Chapter One
The funeral for Mystique Santori was not only well attended by most of the people from the swamp, but also by a huge crowd of people who lived in town as well.
Angelique sat between her sisters as Preacher Drew Perry extolled the many virtues of her mother. Even though his booming voice filled the large church, Angelique could hear snatches of whispers of several women behind her.
“…a powerful voodoo queen.”
“…she used black magic,” another woman said.
“I heard she could raise the dead.”
Angelique knew the reputation her mother had. According to the people of Dark Waters, Mystique Santori had been a powerful woman, and it was said she got her power through black magic. Women and men came to her in the darkness of night, wanting a healing potion or a spell cast.
Angelique also knew her mother, and while Mystique could put on a good show for the clients who came to see her, she certainly had nothing to do with black magic or voodoo.
She genuinely tried to help the people who came to her.
More importantly, she had been a wonderful, loving mother and now she was gone… forever gone.
Tears burned at Angelique’s eyes. It had been a week since she’d discovered her mother dead…murdered. During that week she had tried to stay strong for her sisters while they had cried a million tears.
Yesterday morning, Mystique had been cremated. There was no way she would have wanted to be on display in death. Each of the sisters had bought silver necklaces with a charm that held some of their mother’s ashes.
Angelique had moved in with Dominique since the shanty had been declared a crime scene. But this morning, she’d been told she was free to go home tonight. Home…would it ever feel that way again without Mystique’s loving presence?
Dominique squeezed her hand as Preacher Drew came to the end of his eulogy. The three sisters rose and walked down the long aisle to the church’s front door.
The early June sun was hot overhead, and they continued down the walkway and then crossed the street to the community center. They had paid the café to cater food and for the next two hours friends would have a last chance to remember Mystique and tell her a final goodbye.
“I’m really dreading this,” Monique said as they hit the sidewalk to cross the street.
“That makes two of us,” Angelique admitted.
“It will be fine,” Dominique replied. She was definitely the more social of the sisters. “Mama had friends who will need this closure.”
They walked into the community center and Angelique looked around.
The buffet was already set up on several long tables sporting white tablecloths.
There was fried fish and baked chicken, macaroni and cheese and baked beans.
There was also salad and fruit and slices of white cake for dessert. It was definitely a nice spread.
The rest of the room held four-top tables and chairs. They, too, were covered with white tablecloths. There was also a book on a pedestal for the guests to sign when they arrived.
The three stood by the front door as a small receiving line to the people who would come in. The first person through the door was Nola Fontenot, who had been a very close friend of Mystique’s.
She hugged each of them as she cried. “I still can’t believe this has happened,” she said and pulled a tissue from her purse. “I’m going to miss her so much.” She dabbed at her eyes. “If I can do anything for you all, just call me. Mystique would want you to come to me for anything you need.”
Angelique hugged the plump older woman. “Thanks, Nola.” Once Angelique released her, Nola signed the book and then moved on to sit at one of the nearby tables.
More people arrived, friends and acquaintances and the curious all greeted the sisters and then moved on inside. When the place was nearly full, the three of them sat at a table that had been reserved for them.
Angelique looked around, wondering if her mother’s murderer was in the room. Tension twisted in her stomach. More than anything she wanted her mother’s killer to be caught and sent straight to hell.
This thought had consumed her every waking hour since she had found her mother’s body. Thank goodness her sisters hadn’t seen their mother in death with her throat slashed open. That was a nightmarish image that would haunt Angelique for the rest of her life.
She was very unhappy with the lack of forward movement in the investigation into Mystique’s murder, and so she had begun to do a little investigating of her own.
Over the past few days, she’d been interviewing the people she knew her mother was seeing in her official capacity as voodoo queen.
Chief of police Daniel LeCroix might be a handsome devil, but as far as Angelique was concerned, he was moving far too slowly in finding Mystique’s killer. So far, he hadn’t even checked in with her to let her know how the investigation was going.
Finally, things were winding down. Most of the people had left the community center, and a crew from the café was busy clearing the food tables.
“Whew, I’m glad this is all over,” Monique said. Her long-lashed brown eyes misted with unshed tears. “But it won’t really be over for us until we know who killed Mama.”
“I’m determined to find the killer,” Angelique said firmly.
“Be careful, Angelique,” Dominique said with a worried frown creasing her forehead. “The last thing we want is for you to get the attention of a murderer.”
“Don’t worry about me.” She smiled with assurance at her two siblings. “I promise I’m not about to do anything stupid.” As the eldest sister, Angelique had always known that her sisters looked to her for strength and guidance, and the last thing she wanted to do was worry or upset them.
The three were still seated at the table when Daniel LeCroix walked in the front door. With his dark, slightly shaggy hair, blue eyes and sculpted features, the chief was definitely a hunk. His blue uniform fit across his broad shoulders and his pants showed off his slim waist and hips.
On the night of the murder, when he and his men had responded to the scene, he’d been exceedingly kind to her and her sisters, but he didn’t look so kind right now. His dark brows were pulled together and tension tightened his features as he approached where they sat.
His blue eyes looked directly at Angelique and he definitely looked angry.
She raised her chin slightly and held his gaze.
She had no idea why he might be angry with her, but she was definitely angry with him for the lack of progress and communication about the murder that had forever changed her life.
“Miss Santori,” he said, once he reached where they were seated. “May I have a word with you…privately?”
Angelique rose from her chair. “Absolutely. There’s a small patio out the back door. We can talk there.”
He gave a curt nod of his head. “You can lead the way.”
She had no idea what issue he might have with her, but she definitely intended to use this time to give him a piece of her mind.
DANIEL WALKED BEHIND the tall, dark-haired beauty, his anger with her rising with each step he took. They reached the back door and stepped out into the bright sunshine.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked when she turned to face him.
Her cheeks flushed and her long-lashed unusual light brown eyes flashed with obvious irritation. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
“I’m talking about you trying to ruin my investigation.” He couldn’t help but notice how her long black hair sparkled like silk in the sunshine overhead.
“What investigation?” she asked with obvious derision. “You haven’t checked in with us to tell us what’s happening. Maybe because Mama was swamp, there is no urgency to solve the crime.”
Daniel drew in several deep breaths. The woman was absolutely maddening. “That’s definitely a low blow. Murder is murder, and I investigate it the same no matter where the victim comes from.”
Her cheeks flushed with color and she averted her gaze from his. “You’re right, that was a low blow.” She looked at him once again.
Daniel raced a hand through his hair, a gesture of sheer frustration. “Look, you’ve got to stop questioning potential suspects. You meddling in this could completely ruin the prosecution of the killer when we find him.”
“I… I hadn’t thought of that.” She raised her chin, a new blaze flashing in her gorgeous eyes.
“But I’ve been so frustrated by the lack of communication from you.
I don’t know what you’re doing to find her killer.
I have no idea who you’ve questioned and who you haven’t.
I have no idea if you’re actually working the case or sitting around and drinking coffee in your office. ”
Once again, an angry frustration filled Daniel. “Me and my officers have been out busting our butts on this case. But I need you to stay the hell out of it.”
“Then tell me what you’re doing, and I’ll stay out of it,” she replied. She frowned, the gesture doing nothing to detract from her loveliness. “Why don’t you come by my place every night and tell me what you’ve accomplished during the day?”
“I could give you a check-in call each evening,” he countered.
She shook her head. “That’s not good enough. I need to see your face when you check in with me. Besides, coming by my place will show your utter commitment to the case. Promise me you’ll do this and I’ll promise to stay out of things.”
It would be a total pain to do it, but at this point he would agree to almost anything to keep her from meddling in the case. Not only could she screw up the investigation, but she could also get hurt. The killer had already shown himself to be capable of committing a heinous crime.
“Okay, I can do that, but I can’t promise what time I’ll show up. It might be early in the afternoon or it might be late at night. It’s possible there might be nights when I can’t be there at all.”