Chapter Three
Monique had been nervous from the moment Jacque walked in her shanty’s door.
He’d looked even bigger and more powerful than she’d ever seen him.
It didn’t hurt that over his short-sleeved sky-blue dress shirt he wore a holster with a gun.
Many men wore guns in Dark Waters, which had an open carry policy.
While the gun made her feel protected, it also reminded her that what she planned to do could be dangerous. Even the fact that she’d gotten him to laugh didn’t staunch the nerves that roared inside her.
The neat, short haircut emphasized the bold lines of his face, making him even more handsome. She could once again smell his scent. It was all clean male and some woodsy fragrance she found so appealing.
“We need to get our story straight,” she said. “And turn right at the next street.”
“I know my part of the story. I’m teaching some men in the swamp to learn to read and I’m looking for book donations. So what’s your story? Why are you with me?”
“We met in the swamp one day and got to talking. You told me about what you were doing, and I instantly wanted to help you,” she replied. “By the way, I want to tell you again that I think it’s quite admirable…what you’re doing for the men.”
“They’re all eager to learn, and I’m happy to help them out,” he replied.
“Mama insisted we go to school. She impressed upon us how important a good education was,” she said. “Turn left on the next street, and Ralph’s house is the second one on the right.”
The Dupree home was a large ranch house painted in a deep blue with white shutters. Jacque pulled into the driveway and parked. The front porch held a couple of chairs and a small round table, making it appear quite inviting.
“Ralph’s wife’s name is Heidi.”
“So you know her?” Jacque asked.
“Yes, she comes into the dress shop fairly frequently. I have to admit, working at All That Jazz has given me the opportunity to know most of the women in town.”
He turned off the engine, and they both unbuckled their seat belts. “Are you really ready for this?” he asked.
Her heart quickened as tension coiled tight inside her. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Together they got out of the car and headed for the front door. “Here we go,” she murmured as he knocked.
He had to knock twice before the door was opened by Heidi. The mayor’s wife was in her late forties. She was an attractive redhead who, along with her husband, Ralph, was very well-liked by the people in Dark Waters.
“Monique,” she said in surprise and then looked quizzically at Jacque, who quickly introduced himself.
“Hi, Heidi. Could we come in and talk to you for just a few minutes? I promise we won’t take up too much of your time,” Monique said.
“Of course, please come in.” Heidi opened the door wider to allow them entry.
They walked into a large living room that held an oversize blue floral sofa and matching love seat. An enormous television hung on one wall and a huge china cabinet filled with fragile-looking figurines and beautiful dishes sat on the other.
“Please, have a seat and tell me what I can do for you.” Heidi gestured to the sofa while she sat on the love seat that faced it.
“I’ve started a program in the swamp,” Jacque began.
“Excuse me, but before we get into it…” Monique interrupted and gazed apologetically at Heidi. “I’m so embarrassed but could I use your restroom?”
“Of course, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed when nature calls.” Heidi got up and walked with Monique to the mouth of a long hallway. “It’s the second door on your right.”
“Thank you,” Monique replied. She hurried down the hallway and went into the bathroom. She only stayed there a moment and then quietly opened the door again.
She could hear Heidi and Jacque talking about the upcoming fall festival that was happening in three weeks. She slid back out of the bathroom and crept farther down the hallway.
She passed a bedroom that appeared to be a guest room. She assumed that if somebody had her mother’s book, it would be hidden in a drawer or tucked into a bookcase. But she didn’t believe it would be kept in a guest bedroom.
The primary bedroom was on the left at the end of the hallway.
It was easily identified by the alarm clock on one of the nightstands and the collection of women’s perfume and men’s cologne on the top of the dresser.
This room also had an en suite bathroom, further identifying it as where the couple slept.
She quickly pulled out drawers in the dresser and in the nightstands, checking all through them for the missing dark blue hardback notebook.
Not finding it in there, she stepped out into the hallway and had only taken a step or two forward when Heidi appeared. “Wha…what are you doing, Monique?” she asked with a curious wrinkle dancing in the center of her forehead.
“I’m so sorry,” Monique released a small laugh. “I walked out of the bathroom and got completely turned around. I didn’t realize my mistake until I got down here.”
Heidi laughed. “Just follow me, and I’ll take you back to the living room.”
As Monique walked behind her, she thanked her lucky stars that she hadn’t been caught riffling through the drawers. Still, nerves tightened her stomach at the close call. She couldn’t imagine what Heidi would have done if she had caught Monique red-handed in her bedroom.
“She got lost,” Heidi said to Jacque, who visibly relaxed at the sight of Monique.
“I’m bad with the directions inside a house, imagine how bad it is when I get behind the wheel of my car. That’s why Jacque is driving today,” Monique said with another small laugh as she once again took her seat on the sofa next to him.
“Mr. LeBlanc has been sharing with me the new project he has going in the swamp. I’m definitely all in for literacy no matter where it takes place. I’m assuming you’re here for a donation. Just let me go get my purse.”
“Actually, Mrs. Dupree, we aren’t here for any money donations. What we would like is any books you could give us for the men to use,” Jacque said.
“Oh, I’m sure I can help you out with that. If you both want to follow me, in one of the bedrooms we have a bookcase where we keep what books we have.”
Jacque and Monique followed her down the hallway to the last room on the right. Monique had only quickly glanced into the room when she’d been snooping. She hadn’t noticed the small bookcase on the wall behind the door. She’d have to do better in the future.
Heidi began pulling out books and handing them to Jacque. Monique stood next to him and scrutinized all the books on the shelves, seeking the one she was desperate to find. But it wasn’t there.
By the time Heidi was finished, Jacque had eight hardback books in his arms. “I hope that helps,” she said as the three of them walked back up the hall and into the living room.
“Thank you, Heidi. You’ve been very generous,” Monique said.
“Yes, thank you so much, Mrs. Dupree,” Jacque added.
“And now we’ll just get out of your hair.” Monique walked to the front door with Jacque following close behind her. “And don’t forget I have that new shipment of your favorite brand coming into the store on Wednesday,” she added.
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll be at the store bright and early on Wednesday morning with my credit card in hand,” Heidi said with a wide grin.
Moments later Monique and Jacque reached his car in the driveway. He placed the books in his back seat, then got in behind the steering wheel. “That was a close call,” he said.
“It was,” Monique agreed. “I was totally freaked out when she caught me down the hallway.”
“Thank God you’re a fast thinker and a good actress,” he replied.
“I think we need to come up with a way for you to do something to warn me if somebody comes looking for me.”
“I think you need to forget about this whole thing,” he replied with a scowl.
“Jacque, despite the close call, we did it. And I can now cross Ralph Dupree off my list of suspects,” she said. “I don’t believe he has my mama’s book. Maybe you could have a coughing fit and that would warn me that somebody is coming.”
He glanced over at her, the near-neon green of his eyes seeming to pierce right through her. “Are you willfully ignoring the fact that I just said I think you should forget about this plan and leave things to the authorities?”
“Yes, I’m willfully ignoring you,” she replied.
She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his wrist on the gear shift.
His skin was invitingly warm. “Please, Jacque, I want you as my partner, but I don’t want you as a doubting Thomas.
I need you to be one hundred percent in with me on this. ” She withdrew her hand.
He stared at her for another long minute and then put his car into gear to back out of the Dupree driveway. “So who are we seeing next?”
Monique breathed a sigh of relief. There was no question that she felt better with Jacque by her side. She would have been far more nervous if she was trying to do this all on her own.
“Next on the list is Judge Waylan Frankel’s home. Take a right when you come to the end of the street.”
They didn’t speak anymore other than her giving him directions.
He finally reached the judge’s home and parked in the driveway. “This is going to be more difficult for you since it’s a two-story,” he said.
“You’re right.” She frowned as she stared at the large home. It was definitely going to be difficult for her to get away and go upstairs to search. If she got caught upstairs, she wouldn’t be able to use the excuse that she’d gotten turned around.
“We’ll see how things go. Judge Frankel should still be at work. His wife’s name is Isabelle, and she’s always been quite pleasant when she comes into the store.”
Nearly an hour later they left the Frankel home. Monique hadn’t been able to search the upstairs. She was about to ask to use the restroom and sneak upstairs when the judge had gotten home from work.