Rue Toulouse (18 page)

“It seems to me your family doesn’t know how tough you and your grandmother can be.”

As Caterine began to speak, Remi’s cell phone rang.

“Michaud.”

“Hey, Remi, it’s Paul.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I’m with Miss Dauphine at her attorney’s office. We thought this would be a safe place for us to meet. I wanted to fill you in on what I know before I went in.”

“I’m all ears.”

“They ID’d the girl they found injured in the Quarter. Her name is Melinda Perkins. According to her driver’s license, she’s twenty-four and lives on Royal. They ran her through the system and she came back clean. It seems the poor girl’s only sin was looking like Caterine—and being in the wrong place.”

“I agree. What else you got?”

“Not much. But you’ll find this interesting. Miss Dauphine says she didn’t tell anyone anything about Caterine leaving until they asked. It seems no one did ask until this morning while they were all at breakfast. I asked her if she thought this was rather strange, since it had been her instead of Caterine opening the shop. She told me they all figured she was still angry over their performances Monday evening and knew better than to question anything she did.”

“So none of them realized Caterine was gone?”

“That’s right, but they know it now. Miss Dauphine told them Caterine had to go out of town on business for a while and that she will be running the store.”

“You got anything else?”

“No, except Miss Dauphine is waiting to speak with Caterine.”

“Put her on.”

Remi handed Caterine the phone. “It’s your grandmère, Princess.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Hello, Grandmère.”

“Caterine, my dear, how are you?”

“I’m fine, and you?”

“I’m well. I understand Mr. Michaud has arrived.”

“Yes, he’s here.”

“Good. Now, Caterine, I want you to do exactly as Mr. Michaud tells you to do. I only had an opportunity to meet with him briefly, but he seemed both intelligent and competent.”

Caterine smiled at Remi, who was watching her closely. “He is both those things, and I’ll do as you ask.”

“I informed everyone at breakfast this morning that you were out of town on business. I watched each of them closely, but they showed little or no interest. I tell you, Caterine, the thought that someone in our family could perpetrate such a cruel and despicable act, and that they’re living under my roof, sickens me.” Her voice took on a sterner tone. “I thought about throwing the lot of them out, but I decided I’d rather have them where I can keep an eye on them.”

“Grandmère, I’m positive I didn’t know the person who attacked me. Remi and Paul feel someone in the family would have had to hire him.”

“I understand, and I agree. As for me, I don’t want you to worry. I’ve taken precautions. Clayton Butler has been informed of the situation. For the time being, I’ve also given him my power of attorney.

“If anything were to happen, his instructions are to insist on a complete investigation. I’ve informed him that if my death is suspicious, he’s to insist on an autopsy, but I really don’t feel I’m in any danger. If I thought resuming ownership of Ma Chérie would put a stop to all of this, I would, but one of them may have either tried to have you killed or abducted. As hard as that is for me to accept, I want the person caught and prosecuted. I have total confidence that between Mr. Michaud, Paul, and the police, they will catch whoever is behind this. You need to stay where you’re safe.”

“I’ll be careful, Grandmère. As you said, I have Remi with me.”

There was a slight hesitation before Miss Dauphine spoke. “Now, my dear, I mustn’t keep you any longer. I love you dearly and will talk to you as soon as possible. But before I hang up, I’d like to speak with Mr. Michaud.”

“I love you, too, Grandmère. Here’s Remi.” Caterine handed over the phone.

“Ma’am?”

“Mr. Michaud, I’d like to begin by thanking you for being with my granddaughter and for keeping her safe.”

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

“Also, Mr. Michaud, I wish to make myself perfectly clear. Although I have total confidence and trust in you, right now Caterine is scared, feeling alone, and extremely vulnerable. This unimaginable situation has brought the two of you together where emotions may rule over common sense. Therefore I expect you to conduct yourself as a gentleman at all times and not take advantage of my granddaughter’s emotional state. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then I wish you good luck, and good day to you as well.”

“Ma’am.” Remi ended the call and looked into Caterine’s questioning face.

“Well, what did she say?”

“She told me to keep you safe.”

Caterine cocked her head and gazed directly into his eyes. “I have a feeling she said more than that.”

Remi shrugged. “Not really. I’m going to go out and have a smoke. We’ll continue with your family saga in a minute.” Remi stepped out on the balcony and lit his cigarette. He sat in a chair and put one booted foot up on the railing. He thought about Miss Dauphine’s words. Was she not only telling him to keep his hands off Caterine, but also subtly telling him not to get any ideas about a future with her granddaughter?
 

Way to go, Michaud. Once again you’ve managed to get involved with someone you can’t have. What happens when this is over and she no longer needs you? How do you bring yourself to take her back to her world and let her go? For let her go you must. Well, at least this time I know what’s coming and won’t get sucker punched.
He stubbed out his smoke.
So for now, I’m going to enjoy every minute I have with the lady. When it’s done, I walk.

Remi went back in and found Caterine with her head in the refrigerator. “Sorry, there’s not much in there. There’s a little market around the corner. Make a list of what you want and I’ll go get it.”

She emerged with a half a loaf of bread and a pack of cheese. “I can make us grilled cheese.”

“You can cook?”

“It’s not exactly hard to make grilled cheese.”

His brows rose. “Sorry. I wouldn’t have thought you’d have spent much time near a kitchen.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Our cook didn’t mind when I hung around. In fact, he used to let me help.” Caterine banged cupboard doors. “Do you own a frying pan?”

Without a word, Remi opened a drawer and handed her the pan.

She snatched it away and slammed it down on the stove.

Arms folded, he leaned against the doorframe. “Would you like to tell me why you’re so mad?”

“Because I know you think I’m nothing but a spoiled rich girl who’s had everything handed to her. Let me tell you, I may have been raised with money, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am at Ma Chérie. My grandmother didn’t give the business to me to spite my relatives. She gave it to me because I earned it.”

Remi took her in his arms. “Okay, I believe you.” He kissed her. “And I’m sorry.” He kissed her again. “And the grilled cheese is burning.”

A short time later they sat at the kitchen table enjoying their grilled cheese and drinking iced tea. “So, Princess, how about telling me a bit more about your family?”

Caterine made a sour expression. “Okay, let’s see, who’s next? Uncle Markus, I guess. Uncle Markus is married to Hyacinth. Their children are Paulette and Bobby. Bobby and I are really close. We were pretty much ignored by the others when we were young, so we looked out for each other. He now lives in Michigan with his wife and two daughters. Paulette, on the other hand, seems like an ooey-gooey pastry filled with cream, but when bitten, it tastes sour.”

Remi laughed. “What a mental picture you’re giving me.”

Caterine grinned. “It’s true. She’s short and kind of plump, and her hair is all these bouncy curls. She has big dimples when she smiles. And she always wears frilly, flouncy clothes.”

“How old is she?”

“She’s five years older than me, so she’s thirty.”

“And that’s how she dresses?”

“Yes, but I blame that on Aunt Hyacinth. Paulette has never been allowed to grow up or make her own decisions. Hyacinth tells the seamstresses at Ma Chérie how to make her clothes, and Hyacinth has horrible taste. You should have seen Paulette’s outfit the year she was Rex’s queen for Mardi Gras. I thought Grandmère was going to die of embarrassment.”

“I can imagine.”

“In spite of her mother, Paulette did manage to get engaged, but he practically left her at the altar.”

“What happened?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve run into him quite often since, and he always seems to be a nice, decent guy. In fact, I wondered what attracted him to Paulette in the first place. Perhaps he finally saw her true nature, but I’m probably not being fair to Paulette. Who knows, she might have an endearing side. I’ve just never seen it. I’m usually on the receiving end of her spiteful retaliations.”

“So what are the parents of such a loveable person like?”

Caterine smiled. “Oh, they’re both quite something. After college, Uncle Markus went with a friend to Mobile for a few months and came home married to Aunt Hyacinth. From what I understand, Grandmère wasn’t pleased. Let me put it this way: Hyacinth is the embodiment of blond hair jokes and isn’t exactly what Grandmère had in mind for her son. Frances isn’t either, but I don’t think Frances was pregnant when she got married.”
 

“Are you saying Paulette came along soon after the wedding?”

“If you do the math.”

Remi grinned. “Are your two aunts anything alike?”

“No, not really. Hyacinth isn’t quite as bossy as Frances, or as hateful. It’s all about image with Hyacinth. She wants so badly to be somebody important. She volunteers for all the right committees. She belongs to the right clubs. She hosts elaborate charity fundraisers, but she doesn’t really know what she’s doing. She tries too hard and usually ends up looking foolish. I have a feeling Uncle Markus’ attraction to her wore off a long time ago. He spends a lot of time with my cousin Randal in the casino and God knows where else.”

“Does he cheat on her?”

She shrugged. “If he does, at least he’s discreet about it. On the other hand, Randal is usually seen with some bimbo hanging all over him.”

“Is Randal married?”

“Not any more. Peggy, his ex, made him pay, and pay well, for his indiscretions.” Caterine frowned. “I can’t say I really trust Randal. He’s the type that would be shaking your hand while he’s stabbing you in the back.”

“Princess, you’ve got quite an interesting family.”

She pursed her lips. “Now do you understand why I envy you so for having normal relatives?”

Remi laughed and kissed her. “I didn’t say they were all normal.”

She snorted. “They have to be more normal than mine.”

He poured himself more tea. “You need to concentrate on which one of them hates you enough to want you dead.”

She laughed without humor. “Oh, that’s easy. All of them.”

“I’m serious, Caterine. There has to be one who stands out more than the others.”

She was silent for a while before she spoke. “It’s not exactly pleasant to think of someone in your family wanting you dead. And I’m sure that’s what that abduction attempt was all about. Anything else doesn’t make sense. They wouldn’t be holding me for ransom.”

“There’s still a chance your family wasn’t involved.”

She shook her head. “The Doucettes have always been wealthy, and no one has ever threatened us in any way. If my family were nice people, not known to be mean and greedy, I’d say no. Unfortunately they aren’t like that. It has to be them. It’s just a matter of figuring out who.”

“Perhaps I can help.” Remi got up and withdrew a tablet from a kitchen drawer. “Think of a reason for each of them to want control of Ma Chérie and I’ll write them down. Remember, whoever it was only went after you because you stand between them and their final goal, which we assume is the business.”
 

Caterine knitted her brows. “Okay, well, I’d say for Aunt Frances it would be the total control and power. She acts like it’s Charlotte who wants the store, but it’s more so her. Although the income would definitely appeal to Charlotte. For Aunt Hyacinth, it would be the prestige and how it would elevate her in society. As for Paulette, I can’t think of any reason she’d want Ma Chérie bad enough on her own. She’d be following her mother’s lead.”

“You’re doing well. Go on.”

“All that’s left is Uncle Markus, Randal, and Ray. I can’t see any of them giving a second thought to Ma Chérie. They have their own jobs and incomes.”

“What about as a team?”

“What do you mean?”

“Would two or more of them pull together against you?”

She laughed sardonically. “They’ve been doing that since Bobby and I were kids.”

“As adults, how would they pair up?”

Again she knitted her brows. “That’s a tough one. I go out of my way not to be around them.”

“Think about things they may have in common.”