Pretty Dangerous (24 page)

“These guys must make good fees. This is
expensive real estate so close to the Capitol Building.”

“This was Brad’s great-grandfather’s house.
Or maybe it was his great uncle. Anyway, his family goes way back
to almost when the neighborhood was founded, before even.” Willa
swiped a finger across the screen of her smart phone. Bradford
Craft was the senior and founding partner of Craft, Mouton and
Laplace. Willa had worked for the firm as a paralegal before she
became her own boss.

“He can trace his family to before 1803? My
parents would be so jealous.” MiMi gave a sharp laugh. Her mother
especially relished talking about her great-great-greats.

“Speaking of family, how...”

“I haven’t spoken to any of them, and that’s
fine with me,” MiMi cut in.

“You really think Adrienne is trying to take
Sage permanently? Sounds pretty cold,” Willa drawled.

“Adrienne could keep frozen food in her
panties,” MiMi retorted. “At least your monster mother lives a few
hundred miles away in Houston. I keep hoping my parents will retire
out of the country. I even brought them brochures about how cheaply
they could live in a Latin American country.” MiMi grinned at the
look Willa gave her.

“Shame on you,” Willa said. “Hmm, they could
give Vivienne a ride.”

They were still laughing when Edselle came in
through the double doors followed by Detective Drake. They all
exchanged good mornings. Detective Drake accepted a cup of coffee.
Edselle poured, offered him sugar and cream, and sat down.

“Thanks, I take it black. And I need it with
the schedule I’ve had lately.” Drake took a sip. Then he put the
paper cup down and glanced from MiMi to Willa. Then his gaze
settled on MiMi. “I suppose you’re going to let Mr. Underwood
answer the questions.”

“Ms. Landry is willing to help in any way she
can, within reason of course,” Edselle replied.

Detective Drake gave a grunt and nodded. He
took out his smart phone. After a few minutes of browsing, he
cleared his throat. “Your client stated that she had no business
relationship with Roderick Jefferson, just a personal one.
Correct?”

When Edselle gestured for her to answer MiMi
said, “That’s right.”

“Yet you went with him to the Dominican
Republic where he had business,” Drake looked up from the notes on
his phone.

“Our trip was primarily for pleasure, a
getaway. He may have made a few phone calls, but I don’t know who
he talked to or why.” MiMi shrugged. “Roderick worked constantly.
He was always on his phone.”

“A representative of a DR business group
visited your home. Was her visit connected to the victim?”
Detective Drake’s gaze drifted to Edselle as if he expected him to
object.

Edselle held up a hand when MiMi started to
speak. “Ms. Villa’s visit had nothing to do with Roderick
Jefferson.”

“Are you sure?” Detective Drake stared at
MiMi.

MiMi looked at Willa, who was furiously
tapping on her smart phone. When Willa didn’t look up, MiMi turned
back to the detective. “If Roderick knew these people it’s news to
me.”

“Detective Estrada in the DR seems to think
the murder of this Benito Herrera is somehow connected to our case.
How well did you know Mr. Herrera?” Detective Drake raised an
eyebrow at MiMi.

MiMi crossed her arms. Then she thought
better of the defensive posture and relaxed. “I didn’t know him at
all.”

“So the court records in the DR said,”
Detective Drake replied in a dry tone.

“Excuse me, but what aren’t you telling us?”
Edselle broke in before Detective Drake could form a follow-up
question.

“He wasn’t a street dealer at all but an
employee working for this DR group. We have information that Ms.
Landry not only knew Mr. Herrera, but she had a part in whatever
business arrangement Mr. Jefferson got himself tied up in.”

MiMi’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s a load
of--”

Edselle cut her off by raising a palm. “Are
you suggesting that Mr. Jefferson was involved in something
illegal?”

“We’re unraveling the details now. Those guys
in the DR might be ‘businessmen’, but they’ve got shady
reputations. The DR National Police suspect they’re laundering
money, some of it might even be for terrorists groups in the
Philippines and Peru.”

“What?” MiMi jumped to her feet.

“Ms. Landry has no information about illegal
money transactions or terrorists groups,” Edselle spoke up quickly
as he stood. He placed a hand on MiMi’s arm. “Keep calm. Detective
Drake is only gathering information.”

“Counselor, we’ll need a DNA sample and
fingerprint impressions from Ms. Landry,” Detective Drake said.

“I dated him, of course you’ll find my
fingerprints and DNA in his condo,” MiMi blurted out.

“So then you shouldn’t mind providing them.”
Detective Drake gazed at her steadily.

“Fine.” MiMi sat down.

“You can come to our headquarters tomorrow.
Nine o’clock?” Drake took out his smart phone, but held his finger
poised over it.

MiMi glanced at Edselle, who nodded slowly.
“Tomorrow at nine works for me.”

“You’ll be in and out in less than an hour. I
appreciate your cooperation.” Detective Drake stood and shook hands
with Edselle, smiled at Mimi and Willa.

“Thank you, Detective. My client is happy to
help in any way possible,” Edselle replied.

He opened the conference room door and
followed Detective Drake. He gave MiMi and Willa a quick glance
before he left. They heard their voices fade away. MiMi chewed a
fingernail. Willa got up and went to the window. When Edselle came
back moments later, they started talking at the same time.

“We need to find out what he’s up to,” Willa
said.

“I swear I didn’t know anything about
Roderick being in business with that weed guy.” MiMi threw up both
hands.

“Okay, okay, let’s regroup.” Edselle grabbed
the carafe and poured three cups. He passed them around. “Obviously
Detective Drake is trying to throw us off balance.”

“Humph, then score one for him because he
sure as hell succeeded,” Willa retorted. She walked to the
conference table but didn’t sit. She picked up a cup. “I texted
Cedric what Drake said, shorthand of course. He’s working on it.
You think this Nairoby Villa is his source?”

MiMi frowned. “She didn’t say anything about
Roderick. Nairoby came about Jack.”

“Yeah, she would have said something about
Roderick. I don’t know.” Willa sipped coffee. “I doubt coffee will
calm my...” MiMi sipped. “Hey, that is delicious.”

Willa sat back. “We need to find out where
Roderick met these people and what they were up to.”

“We should ask Ms. Got-Herself-Some-Nerve,”
MiMi snapped angrily.

“One, you should stay away from her. And two,
you don’t know where she is.” Willa looked at MiMi.

“You have resources, investigate and find
her,” MiMi shot back.

“No need to spend time calling all over town.
Edselle can ask for another conference call and tell her bosses she
needs to be there,” Willa said.

“Great idea. I’ll check my schedule.” Edselle
strode out, coffee cup in on hand.

“All I did was date a guy and now I’m a
suspect.” MiMi pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ve got to figure
out who put a voodoo curse on me.”

Willa grunted. “No, you need to pick better
dates and put a whipping on your sister.”

“I’m taking a long break from dating. But
that second suggestion? Yeah, kicking her scheming, backstabbing
butt is at the top of my to-do list.” MiMi indulged in the fantasy
of slapping her sister silly.

At eight o’clock that night Jazz and MiMi
cruised by the Hotel Indigo in MiMi’s SUV. The Lexus fit right in
with the upscale feel outside the expensive hotel. Police officers
on bicycles cruised by. One of them flashed a smile at MiMi. She
waved back. A limo pulled up to deposit passengers. Then a BMW
arrived, and the valet moved quickly to help a well-dressed blonde
from the passenger side. MiMi turned on Lafayette Street.

“I’m going to make the block and let the
valets park my car,” MiMi said as she pulled up to a stop sign.

“Are you nuts? Find parking on the street.
We’ll walk.” Jazz glanced around. “We can’t be flagging down a
valet if trouble breaks out.”

“Don’t be so paranoid. Besides, do you see
any close parking? No. I can’t walk in these shoes,” MiMi said.

“You should have worn different shoes,” Jazz
shot back.

“Calm down. We’re going to find out what we
need, put a scare into this witch and get out.” MiMi wheeled the
SUV up to a red light.

“Sorry I even told you where she was,” Jazz
muttered. “Dumb idea. Your lawyer was going to arrange a meeting
with her.”

“They’ve been putting him off, which confirms
they’re bluffing. I don’t want to wait another day to find out the
real story.You were smarter than any of us to have your guys follow
her.” MiMi pulled away when the light turned green. “Now
relax.”

“I don’t relax when I’m walkin’ into a
situation and don’t know what might come at me. Neither should you.
Remember she’s got a bodyguard.” Jazz gave their surroundings a 360
degree scan.

“Yes, but so do we.” MiMi winked at her.

“Bullets go through bodyguards, too.” Jazz
sucked in a breath and let it out when MiMi pulled up to the
hotel.

MiMi released her seatbelt but didn’t open
the door. “And she’ll be thinking the same. Besides, we have an
advantage.”

“Which is?” Jazz gave her a skeptical
frown.

“We know her back is against the wall with
her ‘partners’,” MiMi said.

She flashed a smile at the waiting valet. She
swung open the door and exited gracefully. Another valet opened the
passenger door for Jazz. They’d agreed to leave their larger purses
at home. MiMi wore a small yet fashionable shiny silver cross body
bag. It was only big enough to hold a few bills, her driver’s
license and one credit card. Jazz carried her essentials in the
pocket of her red leather crop jacket.

“Good evening, ma’am.”

“Hello. Charge our room, 588. Thank you so
much,” MiMi said without hesitation.

“Girl...” Jazz said as she walked beside her
into the hotel.

“Yeah, let that heffa pay for our parking.
Look for that big guy she had with her the other night.” MiMi
strode in like her mother would, nose in the air like she owned the
place.

“He’s at one of the casinos. But Nairoby is
upstairs. I made sure.” Jazz continued to scan their surroundings
as they approached the elevator.

“How?”

“Told the front desk to leave her a voice
mail message her crew would be calling tonight around eight or
either-thirty local time.” Jazz nodded at a sexy man and he nodded
back.

“I see you’ve got things covered. I’m
sticking up for you the next time Willa throws shade at your choice
of friends on the street,” MiMi whispered just before a group of
middle-aged men and women joined them on the elevator.

“Let’s see if you say that once the shooting
starts,” Jazz wisecracked. When a white-haired matron gasped, Jazz
smiled. “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’m a movie director. My employees are
filming a night scene outside. I’m just making sure this minor
actress remembers her lines from the script.”

“How exciting,” a tall silver-haired man
said. He stood next to a heavily made-up blonde on the south side
of thirty-five at least.

His blue eyes twinkled as he gazed at Jazz’s
form fitting dark blue leggings and MiMi’s black leggings beneath a
mini skirt. Jazz wore fancy platform-styled sneakers. MiMi had on
three inch tan leather sandals. He didn’t seem to notice the woman
glaring at him in disapproval.

“Oh it is. Now if you hear what sounds like
gunshots, ignore it. All make believe,” Jazz said in a cool voice.
She winked at him.

When the elevator stopped at the third floor,
the woman grabbed his arm and pulled him through the open doors.
She threw one last hostile glance at Jazz to make her point. The
rest of the riders got off on the fourth floor.

MiMi sighed when the doors slid shut. “Don’t
start no ish before we even get to the woman’s room.”

“Take a breath and settle your nerves. Here
we go.”

Jazz stepped from the elevator first. Then
she gestured for MiMi to follow. They followed signs pointing the
way to Nairoby’s room number. Moments later Jazz knocked. A muffled
voice came through the door.

“What do you want?”

“She ain’t surprised to see us. That tells me
something,” Jazz said softly close to MiMi’s ear. “We’ve got a
proposition for you, to help get you out of trouble with your
bosses. We hear they’re fairly unforgiving.”

“Your bodyguard is on their payroll. Which
means his loyalty isn’t to you. I don’t think you want him to join
us,” MiMi added.

“Damn, player. Jail and trouble agrees with
you.” Jazz gave MiMi a look of surprise.

Metal clicked and the door swung open before
MiMi could reply. Nairoby stood eyeing them with suspicion. Dressed
in black, both jeans and a sweater, she said nothing for several
seconds.

“Why should I let you two in here? You might
have a gun or something.” Nairoby looked ready to slam the door
again.

MiMi held up both hands. “We’re not armed.
See? No purses. I’d suggest we meet down in the lobby, but there
are too many people. Same for the hotel bar and restaurant.”

Jazz glanced around. “You don’t want the
bodyguard, what’s-his-name, to see us talking. We’re going to
attract attention hanging out here in the hall. Big dude might show
up.”

“Maybe that would be a good thing.” Nairoby
didn’t sound convincing. Her gaze shifted away from them briefly
and back.

“So you’re paying him?” MiMi raised both
eyebrows at her.