Miguel tells me youre homicide detectives. Hebert and Theroux, right? His gaze moved from one to the other, his eyes narrowing in the sunlight. Which is which?
Evangeline could smell the cologne that emanated from his heated skin. It was something expensive and cloying.
His gaze vectored in on her. Let me guess. Detective Theroux, right? He held out his hand. This is an unexpected pleasure.
Evangeline ignored the proffered hand. We need to ask you some questions about your relationship with Paul Courtland.
He cocked his head, his insolent gaze raking over her.
Betts wasnt exactly what Evangeline expected. Since hed slithered up from the New Orleans gutters after Katrina, hed acquired a pseudosophistication that did little to disguise the puckered knife scar under his right cheekbone or the gleam of cruelty in his cold, dark eyes.
The way those eyes lingered on Evangelines body made her skin crawl.
Lets go talk in the shade, get out of this heat. He walked over to a table covered by an umbrella and sat down. Evangeline and Mitchell followed him over, but neither took seats. Let me get you something cold to drink, he said. Or maybe youd like to take a swim. Im sure Monique could rustle up a swimsuit that would fit.
Ill pass, she said.
He shrugged and turned to Mitchell. What about you, Detective Hebert?
Im afraid of sharks, Mitchell said and Betts laughed.
So you want to ask me some questions about Paul Courtland. Once upon a time, he was my attorney. Was, as in the past tense. I havent seen or talked to him in months. Why? Is he in some sort of trouble?
Hes dead, Mitchell said.
One brow rose slightly. Is that so? I assume since youre here, someone must have whacked him.
Someone whacked him, all right. Someone whacked him good, Mitchell said. But you wouldnt know anything about that.
Thats right, I wouldnt. Ive got a dozen people right inside the house that will swear to my whereabouts.
On what day?
On whatever day he died. He took out a pocketknife and ran the blade underneath his manicured fingernails.
An old habit, Evangeline thought. Why did the two of you part ways?
After the trial I didnt need him anymore.
A guy like you is always in need of an attorney, Mitchell said.
Im a law-abiding citizen. Why would I need to throw my money away on a high-priced lawyer like Courtland? His gaze was still on Evangeline and she saw recognition kick in. Now I know who you are. Youre Johnny Therouxs widow.
Yes, I am, Evangeline said, returning the mans stare. She suddenly had an urgent, unreasonable need to put her hands around the mans throat and squeeze. The notion that he might have been involved in Johnnys death filled her with rage, but despite his claim that he didnt employ lawyers, she knew better than to lay a finger on a guy like Sonny Betts.
Damn shame what happened to him. He leaned in. I heard a hollow point messed up his face so bad, a DNA test was needed for a positive ID. Cant help wondering if theres any truth in that.
Before Evangeline could answer, Mitchell planted his hands on the table and bent toward Betts. You know what Im wondering about? Ive been noticing all the goons you got patrolling this place. If youre such a law-abiding citizen these days, whats got you so worried?
Before Evangeline could answer, Mitchell planted his hands on the table and bent toward Betts. You know what Im wondering about? Ive been noticing all the goons you got patrolling this place. If youre such a law-abiding citizen these days, whats got you so worried?
Its a dangerous world out there, Betts said. Just ask Detective Theroux.
What are they, Guatemalan? Colombian? You ever hear of an outfit called the Zetas? Mitchell asked.
Sounds like a college fraternity, Betts said as he continued to clean his nails with the knife. His hands were rock-steady.
Theyre a fraternity of slime and cutthroats, Mitchell said. What you might call south-of-the-border enforcers. They do the dirty work for guys like you. I hear they like to get a little creative with their victims.
Maybe youve been watching too much TV. Sounds like an episode of Law & Order.
Mitchell reached over and tapped the silver medallion around Bettss neck. Ive seen one of these before. A Haitian I once knew kept it tied around his ankle. He was the real superstitious type. Course, he had reason to be superstitious. He used to work for Aristide, so he had plenty of demons preying on his conscience. They caught up with him one night down on Canal Street. Doused him with a can of gasoline and lit him on fire. Now tell me something, Betts. Mitchell jerked the necklace and the silver chain snapped. He dangled the medallion in front of Bettss face. You wouldnt be worried about a little karma, would you? That why you wear this thing?
Betts just laughed. Leave it to a cop to get everything ass-backward. You shitheads seem to have a knack for asking the wrong questions. Ive got a theory about that.
Is that so?
Yep. He reared back in his chair. See, I dont think its stupidity so much as self-preservation. You ask the right questions, you might have to deal with the answers, he said, his dark gaze burning into Evangelines. Isnt that so, Detective Theroux?
By the time Evangeline got home that night, she was worn-out. It had been a long and trying day.
After they left Betts, she and Mitchell had gone their separate ways. Hed headed off to track down some of Paul Courtlands neighbors while shed dropped by the law firm in Canal Place to question his coworkers.
The interviews had not gone well. Courtlands assistant had become hysterical at the news of her bosss death. Evangeline had finally given up trying to question her.
And then the senior partner sent in to handle the situation had made it clear that under no circumstances would the police be allowed to go through Courtlands office. With or without a search warrant. And he had flat-out refused to answer any questions about the firms relationship with Sonny Betts, neither confirming nor denying that Betts was still a client.
Evangeline had expected no less. Shed dealt with enough law firms to know how they closed ranks in times of crisis, all under the useful umbrella of attorney-client privilege. But she always suspected the defensive posturing had as much to do with CYOAcovering your own assas any high-minded code of ethics. Shed yet to meet the lawyer whose survival instinct didnt run pretty damn deep.
Wearily, she climbed the porch steps and let herself into the house. Despite the shower, clean clothes and the hours that had passed since shed left the crime scene that morning, the smell of death still clung to her nostrils, and she wondered if J.D. could smell it, too.
He began to fret the moment she picked him up, which in and of itself wasnt so unusual. She and her son were still wary of each other, and after a day with the sitter or at his grandmothers, he often seemed uneasy around her.
But rarely did he use his little hands to push himself away from her as he was doing at the moment.
Dont take it personally, her sitter, Jessie Orillon, said with a shrug. Hes been kind of crabby all day.
Jessie was only nineteen, but she was really great with J.D. and he adored her. If money were no object, Evangeline would have tried to get the girl to move in and be a full-time nanny to the baby, but apart from the financial issues, Jessie had her own ideas about her future. She only babysat to help put herself through school. On the days when she had classTuesdays and ThursdaysEvangeline drove the baby to her mothers house in Metairie.
If J.D. adored Jessie, he absolutely worshipped his nana, and he demonstrated his devotion, much to his grandmothers delight, by protesting at the top of his lungs each and every afternoon when Evangeline came to pick him up. He sometimes fussed when Jessie left for the day, too, but not as loudly. The only time he didnt carry on was when Evangeline left for work in the mornings.
She tried not to take that personally, either.
Hes drooling like crazy, Jessie told her. I bet hes cutting a tooth. She pulled back her blond hair and fastened it into a high ponytail. Even after a day with a cranky baby, she looked lovely and fresh. Her crisp white shorts made her tanned legs look about a mile long.
Evangeline couldnt remember the last time shed put on a pair of shorts, or the last time shed bought anything as cute and flattering as the apricot top Jessie had on. Since Johnnys death, she hadnt paid much attention to her appearance, but lately her dismal wardrobe was starting to depress even her.
Jessie reached for her backpack as she slipped her feet into a pair of white flip-flops. My grandmother says you should make a clove paste and rub it on his little gums. She swears thatll do the trick.
Evangeline shifted the baby to her other arm. Good to know.
Of course, the advice would have been even more helpful if she actually knew what a clove paste was, but for some reason, she couldnt bring herself to ask. Her ignorance in the teething department was yet another way she felt totally incompetent as a mother.
Absently, she ran her finger along the babys smooth cheek. His little face always amazed her. He looked so sweet and innocent and yet somehow wizened, as if that tiny body harbored an old soul.
And those eyes. Like bottomless pools.
His eyes were so much like Johnnys that sometimes Evangeline had to look away from him.
It was at those times that her son would grow very quiet, almost pensive it seemed to Evangeline, and she wondered if he could sense her despair. Shed read somewhere that babies were very intuitive and their keen instincts made them hyperaware of even the most subtle change in emotions or their environment.
She also wondered if he would one day hold all of this against her.
What did you guys do today? she asked as Jessie gathered up her iPod.
We went to the park this afternoon. We had a good time, didnt we, J.D.? There was a squirrel that kept trying to steal my sandwich. It was pretty hysterical. OhI almost forgot. She pointed toward the dining room. A package came while we were out. I put it on the table.
Thanks.
Jessie swung her backpack over one shoulder. So Ill see you guys on Wednesday, then.
Howre you getting home? Evangeline asked as she walked Jessie to the door. I didnt see your car out front.