“Fine. Have it your way.” Craig held up his hands in capitulation. “I didn’t realize you were so crabby. I’ll give you your space.”
“That would be great.”
Craig turned to leave and then stilled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you. I know you value your privacy.”
The sigh Sully let loose was long and drawn out. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s just been a long day — week really — and this case is bugging me. I hate it when I miss something, especially when it’s probably right in front of me.”
“You’ll figure it out. There’s a reason you’re the one rising up the ranks so fast. I have to get going, though. For some reason someone tried to break into Marie Laveau’s tomb and no one can figure out how it happened since the only tour had ended two hours before the incident was reported.”
Sully straightened in his chair. “This happened today?”
Craig nodded. “Yeah, why?”
Sully thought of what Ofelia told him about Kim’s actions. “I think I’ll go with you.” He grabbed his weapon and badge from the corner of his desk. “I’ll explain on the way why it might be important.”
“Does it have something to do with Ofelia Archer?”
Sully hesitated. “It has something to do with my case,” he replied after a beat. “I don’t know what yet, but I’m sure that the incidents are connected. I need to look around.”
“Knock yourself out. It will give me time to grill you about the woman.”
“There’s nothing going on between us.”
“You keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you’ll believe it.”
OFELIA DECIDED TO TAKE A ROUNDABOUT route back to Krewe. Her mind was muddled after her conversation with Grandma ... and, quite frankly, her visit with her mother wasn’t sitting well with her. She wanted to improve things between them but had no idea where to start.
She meandered as she wound her way around the French Quarter. Per usual, she opted to avoid Bourbon Street and took as many side streets as necessary to accomplish it. She was close to Krewe when a shadow moved across the sidewalk in front of her. When she lifted her head, she found herself face-to-face with a vision from her past.
“Sebastian.” Disdain practically dripped from her tongue at the sight of the man.
“Ofelia.” Amusement flitted across his chiseled features as he regarded her. “Long time no see.”
Not long enough. That was the response on the tip of Ofelia’s tongue, but she managed to hold it in. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was capable of crawling under her skin. That gave him power, and the last thing she wanted was Sebastian Gendry knowing he had power over her.
He already thought he was God’s gift to womankind, after all. He was thirty-two, blond, and a business rival as well as a former boyfriend. Ofelia had spent almost a year with him before she realized what a grave mistake she had made. He was a player, a liar of the highest order, and he preyed on the emotions of others.
In truth, Ofelia was embarrassed that she ignored the inner voice warning her there was something wrong with the relationship for as long as she did. There were times she suspected that Sebastian was stepping out on her and she tamped those feelings so far down it was an effort to access them when the time came. When the break finally occurred, she felt relieved ... and horrified that she’d acted like such a fool. Now all she wanted was distance from him. Since he owned the club around the corner from her, Envie, that wasn’t always possible.
“I really don’t have time to play games with you today,” she said as she moved to step around him. “If you want to irritate someone, I can tell you where my mother is this afternoon. You guys can snipe each other to death if you want.”
Sebastian’s grin was playful. “Oh, is that any way to treat an old friend? I mean ... where are your manners? In the South, manners are the most important thing. I know your mother taught you that.”
Ofelia grimaced. She hated the sound of his voice. It was like nails on a chalkboard ... or boyband music. They were both equally disgusting. “I have to get back to the bar. I have things to do. I don’t have time for you and your nonsense.”
“Things, huh?” Sebastian showed no signs of moving out of her way. “Does this have anything to do with the Walker birthday party? I heard you snagged that account, by the way. Good for you.”
Suspicion reared up and grabbed Ofelia by the throat. How could he possibly know what parties she’d booked at Krewe? The Walkers were indeed important clients. They were funneling thousands of dollars into a huge party for their patriarch, who was turning eighty. As far as she knew, the party preparations hadn’t yet been made public.
So how did Sebastian know?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied, giving his shoulder a shove to get him to move. There was water — and maybe something else — pooled on the street directly adjacent to them. She didn’t want to risk stepping in it because there was a good chance the smell would never come out of her shoes. “Get out of my way. I have work to do and every second spent with you is a total waste.”
“That’s not what you used to say.” His lips spread into a smug smile. “At one time, you couldn’t get enough of my presence. You used to say the sweetest things. I miss those times.” He trailed his fingers over her shoulder, causing her skin to crawl with revulsion.
“I’m sure that’s a great blow to your new girlfriend.” She grabbed his fingers and gave them a vicious squeeze. “How is Ramona, by the way?”
Sebastian smirked at mention of his Californian sidekick. She was blond, built like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, and completely vapid. In other words, she was the perfect woman for Sebastian. She was too stupid to see through him no matter how many games he played. That was exactly how he liked his women.
“She spent the morning at the spa. She likes to look good for me. That’s something you two have in common.”
“Oh, please.” This time when she smacked at him, Ofelia put a bit of magic into the effort and he was forced to take a step back. The step was so pronounced that he slipped off the sidewalk and landed in the rancid puddle, something that caused Ofelia to internally crow.
“Well, that was ... undignified.” Sebastian made a face as he returned to the elevated sidewalk. This time he didn’t invade her personal space. “I’m actually here for a serious conversation. As much as I love our interactions, this one is growing tedious.”
“I find everything that involves you tedious.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not everything. Don’t be juvenile.”
Ofelia was officially over the conversation. “There’s nothing for us to discuss. We have nothing in common ... and we’re not friends. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She was forceful when she moved past him this time.
“I have information on Henrietta,” he called after her, his tone mocking. “I know you’ve been investigating her death. It’s something you’re going to want to know.”
Ofelia didn’t want to indulge his ego, but she couldn’t deny that he was often a fountain of information. She didn’t want to take the chance that he knew something now and regret not eliciting the details from him at a later date. “What is it?”
“Oh, you know I don’t just hand out information for free. That’s not how I operate.”
She should’ve known. He never did anything without ulterior motives. “What do you want?” It was better to get negotiations out of the way now, she told herself. He would continue to toy with her if she didn’t move this conversation along.
“The Walker party.”
She balked. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
She narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits. “You can’t say you know something and then not share the information. We’re talking about a dead woman ... one you knew relatively well. You can’t just clam up after the fact.”
“If you want the information, yo
u know the price. I won’t share for anything less.”
It took everything Ofelia had not to heave herself at him and start throwing punches. She managed to remain calm, although it was a test of wills. “I’m not giving you the Walker party, and you are going to share the information.”
His smile was predatory. “And how are you going to arrange that?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“I’m looking forward to the effort. I always find amusement when frustration gets the better of you. It’s like a television show I can’t turn away from.”
“I agree. This is going to be amusing.”
Seventeen
Sully spent two hours at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and came up empty. He searched the property from top to bottom — at least to the best of his ability — and found Craig when he was ready to leave.
“There’s nothing here.”
“No,” Craig agreed. “Someone has clearly been in the vault. They damaged the door getting in. I have no idea if anything is missing, though.”
“Does the cemetery keep track of what’s inside?”
“That’s an idea. I’ll call the management office. Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Nope.”
“And you’re still not going to tell me what that is, right?”
Sully shrugged, noncommittal. “I don’t know what I’m looking for.”
“And it’s not Ofelia Archer, right?”
Sully rolled his eyes. He’d filled in Craig during the trip over, but only on a vague level. There was no way he could explain everything. Craig wasn’t aware of the paranormal world, completely oblivious, in fact. Sully wanted to keep it that way. “Ofelia has a business to run. I very much doubt she’s wasting time breaking into an old vault.”
“Marie Laveau’s vault,” Craig corrected. “Every whack job in the state believes that there’s magic to be found in that vault.”
“Are you saying that Ofelia is a whack job?”
“There are so many rumors going around about her I’m not sure which ones to believe.”
“Well, I guarantee she’s not breaking into vaults. That doesn’t mean the individual who did this isn’t worth tracking down. The inventory should definitely be checked with the management office.”
“And I assume you’re going to leave that to me.”
“It’s your case.” Sully retrieved his phone from his pocket when it dinged to signify an incoming text message. He frowned when he read it. “I have somewhere to be.”
“And where is that?”
“Just ... somewhere.”
Craig’s gaze was knowing. “Is that Ofelia texting you?”
It was, but Sully knew better than admitting it. “No, it’s a source who has a tip regarding my case. That takes precedence over a break-in at a vault, especially since we have no idea if anything was taken.”
“If you say so.” Craig’s expression was speculative as Sully returned his phone to his pocket. “You’re not going to turn into one of those secretive guys who doesn’t share his romantic conquests, are you? I’m married so the only thrills I get on that front are from you single guys in the department. If you dry up on me, I’ll have absolutely no reason to live.”
It was a dramatic statement that made Sully roll his eyes. “Have I ever confided the intricacies of my personal life to you?”
“No, but hope springs eternal.”
Even though he was annoyed, Sully couldn’t contain his chuckle. “Well ... I think you’re going to be disappointed this time. I have to be going, though. I’m going to leave you to do ... whatever it is you usually do.”
“Fair enough.” Craig waited until Sully was a good twenty feet away before calling out to him again. “Tell Ofelia I said hello.”
Sully made a growling sound but continued moving forward. “Just check the inventory on the tomb ... and stop being a tool.”
“I think you might be asking the impossible.”
Sully believed that to his core, too.
THE TEXT TOLD HIM TO VISIT ONE Sebastian Gendry, who happened to own a club located right around the corner from Krewe. He’d never been in the club, although he’d heard rumors. He wasn’t disappointed when he entered. Envie was everything he expected, including garish and loud. Unlike Krewe, which was friendly and comfortable, there was nothing engaging about Envie. It was simply over-the-top and brash.
“Can I help you?” The hostess hovering by the front door offered him a flirty smile.
“I’m looking for the owner,” Sully replied, flashing his badge. “This is official business.”
The woman’s smile never faltered, but he could read the unease flitting through her eyes. “Oh, well ... I’m not sure that he’s here.”
“I have it on good authority that he is,” Sully countered. “I need to speak to him.”
“I ... um ... who told you he was here?”
The hostess was flighty. Sully was good at reading people, but he hardly needed to put any effort into gauging her dominant personality trait. It was written all over her face. Unfortunately for her, Sully didn’t have the energy to put up with her nonsense.
“It doesn’t matter. Please get Mr. Gendry. If you’re incapable of carrying out that task, then I’ll track him down myself ... and I won’t be pleasant when I find him.”
The woman was affronted. “Well, there’s no reason to be rude. Just one second.” She picked up the phone on the hostess stand and pressed a number, turning her back to Sully as she started speaking. She tried to murmur, but he could hear better than most and picked up every word. “There’s a detective here to see you ... and he doesn’t look happy. He says he’ll find you himself if you don’t come up here.” She was silent for a beat. “Okay. I’ll tell him.”
She was all smiles when she turned back to him. “He’s on his way up.”
“I’m thrilled,” Sully drawled, folding his arms across his chest as he waited.
It only took Sebastian two minutes to cut across the club. When he arrived, he was all smarm and charm, and the smile he shot Sully was immediately grating to the seasoned detective. “I’m Sebastian Gendry.” He extended his hand. “How can I help New Orleans’ finest this afternoon?”
Sully had to fight to refrain from rolling his eyes. “I understand you have information on the death of Henrietta Wells. I need that information.”
Sebastian was a good actor, but he couldn’t hide his shock. “I ... don’t ... understand.” He licked his lips as he glanced between the hostess and the detective. “Who told you that?”
“That would be me,” Ofelia announced, breezing into the club behind Sully. She looked smug, which was enough to set Sebastian’s teeth on edge.
“Why would you possibly tell this fine detective a lie like that?” Sebastian challenged. “I mean ... I know you like causing trouble for me, but this is going above and beyond the standards of decency.”
“Totally,” the blonde intoned, glaring at Ofelia.
“Hello, Ramona,” Ofelia drawled. “I see you’re living up to your full potential these days. How great for you.” She turned her attention to Sebastian. “I told you that you were going to have to share your information whether you wanted to or not. You shouldn’t have tried to shake me down on the street like that. All you did was get my dander up.”
Sully narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure out what appeared to be a series of complicated relationships. It was obvious Sebastian and Ofelia had a past. What that past entailed wasn’t easy for him to decipher. The blonde made things all the more difficult.
“I apologize for this, Detective Sully,” Sebastian offered, faux contrition practically oozing from every pore. “The fact that you’ve been caught up in this vendetta is ... unconscionable. You should know, though, that Ofelia has it out for me. She’s never gotten over the fact that I broke up with her for another woman.”
Ofelia’s gaze was withering. “Oh, puh-leez. I’m the one who broke up with you. L
et’s not exaggerate. As for moving on with this one ... ,” she jerked her thumb toward Ramona and merely shook her head. “I’m pretty sure you two deserve each other.”
“This is a domestic dispute,” Sebastian countered, appealing to Sully’s “hey, man, she’s crazy” side. “She’s jealous and likes to cause problems for me.”
“He approached me on the street,” Ofelia countered. “It was right outside the jewelry shop, which has cameras if you would like to check. He said he had information on Henrietta, but he was only willing to share it if I gave up an important party to him, which I’m not willing to do. I figured you would want to know.”
Sully nodded without hesitation. “I am definitely interested in any information you might have, Mr. Gendry.”
“I don’t have any information,” Sebastian shot back.
“The cameras outside the jewelry shop record sound,” Ofelia offered. “You can hear what he said from his own lips.”
Sebastian murdered Ofelia with a glare right out of a horror movie ... or a bad soap opera. “I’m sure the detective doesn’t have time for such nonsense.”
“I really don’t,” Sully agreed. “I’ll make an exception, though. Either you tell me what you know or I drag you to the precinct and hold you until you talk. Those are your options.”
Sebastian made a protesting sound. “You can’t do that. You have no grounds to arrest me.”
“You’re infringing on a police investigation,” Sully countered. “You would be surprised what I can charge you with.”
Sebastian shifted from one foot to the other, clearly caught. Finally, he blew out a sigh and glowered. “Fine. We’ll go into my office.” His glare was overt when it landed on Ofelia. “You’re going to pay for this.”
Ofelia was blasé. “I’m looking forward to the attempt. Right now, though, I want to hear about Henrietta. That’s all I care about.”
“That makes two of us,” Sully interjected. “I think it’s time you started talking.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on. Let’s get off the floor.”
“Thank you for the generous offer,” Sully drawled, putting his hand to the small of Ofelia’s back and prodding her forward. “We’re looking forward to a delightful conversation.”
The Hexorcist Page 16
