Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (9 page)

“We’re talking to each one of them at length. But Flynn’s body was found out here—and right after you made that crack about him not coming back.”

“I didn’t do this.”

“Noah, for what it’s worth, I don’t want you to be guilty. But you had a recent altercation with Flynn. I can’t just ignore that. Or that fact that he was found dead out here, where you know the lay of the land.”

Noah raked his hands through his hair. “Just curious, Sheriff: How do you think I lured him out here in the middle o’ the night?”

“The coroner thinks he may have been killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the bayou. He showed signs of having died at least an hour before he was put in the water.”

“So you think I strangled him somewhere else and dumped him out here—where you would be sure to discover his body and blame it on
me?”
Noah tapped his fingers on his knees. “You really think I’m that stupid, Sheriff?”

“I don’t think it’s stupid. Whoever left the body out here expected a gator to get him before anyone ever saw him.”

“It wasn’t me!”

Jude glanced at his watch. “We need to get the law enforcement presence away from the house before tonight’s group of guests starts to arrive. I’m going to have to ask you come with me to the sheriff’s department and answer more questions.”

“Fine. But all you’re gonna get from me is the same truth I already told you.” Noah stood, a defiant spark in his eyes. “This home, sir, was a station on the Underground Railroad, and my ancestor Naomi gave up her chance at freedom to stay here and help free other slaves. This is holy ground! Even if I’d killed Flynn Gillis—which I did not—I would never, ever defile Langley Manor by dumpin’ the likes o’ him on this property!”

Vanessa stood in the doorway and looked questioningly at Noah and then at Jude. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine,” Jude said. “We’re going to go down to the department and finish talking so you can get things ready for your guests.”

“Sheriff, there’s no way Noah did this. There has to be another explanation.”

Jude locked gazes with her. “Then we need to find one.”

“We will.” She looked over at Noah. “Don’t say another word. I’m getting you a lawyer.”

“I don’t want a lawyer, Vanessa.” Noah’s eyes narrowed. “I can speak for myself. They can’t pin anything on me without evidence. And there isn’t any evidence because I didn’t do it.”

“Trust me, Noah. You need someone to look out for your rights. Let me make some calls.”

He shook his head firmly, his dark eyes now wide with resolve. “I said I can speak for myself.”

“We just want to talk to him,” Jude said. “If he has nothing to hide, there’s no need for counsel. This is not a witch hunt.”

“I sincerely hope not, Sheriff. Noah is like family. Ethan and I aren’t going to stand by and let him take the fall for this.”

“No one’s accusing him of anything,” Jude said. “But there are some serious implications that have to be resolved.”

“Like what? He was asleep at Haven House when this happened.”

“We haven’t been able to establish that yet. None of the other residents remember seeing him between eleven and one—”

“Y’all know I’m standin’ here, right?”

Jude ran his thumb along his badge. “Sorry, Noah. I didn’t mean to talk as if you weren’t present.”

“I really think you need a lawyer,” Vanessa said.

Noah held out his palm. “I can handle this. I just need to keep tellin’ the truth. They can’t prove somethin’ that never happened.”

“Then I have your permission to go over your truck for trace evidence?” Jude said. “And the clothes you wore yesterday?”

“Knock yourself out.” Noah swatted the air. “You won’t find anything.”

CHAPTER 9

Zoe stood at the table next to the window at the eatery, where Hebert was shamelessly gloating after beating Tex at another game of checkers. She glanced outside and saw the florist van parked in front of the Hotel Peltier and the driver walking inside, toting a huge flower arrangement. For a split second she was a bride, walking hand in hand with Pierce into the Empress Ballroom, where their wedding guests applauded their arrival.

Father Sam stood, looking very authoritative in his black cleric shirt. “I hate to leave you two in the heat of battle, but I’ve got a physical scheduled this afternoon.”

Tex glanced up. “Somethin’ wrong?”

“You mean other than I’m old?” Father Sam laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s just routine.”

“
Wait till you’re my age. Dey will poke and prod you in places you never knew you had.” Hebert sat back in his chair, his arms folded across his bony rib cage. “Zoe, is dere any word on Noah?”

“He’s still being questioned.”

“Dey really tink he killed dat guy?”

“I don’t see how. But why else would they question him all afternoon?” Zoe sighed. “Vanessa’s beside herself that Noah won’t get a lawyer. He’s determined to represent himself. Says he has nothing to hide.”

“Maybe not. But it makes sense dey’d question him when he’s da groundskeeper and knows every inch of da property.”

“Hebert, anyone could’ve used the Langleys’ property to dump Flynn’s body,” Zoe said.

“I know dat too.”

Tex coughed as if to announce he was joining the conversation. “Don’t you worry, Zoe. I’m sure the sheriff’s just coverin’ all bases. If Noah has nothin’ to hide, the authorities will realize it. They’re just doin’ their job.”

Zoe adjusted the blinds, her gaze fixed on the row of quaint buildings and lacy wrought-iron railings on the galleries overhanging the sidewalk. “I owe Noah my life. I’m not going to throw him under the bus.”

“Of course not,” Father Sam said. “Let’s just pray Noah’s name gets cleared.”

Tex shot her a sympathetic look. “The sheriff oughta be more worried about the Bathtub Killer anyhow.”

“Why?” Hebert pursed his lips. “Because da victims were rich CEOs instead of a homeless guy wid no friends?”

“No, because he’s fixin’ to strike again.”

Zoe sighed. “All these murders … we might as well be raising Grace in New Orleans.”

“Speakin’ of Grace,” Tex said. “Where is that little dickens?”

“The babysitter took her to Cypress Park to swing and feed the ducks.”

“And on that happy note, I really must go.” Father Sam pointed to his watch. “See you fellas at bingo?”

“I’ll be dere.”

“Not so fast.” Tex raised an eyebrow at Hebert. “I’m not lettin’ you outta here until I win at least one game of checkers.”

“Oh dear.” Father Sam laughed and headed for the door. “If I don’t see you at bingo, I’ll know where to find you.”

Zoe’s mind kept flashing back to the image of Flynn Gillis lying in the bayou. What a horrible ending to such a lovely morning
.

“I know you’re concerned about da violence.” Hebert squeezed her hand. “But you can’t let it drag you down. Dis, too, shall pass.”

“When?” Zoe looked out through the blinds, her eyes following Father Sam across
rue Madeline
. “We’re all just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Jude paced in front of the window in his office, aware that the media presence was growing across the street in front of the courthouse. Scores of curiosity seekers milled about under the gigantic live oaks that shaded the grounds. And a long line had formed in front of Andre-the-vendor, who was selling andouille corn dogs on the corner of Courthouse and Primeaux.

It had been hours since Noah came in of his own free will and agreed to answer questions. How much longer could they keep at it before someone from the ACLU or NAACP was all over it?

A knock on the door caused him to look over just as Deputy Chief Aimee Rivette walked in, her tan uniform looking crisp and professional, her bleach blonde hair drooping from the humidity.

“We’re getting nowhere with Mr. Washington,” she said. “He hasn’t budged on his story or given any inconsistencies.”

“No one at Haven House can confirm he was there last night. We can’t ignore that.”

Aimee nodded. “No one remembers seeing him after the news ended. Each of the other men was seen by at least one other resident between eleven and one.”

Jude sighed. “So Washington is the only resident without an alibi.”

“But Washington says he saw Murray Hamelin asleep in his bunk, and that proves Washington was there, right?”

Jude glanced over at Aimee, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Now you’re messing with me.”

“Sorry.” She flashed an ornery grin. “I couldn’t resist.”

“Where are we on evidence?”

“The lab is still testing the DNA on the clothes we found in Washington’s laundry bag and in his truck, but so far it’s just his. We found multiple sets of fingerprints, but none of them belong to Gillis either.”

“So what you’re saying is we haven’t got squat?”

Aimee lifted her eyebrows. “Not on this case. Ask me about the Bathtub Killer.”

“Speak to me.”

“The lab just confirmed that the DNA from an eyelash found in Darveau’s bathroom matches skin cells on a towel found in Gautier’s bathroom. The DNA doesn’t match anyone’s in the system, but it’s something solid.”

Jude rubbed his hands together. “Good, we’re making headway. We need to nail this guy before we get a call that someone’s found another body in a bathtub.”

“I want to catch him as badly you do. But we can’t keep using up our manpower like we did today and hope to move ahead on finding the Bathtub Killer.”

“You think we should make Flynn Gillis’s murder investigation a low priority?”

“Don’t you? No one’s pressuring us to find his killer. Washington’s our only person of interest, and all we really have on him is hearsay. I’m sure the people who were closest to Darveau and Gautier must be worried about who’s going to be number three. That’s where we should spend our resources.”

Jude rubbed the sandpaper on his chin. “All right. Thank Washington for his cooperation and let him go for now.”

“What will you tell the media? They know we’ve been talking to him.”

“That he was merely a person of interest and that we don’t believe Flynn Gillis’s murder was in any way related to the bathtub killings. I think that’s all the public cares about. No one is mourning Gillis. Once I tell the media we’re making headway on the bathtub killings, they’ll forget about this case.”

Adele pressed the mute button on the TV and stared at the mockingbird splashing in the birdbath in the backyard. Why couldn’t she stop beating herself up for not being nicer to Flynn Gillis? Yes, he was a bit of an outcast. But weren’t Christians called to love the unlovable in the name of Christ?

Noah would need reassurance that nothing had changed between them because he had been questioned by the sheriff regarding Flynn’s death.

“You seem far away.”

Isabel’s voice startled her, and Adele turned and saw the young woman standing at the oven, checking the lemon chicken.

“I was just thinking, hon.”

“Mrs. Woodmore, there’s nothing you could or should have done differently toward Flynn Gillis.”

“I’m not so sure, but it’s too late to worry about that now. I can certainly do more to reach out to Noah and Murray.”

“
Are you kidding? You treat them like guests. They’re just hired hands.”

“So are you. And I regard you very highly.” Adele realized by the blush on Isabel’s cheeks that she had made her point. “Did I mention that tomorrow afternoon Murray is taking me to find a laptop computer?”

“I know your computer desk is being delivered in the morning between nine and eleven. You didn’t mention Murray was taking you to get a laptop. Why don’t you just have him pick one out for you and bring it here? Do you even know what to look for?”

“No.” Adele smiled. “But it’ll make him feel good to show off what he knows. I’m looking forward to it.”

Isabel started to say something and then didn’t.

“You’ve made it clear you’re uncomfortable with me hiring men from Haven House.”

“This is more than hiring them to do jobs, Mrs. Woodmore. Now you’re letting Murray take you shopping.”

“I let
you
take me shopping.”

Isabel set the oven mitts on the counter and turned to her. “You did a background check on me first, and I don’t blame you one bit. You don’t know anything about these men except what they’ve told you.”

“Are you concerned that I’ve put you at risk?”

Isabel shrugged. “A little, I suppose. They could be sex offenders. Con men. Thieves. My point is we don’t know.”

“Have they ever been anything but polite?”

“You bring out the polite in people. I’m not sure that’s a true gauge of character.”

Adele picked up the notepad on the table and started to fan herself. “I hear what you’re saying, but I’m honestly not concerned about it. Maybe I should be. But I’ve always opened my home to those who work for me. Occasionally I’ve been taken advantage of, but it’s always worked out for good. I’m not going to live by fear.”

“I was pretty sure you’d say that.”

Adele studied Isabel’s face. “You’re not going to quit, are you?”

“No, ma’am. I prefer to stick around and make sure your luck doesn’t change.”

“I don’t believe in luck, hon. You know that. My life is ordered by the Lord.”

“I really doubt He’ll object if I make sure no one takes advantage of you.”

Adele tried to hide her amusement. “And You think He needs your help, do you?”

“No, but I need a job.”

Adele smiled. “Good answer.”