The Devil's Orchard

by Ali Vali

  She heard the tap of Merrick’s cane and the door opened wider. “I put Shaun Quinn on him, since he was the closest to us that day. He’s young, but I’m sure he knows not to drop the ball on this, especially when I told him to find someone to relieve him when he was off. You want me to call him?”

  “Wait, what guy are y’all talking about?” Katlin repeated.

  “That’s a good question that I’m sure Cain would love to answer over a cup of coffee since I’m up now,” Emma said from behind her.

  “It’s too early for coffee. Let’s go downstairs and make a few calls.”

  Cain got Muriel up as they headed down, and she waited for Merrick to make the call. “Whoever he is, he’s at the Piquant, so I’d rule out FBI, and Shaun said he’s in for the night. Actually he hasn’t been out much since we left, but he does have another guy with him when he goes out to eat and such. If it makes you feel better I told him to put someone at all the entrances to make sure we don’t lose him.” Merrick sat next to Katlin when she was done and yawned. “Now, will you tell us why we’re up in the middle of the night?”

  “It’s Juan.”

  Despite them all having been asleep five minutes earlier, they stared at her with the silence that could only come from shock. But saying it out loud made her believe it more. He was right in front of her with his hand on Hannah, and she’d never realized it until now.

  “What do you mean it’s Juan?” Emma grabbed Cain’s forearm.

  “There was only one way for him to come back, and he did it. The man at the top of the steps the day we went to Remi and Dallas’s new place was Juan.”

  “I hate to argue with you, honey, but that guy wasn’t Mexican and looked nothing like Juan,” Emma said, but she stared at her as if something was starting to come back.

  “He changed his face through surgery. It was his only escape, and hell if I didn’t fall for it. Do you realize how close he was to you, Hannah, and Hayden? If he’d been his usual stupid self I would’ve lost every single one of you before I could stop him.” She’d been right all along—Juan couldn’t help himself. He’d come back to finish what she’d denied him. “He was there the last time Hayden and I went to the gun range and at the house that day.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Katlin asked. “Not that I’m trying to disagree with you.”

  “Think about Juan when we first met him, but not how he talked or acted. Think about his mannerisms.”

  “Oh, my God,” Emma said, as if the truth had been dumped in her lap. “That day in Jackson Square when he confronted me and Lou was with me. We’d had our mock fight and you’d stormed away toward the church. He came out from the coffee shop and stood there with his hands behind his back. He rocked as he spoke, only showing his fists when Lou talked back to him. If Shelby hadn’t shown up right then I believe he would’ve been arrogant enough to have Lou shot in broad daylight.”

  “There’s no way in the world that stupid bastard did that on his own,” Muriel said.

  “He didn’t.” Cain put her arm around Emma, not wanting to worry her any more than she had to. “Anthony Curtis helped him get out of town, and he ran all the way home to his mother. Gracelia, from my understanding, is at times hasty, but she’s a lot smarter than Juan. Think about it. She stole Rodolfo’s business from him and killed him without much trouble. If Anthony is still part of that equation, then he’s gone all in, because he certainly can’t come back to his old life after what happened with Emma and Merrick.”

  “So we go back and kill the little shit?” Katlin asked.

  “We’ll get to that, but if we kill Juan right away it scares away his accomplice. I want Juan so bad I’m willing to sell my soul to the devil, but if I’m going to do that, I want both of them.”

  “How do we find Anthony?” Merrick asked. “Especially if he went through the same drastic overhaul of his face as Juan.”

  “We start with Vincent and see what that shakes loose.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Emma asked.

  “Sometimes to catch a snake, you need a rat to bait the trap.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jerome walked the levee again and puffed on his cigarette as he casually glanced behind him. He hadn’t chanced any other calls, but the young woman in the lobby was there again this morning. It was the third day he’d come down to get out of the room where Gracelia was cursing him for making her go through the hell she was in stuck with only him to count on.

  Pablo followed him out and looked over his shoulder as well when Jerome did. He waved him over to make him walk faster. The more time passed when he wasn’t getting anything done, the antsier he got, and not even the coke he was consuming was helping.

  “Señor, I hear from Miguel Gonzalez. If you say yes, we can go soon, but Señor Delarosa no is here,” Pablo whispered excitedly, even though they were alone. It was one of the reasons Jerome liked this guy more and more. Pablo was a nervous little ninny, but that kept him alive and out of trouble.

  “When, then?”

  “He say to come at the end of week. We got problem before we start.”

  “Pablo, call me Jerome, okay, and try and ease up a little bit. I’m not going to throw you to the wolves for telling me the truth. Try to remember that I’m not Gracelia and I’m not going to shoot you in the head on a whim.” Sometimes he doubted Pablo understood half of what he was saying, but he was reasonable when he compared him to the others Gracelia had surrounded herself with.

  “Delarosa, he want to know why Señora Gracelia no come to talk to him. He no know you and he no trust no man he no know.”

  “So does he want to talk to me or not?”

  “He say you gamble to come, but he want to see if you have cojones or no.”

  The young woman stepped outside to the small coffee stand right by the door and seemed to be ordering something. She never really paid attention to them, and the guy serving her was engaged in a conversation with her. From everything Jerome saw, whatever the bitch was there for, it seemed it wasn’t to spy on him. Even though she was young, the woman was good.

  “Tell him we’ll be there, but you’re not responsible for me.”

  “What you mean?”

  “If he doesn’t want to work with me, or trust me, I’ll take that alone. You can tell him you work for Gracelia Luis and I made you call. Whatever happens, I want you to be able to walk out of there because of your loyalty.”

  “Gracias, Jerome,” Pablo said, and took his hand. “You go and I go, but I tell Señor Delarosa I with you, and trust you.”

  “Let’s go, then.” Jerome tossed the car keys to Pablo. It was still early, but he wanted to find out if they’d hit someone’s radar. “I need to do some other things.”

  They headed back toward the hotel since the parking garage was located through the back of the lobby. As they walked past the coffee shop the young woman barely gave them a look, seeming to concentrate on her magazine and drink. Jerome stopped in the lobby and waited, putting his hand on Pablo’s arm to make him stop. When five minutes went by and the woman didn’t come in after them, he relaxed.

  Jerome asked Pablo to stop at one of the larger gas stations down the large boulevard the hotel was on. He went in with a baseball cap low on his head, not wanting to take any chances of anyone remembering him. The throwaway phones were close to the register, and he picked up two, along with a card, and paid cash. The girl who rang him up smiled as she chewed her gum and pointed to where the restrooms were when he asked.

  He checked under each stall and ripped one of the phones out of its plastic container. The number he needed was hidden in his shoe under the liner, another technique he’d learned in his time with the Bureau. It rang six times before someone answered, and he waited for them to say something.

  “Do you want to talk now or should I enjoy the beach?”

  “Have you told Mom that I’m okay?” He sat on the toilet, not caring how dirty it was. The roller coaster he’d been on was
exhausting, and his father’s voice made him want to lie down and sleep.

  “Where are you now? Wait. Don’t tell me specifically. Are you in the States?”

  “Yeah, and I’m making my way to you. Are you willing to help me or should I go it alone?” One of the greatest disappointments of his life was the day he’d taken his oath to enter the Bureau and his father wasn’t there. He’d worked his ass off to follow in his father’s footsteps, but by that time his dad lived under a cloud of suspicion that got heavier and darker by the day.

  The academy director had told him it would be better if his dad skipped the ceremony, but his mother was welcome. By the time he’d gotten his post at the New Orleans office where his dad had last served, Matt Curtis, decorated agent, had taken a voluntary-retirement offer. He’d explained it saved him and his mother from a lengthy investigation and the embarrassment of shredding his reputation.

  He’d grown to hate Annabel, who he blamed for what had happened to his father, even if she hadn’t come to New Orleans permanently until after Barney was taken in. It was Annabel who had come down to lead the witch hunt against his dad. Her success had been why she’d gotten the job once Barney had been caught with his hand up Big Gino’s ass.

  “What are you into?” Matt asked.

  “I don’t have time for that, but know that if you decide to help him, I’m way ahead of where you were. It’s enough of a lead that we can set things straight. Money is the only thing you need to get even, that’s what you always said.”

  “Don’t use your own trouble and compare it to mine to try to drag me into whatever this is,” his dad said, and sounded old and scared to him. “I’m not saying no, but your mother, she’s been through enough, and I’m not sure she can stand one more thing. On most days I think that, as hard as it is for her to accept that you’re gone, it’s best that you stay dead.”

  “So that’s your answer?” He couldn’t fucking believe it. Whatever came next, all he had were Gracelia and Pablo. He was screwed.

  “For now leave your mother out of it, and we’ll see where this takes us. Don’t get crazy on me and think I’m going to leave you to hang. You’re my son and I’m going to do whatever I can to help you. When can you get close enough?”

  “I’ve got something important later, so give me time. I’ll call you the same way, and if nothing’s wrong, answer the same way. If you’ve been made or you think someone’s on your ass, answer by asking if I can talk because it’s raining. You understand?”

  “Perfectly, and take care of yourself. Don’t do anything that’s going to get you hurt or worse before I can get to you. One wrong move because you mistake someone’s kindness, and you’re sunk. Don’t forget that.”

  “I’ve made it so far, but I’ll be happy to have you watching my ass. Take care yourself.”

  *

  “No.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest, which Cain interpreted as defiance. The longer they were together, the stronger and more assured Emma became, and she wasn’t sorry about that. Having a partner in every aspect of her life was something Cain appreciated and should’ve figured out sooner. “Think of something else because I’m not staying here like a damsel in distress while you go home where there’s a list as long as my arm of people who want to hurt you.”

  “Lass, think about it. If we leave together, the kids are going to complain about coming back with us. Remember the last time. The best thing is for you to stay here, and I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. You give me the opportunity, and I can finish this without having to worry about that bastard coming anywhere near you or our kids.”

  “Don’t ask me to do that. Please don’t, because I don’t think I can handle it, not anymore.” Emma looked deflated and fell against her. “I can’t let you go alone and stay here going out of my mind.”

  Cain put her arms around Emma and looked out at the lake, trying to spot any of Ronald’s men. It would be best for her to go alone, without the FBI detail tailing her, and come back before they realized she was gone. That probably would never happen, but she had simple dreams about stuff like this. They stood together, and she imagined Emma was working on her argument when the door opened behind them. Hayden came in and put a hand on each of their shoulders.

  “Mama’s right about this, Mom.” He made eye contact with Cain, and his smile mirrored hers. “Right now it’s not a good idea to make her worry too much.”

  “Did you raise his allowance or something?” she asked Emma as she gave her a mock glare.

  “He’s your son and was tops in his class, so don’t try to beat him in this debate.” Emma pinched her on the butt.

  “We have to discuss this seriously. I don’t like talking about what happened, but you know what this guy wants, and if we give Juan the chance he won’t hesitate to try again. If I’m right, and I know in here that I am,” she patted the side of her stomach, “think about what he’s done to try again. How crazy do you have to be to go through reconstructive surgery to press the restart button?”

  Emma and Hayden appeared at a loss for words after she’d explained her side of the argument. She didn’t want to hurt them with the truth, but it was easy to forget when you were somewhere safe and no one could touch you. “If I say yes—” She stopped when Emma’s smile widened. “I said if, so pay attention. You have to stay home and not make yourself a target. Are you going to have a problem with that?”

  “I just want to be there for you, because even if you’ve figured out Juan’s secret, this still won’t be a cakewalk. I don’t want to be a target, but I do want to be a comfort as you go through this ordeal.”

  Hayden grinned. “And I’ll take care of Hannah here and wait for you to return. If you go back to work, then we can finish our vacation and wrap up the wedding plans. When I start high school I can finally say my parents are married.”

  They went into town as a family and had lunch while Ronald and Brent stood across the street within view, as if they wanted her to see them. It was humorous in a way, since Ronald’s face was still tight and his movements vicious, as if he was still angry. She and Emma got up to go to the bathroom, and though she didn’t think it would work, they walked out the back door and got a ride to the airport from her favorite waitress. This time Remi’s plane wasn’t there waiting, but they took a small hopper plane to Chicago and a commercial plane from there. When they boarded that one, she called the café and told Ross to go ahead and head back to the house. He’d move into the cabin until they returned.

  The night before, she’d had a great talk with Hayden, and she came away thinking that after her lecture about anger, he finally understood. Granted, they had a few years before his education started in earnest, but stuff like this was important for him to learn now. Ronald had fallen for everything she’d thrown at him, and his anger had blinded him and his team to a couple of things or people. The night before, Katlin, Lou, and about six guards had left, with the help of Jerry and a few of the small carts they used on the farm. When she and Emma landed, the people she trusted most with both their lives would be waiting.

  “Have you thought of how best to do this?” Emma asked in a whisper.

  “This is an interesting dilemma, if you think about it. Before, with problems like this, you take care of them and they go away.”

  “But this time one of the problems used to be an FBI agent,” Emma said, close enough to kiss her on the nose.

  “You can never know, considering what Shelby and Brent did, how much leeway these guys have in an undercover assignment to bend the rules. Anthony might’ve been turned by Juan, or he could be the greatest undercover agent in the history of the world. If I take care of a problem that’s a problem for the FBI too, then maybe there won’t be much fallout, but,” she waggled her hand, “if he’s the greatest at his job, then we’ll have a problem for a while.”

  “What’s your best guess?” Emma turned her head and kissed her, which made the woman across from them stare. Cain was about to tell the bitch s
omething when Emma grabbed her by the collar and kissed her again. “Not worth it. Save your anger for later.”

  “You’re good for me, lass. The last thing I need is for air marshals to take me in. To answer your question, I don’t think he’s getting any awards for his fantastic job performance and his dedication. Even after what that guy Brent did and got away with, I can’t believe they’d give him that much rope to close a case. Especially since Juan and his mother aren’t the Bureau’s business. Not really.”

  “Remember not to do anything that’ll make you have to change your face.” Emma rested her head on Cain’s shoulder. “The only thing that scares me about all of this is that I should’ve known or felt something when he was that close to us. When I remember his hand on Hannah’s I’m tempted to ask you to let me come along. It’s so strange that he became so fixated on us.”

  “Not really.” Cain moved a little so the attendant could put their drinks down. “What Carlos told me was that Rodolfo, for some reason, never acknowledged him as his son until the very end, but spoiled Juan from birth and never gave him many responsibilities. When Juan wanted anything, he got it.” She took a drink from her soda and pushed Emma’s water closer to her. “Anyone who’s raised that way never becomes a reasonable person. No has to be part of any child’s vocabulary. If not, Juan is the result.”

  They finished their talk on the plane and were able to walk through the airport to the outside in no time, since they didn’t have luggage. Lou was parked close to where they exited, and she signaled for him to stay behind the wheel. She wanted to get out of there as soon as she could so Emma wasn’t outside and exposed.

  “Talk to me, Lou.”

  “Sabana’s not answering her phone,” He started down the ramp and waited until they were at a traffic light to glance back at her. “Shaun is at the Piquant but hasn’t spotted the guy you had him following. Now that we know it’s Juan, he’s covered every exit, but still nothing.”