Rumble on the Bayou (15 page)

Joe took a deep breath and gave her a hard look. "You don't think Buster is involved in this, do you?"

She looked away, unable to meet his eyes."I don't know what to think anymore, Joe. I never would've believed this could happen in Gator Bait, but here we are with a bag full of drugs and money." She stared out the window across Main Street and sighed. "Maybe you never really know people."

"Maybe. Or maybe Dick's guy, or whoever is staying there, got wind of the camp and managed to find a spare key. You know there's probably a hundred of them around town. We've known Buster a lot of years. If he was into anything like this, don't you think we would've caught on?"

"I'd like to think so." She gave him a small, tired smile. "I guess we're about to find out if we know as much as we think."

He nodded, his expression grim. Are you calling it a night?"

She stared at the wall, so deep in thought that the sound of his voice barely registered.

"Dorie?" Joe asked and gently shook her.

Blinking, she tried to clear her mind. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked if you were calling it a night?"

She slowly shook her head. "I think I'm going to take a trip to Lake Charles myself and have another talk with my dad."

"Do you want me to come?"

"No. The things I need to ask will be hard enough alone. I'll fill you in on everything in the morning."

He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You know where to find me," he said as he left.

She picked up her keys, locked the door behind her and jumped in her jeep, not wanting to face her dad about the use of Buster's camp, but knowing if she didn't, Richard would.

***

Sherry was at her regular station at the reception desk when Dorie walked in. She gave Dorie a quick look and said, "Now don't give me that crap about nothing being wrong this time. I know that look on your face, Dorie Berenger. And then the two of you brought that stuffy man to visit your father. What is going on?"

Dorie tapped one foot and stared at the clock on the wall behind the perturbed receptionist. "I'm sorry, Sherry. I can't tell you. It's police business, and it's all very confidential." She looked back at the older woman and tried to put a neutral expression on her face.

Sherry narrowed her eyes. "Confidential police business in Gator Bait? Bullshit. Nothing's ever happened in that town. I've been living there for over fifty years. I ought to know."

"I know, but everything changes eventually, and I really need Dad's advice. I think he'll know better how to deal with the problem than me. Is he up to it?"

Sherry waved one hand in the air. "Oh, hell yes. Ain't nothing wrong with that man's mind-just his legs. Aside from the fact that it's obviously causing you some distress, he'll probably be tickled to get involved in police work again." Sherry looked thoughtful for a moment. "In fact, it might help him out of the mood he's been in. Kind of broody lately. I figure maybe he's bored."

"Thanks, Sherry. I'll see you later." Dorie walked down the hall to her dad's room. She hadn't talked to him since Richard had given her the information about Roland, and the subsequent phone call to her dad explaining that bit of news hadn't been the most pleasant they'd ever had. To say he was angry with what might be going on in Gator Bait would be an understatement.

She paused for a moment outside her dad's apartment, then walked through the open doorway, calling out his name.

"Dorie," he said from his spot in the living room. "It's good to see you. He smiled at her as she took a seat on the couch across from him. "Have you straightened out that DEA agent yet?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Dick is wound so tight, you couldn't pry him loose with a crowbar." She smiled. "I did take him on a boat ride today. Got a little more than he was looking for, I think."

He snorted. "Most people who ride in a boat with you do. What were you doing out in the boat any way? I thought Big City was looking for his drug dealer."

"He is. We did a check of all the camps on the bayou to make sure none of them were being used in an unauthorized way."

"So did you find anything?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm here. I know this is going to be difficult for you, Dad. I've been struggling with it ever since I found out what Dick was after, but I have to ask you about some of the people in Gator Bait. Starting with Buster."

He looked surprised for a moment, then frowned. "Why start with Buster? What did you find?"

"Someone was staying at his camp, but just barely. Only one loaf of bread, some lunch meat and some bottled water. One bunk with a blanket on it but no toiletries. The knot on the front door was tied wrong, but there was no forced entry. Whoever is, or was, staying there has a key."

He considered this for a moment. "You ask Buster yet?"

"No. And we don't want to. We don't want to tip our hand if it's Roland who's staying there. Dick took some hair samples from the bed and we should know the results soon enough." She rose from the couch and paced the short distance of the living room. "There's still the off chance that we could catch him, though I must admit, I haven't exactly figured out how to get to the camp without being a sitting duck for a gunshot."

He nodded and scratched the back of his head. "It'd be tough, that's for sure. There's no cover for you on the approach, yet he'd have plenty of trees to hide behind on his side."

She stopped pacing and stared down at her dad. "What do you make of Roland using Buster's camp? If it's him, that is."

He ran both hands up and down his lifeless legs for a moment, then shook his head. "If you're asking me if Buster Comeaux could be involved in drug dealing, I'd say no way. I've known Buster my entire life. There's nothing in his life that would cause him to need more money than he's already got. And he's never done drugs. Of that, I am sure."

He fixed his gaze on Dorie. "Only thing I can figure is someone must have gotten a key. No one is very careful with that sort of thing down there. You know that. He could have lucked out on a hiding place or even stolen one out of Buster's truck or the shrimp house for that matter. Buster's got a ring of keys damn near everywhere, and they're all labeled clear as day. I've warned him about it before, but the hardhead won't listen."

"He might start listening now," Dorie said. "Especially if we find out Roland has been using his place. I don't imagine Dick is going to let that slide without taking a hard look at Buster first."

"I'm sure he will. Dick wouldn't be doing his job otherwise, so you can't blame him there."

"What about anyone else in Gator Bait?" she asked. "You think anyone else could be involved in this? I figure it would have to be someone smart enough to handle the business with Roland, which lets out all of the shrimpers and laborers. I can't see Roland trusting them with this kind of work."

"No, no. Neither can I. But then you're only left with the business owners, and you know who they are. Do you really think any of them is involved in something like this?"

"I don't know what to think. That's why I'm asking."

He gave her a hard look. "It's not like it was years ago. Years ago, you'd hear of people getting involved in the running for just long enough to make their haul, then pull out and retire somewhere far away. There's no pulling out anymore. Once you're in, it's for life. You pull out these days, it's with a bullet in your head. You know that, Dorie. You studied all this in school."

She blew out a breath and dropped back down on the couch. "I know. I've been over everything in my mind at least a thousand times and it still doesn't add up. I just can't see a reason for any of the people who I think could be involved with Roland to be involved with Roland. It's not worth the risk. And the people I'm thinking of aren't stupid."

Her dad slowly shook his head, his face sad. "I don't know what to tell you, honey. I know what the facts point to, but I just can't help thinking there's some big misdirection going on here, and the problem is not with anyone in Gator Bait at all. Least of all, Buster. He's getting ready to retire next year. Got a place in Florida all paid for. Why would he do this now? It wouldn't make sense."

***

Joe shoved his hands in his pockets and crossed Main Street to Jenny's Cafe. He was happy to note that a seat at the counter would afford him a look at all the comings and goings in Gator Bait. This case with Richard left a bad taste in his mouth. He was beginning to fear Dorie might come up short on this one.

Although he'd been born and raised in Gator Bait, his life was nothing like Brie's. Until his father's death, he'd had a regular two-parent home. Well, as regular as living with a hellfire-and-brimstone pastor could be. Father worked. Mother stayed home. The other residents of Gator Bait were just friends.

Dorie, however, was another story. According to Joe's mother, Sheriff Berenger hadn't had a clue how to take care of a baby when he'd brought Dorie home with him. The residents of Gator Bait had pitched right in and helped with every little detail. Consequently, Dorie had more "family" in Gator Bait than anyone else.

No, this was going to be a real hard time for Dorie. Not that he doubted her ability to handle it. He just felt she was a little too dose to the source, and it was his job to look out for her. That's why he was going to sit here in the cafe and wait until the store owners in Gator Bait closed shop, then do a bit of surveillance.

"Hi, Joe," Jenny said, a big smile on her face. "Would you like something to eat, or do you just want coffee?"

Joe scanned the empty street. All the store lights were still on, but Joe knew it wouldn't be long until everyone wrapped it up for the night. He looked back at Jenny. "Just coffee, please. And maybe a chicken salad sandwich to go. I might have to leave here pretty soon." He turned to look at the street again and began to formulate a plan of action.

The bar wasn't a problem. Pete would be on the job well into the night. Even on the weekdays, Pete's business didn't slack off much. Joe figured he would come back into town after he'd followed the others and take a closer look at the bar owner. He sighed and reached for the coffee as soon as Jenny put it on the table. Maybe he ought to request two cups to go. It was going to be a long night and an even worse morning tomorrow.

A light flashed off, and he saw Stella locking the door on the front of the boat shop. She put the keys in her bag and headed next door to the motel. Joe pulled out his cell phone and punched in some numbers.

"Gator Bait Motel," a voice answered.

"Hi, Susie. This is Joe. I was wondering if Tommy is going to be working tonight. I had a question for him about my truck. Darn engine noise again."

"No," she replied. "Tommy's got strep throat. Stella's gonna fill in for him until the fever breaks. I would tell you to call him at home, but he didn't have much of a voice when I talked to him earlier. You might try in a couple of days."

"Sure," he said easily, happy that the problem of following Stella was solved for the night. "I'll try him in a couple of days. Thanks."

"You all right, Joe?" Jenny asked.

He turned on his stool and found her staring at him, a concerned look on her face. "Sure," he said, his eyes darting back to the shrimp house. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," she said. "You just seem a little distracted, is all. I thought maybe something was up with Dorie and that DEA guy."

He narrowed his eyes at Jenny. "What do you mean ‘up with Dorie and the DEA guy?’ What would be up with them?"

Jenny blushed and looked down at her hands. "I don't know. I just thought they kind of fit together nice. You know, as a couple, them being so smart and all, but every time I see her, she just seems more tense."

He absorbed this information for a moment. "It's just the job. Dorie's had some big things on her plate and they're weighing her down a bit. I'm going to try and help alleviate some of that. That's why I need the sandwich to go. I'll be working tonight."

Jenny nodded, but didn't look convinced. "Okay. But you let me know if Dorie needs anything. Without her, I would have never got this place open. I'm still looking for the opportunity to return the favor."

He smiled, unable to help himself. Jenny really was a sweetheart. "I promise if I can think of anything you can do for Dorie, I'll let you know."

"Good, and you be sure and let me know if that DEA guy is giving her a hard time. If he is, I'll stop suggesting to him that they get together."

Joe's jaw dropped. "What do you mean, you'll stop? When have you been making the suggestion?"