False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [79]
Jude glanced out the window. The traffic was bumper-to-bumper on Courthouse Boulevard. The media was a big pain in the neck that only added to the traffic congestion caused by the high volume of tourists. It wasn’t as though the media came to report the news. Reporters seemed more interested in human-interest stories that reinforced their opinions of the situation, their preconceived notions.
His intercom buzzed, followed by his administrative assistant’s voice.
“Sheriff, there’s a call for you—a Pierce Broussard. Says it’s urgent, but he won’t say what it’s about. I tried giving him to Deputy Chief Rivette, but he insisted on speaking to you.”
“It’s okay, Lisa. I’ll take it.”
“He’s on line one, sir.”
“Thanks.”
Jude took a sip of coffee. What was so urgent that Pierce wouldn’t talk to anyone else? He put the receiver to his ear and pressed the flashing button. “Hello, Pierce.”
“Jude! Thank heavens. I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday afternoon.”
“Really? I didn’t see any messages.”
“Actually, I didn’t leave messages.”
“How can I help you?”
Pierce exhaled into the phone. “Zoe and I are caught in a dangerous situation, and we’re not sure what to do. We’ve been hiding since yesterday afternoon.”
“Hiding from whom?”
“It’s so complicated. I hardly know where to begin.”
“Start at the beginning. Tell me everything.”
“I need to tell you the ending first,” Pierce said, “and then I’ll back it up. A drug dealer named Angus Shapiro—that’s not his real name—accosted Zoe. He claims her parents owed him a hundred thousand dollars before they died, and he’s come to collect.”
“And they didn’t?”
“No, her parents are alive. He’s got the wrong person. Zoe changed her name ten years ago from Shelby Sieger to Zoe Benoit. This guy thinks she’s the daughter of Pierre and Violet Benoit, who were heroine dealers. He wants her to have a hundred thousand dollars ready to wire to his account by the time the banks close today—or he’s threatened to kill her and me. He said if we went to the authorities or told someone who did, he would know, and it would be the last thing we ever did. So we found a place to hide out and have been trying to get in touch with you on a prepaid cell phone. There’s no way he’s going to let us live, whether we pay him or not—”
“Pierce, wait. Slow down. Where are you?”
“I don’t think it’s safe to tell you that. Just hear us out. I’m going to put Zoe on and let her tell you the whole story.”
CHAPTER 25
Vanessa walked out the front door of Zoe B’s and leaned against the building, the traffic along rue Madeline surprisingly heavy, even for the morning rush hour. She keyed in the fast-dial number for Ethan’s cell phone. It rang once. Twice. Three times.
Come on, pick up!
“Hey there,” Ethan said. “I was just about to call you before I begin my first counseling session. I talked to Pierce about an hour ago. He still hadn’t reached the sheriff. He sounded stressed. I can only imagine how hard it is for him being confined with Zoe under these circumstances.”
“No kidding. Did either of them sleep?”
“Off and on. They appreciate the air mattresses and the fan. At least they’re as comfortable as they’re going to get under these circumstances.”
“I’m glad for that. I’ll call Zoe from the pay phone at Rouses Market before I pick up Carter. I’m going to be a nervous wreck until this is over.”
“Well, I don’t see any way it’ll be over today. Zoe and Pierce might have to stay put for a while.”
“Let’s hope not. Maybe the sheriff has an idea we haven’t thought of.”
“Honey, are you okay? You sound funny.”
“I’m fine. I just had a creepy thing happen.” Vanessa glanced over at a family of tourists dressed in Roux River Bayou T-shirts, walking into Zoe B’s. “I was having breakfast at the eatery, and a man at another table kept staring at me. It was so annoying that I finally stared back, thinking he would get embarrassed and look away. He didn’t.”
“I’m sure he thought you were attractive. You should be used to that by now.”
“No, this was different.