Bayou Justice

by Robin Caroll

  “We weren’t friends, but I respected him as my boss.” Sammy pocketed the key ring.

  Justin gave a loud snort. “That’s a lie. You couldn’t wait for him to retire, and ya kept pushing Luc here, to decline taking over. You want the manager position and ya know it. No sense in denying the facts.”

  “I only told Luc to follow his heart. I knew he didn’t want the managerial position.” Sammy shoved his hands in the pockets of his khaki slacks.

  “Is that a fact?” Bubba looked to Luc.

  “In Sammy’s defense, I did mention to him that I had no interest in working for the casino.” All the past conversations they’d had rang in his ears. How many snide comments had Sammy made about Grandfather that Luc had ignored? Luc raked his gaze over Sammy. “He didn’t hide the fact he had his eye on becoming casino manager.”

  Sammy gasped. “Luc! You make it sound like I would do anything to get Beau’s job, and that isn’t true.”

  “You know good and well Beau wasn’t going to recommend ya take over, even if Luc didn’t take the job.” Justin clasped his beefy paws in front of him.

  “Is that true, Mr. Moran?” The sheriff scribbled on his notebook as he kept up with the conversation. “If Mr. Trahan recommended someone else take his place instead of you, would you get the job?”

  Still red-faced and now visibly shaken, Sammy shrugged. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask the owner that question.”

  “What’s your position now, since Mr. Trahan’s death?” Bubba stared at the assistant manager.

  “Well, uh.”

  “You’re acting manager, aren’t ya, boy?” Justin’s voice boomed off the marble walls of the penthouse foyer.

  “Until the owners make a decision, yes, I’m acting manager.” He inched toward the door. “As such, I need to get back downstairs and check on things. Am I done here?”

  Sheriff Theriot gave a curt nod. “For now. I’ll find you later to ask you a few more questions and let you know when an officer will come by to help with the clearing out of Mr. Trahan’s things.”

  Sammy nodded and rushed from the suite.

  “There’s another suspect for ya, Sheriff.” Justin shut the door with the toe of his boot. “And why can’t we, Beau’s family, pack up his stuff?”

  “Because we need to log everything.” Bubba stared at Luc’s uncle. “Just in case there’s something important found. Or something important that’s missing.”

  Justin snorted. “Right. So, whatcha looking for here?”

  “I’d just like to glance over your brother’s belongings in their place.” Bubba moved toward the living area. He jerked his head around. “Nice digs.”

  “Beau always did have champagne taste.” Justin chuckled as he followed the sheriff. “Good thing he could afford to support his indulgences.”

  “Is there anything in particular we should be looking for?” Luc asked. A sense of inferiority always washed over him in this place. Like he didn’t measure up to his grandfather’s expectations.

  Bubba headed toward the bedroom. “Just see if you notice anything out of place.” He paused in the doorway and hollered back to them. “Don’t touch anything, though.”

  Still chuckling, Justin wandered into the kitchen. “Wonder if Beau has a cold drink in the icebox.” He pulled open the door and bent. “Hey, Luc, look at this.”

  Luc moved into the kitchen and peered over his uncle’s shoulder into the icebox. “What am I looking at?”

  Justin pointed at the clear top of the crisper bin. “Funny place to keep a checkbook, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Don’t touch the drawer.” Over his shoulder, Luc hollered for Bubba.

  The sheriff strode into the kitchen. “What’d you find?”

  With a jerk of his chin, Justin indicated the bin. “Never knew my brother to keep his banking stuff in the icebox.”

  Bubba waved Justin and Luc back. “Let me take a look.” Hunched over, he used the tip of his pen to slide the drawer out. A leather bankbook lay at the bottom of the bin. He popped on a set of latex gloves from his pocket to grab the checkbook.

  Luc and Justin followed the sheriff as he laid it on the counter and flipped the top open. He let out a low whistle.

  “What?” Luc and Justin asked in unison.

  “There’s an entry dated this past Tuesday. A check written in the amount of fifty-thousand dollars.”

  “To who?” Luc rested his shoulder against the kitchen doorway. He’d never known his grandfather to be that generous with anyone. Not anyone in his family at any rate.

  Bubba lifted his gaze to peer at them. “To FrankThibodeaux.”

  Luc’s gut tightened. “Frank Thibodeaux?”

  “Who is that?” Justin wanted to know.

  “He’s Felicia’s boyfriend.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Luc caught the interest in Bubba’s eyes.

  “The way your momma tells it, Beau didn’t much care for Frank.”

  “He didn’t. I can’t imagine why Grandfather would loan him such an amount of money. It must be a mistake of some sort.” Luc pressed his lips together, wondering what Felicia hadn’t told him.

  Justin snorted. “Beau didn’t loan nobody money.”

  “Then how do you explain this check entry?” Bubba held his pen over his notebook, a questioning look glimmering in his eyes.

  “I can’t.” Luc glanced at his uncle.

  “Beau didn’t mention Felicia’s boyfriend to me.” Justin jerked on his earlobe.

  “Could he have been blackmailing Beau?” The sheriff spoke in a low tone.

  “Blackmail? Why would ya think that?” Justin’s roar ricocheted off the pristine white kitchen cabinets.

  Bubba tapped the top of the pen against his chin. “When a large amount of money is paid to someone in a lump sum, it’s normally either to pay off a debt, a loan or a blackmail payment.” He shoved his glasses back against the bridge of his nose. “Since we can assume Beau wasn’t repaying a debt to this Frank, and y’all claim Beau wouldn’t have loaned the man money, that’s the only other thing that comes to mind.”

  “I can’t think of anything Frank would even know to blackmail Grandfather about.” Luc’s discomfort grew the longer the conversation wore on. What did this mean for Felicia?

  “I’ll talk to him today, that’s for sure.” Bubba’s glasses slipped down his nose again. “Luc, you said Frank had been to the house. No telling what he had access to.”

  “Grandfather wouldn’t tolerate blackmail.” He studied his friend’s face and let out a sigh. “Come on, Bubba, you know how he was. He wouldn’t put up with anybody having something on him.” He gave a shrug. “Besides, according to Felicia, Grandfather had threatened Frank with financial ruin if he didn’t end the relationship with her. Why would he pay Frank a dime?”

  Recognizing the excitement in Bubba’s eyes, Luc shook his head. He’d done it again—unwittingly placed his sister’s boyfriend at the top of the suspect list. Then again, he couldn’t help feeling bewildered about the check. He nodded toward the checkbook. “Any chance it’s a mistake?”

  The sheriff lifted the checkbook and held it up where both Luc and his uncle could read the register. “Would you say this is Beau’s handwriting?”

  “Yep, that’s my brother’s neat penmanship.”

  “Then what other explanation can you offer, Luc?” Bubba stared at him.

  He couldn’t come up with a single reason. What he did know, however, was the pain this would bring his sister. God help them all.

  CoCo stared out the living room window, watching the lightning dance across the sky. She itched to be on the bayou, but knew the weather wouldn’t permit her morning run. She’d finish her report and get it in the mail, the sooner the better. If she beat some of the other grant petitioners, maybe she’d get approval. She desperately needed that grant—without the money, she didn’t know how she’d help support Grandmere and Tara.

  “Watching the storm won’t make it dissipate, ma
chère.”

  She turned to smile at her grandmother. “I know, but I feel like my whole morning is wasted.”

  Grandmere laughed and lowered the dream catcher she was working on to her lap. “You always were happiest when out in the bayou.”

  Moving to sit on the couch beside her grandmother, CoCo studied the older woman. “Grandmere, tell me the truth—do you believe Grandpere signed over the deed to this house?”

  “I really couldn’t say, ma chère. He never said as much to me.”

  CoCo licked her lips, dreading the territory she inched into. “Would he have told you?” She held her breath, waiting for the explosion that was sure to follow.

  Her grandmother didn’t blow. Instead, she let out a long breath. “I’d like to think he would have, but he might not.” Her fingers reached for the round beads in the bowl on the coffee table.

  So, it was possible. Just as she’d feared.

  “Grandmere, if it’s true, why would Beau Trahan have waited all this time to act on it?”

  “Ma chère, I can only surmise his grandson stopped him, out of deference to you.” Her grandmother’s eyes probed deep into CoCo, exploring a place she didn’t want tapped into.

  Doubtful. CoCo recalled her conversations with Luc. “No, that can’t be it. When I told Luc, he was as surprised as we were to hear about the eviction.” She let out a soft sigh. “Besides, Luc never did have the backbone to stand up to his grandfather.” Or even to his own feelings.

  “Hmm.” Grandmere threaded a bead onto the twine and tied it off. “I suppose Justin could have stopped him.”

  “Justin Trahan?” After the way he’d acted yesterday, CoCo couldn’t see him asking his brother to stop taking over their home. He’d seethed animosity toward her family.

  “Of course, Justin Trahan. He and your grandfather were best friends for the longest time, you know.”

  News to her. CoCo lifted a bead from the bowl and passed it to her grandmother. “When was this?”

  “Oh, my, ma chère. Going back before I had Robert, I suppose.”

  Hearing her father’s name spoken aloud, CoCo’s memories of her parents and the pain of her loss slammed against her heart. In thirteen years, not a day had passed when she didn’t long for her mother or father. The yearning hit her full force. She swallowed hard. “I didn’t know.”

  “Oh, yes. Marcel and Justin went hunting ’bout every weekend.” Grandmere looped twine around the hoop, stretching it taut. “Those two were thick as thieves.”

  “What happened? I never remember Grandpere and Justin being together after we moved here.”

  Her grandmother smiled, but kept weaving on the dream catcher. “I suppose they outgrew each other. Marcel and I became wrapped up with Robert. Justin never married, so he couldn’t understand the family life Marcel chose.”

  “After all the time that passed, why would Justin stop his brother from taking over this house years ago?”

  Grandmere lifted her gaze. A sly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I don’t know for certain, ma chère, but I’ve always suspected Justin had a bit of a crush on me.”

  “Really?” CoCo tried to imagine her grandparents in their younger years. She could see her grandmother’s strong features. In her youth, she must have been quite attractive.

  “Don’t sound so surprised, ma chère. I turned a few heads in my time.” Grandmere laughed.

  CoCo had never considered another man might have been interested in her grandmother. Just the thought…eww, CoCo didn’t want to give herself a mental image to carry around. “I didn’t mean any insult, Grandmere. I just never knew.”

  “No reason for you to. I never batted so much as an eyelash at Justin Trahan.” She reached into the bowl of beads again. “Even if I hadn’t been so in love with Marcel, I would never have gotten involved with Justin. Even then, Beau had his family under his thumb.”

  Thinking back to the reaction Justin had given her yesterday, CoCo couldn’t imagine such. “Justin seems to have outgrown that.”

  “Oh, no, ma chère. Make no mistake, Beau Trahan kept a stronghold over his family. Why, I remember a time when he threatened Justin. Told him that if he and Marcel didn’t stop hunting together, he’d tighten all the Trahan purse strings.”

  “Really?”

  “I don’t know why he didn’t like his brother being friends with my Marcel.” Grandmere slipped a gold bead onto the twine. “I think he realized the LeBlancs were a threat to him and his popularity. Back then, his political aspirations were just forming. The LeBlancs weren’t as affluent and well-to-do as the Trahans.” She paused, running a gnarled finger over her bottom lip. “Now that I think about it, that could be the reason why Justin and Marcel went their separate ways.”

  How had she never known any of this? CoCo passed another gold-plated bead to her grandmother. The shine caught her attention. And reminded her of…what?

  Grandmere tied off the bead. “You know, ma chère, I’ve noticed you’ve got that sappy look again.”

  She jerked her attention back to her grandmother. “What?”

  “That look in your eyes. Same one from when you were wrapped up in Luc Trahan.” Grandmere made another loop on the dream catcher. “You’ve been spending quite a bit of time with him.” She clucked her tongue. “I’d hate to see you hurt again. Once a man breaks your trust, you can never fully recover it.”

  CoCo dropped her gaze to the dream catcher. “I’d rather not discuss it.” As if she’d talk about her love life with her grandmother…. That was just wrong.

  The bead drew her gaze again. Round and shiny. The Confederate coin—that’s what it reminded her of.

  “I’m here if you decide you want to talk, ma chère.”

  “Merci. I’ll keep that in mind.” CoCo jumped up. “I have an errand to run, Grandmere. Do you need anything from town?”

  “You sure you should be going out in this weather?” Her grandmother glanced to the window. “Looks pretty nasty out there. Some of the spirits are angry.”

  “I’ll be fine.” CoCo yanked her keys off the peg by the door, refusing to get into the constant debate. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Tell Tara to call me on my cell if you think of anything you need.” Without waiting for a reply, she rushed to her bedroom and grabbed the coin. She flashed her grandmother a quick smile as she darted out the door.

  Rain smacked against her bent head and shoulders as she ran to the Jeep. She glanced up to the sky as she started the ignition. Dark clouds hovered over the bayou. Maybe Grandmere was right—maybe she should wait until the storm passed.

  The small treasure felt cold in her palm. No, she’d go ahead. When the storm passed, she could be out on the bayou again. She cranked the Jeep, then set the coin in the console.

  She’d no more gotten out of the driveway when her phone rang. Jerking it up, she flipped it open. “Hello.”

  “CoCo.” Luc always did say her name with a caress.

  The memory of what Tara had told her last night banished her fantasy. Do. Not. Trust. Luc. Trahan.

  “What do you want, Luc?” She hoped he picked up on her snarkiness.

  “I just left Grandfather’s penthouse with the sheriff. Found out something interesting. Since we’re working together, I thought you’d want to know.”

  “Are we?” She braked at the end of the road, staring through the rain coming down in sheets.

  “Are we what?”

  “Working together. You know, since I found the gun, you’ve acted like you suspected me of putting it back in the bayou.”

  He let out a slow sigh. “No, I don’t suspect you. ”A pregnant paused filled the connection before he spoke again. “Look, I’d like to share this information with you. Your grandmother said you’d left to run errands. Can I meet you somewhere?”

  For just a split second, she considered telling him about the coin. Then logic swooped in. She couldn’t trust him, but she did want to know what he’d discovered. “I should be done in less th
an an hour.”

  “Would you like to meet at the diner or something?”

  “That sounds fine.” Although she’d probably regret it, she needed to see him. She’d blame it on curiosity as to what they found at Beau’s place, but her heart had other ideas.

  “Be careful in the rain.”

  He didn’t have the right to care about her anymore. Or make her think he cared. She shut the phone and dropped it back into the console. It clanked against the coin. The whole trip to the appraiser was probably just a wild-goose chase.

  But what if it wasn’t?

  TEN

  CoCo watched the appraiser, Billy Monahan, run a series of tests. The longer he inspected, the more she wished she hadn’t bothered. The coin couldn’t be authentic.

  She rubbed her bare arms. The air conditioner sure worked great in this business. If this took much longer, she’d have to grab her jacket from the Jeep.

  “Where’d you say you found this?” Billy laid the coin on a velvet pad sitting on the counter.

  “In my yard.” She touched the edge of the metal. It felt cold. Or maybe it was just the blast of air coming from the vent above.

  “Hmm.” He adjusted the light to shine more directly. “This is the second one of these I’ve seen this month.”

  Her hopes crashed to her feet. “Really?”

  “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the gentleman.” He lifted his gaze from the coin to stare into her face. “Let me give you a little history, if you’ll bear with me.” He took off his bifocal glasses and set them on the counter. His bald head shone under the fluorescent lights. “At the New Orleans Mint, they made half-dollar coins with a Union obverse and a Confederate reverse. These are very rare, and worth quite a bit of money.”

  “Why would the Confederacy use a Union obverse on their coins?”

  Billy shrugged. “According to history, in early 1861, Jefferson Davis, then President of the Confederacy, authorized production of a Confederate Half Dollar. They took an ordinary half dollar with the Liberty on the obverse, removed the reverse motif and added a shield with seven stars representing the only seven states that had joined by that time and adding Confederate States of America—Half Dollar. Only four were made.”