Pretty Dangerous (10 page)

“How awful,” MiMi said, as if she hadn’t
heard the story at least three times before. She shook her head.
“At least his son was able to go back and get some of the land
returned.”

“Yes, made history in this state. So I know
how your daddy feels about building something for the future.” Mama
Ruby gave a sharp nod. She put the lid on the large gumbo pot.

Willa’s daddy came into the kitchen. “Ruby
telling y’all them old dusty family stories again.” He grinned at
them all.

“Children need to know our history, Elton.
How else they gonna appreciate what we came from? I had a point,
which is I understand why MiMi’s daddy wants her to have a man
who’s got something.”

Papa Elton’s thick dark eyebrows pulled
together. “Oh yeah, we all know about them Landrys.”

“Elton,” Mama Ruby said in a harsh whisper
and jabbed him with an elbow.

“I mean, uh, how they worked so hard. Ahem,
let me see what’s going on with the game.” He scurried out before
anyone could comment.

Willa stared at her mother, a question on her
smooth brown face. “Okay, so Mr. and Mrs. Landry are right to set
MiMi up with this guy.”

MiMi ignored the undercurrent. “Anyway, I
don’t exactly have a pristine track record myself.”

“Yeah, like being my husband’s mistress,”
Willa said dryly.

“Ex-husband,” MiMi protested. “Well almost,
and you were glad to be rid of him. You said so like a million
times.”

“It’s the principle,” Willa said with a
grunt. “Anyway, whatever. Chase the money if you want.”

“I happen to like Roddy,” MiMi said with a
scowl.

“Okay.” Willa smirked when MiMi huffed with
irritation.

The doorbell of the kitchen door rang,
cutting off their impending spat. Mama Ruby went into the alcove
that led to their back patio. She came back smiling with Jazz and
Baton Rouge Police homicide Detective Don Addison.

“Look who showed up and brought company with
her. We’ve got plenty so y’all come right on in.”

“Hey everybody,” Jazz said. “We ate a late
lunch, but thanks anyway.”

“Afternoon,” Don nodded. He looked around as
though expecting to find something to confiscate.

“I don’t care what you say, Jazzmonetta.
Y’all make a nice couple,” Mama Ruby said in a stage whisper. She
winked at Don. Then she bustled around getting bowls set out for
servings of gumbo.

Willa smacked her lips. “Very subtle,
mama.”

“Elton will probably eat in front of the
television despite my nagging. So the children can eat in the den,
and the grown folks can sit right here. That way y’all can talk.”
Mama Ruby made it plain she would stick around to hear every
word.

“Sage can’t eat the gumbo, too spicy,” MiMi
said.

“I put aside a little pot for her and Mikayla
before I added the pepper. Oh and no hot sausage for them either. I
was raising children when you were in diapers, young lady,” Mama
Ruby said.

MiMi grinned as she gave Willa a sideways
glance. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been schooled.”

“Anthony should be here instead of chasing
some girl. This is family time.” Mama Ruby gave Willa a pointed
stare.

“He’s almost eighteen and has his own social
life. Besides, he gives y’all plenty of attention. Good Lord, mama.
And I thought I’d have trouble cutting the apron strings.” Willa
rolled her eyes.

“At least we have most of the family here. I
include you, Officer,” Mama Ruby said. She beamed at him as though
ready to call him her new son-in-law.

“Mama, don’t start,” Willa mumbled.

“I think it’s wonderful that Jazz is happy,”
MiMi added. She laughed when Willa glared at her.

“Y’all need to stop meddling,” Willa
replied.

“Oh like you haven’t?” MiMi retorted.

“Hey, listen,” Jazz broke in.

“MiMi is right, Willa. Your nose ought to be
sore stickin’ it in Jazz’s business.” Mama Ruby winked at MiMi and
turned to the stove again.

“Let’s eat. Filling your mouths with food is
a great idea right about now,” Willa said.

Willa, MiMi and Mama Ruby launched into a
spirited debate over who was the worst busy body. Each one tried to
out talk the other to present evidence. Despite the intensity of
their discussion, there was more teasing than real conflict. Jazz
tried to break in several times. Finally, after about ten seconds,
Don spoke up loudly.

“Excuse me, but I didn’t come for dinner. We
need to talk.” His deep voice rumbled like a threatening storm
bouncing off the kitchen walls.

Mama Ruby stood, ladle poised over the open
pot. She glanced at Willa. “Oh?”

Willa looked at Jazz. “Don’t tell me you’re
tied up in another mess. Jazz, I swear...”

“Not me this time.” Jazz looked at MiMi, one
perfectly arched eyebrow raised.

“I need to talk to MiMi privately.” Don wore
a serious expression.

“He tried to get you at home, MiMi. You need
to answer your damn texts. Anthony told us y’all were over here.”
Jazz crossed her arms.

“Me?” MiMi blinked at him and then looked to
Jazz for some clue. When she shrugged, MiMi started to really
worry.

“The kids might walk in, so maybe we should
go somewhere else,” Don said.

“I’ll take them to the family room with
Elton. He won’t mind. Tell me what I missed when I get back,” Mama
Ruby said to Willa. Seconds later she led the two girls down the
hall.

“The police department in Santo Domingo,
a...” Don took out his phone to consult it.

“Detective Aguilar,” MiMi said. Her chest
felt as though a huge rubber band tightened around it.

Don glanced up at her sharply. “No,
Martinez.”

“Never heard of him.” MiMi sat down at the
kitchen table.

“Her, Detective Ernesta Martinez. Her
superior called our lieutenant, asked us to follow-up on one of
their investigations. Seems Jazz left out a few details about her
trip out of town,” Don said in a dry tone without looking at
Jazz.

Jazz leaned up against the tan marble at one
end of the kitchen counter. “Like I told you, I visited a
friend.”

“Yeah, in prison. They have a murder and
questions about money coming into the country to a bank called
Banco something I can’t pronounce.” Don looked up from his phone at
MiMi.

“Look, I have every right to follow-up on my
fiancé’s assets and...”

“This Roderick Jefferson guy is your fiancé?”
Don broke in.

“Huh?” MiMi stared at him in confusion.

“Their victim has a connection to Jefferson.
This guy also was hooked up to a local gang that’s suspected of
moving money in and through the country.”

Jazz spoke up quickly before MiMi could
reply. “You didn’t mention anything about moving money, Don.”

Don frowned at Jazz. “Look, don’t play games.
Tell me exactly why you ended up in the Dominican Republic with
this guy. Seems the Feds are interested as well. My assistant chief
wouldn’t waste time unless there’s more to it than a dead weed
man.”

Willa crossed her arms. “What Feds?”

“The US Marshals, the FBI and that’s just a
start. Jefferson has been a busy guy to generate this kind of
attention.” Don sighed. “You sure have a knack for picking
complicated boyfriends.”

“Roderick is from a fine old family. My
father and brother have done business with his family on more than
one occasion.” MiMi lifted her chin as she defended him.

“You better hope he didn’t involve them in
his troubles,” Don said. “I won’t mention that to my boss just
yet.”

“Roddy made one small buy and he’s a one man
drug cartel?” MiMi worked herself into anintense outrage.

Willa’s brow wrinkled as she seemed to
consider what Don had said. “There must be more to this whole deal,
pardon the pun.”

“The Feds keep a lot to themselves, to
protect their investigation.” Don gave a short grunt to show what
he thought of that explanation. “But Willa’s on target, MiMi. I
maybe need to talk to your dad.”

MiMi’s eyes widen in horror. “No, no, no.
Daddy will absolutely have heart failure, not to mention blame
me.”

“You? He should be pissed at Roderick
Jefferson,” Willa said.

“Or himself for getting into business with
him,” Jazz added.

“Reputation is everything to Daddy. He’ll say
I got Roddy into trouble because of my unsavory associations.” MiMi
rubbed her forehead.

Jazz nudged Willa. “She means us, sis. Guess
we can stop waiting for an invitation to Sunday dinner at the
Landry house.”

“The Black elite never blame their own, Don.
They’re so special.” Willa gave a scornful laugh.

“Just stop it,” MiMi snapped. “You’re
stereotyping them because they grew up different than you.”

“I married into that world. Jack Crown,
remember? I know what I’m talking about,” Willa replied.

“His parents might have been difficult when
it came to you,” MiMi said.

“Try condescending on a good day, flat out
insulting on a bad one,” Willa lobbed back.

“Excuse me, let’s get back to why Don came
over here,” Jazz said loudly.

Mama Ruby scurried in. “Okay, fill me
in.”

“There was a murder in the Dominican
Republic, and the police over there think Roderick and MiMi are
involved. Something about money laundering, too.” Jazz rattled out
the succinct summary with the wave of a hand.

“Money laundering, again?” Mama Ruby gaped at
MiMi. “Child, no.”

“I never...” MiMi sucked in air and then let
it out noisily. “Look, all I did was go on vacation with my
boyfriend and...”

“I thought he was your fiancé. That’s what
you said at first,” Don broke in. His dark eyes focused on MiMi
like the scope of a high powered rifle.

“Slip of the tongue. I’m hoping he puts a
ring on it,” MiMi said with a laugh.

“She’s always trolling for a BMWM; you know,
a Black Man With Money,” Jazz added. She shared a high five with
MiMi.

“You said something about his assets.”

“Roderick said something about business
opportunities in the DR or with some people there. I wasn’t paying
attention to be honest. Oh, he did visit a commercial plaza for
sale. It included a few shops, and I have retail expertise.”

“You sure that’s the only business he was up
to over there?” Don made notes on a small pad.

“I was with him just about every minute we
were there, Don.” MiMi matched his crossed arms pose.

“Except when he slipped off to buy drugs,”
Don said.

“You know what? I think the Feds are doing
some racial profiling. White kids from those Ivy League schools go
on spring break, tear up everything and do drugs. The FBI doesn’t
show up accusing them of drug smuggling and money laundering. I
can’t believe you bought into their bull.” MiMi jabbed a finger in
the air between them.

“Don is doing his job,” Jazz put in. “But she
does have a point about the profiling.”

Don raised a dark eyebrow. “Pick a team and
stay on it, Jazz.”

“I’m not talking about you,” Jazz said
promptly. “On the other hand, look at the facts. A lot of people
get locked up for stuff they didn’t do.”

“We follow the evidence. Speaking of
profiling, the all ‘cops are rotten apples’ theme is getting very
old.” Don’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Jazz.

“I didn’t say...”

“No, she didn’t, now let’s not start
attacking each other. Don is right. There’s more going on than
Roderick bought a little weed. Too many people are interested,”
Willa added fast when MiMi opened her mouth.

“Hmmm. He did lie, girl. You gotta wonder
what else he hasn’t told you.” Jazz frowned and rubbed her chin as
if in deep thought.

“I’ve known the Jeffersons since I was
twelve. They’re a fine family.” MiMi sniffed.

“You sounded a lot like your mother just
then,” Willa murmured. When MiMi scowled at her, she held up both
palms.

“I would say the same thing if someone
accused you or Mama Ruby of being an international criminal,” MiMi
replied, putting ice in her tone.

“What about me?” Jazz’s full lips lifted at
one corner.

“No comment.” MiMi ducked when Jazz took a
playful swing at her.

“All I’m saying is...” Don raised his voice
to get their attention back to the subject. “You might not want to
book a wedding planner with this guy. He’s got baggage.”

“There’s a little concept called innocent
until proven guilty. As an officer of the law I’m sure you’ve heard
of it.” MiMi planted both fists on her hips.

“Everybody is guilty of something. We slap
the cuffs on and make ‘em take the walk of shame to booking.” Don
gave a cynical chuckle.

“Oh, now that’s such an enlightened view of
people.” MiMi shook her head slowly.

“He’s kidding,” Jazz said. But she looked
unsure as she glanced at Don.

“Okay, okay. Mr. Roderick Jefferson deserves
his day in court. I suggest you have a chat with him about the FBI.
Talk to your daddy while you’re at it.” Don looked around at them
all. “Anything else you want to tell me?”

“No,” MiMi, Jazz and Willa said at the same
time.

Don gave them a pointed stare. “Uh-huh. Y’all
do know I’m going to find out sooner and not later, right?”

“We don’t know what you’re talking about.”
MiMi hoped her tone had the right mixture of honesty and injured
pride.

Don’s cell phone vibrated. He glanced at the
screen for a few seconds before he disappeared into the laundry
room to make a call.

“Y’all need to practice not sounding guilty
as sin.” Mama Ruby shook her head as she went to the stove to check
on the simmering gumbo.

“What do you really know about this dude,
MiMi,” Jazz hissed. She glanced in the direction Don had gone.

“I think the FBI is really trying to track
down Jack’s money and using what happened with Roderick as a
cover,” MiMi whispered. “They might have had us all under
surveillance for the last year or longer.”