13. Epilogue
Dawn broke over New Orleans, the sky lightening with the promise of a beautiful day. Lucian Boudreuax, dubbed the Treme Killer by the press, was behind bars with enough evidence to put him under the jail for the rest of his natural life. Brody and his team had seen to that, reopening the cold cases and scouring over what was in the original evidence boxes. While it was a relief to solve the case, it opened up other doors and questions that internal affairs were now delving into.
Sheriff Grace Cooper stood on the balcony outside of Brody’s bedroom, a cup of hot coffee in her hands and the sun warming her skin. The city was waking up, people already bustling through the French Quarter on their way to their jobs, to Cafe Du Monde for beignets or to sightsee. A sense of peace settled over her as she gazed over the city she loved. But even with the closure of the case and the relief it brought, Grace found another emotion taking hold. She gazed over at Brody sitting in a chair on the other side of the balcony. Her eyes met his, a silent understanding passing between them. She walked over to him. “So I’ve been thinking about your offer.”
“Which offer is that?” he asked as she sat in the other chair.
“Moving in with you. You’ve got the third floor, and we can turn it into a rec room or something like you suggested. Maybe our own personal gym.”
Brody laughed. “Only if you’re the one hauling all the heavy gym equipment up there.”
Grace smiled. “No. We’d hire someone for that.” She sipped her coffee. “Honestly, I like the idea of being here with you.” She reached out and entwined her fingers with his.
“Me too.” He leaned over to kiss her, a sultry kiss full of promise. “I love you, Grace.”
She leaned her forehead against his. “I love you too, Brody.”
The doorbell sounded at the same time Grace’s phone rang. He ran downstairs and opened it. “Yes.”
“I have a delivery for Sheriff Cooper.” The young woman held a fruit bouquet with chocolate-covered strawberries and other fresh fruit.
Brody looked at it. “Yeah, I can take it. She’s…upstairs.” He signed for the basket, tipped the young woman, and closed the front door, carrying it into the kitchen. Grace was already standing there, her face pale. “What’s wrong?”
“Lucian Boudreaux is dead. He was found in his cell, strangled to death…with the sigil of the Crescent Order next to him.”
Brody gazed at her and then at the fruit bouquet. He opened the card, reading it before handing it to Grace.
The card simply said, “Compliments of the Crescent Order.”