Chapter 11 #2
Boone showed up at the door at about five.
I’d slept hard and come down to a bowl of soup and cornbread that Lilac had made for dinner.
She’d already ate and insisted that I eat before I did anything else.
I guess we weren’t going to the compound tonight.
I reached out to Nic telepathically and explained.
I must have been starving because I had three bowls before I came up for air. When I did, I checked my phone, looking around.
Lilac shook her head. “He’s not home yet.”
I checked my phone and sent a text. He’d dropped us off at three.
I still hadn’t heard from Bubba and I was getting nervous.
After I finished my last piece of cornbread, I texted him again for an update.
Then I heard the knock. I ran to open the front door, and the disappointment must have shown on my face because Boone laughed.
“Well, I guess I’m not who you were looking for. Can I come in? I’ve got an interesting story to tell you about a lawyer who showed up at my office today.” He nodded to the foyer and I opened the door, letting him inside.
“Sorry, I’m waiting for a message from Bubba about his mom.” As we walked to the living room, a text binged. Looking at my phone, I realized I hadn’t checked for the photo from Merrilyn.
I read the short and sweet text.
Here you go. The shop’s been crazy. We have a replacement medium.
I opened the picture and saw Paige Howard grinning at me. The label on the picture said Pam Stephens. She’d used an alias.
“Bubba’s mom?” Boone asked, interrupting my jumbled thoughts.
I showed him the photo. “No, his cousin. She showed up a few days ago and apparently is working with the killer. Her name’s Paige Howard, not Pam Stephens.
And according to the clerk who was training her, she let the killer into the reading room, then rabbited from the store.
When the clerk, Merrilyn, came back from dropping some cold medicine off with her sick husband, the store was empty and Alicia Moore was dead. ”
He nodded to the picture. “Send that to me.”
I did it while I was thinking about it, then set my phone down, but still within arms reach in case Bubba called. “So what story did you hear today?”
“A lawyer came in for a Jason Berke. He said that Jason had kidnapped Catherine Carter to protect her from the real killer and had done nothing to harm her. However, he admitted that Jason’s action of holding her without her consent was concerning.
He said that he’d already visited with Catherine and she’d agreed not to press charges.
He handed me a letter from Catherine saying the same thing.
” He leaned back into the couch. “Being suspicious by nature, I went to the hospital to talk to Catherine and learned that they had come to some sort of financial agreement. And she has a security detail that will be following her back to Miami, just in case. She thanked me for my concern but refused to press charges against Jason. Do you know what happened?”
“I can guess.” I walked Boone through my meeting with Franklin Day earlier. “I’m pretty sure he’s telling the truth. He’s been watching us for a while now, trying to keep us safe from this maniac.”
Boone groaned. “I wonder what it costs to turn a kidnapping into an unfortunate overstep of Franklin Day’s security team member. Probably more than my pension fund. Maybe more than the city’s pension fund.”
“Catherine’s not a dumb woman. It had to be worth her while. And having the security means she can arrive home without worrying about dying.” I checked my phone. Still no message from Bubba.
“You’re really worried about him.” Boone said, watching me.
“Getting there.” I glanced at the phone again. “So one mystery is solved. Catherine was put in a special protection basement. Let me guess, the Day company owns that building by the river.”
“That was fast. Yes, it does. And Franklin Day is friends with the mayor and the chief of police who have all contacted my supervisor to make sure we understand the incident was accidental. Like Catherine’s refusal to press charges wasn’t enough of a slap in the face.
” Boone rubbed his shoulder. “I swear if the ghosts don’t put me in an early grave, the politicians will. ”
“Sorry, Boone. I didn’t know any of this until today.
” I leaned back. “But on the bright side, you still have a killer to find. And maybe the Paige Howard link might break a few things open there. Heather said Paige was dating a guy called Bobby.” I sat up.
“Can I offer you some soup and cornbread? Lilac’s been cooking and it’s amazing. ”
He shook his head as he stood. “I have a date tonight. I need to get going anyway. Maybe even take a shower and dress in jeans and a regular shirt. Try to look like something beside a police detective?”
“I’m glad. Do I know her?” I asked as I followed him to the door.
Boone’s eyes widened. “God, I hope not.”
I slapped his arm. “That’s not even nice.”
“I would really like a relationship with a nice girl who talks about books and movies and not ghosts and killers.” He half laughed. “She might be out there, somewhere, right? Even in New Orleans?”
“You deserve someone normal,” I almost added, not like me, but it felt like I would have been rubbing salt into the wound.
I didn’t think Boone’s search would be easy.
We lived in New Orleans for goodness sakes.
Everyone here had the possibility of at least a family history of having a bit of talent.
We were just made that way. “Have a great dinner. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. ”
After Boone left, I went into the kitchen and found Lilac, Dexter, and Fluffy out on the deck. Lilac was reading a new romantic comedy. The animals were sniffing the fairy door that the creatures had built in the wall between my deck and Alexander’s.
Lilac looked up. “Detective Boone gone?”
“He had a date.” I sat in the chair next to her. “Tonight was nice. Thanks for dinner. Did I leave enough food for Bubba when he shows up?”
“Of course. I always make too much. It’s hard not to with only three of us.
Are you still going to be able to go to Ohio with me the last week of the month?
Mom says she has some of my things I should pick up if I’m not moving home.
” She sat the book down on the table between us.
“I hope she didn’t trash my library when I left.
You don’t mind me bringing some boxes here.
I could put them in the garage if the house is too full. ”
“Put them in your room, or the attic, or in the garage. Wherever you want. Lilac, this is your home until you get a new one with a boyfriend or whatever. Or move out of town or whatever you want to do. I’m not going to trash your library.”
She stood and hugged me. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“My pleasure. Who would cook for me if you weren’t here?
” I squeezed her tight. As I let her go, I could feel my phone buzzing in my back pocket.
I took it out of my jeans and looked at the message, as she sat back down.
“Bubba’s on his way home. Heather is with her bodyguard at her house.
She didn’t want to impose. He’s already eaten. ”
“I’ll leave the soup out until after he gets home, just in case. The boy can eat. And I made corn bread.” Lilac went back to reading her book, and I leaned back into my chair and closed my eyes.
For a second, the world was perfect.