Sweet Mystery (34 page)

“Humph, I like bein’ bored,” Sheriff
Thibodeaux exclaimed. “Give me nice and quiet over interestin’ any
day.”

Harold grinned at him. “I hear you, man. But
interesting is what you’ll get with a skeleton to identify and a
suspicious fire to sort out.”

Sheriff Thibodeaux leaned forward. “Lots of
talk goin’ round ‘bout this fire. Is that why you come to see
me?”

“Yep.” Harold scratched at the stubble on his
face and thought for a few seconds. “Tim says he’s got a suspicion
that fire was started, but...”

“But, what?”

“He can’t prove it. The heat melted the wire
coverings, so there’s just no way of telling if they were tampered
with. The flames were intense; there was just enough oxygen to feed
it pretty good in that confined area.” Harold tapped out a beat on
the arm of the chair with his blunt fingertips.

“Then what makes Tim thinks it is arson?”

“He says those wires weren’t top of the line,
but he can’t find any good reason why there should have been a
short.”

Sheriff Thibodeaux shook his head. “That
don’t mean there wasn’t one. Still, Tim ain’t no fool. Even if he
is my crazy cousin’s youngest.”

“John, if Tim says it is suspicious then
count on it. I got him the best training down in Baton Rouge. The
boy knows what he’s talking about,” Harold said with
conviction.

“Then you want me to question Rae Dalcour?
Guess she’s got big insurance on the place.” Sheriff Thibodeaux’s
blue eyes narrowed.

“I already talked to Tony Baranco. She’s got
the standard coverage; nothing out of the ordinary.” Harold looked
at his old pal. “It doesn’t feel right, it being her, I mean.”

“Keepin’ to the simple explanation always
works in crime, Harold. The one with the most to gain is the one
most likely done it. I didn’t need no fancy trainin’ to teach me
that.” Sheriff Thibodeaux nodded.

“Didn’t Kedrick go out to the dance hall one
night to investigate a prowler? Some in town would just as soon see
the place closed and Rae leave,” Harold said.

“Yeah, Deputy Wilson did file a report, but
he didn’t see nothin’. We only got her word somebody was out
there.”

“But Simon was there and there was some spray
paint on the wall outside, right?”

“Simon didn’t see nobody either. And she
coulda put that paint on the wall to make her story sound
convincin’.” Sheriff Thibodeaux was warming to his theory. He
appeared excited at the prospect of solving one possible crime and
restoring the peace in his small town.

Harold waved a hand at him. “Nah, John. I
don’t buy it.”

“Aw come on. From all I been hearin’ lately,
folks say she’s been a bit wild all her life.” Sheriff Thibodeaux
stuck his chin out. He glanced at Harold as though his friend was
being disloyal by not allowing him to wrap up at least one case in
a neat package. “Maybe she decided getting her money without the
hassle of runnin’ the place was easier.”

“I’ve known Rae Dalcour all her life. She’s
got a temper and a smart mouth for sure. But this just doesn’t fit
her.”

“People change, man. She’s been in the big
city, hangin’ with them musicians. Could be she’s graduated from
the minor stuff to the big league.” Sheriff Thibodeaux looked at
Harold with the glint of a hunter scenting his prey.

“Rae is on a mission to keep a promise to her
late daddy. I don’t think she’d burn the place.”

Sheriff Thibodeaux threw up both hands.
“Things can’t be simple these days,” he said with a sigh. Much as
he wanted a solution, he could not deny that he trusted his old
pal’s judgment.

Harold looked at him with sympathy on his
dark brown face. “If it’ll help any, Tim is hoping some real
high-tech tests at the state police crime lab will give us
more.”

“Yeah, yeah,” the sheriff said without
enthusiasm.

“Really, man. Those tests are so advanced
these days; same as with other forensic techniques.” Harold tried
to sound encouraging.

“Sure...” Sheriff Thibodeaux’s mood lightened
a bit after a few moments of thought. “Maybe we might just be able
to find out how they did it. And that could point a finger at who
did it.”

“The state police crime lab is state of the
art.”

The ringing phone cut off a comment from the
sheriff. He lifted the receiver and gave a grunt of satisfaction.
“Speakin’ of which, this is them. Yeah,” he said into the phone.
“Uh-huh. Uh-huh.” He was writing on a notepad furiously. “Say what?
Pooyah-ee!”

“What?” Harold asked, leaning forward
eagerly. He wondered at the look of disbelief on the sheriff’s
face.

“Yeah, thanks.” Sheriff Thibodeaux put the
receiver down with a bang. “Thanks for nothin’,” he added with
energy. He combed his thick fingers through the sandy, thinning
hair on his head.

“Is this about the bones they found?”

“This ain’t been my week, Harold. Hell, this
ain’t my month.”

“How bad can it be? Somebody we know?”

“Not unless it was in a previous life.”
Sheriff Thibodeaux looked at the ceiling.

“Huh?” Harold blinked at him. “What are you
talking about, man?”

“Those bones been in the ground longer than
you and me been alive.” Sheriff Thibodeaux gazed at Harold with a
look of resignation that things were going downhill fast. “Buried
at least fifty years ago.”

* * *

“So then, what did you say?” Baylor took a
sip of his coffee and squinted at his friend, even though the sun
was not in his eyes.

He was sat having breakfast with Simon at an
outdoor café in downtown Belle Rose. The two men watched a couple
of tour vans loaded with tourists deposit passengers across the
street.

“I said ‘See ya’ and left. That’s what I
said.” Simon put his cup down with a thump.

“Um-hum. Women are something else. They just
love throwing stuff like that in each other’s faces. You know, ‘I
got your man, honey!’” Baylor said in a high-pitched voice while
doing a double snap of his fingers.

“Man, that’s exactly what Rae said.” Simon
gave a grunt of contempt. “Like I’m some bone they’ve been fighting
over.”

“Who needs it? That’s what I say. And that’s
the main reason I enjoy my freedom.” Baylor pointed a forefinger in
the air to emphasize his point. “After I pried Claudette’s claws
out of my butt, I said no more.”

“This is my fault. Papa Joe tried to tell me.
Grandmama Olivia tried to tell me. But would I listen? No!” Simon
leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

“Hey, I don’t need any more brick walls to
fall on me. I’ve learned my lesson. Call me commitment phobic if
you want. I don’t care.” Baylor was intent on his own romantic
troubles.

“What’s up with her anyway? I’m being for
real and she’s playing some game. I don’t have time for drama.”
Simon looked determined. “Forget her.”

“Yeah, and I’m lucky I got Claudette outta my
system, brother.” Baylor lifted his cup in a salute. “Who needs her
throwing her stuff all over my house?”

“Man, something should have told me I was
jumping in too fast with Rae. I usually take my time, you
know?”

“The way she woke me up early on Sundays,
banging pots in the kitchen and singing off key,” Baylor said with
a frown.

“Okay I admit it, she had me fooled with
those sultry eyes, smiling at me like she’d got some sweet secret.”
Simon looked like he just tasted lemons. “She saw me coming.”

Baylor had a faraway look in his eyes.
“Hanging wet panty hose over the towel bar in the master bathroom –
that used to drive me crazy.”

“I didn’t know what hit me once she set her
scheming sights on me. I was like a duck caught in hunting season.”
Simon seethed with resentment at being used.

“Claudette made the best blueberry muffins
from scratch. Damn!” Baylor licked his lips. “And the way she
kissed–”

“Say, this is the woman who stomped on your
cell phone after she listened to a message from an old girlfriend
without letting you explain.” Simon punched his shoulder. “Don’t
start caving in on me, man.”

“What? Oh yeah, yeah. One little lunch with
Taneka and I’m the villain. So what if she’s fine?” Baylor resumed
his self-righteous tone.

“Women have no sense of proportion.” Simon
brought him back to their shared masculine outrage.

“Okay… and we did have drinks, but you don’t
destroy a brother’s property for that.” Baylor held up both hands
as if he were the epitome of reason.

Simon grimaced after a few moments of
silence. “Not that Rae wasn’t provoked though. If anyone knows
about Toya’s spiteful ways, it’s me.”

“After ten long years, Claudette should have
trusted me. Like I can’t go out with an old friend from school?
Humpf! Women!” Baylor shook his head.

“She’s under a lot of stress these days,
too.”

Simon wished he could at least see Rae from a
distance. He’d not seen or spoken to her for four days. Maybe she
would be in town on some errand? He craned his neck at the approach
of footsteps, only to be disappointed when an older woman
appeared.

“Yeah, Toya has been through a lot with Mr.
Henry being so sick.”

“I was talking about Rae,” Simon murmured. He
stared at the beignets on his saucer. They were cold, along with
his café au lait.

“Now don’t you start!” Baylor signaled to the
waitress and ordered fresh coffee. “Rae played you, brother – a
female hit-and-run artist. She used you for a revenge thang,
man.”

Simon felt a hot chill up his spine at the
memory of Rae’s fingers on his skin. Having her wrapped around his
body was such a sweet sensation. “But it felt good being used.”

“Don’t go there, man. Put it out of your
mind. Okay, so she gave good love until your brain turned soft as
grandmama’s grits. Don’t think about it.”

Simon raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh sure,
just like you’ve forgotten Claudette…”

“Exactly,” Baylor said firmly.

Simon let out a sharp laugh. “Let’s face it,
we both bumped into women who took us high and then dropped us
hard. It’s going to take time to move on.”

Baylor looked thoughtful. “I guess.”

Now he would never unravel the sweet mystery
hidden behind that voluptuous smile and those big brown eyes,
sparkling with mischief. Though they had been lovers for fewer than
three months, Simon knew the memory of being wrapped in Rae’s soft
arms would linger for a long time.

Still, she had been able to dismiss him
without much effort. Rae Dalcour would not let anyone close to her.
She took life and love only on her own terms. No room for
compromise; no letting down her guard. He realized he should have
paid attention to what folks said about her.

Simon summoned up the memory of the vengeful
Rae; face twisted with malice. It was an image he badly needed in
order to counteract the hot desire to touch her that gnawed at him
constantly. Her words, sharp and mean, played in his mind with the
clarity of a compact disc. They had moved too fast, ignoring their
differences in the heat of passion.

He breathed in deeply. “It’s just as well,
Baylor. Rae and I were bound to crash and burn. I’m a classic jazz
and white wine guy. She’s a blues and beer, sassy lady. I would
have bored her after a while.”

“True that,” Baylor agreed. “You are kinda
into the quiet life.”

Simon scowled at him. “You saying I’m a
geek?”

Baylor’s eyes went wide when he realized what
he’d said. “No, no. What I’m saying is you like routine.”

“So, I’m in a rut?”

“No, I mean… Routine is good,” Baylor blurted
out. “Same old, same old is your thing.”

“Say what?” Simon squinted at him.

“But that’s good,” Baylor put in quickly.
“You’re steady; I mean stable. Lighten up, brother.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to get all defensive.
After so many years of dealing with Toya, I thought I was through
with this kind of rollercoaster ride.” Simon pressed his fingertips
to his eyelids.

“Look, man, Rae is way too volatile for your
temperament. This breakup is for the best.”

“Right.” Simon put his sunglasses back on.
Then why did he feel so wrong?

* * *

“Rae Dalcour, you’re crazy, lettin’ that fine
man walk away!” Tante Ina pursed her lips.

“You were the one dogging out his family for
being snooty.” Rae sat at her aunt’s kitchen table. Her mood was
not helped by this unexpected reception.

“That was before I met him. Looka here, I
been knowin’ you since you was in diapers. Don’t tell me your eyes
didn’t light up soon as you heard he was Toya’s ex-husband?” Tante
Ina held her coffee cup poised, waiting for answer.

“I didn’t–”

“Don’t play me for stupid, gal.” Tante Ina
put her cup down. “I’ve seen you many a time get boys all whipped
up just for the fun of it.”

“I was a kid, for goodness sakes. I’d never
do...” Rae’s voice died at the skeptical and wise look that Tante
Ina wore. “Okay, so maybe it did interest me when I found out
they’d been married. But that wasn’t the only reason I went out
with Simon,” she added defensively.

“No, course not. He’s one good-lookin’ young
fella. Still, that probably was lagniappe to you. Here you got
yourself a way to get back at the Joves and the St. Cyrs. Bet you
anything his granddaddy had a fit ‘bout him keepin’ company with a
Dalcour.”

“Maybe.” Rae shifted in her seat and did not
look at Tante Ina.

“That means he did,” Tante Ina quipped. “And
here you are, havin’ yourself a big time. Showin’ up folks with
your new dance hall and runnin’ round town with a St. Cyr. Toya
musta been grittin’ her teeth so hard they down to nubs.”

“Okay, so I had fun. I was overdue, Tante.”
Rae stared into the dark coffee she swirled in her mug. “Long
overdue…”