Bayou Paradox (6 page)

Jackson smiled at his wife. “Why don't you check with the nurses to see if you can sneak in to see your grandmother while I talk to Bubba for a minute?”

She gave her husband a knowing look, but complied. Jackson moved with Bubba toward a corner in the hall. “Listen, I tried to broach the subject of voodoo with Al, but she went ballistic. I couldn't get anything useful out of her without triggering her curiosity about why I was interested.”

Bubba sighed. Just what he'd been afraid of. “I guess I'm on my own here.”

“Not necessarily. Al called CoCo and Luc. They're cutting their honeymoon short and catching a flight home tomorrow. If anybody would know about the voodoo stuff, it'd be CoCo.”

And she was less of a thorn in Tara's side than Alyssa, that much Bubba knew for certain. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Jackson glanced over at his wife, who was giving a nurse an earful. “Tell me what you're thinking, pardner.”

“When I look at both cases side by side, the only common thing between them that excludes others in town is voodoo.”

“What's your gut tell you?”

Bubba pondered that question for a moment. Was he letting Tara's rantings skew his cop instincts? No. The scary part was that his hunch lined right up with her convictions that some person, some outside influence was the cause of what happened to Aunt Tanty and Mrs. LeBlanc.

“I think the voodoo connection is the key to finding out what's going on.”

Jackson paused as Alyssa turned from the nurses' station. “Let me see what I can find out. We'll be staying at the house, so I'll nose around a bit.”

Eyeing Alyssa's approach, Bubba whispered, “Yeah, good luck with that, Jacks.”

“They said I could visit for five minutes, but that's it,” Alyssa said. “Better than nothing, I suppose.” She smiled at her husband. “But only me. I'll be back in a few.” She planted a kiss on his cheek before following a nurse down the hall.

Jackson regarded his old friend. “Why haven't you just asked Tara?”

Bubba almost choked. “Because she barely tolerates me as it is. She wants me to run around and start accusing people. I can't do that.” He jutted out his chin. “Haven't you realized your sister-in-law is a bit of a, um, fireball?”

Jackson laughed. “She can be a handful. But she knows voodoo. She trained for a couple of years under her grandmother, and last Al ranted, she'd been visiting your aunt for further instruction.” He paused, all traces of laughter gone. “Could Tara be the connection?”

“It's crossed my mind, yes.” Bubba had a sinking feeling in his gut. “If she is, she might very well be in danger.”

And that was something he couldn't ignore. Not when it seemed she'd slipped under his skin.

 

No sign of Alyssa.

Tara breathed a deep sigh and left the elevator. She turned the corner, heading directly to Grandmere's room. Luckily, still no glimpse of her sister. Of course, it being after midnight probably had something to do with it. Just as she'd planned.

She eased open the glass door and slipped into the room. Perching on the edge of Grandmere's bed, Tara withdrew the vial of healing potion. She looked around once, then administered eight drops before putting the vial back in her pocket. She mumbled an incantation and waited.

Grandmere appeared less wan. A hint of pink in her cheeks. Could the potion be working?

The door opened behind her. She jerked to her feet and met the gaze of a nurse.

“You shouldn't be in here now.”

“It's my regularly scheduled visiting time.” Tara glanced at her watch just to make sure.

“But your sister was here earlier.”

Tara crossed her arms over her chest. “And I missed my time before that.”

The nurse hitched a brow, a frown creasing her face.

Tara dropped her arms and shoved her hands into her pockets. “It's not like I'm wearing her out any. Please?”

The nurse shook her head. “Sorry, but those are the rules.”

“Can't you bend them just a little? Just this once?”

“I'm afraid I can't.” The nurse lifted Grandmere's chart. “The ladies from her church are in the waiting room down the hall holding their prayer vigil. Just in case you'd like to join them.”

As if.
Tara sniffed, dropped a kiss on her grandmother's cheek and headed out the door.

Beeeeeeeeeeep!

Tara shot back into the room just as Grandmere's eyes fluttered.

A
s inexplicably as she'd fallen into it, Marie LeBlanc had awakened from her coma. Bubba glanced skyward. The late moon shone brightly on the parking lot. Stars winked back at him. Who knew, maybe Aunt Tanty would wake soon, as well.

Lord, please let it be so.

He crossed the asphalt and strode through the hospital's double doors. His quickening heart set the pace for his steps as he made his way into the elevator and up to the fourth floor.

Jackson, Alyssa and Tara stood in a semicircle in the ICU waiting room when he entered. A group of women from CoCo's church stood holding hands in the corner. Some had tears running down their faces. His friend reached him first. Jacks clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Isn't it a miracle? Reminds me of what happened with you.”

Bubba found the words hard to form as memories flooded him. “It is, indeed, a miracle. What happened?” He spoke to Jacks, but his attention focused on Tara.

Her face showed a mix of emotions: excitement and relief with a bit of annoyance added in. Her sister stood beside her, hand on hip. Ah. That explained the annoyance.

“I'd just left her room when the machines let out an awful beep.” Tara became animated in the retelling of the event.

Seeing her enthusiasm made Bubba's heart beat a little faster. Man, she was something.

“You were kicked out of her room for visiting outside the proper schedule,” Alyssa blurted out, disapproval edging her voice.

“Since when do you care so much about law and order?” Tara rolled her eyes and then met Bubba's gaze. “Anyway, as I was saying, the machine went haywire, so I ran back into the room. The nurse was flustered, pressing buttons and stuff, when Grandmere woke up.” Her eyes were like pools of smooth chocolate as her smile flickered into them. His stomach knotted into a tight ball.

“The nurse called the doctor, who's examining her now.” She cut her gaze to the hallway. “We should hear something from him any minute. I also asked about Tanty.” Tara looked directly at Bubba, her voice softening now. “There's no change.”

It didn't make sense. If the two comas were connected, why had Mrs. LeBlanc awakened while his aunt still lay in the coma's dark grasp?

Tara put a hand on his forearm. “I'm so sorry.”

That she understood his conflicting emotions and empathized with him meant the world to him, though he wasn't sure why. He'd analyze that later. He coughed to clear his throat. “Once the doctors complete their tests tomorrow, I can ask your grandmother what happened. Maybe we'll get some much-needed answers.”

Alyssa clutched Jackson's arm. “At least she woke up. That's got to mean she'll be okay with no permanent damage.” She looked at Bubba. “When you were in a coma, the doctors were concerned your vital organs would start shutting down the longer you stayed under.”

He knew the drill all too well.

Tara jabbed her sister in the ribs. “
Cooyon!
Tanty's still in a coma.”

Clamping her hand over her mouth, Alyssa turned pale and her eyes widened. “I'm so sorry, Sheriff. I didn't think.”

“It's okay.”

But it wasn't. Tanty had been in a coma longer than Mrs. LeBlanc. She should've been the one to come out first. That would've been right. Fair. Then again, whoever said life was fair?

A doctor appeared in the doorway. “Are y'all Mrs. LeBlanc's family?”

Alyssa and Tara pivoted and answered yes together.

“Preliminary results reflect a positive prognosis for Mrs. LeBlanc. We're still running more tests, but by all indications, the coma caused no lasting damage.”

The sisters clung to one another as tears streaked down their faces.

“We're going to remove the machines. We'll continue to run tests throughout the night.”

“When can we see her?” Alyssa asked.

The doctor shook his head. “Not for several hours. Five at least.” He held up his hand against any protest. “We have to continue these tests to know how to best treat the patient. And she's exhausted, or will be after the battery of tests. She'll need her rest.”

“Can't we see her for just a minute?” Tara asked.

Might be none of his business, but Bubba knew exactly, or pretty close, how drained their grandmother felt. “The doctor's right.”

Everyone stared at him.

“I remember. It's taxing every time they take you off a machine. And even though she's been in a coma, she'll just want to sleep.” He shrugged. “At least, I did.”

The doctor nodded at him gratefully.

“What time do you suggest we return?” Jacks asked the doctor.

“Come around noon. We'll have concluded our tests, and Mrs. LeBlanc will have had some time to rest.”

“Noon!” Tara all but stomped her foot.

“Yes, you can have lunch with her then.” The doctor was resolute. “You want what's best for her, yes?”

Tara's frustration shone in her glittering eyes, but she bit back any further comment.

Alyssa lay a hand on her sister's shoulder. “Of course. We'll be back at noon.” She tugged Tara's arm. “C'mon, we need to let Grandmere's church members know what's going on.”

By the look on Tara's face, that option wasn't her top choice, but she let the doctor's dig slide. Bubba walked with the doctor down the hallway. “Doctor, I was wondering if you could give me an update on my aunt, Tanty Shaw.”

Bubba glanced over his shoulder at the receding waiting room.

Tara looked right at him, her eyes penetrating. A brief smile played across her lips.

He almost tripped over his boots.

 

Tara's stomach churned. Bubba Theriot looked so discouraged, so downtrodden over Tanty. It nearly broke her heart.

Wait a minute. Why did she care? He was just a cop, a Jesus follower, someone she'd known practically all her life, but hadn't paid any special attention to. Tall, nicely built, with red hair—and his gait showed a slight limp every now and again. Bubba wasn't anyone to get excited about. Was he?

So why did her stomach feel funny every time she got around him lately? Probably just nerves. A lot had happened in a short time. Nothing to get excited about.

“Coming?” Alyssa asked. The ladies from the church had disbanded, going home to call the other members of the congregation to share the good news. They truly thought their prayers had been answered, that God had healed Grandmere. Their conviction touched Tara, but it didn't make sense. Not to someone who understood the truth. Yet they believed
so much
. So strongly.

Tara shoved her hands into her pockets. Her fingers touched the vial. Her heart sped. The healing potion! That was what had brought Grandmere out of a coma. It worked, no matter that everyone else believed in a miracle from heaven.

She needed to get it into Tanty. Fast.

“Uh, I'm gonna go check on Tanty for a minute.”

Her brother-in-law hitched a brow. “Isn't Bubba with her? They won't let you in.”

“I know. But since Grandmere's doing so much better, maybe—”

Alyssa threaded her arm through Tara's. “Come on, you're not gonna sneak in on Grandmere and get in trouble with the doctors again.”

Resentment stuck in Tara's craw, but she allowed herself to be led into the elevator, out of the hospital and across the parking lot. Better to pick her battles carefully.

The breeze had picked up, stirring the dust. The sky hung clear over their heads—no sign of rain. If Lagniappe didn't get something soon, all the plant life would die.

Foliage!

She'd have to gather from the bayou when she got home if she planned on visiting with Grandmere at lunch tomorrow. Most people didn't feel safe in the swamp after dark, but Tara'd grown up playing in it. Besides, she had her voodoo to guide and keep her safe, yes?

She followed the taillights of her sister and brother-in-law's car down the winding road home. Maybe they'd go to bed as soon as they got home, allowing her to sneak into the bayou without having to explain. Yet another argument with Alyssa just wasn't on her agenda. Not at three in the morning.

After parking, the trio trekked up the wooden stairs to the LeBlanc plantation home. Jacks opened the door. Alyssa crossed the threshold. Tara hesitated. Jacks quirked a single brow. “Coming?”

She took a deep breath and lifted a casual shoulder. “I think I'm going to sit out here for a while.” She flashed him a half smile. “I have a lot to process.”

He stared at her for what felt like an eternity, then nodded. “I understand. I'll be praying for you.”

Every muscle in her body tensed. Praying. Yeah, that worked so well. Had the entire town become delusional? Sure seemed that way with all the talk of praying and miracles. But she didn't have time to argue the point. She turned and faced the bayou, letting the smell of water and moss wash over her. The door creaked behind her before a soft catch sounded.

She waited a few minutes, then rushed to the workhouse. She grabbed her collection bag in the dark, not chancing that Jacks or Alyssa might glance out the window and catch her. Slipping the strap over her shoulder, Tara shoved her feet into the rubber boots by the door, grabbed a flashlight and then headed toward the deep part of the bayou.

Dry grass and dead leaves crunched under her boots and the beam of her flashlight bounced as she made her way farther into the wooded bowels of the bayou. A hoot owl sounded, followed by a gentle stir of wings as it took flight. Tree frogs cried for rain. She could relate.

Tara inspected several plants, all dry and withering. She'd have to get closer to the bayou canal to find viable foliage for her potions. Adjusting her route, she headed toward the water's bank.

The moon reflected off the still bayou. A sheet of glass was what it looked like. Tara bent to inspect the plants near the edge of the water, kneeling on the mushy ground.

Crackling footsteps reverberated through the dense underbrush. Tara turned off the flashlight and glanced up, her gaze sweeping the area. Something big rustled behind her, making the hair on the back of her neck jump to attention. A figure in black ran past, heading in the direction of the main outlet to open waters.

What in the world…?

Tara jumped to her feet, heart thudding. Her fingers dug into the worn canvas of her satchel.

The revving of a boat engine carried over the still bayou. Tara dropped her collection bag and ran all-out toward the inlet. Her thigh muscles burned as she jumped over fallen logs and ducked under low-lying branches. Adrenaline pushed her harder, faster.

She reached the clearing at the inlet's mouth just in time to catch sight of a boat exiting the canal and turning into the main waterway. Squinting, she could make out nothing identifiable about the craft. She fought to catch her breath, bending at the waist and planting her palms on her knees.

Who'd been running through the bayou in the wee hours of the morning? More importantly, why?

The peace of the bayou was lost for her now. Violated. Tara meandered back through the woods, collected her stuff and trudged home, her heart heavier than the empty bag. Gathering potion ingredients would be futile when she was in this mood. One thing Grandmere had taught her well—when selecting ingredients, your mind must be on visualizing the potions you're collecting for. Otherwise, there was the chance the potion wouldn't work.

She entered the shed and flipped on the light. It hardly mattered if her sister saw the light now. More than likely, Alyssa was sound asleep, cuddled up next to her husband. Loneliness washed over Tara in waves. Tears burned her eyes. For a moment, she saw Bubba and how lonely he had looked, too, standing with the doctor and worrying about his aunt.

No. She wouldn't go down that road again. She'd made her choice, and it was to pursue her training over a relationship. Blinking, she focused on the room—and let out a startled cry.

The room sat in utter chaos. Papers were tossed all over the workstations and floor. Broken glass littered the tabletops. Leaves and stems were scattered everywhere. The window was shattered. Chairs and stools overturned. Shelves ajar, their contents broken and lying in heaps.

Fresh tears stung. Only this time, they were tears of frustration. Anger.

Who would do such a thing? Tara's gaze darted to her sister's bedroom window. No, not even Alyssa would go this far, no matter how much she detested Tara's involvement with voodoo. Tara pressed her palm against the bridge of her nose.

The person running through the bayou. Running away. From what he'd done. Him. Yes, with her eyes closed, Tara could make out the blurred figure. Well over her five-six. Wide shoulders. Definitely a man. What else could she recall? He'd been wearing all black. If only she'd thought to turn her flashlight back on. Had he even known she was there?

Which made the next question storm Tara's mind—what had he been doing here? Obviously looking for something, but what? There was no other logical reason, given the state of the room. He had to have been looking for something specific. What?