False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [19]
Zoe tucked the note in her blouse and ran the envelope through the paper shredder. No way was she going to be the victim in this. She knew how to diffuse this situation before it had the power to undo everything she held dear. Did she have the courage? It was risky. But if it worked, whoever was sending these notes couldn’t hold the past over her head.
Vanessa set the well-read copy of The Velveteen Rabbit on the nightstand, kissed Carter on the forehead, and whispered, “Mommy loves you. Sleep tight.”
She turned off the lamp and tiptoed out of Carter’s room, through the living room, and out onto the gallery, where Ethan stood leaning on the ornate wrought-iron railing.
“That didn’t take long,” he said.
“I think preschool wears him out.” Vanessa linked arms with Ethan, noting that the muggy air hadn’t cooled much since the sun went down. He seems to love it.”
“So … the men in your life are adjusting well. You haven’t said much about your day. Did you do anything special?”
“Not really. I drove out to the manor house. I had no intention of going inside,” she quickly added. “I was just feeling a little lost with Carter in school and was trying to get revved up about the renovation.” Vanessa held her gaze on a man in a blue ball cap walking by himself. “A weird thing happened. I was sitting in the car, listening to the quiet, and I heard a twig snap. I called out, but no one answered. I had the creepiest feeling I was being watched, so I started the car and made sure the windows were up and the doors locked. It was probably a deer or something. I didn’t wait around to find out. I just wish I felt safe going in the house. I need to get in there and make some notes.”
“I’d change the locks again if I thought it would do any good,” Ethan said. “But the sheriff’s deputies didn’t see any sign the locks had been tampered with.”
Vanessa felt her skin turn to gooseflesh. “We know Carter didn’t see a ghost. So how did the man get in?”
“Maybe there was no man, except in Carter’s imagination.”
“Why are you hedging? We can’t just blow off the lemon drop.”
Ethan pushed his glasses up higher on his nose, his dark hair curlier from the night’s humidity. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this, honey. A number of people have been in the house. Any one of them could’ve set down a package of lemon drops and not remembered where. Isn’t it possible that Carter found them and incorporated them into his imaginary story?”
“Ethan, if you really believed that, you wouldn’t care if I went out there alone.”
“The truth is I don’t know what to believe, other than it’s not smart to take chances.”
“I didn’t. But how long are we supposed to live like this?”
CHAPTER 6
Sheriff Jude Prejean folded Wednesday’s edition of the Les Barbes Ledger under his arm and pushed open the door at Zoe B’s, the jingling of the bell causing a number of folks to look up. He recognized most of the faces. Too early for tourists.
Jude nodded a few hellos while he waited for Savannah to come seat him. The healthy green plant hanging from the ceiling above the window gave the eatery a homey touch.
“Hey, Sheriff. Table for one?”
Jude smiled. “Not today. Two of my deputies will be joining me.”
Savannah picked up three menus. “Right this way.”
He followed her to an empty table in the corner. Outside, the glowing pink sky formed a worthy backdrop for the row of historic buildings across the street. No clouds. It was going to be another scorcher.
“I’ll bring your coffee,” Savannah said. “Are you going to wait to order until your deputies arrive?”
“Yeah, thanks. Shouldn’t be long.”
Jude turned over his cup. Half a minute later Savannah came back to the table and filled it with coffee.
“Pierce is cranking out the beignets this morning,” she said. “Why don’t I bring you some—on the house? You can enjoy them while you’re waiting.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
Jude blew on his coffee and took a sip. Best coffee in Saint Catherine Parish. And he’d probably tried them all.
He glanced over at Hebert Lanoux, who was having breakfast with his cronies.