False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [78]
“Tell me again where Zoe and Pierce are today,” Tex said.
“They had some personal business to take care of.” Savannah put some tiny tubs of creamer on the table in front of Tex.
“So Dempsey’s running da kitchen?” Hebert asked.
“Not this morning.” Savannah’s voice sounded playful. “Benson is.”
Tex snapped his suspenders. “Whoa. Your hubby’s back? Where’ve I been?”
“He’s not back, Tex. Just covering for Pierce.”
“Surely Zoe and Pierce are planning to attend Remy’s funeral Mass tomorrow?” Father Sam said.
“I didn’t ask. But knowing how Zoe felt about Remy, I’m sure they are.”
Vanessa took a sip of coffee, wondering if Zoe had given much thought to Remy since Shapiro threatened her—or had even heard that his funeral was Tuesday. Should Vanessa remind her? If the sheriff advised her to stay in hiding, would knowing she was missing the funeral just add to her stress?
“I’m going wid Emile today,” Hebert said, “to pick up Remy’s ashes. Maybe we can avoid da media since everybody’s distracted wid dat potaine at da medical center.”
“I’m afraid it’s turned into more than a ruckus,” Savannah said.
“She’s right,” Tex leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “I heard on the news that some black activists arrived from Baton Rouge and have been exchangin’ unpleasantries with white workers from the sugar refinery.”
Father Sam shook his head. “All we need is troublemakers from the outside stirring things up. We can work out our own problems. People are understandably upset and scared after Remy’s murder and then this senseless shooting. But getting groups from outside Les Barbes involved will just turn this town into a powder keg. And a media circus.”
“Oh, I think we’re already there,” Tex said.
Hebert swatted the air and said something in Cajun French that the others seemed to understand.
Vanessa took a bite of her pain perdu and pretended to be oblivious to the conversation at the next table. She and Ethan had been so consumed with Zoe and Pierce’s problems that they hadn’t even listened to the news to check the status of the racial tension that had been building outside Hargrave Medical Center.
The bell jingled on the front door, and a forty-something man came in and smiled at Savannah.
She grabbed a menu. “Right this way.” She seated him at a table next to the brick wall.
Zoe B’s was bustling this morning. At least things seemed to be running smoothly.
Vanessa finished her breakfast, eager to check in with Zoe and then go pick up Carter. She wiped her mouth with the napkin, aware that the man seated next to the brick wall had been staring at her for quite some time. She was used to getting double takes—but this was downright annoying.
She looked up and locked gazes with him, thinking he’d be embarrassed and look away. He didn’t flinch. Suddenly her heart was pounding so loudly that she was sure it was audible to everyone. Why did she have such a bad feeling about him?
She tried not to react and motioned for Savannah to bring her check.
“Here you go,” Savannah said. “Anything else?”
“No, breakfast was great.” Vanessa pasted on a pleasant look, then put a tip on the table and walked over to the register to pay her bill. All she wanted to do was get out of there.
Jude sat at the desk in his office, having his first cup of coffee before the day went into high gear. He had checked with Deputy Castille the minute he arrived at work and was advised that Deshawn Macey was still in critical condition and the situation at the medical center had intensified. The number of demonstrators, black and white, continued to increase—as did the media presence. Several white demonstrators had pelted police with produce and were charged with disorderly conduct, and two black youths were arrested after a tire-slashing spree in the medical center parking lot.
Officers arrived earlier in the morning from the Lafayette, New Iberia, and Morgan City PDs to help maintain order. The Franklin PD was sending officers tomorrow to assist in keeping the peace during Remy Jarvis’s memorial Mass at Saint Catherine’s, which was also being televised