The Devil's Orchard (27 page)

“I know you love me, but don’t tell me you cut your trip short to come see me.” Vincent helped Emma out and hugged her. “Come inside and let me get you something to eat.”

Patrick, Mook’s brother, shook her hand but stopped with Lou outside Vincent’s private office. “Let me know if you need anything, boss,” he said to Vincent before he closed the door.

“What do you need, Cain?” He put together a plate of snack items for Emma.

“What can you tell me about Matt Curtis?”

“There aren’t too many secrets out there that you and your father didn’t know about.” He laughed.

“Actually I’m asking because I don’t know. Rumor isn’t something I often engage in, and that’s not what I’m here for.”

“Matty, that’s what he wanted us to call him,” Vincent said as he gave her a plate of salami and cheese. She looked at Emma, knowing how queasy her stomach was during pregnancy, but he’d given her only bread, fruit, and cheese, which she was eating. “He came to us, not the other way around, because no one’s that crazy.”

“What did Matty want? And Big Gino would definitely agree with you now if he had it to do over again. Happy-to-help-you agents aren’t good additions to your payroll.”

“Mostly this jerk wanted money, and to relieve my wallet of a lot of it. If I agreed, though, he promised me the moon.”

“Stuff like federal secrets, or was he willing to run errands for you like Barney did for Gino? I don’t know much about Matty, but he wasn’t much to worry about since Da never brought him up except for the snippets he’d heard on the streets.” She took the glass of wine Vincent offered her.

“According to him, he’d do whatever I wanted. The problem was, Matty wasn’t tied real tight. I told him to fuck off and warned him not to make me say it again,” Vincent said, then slapped the side of his head. “Sorry, Emma.”

“Pretend I’m not here.”

“So he wasn’t working for you. If that’s the case, why did Barney and the rest of those guys drum him out?” She wasn’t confused often, but this didn’t make sense. She was planning to use Matt to lure his son out of hiding and thought she could use Vincent to do it.

“If it hadn’t been for Barney, then Matty would most probably be fat and rich by now. I didn’t hire the fool, but someone did. Gino started shelling out cash, and his business got better because the heat all but disappeared. That’s how we figured out who he was working for.”

“How in the hell did I miss that?” she asked, more for her own benefit.

“You aren’t and never will be a dumbass as big as Big Gino,” Vincent said.

“Amen to that,” Emma said.

“Thanks, I guess.”

“Let me put it this way. Things were going good for Matty once he found his sugar daddy, but he didn’t count on one thing.”

“Could it be that Barney Kyle was a greedier bastard than he was? He got Annabel down here to investigate for him, that part I know. She was ultimately responsible for drumming him out.”

“That’s right, and once all Gino had was Barney, he made him rich as long as the favors kept coming in. When Barney wanted to retire, Gino was willing to bankroll that too, as long as his last act was killing you.”

“That part of the story we know,” Emma said. “If anyone deserved the end he got, it was Barney. Can I ask you something?”

“Pretty ladies can ask me whatever they want.”

“How did you find all this out? Cain figured out only a little, but you’ve got it all.”

“Emma.” Vincent took her hand and smiled at Cain before kissing her knuckles briefly in a friendly way. “I’m a bad man. Well, if you ask all those time wasters outside, that’s what they’ll tell you. Bad men go to confession when asked by their bishop, and they donate to good things when asked. A new computer lab for a children’s program might not buy me a ticket to heaven, but it helped me get enlightenment.”

“Thanks for sharing all that with me,” Cain said. “Most times religious experiences aren’t things I like to share with anyone.”

“I’m glad too because the first part was something God’s servants wanted you to know, and the second part is between me and our Savior. When I can’t get divine intervention, I count on my friends to help me out.”

“I hope I’m at the top of that list.”

“You know it, but what’s your take on this?”

“It’s a fascinating story, and now that I know Matty’s interest in money, I’m going to offer him the opportunity to supplement his retirement fund. If I can get him to bite, I’ll toss him out there and hopefully lure his son out of hiding.”

“You got plans for him? The son, I mean,” Vincent asked when she glanced at her watch.

“It’s time for him to retire like his father. Maybe they can do all those father-son things they missed out on.” She got up and held her hand out to Emma. “Thanks, old friend. You really helped me out.”

“You’ve done wonders for Vinny and his future, so I’m glad to. All this new business has a new set of people sniffing around, but let them fight for space out there. Do they honestly think I’ve got drugs on my shelves in here alongside the olives?”

“That was interesting,” Emma said when they were in the car.

“It was a learning opportunity, and I love those. I understand now the possibilities of how Juan was able to flip Anthony, and why he was so cooperative. It’s a genetic flaw.” She moved her neck from side to side and cracked the bones. “In his pea brain he blames the world for what happened to his father, and I’m a part of that. Because of me, Barney stole his dad’s job, reputation, and chance at the big money.”

“It’s strange, but Shelby never mentioned anything to Muriel about Anthony. He was on Shelby’s team, and because he was, he knows all about us. Think about it. Everything about you and our children, where to find you, what schools we picked, and who’s closest to us every day. He shared that with Juan, knowing why he wanted to know.”

Cain nodded as Emma spoke but cut her off when she got a call from Muriel. “Are you all okay?”

“We’re back in the pool and have fishing plans for later, so concentrate on what you have to do. The kids are fine, and Mook, Merrick, and I’ll keep it that way. I wanted to let you know Ronald went in and searched the café after you left. We still have company, but not the group you’d think would be here if you were still on property. Mook followed the primary team to the airport and watched them board a private jet. I’d expect them by tonight at the latest. The wayward Shelby is back on duty. The team left with her and Ronald in the lead.”

“Thanks, and don’t forget what we talked about. You okay about everything?”

“I’ll wait for your call. After hearing that from Mook, I’m looking forward to what comes next.”

“They’re coming?” Emma asked when Cain ended the call.

“Yeah. Should be here tonight, so let’s make one more stop, if you’re up to it.”

Lou got on the interstate and headed for the Ninth Ward and Jasper’s. She wanted her plan in place before Shelby got back. Ronald, though, she was looking forward to seeing again. If the FBI kept making this so easy for her, she’d have to start sending Christmas presents to everyone in the New Orleans office.

“Muriel said Shelby was back at work.”

“That’s a good thing. She needs to see Shelby for who she is. Once her heart closes that part of her life, the quicker she’ll find what we have.”

“Shelby’s going to find something, all right, because I’m going to throw it at her feet. There’ll be no walking around it or over it, so she’ll have to deal with it.”

*

“Are they still there?” Gustavo said when Andre came back with a pizza and beer. He hadn’t been out the room at the Piquant in days and had found relief only when he snorted coke and masturbated to the porn on pay-per-view.

Andre had first told him about the man parked across from the back door of the hotel two days before. The man, whoever he was, didn’t attempt to hide himself, and the car was always there, even when a different guy was sitting in it at night. Andre had taken it upon himself to check out the garage and front, since they were the only other ways out. In the garage another car was parked close to the street but still inside, and when he’d stared the guy had gotten out and smiled at him. The woman on the street was obviously part of the group, and if Andre had any questions as to who they were there for, they vanished when the woman followed him to the pizza parlor and back.

“Yeah, the woman I told you about walked behind me the whole time again, but stayed outside when I got back.” Andre pushed the paper plate away as if he’d lost his appetite from the new developments. “Who do you think it is?”

“It has to be the police. They must’ve recognized you and they’re waiting to see who you’re with.” He folded a slice in half and took a huge bite. “We got to go by Casey’s and see if they’re back.” He spoke with his mouth full and wiped his fingers on his shirt. This life of hiding bored him, and he wanted to get out and start his hunt again. He was also still mad at his mother, but he missed her. Once he was on the streets that night, he was going to chance a call. “Tonight we’ll go check some stuff out, but I want you to go down first. If those people take off after you, I’ll go alone.”

“Where are you going? Do you realize this is my first time in the States?”

“If you can come with me you’ll see, but if not you’ll have to wait until you learn not to be so obvious. They spotted you because you act like a virgin in a whorehouse.”

“I can go back to Gracelia, if you think you can do better.” Andre dropped onto his bed. “Why do you even want me here? From what Gracelia says, Jerome’s in charge and I could lose my job for cutting out.”

“You mention that guy’s name again and the only way you make it back to Gracelia is if you can get there with a bullet in your head.” Gustavo slammed the door to the bathroom and started the shower. He hadn’t been bothered with bathing, but it was time to pull himself together and get back to work.

When he finished and went out for fresh clothes, Andre was gone, so he took his time getting dressed. Certain that the people outside, whoever they were, were busy following the idiot with him, Gustavo slicked his hair back and picked up the wad of cash he’d hidden in the room safe. Along with his money, he took the valet ticket and called down for the car Andre didn’t know about. He tucked the pistol into the waistband at his back and prayed the Caseys were back so he could get on with things.

He drove slowly, but not so much that he’d attract attention, and passed by the studio offices to see if Remi was there. Once he’d finished with Cain, this would be his next target for the assistance she’d offered his enemies to defeat him. The parking lot was almost empty except for some small cheap cars that wouldn’t be Remi’s.

“Where are you, Cain?” he said as he headed uptown. He’d followed the convoy of cars to a smaller airport near the lake and seen Cain take her family away. The thrill of getting so close to her had faded when he saw that, since he couldn’t follow her. His only choice had been to wait.

The house was lit and there was more activity at the gate as a car came up the street from the opposite direction. It entered the yard and, even from his limited view, he saw Cain get out first, then turn and help Emma. They’d returned, and suddenly he was curious if the kids were with them. The Casey children had never been in his plan, but all that time alone had changed his mind about that. If Cain lost Emma it’d drive her mad, but add her fake kids and the pain would be nirvana for him.

Cain stopped on the way to the door and answered her phone. Her head dropped and she shook it when Emma said something to her. Whoever had called had made Cain angry, and she took it out on Emma when she yelled something at her. He wished he could hear, but it was too big a risk to get out of the car. Cain jabbed a finger in Emma’s face, and he was shocked when the small spitfire hauled back and slapped Cain.

This was the second time he’d seen this go down, and again he laughed at how weak Cain was for not hitting back. Any woman who’d dare do that to him wouldn’t live to see the morning, but Cain stood there like a moron and took it. She stared Emma down but turned and walked into the house and left Emma alone.

Emma got back in the car, and the big buffoon that’d been out there with them got back in to drive her. When they pulled away he saw Emma with her head down and her face covered with her hands. It was as if the heavens had opened and God had given him everything he’d begged for.

The car moved at a good clip by the boutiques and antique stores of Magazine Street toward the warehouse district and stopped in front of a building that had a sign with Emma’s name in neon. It was early, yet there was already a line to get in, but no one stopped Emma as she went up the steps and entered. Her driver tried to follow her, but he put his hands up when she obviously told him something from the other side of the door.

Gustavo parked down the street and got in line, ready to start handing out money to work his way in faster. The bouncer made his way through the crowd and tapped random women on the shoulder, which was their pass in. When he got close, Gustavo held up five one-hundred-dollar bills, and he was able to go with the women.

The nightclub was fairly full when he entered, and he strode to the bar before he decided to scan the room. If only he’d brought a taste of coke with him or waited for Andre. If Emma fought him, he wouldn’t be able to make it out with her without getting killed. This was Casey’s place, her turf, her woman. Angry or not, it’d take skill to force her to come with him.

“Need anything?” the bartender asked, waking him from his stupor. “Do you need a drink?” the guy said slowly.

“Tequila.” He faced the man and the mirrored wall behind him with the name
Emma
etched in the glass. “Another,” he said, after he downed the first drink and put money under the empty shot glass. The guy poured a second and moved on.

He took it and held it, only wetting his lips with it as he turned and roamed the large space with his eyes. They had to have a connection since he found her right away at a table in the corner, and she was alone.

He started toward her seat as if searching for a place to sit. Emma didn’t seem to notice him as she sipped what looked like a club soda, so he sat two tables from her and went back to his people-watching. When he glanced back she appeared to be crying, and then she made eye contact and smiled briefly. That was validation for all the work he’d put into this.