Read Online Murder in the Marsh by Ramsey Coutta - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ramsey Coutta
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village.
Holet walked around to the tall metal boat shed. He unlocked a side door, entered, and closed it back. He had his mobile radio with him, and he called in to report his location. He told the dispatcher he was checking on Happy Jack Marina to make sure everyone was evacuated and the camps were secure. He stated he was going to do a quick patrol on the water to see if there were any boaters still out. The dispatcher acknowledged his report and signed off.
The Marine Search and Rescue patrol boat was a sleek twenty-four foot craft, with twin 240hp engines, solidly built, and with all the latest electronic gadgets. It was outfitted with satellite positioning, radar, weather instrumentation, and a multi-channel digital radio. With the radio, he could listen in on one channel or scan all available channels for any conversations taking place. Holet pushed the down button for the winch, and the boat slowly descended. In a couple of minutes, it rested in the water. He opened the bay doors and started the engines, expertly backing it out into the canal. Instead of proceeding to the end of Happy Jack Canal, he took a quick right through a shallower natural canal. The tide was high, so there was no danger of getting stuck in mud. He would also be less observable, and could come up on Grand Bayou village through a back canal shielded by the large shrimp and oyster boats.
When he reached the back canal, he pulled the patrol craft behind two shrimp boats docked side by side. Their large profile shielded his craft from view by anyone using the Grand Bayou Canal. He tied off to the back of the boats and climbed into the wheelhouse of the innermost one. He could observe all traffic on the Grand Bayou Canal, but could not be seen unless someone came directly down the side canal. He settled down into the captain’s chair and waited.
Fourteen
Daniel and Rachel docked their boat at the LeBlanc’s. This time no one came out to greet them. They secured the boat and walked through the opened screen door and knocked on the front door. No one answered. They knocked again and still no one came. Rachel turned the knob and the door swung open. They saw no one, but heard Adele in another room talking. Rachel called out and they heard Adele stop in mid-sentence, and then heard footsteps approaching.
“Oh, Rachel, Mr. Trahan, come quick. Ah tink ah hear Claude on de radio. He does not sound good.”
Daniel and Rachel followed her to another room. It looked like a utility area. As they walked through the hall, they saw little Michelle standing at Andre’s door. She must have been told to keep an eye on her brother. In the utility room, a white marine radio sat on a small folding table. An antenna wire ran from the back of the radio up through the ceiling overhead.
“Ah tried to listen to de radio channel dat Claude calls on,” she said pointing worriedly at the radio. “Ah heard his voice several times, but Claude, he doesn’t hear me.”
“How long ago did you last hear him?” Daniel asked.
“Jest a few minutes ago. Rat before you come in.”
“May I listen?”
“Yes, please.”
Daniel turned up the volume and listened intently. At first he didn’t hear anything. He adjusted the squelch and over the static he could barely hear a voice calling out.
“Mayday, mayday. Dis is Claude LeBlanc…de Bayou Queen…cracked hull…taking on water…pumps not working…Bay Batiste…mayday...mayday…”
“Dats him, dats him!” Adele exclaimed. “Dats Claude…Oh Claude, oh sha!”
Daniel keyed the mic and called Claude,
Holet walked around to the tall metal boat shed. He unlocked a side door, entered, and closed it back. He had his mobile radio with him, and he called in to report his location. He told the dispatcher he was checking on Happy Jack Marina to make sure everyone was evacuated and the camps were secure. He stated he was going to do a quick patrol on the water to see if there were any boaters still out. The dispatcher acknowledged his report and signed off.
The Marine Search and Rescue patrol boat was a sleek twenty-four foot craft, with twin 240hp engines, solidly built, and with all the latest electronic gadgets. It was outfitted with satellite positioning, radar, weather instrumentation, and a multi-channel digital radio. With the radio, he could listen in on one channel or scan all available channels for any conversations taking place. Holet pushed the down button for the winch, and the boat slowly descended. In a couple of minutes, it rested in the water. He opened the bay doors and started the engines, expertly backing it out into the canal. Instead of proceeding to the end of Happy Jack Canal, he took a quick right through a shallower natural canal. The tide was high, so there was no danger of getting stuck in mud. He would also be less observable, and could come up on Grand Bayou village through a back canal shielded by the large shrimp and oyster boats.
When he reached the back canal, he pulled the patrol craft behind two shrimp boats docked side by side. Their large profile shielded his craft from view by anyone using the Grand Bayou Canal. He tied off to the back of the boats and climbed into the wheelhouse of the innermost one. He could observe all traffic on the Grand Bayou Canal, but could not be seen unless someone came directly down the side canal. He settled down into the captain’s chair and waited.
Fourteen
Daniel and Rachel docked their boat at the LeBlanc’s. This time no one came out to greet them. They secured the boat and walked through the opened screen door and knocked on the front door. No one answered. They knocked again and still no one came. Rachel turned the knob and the door swung open. They saw no one, but heard Adele in another room talking. Rachel called out and they heard Adele stop in mid-sentence, and then heard footsteps approaching.
“Oh, Rachel, Mr. Trahan, come quick. Ah tink ah hear Claude on de radio. He does not sound good.”
Daniel and Rachel followed her to another room. It looked like a utility area. As they walked through the hall, they saw little Michelle standing at Andre’s door. She must have been told to keep an eye on her brother. In the utility room, a white marine radio sat on a small folding table. An antenna wire ran from the back of the radio up through the ceiling overhead.
“Ah tried to listen to de radio channel dat Claude calls on,” she said pointing worriedly at the radio. “Ah heard his voice several times, but Claude, he doesn’t hear me.”
“How long ago did you last hear him?” Daniel asked.
“Jest a few minutes ago. Rat before you come in.”
“May I listen?”
“Yes, please.”
Daniel turned up the volume and listened intently. At first he didn’t hear anything. He adjusted the squelch and over the static he could barely hear a voice calling out.
“Mayday, mayday. Dis is Claude LeBlanc…de Bayou Queen…cracked hull…taking on water…pumps not working…Bay Batiste…mayday...mayday…”
“Dats him, dats him!” Adele exclaimed. “Dats Claude…Oh Claude, oh sha!”
Daniel keyed the mic and called Claude,
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