Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance Series) (29 page)
Read Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance Series) Online
Authors: Jana DeLeon
Bart’s face fell and he nodded. “I’ve had a bad feeling for some time that things were wrong, but I never imagined something criminal. After you left the other day, I decided to confront him and get a straight answer.”
“It’s Tyler, isn’t it?” Jadyn asked.
Bart looked a little surprised at her guess, but nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t want to believe it, but I walked right in on him in his barn while he was taking the hood off a car. There were several others, all stripped down. It didn’t take a genius to know what was going on.”
“What happened?” Colt asked.
“I told him it was only a matter of time before you found out and he had to stop. He lost it. Started screaming and yelling nonsense, saying it was all my fault because I didn’t promote him back when we were working construction in New Orleans. That he couldn’t make a living shrimping and I was getting rich.”
Bart’s expression was pure misery. “I couldn’t promote him in New Orleans. He wasn’t ready and mistakes on commercial jobs can get people killed. I had no idea he’d been mad at me over it this whole time. Anyway, I didn’t know what to do, so I just left. I had a piece to deliver. I thought maybe I’d figure out something while I was driving, but I couldn’t think of any way to fix this.”
Bart looked at Colt. “What’s going to happen to him?”
“I’ll arrest him,” Colt said, “and he’ll get his day in court. If you want to help, then see to it that he gets a good lawyer. You might also be allowed to speak on his behalf if this goes to trial.”
Bart nodded. “Thanks.”
Jadyn reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’m really sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Jadyn looked up at Colt and he motioned toward the door. They walked silently out of the shop, leaving Bart to his thoughts. When he pulled away from Bart’s place, Colt looked over at Jadyn, who sat quietly.
“How did you know it was Tyler?” he asked.
“It was something in his expression. He looked scared but also sad. I figured there was only one person he’d be sad over. But I still don’t understand why Tyler would blame Bart for everything just because he wasn’t ready for a promotion.”
“I doubt that’s the only reason. Tyler’s spent his entire life playing second fiddle to Bart—football, grades, women, job—so I guess he decided to create something he could do successfully and alone.”
“So this was Tyler’s way of doing something to get himself ahead. Something that Bart couldn’t best him at?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it, but don’t ever discount cold hard cash. Shrimpers aren’t making what they used to. And Bart’s three-day workweek had probably been eating away at Tyler for a long time.”
She nodded. “So are we going to arrest Tyler now?”
“Yeah. Might as well get this over with.”
###
Jadyn was in Mildred’s office, filling her and Helena in on Tyler’s arrest when Maryse burst into the office, panting.
Mildred jumped out of her chair. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Maryse said. “Everything’s right. Zach is awake!”
Maryse threw her arms around Mildred and twirled the hotel owner around in the tight space until the two were stumbling. Jadyn felt the last of the weight she’d been carrying dissolve away and smiled as Helena laughed and clapped. Finally, Maryse released the hotel owner and they stared at each other, huge smiles on their faces.
“Well, don’t just stand there grinning like idiots,” Helena said. “Give us the details.”
“I don’t know a lot,” Maryse said, “but Raissa called to say that Zach was out of the coma and doesn’t appear to have any damage. They’ll run tests, of course, but oh my God, isn’t that great news?”
“The best,” Jadyn agreed.
“And when I think about how it all went down and how badly it could have turned out,” Maryse said, “it’s just a miracle.”
Mildred nodded. “Definitely a miracle.”
Maryse looked over at Helena. “And you—if you’re going to be of any use, you’re going to have to be more accurate.”
Helena crossed her arms across her chest and slumped down in the chair. “How was I supposed to know the importance of Ross saying ‘the’ boss instead of ‘my’ boss? I thought he was talking to someone at the FBI, not some Mafia guy. You would have thought the same thing.”
“Maybe,” Maryse said, “but if I’d repeated those exact words to Jadyn or Colt, they might have clued in to what was really going on and we wouldn’t have been ambushed. I know everything turned out all right…well, not for Ross, but who cares…but I’d like to avoid a repeat. So, accuracy is king.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Helena waved a hand in dismissal. “You’ve turned into such a nag.”
Maryse rolled her eyes and looked at Jadyn. “What’s up with Tyler?”
“Colt arrested him this morning. He didn’t resist, which made it easier on all of us. Bart offered to pay for his attorney. I guess we’ll see if Tyler smartens up enough to accept.”
“What a stupid thing for him to do,” Maryse said. “I know shrimping doesn’t pay all that well lately, but there’s other ways Tyler could have made some extra money.”
Mildred sighed. “My guess is he wanted the easiest route to Bart’s lifestyle. It’s all a shame, really. If he’d bothered to talk to Bart, he probably would have been able to get back into construction. Even if he was never as good as Bart, Tyler would have made far more money welding than he did shrimping.”
“Pride often leads to foolish decisions,” Jadyn agreed. “Have you told Luc the details of last night yet?” Luc was out of town for another day, but Jadyn knew Maryse planned on telling her husband what had happened before news of the events made it through the law enforcement community.
“I called him when I got home last night,” Maryse said. “There was a lot of cussing and quite a few exclamations of disbelief, but overall, I got off easy. I think he’s just happy that it’s over.”
“And the other situation?” Jadyn asked.
Maryse frowned. “Still unresolved. I’m landlocked until further notice.”
“I’m sure it will all work out soon,” Mildred said, obviously trying to cheer Maryse up.
Helena perked up. “Since you can’t go out and pick stinkweed, will you take me to New Orleans to see Hank?”
“I may as well,” Maryse said. “Let me call and see what time is good for them. With Lila due next month, I’m sure she has doctor’s appointments and all sorts of other preparations going on.”
Helena nodded. “I can’t wait to see my grandbaby! I bet he’s going to be beautiful.”
Jadyn smiled. Helena’s enthusiasm for her unborn grandson was infectious and kinda sweet.
“Make sure we go when Hank’s not working,” Helena said. “I know he’s been putting in a lot of hours.”
“I’ll get a hold of him today,” Maryse said, “and call Mildred with a time. Well, I’ve got to go talk to Frank about my hutch. I’ll check in later.”
And with that, Maryse sped out of the hotel as quickly as she’d arrived. Jadyn couldn’t help but envy her cousin’s energy.
“I best get going, too,” Jadyn said. “I want to check in with Colt and see if there’s anything I can help him with.”
“Be sure and let him know the good news about Zach,” Mildred said.
“It will be the first thing out of my mouth.”
Jadyn left the hotel and strolled down the sidewalk. It was a beautiful summer day. The sun seemed to shine brighter. The breeze seemed cooler. But Jadyn knew it was all because things were right again in Mudbug.
Shirley greeted her with a huge smile when she walked into the sheriff’s office. Colt emerged from his office, and his scowl turned to a grin as she told them about Zach’s recovery.
Shirley grabbed a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “That’s such good news.”
Colt nodded. “The best news we’ve had all day. Do you know when he can have visitors?”
“No, but I’ll let you know as soon as Maryse finds out. I have a feeling he’s going to be a very popular patient.”
“I’m sure of it,” Colt agreed. “If you have some time, I have an update on the Pickett situation.”
“Absolutely,” Jadyn said and followed him back to his office.
Colt shut the door behind them but instead of sitting in his office chair like he usually did, he leaned against the side of the desk right next to the chair she sat in. Jadyn tried not to read anything into the fact that he hadn’t placed the large bit of furniture in between them. It was clear by his relaxed posture that Colt was in good spirits. It might be as simple as that.
“After he saw the video, Pickett sang like a bird,” Colt said. “He gave up the other crew and the New Orleans police have already picked them up. They’ll get mug shots to Raissa, and now Zach, and I anticipate the whole thing will wrap up very nicely.”
“It’s incredible, the way everything turned out. It’s what I hoped for, but so much better than what I expected.”
Colt nodded. “From the beginning, I was afraid of how badly this could end. All indications led in the opposite direction of a positive outcome. This has been the biggest and most pleasant surprise of my entire law enforcement career.”
“Well, let’s just hope nothing ever tops it. I don’t think I have the nerve to handle it.”
Colt smiled. “You’ve got the nerve to handle damn near anything. That shot you made was nothing short of amazing.” He extended his hand. “I haven’t thanked you properly for saving my life.”
She placed her hand in his, expecting to shake, but instead he tugged and she rose out of the chair to stand only inches in front of him.
“Thank you for saving my life,” he said, his voice low.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him. “You’re welcome.”
He lowered his lips to her in a feathery kiss, then wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips harder against hers, increasing the intensity.
Jadyn leaned into him and ran her hands up his strong back.
She had no idea what the future held, but at the moment, it looked promising.
The End
Will Jadyn and Colt take the relationship plunge?
Find out in CHAOS IN MUDBUG, coming Summer 2014!
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The Author:
Jana DeLeon grew up among the bayous and ‘gators of southwest Louisiana. She’s never stumbled across a mystery like one of her heroines but is still hopeful. She lives in Dallas, Texas with a menagerie of animals and not a single ghost.
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Books by Jana DeLeon:
Rumble on the Bayou
Unlucky
The Ghost-in-Law Series:
Trouble in Mudbug
Mischief in Mudbug
Showdown in Mudbug
Resurrection in Mudbug
Missing in Mudbug
The Helena Diaries—Trouble in Mudbug (Novella)
