Page 15 of Landry

“I told Allie she had a lot of catching up to do,” Hank said. “My two little ones need cousins to play with. At this rate, they’ll be babysitters, not playmates.”

“Unless you and Sadie go for more,” Swede said with a side-eye toward Hank.

Hank’s lips twisted. “As it is, we want more. If Sadie has her way, we’ll have a dozen. I’m not so sure; I can barely keep up with Emma and McClain. I can’t imagine living in a house where the littles outnumber the bigs.”

Swede clapped Hank on the back. “Happy wife, happy life, old man.”

Hank nodded. “I know. But back to the trouble brewing in the bayou.”

“Good luck with that litter of children, Hank,” Remy teased. “Regarding your thoughts about coincidences…? We’re thinking the same. That’s why Landry is taking the lead on this assignment.” He tipped his head toward Landry.

Landry leaned forward. “I’d appreciate anything you can find on Ms. Catoire and her ex-husband, the jewel thief, Richard DeSalle.”

“On it,” Swede said. “I’ll search the court records to find the names of those he stole jewels from and the status of those jewels. Do you think Ms. Catoire might have been in cahoots with her ex?”

Landry shook his head. Though he’d seen the woman around town, he’d only really met her that day, and his instincts told him Camille Catoire was a good person and a good mother to her daughter. He couldn’t see her as an accessory to her husband’s crimes.

Remy answered Swede’s questions, “Shelby and I would swear on a stack of Bibles she’s clean. She ended up homeless and in a shelter after her house was foreclosed on and her car was repossessed. It’s been five years since her husband went to prison. Everything she has, she’s worked for.”

“Could she be holding out until her husband gets out of prison?”

Remy shook his head. “She’s fiercely independent and wants nothing to do with him. She had the divorce attorney put wording in the custody document that he could have no contact with their daughter.”

From what Landry had noticed in his interaction with Camille, she’d only agreed to let him check the window and door locks for the safety of her daughter. She didn’t want a man hanging around her home.

“If the attack on her vehicle and the monster in the window have anything to do with her husband’s thefts, why now?” Landry asked. “It’s been five years. If these occurrences have nothing to do with her ex-husband, we have another problem. Why target a small-town candy-maker?”

“I enjoy a good puzzle,” Swede admitted. “I’ll dig deep and let you know anything I discover as I find it.”

“Thanks, Swede,” Landry said. “I’ll do some of my own digging here in town.”

“Shelby did say there have been some thefts of random items from homes along the bayou. Camille’s home is on the bayou.”

“Which might account for the monster in the window.” Landry frowned. “Or little Ava’s imaginary friend, Billy Ray, no one claims to know.”

“I’ll cast a net in search of a boy named Billy Ray,” Swede said.

“Does Ms. Catoire have a boyfriend?” Hank asked.

Landry tensed. He hadn’t thought to ask that question. He’d automatically assumed she didn’t. Though that would be a ridiculous assumption. The woman was pretty. No, she was beautiful with her jet-black hair and ice-blue eyes. He wouldn’t be surprised if she had a dozen men lined up at her door wanting to take her out.

Remy shook his head. “Shelby said she doesn’t date. Hasn’t been out with a man since she came to Bayou Mambaloa. She’s very protective of her daughter.”

“Are you talking about Camille?” a voice said behind Landry. Rafael entered the war room and slid into the seat beside Landry.

Remy nodded. “We are.”

“She was with us last night at the Crawdad Hole Bar and Grill. It was the first time she came out with the gang. Gisele got Crissy Broussard to watch Ava for her.”

“I’m sorry I missed last night,” Landry said. “If I hadn’t spent the day in New Orleans having my SUV serviced, I might’ve gone.”

“Yeah, your girl was on fire last night,” Rafael said.

“She’s not my girl,” Landry corrected. “What do you mean she was on fire?”

“I don’t think she sat more than five minutes from the time she arrived. Once the first guy asked her to dance, she didn’t sit for long.”

“First guy?” Landry frowned. “There was more than one?”

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