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Authors: Lynn Emery
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bank. If we scramble we just might avoid foreclosure.”
For another hour, LaShaun discussed options with Savannah. The accountant had recommendations. LaShaun had little time to digest it all because the creditors wanted answers yesterday. Not to mention the IRS and Louisiana Department of Revenue had questions about taxes due on the withdrawals from the investment accounts. By the time Savannah left LaShaun felt drained of energy. She didn’t know which was more intense, her need to cry or beat the hell out of someone.
She didn’t even consider talking to Monmon Odette. For the first time LaShaun understood. Her grandmother was showing signs of dementia. No wonder the once razor sharp mind hadn’t seen through the schemes being perpetrated on her. LaShaun spent the rest of the afternoon taking care of her.
The next day Sheriff Triche and Deputy Gautreau showed up. When Deputy Broussard followed a few minutes later, he and Gautreau exchanged decidedly unfriendly glances. The three men wore grim faces as she led them into the living room.
“Afternoon, LaShaun.” Sheriff Triche looked tired. His face flushed red.
“I have a feeling the three of you didn’t drive out here to chat about the weather.” LaShaun didn’t like the way Gautreau glared at her. “Isn’t anybody out chasing criminals? The entire department seems to be on my doorstep.”
“We didn’t plan on Broussard showing up,” Gautreau drawled. “Wonder why?”
“Not now,” Sheriff Triche snapped. “Your cousin Azalei is missing, at least according to her mama. She seems to think you know something about it.”
“Azalei and I have never been close,” LaShaun replied. She laughed. “Trust me, we haven’t been doing lunch.”
“No, you’ve been too busy trading punches and threatening her,” Gautreau put in. He was about to go on when Aunt Leah made a dramatic entrance.
“Get her to talk. She’s done something to my child. She’s not answering her cell phone, and I haven’t been able to find her for three days. Nobody has seen her.” Aunt Leah pointed at LaShaun. “You tell me what you did to Azalei.”
“Thanks for calling the Sheriff, Aunt Leah. This visit saves me a trip into town to press charges against your baby girl.”
“She wouldn’t leave without telling me.” Aunt Leah’s voice cracked. She wore a frantic expression. She spun to face Sheriff Triche. “I’m telling you something is wrong. All of her clothes are still in her apartment. Now who runs off like that?”
“A scheming thief who just stole a lot of money from her sick grandmother, that’s who,” LaShaun put in.
“You’re nothing but a liar.” Aunt Leah took a step toward LaShaun
LaShaun looked at Sheriff Triche. “This is all an act to give Azalei more time to get away.”
“You’ve been nothing but poison since the day you were born,” Aunt Leah said.
“Just calm down and go on home.” Sheriff Triche took her by the elbow and led her out. Moments later he came back. “If you hear from either of them call me.”
“If you hear anything from them, don’t do anything crazy. Let me know first,” Broussard said to LaShaun.
Gautreau grunted. “You hear that, Sheriff?”
“You call me if you hear from your cousins, LaShaun. Let’s go,” Sheriff Triche clipped the command to his two deputies.
Chase hesitated and started to speak, but look in his boss’s eyes stopped him. The two younger men march out ahead of the Sheriff. When they were gone, LaShaun locked the door and turned to find her grandmother in the hallway panting with the exertion of taking each step.
“You should be in bed.” LaShaun went to her quickly
“You escaped the madness, and now because of me you’re pulled back in. Perhaps I should have let them have it all. Then just watch them claw each other to death over it.”
LaShaun put an arm around her shoulder. “This kind of commotion is the last thing you need.
For another hour, LaShaun discussed options with Savannah. The accountant had recommendations. LaShaun had little time to digest it all because the creditors wanted answers yesterday. Not to mention the IRS and Louisiana Department of Revenue had questions about taxes due on the withdrawals from the investment accounts. By the time Savannah left LaShaun felt drained of energy. She didn’t know which was more intense, her need to cry or beat the hell out of someone.
She didn’t even consider talking to Monmon Odette. For the first time LaShaun understood. Her grandmother was showing signs of dementia. No wonder the once razor sharp mind hadn’t seen through the schemes being perpetrated on her. LaShaun spent the rest of the afternoon taking care of her.
The next day Sheriff Triche and Deputy Gautreau showed up. When Deputy Broussard followed a few minutes later, he and Gautreau exchanged decidedly unfriendly glances. The three men wore grim faces as she led them into the living room.
“Afternoon, LaShaun.” Sheriff Triche looked tired. His face flushed red.
“I have a feeling the three of you didn’t drive out here to chat about the weather.” LaShaun didn’t like the way Gautreau glared at her. “Isn’t anybody out chasing criminals? The entire department seems to be on my doorstep.”
“We didn’t plan on Broussard showing up,” Gautreau drawled. “Wonder why?”
“Not now,” Sheriff Triche snapped. “Your cousin Azalei is missing, at least according to her mama. She seems to think you know something about it.”
“Azalei and I have never been close,” LaShaun replied. She laughed. “Trust me, we haven’t been doing lunch.”
“No, you’ve been too busy trading punches and threatening her,” Gautreau put in. He was about to go on when Aunt Leah made a dramatic entrance.
“Get her to talk. She’s done something to my child. She’s not answering her cell phone, and I haven’t been able to find her for three days. Nobody has seen her.” Aunt Leah pointed at LaShaun. “You tell me what you did to Azalei.”
“Thanks for calling the Sheriff, Aunt Leah. This visit saves me a trip into town to press charges against your baby girl.”
“She wouldn’t leave without telling me.” Aunt Leah’s voice cracked. She wore a frantic expression. She spun to face Sheriff Triche. “I’m telling you something is wrong. All of her clothes are still in her apartment. Now who runs off like that?”
“A scheming thief who just stole a lot of money from her sick grandmother, that’s who,” LaShaun put in.
“You’re nothing but a liar.” Aunt Leah took a step toward LaShaun
LaShaun looked at Sheriff Triche. “This is all an act to give Azalei more time to get away.”
“You’ve been nothing but poison since the day you were born,” Aunt Leah said.
“Just calm down and go on home.” Sheriff Triche took her by the elbow and led her out. Moments later he came back. “If you hear from either of them call me.”
“If you hear anything from them, don’t do anything crazy. Let me know first,” Broussard said to LaShaun.
Gautreau grunted. “You hear that, Sheriff?”
“You call me if you hear from your cousins, LaShaun. Let’s go,” Sheriff Triche clipped the command to his two deputies.
Chase hesitated and started to speak, but look in his boss’s eyes stopped him. The two younger men march out ahead of the Sheriff. When they were gone, LaShaun locked the door and turned to find her grandmother in the hallway panting with the exertion of taking each step.
“You should be in bed.” LaShaun went to her quickly
“You escaped the madness, and now because of me you’re pulled back in. Perhaps I should have let them have it all. Then just watch them claw each other to death over it.”
LaShaun put an arm around her shoulder. “This kind of commotion is the last thing you need.
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