at his word and filled his arms with various size candles. Tapers, pillars, votives, tea lights, and jar candles. His mother would think this was Christmas come early.
Just as he ran out of arm space, the last customer cleared out of Wicks. Perfect. He followed Lily to the cash register, noted the name tag. “Katie Benson?”
The tall redhead smiled. “That’s me. Can I help you find anything else? I have a special going on Christmas candles. The holidays are only a few months away.”
“Where are they?” Lily asked.
“At the back on the right.”
“Remy, why don’t you set those down while I check the sale table.” His partner strode to the back of the store.
Bemused, he watched her progress, which was impeded several times as she stopped to examine more candles. This was a different side of Lily and it was fun to see.
“You’ll need a box for all those,” Katie said.
“Do you ship?”
“I’ll be glad to.”
“Excellent.” He handed her his card. “I’m looking for Christine Wilder. Have you seen her recently?”
The smile slid off the woman’s face. “Why do you want to know?”
“She’s been missing for more than a week. Her husband asked me to find her.”
Katie gasped. “You’re serious?”
“Yes, ma’am. Have you seen her?”
“She came in last Monday. She bought a dozen lavender-scented candles.”
If she was in such a hurry to get started on the treatments, why did she stop here? “Does she normally buy those?”
She shook her head. “Usually, she walks out with a bag full of vanilla and hazelnut cream. The lavender scent is good to relieve stress.”
“How did she seem when you saw her?”
“Great. Better than she’s been in months. Chris was very excited about a new treatment, anxious to get started with it.”
“Erin told us she found a new doctor. Did Christine mention his name?”
Katie thought about that, finally shook her head.
“Did you notice if she drove here or walked?”
“Funny you should mention that. She climbed into the passenger seat of a red sports car with heavily tinted windows. I thought maybe her husband brought her.”
“I don’t suppose you noticed the driver?”
“Sorry.”
Lily returned to the sales counter with an armload of Christmas candles. “I’ll take these, too.”
Remy whistled softly. “Honey, I don’t think my mother will use all these candles in the next couple years. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Her cheeks flushed. “She can share with your sisters-in-law. I couldn’t resist the penguins and Christmas trees. And look at this stocking candle.”
Katie slid over a notepad with an address form. “I need a name and address so I can ship these for you.”
He scrawled the information. “Did Christine mention where her treatments were to be administered? She’s not registered at the hotel she normally stays at. Is there any chance she’s been admitted to a private clinic this doctor runs?”
The shopkeeper crouched behind the counter, rummaging for a box large enough for Lily’s haul. “She did say something about a clinic, but I was under the impression it wasn’t close by.” She stood and began wrapping candles and placing them carefully in the box. “James hasn’t heard from her at all?”
“Nothing.”
“That worries me. Chris doesn’t do things like that.”
Lily handed her the candles. “Is there any possibility she’s stepping out on her husband?”
“No way. That’s not Chris. The only man she ever talked about besides James was an old boyfriend.”
“That would be me,” he murmured.
“You’re that Remy?”
“Do you know if she and James were having any problems?”
“Aside from him wanting children, no. Chris felt so bad about putting off having a family, especially now when it looks like she won’t be able to have children at all.” She stopped. “Unless the treatments work.”
“Did she talk about them?”
“They’re supposed to be all natural, no harsh chemicals, no side effects.”
He hoped his gut was wrong and these treatments cured Christine without sacrificing her ability to have a family. If this doctor was a quack, which
he strongly suspected, the treatments would be nothing more than a delay to the inevitable traditional course of medicine. He just hoped they found her before cancer spread to her lymph nodes.
“Do you know when she was to begin the treatments?” Lily asked.
“Wednesday or Thursday of last week, I think.”
“Did she mention when she was leaving?” Remy asked.
“As soon as she left my store. She insisted the driver stop before they headed to the airport.”
Dread pooled in Remy’s stomach. Airport. There was no telling where Christine ended up once she got on a plane. He needed Zane to check the commercial flights that left Wednesday or Thursday. That search would reveal nothing if she had taken a private plane to the treatment site, but they had to pursue every possibility, no matter how remote.
Katie totaled Lily’s order. The price made Remy’s eyebrows shoot up, but Lily didn’t bat an eyelash as she handed over her credit card. When the transaction was complete, Remy said, “If you think of anything else that might help us find Christine, call me. Her husband is worried and she didn’t take her cell phone with her so he can’t contact her.”
Another group of tourists wandered in as he and Lily left the store.
“Our search just got more complicated,” Lily said.
“We need the doctor’s name. If she flew like Katie thinks, Christine could be anywhere in the world by now.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lily wandered around the jewelry store, eyeing all the glittering gems in elegant settings, displayed against black and white velvet in glass cases. Beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets. Another display case held a wide array of rings. She glanced at her hands, grimaced, shoved them in her pockets. Those rings belonged on women with soft, beautiful hands, not on her nicked and scarred hands with callouses from handling guns and knives.
Remy crossed the store, slid his arm around her waist. “See anything you like, sweetness?”
She slanted a look his way. “A lot of beautiful things that don’t fit my lifestyle.”
He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “You can take them off when you’re on the job.” He leaned closer to the top of the case. “You should try one of the emeralds. Suits your coloring.”
