Chapter 9
Envie Espresso Bar was only steps from the French Market. On Saturday morning, Genevieve chatted with Cadie over coffee, with a promise to shop at the market afterward.
The cozy breakfast spot with its exposed brick walls and the rich aroma of chicory coffee was distinctly New Orleans. The morning sun streamed through the windows, and Genevieve took a corner table with her friend.
"How are you doing?" Cadie said, studying her friend's face. She tended to be perceptive, so it was useless to try to hide anything.
Genevieve wrapped her hands around her coffee mug, savoring the warmth. "Last night went well. No Jason lurking in the shadows, no drama. Just music."
"But that's not the only reason you seem different," Cadie said, smiling. "I think it has everything to do with a certain detective."
Genevieve put her coffee mug on the table. "Is it that obvious?"
"Absolutely…to someone who's known you since we were both struggling musicians playing dive bars for tips." Cadie leaned forward. "So, tell me everything…and I mean everything ."
Genevieve told Cadie about the hiking trip, about Abe cooking for her, about the way he listened to her music and understood what it meant to her. She shared how different he was from every other man she'd dated.
"After hearing my performance for the first time, he bought my recordings," she said, still amazed by the gesture. "Not because I asked him to, but because he admired my music. I didn't even know him then."
"I'm impressed," Cadie said. "He is into music. You have that in common."
"Exactly." Genevieve took a sip of her café au lait. "With Maurice, then with both my ex-husbands, there was always a sort of chasm between us. Looking back, I don't know how I ever thought it was going to work."
"What has Abe said about your career?"
"He makes me feel like my music matters, like I matter." Genevieve paused, trying to find the right words. "When I'm with him, I don't have to choose between being a woman in love and being an artist."
Cadie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "That's rare, you know. Really rare. Most people don't understand what it takes to live for their art."
"What about you?" Genevieve asked. "Any prospects on the horizon?"
Cadie shrugged. "I'm still looking for my Abe Stewart. Someone who won't try to talk me out of late-night gigs or weekend recording sessions." She grinned. "But enough about my tumultuous love life. How are you handling everything else? How are you doing with the Jason situation?"
Genevieve took a breath. "I'll catch you up on that." She proceeded to tell Cadie about recent events, watching her friend's expression.
"Unreal," Cadie said. "What is that guy's story?"
"Abe thinks Jason has been planning this for years," Genevieve said. "He's been building up his resources and developing connections so he could come back in a position of power."
"That's terrifying."
"What scares me is that he doesn't seem to have any boundaries. He's crossed into personal territory, invaded my privacy."
"Totally," Cadie said. "Going to see Brooke? That's unbelievable."
"I sure didn't want to drag my sister into this."
"You didn't drag her into this," Cadie said. "Jason did this. But from what you told me, Abe will stop him."
"I hope so," Genevieve said, but didn't feel as confident as she wished. "In the meantime, I'm not going to let Jason destroy what I've worked for. Our next House of Blues performance is going to be huge. We'll be playing to eighteen hundred people and sharing the stage with major acts."
"That's the spirit," Cadie said. "You're already popular. A large audience can give you a major boost."
"That's what I want, for all of us," Genevieve said. "If anything, this whole situation has made me more determined. Jason thinks he can manipulate me and control my career and our opportunities. I'm not alone in this, because you and the band are vital to my success."
"Let's prove him wrong," Cadie said. She had a look in her eyes that Genevieve had seen before. When she was determined, no challenge was insurmountable.
"We'll be so big in the New Orleans music scene," Genevieve said, "that no one can stop us."
*****
Ready for action, Abe pushed through the glass doors of the Guardian Investigations office. He wasn't deluded about Jason's vanishing act. He'd been fighting crime for too long to believe that the dude had backed off.
Gabriel looked up from his desk as Abe entered. "Good morning. How did the performance go?"
"Too smoothly." Abe sat in the chair across from Gabriel's desk.
"I guess his target for that day was my wife," Gabriel said.
Abe leaned forward. "Yeah, how's she doing?"
"You know Brooke. She's a tough one," Gabriel said. "But I have to tell you that guy is really getting on my bad side."
"I couldn't agree more," Abe said.
Weston swiveled around in his chair. "Speaking of Jason, I got some interesting information in my financial investigation."
Abe leaned forward. "What did you find?"
"There have been significant deposits into Jason's business accounts over the past six months," Weston said, then pulled up a spreadsheet on one of his screens. "The amounts are disproportionately large for such a short time period."
"How significant?"
"Enough to explain how he launched Thornton Music Group so successfully and how he's been able to undercut established competitors." Weston highlighted several entries. "These aren't the kind of deposits you'd expect from normal business revenue or even investor funding."
Gabriel stood and moved to look over Weston's shoulder. "Can you trace the sources?"
"That's where it gets interesting. The money's been laundered through several intermediary accounts, but I'm working on tracking the original sources." Weston's fingers flew over the keyboard. "Whatever organization is backing Jason, they're sophisticated and they have deep pockets."
Abe finally had solid information to work with. "I suspected that he had heavy hitters behind him. I don't peg him as capable enough to pull this off on his own."
"The funds shed light on his unusual success in the industry and his influence," Gabriel said. "With the right connections, he can make life very difficult for anyone who crosses him."
"Including Genevieve," Abe said grimly.
Gabriel's expression darkened. "And now he's dragged Brooke into his games. That makes this personal for me too."
"I have an open investigation on Jason," Abe said. "But I'll need more than accusing him of taking photos. He can deny involvement. And surveillance isn't illegal if the person is out in public. Although he has edged over that boundary, it's not enough to nail him."
Weston looked interested. "So far, the tactics he used to manipulate are clever. In each case, he'd get off with deniability as an out."
"There's nothing that I can arrest him for," Abe said.
Gabriel chimed in. "What about the break-in at Genevieve's condo?"
"There were no fingerprints, no witnesses, and no evidence it was him." Abe ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "A good lawyer would tear apart any case I tried to build with what we have now."
"What's the threshold?" Gabriel asked.
"Physical harm to Genevieve or anyone else," Abe said.
"Documented bribery or extortion would do it…
or proving theft. I need evidence of an act that crosses the line from unethical into illegal.
" He paused. "I've considered suggesting Genevieve file for a restraining order, but that could backfire. "
"How so?" Gabriel said. "He's clearly stalking her, and that's a crime."
"Guys like Jason see legal intervention as an insult," Abe said. "A restraining order might trigger more attacks, instead of deterring him." He looked at both men. "The wise approach is to gather evidence first, build a solid case, then take him down completely."
Gabriel nodded slowly. "I agree. Half measures with someone this dangerous will make things worse."
"I can keep digging into his finances," Weston said. "I suspect his funding sources are shady. He could be involved in illegal activities. I need to find the connection."
"Good," Abe said. "And Gabriel, I'm considering surveillance. I'll let you know if I decide we should proceed with that."
"Having eyes on Jason could help us predict his next move," Gabriel said. "Just say the word and I'll set that up."
*****
Esplanade Studios was a professional rehearsal space that serious musicians used when they needed to get everything right. The large room boasted high-quality acoustics and state-of-the-art sound equipment, the kind of setup that wasn't cheap to rent for an afternoon.
Abe sat in a chair at the back of the room, watching Genevieve and her band rehearse for the House of Blues performance. Genevieve's agent had secured the space because the upcoming performance was too important to leave anything to chance.
"Let's take that bridge section again," Genevieve said into her microphone. "I want the transition to be seamless."
Between the songs, she caught his eye and smiled. Even in this professional setting, working on technical details and musical arrangements, she radiated a joy that was infectious. Music was her calling, and watching her work only deepened his admiration for her talent and dedication.
"This is going to be incredible," she said during a break. She took a sip of water. "We'll be playing to eighteen hundred people, and sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in blues and jazz. The industry scouts will be out in force."
"How does it feel different from your other performances?" Abe asked.
"It's the size of the event," Genevieve said. "It's one thing to connect with a crowd of two hundred at an intimate venue. It's another thing entirely to hold the attention of nearly two thousand people in a space like the House of Blues."
"You'll be amazing," Cadie said, joining their conversation. "You always rise to the occasion."
"I have to," Genevieve said. "If I can blow the roof off the House of Blues, that will help to build my fan base. I intend to rise to a level where I'm undeniable. Then no one will be able to stop me."
Abe admired her fighting spirit, her refusal to be intimidated or driven away from her dreams. "That's the right attitude," he said. "Don't let anyone define the terms of your success."
"I won't," she said with a smile.
The band ran through the set two more times, fine-tuning transitions and making sure every note was perfect. The band's chemistry was evident, and their performance flowed effortlessly from one song to the next. Then Genevieve announced that they were ready.
As the other band members began packing up their instruments, Genevieve's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and frowned.
"It's my agent," she said. "That's odd. He usually doesn't call during rehearsals unless it's urgent."
She answered the call, and Abe watched her expression change.
"What do you mean, canceled ?" she said, her voice rising. "That's impossible. We have a contract."
The other band members exchanged glances before slowly continuing to pack their equipment. Cadie moved closer to Genevieve, looking concerned.
"Security concerns?" Genevieve said. "What kind of security concerns? I've never had issues at any venue."
Abe felt his stomach drop. He could only hear one side of the conversation, but the direction it was heading was becoming clear.
"A major sponsor requested the change?" Genevieve's voice was hollow now. "Which sponsor? Why would they have any say in the lineup?"
The call continued for several more minutes, with Genevieve asking questions without receiving satisfactory answers. When she finally hung up, her face was pale, and her hands were shaking.
"What happened?" Cadie asked.
"The performance is canceled," Genevieve said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It seems that a major sponsor contacted the venue and requested a change in the lineup. They cited security concerns related to my recent situation."
"That's insane," Cadie said. She looked as devastated as Genevieve. The loss of that performance affected her and the other band members, as well. "What security concerns ? You've been performing for years without any problems."
"That's what I asked," Genevieve said, then sank into a nearby chair. "But apparently the sponsor was insistent, and their financial contribution to the event was significant enough that the venue felt they had to comply. And they will even pay the fee for breaking the contract."
Abe had a bad feeling. "Did he say which sponsor?"
"He couldn't…or wouldn't . He claimed it was confidential business information. And it was a last-minute change, which is even more unusual." Genevieve looked up at him. "The performance had potential. It was my chance to prove that Jason couldn't destroy my career. And now…"
"Now someone with enough influence on major sponsors took that away from you," he said.
The implications were staggering. The shift had Jason's signature all over it. To influence a major sponsor of a House of Blues event required connections and leverage beyond any that Genevieve was familiar with.
"I don't understand," she said. "I've been nothing but professional. My performances always go smoothly. Why would a sponsor target me?"
"Because someone convinced them you were a liability," Abe said. "Someone with enough credibility and influence to make them believe it."
Cadie looked horrified. "This is Jason's doing, isn't it?" She sat in the closest chair as if her legs wouldn't hold her.
"It has to be," Abe said. "I don't believe in coincidences. And it fits his pattern."
"But how?" Genevieve put her hand on her forehead. "How could Jason have that kind of influence?"
"That's what we're going to find out," Abe said. "This crosses a line, Genevieve. I don't put it past Jason to operate as if he's above the law, and if he is, he'll pay the price for it."
"You really think you can prove it?"
"I intend to," he said, "because this stops now. Jason has caused you enough pain and disappointment. The moment that I obtain solid evidence, it will be over for him."
After they left Esplanade Studios, Abe's mind was working through the implications of what had just happened. The game had intensified, and he was ready to play for keeps.
Genevieve walked beside him in silence. Clearly, her dreams of a breakthrough performance had been shattered. Abe believed that she wouldn't give up the fight. She was down but not out, and that gave him hope.
At the car, he said, "We're going to get him."
"Promise me," Genevieve said, fire in her eyes.
"I'll do whatever it takes," Abe said, "I promise that he won't get away with this."