The Devil's Orchard (28 page)

When he stood so did she, only it had nothing to do with him. The large man had entered and pointed to a door, but not the front one, then to his phone. Emma nodded and started walking, but she had to pass Gustavo to get to the guard.

“Excuse me,” Emma said, because he’d gotten up and blocked her path.

“Are you fine?” he asked, since this close he could see her red eyes.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You don’t look okay. I can help you?” He reminded himself not to touch her. It was too early for that, and the guard that drove her there was too close. He decided to take the opportunity to just break the ice.

“Thanks, but no. Do you mind?” Emma made a motion for him to move over.

He could tell she was really pregnant, and the thought of who she was sharing this experience with made him sick. “I wish you a good night. It’s not a good time for you to cry,” he said, and lapsed on his promise when he reached out and started to touch her belly. He immediately closed his hand into a loose fist and dropped it to his side. “Please,” he said, and moved.

“Thanks,” Emma said, and seemed comfortable as she passed.

He hadn’t blown it, and this break in her routine proved that perhaps Cain’s relationship with this beautiful woman wasn’t as good as everyone thought.

“Soon, Emma,” he said, and downed his second shot. Emma disappeared through the door with the man, and just like that she was away from him again. “I never thought you’d make it this easy for me, Cain.”

Emma looped her arm though the bend of Lou’s elbow because she needed something familiar to hang on to until she reached Cain in Muriel’s office. If she was this off-kilter, she could imagine how Cain was doing after their ruse. Not that she doubted what Cain had figured out about how Juan had changed himself, but after the brief encounter she was sure. His mannerisms, his subdued aggression, the accent, and his voice were all the same. When he’d moved closer, she’d remembered his habit of studying her like a bug on a slide.

“Are you all right?” Cain asked as soon as the elevator door opened. The time it would’ve taken Emma and Lou to get up there had obviously been too long for her to wait.

“With Lou and the other people you had around me, I never worried about anything.” When Cain wrapped her arms around her she did feel more centered. “It’s him. You were right, and brilliant for figuring that out.”

“If I’d been brilliant, I would’ve figured it out the day we first saw him.”

“Think about what position we could eventually be in if you hadn’t. He went through all that trouble to get his fresh start, but he never accounted for who he was up against.” When they reached Muriel’s office, Emma held Lou back and closed the door to the conference room. “I was as close to him as you were that day, and I’ve had more contact with him, but I never knew. There’s no way anyone would’ve surmised that right then, honey. I mean, who in the hell goes to this much trouble?”

“Are you sure you’re okay with what we have planned?”

When Shaun had called and told them Juan was on the move and headed toward them, Cain had formulated a plan instantly. If this new man who appeared more American with a slimmer nose and sandy-blond hair really was Juan, the satisfaction of killing him would have to wait. By using him and guiding him in a certain direction, they could perhaps lure Anthony out, along with Gracelia.

The first step toward that was the very public view of their deteriorating relationship for Juan’s benefit. They’d had a physical fight before, for the FBI’s sake, so Cain had sacrificed her cheek again. Then came the illusion of Emma out in public alone, or barely alone, to lick her wounds away from her supposed tormentor. Cain had been right again when Juan saw her at the table. He’d been so fixated on her, he’d missed the four guards around her, aside from Lou.

“It’s not often I get to help you, so please don’t ask me to stop now.” Emma kissed Cain and placed her hand on her chest. “I can do this, and I’ll feel good about it. Juan didn’t want me because he secretly loved me. He wanted me to get to you
and
because I wasn’t interested. You might be a great motivator, but I think when I said no he became obsessed. I want to be part of getting rid of him because of what he did to both of us.”

“I’m not comfortable or crazy about putting you out there, though.”

“You know I’m forgiving to a fault sometimes.” Emma caressed the cheek she’d slapped and smiled, which made her appear sadder. “It’s cost us so much…you so much when I mistakenly put my faith in someone else. Not this time, and when he reached out to touch our baby, it confirmed it for me. That’s something sacred to you and me, a child that’s ours and will be such an important part of who we are together, but I know he doesn’t see it that way. I’m sure Juan wants nothing but to destroy this baby to complete his conquest.”

“Okay, but we stick to the whole plan. No ad-libbing and no trying to ditch the people I put with you.” Cain tapped the tip of Emma’s nose with her finger.

“Trust me. I don’t want a repeat of what happened any more than you do. You want to go by Remi’s place before we head home?”

“Yeah.” Cain helped Emma to her feet and kissed her again. “We still have too many unknown variables in this, and with any luck, Remi’s found the answer to some of them.”

“We’ll need to fill them in on what’s going on, so I’ll meet you there. If we get home early enough, we can call the kids. I’m surprised Hayden hasn’t phoned already. He seemed okay being left behind, but I’m sure he’s learned to hide disappointment well,” Emma said.

Lou pressed the elevator call button for them and kept his eyes pointed at the door.

“He called on my way over here, and he sounded okay with us reporting in later. He was really sweet about it.”

“Of course he’s sweet. He gets that from me.”

Lou’s shoulders shook from laughter after he heard her squawk from Emma’s pinch to her side. They rode down and she waited ten minutes before going out the back. Emma and Lou had gone through the front, where she hadn’t spotted Juan in any monitor. Patience might be a virtue, but it was damn hard when she had this guy in her sights.

“Where is he?” she asked Shaun.

“Fell in line with Lou and Miss Emma. He’s doing his best to hang back, but he’s as subtle as chickenpox.”

“Any luck with a name?”

“Unfortunately the staff at the Piquant is immune to bribes for stuff like that, so I don’t have it yet. The guy he was with took off and headed into the Quarter. I’ve got someone following him, and he said he looked pissed and is drinking it off at Pat O’s.”

“Stay with Juan and have whoever’s watching his friend call me. There might be a way to speed up this process without showing my hand.”

“You got it, boss.”

“Well, it’s within sight now, anyway.”

*

Remi took her jacket off in the elevator and rolled her head from side to side to crack the bones in her neck. The studio was getting busier here and in LA, which meant more travel in her future, as well as for Dallas. They’d signed a few projects that her people said Dallas would be perfect for, only they weren’t going to be filmed in New Orleans. Now that Dallas didn’t have to fear the past and she’d decided to take them, it’d mean star billing and the paycheck to go with it.

The condo was quiet and she headed for the bedroom and changed for a night in, then fixed herself a drink. After Dallas and Kristen moved in she’d promised not to smoke inside, so she took her cigar and aged rum to the balcony. Dallas didn’t particularly care for the habit but had gotten her a comfortable chair to enjoy the view and the Cuban Cohibas she was fond of.

As she watched the huge freighters go by she thought about the house they’d bought and the history of the place. She remembered visiting often as a child and playing with Cain and Marie while Mano ran off with Billy. Their fathers were starting to do business together, and her family had been fortunate that Dalton had instantly liked her father when they met. It wasn’t often that her dad humbled himself to anyone like that, but he’d lowered his head and forgotten his pride when he begged Dalton to give him a chance.

She’d committed her family to the amount of business they were doing with Cain because of how Dalton had received him that day. Dalton had listened to his story, his requests, and the manner in which he’d asked for them. An hour later he had the keys to the Pescador Club, the loan that launched the place, and Dalton’s protection. Dalton had also told her father to bow to no other man again, especially him, and if someone wanted him to, he gave him his personal number. It took a day for their friendship to take root, and Dalton had kept his word about everything he’d promised. His final gift had been the deed to the club.

When it was her turn, she found the same kind of friendship and loyalty in Cain. Even her father was impressed with the profits they’d made with the purchase of the studio and using it to launder money for both families. Cain had shown selflessness there as well because she’d only wanted 49 percent to keep the authorities away from them as much as possible.

The sliding-glass door opened behind her and she held her hand up, assuming it was Dallas. Someone’s hand slowly slid down hers and she immediately knew it wasn’t Dallas, and when she lowered it and pulled the person closer, she found Kristen smiling at her. Maybe Simon had a point, because the caress wasn’t what you’d expect from an in-law. She let Kristen go and decided to set things straight between them when she leaned against the railing in a pose that made her breasts jut out.

“How was school?”

“It was good. A summer semester is always fun since you get it out of the way faster. Did you have a hard day?” Kristen asked, and she nodded. “Want a neck rub?”

“Your sister will take care of that when she gets here.” The statement made Kristen’s smile vanish and her shoulders slump slightly. “So no more cute stuff, okay? Dallas sacrificed plenty to keep you safe, and I’m not interested. She doesn’t deserve the disrespect from you, and I’ll never hurt her like that. Do we understand each other, or do I need to make it plainer?”

“I was just being nice so you’d like me. I didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, I’m lonely.”

“I’m not mad, but I also don’t want any misunderstandings. We’ve got a new house to enjoy, and I want you to think of it as home. Hell, it’s big enough that you can stay for however long you want, even if it’s forever. But try to find someone who’ll give you everything your sister and I have. Until then, get a cat if you’re lonely.”

Kristen’s focus went to the elevator doors and Remi stood and turned. She’d been expecting Cain and Emma, and they were a great diversion to end this conversation. Before she moved to open the door she hugged Kristen and kissed the top of her head. “It’s been a hard life, I know that, but you’ll get there.”

“Thanks, Remi.”

“I love you, and we’ll be fine.”

“I ordered dinner.” Cain winked at her when she rolled her eyes from behind Kristen. “When’s Dallas finished for the night?”

“She should be scrubbing makeup off now, so give her a few minutes. Drink?”

“I’ll have whatever you’ve got.” Cain helped Emma into one of the leather chairs in the den. “And my partner will take juice, if you have it.”

Remi came back with two glasses and found Kristen sitting close to Emma, Cain near the door to the balcony. “Cigar?” she asked when she handed her the drink.

“Only one,” Emma called out from the other room.

They went out and she listened to what Cain had discovered, amazed that Juan had gone to such lengths to get close to them again. But the really bizarre part of what had happened was Anthony actually going along willingly with these people.

“You’re probably his first target, but I can’t imagine we’ll be too far behind. What do you need from us?”

“If I’m right, Juan has walked through your new house so he’s familiar with the layout. He’s got to eliminate me before you have to worry about anything, and in reality he might not have any plans for you or your family at all. To play it safe, though, tell Emile to keep Dallas close. Someone like Juan is set on what he wants to do, but if an easy target jumps out at him, he’d probably risk it.” Cain took a long drag from her cigar and seemed to follow the smoke as the wind blew it south. “Don’t repeat my mistakes.”

“Have you spotted Anthony at all?”

“Not yet, but we might have a lead on Gracelia. Even if I find her I believe it’s smart to wait until I have them all. Mother and son might be easy targets, but I don’t want to give Anthony the opportunity to run back to his former employer and cut a deal.”

“Whatever you need, it’s yours.”

Cain smiled and held up a finger when the phone rang. “Where is he now?” She listened and pointed inside. Dallas had just come in and was already making over Emma. “Wait until he’s closer to Canal Street, where it’s less crowded, then offer him a ride. Once you have him, call Katlin.”

She dialed Katlin next. “Go by the electric company and find out what you can.”

“What are you curious about?”

“The good. We’ve got the bad and the ugly covered.”

*

Fiona drove with more confidence now that she was becoming more familiar with the streets and their sometimes stranger names. She’d done her best to get assigned with Sept whenever possible, but so far Special Agent Ronald Chapman’s request had come to nothing. After Cain pulled Sept aside at the Columns, Sept had never mentioned her again.

The call from Ronald that Cain was back, but with only a skeleton crew, had surprised her. A coward like Casey seemed to always need a crowd around her. It was the only way for such people to stay in power. She’d waited at the lakefront airport but never saw the Caseys get off any aircraft. The place was basically closed for the night, the manager had said, so she was headed back downtown to pick up her mother.

They only had two more days together, and her opportunity to talk her mother into staying was getting slim. Her mom seemed driven not only to return to California, but to take her back as well. She’d hinted and prodded, but so far her mom hadn’t given her anything as to why that was so important to her.

As she got closer she saw her mother outside on her cell, having what looked like an intense conversation. Something was up and she wanted to know what it was. Her mom had always been secretive, but if she was in trouble she needed to say what the problem was so she could help.

“Call me if there’s anything else, and I mean right away. I don’t care what time it is,” Judice said, loud enough for her to hear her through the open window of the car. Judice hung up when she spotted her and immediately plastered a smile on her face. “Hey, you’re early. That’s great.” Judice hugged her and did an amazing transformation from frustrated to happy.

“Is there a problem?” Fiona asked.

“No, well, a problem with an extension for one of my clients. Nothing a call to the IRS in the morning won’t fix, even if it’ll be a pain in my ass.” Judice laughed, but Fiona couldn’t help thinking that it was all an act. “Let me treat you to whatever you want tonight. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”

It wasn’t the time to start an argument, so she put the car in Drive without another word. The place she wanted to try was crowded, but everyone seemed content to wait at the bar while waiters performed a dangerous ballet with loaded trays of food between crowded-too-close tables. The atmosphere was really too loud to have a good conversation with her mother, but that wasn’t why she’d wanted to venture in.