Rue Toulouse (13 page)

“Then why’d she run away from me like the hounds from hell were at her heels?”

Paul sighed. “Buddy, I don’t know. Who knows why women do the things they do. But I do know Caterine well enough to tell you it wasn’t your background that made her run. And if you’re thinking she’s another Desiree, forget it.”

“Yeah right.”

“I’m telling you the truth. Caterine could no more act like Desiree than I could deal drugs to little kids. It’s not in her to use people the way Desiree did. In fact, if you remember, I warned you about getting involved with her. So if I thought Caterine would screw you over the way Desiree did, I sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted you to meet her.”

Remi ran his hands through his hair. “Damn it, Paul. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since our encounter on the street. And now she’s out there somewhere, alone and running scared.”

Paul’s brows rose. “Wait a minute. What do you mean, since you met her on the street?”

Remi explained what had occurred during the parade and afterward.

“Christ, that must have been Jonathan Day. Caterine’s been seeing him for quite a while now.”

“Yeah, well, from the little I overheard, he’s been seeing someone besides Caterine.”

Paul shook his head. “I suppose she gave him an earful?”

Remi grinned. “She seemed to be holding her own when I got there. I still would have loved to knock the asshole on his preppy ass. I just don’t understand. She’s wealthy, beautiful, and sexy as hell. Why was she with that jerk Jonathan?”

Paul shrugged. “I personally never cared for the guy, but what do I know?”

Remi’s eyes narrowed. “I think our midnight encounter was nothing more than a convenient diversion to take her mind off the bastard, and things went further than the lady expected.”

“Perhaps Jonathan had something to do with her behavior, but I’ve been around Caterine long enough to know she wouldn’t have had sex with you if she didn’t have feelings for you.”

“The feelings the lady had for me are called lust.”

Paul sighed. “How’d you two get separated anyway?”

Remi recalled the sudden panic in Caterine’s eyes and shook his head. “It’s as I said, she realized what she’d done and who she’d done it with and ran.”

“I still don’t believe that.” Paul turned into the circular drive of a three-story antebellum mansion. “You know, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it doesn’t turn out to be one of the Doucettes behind Caterine’s attack. Elaine told me Miss Dauphine just turned over ownership of Ma Chérie to Caterine, and both she and Caterine were afraid of their reactions.”

Remi stared in amazement. “Her own family would try and abduct her?”

“Before we go in, I’ll fill you in on one of the wealthiest and most dysfunctional families in Louisiana.”

“What a fucked up sounding bunch,” Remi said when Paul had finished.
 

Paul laughed. “Except for Miss Dauphine, Caterine, and Bobby, they pretty much are.”

“So Caterine was raised by her grandparents? And other than the Doucettes, she has no one?”

“Some relatives on her mother’s side in Virginia, but she hardly knows them. Other than Elaine and myself, there’s really only a handful of people she’s close to.” Paul stepped onto the drive. “Now prepare to meet one of the most gracious southern ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”

The double front doors were answered by a middle-aged black woman who told them Miss Dauphine was expecting them.

A curving staircase led up to a wide hall from which they entered a small sitting room.

“It’s good to see you, Miss Dauphine.” Paul bent to kiss the older woman’s cheek. “And you’re as beautiful as always.”

She smiled. “And you’re still a charmer, Paul LaBeau.”
 

“Miss Dauphine, I’d like you to meet my friend and partner, Remi Michaud. Remi, this is Madame Dauphine Doucette.”

Remi took her hand. “Ma’am, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, young man.” Miss Dauphine studied Remi’s face before asking, “Mr. Michaud, are you by any chance Annabelle Michaud’s grandson?”

“Why, yes, ma’am.”

She smiled. “Are you aware your grandmother and I are dear friends?”

“No, ma’am.”

“I’ve known Annabelle since we were young girls at school.” She looked from Paul’s serious expression to the grim line of Remi’s mouth, and the smile left her face. “Paul, would you please close the door?”

“Thank you. Now, if you’ll both take a seat.” She indicated two chairs. “I’ll tell you what Caterine told me and what I need you to do.”

Paul shook his head after she’d concluded. “This is unbelievable. And Caterine is sure this person wasn’t trying to rob her?”

“No, Caterine was perfectly clear. She said someone held a gun on her and tried to force her into a van. And it’s all my fault,” she whispered as the tears trickled down her cheeks. “If I hadn’t turned Ma Chérie over to Caterine, this would never have occurred.”

“Now, Miss Dauphine, you stop blaming yourself. Who could have imagined something like this would happen? Besides, we don’t know if your family is involved.”

Her breath caught on a sob. “Paul, I’m sure it was someone in this house who tried to have Caterine abducted, and I fear they were planning on killing her.”

“You can’t really believe that.”

She turned her head, visibly trying to compose herself. “Paul, you know as well as I that greed can make people do unspeakable things. My family’s reactions when I told them I’d given Ma Chérie to Caterine were despicable. I’m not a stupid woman. Just kidnapping Caterine would gain them nothing.” She shook her head. “No, it’s too coincidental that Caterine is attacked at this time.”

Paul knelt, quietly holding the older woman’s hand as tears streaked her face. Remi watched her back straighten as she fought for control. Finally she took her hand from Paul’s and removed a lace handkerchief from her sleeve. She dabbed away the tears then daintily blew her nose.

“So which one of you is going to protect my granddaughter and find out who in my family wants her dead? I want her kept safe until we discover the truth and whoever’s behind this is exposed.”

“I’m the man who’s going to protect your granddaughter, ma’am,” Remi replied without hesitation.
 

Miss Dauphine slowly studied his face then nodded. “Young man, I believe you will. Now tell me what you need. Do you know what Caterine looks like? I have a picture of her there on my desk.”

Remi turned in the direction she pointed and smiled inwardly as his princess smiled back at him from a silver frame. “Yes, ma’am, we’ve met.”
 

“Oh, really, where was that?” Then Miss Dauphine’s eyes opened wide. “Was it you?”

“Ma’am?”

“Did you meet my granddaughter at Paul and Elaine’s costume party?”

Remi’s stomach tightened and he could feel sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Why, yes, ma’am, I did.”

She nodded. “I had a feeling more happened at that party than Caterine was telling. So, Mr. Michaud, how can I help?”

Realizing she was unaware of what exactly had occurred between him and Caterine, Remi inwardly sighed with relief. “All we can do at this point is wait for Caterine to call. When she does, I’ll leave to be with her.”

“In the meantime, I’ll see what I can find out on my own and whether the police have any leads,” Paul said.

Miss Dauphine nodded. “I’ll expect both of you to keep me informed of the progress you’re making. Also, Mr. Michaud, I expect you to keep Caterine out of New Orleans. I know my granddaughter and she’s going to insist on coming back, but you must promise me you won’t let that happen.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep her away.”

“For the time being, I do not want any of my family to know Caterine is gone. When they finally ask, I’ll say she had to leave unexpectedly on business. While she is gone, I will take charge of the store. Whoever is behind this will not get their hands on Ma Chérie as long as I’m alive.”

“Miss Dauphine, I understand your feelings, but we have to be concerned about your safety as well as Caterine’s,” Paul said. “I’d feel better if, when Remi leaves to be with Caterine, you go as well.”

She shook her head. “As I told Caterine, I will not be run out of Ma Chérie nor this house. I don’t believe one of my sons was behind this. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same when it comes to either of my daughters-in-law or my grandchildren.” Tears again flooded her eyes. “Having money can be a blessing and at the same time nothing but a curse.”

Remi was impressed with the strength in this petite but imposing woman.

“Well, Miss Dauphine, at least allow us to have someone accompany you when you leave the house,” Paul suggested.

“That won’t be necessary. I plan on informing Thomas of what has occurred. He’s both a loyal friend and trusted employee. I know I’ll be safe in his care.”

When Paul’s cell phone began to ring, Remi glanced around the well-appointed room. There were a number of family photos in small frames arranged on an ornately carved cherry table. He walked over and picked up one that had to be Caterine around age five or six. Her blond pigtails were tied with pink bows, and she wore a pink party dress. His heart skipped a beat as her happy sky-blue eyes sparkled back at him.
I’m coming, Princess. And if someone hurts you, he’s a dead man.

He replaced the photo and turned as Paul concluded his phone conversation. Giving Remi a look that meant they had trouble, Paul addressed Miss Dauphine. “There’s nothing else we can do here. We’ll wait to hear from you. Now, Miss Dauphine, it doesn’t matter what time Caterine calls you. Call me.”

She nodded. “Mr. Michaud, tomorrow morning I intend on going to my bank, where I will open an account in your name that you may draw from as needed. Caterine has her own account, but I want to make sure there’re other funds if needed.”

Remi hesitated. “That’s really not necessary, but if it will make you feel better, that’s fine.”

“Also, here’s my private number.” She handed Remi a slip of paper. “I detest cell phones and do not own one. I’ll be in touch. Good evening to you both.”

When Remi and Paul reached the foot of the staircase, Jules Doucette intercepted them.

“Paul, I heard you were here.” Jules patted Paul’s back. “How have you been, son? We haven’t seen you out this way in quite a while.”

“I’m fine, sir. Let me introduce my partner, Remi Michaud.”

He shook Remi’s hand. “I understand you’re here to see Mother. Is something wrong?”

“The alarm at Ma Chérie went off and the police needed to notify Miss Dauphine,” Paul replied. “Since LaBeau Security had installed the new system, I felt I should come out in person and speak to Miss Dauphine.”

“Is there a problem at Ma Chérie?”

“No. We’re thinking it was only a malfunction.”

“Has Caterine been notified?”

“Yes, she’s aware of the problem.”

“Smooth going,
cher
,” Remi said as he and Paul walked back to Paul’s car. “He didn’t suspect a thing.”

Paul grinned. “Thanks. I learned one thing being on the force all those years—how to bullshit.”

When Paul had pulled out of the drive, Remi asked, “So, who called and what kind of trouble do we have?”

“It was Elaine. She received a call from Caterine, who wants her to bring her some clothes.”

“Where is she?”

“Room 221 at the Maison Dupuy.”

“What the hell is she doing in the Quarter?”

Paul shrugged. “Elaine said Caterine decided she wasn’t going to leave, but she doesn’t want her grandmother to know. She plans on hiding out at the hotel until she discovers who hired her attacker.”

Remi ran his hands through his hair while cursing colorfully. “Paul, drive me to the hotel.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Rescue a princess.”

Chapter Twelve

Caterine stood at her hotel room window staring down onto Toulouse. The chain of events that had brought her to this spot kept playing through her mind. Was she wrong and her family wasn’t behind the attack? Could it have been an attempted kidnapping and it was just incredible timing? Like a photo album opening, images of the past swam before her eyes. She relived the mean taunts, cruel words, and each petty slight she’d received from her so-called family. Could one of them actually want Ma Chérie badly enough to have her killed? As unthinkable as that was, she knew in her heart the answer must be yes. Mentally and physically exhausted, she let the tears she’d been holding back flow freely.