“Who?”

  “You know, he was the chief of police before Jim and the man who...”

  “Oh,” she said. “How could I forget him? Thank goodness he’s in jail now for his attempt on my life.”

  Josh glanced at me, raising his eyebrows. I mouthed ‘I’ll explain later.’

  “I’ll pass the information on to Agent Gorman,” Megan said. “ICE has two special response teams ready to pounce on the Gallaghers’ compound and the stash house you discovered. Don’t know the exact timing, but it’ll be soon.” Megan went on to explain Alex’s complicated immigration status. “Agent Gorman told me a decision would be made as soon as all the individuals were in custody.”

  “So he and Lucie are brother and sister and legal residents of Martinique. I wasn’t far off in my scenario to Carole.”

  “Don’t let that go to your head,” Megan advised me.

  “I won’t,” I said.

  “Right. I’ll believe it when I see it.” She paused a short moment. “I spoke to Ronnie Hart earlier. He told me about Brad’s death. He suspects Keith Parker to be his killer. There’s a big manhunt going on for him. You and Josh be careful.”

  “Count on it,” Josh said. He ended the call and picked up his phone. As he was about to tuck the phone back into his pocket, it slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor.

  “Hope the screen didn’t crack. I’d hate to be forced to buy another one.” He appeared embarrassed at his clumsy action.

  I noticed he had placed his left hand over the area where I had seen the scar, but quickly removed his hand. I guess he hoped I wouldn’t notice.

  He stooped down and reached under the table to retrieve the phone. “Damn.”

  “What? Is the screen broken?”

  He looked up at me with a frown. “No, but whoever broke in today left something.” Reaching around the edge of the table he pulled out a tiny object. “He heard every word that we said.”

  I blew out a deep breath. “Including our conversation with Megan.”

  “There’s got to be more bugs. There’s no way he could know we would sit there.” Josh started searching the furniture in the family room. He pulled out another microphone beneath one of the end tables. “Bet you there’s one in your bedroom.”

  Sure enough. Tucked behind the headboard he found a third listening device. Discovering those made me feel even more violated than the break-in. “If Keith Parker is the one who did this, he must really have believed I knew where the emeralds were buried.” I shook my head in disgust. “Well, I do now and so does he.”

  Suddenly the house went dark. My heart raced. The power had gone out again. Or rather shut off on purpose again.

  I heard the muffled sound of my cell phone ringing in the family room. With the cordless phone inoperative without electricity and both our phones out of reach, I prayed my alarm company would automatically call the police this time if they couldn’t reach me.

  Forty-nine

  “Do you have a flashlight handy?” Josh asked me in a low voice.

  “Yes, it’s in this bedside table.”

  He opened the drawer and felt around inside, finally coming up with the flashlight.

  Hopefully the batteries are good, I thought. I felt relief when the light came on. “What are we going to do?”

  “You are going to stay put right now. I’m going to check out things up front.” He reached behind him and pulled a pistol from the waist of his jeans. Placing the flashlight on top of the gun, he edged toward the bedroom door.

  I don’t know why having a weapon on him surprised me. Josh is a private investigator and probably has a concealed carry permit. He must have retrieved his gun when he went out to his truck.

  A loud crash sounded from the front of the house. My breath caught in my throat. Someone had broken the door in.

  “Get down on the other side of the bed on the floor and don’t move,” Josh whispered an order to me. He continued walking slowly with the flashlight pointed down. As he reached the bedroom door, a male voice called out.

  “I know y’all are in there, so you might as well come out.”

  His Mississippi drawl sent a chill running through me. Keith Parker, no doubt.

  “I don’t want to come back there to drag you two out. I have a gun.”

  “So do I,” Josh called back. “You won’t use it because we have info you need.”

  “I have the same info, but I do need you to take me there. I won’t shoot you now.”

  “Oh, but you will shoot us later?”

  “Yeah, exactly like I did that stupid sheriff. He thought he could arrest me. The only thing he could prove me guilty of was making a fool out of him.”

  I hated to hear his demeaning remarks about Brad. Guilt about my own comments haunted me. But feeling ashamed of myself didn’t count for much in this situation. Josh and I might be killed. I didn’t know where Katy was hiding. Poor baby, she must be traumatized. But my kids were safe and nothing else mattered right now.

  “Parker, you know the neighbors probably heard all the racket,” Josh said calmly. “The cops ought to be here soon.”

  “That’s why we’re going to get out fast before they have a chance to get here.” His voice sounded louder as if he were coming closer to us.

  The next words Keith spoke made my heart bang against my chest. He must be in the doorway. “Drop the gun, Cowboy.” Obviously he was speaking to Josh.

  The blast of a gunshot echoed through the room. A whiff of gunpowder hung in the air. All I could hear were moans of pain and a few curses. Oh my God. Is Josh hit? Am I going to be next? I was afraid to look.

  Moments later, what sounded like a dozen police sirens blared in the distance. Then their wail grew closer. I summoned up the courage to rise up to a kneeling position. I almost cried for joy when I saw Josh standing over Keith, pointing his gun at the man’s figure on the floor.

  “Don’t move, Parker,” Josh ordered. “I will shoot you again if I have to.”

  Footsteps sounded. A male voice I recognized as Ken Wallace ordered Josh, “Put your gun down. We’ve got the situation now.”

  More voices filled the hallway. I heard Ken ask for EMS. After that everything was in a blur.

  Rachel stood on her front porch, hugging herself as if she were cold. I waved to her and she rushed over to us.

  “We’re okay,” I said. “We’re not hurt.”

  Josh nodded in agreement.

  Ken Wallace interrupted our reunion with Rachel. “You and Josh have to come down to the station to make a formal statement. I’ll have one of my men drive you there, and I’ll join you shortly.”

  I turned back to Rachel. “When they say it’s okay to go in, can you see about Katy?”

  “Of course,” she said. “If I can coax her out from hiding, I’ll bring her to my house.”

  Hours later, Josh and I were seated in separate rooms at the police station. I felt like I was about to be interrogated for a crime. Time passed in discomfort. I was tired and hungry. I needed to relax.

  Finally the door opened. I was surprised to see Danny step inside. He looked tired, which wasn’t surprising. In a few hours it would be Sunday. Nobody had gotten any sleep. I went on another guilt trip for complaining about being tired and hungry.

  “Hey,” he said. “You okay?”

  “Yes, I’m alright,” I said. “But I don’t understand why Ken separated me and Josh. It makes me feel like I’m about to be interrogated for a crime.”

  Danny pulled up a chair and sat next to me. “Ken’s more interested in Josh’s statement.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Why? I was there, too.”

  “Oh, he’ll talk you, but Josh is the one who shot Keith. They’ll verify his account with yours.”

  “He’s not in trouble, is he?”

  “It’s routine. Don’t worry. If there ever was a good shooting, this was it.”

  “There is no such thing as a good shooting,” I said, frowning.

  “I meant a justifiable shooting. I’m sure Josh has a concealed carry permit and his weapon is registered. Keith broke into your house with a gun and threatened to use it on you and Josh. So Josh shot him. Isn’t that what happened?”

  “Pretty much,” I said. “How is Keith? Will he live?”

  “His wound is serious, but not life threatening.” Danny looked down at the floor for a short moment.

  I placed my hand on his arm. “You must feel bad about all this, considering your close friendship with his father. Keith admitted or rather bragged to us about shooting Brad.”

  “I heard through the cop grapevine. Since the sheriff’s headquarters is in the same building with CLPD, the word is guaranteed to spread. Some officers listening in on Josh’s statement told another one who told a deputy and so on.” He brushed his hand over his silver hair. “I hate seeing the downfall of Buddy’s son.”

  Fifty

  It was after midnight when Josh and I stepped outside City Hall with Danny who offered to give us a ride back to my house. He planned to check on Rachel again and maybe get a few hours of sleep. I could use more than a few hours myself.

  “By the way,” Danny said to me. “When I spoke to Rachel earlier she told me she rescued your cat from your house and brought her over to ours.”

  I closed my eyes for a brief moment. “That’s great. I didn’t know whether she was still under my bed or not after everything that went on.”

  He smiled. “So now you don’t have to worry about your four-legged child.”

  “I noticed extra officers and deputies hanging around City Hall,” I said. “Is something else going on besides our encounter with Keith Parker?”

  “ICE has special response teams ready to raid the stash house and the Gallagher compound,” Danny said.

  “Oh yes, Megan mentioned that.” I glanced at Danny. “Don’t you want to stick around for the results? I assume they’ll be housing some prisoners in Parish Prison.”

  “I did want to stay, but Ronnie decided that I and several other reserve deputies might be better utilized tomorrow.” He looked disappointed, despite his obvious fatigue. “But it’s for the best. I am tired.”

  “I know what you mean,” I said. “Right now I feel drained.”

  “You’d think the Gallaghers, Verrett, and any others involved in this smuggling operation would be long gone by now,” Josh commented.

  “Not from what I’ve heard,” Danny said. “The lure of those jewels and the money for the illegals has a strong pull. Look at Keith. He risked everything to get y’all to lead him to the emeralds.”

  I didn’t have a response to his words. Neither did Josh. He placed his hand in the center of my back as we walked to Danny’s truck.

  I didn’t object to his intimate gesture. A twinge of guilt tugged at me. Was I being disloyal to Jim? I dismissed my concerns for the moment.

  No one spoke for a while on the drive home. Then a thought suddenly occurred to me. “We still don’t know who killed Celina.”

  “Yeah, and her murder was what started this whole case,” Josh said. “We were all so fixated on Keith. He admitted killing Brad, but I don’t believe he shot Celina.”

  “Me neither,” Danny agreed. “Her killer most likely is the person who was supposed to meet Narcisse to pick up the emeralds.”

  My first thought was Kenny Verrett. If he’s not caught soon, Willow might be in danger.

  “Danny, has anyone questioned Willow Baum about her and/or Celina’s connection to Kenny Verrett?”

  He frowned. “Not that I know of. Why do you think there’s a connection?”

  “I told you about the reaction Willow had when he showed up at the post funeral reception.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s related to Celina’s death.”

  “There’s more,” I said. “I ran into Willow one day on the lakefront walkway.” I repeated my conversation with her and her speedy departure when I asked her to explain her reaction.

  Danny pursed his lips and appeared to consider my theory. “It might be worth looking into. I’ll get in touch with Ronnie, but I may not be able to reach him until later. He’s waiting on a call from Agent Gorman about their raids. He and some other deputies are going to be on the two scenes with the special response teams. Don’t forget. ICE took over Celina’s murder case from Brad, so don’t get your hopes up about the info getting through to them.”

  I glanced at my house when Danny pulled his truck into the driveway. Would I be able to live there again after this is over? There’s blood on the floor right in front of my bedroom door where Josh shot Keith. I wasn’t sure I could deal with the image even after the scene had been cleaned up.

  Rachel met us at the door when we walked up to her house. She hugged me for a long moment. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.” She turned to Josh and hugged him. “That goes for you too.”

  “How about me,” Danny said jokingly. “Don’t I get a hug?”

  She smiled. “Of course you do, plus a big kiss.”

  He leaned down and embraced her, planting a kiss on her lips.

  “Would you like some coffee or something to eat?” Rachel asked him.

  “All I want right now is a shower and a few hours of sleep.” He glanced at me and Josh. “We’ll all talk in the morning, depending on what’s in store for me tomorrow. By the way, Susan, you shouldn’t stay in your house tonight. At least not by yourself.”

  “She’s not staying at her house period,” Rachel said, nodding to me. “You can sleep in the guest room.”

  “You don’t have to convince me. Trying to sleep there would be impossible.”

  “Josh,” Rachel said. “We have another bedroom. You’re welcome to stay.”

  “Thanks, but I need to get back to my place and check on things there,” he said. “Susan, I know you’ll be safe here, so I’ll call you tomorrow.” He retrieved his keys from his pocket and started for the door.

  “I’ll walk you out.” I followed him outside and we stopped next to his truck.

  His face looked drawn. I could tell he was tired, but I suspected shooting Keith had more effect on him than his fatigue.

  He placed both hands on my shoulders, standing so close I thought he might kiss me. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt tonight.”

  “I would have if you hadn’t been there.” I really wanted him to kiss me and I could tell he wanted to but apparently he decided against the idea.

  “I’ll call you in the morning.” He opened the truck door and slipped inside.

  I watched him drive away. Undeniably, I was disappointed, but my woman’s intuition told me a kiss and more would come later. On another subject my instinct also told me, I might still be in danger until Kenny Verrett and the Gallaghers were all in jail. Who knew how many other people heard our conversation with Megan?

  Fifty-one

  Sunday, August 9

  The smell of coffee brewing greeted me when I awoke. After a few hours of sleep, I certainly could use a cup or two. I heard low voices coming from down the hall.

  Reaching for my watch on the bedside table, I checked the time. Six-thirty. No chance of me going back to sleep. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat for a while, urging myself to move.

  Katy finally crawled out from under this bed. She seemed confused about her surroundings. Not that I blame her. Her food and water bowls were on this side of the room; her litter box on the other. I was here, too. But this wasn’t her house.

  I patted a spot next to me and she jumped up on the bed. “My sweet Katy,” I murmured, rubbing her head. “We’ve all had a rough twenty-four hours.”

  She purred loudly.

  A phone rang somewhere, then stopped. Most likely Danny was being called back into work. There were several questions on my mind. Had the ICE raids taken place? Were the Gallaghers and Kenny Verrett in custody? What would happen to Alex and the other illegals in the safe house? I guess stash house is a more appropriate name for that place. They were being stashed there until someone moved them to another location.

  I got up and quickly put my clothes on…the same ones I had on yesterday. I’d retrieve clean ones from my house later. Closing the door behind me, I left Katy in the room and headed for the kitchen, inhaling the aroma of bacon.

  Rachel was seated at the table drinking coffee while Danny finished off what appeared to be a couple of eggs over easy.

  “I expected you to sleep a lot later,” she said.

  “So did I,” Danny said.

  I stifled a yawn. “Maybe tonight. I was too wound up to sleep. It was after midnight when we got back so I slept about two hours. To be sure, I’ll pay for it later.”

  I knew my way around Rachel’s kitchen so I retrieved a mug from the cabinet and poured myself a cup of coffee.

  “If you want something to eat I can fix more bacon and eggs,” she offered.

  “I’ll eat in a little while.” I turned to Danny. “Did the ICE raids go down?”

  He took a swallow of coffee before he answered. “Yes they did. When they arrived at the Gallaghers’ place, Claire was by herself.”

  I widened my eyes. “Her family took off and left her there?”

  “She claims Rick held her at gunpoint and ordered her to open her collection room. When she refused, he shot the lock and broke into the room where she keeps all the artifacts, most of which she smuggled into the country. The pieces are almost all from Spanish shipwrecks.”

  “That must be why she didn’t allow many people into her home. She was afraid someone might see something she didn’t want them to see.” I thought a moment. “I don’t remember seeing anything suspicious. Of course, I was in the house for a very short time.”

  “You probably wouldn’t have seen anything anyway. Her collection room has a combination lock on the door,” he said.

  “Did Rick take any of the artifacts?”

  “He destroyed everything in there. According to Claire, he took an emerald cross and a few loose emeralds.”