Blackmail (9 page)

The receptionist lowered the phone and stared openly at Jon. “Ms. Thompson will be right down.”

Georgia chuckled. “Oh, yeah, the pleasure's definitely all mine.”

He had to have missed something, but couldn't think about that right now. All he could do was rehearse in his mind what he'd say to Sadie, how he'd get her to help him. He ignored the woman who looked at him with laughter in her eyes.

The ding sounded mutely across the large area, followed immediately by the clicking of heels against marble floor.

Jon took a deep breath and focused his gaze on Sadie striding toward him.

Her steps were sure and precise, her shoulders squared, her hands tense at her sides. No smile lit her face. “Mr. Garrison, did we have an appointment I forgot?” Apprehension flared in her eyes.

“No, but I was wondering if I could discuss something with you.” He cut his eyes to Georgia and then back to Sadie. “In private. Can I interest you in some lunch?”

She, too, glanced at Georgia. “Sure. Let me go get my purse and I'll be right back.”

He caught Georgia's too-big grin, but chose to ignore the implication. “I'll pull the car around and pick you up in front of the building.”

She nodded before heading off toward the elevator again. He gave a curt nod to Georgia and the receptionist, then rushed back outside. Who ever would've thought stepping back into the humidity and heat would be a welcome relief to the atmosphere inside the air-conditioned building?

He made his way to the car and slipped inside. Sadie had seemed distant a few seconds ago. Did that mean she'd be unwilling to help him? He
really
needed her help.

Jon waited until the hostess sat them at a table off the main room and the waitress had appeared with water, bread and menus before he let out a heavy sigh.

Sadie set the menu aside and tented her hands over the table. “I'm assuming it's not an emergency since we're taking lunch.”

“What? Oh, no.”

“But it's about Caleb?”

Oh, no. He should've been clearer either at her office or in the car. What horrors must be racing through her mind! “No, this isn't about Caleb. I'm sorry, I should have put your mind at ease earlier.”

“If it's not about Caleb, what's this all about?”

The waitress appeared to take their drink orders. Once they'd placed their lunch orders, the waitress scurried off.

Alone again, Sadie held him still with a stare. “What's this about?”

Jon took a deep breath. “I need your help.”

S
urprise stole Sadie's voice. Needed her help?

What could she possibly help Jon Garrison with that didn't involve Caleb?

“I don't understand.” Her voice cracked as she spoke. “If it doesn't involve Caleb, how can I possibly help you?”

“With Bruce.”

She furrowed her brows, thinking. “Bruce Boudreaux? What about him?”

“I understand you attend church with him.”

“That's right. Where are you going with this?”

“And you were very adamant yesterday—positive of his innocence.”

“Right.” She took in his intense expression and her heart skipped. “Don't tell me you think he's involved with the sabotages! There's no way.”

“No, I agree with you.”

Now she was really confused. “Um, then how do you need my help?”

“To prove his innocence.”

She remained silent, waiting for the rest of the explanation.

“You want to know who's really behind the sabotages at your company, right?”

“Yes.”

“So help me.”

The dots weren't connecting for her, apparently. “I don't understand. Help you what?”

“Well, because I'm sure you're already investigating the sabotages for your business, I'd like to help you investigate to find out who's really guilty, and prove Bruce's innocence at the same time.”

Her throat closed up.

If they investigated together, openly, the blackmailers would know. There was no way she could help Jon, no way at all and keep her brother safe. “I—I—I—”

Jon held his up hands in mock surrender. “Hear me out.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I know how these federal guys work—they'll concentrate on whomever they think could be guilty, looking for ways to close their case. Sadly enough, in my line of work, I know the truth doesn't always come to light if they're not really looking for it.”

“But I was a suspect in a murder case and I wasn't charged.”

“Were the feds involved?”

“Well, no, but—”

“I know these guys, Sadie. Not them in particular, but their type. I've seen it time and again. They've got pressure put on them to close a case, get an indictment, then get a conviction. Once they do that, they believe they've done their job. They got their man.”

“I can't believe they'd work like that.”

The waitress appeared, set their plates in front of them, refilled their tea glasses, then rushed away. The enticing aroma of jambalaya filled her senses, making her stomach growl despite the unsavory conversation.

“Let me bless the food.” Sadie bowed her head, not bothering to notice if Jon followed suit or not. She offered up grace, then automatically reached for the salt.

Jon dove right back into the conversation. “It happens all the time. I see it. Some of the people on my probation list never should have been indicted, much less convicted.” He took a bite of the steaming lunch special.

No, she didn't want to believe that. But on the other hand, she knew how law enforcement kept coming and coming, grilling and bullying.

“Bruce isn't guilty, but if they make up their collective mind that he is so they can close the case and move on, well…”

Sweet Jesus, what do I do?

Sadie chewed slowly, but couldn't appreciate the Cajun spices flavoring the boudin and rice. She really liked Bruce and his wife and couldn't just sit by and let him be blamed for something she knew he didn't do. But she couldn't risk Caleb's life, either.

What would Jesus do?

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.

But what about Caleb? Wasn't he innocent, as well?

“Sadie, I really need your help. Bruce needs your help.” Jon's voice had turned to pleading.

The image of Bruce filled her mind, followed by his wife's image. Sweet Allie, her tummy just beginning to swell with their first baby.

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Tears that had nothing to do with the cayenne pepper formed in Sadie's eyes. “I could talk to them, as a representative of Vermilion Oil. Maybe make them understand there's no way Bruce is involved.”

Jon shook his head and swallowed. “They won't back off. Please, take no offense by this—it isn't my opinion—but they'll write off the opinions of anyone except law enforcement. That's what matters to them.”

“Then how can I help you? I'm not in law enforcement by
any stretch of the imagination.” She took a quick sip of tea, letting the coolness slide down her throat. Anything for a reprieve from this conversation.

“You know people here, you have a local angle. They'll open up and talk to you.”

Sadie nearly spat her tea across the table. “You're kidding, yes?” She shook her head and let out a snort. “In case you've missed it, I'm not exactly in the people of Lagniappe's good graces.” Her past prevented it. As much as that hurt to admit, it was a fact.

“But you're already working on the investigation anyway.”

“I can't get anyone to talk to me,” Jon continued. “I'm still called
the Yankee
behind my back.”

Her fork clattered to the plate.

“Yes, I hear the whispers. I know that's what they call me. Still. But it hasn't mattered until now, when I need to get info from the locals to prove Bruce's innocence.”

“Like they'll talk to me any more openly? I think not.”

“But you're PR for Vermilion Oil.”

“Which really hasn't needed much except the occasional good community service gig every quarter or so.”

“Surely you must have some idea who could be behind the sabotages. Don't you have any suspects?”

Several came to Sadie's mind as she finished off her lunch and dabbed her napkin over her mouth. What was she supposed to do?

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak.

Bruce was her brother in Christ just as surely as Caleb was her half brother. She couldn't turn her back on either.

Okay, God. I'm going to do this. But I need a lot of help. Please, please keep Caleb safe.

“Anything? Any suspects of your own? Any ideas?” Jon wore the most intense expression.

Sadie studied him, his eyes. Nothing but sincerity blinked back at her from those golden orbs. “Okay, I'll help you. But I have a couple of terms you have to agree to first.”

 

Terms? She had terms before she'd agree to help prove her friend's innocence? Had her outrage just been a show for Bruce's benefit?

Jon twisted the cloth napkin into a ball and dropped it onto his empty plate. “Let's hear your terms.”

“I can't publicly come out and help you, or talk too much to law enforcement. I'm, uh, in a delicate situation.”

Because of her position with Vermilion Oil?

Her face paled. “There are reasons why I can't be seen out running around investigating, reasons I can't explain to you. Most of what I've been looking into has been done quietly.”

He understood. “I don't exactly picture us running around, toting guns and chasing bad guys.” He smiled. Somehow, he couldn't picture Sadie in that venue.

She returned the grin. “I meant that I can't be out questioning people right and left, yes?”

Had to be because of her job. Which did put her in a situation, but would also give him more information. Wouldn't the FBI report their findings and leads to the head of the oil company, who surely shared the information with his PR? “I understand.”

“You can't tell anyone, not even Bruce, that I'm helping you investigate.”

“Gotcha.”

“Good.” She gave a quick nod. “Then I'll help Bruce in any way I can. Where do we start?”

His mind tripped over ideas. “Well, first things first, do you, as a representative of Vermilion Oil, have any suspects in mind?
Someone who's made a stink about something? I caught your press conference and so forth, so I know there are those out there trying to ruin your company.”

Her face went slack. “I have a lot of suspects. Groups, mainly. I'll have to get the names for you. I turned the list over to the police and to the private investigators Vermilion Oil hired.” She puckered her lips and bounced her thumbnail off them. “I can get those at the office this afternoon as well as getting an update from the P.I.s.”

“Great. I'm going to go talk to Sheriff Theriot. See if I can catch him without the federal goons and get him to talk to me a little bit. As a probation officer, I sometimes can get inside investigation information.”

The waitress moved to their table. “Would you like coffee or dessert?” When Jon and Sadie shook their heads, she set the check on the table, thanked them for their business and whisked their lunch plates away.

“Why they would even focus on Bruce is the question.”

Jon shrugged. “Because they haven't a clue. Like I said, they're all about convictions, not justice.”

“That's so sad. And horrible in this day and age.”

“I've seen that the trend of the legal system these days isn't about the truth or justice as much as it is about legal maneuvering. It is sad.” And many times, he'd wondered why he stayed employed by the Department of Justice. A decent paycheck? Maybe. He'd chosen his profession because he'd genuinely wanted to help people, thought he could. Now, he'd become too jaded. And who could blame him? Very few of his parolees proved they cared about rehabilitation.

Which made Jon want to fight for Bruce Boudreaux all the more.

“I'd better get back to the office.” Sadie reached for her purse. “I'll have names of people I suspect put together this afternoon.”

Jon placed two twenties under the check and rose. “And I'll try to catch up with the sheriff and see what I can find out.” He
put his hand under her elbow as they wove through the tables. Warmth spread up his arm, but he chose to ignore it. He released her to open the restaurant door for her and nearly ran smack into Lisa and a sheriff's deputy.

“Jon! Fancy meeting you here.” Lisa laughed.

He glanced at his watch and noticed it was drawing near to two o'clock. How rude of him not to call in to the office. “I didn't realize the time. I'm sorry if you held off your lunch break for me.”

“Obviously I didn't, as I'm here.” She laughed louder. “I just turned voice mail on and locked the door.”

“Oh. Good.”

Lisa pulled the man whose hand she held closer. “I've been wanting to introduce y'all. Jon Garrison, this is my fiancé, Mike Fontenot.”

Jon took the man's offered hand and shook. “Nice to meet you.” He reached for Sadie, drawing her into their circle. “This is Sadie Thompson.”

While Mike smiled and said, “We've met. Hey, Sadie,” both women just nodded at one another.

Talk about tension.

“Well, I'd better get back to the office and hold the fort.” Jon tugged Sadie farther down the walkway. “Nice to meet you, Mike.”

“Same to you.”

The sun beat down on them as they made their way to his car. He rushed to open the passenger side for her. She shot him a quizzical look before slipping into the seat. Jon quickly moved to his side and started the ignition, turning the air conditioner on full-blast. He put the car in gear and steered toward Sadie's office. “I didn't know Lisa was engaged.”

Sadie studied him. “Does that bother you?”

“Oh, no.”

“Mike's a nice guy. He used to work at the jazz club.”

“Hmm.” He turned onto the street housing Sadie's office. “We need to swap info this evening.”

“Yes, and set up a plan of action.”

He let out a slow breath. “We could meet tonight, for supper.”

She jerked her head and stared at him.

“Unless you have a date or something.” It hadn't occurred to him that she might have a boyfriend. For some reason, the idea made the jambalaya stir in his gut.

Sadie laughed, full and throaty. “Please. When would I have time for a relationship? With everything going on at work and adjusting to Caleb…No, I'm free tonight.”

Relief filled him and he couldn't explain why. Well, he probably could but he'd rather not. “We could go out, if you'd like.”