Chapter 4
Gabriel delighted in Brooke’s enthusiasm. “I have a feeling I’ll taste a variety of desserts, if you have anything to say about it.” He realized that implied a future to the relationship, a welcome thought. Although he couldn’t assume that Brooke felt the same. But friendship was possible, if nothing else. It had been a long time since he’d had a good time on a date—longer than he could recall.
“That’s a challenge I won’t turn down,” Brooke said. “I’ve been known to go dessert hopping with friends.”
“Hmm, I haven’t heard the term.”
“We made it up,” she said. “The idea is to go to a few restaurants with high-quality pastry chefs, order one dessert at each place, and share it. It’s fun and a great way to try things.”
The desserts were delivered to the table, and Gabriel watched as Brooke savored her first bite of the baklava. She closed her eyes and moaned, making Gabriel think of other things. He diverted his attention to his own dessert, trying to play it cool.
After coffee and dessert, they went back to his place—almost like a couple. He had to remind himself that she was a houseguest merely for her protection.
It wasn’t lost on Gabriel that Brooke felt awkward staying at his place. She would much rather go home to her condo. But he couldn’t be sure that she was safe unless he had eyes on her. He decided to make her visit as comfortable as he could. When they got to the house, he suggested watching a movie with her. It didn’t seem right to go to bed so early and would be rude not to offer.
Once Brooke changed into casual clothes and settled onto the sofa, he asked, “What would you like to see? We can stream a movie, or I have a few DVDs—mostly stuff my girls left here.” He rummaged through the drawer to find a couple of options.
“I’ll take Mamma Mia! . I’ve seen it several times, but I enjoy the music.”
Gabriel started the movie and took a seat in the recliner, putting him at a distance from Brooke. But he could see her in the dim room and couldn’t seem to keep his attention away from her. Except for interjecting comments about the film, Brooke seemed immersed in the musical.
As she watched, Gabriel was distracted by how sexy she looked in the low light, snuggled on his sofa. It did his heart good to know that she was safe. Over dinner, he’d restrained himself from mentioning the threat that hung over her. Her position at a popular restaurant put her in a precarious position. Even he heard recommendations about the pastry chef at Jasper’s, which was one reason he’d chosen it for his daughter’s birthday. Her position at the restaurant could make her easy to spot. There was little he could do about that, so playing bodyguard was his only choice.
Before the movie was over, Brooke yawned and stretched. “I know how it ends. I think I’ll go get some sleep, if you don’t mind.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Thank you for a nice time. It took my mind off things.”
Gabriel was tired also. But when she went to the guest suite, he sat in the kitchen for a while. He wasn’t ready to sleep. An evening with Brooke had brought memories of his wife to mind, and the countless times they had shared dinner out, movies, and much more intimate moments. Losing her had hit him hard. The first year had been the worst. It had taken that long before he was able to bear clearing out her closet and giving any valuable possessions to his daughters. Yet sadness lingered. It wasn’t with him all the time, but could be triggered by seemingly innocent things.
For a long while, Gabriel had struggled to find joy in the simple things, like laughing at a movie or listening to music. He’d learned that was normal after the loss of a loved one. After a period, Gabriel was able to enjoy activities with his daughters, and with a few close friends. But it wasn’t the same. Those relationships—however treasured—didn’t fill the void. He had lost hope that he would ever move past the loss of Margot.
Sitting in the darkened living room with Brooke enjoying a movie was different. And talking over dinner, sharing small pleasures, had warmed his heart. There was no reason to think that he would become intimate with her, as desirable as that might be. Yet she lit up his world in a new way, and he rather liked that.
*****
The next morning, Gabriel was sat at the table having his first cup of coffee when Brooke bounced into the room. She wore running shoes, sweats, and a zippered jacket. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, making her look younger. “Do you always get up when it’s still dark out?”
Gabriel smiled, “Yes, I suppose it’s a habit.”
Brooke poured a cup of coffee and sat across from him. “I hope you know a good jogging route in this neighborhood, because I’m ready for a good workout.”
“You’re on.” Gabriel took the last sip and put the cup in the sink. “I’ll be back before you can finish your coffee.” He went to change clothes, wondering how lengthy a run Brooke was up for.
Gabriel didn’t have to wonder for long. He headed down the sidewalk with Brooke at his side. She had no trouble keeping up, and he guessed that she worked out regularly. As the sun rose, they wound through the neighborhood streets past oak trees, historic mansions, and a few quirky shops. Gabriel liked to jog early, when it was quiet.
Since Brooke was hardly out of breath, he extended the route and led her to Coliseum, a serene park with grassy areas, towering oaks, and a water fountain. The air was brisk but there was no wind. He jogged along the path until the sun was up.
Brooke tapped his arm. “I need a break,” she said, heading toward a park bench, where she sat to catch her breath.
Gabriel sat next to her. “I’m impressed. You’re in pretty good shape.”
“I have to be,” she said. “Pastry work isn’t a desk job. It requires a lot of standing. And it takes strength to carry buckets and heavy platters.” She leaned back. “Plus, I want to stay fit. Turning forty is no excuse to let myself go.”
Gabriel had noticed her shapeliness. He refrained from commenting to avoid getting too personal, but she was definitely desirable. He liked that she wasn’t too skinny, a condition women seemed to strive for. She was voluptuous enough to be sexy.
His thoughts were interrupted when Brooke said, “I hope it’s not too forward, but I’d like to hear why you left the police force. You mentioned that, and I’m curious—if you’d care to share that story now?”
Gabriel opted to give her the short version. He was often asked what had happened. “My wife was a victim of street crime. She was an innocent victim. I was still a police officer, but I wasn’t with her at the time of the incident.” He took a breath. “Margot was alone when she was killed.” His gut wrenched as he recalled what had happened. He hadn’t forgiven himself.
Brooke was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m so sorry about that. I know you must miss her dreadfully.” She hesitated. “Why the PI firm?”
Gabriel shrugged. “The way it went down wasn’t right. There was too much red tape, excessive delay in getting justice.” He looked at her. “I need to run my own show. I decided to take more control. If only…” He didn’t follow through on the thought.
“Could you have prevented it?”
“That’s doubtful,” Gabriel said. “Although for a long time I felt that I should have.” He shifted the subject before he said too much. “If you’re willing to jog another block or so, we can grab an espresso and a muffin at The Rink. Although I’m sure the pastry isn’t up to your standards.”
Brooke laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Who doesn’t like a good muffin? But will the café be open yet?”
“Yep, I’ve tested that many a Sunday morning,” Gabriel said. “They open just about now, for the early morning crowd.”
They headed for the coffee shop. Brooke’s life had been disrupted by a criminal act, like what he’d dedicated his career to fighting. He intended to help her navigate the danger, then she could return to life as usual. Yet this type of situation tended to change a person, so he doubted that things would be the same. He’d seen plenty of crime in his years with the force and learned to err on the side of caution. There were too many occasions when that made all the difference—or it could have.
The café had just opened. They sipped expresso from tiny paper cups and munched blueberry muffins. “I have to go to work,” Brooke said. “Sunday isn’t a day off in the restaurant business.”
“When you’re done with that muffin, we’ll jog back,” Gabriel said. “For now, I’d like to drop you at Jasper’s and pick you up later. Is that agreeable?”
“Sure, but do you have any plans this evening?” Brooke said.
“What would you like to do?”
“My older sister, Genevieve, sings at various venues in the French District,” she said. “She’s performed at Paradigm Gardens, the Broadside, and a lot of other places. Tonight, she will be at the Carousel.”
“That bar on Royal Street?”
Brooke nodded. “I haven’t told her about what I witnessed. I prefer to share that in person. We can sit in the lounge and listen to her sing—which is amazing, I must say. When she comes over to our table, I can talk to her.” She smiled. “I’ll introduce you.”
*****
After dropping Brooke at the restaurant, Gabriel drove to his office on St. Charles in the central business district. Office space was pricey, but he managed to afford a fourth-floor office in a corner high rise. He’d set up shop to go after crime, so his firm handled work for criminal law firms, along with a caseload of process service, skip trace, background checks, and more. He rarely took infidelity cases. It went against his nature to chase after spouses and get involved in messy divorces.
It was Sunday, so the office was quiet. Occasionally, Gabriel met his daughter for brunch on Sunday morning, but that was getting less frequent. Amalie was likely out with her friends, and same for Weston. His partner normally took weekends off, but it wasn’t uncommon for him to show up in the office to catch up on cases. Since they’d opened, their caseload had filled up, and Gabriel had considered hiring another investigator. Amalie had objected because she was studying to get her PI license. She did a great job with social media investigations and had every intention of developing a career as a PI.
For a while, Gabriel plowed through client emails, then he made coffee and got down to business. There must be some clue about what happened on Friday night. During carnival season, law enforcement patrolled the streets, but they couldn’t watch every corner and back alley. Tapping into his resources, Gabriel spent hours searching. Friday’s parade was the first of the season. The list of crimes in the city reported for that day included armed robbery, auto theft, assault, and more. He followed up on the details but was unable to find any reference to a crime in the exact location where Brooke had witnessed the abduction.
No missing person reports connected to that parade had been filed. Undaunted, Gabriel kept searching. He scanned drug crimes, domestic disputes, and rapes, since he didn’t know yet what the intent of the abductor was. Searching was frustrating, since he wasn’t getting anywhere. It hadn’t been forty-eight hours yet. In many cases, that was a bit soon for a person to be missed.
When he couldn’t ignore his hunger, Gabriel locked up and went to the deli for lunch. That would give him time to think. Maybe he’d come up with an idea.
Halfway through his corned beef on rye, Abe texted about meeting the following morning at the scene. He wanted to check something out. That was encouraging, and more than Gabriel had come up with. He replied, confirming the time to meet.
The afternoon didn’t prove any more productive than the morning had. He wrapped up his searches, finished some work for a client, then headed for the restaurant. He’d dropped Brooke pretty early so she could get ahead on her pastry creation. She’d mentioned that she was off on Monday and Tuesday, which would give her a chance to focus on her situation with the hope of moving past it. Gabriel didn’t know about that, but he didn’t object to being with her.
When Gabriel arrived, a waiter informed him that Brooke was creating a cake and seated him at a table to wait. By the time she emerged from the kitchen, he’d finished one appetizer and had ordered another. He didn’t feel right about taking a table without paying, even if he did have a good reason to be there. It was likely to be an uneventful wait, although Gabriel preferred watching who came and went. But there was no one out of the ordinary, no one who wasn’t enraptured with the food. Diners were smiling and talking—which was a good thing.
The swinging door to the kitchen opened and Brooke stepped out, motioning for Gabriel to come to the kitchen. When he hesitated, she walked across the dining room. “Don’t worry about the check. I’ll cover that for you,” she said. “I appreciate your waiting. I want to show my creation to you.”
Gabriel followed her to the workstation and gazed at the multi-layered cake with flowers sculpted into the frosting. “Amazing… What is it?”
“ This ,” Brooke said with a grin, “is one of the greatest confections New Orleans has to offer. It’s based on a Hungarian torte, an absolute delight. It’s made of thin layers of buttermilk cake with lemon custard between each.”
Jasper came over. “No one makes a better torte. That will please the customers tonight.”
Gabriel recognized the restaurant owner from earlier visits, but Brooke took the chance to introduce him. “My boss and co-conspirator in food pleasures.” Then she slipped her arm through that of a petite blonde wearing a white chef’s jacket. “And I’d like you to meet Lisle Garnier, my best friend and our renowned chef.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Lisle said. “Save a piece of that for me.”
“The staff are my greatest fans,” Brooke said, then stepped toward the door. “Shall we?”
On the way out, Gabriel scanned the restaurant but had no cause for concern. Once they were on the way to the lounge to see Genevieve, he said, “Tell me more about your sister. It’s impressive that she performs. I guess because I lack creative talent, I admire anyone who does.”
“She’s a singer/songwriter,” Brooke said. “She covers well-known artists plus performs her own songs, blues mostly. She also plays the piano and the ukulele.”
“Well, I’m even more impressed.”
“Wait until you hear her,” Brooke said. “She’s been singing since she was a kid. Kind of like me with the pastries, only she’s much more talented—and famous. She started playing guitar at the age of ten, and by fourteen, she was singing blues. Bonnie Raitt is her role model.”
“Is she older or younger than you?”
“Only two years older, and you’ll see the resemblance,” Brooke said. “When we were younger, people often thought we were twins.”
“Her name is Dumas?”
“Yes, although she’s really a Montgomery,” Brooke said. “Genevieve Dumas is her stage name. It was the last name of her first husband, and she kept it.”
“First husband?”
Brooke shrugged. “She’s had two failed marriages. I think it’s different in show business. She has to keep such late hours. Plus, some guys can’t take her fame. I guess they feel competitive.” She sighed. “But she still dates. No doubt husband number three is on the horizon.”
At Hotel Monteleone, Gabriel struggled to find parking but finally managed. It was a bit of a hike but the best he could do. Inside the hotel, he followed Brooke to the Carousel Lounge. It was still early for the entertainment, but menus were provided for food and drink. Despite the two appetizers at Jasper’s, he still had an appetite. “Care to share the potstickers?”
“That sounds great,” Brooke said. “And a bottle of wine? We’ll be here a while.”
They sat at a table with a decent view of the stage. Beyond the tables was the bar in the shape of a carousel, brightly lit with a ring of lights above. While eating, Brooke chatted about the restaurant, orders she had to fill, and new creations she planned to try. It appeared that her mind wasn’t on her situation. It was good to see her enjoying herself.
The noise level was high even before the entertainment. Music played over speakers, mostly drowned out by the customers talking and laughing. One table was especially loud, but no one seemed unusually interested in Brooke. Yet Gabriel stayed vigilant. It was a habit that was hard to break. In his career, it didn’t pay to take chances.
It was a pleasure being with Brooke. He was growing to like that a bit too much. He’d miss her when she left, but he had no claim on her. She asked more about his work, and he told her a few PI stories—the ones he could share. She seemed very interested and persuaded him to tell more. He had plenty and found himself talking more than he normally did, finding Brooke easy to talk to.
Later, they ordered beef sliders and were just starting to eat when the lights went up on stage. The band came out, arranging themselves at the drums, bass, and guitars. Then Genevieve bounced onto the stage, full of life. Instantly, Gabriel saw the resemblance. She was about the same height and build as her sister, with similar features. But her dark hair was cut shorter and styled in waves. Her stage costume wasn’t a sparkling evening gown, just jeans with a red blazer over a white top. The blazer had rows of shiny silver buttons, and she wore rows of silver necklaces and earrings to match.
The audience seemed to respond to her right away. Gabriel suspected that many in attendance had seen her perform before. She talked to the audience for a moment, warming them up, then launched into her first song. Her voice was deep and powerful, making it hard to imagine that such a strong sound came from a petite woman. But she had incredible range, and the emotion in the song was moving. Gabriel didn’t listen to blues much but had a feeling that he’d be listening to her more.
Between songs, Brooke whispered in his ear. “She rocks your soul, doesn’t she?”
“I’m already a fan.”
Genevieve filled the room with her amazing sound, song after song. When she announced a break, the lights lowered, then she walked through the room to her sister. Brooke gave her a big hug. “You were great! As always.”
When Genevieve sat at the table, she removed the red blazer. She had a lovely cascade of small roses tattooed down her right shoulder and arm. When introduced, she smiled at Gabriel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad to see that my sister is going out.”
“About that…” Brooke leaned closer. “I came tonight to see your performance, but also to tell you something.” Hitting the highlights, she told her sister about what she’d witnessed and explained Gabriel’s presence.
Genevieve put her hand over her sister’s. “That sounds dreadful.” Then she looked at Gabriel. “Oh, well, maybe you two will still hit it off.”
When Gabriel shifted in his seat, Brooke said, “She’s kidding.”
“But seriously,” Genevieve said, “I’m glad you have protection. What are you going to do?”
Brooke looked at Gabriel. “I’m working on it,” he said.
Genevieve frowned. “Can I help?”
“Maybe you can,” Gabriel said. “I assume you observe a lot, being out in the clubs at night. Just keep your ears open.”
“Sure, I’ll listen,” Genevieve said. “If I hear anything that may be useful, I’ll let you know.”