The group assembled around Katlin had their backs to her, making it hard to recognize the detectives. Since Katlin was her height, Cain was surprised to see the white-haired cop standing so close he could’ve head-butted Katlin. Obviously he liked to use his height to intimidate, a tactic lost on Katlin, who stood with her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
“If you have a problem with anything, take it up with my boss,” Cain heard Katlin say when she was close enough.
“Then get their ass down here,” the cop said. The voice stopped Cain on the last step since, while it was deep and rich, it was definitely not male.
“The ass is here, but you know me better than that, to have such a low opinion of me,” Cain said.
Detective Sept Savoie turned around and put her hands on her hips. The straight cut of the light gray jacket did a good job of hiding anything that would give away her gender. Smart for her choice of career, thought Cain as she walked over to her.
“Cain, it’s been awhile,” Sept said, holding her hand out. “I’d love to catch up on old times, but I need to talk to someone in the Jatibon family.” Sept spoke in a no-nonsense way.
“Sept, you were the same on the playground in kindergarten. You think if you bark loud enough someone will give you whatever you like, but that’s not possible right now. You can talk to me or you can sit down here and wait until the family’s available—your choice.”
“Our friendship doesn’t mean anything right now. This is official police business. Get Ramon down here or I’ll have a team of cops here in less than ten minutes and take this place apart, including all those nice slot machines nobody wants to admit are up there.”
“Ooh, forceful,” Cain said as she pulled out her phone. “Muriel, yes, I’m already here. Be here in less than five minutes. Don’t let me down. We’re under the gun since they’ve sent in Wyatt Earp.” The comment made Sept’s almost black eyes narrow to slits.
“It’s Detective Savoie, jackass,” Sept said with a smile that made her appear sarcastic without trying. “And you haven’t changed all that much from the playground either. You always thought if you make enough smart comments, you can get away with anything.”
“Calm down, Sept. There’s a huge line ahead of you trying to get me, and I’m sure you’re as good as the feds.”
“Do you have any idea where Remi Jatibon’s body is?”
“No, I don’t,” Cain held up her fingers, “Scout’s honor.”
“You do realize she’s been shot?” Sept said, stepping into Cain’s comfort zone.
Cain had to cock her head back to make eye contact, but she smiled instead of showing any fear. To make Sept back down first, Cain moved forward in the little bit of room left until the tips of their shoes touched. “I’ve known since someone told me they watched it on television. What are you doing here instead of trying to find the asshole who actually shot her? Isn’t that the way it usually works? Someone shoots someone else and the cops go after the one with the gun, not the one who took the bullet. Why are you wasting time trying to harass the Jatibons or slow dance with me instead of giving them justice?”
“I already know how to do my job, but thanks for the advice. Do you know how I can get in touch with Ramon Jatibon?”
“If you have a court order, it shouldn’t be a problem to get him to come to the door. Since you won’t get off your obsession to bother the Jatibons right now, you can wait outside,” Cain said, and stopped smiling. “Good seeing you again, and tell your mother I said hello. At least she has a sense of humor, but I have a soft spot for people with absolutely none.”
“My sense of humor’s fine,” they all turned around when Muriel came in, “when I find something funny,” Sept said. “The day we finally put you away, I’ll be giddy. I’ll come over and play poker with you every so often, since I’ll know where to find you.” With a flick of her wrist she signaled for her partner to get going. “This isn’t over.”
“For once we agree on something.”
Katlin waited until they left before looking at Cain. “Now what?”
“Now we light a candle and contact the spirit of Remi.”
Katlin laughed. “You know Ramon looked mad enough to kill, so you might want to tone down the humor.”
“You have to have a little faith, Cousin.” Cain considered how to get out of there and lose the locals as well as the feds. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Not on your life,” Lou said. “There’s some nut out there with a scope.”
“The nut finished what he came to do. The fact that he was early means I have to put my shit on hold and deal with this. We’re walking, but not out that door,” she said, meaning the front door. “I’m sure the feds have the back covered, but we’re going out that way.”
The back alley was deserted, but Cain could hear the sirens getting closer. She wasn’t worried about the cops now, even if they did manage to push Muriel aside. It would take them a week to cut through the door Ramon had installed to protect the secrets of the second floor. His friends within the police department would come through way before then.
Cain had a lot to do but decided to start with the one person everyone else had forgotten about. Remi’s relationship with Dallas was still in its infancy, but Dallas didn’t deserve the pain she was in. She took her phone from the inside pocket of her jacket and dialed without looking at the pad. “Emma, meet me at Remi’s as soon as you can manage it, but tell Merrick I want a wall around you from the minute you leave the house.”
“You okay, honey?”
“I’m fine. Just thinking about my supply chain.”
*
It seemed like hours had passed since they heard the news, but Emil and Dallas were still sitting together on the sofa. Dallas felt drained, but she stood up and headed for the room Remi had put her in when she’d first come over. She looked from the hall to the front door and wondered how a day that had started so great had completely blown up in misery.
