Bayou Justice. Robin Caroll
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“I got my stick out, hooked the body and then flipped it over. I radioed it in immediately.”
“I see.” The sheriff mustered to his feet. “That’s all you can tell me?”
“Yes.” What more could she say?
“You didn’t hear a gunshot? See any boats in the area?”
She thought for a moment. “No, nothing.”
“Uh-huh.” He ambled to the door, pushed it open, then leaned outside and spit. He turned back to face her, a bit of tobacco spittle lingering in the corner of his mouth.
Her stomach rebelled. She rushed down the hall, shoved open the bathroom door and bent over the toilet. Dry heaves shook her body.
“You okay?” Tara stood in the doorway.
CoCo leaned her forehead against the clawed tub. “Yeah.” She stood and turned on the tap. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Just thought you might want to know, Sheriff said he called Luc.”
Marvelous. Just what she needed. The cherry on top of an already lousy day. “Merci for the heads-up.”
Tara nodded and left, her footsteps echoing on the wood floors. CoCo rinsed her mouth and splashed cold water on her face. She wondered how Luc took the news. This was a tragedy. However despicable he might have been, Beau Trahan was Luc’s grandfather. She set the towel on the counter and then walked back to the living room.
Sheriff Theriot glanced at her through the screen. Men’s voices filtered in through the door, riding on the beams of headlights. Other law officials and the coroner must have arrived.
“CoCo,” the sheriff said as he opened the door and stepped inside, “is it true you and Mr. Trahan had a disagreement yesterday?”
News traveled fast in the bayou. No big surprise there. “Uh, sort of.”
“Care to explain?” He cocked his bony hip against the doorframe.
It struck her that he looked an awful lot like that Opie character from the old Andy Griffith show. “It really wasn’t that big of a deal. He gave my grandmother an eviction notice, and I asked him to leave.”
“An eviction notice? And you say it wasn’t that big of a deal?” His unibrow crinkled.
“I mean, sure we were upset, that’s the appointment I had this morning. I went to see my lawyer.”
“Who would that be?” He’d fished his notebook and pen from his pocket once more.
“Why does it matter?” All of a sudden, her stomach lurched again.
Sheriff Theriot gave her a what-are-you-hiding stare. “Just gotta verify it, that’s all.”
“Dwayne Williams.”
He scribbled. His pen scratched against the paper, rubbing her nerves raw. “You say you weren’t all that upset with Mr. Trahan yesterday?”
“I was upset, but I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re implying.” Indignation stiffened her spine.
“I said nothing like that. I’m just trying to figure out what happened.” He pushed open the door and spit off the porch again. “This is a homicide, Ms. LeBlanc. We have to check out everything and everyone.”
“I’m a suspect?” Her palms sweated.
“He was murdered, Ms. LeBlanc.”
“And one of you is responsible,” Luc Trahan announced as he walked up behind the sheriff.
CoCo’s midnight eyes flashed. “I’m sorry for your loss, but you have no right to accuse anyone in my family.”
“Are you sure about that?” He nodded toward her grandmother and little sister, both glaring at him as if he were pond scum.
She followed his gaze, then met his stare. “I’m positive. And you should be, too, Luc.” Her voice softened a beat.
His heart tripped in response. Traitorous little thing, his heart. He’d assumed he’d gotten over CoCo LeBlanc. Apparently not. She still took his breath away.
“Do you have any proof of your allegations, Mr. Trahan?” Sheriff Theriot spoke quietly.
“CoCo called me yesterday after Grandfather served the eviction notice. She was mad, really mad. Said she wouldn’t be bullied by my grandfather.” He never broke eye contact with CoCo.
Her eyes widened. The green streaks around the irises glimmered. “I was mad, yes, but I didn’t threaten him in any way, and you know that.”
“What about them?” He nodded toward her family lurking behind her.
She shook her head, her curly tresses falling over her shoulder like black ink. “An old woman and a young girl?” She guffawed. “Surely you don’t mean to imply they had anything to do with his death?”
“That old woman is a voodoo priestess.” And you, too.
“You don’t believe all that…wait, what did you call it? Mumbo jumbo. All that mumbo jumbo could kill someone?”
The scab ripped off his old wound. “But they do.” She’s still so bitter, God. I pray You’ll touch her heart, soften it, bring her to know and love You.
“Their beliefs didn’t kill your grandfather, Luc.” There she went again, using her soft and sultry voice against him. His heart reacted.
Sheriff Theriot shifted his weight. “We’ll have more information in the morning.” He nodded at CoCo. “I’ll need you to come down to the station first thing.”
“D-do I need to bring my lawyer?”
“Do you need one?” Luc hated the accusation slipping into his words, but couldn’t stop it.
Her eyes were steel as she glared at him. “I think you need to leave, Luc. You’ve already been ordered off my property once today.”
“Since this is legally my grandfather’s land, it’s now mine, wouldn’t you say? ”Why did he continue talking, instigating the situation and riling her up? He didn’t want to hurt her. He’d never wanted to cause her pain. Yet, he had…but it’d hurt him, too.
“You need to leave, cooyon. Now.” Her grandmother took a step toward him.
The sheriff laid a hand on his shoulder, practically pulling him out of the house. “It’s been a long day. Just go home, Luc. Be with your mom and sister. We’ll meet in the morning.”
Finally, logic and reason prevailed. Luc stared into CoCo’s eyes, searching for any sign of malice or deception. He found none—they shined with clarity and honesty. What had he done by accusing her? Again.
“Luc.” The sheriff jerked harder on his shoulder.
“Yeah. Okay.” He strode off the porch, not looking back. He couldn’t bear to see the heartbreak and hurt in her eyes. Once had been enough for that. He didn’t have it in him to say any more.
Sheriff Theriot followed him to his vehicle. “What’s this about you being ordered off the place today?”
“I came by to talk to her about the eviction notice.”
“What about it?”
Luc shrugged. “Just that Grandfather was acting on his own.”
“Didn’t realize you two were talking.” Bubba hitched his single brow.
“We aren’t.” He ran a hand over his hair. “I just thought it was wrong that Grandfather was evicting them.”
“Uh-huh. I see. Just come by the station in the morning. Maybe we’ll have some more information available by then.”
“Thanks,