A Crying Shame (41 page)

What prompted the dismissal?”

She smiled, shaking her head in disbelief.
You do not speak as I would imagine a mercenary would. But there again, I suppose I've seen too many movies. Paul couldn't keep Booger out of the swamp and on the job. He was officially employed as sort of a handyman. He can't do too much. He's . . . slow. Not really retarded, I believe . . . just a little below average in intelligence. One of those who stands about in public and scratches himself. You know the type.”

Unfortunately.” Jon's brow furrowed in thought, then relaxed.
What does this Booger person look like, Linda?”

Short, stocky, eyes set close together and deep-set in his head. Funny . . . yellow-looking eyes. And he is hairy as a brute.”

She knows nothing, Jon surmised. Paul kept her ignorant as to his real work.
The other workers?”

How many?”

No . . . I mean, why don't they live on the place?”

We don't have that many men, really. Paul said farming wasn't like it was a few years ago. A place this size didn't need that many people working it. I rarely see them; only hear the sounds of equipment running. The foreman didn't want to live on the place, even though we offered him a rent-free home.”

Jon turned off the parish road and onto a newly laid blacktop road.
We are now officially on Breaux property,” he said with a smile.

She put a slim hand on his tanned, muscular forearm, the fingers tightening, warm on his skin.
And I am officially getting scared, Jon.”

Don't be. I took your brother's money to come here, and I will see that nothing happens to you. I give you my word.”

And you don't go back on your word?”