Rue Toulouse (19 page)

“Charlotte, Randal, and Ray usually go on a skiing trip once a year. Paulette, Charlotte, and the aunts go to New York. As I said, Uncle Markus and Randal hang out together. The two aunts work at Ma Chérie. Oh, and Charlotte and Paulette go off to some health spa once or twice a year. Other than that, I haven’t any idea who does what with whom.”

“Are any of them addicted to alcohol, drugs, or gambling? Has anyone ever had financial trouble?”

She hesitated before answering. “Randal may have a little problem with each of these. As I said, Charlotte goes through money like water, but I’ve never heard of her not having enough.”
 

“Paul and I can begin by looking deeper into their backgrounds to see what they might be hiding.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Don’t worry. We have our connections.”

She frowned. “I hope helping me isn’t going to interfere with Paul’s business.”

“He has others working for him. Besides, your grandmother has hired him, so he’s not only helping because he’s your friend, it’s also a job. And speaking of Paul, we need to get Elaine over here.”

Caterine brightened. “Really, that would be great. She can bring me clothes and some essentials.”

Remi shook his head. “Actually, we’re going to send her on a shopping expedition.”

“Why? Her clothes will fit me. We’re the same size.”

“It’s not the size. They’re too similar to your own.”

“Yes, but why is that a problem?”

“Because the way you dress is too recognizable.” Remi thought about how he would miss all that long, sexy, honey-colored hair spread out across his pillow or draped over his chest. “Tell me, Princess, how do you feel about becoming a brunette with short hair?”

She stared, speechless. When she found her voice, she asked, “Are you asking me to cut and color my hair?”

“Not only cut and color your hair, you’re going to need a different style of clothing. Your own clothes are too distinctly expensive. I also thought some fake glasses would help.”

“You’re not serious?”

Remi nodded. “I’m very serious.” He smiled. “What’s wrong, Princess? Haven’t you ever shopped in a normal clothing store?”

She stiffened. “I’ve never had a reason to, but I’m sure I can manage it just fine.”

“You’re not going to have to manage it. Elaine will. Until you look nothing like Caterine Doucette, you don’t set foot out of this apartment. Although, I don’t know how much help Elaine is going to be. She’s probably never set foot in a department store either.”

“You know, Remi, I don’t think it’s all that difficult for any woman to buy clothes, no matter where she goes to buy them.”

He reached over and tweaked her nose. “You got me there, Princess.”

She slapped his hand away. “I still feel this is all unnecessary, but if you think it’s for the best, I’ll do it.” She grinned. “I can’t wait to see Elaine’s face when we tell her.”

Remi glanced at his watch. “It’s kind of late to have her come over today. I’ll call Paul and see if we can set it up for tomorrow.”

She nodded. “That will give me time to make a list.”

Chapter Seventeen

Caterine awoke to the peaceful sound of clopping hooves as a horse and carriage went by on the street below. She blinked in surprise as the pleasant clatter of the horse’s hooves was replaced by a cacophony of trucks, street cleaners, and honking horns.

“What’s wrong?” Remi sleepily asked.

“Does all this noise happen every morning? I don’t recall hearing it yesterday.”

He shrugged. “It’s the Quarter. Some days it’s louder than others.” He grinned. “You’re not uptown anymore, Princess.”

She had to raise her voice to be heard over the next onslaught of passing delivery trucks. “Do you ever get used to it?”

Again he shrugged. “Sure. It’s how you know it’s morning.”

She sat up and swung her bare legs over the side of the bed. “With all that noise, I guess we won’t be going back to sleep.”

“There’s something else people like to do here in the Quarter.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her back, easily rolling on top, positioning his morning arousal between her legs.

“Remi, stop that. We have a lot to do today.”

“Slow down,
cher
. We’ll get there.” He nuzzled her neck, whispering, “We do it nice and easy here in the Big Easy, like this.”

“Oh,” she gasped.

Later that morning, Caterine opened the front door to admit Elaine, who rushed in and threw her arms around her neck.

“I’ve been so worried about you. I can’t believe one of your awful relatives actually tried to hurt you.”

Caterine hugged her tight. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Elaine stepped back. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Thanks to Remi and Paul, I’m fine.”

Paul was the next to pull her into a big hug. “I didn’t do anything, Cat. It was all Remi.”

“You’re the one who gave me the alarm remote. If I hadn’t had it in my hand, I don’t think things would have turned out the way they did.”

“No kidding. I haven’t actually heard how it all happened.”

“Have a seat and I’ll get us some coffee. While I’m doing that, Remi can tell you about my heroic escape.”

“I’ll help you with the coffee,” Elaine said. “I don’t want to hear the details of that night.”

When the two women were alone in the kitchen, Elaine lowered her voice. “Okay, Caterine, spill it. Tell me all. And don’t you dare leave anything out.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to know what happened?”

“I’m not talking about your attack. I’m talking about that gorgeous man in the other room. And what’s been going on between you two?”

Caterine busied herself with the coffeemaker.

“Caterine?”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

“When Paul told me he offered to be the one to protect you, I thought that was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard. What did you do when you saw him?”

“To tell you the truth, I about passed out. Trust me, Remi was the last person I expected to see standing at my door.”

Elaine touched Caterine’s arm. “Cat, I hope you aren’t mad at me. When I got your voice mail, it scared me to death. Then when Paul began to ask me questions, I broke down and told him everything, beginning with Remi and the party, Miss Dauphine and Ma Chérie and your horrible family.”

“What did you tell him happened at the party?”

She hesitated. “Well . . .”
 

“You didn’t tell him about the arbor, did you?”

She shook her head. “I said you’d become kind of friendly toward each other. He probably figured out the rest.”

“Since I’m living here with Remi, I guess none of that really matters anymore.”

Elaine’s green eyes twinkled mischievously as she whispered, “So how is it?” She covered her mouth stifling her laughter. “God, Caterine you should see your red face. I take it that means it’s great. Lucky you.”

She pushed coffee mugs toward Elaine. “Here, do something useful and fill these while I get the milk.”

“Does Miss Dauphine know you’re living in sin with the man she sent to protect you?”

Caterine put her hands on her hips. “Ha ha ha. I’m glad you think this is all so funny. It’s not you who has to face Miss Dauphine.”

Elaine’s smile widened. “Oh, but this is too good. Who would have ever thought, of all people, you would find yourself in a predicament like this.”

Caterine lowered her own voice. “If you would have told me a month ago I’d be having wild sex with a man I hardly knew, I would have said you were crazy.” She picked up two of the coffee cups and went out the kitchen door.

Behind her Elaine hissed, “Caterine, get back here. You can’t drop a bombshell like that and walk away.”

“Checking into their financial records might be the place to start,” Remi was saying as Caterine placed the mugs on the coffee table in front of the two men.

“I agree,” Paul replied. “What about other motives?”

“There could be some drug or gambling problems we should also check out.”

Paul lifted his brows and looked at Caterine. “Really? Who?”

Caterine shrugged. “I’ve always wondered if Randal might be into things he shouldn’t be.”

“Not only Randal, what about Charlotte?” Elaine set down the two coffees she carried and took the seat next to Caterine.

“What do you mean?” Caterine asked.

“I saw her at the Hallowells’ Carnival party Sunday night. She was looking and acting kind of weird. Paul, don’t you remember? I pointed her out to you.”

Paul rubbed his chin. “Yeah, now that you mention it, I do.”

“Charlotte?” Caterine questioned in amazement. “Elaine, are you sure it was her?”

Elaine nodded. “I’m telling you it was Charlotte, and she was there with Randal, and I swear they’d been arguing. Randal’s face was thunderous, and Charlotte looked like she’d been crying. She also didn’t seem very steady on her feet. I think Randal was helping to hold her up.”

Caterine shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. Charlotte would never do anything to draw attention or disgrace herself in public. She has to maintain perfection at all times.”

“Were Miss Dauphine and the others there?” Remi asked.

Caterine shook her head. “The Hallowell party is for a younger crowd. Grandmère and my aunts and uncles wouldn’t have been invited. I usually go, but I was afraid of running into . . .” She hesitated.

Remi frowned. “Who? That guy from the parade? What was his name? Jonathan?”

Caterine nodded.

Remi’s frown deepened. “Well, he’s someone you don’t have to worry about anymore.”

“It is a good thing you didn’t come,” Elaine said. “I didn’t think about it until now, but Jonathan was there. I also saw Paulette, and she was with that guy who dumped her. Then later I saw her talking to Jonathan.”

Caterine’s eyes opened wide. “Paulette was with Travis Jenkins?”

“That’s right. And he seemed mad as hell, but she was all sugary smiles.”

The incredulity Caterine was feeling must have shown because Remi asked, “What is it?”

“I can’t help but find both Charlotte and Paulette’s actions unbelievable. As I said, Charlotte is always the picture of perfection. I’ve never seen her drunk, in public or anywhere else. As for Paulette, the idea that she would speak to Travis, let alone stand there smiling at him, is ludicrous. She was in such a rage when he left her, I heard her screaming that if she ever found out who the woman was that took the son of a bitch from her, she’d kill them both.”

“Paulette’s temper is that bad?” Elaine questioned in surprise. “I wouldn’t have thought she’d say boo to a goose.”

Caterine laughed. “Trust me. Not only would Paulette say boo to a goose, she’d be wringing its neck while saying it.”

Remi and Paul exchanged glances before Remi spoke. “Caterine, I want you to take your time and think about whether Paulette is capable of hiring someone to kill you.”

“Oh, come on, you two. It couldn’t have been Paulette,” Elaine objected. “She’s mean-spirited, but intentionally hiring someone to hurt Caterine, I can’t see it. Besides, how would she know how to go about doing such a thing?”

Paul snorted. “This is New Orleans. Trust me. If you have the money, it’s not hard to find anything you want.”

“Well, Caterine, what do you think?” Remi asked.

Caterine hesitated, then shrugged. “I suppose if Paulette were mad enough, but where’s her motive? She’s in line behind Charlotte. My death doesn’t get her any closer to Ma Chérie.”
 

“Who would get Ma Chérie if both you and Miss Dauphine were to die?” Paul asked.

“Grandmère said that until I make my own will, her original will goes into effect and Charlotte would inherit.”
 

“Who all knows this?” Remi asked.

“As far as I know, my family and Clayton Butler.”

“Then all Caterine has to do is make her will and let her family know who she’s chosen to inherit,” Elaine said. “Then there wouldn’t be any reason for them to go after her.”