Cajun Magic 02 - Voodoo for Two (25 page)

Chapter Twenty-Six

“You can’t make me go to work. I’m calling in sick.” Lucie plopped on the couch and refused to budge.

Calliope and Alex ganged up on her and, each grabbing an arm, hefted her off the couch and into her bedroom.

“Get your clothes on,” Alex said, “you’re going to work!”

“Yeah, how else will I get a free beer if you’re not there serving?” Calliope smiled. “It’s one of the perks of having a friend working at the Raccoon Saloon.”

“And we’re not letting you louse it up,” Alex planted both fists on her hips and stood with her legs apart, blocking the door out of the bedroom. “Now move it.”

Lucie popped a salute. “Yes, ma’am!” She trudged to her dresser and pulled out a shirt and skimpy shorts. “But I’m warning you…payback’s a mother.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Alex said. “Big talk for a woman who hasn’t been outside her apartment for two days.”

“We thought you were going to grow mushrooms under your toenails or something” Calliope flopped onto the bed and frowned at the black t-shirt and frayed shorts Lucie flung onto the comforter. “You’re not wearing that, are you?”

“Yeah.” She strode into the bathroom, squirted toothpaste on her toothbrush, and made a loud production of brushing her teeth to avoid any attempts at conversation with her so-called friends. Didn’t they know she no longer had the will to live, and all she wanted to do was wallow in her own self-pity?

She spit, rinsed her mouth, and spit again.

“All right already, enough with the spitting.” Alex appeared in the doorway. “Get your fanny out here and get dressed. We’re not going to get our usual table if you make us late.”

Lucie snarled at her nemesis. “I’m beginning to see why your mother wants you married. You need someone else to boss around besides your siblings and friends.”

“And you need to get over whatever bug crawled up your ass.” Alex’s harsh words were tempered by a huge grin. “Oh, come on. It won’t kill you to go back to work. You’ll feel better before the night’s over, I promise.”

“And if I don’t?” How could she? Ben hadn’t been by to see her, despite what her grandmother had said. Which went back to Lucie’s original hypothesis—Ben didn’t love her. Now she knew how her mother felt when she’d lost the love of her life. Pretty much like sucking scum off the bottom of a pond.

When she dragged herself back into the bedroom, Calliope had a silly, sneaky smirk on her face. What the hell was she up to? Lucie bent to pick up her shorts and ratty t-shirt only to find her favorite floral skirt and matching coral sleeveless blouse in their place. “I can’t wear that to work. Where’d you put my shorts?”

Alex gave her another sneaky smile. “I hid them.”

“Fine, I have more.” Lucie turned back to her dresser, only to find her shorts drawer empty.

Calliope held out her hand to Alex. “You owe me five bucks.”

“Fine,” Alex said. “The first round’s on me.”

“Fair enough,” Calliope responded.

“Hey, what the hell’s going on?” Lucie stood in her panties and bra, getting madder by the minute.

“I bet Alex you’d go right back for more shorts,” Calliope said. “I was right.”

“I’m not wearing that skirt or shirt, so cough up my shorts.”

Alex and Calliope stood with their arms crossed.

Surrounded and not up to a fight, she gave in. “Fine!” She grabbed the skirt and jammed her legs into it, pulling it up over her hips. The shirt went on just as fast. “Let’s go.”

“What about your hair?” Calliope dashed into the bathroom and returned with her hairbrush and proceeded to yank every knot and tangle out by the root.

“Ouch! Give me that before I’m bald!” She snatched the brush from Calliope and dragged it through her hair until it hung springy and shiny. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “What’s the use? I’m still in Bayou Miste and I’m destined to die an old maid.”

“Not after—
Yeeouch
!” Calliope jumped away from Alex, clutching her arm. “Why’d you go and pinch me, you freaktoid?”

“Look, blabbermouth, shut up.” Alex turned to Lucie. “Quit whining and let’s go.”

Lucie stared from Calliope to Alex and back. “Okay, what gives?”

“Nothing.” Alex glared at Calliope. “Right, Calliope?”

A guilty blush spread across Calliope’s cheeks. “Uh, right. Nothing.” She shot for the door. “Let’s go before we’re late.”

Alex followed Calliope.

“Before we’re late for what?” She retrieved her purse from the kitchen counter and trotted to keep up with the other two girls.

“Since your ‘Stang is still in the shop, you can ride with us.”

“But you two never stay until closing. How am I supposed to get a ride home? I really should stay home.” She turned toward the stairs. “I’m calling in sick.”

“We’ll stay until you close. All right? Satisfied?” Alex hopped into her Jeep, turned the ignition, and revved the engine to maximum rpms. “Sheesh! What does it take to get you to work?”

“I don’t want to work. If I did, I’d get myself there.” She climbed into the backseat and stared up at her apartment, wishing she could go back inside and bury her head under a few dozen pillows.

All the way to the bar, she couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that Calliope and Alex were up to something. “If you’re planning on fixing me up with some loser, forget it. I’m not interested in dating.”

“Not to worry. We couldn’t care less whether you ever date again,” Alex said.

Calliope giggled.

They were definitely up to something. But what, Lucie hadn’t a clue. How unlike Calliope to keep a secret for more than five seconds. Must be a whopper. Lucie hoped at least it didn’t involve her. She settled into the backseat and lost herself in her own morbid musings.

Ben hadn’t called, hadn’t stopped by, and hadn’t breathed a word to her since her little incident with the car bomb. Was he truly finished with her?

The acids in her belly burbled, a reminder she hadn’t eaten in a while. She thought back. Hell, she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday! Whoever said love didn’t kill you didn’t have her stomach.

The parking lot was still fairly empty, as the big crowd never arrived before nine. The regulars would already have taken up their favorite seats and eaten their way through several giant bags of pretzels, popcorn, and peanuts.

Same ole, same ole. She sighed. Did nothing ever change in this Podunk town? Was she destined to be a wrinkled old waitress and die at forty because she’d tripped on some Cajun’s big feet? She climbed out of the Jeep and straightened her skirt and shoulders. She was in the dumps, but there was no use having everyone else join her. With a job to do, she might as well do it right.

“Lucie!” Jean rushed out from behind the counter to greet her with a bear hug that took her breath away. In shock, and not exactly sure how to handle Jean’s unnatural exuberance, she patted his back.

“It’s okay, Jean. I’ve only been gone two days.” When he let her go, she put a few feet of space between them.

Jean lifted his bar towel and dabbed at his eyes. “I’m just so happy you’re back and you’re okay. Excuse me.” His face bright red, he took up his position behind the bar, head down to the task of polishing glasses that didn’t need polishing.

What was up with him? Something was way off about tonight, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Brandy was already hard at work when Lucie arrived, and soon people filled the room to overflowing. And it wasn’t even nine-thirty! Lucie had to hustle to keep up with the drink orders. When the crowd kept growing, her nerves clenched and she doubled her effort to stay on top of the work. Jean had hired a new waitress while she was gone. Her name was Toni-with-an-I, and she was from Morgan City. Even with all the assistance, Lucie couldn’t help the rising sense of panic.

“I’m not up to this,” she admitted to Alex and Calliope when she stopped by their table to drop off two longneck Miller Lights .

“Oh, you can handle it, just hang on a little longer.” Alex peered toward the door.

“Who are you looking for?” Lucie shook her head. “Oh, who cares, I don’t have time to think, much less ogle men.” She spun toward the bar, trying to remember if she was supposed to get a Guinness or a Bud Light.

That’s when she heard the sirens. What the hell?

“Jean? Are we in violation of something?” She leaned her back against the bar, a prickle of fear creeping across her skin in a trail of major goose bumps.

More sirens joined the first. The band trailed off to the electronic screech of a microphone too close to the speakers.

“Uh, Jean?”

“Yeah, Lucie?”

“What’s going on?” She stared around the room at the crowd that had suddenly gone silent, all eyes riveted on the door.

“You’re about to find out,” Jean said.

The door burst open and a Louisiana State Trooper in full uniform, including his mirrored sunglasses, stepped in. He marched halfway across the floor and stopped, planting his hands on his hips, looking tough enough to toss alligators.

A chill snaked down her spine. She’d hate to be on the wrong side of this cop.

Behind him streamed in no less than a dozen more troopers and the entire local sheriff’s department. Even Billy Ray stood staring straight ahead, a serious-as-sin look on his face.

Numero uno
cop cleared his throat. “Is there a Lucie LeBieu on the premises?”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Me?” she squeaked.

“Are you Lucie LeBieu?” The trooper turned toward her.

What had she done? Her gaze darted around the room.

Jean’s mouth twitched at the corners. Was that humor or fear?

Whatever. Jean was no help. She squared her shoulders and faced the officer. “Yes, sir. I’m Lucie.”

“Ma’am, please come with me.” He marched up to her. “You can come along quietly or I can handcuff and frisk you.”

“I’m for frisking.” LeRoy Le Due yelled out. “Let me.”

“Shut up, LeRoy,” Lucie yelled into the crowd, then to the trooper she asked, “What am I being charged with?”

“Tampering, ma’am,” he said in his deep monotone voice.

“Tampering with what?” Her heart thumped wildly against her chest.

“You have the right to remain silent,” the officer’s hand circled her elbow and he pulled her toward the door.

Holy cypress knees! What had she done? Was she being charged with bombing Eric’s car? “I didn’t do it!”

“Yes, ma’am, we have it from a reliable witness that says you did.”

“Did what?” she cried.

The crowd fell in behind her as the trooper led her through the entrance out into the parking lot.

Lights from a dozen squad cars blinded her and she raised her hand to cover her eyes. Once outside, the state trooper dropped his hold on her elbow and stepped away.

An electronic squealing noise ripped through the air followed by someone talking through a loudspeaker. “Is it on? It is? Oh. Okay.”

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Lucie cried.

“Lucie LeBieu, step away from the bar!” The disembodied voice sounded over a loudspeaker.

“What am I being charged with?” Her empty stomach was no match for the flock of butterflies beating inside. She had no desire to go to jail. Especially when she didn’t understand why.

“You’re being charged with tampering with a man’s heart.” The giant voice, laced with static, was familiar.

A strange tingling battled with the butterflies in her belly. “And whose heart would that be?”

“Isn’t it enough to know you tampered and you’re going to be held accountable? What have you got to say in your defense?”

Her heart sang.
Yes!
She knew that voice. It was the voice that plagued her dreams, day and night. “I plead guilty. Am I allowed to have a lawyer?” She squinted against the lights. Where was he?

“No, you won’t be allowed a lawyer.”

“So you’re to be the judge, jury, and executioner?”

“That’s the idea. Miss LeBieu, by your own admission, you’ve been found guilty of tampering with a man’s heart. You’re being sentenced to life.”

“Life?” She stepped forward, a smile lifting her lips. “Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Possibly. If you consider it harsh to be sentenced to a life with me.” Ben stepped forward, dropping a bullhorn to his side.

She closed the distance between them. “I’d consider it a pleasure to be sentenced to life married to the bug exterminator.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You mean you’d consider me good enough even as a bug exterminator?”

“I’d take you even if you were the honey hut cleaner.” She gazed up at the man she’d dreamed of for seven long years. The man she’d never stopped loving and never thought she’d ever see again. “On one condition.”

Ben’s eyebrows rose. “Since when is the accused allowed to make deals?”

“Consider it a plea bargain.” She walked her finger up his chest.

Ben held the bullhorn out to the side. “Somebody take this. I think I’m going to have my hands full.”

She gave him her sexiest smile. “You can count on it.”

Billy Ray ran up to take the bullhorn. “Does she need convincing, sir?”

“No,” Ben said without looking up from Lucie’s gaze. “I think we’ve put the screws to her. She’s talking.”

“If you say so, sir.” Billy Ray ran back to join the circle of people surrounding her and Ben.

“Well, I’m sorry to say, you don’t have the choice of honey hut man
or
bug exterminator.”

Her heart dropped like a lead ball into the pit of her empty belly. “You don’t want me?”

“Oh, I want you, all right, but I’m not a bug man or the honey hut man.” He shook his head, his lips thinning into a straight line.

“Then what kind of man are you?”

“Let me introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “Benjamin Franklin Boyette, criminal investigator with the Louisiana State Police.”

“You’re with the state police? You’re living your dream?” Her chest swelled with pride.

“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his head in a nod. “And I’m living my dream in Baton Rouge, but if you want to stay here in Bayou Miste, I’m sure I could work it out.”

“I don’t care where I go or stay, as long as I’m with you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest.