Part 38 (2/2)
”I've got a package I need delivered, and I've got a chance to go shopping.”
”I'll send my best delivery guy. Wrap it up the best you can.”
It took Cain an hour but she got Lou's nephew, Nick, to the alley behind Dallas's place. He sat for half an hour after that to make sure Lou didn't spot anyone watching. Emil brought out the rug from the guest bedroom rolled up on his shoulder and dumped it in the back of the van. Nick then left to follow Emil's directions, confident that unless he was caught speeding no one would stop the produce van from one of the local markets.
The way Bob was taken out of her house didn't worry Dallas as much as watching Remi try to make it down the stairs. From the way she moved, Dallas could tell she was in pain, but what had happened had to be finished. She knew that without any explanation from Remi or Emil.
”Do you have to leave right now?” Dallas asked. She took a seat on the sofa, so Remi would have plenty of room if she needed to join her. ”Before you go through all this trouble, I want to tell you a few things about myself.”
”You don't have to.”
”I want to be honest with you.”
”Katie Lynn, we've all made mistakes. They're what make us smarter and stronger in the end. If you want my help, all you have to do is ask, but if you want me to condemn you, I can't.”
”You know?” Dallas started crying again.
”Probably not everything.”
”If you know, I'll understand why you can't stay. I'm so ashamed.”
Dallas couldn't help but let out all her insecurities.
”I'd be willing to bet your sins don't come close to mine. Your past is exactly thatyourpast. You had to invent Dallas Montgomery for a reason, and as soon as I get back we can start on that story.”
”Why go through all this trouble for me?”
Remi couldn't lift her arms very high so she placed her hand on Dallas's knee. ”If you don't know, then I want plenty of time to explain it to you. For now I'll give you the short version. I feel strongly about you. Last night wasn't about filling some base need, but more like filling one in my heart.”
”Will you come back when you're done?”
”If it's okay with you, Emil and I will be your guests for a couple of days, or until Cain and my fatherfind the guy who used me for target practice.”
”That's good to hear.” Dallas kissed her and helped her stand. By the time Remi and Emil walked out, Remi felt less stiff.
Emil opened the back door for Remi. As they left, Simon went in to stay with Dallas, but her eyes lingered on Remi like she was making sure she was okay. They drove out of the city, and Remi rested her head back and closed her eyes. She'd been to where they were going on a few occasions to help Emil during harvest. The location was remote, making any tail on them stick out like a naked wh.o.r.e at Sunday services.
The marina looked so dilapidated it appeared to be abandoned, but in the middle slip sat a new airboat with an alligator-skin driver's seat. Emil helped Remi board, and she nodded to Cain and Lou, who were already seated.
”Thank G.o.d we're doing this while it's still cool,” Lou said.
”What's the matter? You don't like mosquitoes?” Emil asked. His laughter as well as that of the others was drowned out when he started the powerful engine.
The fan blade behind the cage at the back started spinning slowly as he backed out but cranked up when he closed his hand around the accelerator control. Two minutes into the trip they were in the blackness of the swamp, but Emil had made this trip thousands of times and swerved around the ancient cypress trees as if gifted with some sort of night vision.
Halfway there they started to see orange orbs glowing at the top of the water, quickly disappearing as the roar of the airboat neared.
Remi had learned from Emil that the orange lights were the female gators floating at the top of the water waiting for a late-night meal.
According to Cajun lore, only the female eyes glowed because they were the more cunning of the species, so G.o.d gave anyone who wanted to mess with them fair warning.
”Thanks for helping me out with this,” Remi said as Emil brought them in slowly to the camp that appeared to be floating above the murky water. The small structure made of cypress wood from the trees surrounding it was built on stilts that raised it fifteen feet into the air.
Cain walked next to Remi as they ascended the ramp to the front porch. They were all dressed in black and blended in well with the worn wood. The two friends sat in rockers outside, and Cain dropped a bag between them.
”I know you don't especially like getting your hands dirty,” Remi said.
”There's always an exception to every rule,” Cain said, setting her rocker in motion. ”I asked Muriel to put together the papers that would fix this. All we have to do is talk him into signing them. But talking to Bob is probably like that old expression about trying to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time all the way around.”
”I want him out of her life.”
”That's the wisest thing, but he still won't answer all your questions unless he's in a talkative mood. I think you and I should be the ones to get whatever we can outof Bob tonight. I know you trust Emil like I trust Lou, but this is the kind of guy who's going to talk just to watch you squirm. They won't forget what he might say, and you don't need to do that to Dallas,” Cain said. She pointed to the bag. ”What's in there goes with you after we'redone, and to my grave with me.”
”Then I owe you a debt.”
”This is my wedding gift to you,” Cain said with a smile. ”At least that's what my wife tells me is going to happen with you two. The way you look at her predicts the future.” She stood up and offered Remi her hand. ”Let's get this over with.”
Nick was sitting at the table with a gun in his waistband. Even if Bob had tried to run there was no way he'd ever find his way out, since he'd made the trip wrapped in a rug. Cain walked in and sat to his right.
”If you know what's good for you, tell this idiot to take me back,”
Bob said.
”What's good for me?” Cain tilted her head to the side, trying to decipher what exactly that meant. ”I give up. What do you plan to do to me if I don't?”
”I'm not an idiot.”
Cain knocked on the table with her knuckles and laughed. ”That's negotiable.” She waved Nick outside.
”I know who you are, and the minute I get back I'm sure the authorities would love to hear what you did to me.”
”I'm here doing a favor for a friend, nothing more than that, but I thought we'd have a talk first.”
”This is about Dallas and her trying to get rid of me. I own that b.i.t.c.h, and if you think this intimidation act is going to change my mind about that, it's not. Like I told that d.y.k.e that got herself killed, I've faced worse and lived to tell the tale.”
”I'm no stranger to intimidation, Mr. Bennett, but that's not why you're here. Dallas happens to be a friend of mine, and you've taken some things that don't belong to you. I think it's only fair that you give them back. It's that simple.”
”What things?”
”Just minor things like her house, her money, and some papers, and if you're cooperative I won't ask you how you got those away from her.”
”f.u.c.k off.”
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