Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (39 page)

CHAPTER 42

Zoe held tightly to Pierce’s hand and hurried down the long, shiny corridor to the room at the end of the hall, where sheriff’s deputies told them they would find Adele.

Zoe stopped outside the door, her heart racing. She had been told that Adele looked good and she needn’t be alarmed about her appearance.

“I never thought her ordeal would end this way,” Zoe said.

Pierce put his hands on her shoulders. “You ready?”

Zoe nodded and let him hold the door open so she could go in first.

She slowly entered the room. There was Adele. She looked like a sleeping angel. Her hair was a matted mess and she had a small cut on her face and insect bites on her arms. Zoe felt her throat tighten. What had she been through? What had that monster done to her?

Zoe stood at the side of the bed, her vision clouded by tears. She dabbed her eyes and just watched the rise and fall of Adele’s chest, thinking it was the most beautiful sight in the world.

Adele’s eyes opened, and she reached for Zoe’s hand. “You must’ve been so worried.”

Zoe brushed the tear off her face and brought Adele’s hand to her cheek. “I wasn’t sure I would ever see you again.”

“God had other plans.”

“Yes, He did.” Pierce came over and stood next to Zoe and joined hands with them. “I’ll be honest. I prayed, but I never thought we’d be hearing your voice again.”

“The deputies told us what happened,” Zoe said. “The doctor said you had another TIA.”

“Yes, and it was doozy this time. They want to watch me overnight and make sure I’m all right.” Adele opened and closed her right hand. “I can move my hand again. The feeling is back.”

“We need to make you an appointment to see
your
doctor,” Zoe said. “He’ll probably prescribe something to help avoid this.”

“Yes, I’m sure.” Adele smiled. “But here’s one for the record books: A TIA saved my life.”

“The ER attendant told deputies that a man fitting Murray’s description came in, carrying you in his arms,” Zoe said. “He told them you were having a stroke. And that he was going to go park the car and would be right back. He vanished.”

Adele’s eyes narrowed. “The authorities won’t find him unless he wants to be found.”

“I wouldn’t underestimate law enforcement,” Pierce said. “They’re determined to catch this creep. The FBI’s involved now.”

“Murray’s just as determined not to get caught.” Adele pursed her lips and seemed far away for a moment. “He’ll find a big city and blend into the homeless culture.”

“The authorities won’t give up,” Zoe said. “The man murdered
five
people.”

“Yes, Murray told me everything.”

“Why did he take you hostage?”

“Because I accidentally had the phone on speaker when you called the house. He knew the sheriff wouldn’t shoot as long as I was with him. We were out at the rookery all night.”

Pierce nodded. “That’s what the deputy said.”

“Murray was struggling with what to do with me. I could tell. Finally I asked him point-blank if he planned to kill me. He said when the time came, he would make it painless.”

“Oh, Adele.” Zoe squeezed her hand. “You must’ve been so scared.”

Zoe listened as Adele told her about their night at the rookery and how she had sung to the Lord, both aloud and silently.

“When I praised the Lord,” Adele said, “I forgot about myself. It helped me not be afraid.”

“Pierce and I had the prayer chain going at Saint Catherine’s. And Vanessa and Ethan did the same at their church. We prayed so hard you would have faith.”

“Well, of course I
have
faith, hon. I just needed to use it. That became much more difficult when Murray got the van and had to go through the checkpoint.”

Adele told them about being bound and gagged and covered on the floor of the van, and how she knew something was physically wrong.

“I remember hearing voices when we got to the checkpoint,” Adele said. “The next thing I can remember is waking up in the back of the van, so hot I thought I would suffocate.”

Zoe brushed the hair out of Adele’s eyes. “Why don’t you close your eyes and rest? You don’t need to talk about this anymore.”

“But I do. I want you to know everything.”

Zoe cried as Adele told them about her trying to reason with Murray at the cemetery. How she told him he needed God’s mercy.

“It’s so like you to be more concerned about him than you were about yourself.”

“He’s a wounded soul, Zoe, in need of God’s love and mercy and forgiveness. You understand what that’s like.”

Zoe did understand. But she hadn’t murdered five people.

“I don’t think I reached him,” Adele said. “But at least I told him he needed to get right with God. There was so much more I wanted to say, but I started feeling very sick. I thought I was having a stroke and asked Murray to hold my hand.”

“You’re kidding,” Pierce said. “The creep held your hand?”

“Yes. I told him it was better that I die of a stroke. That he wouldn’t have to kill me and have that on his conscience too. I really don’t know why he didn’t just leave me there.”

“He took a huge risk by taking you to the ER,” Zoe said.

“There’s a very sweet side to Murray. It’s too bad he let his pain turn him into something else.”

“Adele, please,” Zoe said. “I don’t want to hear about his good side. He murdered five people in cold blood, and the authorities will find him and bring him to justice.” Zoe held her gaze. “There’s something we need to talk about. Isabel told me she quit and why. She’d really like to come back. You can’t live by yourself. You need someone to help you.”

“I suppose I do.” Adele sighed. “And Isabel’s fears were certainly not unfounded.”

“I hope you learned a lesson,” Pierce said. “Getting close to the men from Haven House was dangerous.”

“Except for Noah.” Zoe poked Pierce in the ribs with her elbow. “We know he’s a good guy.”

“From now on,” Pierce said, “let me find you a reputable handyman to do your odd jobs.”

Adele looked from Pierce to Zoe and back to Pierce. “Perhaps I
was
too trusting. But don’t either of you discount, for a moment, God’s plan in all this. I don’t pretend to know what it was. But I do believe Romans 8:28—that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Even if I overstepped, God was faithful.”

“You could have died,” Zoe said.

“Not unless He ordained it. I’m not saying every choice I made was the best one. But I felt from the beginning that God brought Noah and Murray into my life for a reason. And just so you know, I did order a background check on them at Isabel’s insistence. There was nothing in the reports that gave me pause. So how much caution should I exercise when the God of the universe has ordered all the steps I’ll ever take?”

“That’s a subject for another day,” Pierce said. “We need to get out of here and let you rest. We’ll get a place to stay tonight. Maddie’s with Grace until we can get you home.”

“I love you both so much.” Adele’s eyes welled with tears. “Thank you for being here.”

Vanessa and Ethan sat on the couch in their living quarters at Langley Manor, Carter nestled between them, Angel lying on the floor.

Noah sat in an overstuffed chair facing them, his hands folded in his lap as he seemed to stare at nothing.

The sound of the pendulum swinging on the grandfather clock was exaggerated in the silence.

“Noah,” Ethan said, “we asked you here for two reasons—to ask your forgiveness and to ask you to come back to work. I’m sorry I didn’t take you at your word the way Vanessa did. In hindsight, I should have. I didn’t know what to think when Flynn Gillis’s body was found on our property. There was so much to consider—”

“No forgiveness is necessary.” Noah held up his palm. “Murray set me up—plain and simple.”

“But we didn’t try to talk you out of leaving,” Vanessa said. “That had to hurt.”

Noah’s eyes glistened. “Sure it did. I love this place. I love bein’ part of its history. I love keepin’ the grounds beautiful. And helpin’ you tell the guests the story of what great things happened here. I’m not a violent man. You can trust me with your lives. I thought I proved that.”

Vanessa looked at Ethan and then at Noah. “You did.”

“I trust you,” Carter said. “I don’t like it when you’re gone.”

“None of us do.” Ethan got up and held out his hand. “Can we start fresh? Vanessa, Carter, and I love you. You’re like family. You’re as much a part of Langley Manor as we are.”

Noah smiled with his eyes and gripped Ethan’s hand with his own. “It’s good to be home.”

Vanessa got up and hugged Noah, then put his key ring in his hand. “There’s an extra key on there. The caretaker house is ready. The graffiti has been painted over. The furniture’s been delivered. It’s all yours.”

“Well, isn’t that somethin’?”

“Yaaaaaaaaaay! Noah’s moving here!” Carter jumped up and down, and Angel barked and ran in circles, her tail wagging.

“What do you say we all go down and take a look?” Ethan patted Noah’s back. “It really looks great. We added a little something.”

“It’s a cool sign in the front yard,” Carter blurted out. “It says ‘Noah’s Place.’”

Noah threw his head back and laughed. “Well, if it’s got my name on it, I guess I’d better get moved in.”

CHAPTER 43

Five months later …

On the first Monday in December, Zoe stood on a stepladder, framing the window in Zoe B’s with a long garland of cypress greens she had strung with red ribbon and white lights.

“How does it look, fellas?”

“Perfect,” Father Sam said. “And, I must say, this year’s tree is the grandest you’ve ever put up.”

Zoe laughed. “Wait until I tell you how we ended up with that beauty.”

She climbed down from the ladder and brushed her hands together. “Pierce and I thought it would be neat to start a family tradition, so we drove over to the Christmas tree farm to cut our own. We told Grace she could choose a tree for Zoe B’s and one for our apartment. We tried to steer her toward the seven footers, but she kept racing over to the taller ones. She was so excited that we didn’t have the heart to say no. Pierce didn’t even measure the two trees. He cut them down, confident he could make them fit. I don’t know how much cutting and trimming he had to do to get this one in the stand, but he finally did. The angel on top misses the ceiling by about an inch.”

“I remember when you got dat angel,” Hebert said. “It was at da holiday bazaar da year you opened Zoe B’s.”

“There are prettier angels, and she’s a little worn. But I just can’t part with her.”

Zoe looked up and down the almost perfect Leyland cypress that graced the center of the dining area, broad at the base and gradually tapered all the way to the ceiling.

“Lots of the decorations were handmade locally and are for sale.” Zoe went over to the tree and pointed out the Langley Manor ornament Vanessa and Ethan had custom made. “I’ve got one of these for our tree too. Doesn’t it look just like the manor house? You should see how they’ve decorated out there. It’s magnificent.”

“Maybe so,” Tex said. “But you’ve got the prettiest tree on
rue Madeline
. Zoe B’s looks mighty festive.”

Hebert nodded. “Dat it does.”

“Have you got the tree up in your apartment yet?” Father Sam asked.

“Are you kidding?” Zoe said. “The minute we got home, Grace pulled out all the ornaments. I let her help me put colored lights and poinsettias on the gallery railing while we waited for Pierce to trim the tree and bring it up. We had so much fun. There’s just nothing like a child at Christmas.”

Hebert put his hand on her shoulder. “I love dat
petite fille,
same as if I was her
papère
. I gonna have fun wid her dis Christmas. She’s fuh shore old enough to enjoy da presents and not just da paper and ribbons.”

“Definitely,” Zoe said. “Tonight, Pierce and I are going to put up Adele’s artificial silver spruce and let Grace help decorate it. We were all there when she bought it, and it looked so real I had to feel it to believe it wasn’t.”

“How she doin’?” Hebert said. “Isn’t dis her first Christmas away from Woodmore?”

Zoe smiled. “Yes, but she’s doing just great. She and Isabel get along famously. Their latest aspiration is to help Grace make a gingerbread house. They also want to take her to Lafayette to ride the Toyland Train. And out to that new Cajun Christmas Wonderland that boasts over a million lights. I did put my foot down on two things: Pierce and I want to be the first to take her to see baby Jesus in the manger on the courthouse lawn. And we want to take her to see Santa. I’m sure I’ll have to have a talk with Adele about not going overboard on the gifts.”

“Aw, it’s Christmas,” Tex said. “Doesn’t hurt to spoil the little scamp.”

“That’s what Adele thinks too. Maybe she’s right. The only thing I really want is for us all to spend time together and make some memories. We came so close to losing her.”

Hebert wore a mischievous grin. “So … did she ever decide to start courtin’ da fella dat keeps asking her out?”

Zoe shook her head. “Adele insists that Alfred is the only man she’ll ever love. She seems content with her life. Heaven knows, she’s busy enough.”

“Dat’s real good. But I promise you, if I could shave off ten years, I’d find a way to turn her head. She’s a fine woman.”

The bell on the front door tinkled, and Zoe turned just as Vanessa came into the eatery.

“What a surprise!” Zoe hurried over to Vanessa and gave her a hug.

“I am
so
enjoying having a day manager at Langley Manor,” Vanessa said. “I snuck away for a couple hours to do some Christmas shopping. I thought I’d have lunch before I head back. I know I’m early, but I was hoping I could have a bowl of Pierce’s seafood gumbo. No matter how hard I try, I can’t make it like his.”

“I’m sure there’s warm corn bread, too.”

“It’s so cozy in here.” Vanessa’s gaze danced around the room. “The tree is awesome! I think it’s even bigger than ours.”

“Your Christmas decorations at the manor house are amazing,” Zoe said. “Do you think your business will increase at Christmas too?”

“So far, it has. We have a long waiting list. But it’s been that way since the fall.”

“What a great problem to have,” Tex said. “Sounds like y’all are better than just ‘over the hump.’”

Zoe made a sweeping motion with her hand. “Sit wherever you like. I’ll ask Savannah to bring us lunch, and I’ll eat with you. I’m so glad you came in.”

Zoe went through the swinging doors into the kitchen and told Savannah what she needed. She spotted Pierce at the long table, dressed in his chef hat and apron, laying out the ingredients he would need to fill lunch orders.

She walked over and kissed his cheek, taking a few seconds to savor the woody scent of his aftershave. “Guess what? Vanessa’s here. She was Christmas shopping and decided to stop in for seafood gumbo. I’m going to eat with her, but I’m having a spinach salad. Aren’t you proud of me?”

“You didn’t tell her, did you?”

Zoe rolled her eyes. “Of course not. We agreed not to say anything until after the holidays. I want to be past the third month.”

He patted her tummy. “Good. So what do the guys think of our humongous Christmas tree?”

“Everyone loves it. I know it takes up a lot more room than we planned, but it really does look great. And wait until you see the window. The garland I made with the greens ties everything together.”

“
You
tie everything together.” Pierce pulled her into his arms. “Have I told you today that I love you, Mrs. Broussard?”

“Only two or three times so far. I think you’re slipping.” She looked into his intense brown eyes that seemed to touch his soul. “You’re a better man than I deserve, you know.”

“Hardly.”

“What would I be without you?”

“Or I without you?” Pierce put her hand to his lips. “But we’re right here together, living our dream, soon to be a family of four—going on five.”

“Five? Oh no you don’t. If you want a third baby,
you
have it. I’m good for two. That was the deal.”

Pierce held his arms defensively in front of him and laughed and then laughed harder. “Deal! I’m just playing with you, babe. I love the expression you get when you’re adamant. You’re a kick in the pants.”

“I’m glad you find me amusing,” she said, smiling without meaning to. “While you’re wholly entertained, I’m going to go have lunch with my friend.”

“Tell Vanessa I said hello.” He cupped her face in his hands and tenderly pressed his lips to hers. “See you at five. I’m looking forward to getting Adele’s Christmas tree up. I never thought we’d get this chance.”