Deja Voodoo (A Cajun Magic Novel) (Entangled Suspense) (14 page)

Way to put the kibosh on dreams of love and happiness.

“Go away, Theo.” She turned away from the dance floor and lifted her bottle to her lips.

…

Ed spent the afternoon preparing for the next day’s transportation of the witness to the courthouse in Baton Rouge. He cleaned his rifle and handgun, filled the rental car’s gas tank, checked the tires, and charged his smartphone. He even went to Morgan City to purchase a throwaway phone in case he needed an untraceable number, should the mission go south.

The plan was to move the Ragsdale woman under the cover of night, late enough that everyone would be in bed asleep. Until then he had to cool his heels and wait. He’d declined Mrs. Boyette’s dinner invitation, claiming he had things to do. Truth was, he didn’t want to see Alex when all he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her and…well, lose sight of the reason he was there. If the rock through her window last night was meant for him, he might already have put her and her family in danger.

At nine that evening, darkness had settled over the bayou, but it was still too early to make his move. He’d paced the length of the house and back a hundred times, working through every scenario he could imagine and his potential response. Between him and Marcus, they had to get Phyllis out alive and deliver her to the courthouse without incident.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he jerked it out. Caller ID indicated a blocked number. He pressed the talk button. “Yeah.”

“Ed, it’s Ben.”

“You on a throwaway phone?”’

“Yes. As close as we are to D-day, I didn’t want to risk your phone being traced from mine.”

“Great minds think alike.” He gave him the number of the throwaway phone he’d purchased earlier. “What’s happening on your end?”

“Primeaux has had someone observing him 24/7 and he hasn’t seemed to make a move to have our witness terminated.”

“What are the chances he’ll let her live to testify against him?”

“Everyone at this end is betting a hundred to one.”

“Right.”

“Tomorrow’s going to be hectic. Have her wear a bulletproof vest. You and Marcus, too. If he really has a bounty out on her, you know there will be bullets flying.” Ben heaved a tense breath. “Any other attacks on your end?”

“Not today, but then I haven’t been outside much, other than to jog this morning and once this afternoon.”

“Oh, I did get something on Oscar Mills.”

He tensed. “Shoot.”

“Retired DEA sharpshooter.”

“Retired DEA sharpshooter?” He shook his head. “What’s a guy like that doing here in the bayou?” Unless he was hired by Leon. “Anything in his background show he’s gone dirty? Any foreclosures? Owe a ton of money? Default on his loans or taxes? Cousins in the Primeaux family? Anything?”

“No. The man was highly decorated in the DEA, retired early after twenty-five years of service. He’s only forty-three.”

“Hell, he could be on his second career as Leon’s hit man.” Ed ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t like it.”

“You have a couple hours to kill. Sorry, poor choice of words.” Ben chuckled. “You have a couple hours before the extraction—get out there and get a bead on Mills.”

“Will do.”

“And Ed?”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful.”

“I think I’ll be more in danger of crossfire from Marcus shooting at Ragsdale than anything else. Have you heard the mouth on that woman?”

Ben hung up, laughing.

Ed tucked his weapons into their cases, locked them, and shoved them under the bed. With his keys in hand, he locked up, jumped in his car, and drove slowly along the main street through town, checking out any movement. Before he reached the cabin where Oscar Mills was staying, the Ford Fusion Mills had been driving pulled out of his drive and headed north.

Falling in behind him, but keeping a reasonable distance back, Ed followed the retired sharpshooter all the way to the Raccoon Saloon. Was Mills stopping there for a drink, or to meet with one of Primeaux’s men?

Only one way to find out.

Ed passed the saloon and gave Mills enough time to park and enter the saloon before he made a U-turn on the highway and returned to the bar, parking in the rear.

He slipped in through the back door the employees used. With no one there to question him, he managed to enter the saloon unnoticed, emerging near the hallway leading to the bathrooms. For the next few minutes he panned the interior, until he found Oscar Mills sitting at one end of the bar, nursing a beer by himself, while staring out at the room full of natives line dancing or drinking pitchers of beer and downing oyster shooters.

At the other end of the bar closest to Ed, a big man stood with his back to him. By the breadth of his shoulders and the way he stood, he guessed it was Theo Ledet.

The man swayed and spoke loud enough that Ed could hear his words over the music. “What, are you too good ta dance wit’ me now dat you got de hotshot from Naw-lins to screw?” The man leaned into whoever he was talking to, swaying.

The woman to whom he spoke reached up a slim hand and slapped the crap out of him.

Theo staggered a step backward and braced his feet. “You shudda not done dat.” He reached out and grabbed her.

A flurry of movement and flying arms resulted, and within seconds, Alex Boyette had Theo Ledet facedown on the sticky barroom floor with his arm twisted up behind him. She stepped into the middle of his back and said, loud enough for everyone in the joint to hear, “Theo Ledet, for the last time. Leave. Me. Alone.”

Ed chuckled. She hadn’t been kidding when she said she knew karate. Then again, the man had been stone drunk.

Alex stepped over the guy and started toward the dance floor. She’d only gone two steps when the dumbass on the floor grabbed her ankle. She toppled like a statue, hit the ground hard and lay there, stunned, long enough for Theo to haul himself to his feet and grab her by her hair.

Every protective instinct inside Ed erupted into bottled-up rocket fuel and he launched himself across the room, plowing over chairs, legs, and people scrambling to get out of his way.

As Theo pulled Alex up by the hair, he flung a right hook into the side of his face.

Theo barely recoiled, but he did let go of Alex’s hair and turn the full force of his inebriated anger on him.

“Back off, Ed, I’ve got this,” Alex said as she rolled over and staggered to her feet, pushing her hair out of her face. “The man has a jaw of iron, you won’t faze him—”

Theo threw a punch aimed at his nose.

Ed dodged to the side, but wasn’t fast enough to miss the second swing. He took it in the jaw and jerked back, pain radiating through his head.

The next punch, he was ready for. He dodged, hooked Theo’s arm, and yanked it up behind his back between his shoulder blades. “You gonna act nice or am I gonna break it?” he demanded.

Theo whimpered. “I’ll be nice. Promise.”

“You gonna quit following Miz Alex and leave her alone?”

“Yes sir, I be leavin’ dat gal alone.”

Alex focused on the bartender. “Call the sheriff, this man needs help getting home.”

Once Ed had Theo loaded into a patrol car, he went back inside. Oscar still sat at the end of the bar. His gaze met Ed’s, a smile curling the corners of his lips. He tipped his mug at him and nodded.

When Ed looked around, he noted Calliope and Sport locked in an embrace on the dance floor, but Alex was gone.

Face it, buddy, you have to move on.
Mills didn’t appear to be a threat, and looked like he’d be at the saloon for a while.

He’d already wasted enough time in town. It was time to get out to the bayou and collect the package to be delivered.

Chapter Thirteen

The extraction went smoothly. Marcus and Ed got Phyllis out of the swamp with no problem, other than trying to keep the harpy quiet when they reached Bayou Miste. Marcus looked ready to pull the trigger. If not on her, then on himself.

After spending four days with the witch, Marcus would get off on an insanity plea, Ed was certain.

To burn time, they sat in the Jeep on a deserted road west of Baton Rouge for a couple hours. They weren’t expected to arrive at the courthouse until nine in the morning. He and Ben had planned a circuitous route so they could throw a tail or see if anyone was following them.

Phyllis whined and complained about wearing the bulletproof vest, claiming it wasn’t her color and it made her look fat. In the end she put it on for fear Marcus would be the one to shoot her.

On the drive through Baton Rouge, the occupants of the Jeep grew tense. Even Phyllis shut up as they got closer to the courthouse where she was to testify against one of the most ruthless mobsters south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Twice, Marcus thought he’d spotted a tail. Twice, Ed rerouted and took another turn to confuse any would-be hit man. As the clock neared nine, they rolled up to the steps of the courthouse. Marcus got out first, his hand on his gun inside his suit jacket, and held the door for Phyllis to alight.

Ben met them with two other plainclothes cops. Ed circled the car and blocked the view as Phyllis stepped out.

Some members of the press, who’d gathered around the prosecuting attorney at the top of the steps of the East Baton Rouge Parish courthouse, spied the vehicle and moved as one to get an interview with the next arrival to the trial of the century.

As Phyllis stepped up on the sidewalk, her heel caught on the curb and she lurched forward.

One of the plainclothes cops jerked backward and landed on his ass on the concrete, groaning.

“Gunshot fired!” Ed yelled, planted his hand on Phyllis’s head and shoved her into the backseat on the floorboard, folded her legs in after her, and slammed the door. “Get in!” he shouted to Marcus.

The back windshield exploded in a spray of glass fragments.

While Ed ran around to the driver’s side, reporters screamed and uniforms herded bystanders into the courthouse. Marcus dove into the passenger seat and Ed gunned the accelerator, sending the damaged rental flying away from the crime scene.

He tossed the throwaway phone to Marcus. “Call Ben, tell him we’re going to stash the loot and wait for an all-clear before we attempt this again.”

“What the fuck?” Phyllis raged from the back floorboard. “I’ll sue the state of Louisiana on assault charges. Did you have to be so goddamn rough? Shit, I broke a nail!”

As planned if the transfer got botched, they ditched the Jeep in a parking garage and picked up the replacement and headed back to the bayou, taking a long route to make sure no one followed. They’d decided the bayou was the best location since they could see danger coming, and if it came to an all-out war, fewer people would be hurt in the crossfire than if they hid her in town.

Frankly, he couldn’t wait to get back. Number one, to get rid of the witness from hell whose mouth should be exiled to a deserted island. Although he wouldn’t wish that on the fish and the palm trees.

Number two, he wanted to see Alex and make sure she was all right. Hell, and to admit to her that he was falling for her.

…

Alex had called in sick to her gym for the first time in the three years she’d owned it. After seeing Ed take a hit for her last night, she’d wanted to go to him, melt into his arms, and tell him she loved him. But the feelings were so raw and uncontrolled, she’d run from them, from Ed, and from what she really wanted. Once she’d gotten into her car, she realized her mistake. She should have gone back in and told Ed how she felt. Instead, she’d gone home in a funk so blue she couldn’t focus.

Sport had spent the night at Calliope’s again. Which meant Alex had been alone throughout the night. She’d tossed and turned, her body alternating between cold and lonely and raging heat from memories of what she and Ed had shared in her bed, on her kitchen table, and all the places they hadn’t had the opportunity to try out.

Sometime during the night, she’d fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep, and slept past her alarm. When she finally woke, it was past nine o’clock and the sun was peeking through her blinds. Too wound up to focus on work, she’d called Harry and asked her to pull a double, taking the early and late shifts that day. With energy to burn, Alex pulled on her jogging shorts, sports bra, and sneakers, and hit the road.

Joe Thibodeaux was out in front of the marina painting the exterior wall as high up as he could reach without a ladder.

Too curious to pass him by, she slowed to jog in place. “What happened to your morning fishing buddy?”

“Cancelled. Said he had business to take care of today.”

She jogged a few more steps in place. “Did he say when he’d be back?”

“Nope. Said not to expect him back in. He’d call if he wanted to schedule another morning.” Joe shook his head. “He was comin’ along pretty good for a man who’d never put a hook in the water.”

Alex stopped jogging. He’d said he’d come to Bayou Miste to get some fishing in on vacation. “He’d never been fishing before?”

“Couldn’t have. Not the way he handled the rod.” Joe scratched his beard, smearing white paint on his face. “What he lacked in experience, though, he made up for in enthusiasm.”

Interesting
. A man on vacation in a bayou town who’d never been fishing. “Have a nice day, Joe.”

“You, too.”

She jogged past her mother’s house, almost tripping over her own feet as she passed the rental cottage where Ed was staying, craning her neck to see if he was home. Disappointment flooded her. His car was gone and the place looked empty. If he never came back, that’s how it would remain.

A lump the size of a wadded-up tube sock lodged in her throat and she had to blink to clear her vision. Pushing harder, she ran faster and faster, until she was a mile out of town and feeling no better. She turned and headed back, passing her family’s home once again.

“Alex!” Her mother waved at her from her porch. “Care for a cup of coffee?”

Tired and sweating, she shook her head. “No, thanks, Mom. But I’ll take a cup of iced tea if you have some.”

Her mother smiled. “I even have some fresh beignets—Miz Mozelle brought them by this morning. She wanted to give them to Ed, but he hasn’t been home all night. I thought he wasn’t heading into Baton Rouge until this morning, but I guess he left under the cover of darkness.” She shrugged. “Our benefit. We get the beignets.”

Alex bypassed the large dining room table, opting for the dinette that seated six in the Boyette kitchen. “Kids off to school?”

“Left a couple hours ago.” Her mother poured two glasses of iced tea and set them on the table, sinking into a seat. “This is one of my favorite times of the day.”

“Morning calm?”

“
Mmm-hmm
.” She sipped from her glass and smiled. “My other favorite time of day is dinner when everyone’s here and talking at once.”

“Don’t you get lonely?”

“Oh, no,
ma cher
. I like my time alone. Much as I love my children, I look forward to the day when I can leave Bayou Miste.”

Alex’s heart skipped several beats and then hammered away. “What?”

Her mother patted her hand. “To travel,
cher
. This will always be my home, but when I was young, before I met your father, I used to dream of seeing other places, other countries. I still have those dreams.” The light in her mother’s eyes made her appear younger, more vibrant.

Alex could almost visualize the young woman she’d once been, before nineteen children had tied her down. “Why did I never know that about you?”

Her mother smiled. “Your father loved Bayou Miste. It was his home and he never wanted to leave. I was happy with that, as long as I had him or my children.” Her eyes glazed with tears. “But once my work is done raising all of you, I want to spread my wings, before I get too old to do it.”

Alex swallowed the knot in her throat that the memories of her father always brought. “Did you ever regret having so many of us?”

She smiled, shaking her head. “Never. I can’t imagine life without every one of you.” Her mother reached out and caressed her cheek. “My one regret was that you, Alex, had to grow up too soon. Now, I’m afraid you feel responsible for all of us, and that’s not at all what I wished for you, my first daughter. I dreamed of you spreading your wings, getting out of Bayou Miste, and experiencing the world.”

“And here I am.” A tear pushed out of the corner of Alex’s eye and slipped down her cheek. “I couldn’t leave you to handle everything by yourself.”

Her mother smiled. “I’m pretty tough. I can handle things.” She leaned forward as if imparting a secret. “And in case you didn’t notice…I’m not all by myself. Your brothers and sisters are quite capable of helping out, just like you did growing up. It builds character.” She covered Alex’s hand with hers. “If there’s another life you want to lead or were afraid to dream, don’t let it pass you by. Reach out, run toward it. You have my blessing. Not that you need it.”

“Oh, yes, I do.” More tears trickled down Alex’s face and she squeezed her mother’s hands.

“If that young man comes back, don’t you push him away like you always do. Give him a chance.”

“What if he doesn’t want me?”

Her mother shook her head, incredulous. “Who wouldn’t want you?”

Alex laughed, the sound catching on a sob. “From Mom’s mouth to God’s ears.”

“Now go to work. The day will pass much more quickly.”

She left her mother’s house, her heart much lighter, her feet barely touching the ground.

When she entered her house, she shed her workout clothes, grabbed a towel, and headed for the bathroom while dialing Lucie’s number.

“Alex, did you hear?” Lucie asked, her voice shaking.

She had reached to turn on the shower, but paused. “Hear what?”

“About the shooting.” Lucie sobbed into the phone. “At the courthouse. Someone tried to kill the witness in the case against the mobster, Leon Primeaux. One of the cops escorting her was hit.”

She gripped the phone, her heart clenching so tightly she could barely breathe. “Where’s Ben? Was he there? Is he all right?”

“He was there!” Lucie cried some more while Alex held her breath. “But he’s okay. He wasn’t hurt.”

The air rushed out of Alex’s lungs and she sagged against the sink. “Don’t scare me like that!”

“I’m sorry. I was shaking so badly, I thought I’d miscarry this baby. I’d heard it over the news and I tried to get Ben on the phone and…and…I was so scared, Alex. I’m not cut out to be the wife of a cop.”

“Yes, you are. You know you love him.” She did her best to soothe her friend when her own hands were shaking. “Can you imagine being with anyone else?”

“No. But if something should happen to him, I couldn’t stand the idea of living without him.”

She envied Lucie. She’d found someone she cared about so much she would sacrifice everything to be with him, even her life. And she couldn’t be with a better man than Ben. “
Cher,
we never know how much time we have with the ones we love. Be thankful for every day you have with him.”

“I know. I know. I’m being hormonal, but I love him so much.”

“Honey, he’s okay. You’re going to be okay. Take a deep breath and pull yourself together. The baby needs you to be strong.”

After a few sniffles and a loud snort as if Lucie was blowing her nose, she said, “Thanks, Alex, I needed to hear that. Now, I
know
you didn’t call to listen to me having a nervous breakdown in your ear. Why
did
you call?”

Figuring it would take Lucie’s mind off Ben’s near miss, she drew in a deep breath and launched into the reason for her call. “Is the Voodoo that made Sport human permanent?”

“Oh, Alex, I have no idea. Whatever Gran LeBieu put in that
gris gris
bag had to have been some powerful stuff to have done what it did.”

“I need to know if it will stick.”

“
Mais
, the spell she put on Craig Thibodeaux lasted over a week. I’m not even sure my grandmother knows how long her spells will last. She always says something like ‘they’ll last as long as they’re needed’ or something vague like that. Why? Are things pretty bad down there?”

Alex sighed. “No. But I wonder if it’s possible for the spell to be made permanent.”

“You’ll have to run that by my grandmother.” Lucie paused. “Are you falling in love with Sport as a man?”

She laughed and then sobered. “No, I’m not falling for Sport, but Calliope is. And he’s in love with her.”

“
Coo wee!
I can’t say I miss the craziness of Bayou Miste.” Lucie clucked her tongue. “That’s so like Calliope. She has such a big heart.”

“I know, and I’d hate to see it broken.”

“Wish I could help.”

“You can help by taking care of yourself, my godchild, and my big brother.”

“I’ll do my best. What about you, Alex?” Lucie asked. “Is there someone special in your life? I always dreamed we’d have babies at the same time so that our children could grow up together. Anything on that front?”

She cringed when she heard the sound of her biological clock ticking for the first time. Immediately Ed’s face appeared in her mind. “No, nothing yet.”

“I’ll burn a red candle for you,” Lucie offered. “Maybe it will bring you luck on the love front.”

“Thanks, but don’t burn the house down doing it.” She hung up, jumped in the shower, and got ready for work after all. Staying home left her way too much time to think. She needed the day to go by quickly, as her mother had promised. Her heart beat faster in anticipation of seeing Ed that evening.
Please let him come back.

…

“I’m sick and tired of being in this car. I’m hot, I’m thirsty, and I have to pee like nobody’s goddamn business.”

Marcus and Ed chimed together, “Shut up!”

Phyllis Ragsdale sniffed. “I’m the one being shot at. You could be a little more sympathetic to the lady present.”