CHAPTER TWELVE
Rory stared at the massive mansion on the lake. Levon had bought three lots in order to make the house big enough for him and all his siblings. They were impressed with his dedication to his siblings, but not so much with how he did it.
“Huge fucking place,” frowned Zeke. Rory nodded.
“Yeah, it’s definitely not Ninth Ward material. I’d say this guy got a deal with Snow. What I want to know is what the deal is for.”
“Then let’s find out,” said Zeke. He knocked on the door and waited, hearing laughing children and someone calling out. When the door opened, a young woman of about twenty smiled at them.
“Hi,” she said. “Can I help you?”
“We’re looking for Levon,” said Zeke with a friendly smile. The woman looked over his shoulder, staring at Rory with his stone gaze and intimidating physique.
“My brother’s done nothing wrong. He’s a good man,” she said defensively.
“We’re not here to cause any trouble, miss,” said Zeke. “We just want to ask him some questions about Alan Snow.”
“Oh. Him,” she sneered.
“You know him?” asked Rory.
“He comes around now and then. The guy gives me the creeps. Always staring off into corners or up at the ceiling like he’s on drugs or something. I told Levon he was no good.”
“I’m sorry, what’s your name, honey?” asked Zeke.
“Laramie. I’m the oldest sister.” She looked behind her, waving an arm toward the open sliding glass doors. Children were jumping and playing in the pool behind her, laughing as children should in the summer heat.
“Laramie, it’s really nice to meet you. Is your brother here?” asked Zeke.
“Yes, sir. Have a seat, and I’ll go get him.” She disappeared down a long hallway, and a few minutes later, they could hear the brother muttering to her.
“I told you not to let strangers in the house. They could be a problem or might want to hurt you and the other children,” said the man.
“Levon, they’re nice men. Just talk to them,” she said, flustered. She waved at the men, smiling. “Nice to meet, y’all.”
“Nice to meet you, Laramie,” said Zeke. Levon stared at the two men, frowning.
“Do I know y’all?”
“No, sir. But we know Alan Snow,” said Zeke.
“What about him?” he asked nervously.
“Levon, I don’t want to harm anyone here, and I don’t want to cause trouble for you.
I think what you’re doing, keeping your family together, is admirable.
But there are some issues with Snow and how he’s treating people.
Now, I don’t care that he gave you money,” said Zeke.
Levon opened his mouth to speak, and Rory shook his head.
“Uh, uh, uh. Don’t dig this hole any deeper. We know he gave you money.” Levon swallowed, nodding at the big man.
“Was the money just for his vote to become mayor?” asked Zeke.
“No.” He walked slowly toward a large chair and plopped into it. “No. He wants much more than that. He wants Jackson Square gone. All of it. He even wants St. Louis Cathedral gone.”
“How in the ever-loving hell does he think he’ll get to tear down a Catholic church?” asked Rory.
“I honestly don’t know. All I know is that he came at me and another man on the council and said he had a lot of money if we’d just vote yes. I needed that money. I paid off my debt and got my siblings out of the Ninth Ward.”
“Was it so bad?” asked Rory.
“No. No, it was home. It was where Mama and Daddy lived with all of us. It was a good life. For a while. But when boys started attacking my sisters on their way home from school, I’d had enough.”
“Why were they attacking them?” asked Rory.
“Boys don’t give reasons in that part of the city, mister.
Laramie, she came home with a torn blouse, and that was it for me.
I needed to get them out of there. So, I started asking about cheap land for sale that I could build on.
Suddenly, Snow is in front of me, telling me he’ll have all the money I need if I would just vote yes. ”
Rory stared at the children jumping in and out of the pool, then watched as a little girl of about eight walked inside, wrapped in a towel.
“Luella, you’re getting the floor all wet,” said Levon.
“I’m sorry. I’ll wipe it up,” she grinned. She took off the towel and began dragging it over the water trail behind her. Rory and Zeke couldn’t help but chuckle. Then they noticed something. The little girl’s left leg was shorter than her right.
“What do you need, Luella?”
“I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?” she asked.
“I told you, honey. You don’t have to ask me anymore. We have plenty of food in there. Get a snack for yourself and all the others. Okay?”
“Okay,” she smiled, kissing her brother’s cheek. He only shook his head as she dripped another trail all the way to the kitchen.
“She’s a cutie,” said Rory.
“Mama and Daddy sure loved one another,” he chuckled. “They died in a fishing accident. Another boat hit their small pierrot, and they drowned.”
“Did they find the other boat?” asked Zeke.
“No, sir. No one ever came forward.”
“When was this?” asked Rory.
“About a year ago. Right after Snow came into town, making waves,” said Levon. The two older men stared at him, frowning. “You don’t think he had something to do with their death?”
“I don’t know,” said Rory, “but it seems awfully convenient that it all happened around the same time. What does he want? I mean, what does he really want? He’s done this before. Bought land, destroyed properties, built shitty buildings, then just leaves after it’s burned to the ground. Why?”
“I never asked,” said Levon, lowering his head. “Daddy would be disappointed in me.”
“What would happen if you gave him the money back?” asked Zeke. Rory looked at his friend and smirked.
“I don’t have that kind of money. I’d owe him around seven hundred and fifty thousand. I might have two hundred thousand in the bank still. I can’t afford to pay him back.”
“But what if you did?” asked Rory.
“You’re asking me to jump from one frying pan to another,” said Levon. “I’ve regretted my decision every minute since I made it, but I knew I couldn’t turn back. For the kids.”
“We understand,” said Rory. “Let us tell you who we are.”
Thirty minutes later, Levon was leaning back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
“God Almighty, what have I done? Are y’all gonna hurt me?” he asked.
“Levon, if we were going to hurt you, it would have been done. We want to help you. If we give you the money, as a donation to the Mays family fund, will you retract your vote?”
“Damn right, I will,” he said, nodding at them.
“Alright. We’ll have our friend, Jean, come and talk to you tomorrow with the money. He can help you set up a budget for the kids, college funds, and trusts.”
“I don’t know what to say. I just never figured anyone would help me. I mean, a thirty-year-old man with sixteen siblings doesn’t have a lot of prospects.”
“You never know,” smirked Zeke. “Talk to Jean. He’s got fourteen siblings.”
“Seriously?” smiled Levon.
“And then some,” grinned Rory.
They left Levon, waving at the wet children still laughing and playing. Back in the car, Rory looked at Zeke.
“What do you think?”
“I think Snow is going to be seriously pissed off when he gets his money back and his vote is gone.”
The home of Roger Thoms was very different from Levon’s. It reeked of old New Orleans money. The three-story mansion in the Garden District had wrap-around porches, massive French doors all around each floor, huge columns, and gardens that would make Buckingham Palace cry.
“Why do I get the feeling that this one won’t end the same?” asked Rory.
“Because I think you’re right,” said Zeke. “Remember. We can’t kill anyone.”
“This job is starting to suck.”
Before they could even knock on the door, they heard screaming and yelling coming from within. Someone broke a dish or vase, and the cussing was impressive, even for two seasoned warriors like Zeke and Rory.
Suddenly, the door opened wide and a woman carrying two bags came out.
“…and another thing! You tell your whores that if they touch anything that belongs to me, I will not only sue them, I will cut them into little pieces and flush them into the Mississippi River!” She stepped outside and stopped, staring at the two men.
“Let me guess. You want my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend because he owes you money. Well, have at him. Break every damn bone in his body.” Zeke raised a brow with a smirk.
“Uh, no, ma’am. At least not yet. We’re not here to get money from your boyfriend, but we do have some questions for him about money he received.”
“Received? He didn’t get any damn money but mine! I should have listened to my grandmother. Worthless. That’s what she said. ‘He’s worthless, Mary Alice. Don’t lower yourself.’ I should have listened!”
“Yes, ma’am,” nodded Rory. “Do you need any help?”
“No. No, thank you. I have someone picking me up. You’ll find my ex -boyfriend upstairs in bed with a whore. Both are so drunk or high or whatever, you probably won’t be able to talk to them.” She looked up to see a sleek black Mercedes out front. “That’s my ride.”
“Ma’am?”
“Mary Alice.”
“Mary Alice. If we have other questions, is there a way we could reach you?” asked Rory.
“Sure,” she said, fishing for a card in her purse. She handed the thick cardstock with the elegant writing on it. Mary Alice Plaisance – Designer .
“You’re a designer? Like homes?”
“Homes, businesses, anything you like.” She said as she walked away. They watched her friend load her bags, hug her, and the two drove away. Inside the mansion, there was an eerie silence, then moaning.
Rory stared at Zeke, shaking his head.
“Some assholes just don’t learn.”
They stepped over shards of broken glass on the steps, walking to the second floor. The moaning was louder now, and the two men followed the sound. It was no surprise that a platinum blonde was riding whatever tool Roger Thoms was packing.
“You really are a stupid fucker,” growled Rory. The man looked over the woman’s shoulder, bleary-eyed and confused.
“Hey. Whateryou doin’ here?” he slurred.
“Get up.”
“I ain’t done,” he laughed as the woman continued to move.
“Get the fuck up, or I will get you up, and you will not like the end result,” said Rory. Thoms was smart enough to stop and stare at the two big men.
“Snow send you?”
“No.” Both men said in unison.
“Get the fuck up,” repeated Zeke. “You. Blondie. Go make some coffee.”
“I don’t know how,” she said, staring at him.
“Fuck,” muttered Zeke. “Put some fucking clothes on. I’ll be back.”
A few minutes later, Zeke appeared with two cups of piping hot, black coffee. The woman was dressed and started to walk toward the steps.
“Put some damn shoes on! Didn’t you hear the glass breaking?” asked Rory.
“Oh, yeah,” she giggled. Turning to Thoms, she blew a kiss. “Call me, baby.”
“I will,” he laughed. When she was gone, he grinned at the two men. “Hottest fucking pussy I’ve had in years.”
“Shut the fuck up!” yelled Zeke. “You’re in a relationship with someone. At least for the moment.”
“She’ll get over it. She loves me,” he laughed.
“You’re a damn idiot. Even better, you’re an idiot that’s about to be single and out of a job.”
“Look, I told Snow I would give him my vote. I just need a bit more cash, that’s all.”
“Listen to me,” growled Rory, gripping his shirt and pulling him to his feet. “Listen carefully, you stupid little fuckup. We are not working for Snow. We are going to destroy him. What the hell does he want?”
“I-I’m not sure. I mean, he wants the Square torn down and destroyed. All of it.”
“Why?” asked Zeke with frustration.
“I don’t know!”
“Here’s what you’re going to do, little man. You’re going to resign your seat on the council, or I’m going to send the entire city the photos of you and your little trick. Plus, I happened to notice a nice white powder in the bathroom. I’m guessing it’s not baby powder.”
“Wait! No, you can’t do that! I’m still on probation.”
“I will do it. Resign. Today. Or you’ll be in jail by tomorrow,” said Zeke. “And if you find out anything else about Snow, you’re going to find us and tell us all of it. Clear?”
“Clear,” he mumbled.
“I didn’t hear you,” growled Rory.
“Clear!Geez, okay.Clear.”
“Good boy. Today. Or we’ll be back.”
They left Thoms sitting in his sex-stained sheets, sipping the hot coffee. They knew the moment they walked out the door, he’d sniff whatever was in the bathroom and forget everything. It wouldn’t matter. He’d be done.
The surprise was, on the evening news, it was announced that he was resigning and would be taking a sabbatical from public life. No other information was given.
“What do you know?” laughed Zeke. “It worked, and we didn’t have to kill him.”