Resurrection in Mudbug (24 page)

Jadyn studied his face, trying to gain a deeper understanding than what his words offered. He didn’t look sad or angry or even wistful. In fact, if she had to attach any emotion at all to his expression, it would be resignation. 

She felt a twinge of jealousy that another woman had meant so much to him that he still harbored feelings for her. What kind of woman inspired a man like Colt to carry a torch long after the flames had been doused with water?

“I’m sorry,” Jadyn said finally.

“Don’t be. The things about you that remind me of her are the good things.”

“Then maybe you should tell me some of the bad ones in case I need to piss you off.”

He laughed. “You know, I bet you’d do it, too.” He studied her for a moment. “But I don’t think you could ever match her evil side. I don’t think you have it in you.”

Jadyn shook her head. “I can be pretty bitchy, though.”

He smiled. “So I’ve seen. Anyway, long and short of it—the problem is mine, it shouldn’t be yours, and I’m going to correct it. How about you?”

“What about me?”

“How are you doing with all this? You seem to be handling some hard-core stuff pretty well, but you’re new here and don’t have the support system that you would have back home.”

“Ha. Like you, I have things I don’t want to dwell on, so let’s just say I have more support here with people I’ve known a couple of days than I ever did with those I’ve had a lifetime with.”

His expression shifted, but the pity she’d dreaded seeing wasn’t there, just understanding. “My mom always said we can’t pick our family,” he said, “but we can make our own. I’ve got some relatives I prefer at a distance and some friends I’d give the shirt off my back. Mildred and Maryse are good women. A bit odd at times, but then it wouldn’t be Mudbug without a little oddity.”

His words made her heart swell just a bit. In a few sentences, he’d captured what she’d been feeling since she arrived—that this was where she was meant to be, where she fit. That everything about her life prior to Mudbug had been wrong, the people toxic. In Mildred and Maryse, she could have the family she’d always wanted. It may not be traditional, but that didn’t matter.

“They are good women. I’m lucky to have them. Lucky to be here.”

He sighed. “Maybe not this week. Are you sleeping all right—I mean, given the circumstances? That scene at Duke’s…well, let’s just say I expected to be scraping you up off the floor like I did the coroner.”

“There was a moment or two I thought you might. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t haunt me some, but I figure catching the guy who did it will go a long way to curing my problems sleeping.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He rose from the desk and placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “If you ever need to talk, no matter the time, you can call me. I know what it’s like to sit alone in the dark, waiting for daylight.”

His touch warmed her body even more than his words. Such a simple thing, a hand on her shoulder, and yet every inch of her skin went on high alert. Everything about Colt Bertrand was so right, but yet so risky. 

“Thank you,” she managed, afraid to say more for fear of what might come out. At least she was at a safe distance, sitting in the chair. If she’d been closer to him, eye to eye, it would have been far harder to stop herself from reaching out to touch him as well.

A knock at the door broke the moment and he released her shoulder as Shirley stuck her head inside. “Hank Henry’s here and wants to see you.”

“Great. Send him back.”

Jadyn rose from her chair, anxious to get her first look at Helena’s son and Maryse’s ex. According to the Mudbug gossip, Hank’s reputation had preceded him for years, but he’d recently turned his life around, settled down with a good woman, and was now expecting a child. Jadyn liked redemption stories and couldn’t wait to meet the man who’d actually accomplished it.

A few seconds later, a tall man with an athletic build and a gorgeous smile pushed open the office door and strolled inside. He shook hands with Colt, then turned to her.

“You must be Jadyn,” he said. “I know because you’ve got those same beautiful eyes with the no-nonsense glint as Maryse.”

He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Jadyn couldn’t help smiling, immediately understanding why Maryse had gone against conventional wisdom and hooked up with the man in front of her. Hank Henry was, quite simply, charming. 

“Nice to meet you, too,” she said.

He pulled a key out of his pocket and handed it to Colt. “Not so much under these circumstances, though. Mildred gave me the CliffsNotes version of what’s going on. I’m happy to help, but you two have got to promise me you will be careful. If anything happened to either of you in that cemetery, I’d never forgive myself.”

“We’re taking every precaution,” Colt reassured him. “Do you know anything about the cemetery? The layout maybe?”

Hank shook his head. “Not a thing. Until Mildred called asking about it, I didn’t even know we had a family cemetery. I doubt I’ve ever set foot in it. If I have, I don’t remember. I did ask Wheeler about it though.”

“The attorney?” Colt asked.

Hank nodded. “He said it hasn’t been used since my great-granddad’s time. It’s been over forty years since he’s seen it but he recalls several crypts. He just has no idea as to location of the crypts or the overall scope and size of the cemetery.”

“I’ll get this back to you as soon as we’re done, maybe over a beer down at Bill’s,” Colt said.

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Hank said and turned to Jadyn. “You keep him out of trouble. He was always in trouble.”

“Ha,” Colt said. “Given that this is the first time I’ve seen you in the sheriff’s department without wearing cuffs, I think you’ve got me beat.”

Hank grinned. “You were just better at not getting caught. Be safe,” he said and exited the office.

Colt looked over at Jadyn and shook his head. “Why do all women get that look on their face when they’re in the presence of Hank Henry?”

“Because he’s handsome and charming?”

Colt grinned. “Honesty. I liked that.”

Jadyn smiled. “He’s happily married with a baby on the way. I’m allowed to appreciate him from the bleachers.”

“Is that what you call it? Heck, I always thought I was breaking some rule when I found attached women attractive. I didn’t realize bleacher admiration was perfectly acceptable.”

“It depends on who you’re admiring, or more accurately, who who you’re admiring is attached to.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” He sobered and took a step closer to her, leaving only inches between them. “Are you sure you want to do this? I can go alone.”

She tried not to think about his body so close to hers. Tried not to think about how easy it would be to lean forward, wrap her hands in his unkempt hair, and press her lips to his. Such thoughts had no place between them—not now, not ever if they were to maintain a professional relationship.

“No,” she said finally. “It’s too dangerous. He may not be working alone.”

She could tell by his expression that he knew she was right. Had known before he’d ever said a word, but some part of him required that he give her an out. 

She wasn’t about to take it.

###

Maryse waited on the bench outside of the sheriff’s department for Hank to exit. As soon as she’d seen him pull into town, she’d hurried down the street, hoping to catch him before he left. For days, she’d been trying to reach him, but they’d never managed to connect. Now, she needed to hurry up and get everything on the table in case Helena spotted him in town. 

The wait was excruciating, but finally, he walked out of the sheriff’s department. He glanced over at her, then drew up short and smiled. “Maryse!”

She rose from the bench as he walked over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. “I swear I haven’t been dodging your calls—it’s just that work has been crazy and we’re trying to remodel one of the rooms to be a nursery. I was going straight to the hotel from here to see if Mildred knew where to find you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know you’re busy. How’s Lila feeling?”

Hank beamed. “Great. Hasn’t been sick a single day and says she feels better than ever.”

Maryse shook her head. “She’ll probably never have a labor pain and will deliver that baby while simultaneously knitting it a blanket and filing your tax return. The woman is perfect. It’s scary.”

Hank laughed. “Yeah, I’m going to agree with you, but don’t tell Lila I’m scared of her. She’ll just add to my chore list.”

“It’s our secret,” Maryse agreed. “Look, I’ve got something to tell you that you’re not going to like, so I’m just going to come right out and say it—your mother’s back.”

Hank’s eyes widened. “What do you mean ‘back’?”

“Still dead, but back on earth. In Mudbug, to be exact.”

“What the hell is she doing here?”

“She says God has no sense of humor and she pissed him off…I don’t know. With Helena it could be anything. Bottom line, it looks like she’s here to stay for a while, and she knows Lila is pregnant.”

Maryse held up a hand to stop Hank before he yelled. “None of us told her. She claims God let her watch what we were doing, like some really inappropriate reality show.”

He ran one hand through his hair. “What the hell am I going to do? I can’t have her around all the time. With the business and the baby, we’re already stretched to capacity. If you throw Mom in the mix, it’s a recipe for an insanity plea.”

“Don’t I know it, but I don’t think you’re in as much risk as the rest of us. Helena hasn’t learned to fly, or anything equally as onerous, so unless she hitchhikes to New Orleans, or one of us agrees to bring her, she’s not going to show up on your doorstep.”

Hank relaxed a bit as he processed Maryse’s words. “That doesn’t sound quite as dire.”

“No, but you need to visit her, and if she’s still around when the baby comes, you need to establish some sort of visiting schedule. Otherwise, she’ll make us all crazy.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He blew out a breath. “A visiting schedule for my dead mother. This may just be the thing that causes perfect Lila to break rank.”

“She wouldn’t be the first.”

Hank placed his hand on top of Maryse’s and squeezed. “I really appreciate you taking this on. I mean, I know Mom doesn’t give you much choice, but I feel better knowing you and Mildred will attempt to ride herd over her.” 

He looked down Main Street, then back at Maryse. “Do you think I’ll be able to see her? I mean, I did for a little bit before, but not the whole time she was here.”

“That’s a good question. Mildred and I can both see her and unfortunately for Luc, he can again.”

“Oh wow. I bet he’s pissed.”

“So much that he’s suggesting we move.”

“I can’t say that I blame him. I don’t suppose you know where she is now?”

“She was eating a cinnamon roll with Mildred when I left the hotel.”

Hank rose from the bench. “May as well get this over with.”

Maryse nodded. Famous last words.

Chapter Twenty-Three

 “Wow!” Colt stared up at the massive iron gate that guarded the old cemetery. “That is some serious ironwork. If this key doesn’t open it, we’ll have to come back with a bulldozer.”

“Sounds like the best idea ever!” Helena boomed from the backseat.

It had been a bit of a fight to get Helena to come with them. Tears were shed, accusations were flung, and finally Mildred put her foot down and told her she wouldn’t take her to visit Hank and her grandchild as they’d all agreed upon earlier when Hank was at the hotel and much to his dismay, could see his mother in all her ghostly glory.

Jadyn wasn’t convinced having Helena along was worth the trouble, as the ghost had done nothing but complain from the moment she’d sat down in the truck. The fact that Jadyn was the only one who could hear her rantings and completely lacked the ability to respond didn’t seem to faze Helena at all. She just kept belting them out.

“Why haven’t you ever seen it before?” Jadyn asked as they climbed out of his truck.

He frowned. “I don’t know. I guess because it’s in the opposite direction of all the best hunting and fishing. No reason to come back here.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Helena said. “Why don’t we leave?”

Jadyn cut her eyes at Helena then looked back at the gate. “I guess there’s no shortage of swamp for boys here to tromp around in.”

Colt pulled the key Hank gave him from his pocket and stepped in front of the gate. “Here goes nothing,” he said as he slid the key in the lock. 

He twisted it to the left and it turned effortlessly, then emitted a loud click.  

“That was easy,” she said.

“Too easy. Someone’s been here recently and oiled this lock.”

“Not a good sign,” Helena said.

It was probably the only accurate thing Helena had said all day. “I can’t think of any reason someone would come here,” Jadyn said. “Can you?”

He slipped the key back in his pocket and pulled out his pistol. “Not a single one.”

“Probably grave robbers,” Helena said. “Though if they took any of my family, they probably brought them back. I would.”

Jadyn held in a sigh. Oh the irony.

“Let’s get the supplies,” Colt said. “You have on your vest, right?”

“Yeah,” she said as he walked back to his truck and hauled the rifles out, handing one to her. Then he pulled a backpack out of the truck and slung it over one shoulder.

“Ammo?” she asked. She’d been hoping they wouldn’t even need what was chambered, much less additional rounds, but he was smart to prepare for the worst. 

“Ammo and a CB.”

She nodded. “Because our cell phones won’t work out here.”

“Ha!” Helena hooted. “If you’re not calling about speckled trout biting, no one on that CB’s going to care.”

 “Well, let’s hope we don’t need either.” Bart had told Jadyn that law enforcement had their own channel. If things got bad enough to send out a distress signal, she hoped someone was listening.

“That’s the plan.” He shut the trunk and pulled out his pistol. “You ready?”

Jadyn pulled her pistol out of her waistband and chambered a round. “As ready as I’m getting.”