A Crying Shame (26 page)

Or highly sophisticated electronic equipment.”

Certainly. Name it.”

Mike sighed.
It's a temptation, Jon. But I'd have to explain how I got it—if any evidence gathered by it came to court—and you know it. No. I'll pass. Keep your guns and equipment. We'll work together. I think, on this case, I'm going to need all the help I can get.”

You might need even more help than I can offer.” Jon's reply was spoken seriously.

The sheriff's assenting nod of the head was barely discernible.
Perhaps. My chief deputy is talking with Linda Breaux; it's standard procedure. Just seeing if she left anything out when she talked to me. She'll tell the story a few more times before we're through.”

I spoke with her for about fifteen minutes ... waiting for you. She seems like a very intelligent woman. I should imagine she told it all the first time.”

Yes.” Mike studied the mercenary more closely.
Yes, she probably did. Anyway, you want to ride out to the plantation house with me. I'd like to pick up those journals.”

Jon arched an eyebrow. Mike started to tell him about the journals, then paused. Son of a bitch probably knows about them anyway, he thought. He's been two or three steps ahead of any of us around here from the outset.
You're not curious about the journals, Badon?”

Not particularly.”

Mike sighed and waved Jon on ahead of him, out the door. The men got only as far as the outer-office door before running into Blackwell, red-faced, his blood pressure soaring. He pointed a finger at Sheriff Saucier.

Mike resisted an impulse to break the digit.

I've had it with the run-around I've been receiving,” Blackwell said, almost at a shouting level.
Now what the hell is going on?”

Jon immediately picked up the dislike between the two men. He wondered if it was professional or personal, or a combination of both.

There has been a murder, Mr. Blackwell,” Mike said.
Somewhere about ten, last evening. Mr. Paul Breaux was killed. Shots were fired at the murderer by Paul's sister, Linda. She hit at least one of the intruders. We know that by the blood trails.”