The Cain Casey Series

August and she walked out.

“Muriel, did you hear what I said?”

“Sorry.” She pressed her fingers to her forehead as if the pressure would erase the image of Shelby leaving. “Start from the beginning, T-Boy.”

“This is a safe line, right?”

T-Boy was a gambling addict who knew more about the city than the people who supposedly ran it, but he was smart enough to know when to stay quiet. His call meant either he was broke and looking for some fast cash or he was banking for the future with something Muriel and Cain would find valuable.

“Safe is always relative, isn’t it?”

“Just heard from my buddy that works at the airport.”

Muriel picked up her pen, ready to start writing. “New tourists in town?”

“Your uncle and his boy are back from south of the border. Got in about an hour ago and got detained in customs, but from what I hear, it was so they could get fitted for a new suit. Custom job like from where your family shops.”

Muriel wrote down that Rodolfo and Juan Luis were back and already under the watchful eye of the FBI and DEA. “We’ll have to get together soon. Thanks for letting us know.”

“One more thing.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a new player in town looking for work, and considering his resume there’s been plenty of interest.”

Under the Luis names she put a question mark. “Can you come by in the morning? I’ll stop and pick up my father’s favorite.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Shit,” Muriel said as she fell back in her chair. Their future was a little more complicated. She wanted to wait to tell Cain, but thought better of it considering how Cain felt about Juan.

She called the house and found out where Cain and Emma had gone out for the evening, then drove to the Quarter to Galatoire’s, one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Outside was a no-parking zone that the police patrolled regularly, so the paneled van that had been trailing Cain was parked down the block. Muriel was sure the group on duty was crammed inside because you couldn’t get a table here without a subpoena, and even with one you’d have a hard time.

They were sitting in the corner of the back of the place, with Lou and a couple of guys at the next table enjoying iced tea. “You look like you could use a drink,” Cain said when Muriel sat down. “Rough day?”

“Tied up loose ends and some more unraveled—typical.” Muriel quickly drained the glass Cain pushed toward her. “Expecting someone else?” She pointed to the other empty chair.

“Remi called and invited us, and I thought it was a good night to go out. To be seen, as it were.” Cain signaled the waiter for another round and another place setting and glanced at her watch; it was a minute to eight.

They continued to chitchat until Remi arrived with her date. The room quieted for a moment as Dallas followed Remi to their table, but just as quickly the other diners went back to their own conversations.

“It’s great to meet you, Dallas,” Emma said.

“I figured she’d like having dinner with all of you since she thinks I’m only interested in sleeping with her,” Remi said, clearly teasing.

“Then come to the restroom with me and I’ll give you some pointers,” Emma said to Dallas, making the others laugh.

“I’d find a hobby,” Cain told Remi once the two left. “If Emma’s persuasive, and she is, then sex is a long way off, if that is what you had in mind.”

“And I thought this was a good idea,” Remi said.

Cain looked at her watch and the second hand was sweeping past the two, on its way to mark nine o’clock. In her mind’s eye she could see the armored van leaving the underground parking facility. The drive wouldn’t take very long, and that’s why it was being done at night. Less traffic meant fewer hassles from point a to point b.

She looked up as Emma and Dallas headed back, walking closely together and already appearing to be best friends. Cain loved seeing Emma like this, alive and happy, and she was willing to do anything to keep her that way. Even if it meant crossing a line considered taboo for so very long, no matter what city you did business in.

Chapter Fifteen

“Comfortable back there?” Agent Martin Chesterfield asked through the open porthole between the front seat and the back section.

“Just drive, asshole. And shut the fuck up.” Barney Kyle stretched his hands upward but found that the shackles would stretch only an inch past his knees.

“I can see you’re going to charm everyone in court tomorrow, but don’t get too comfortable with the accommodations. Once you plead to the state charges against you, we’ll pick you up for your next court appearance. It’s a good thing you look so good in that federal gray, since you’ll be wearing it for years to come.” Martin laughed as they drove under the interstate. “Just ten more blocks now. How’s it feel to be so popular?”

“Fuck off.”