Page 10 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

“Yes. I sat in the back. I don’t think Naomi knew I was there, but Ruthanne did. She’s Naomi’s mother. I told Ruthanne that I’d offered to testify, too. We were both so frustrated with her attorney.”

“We’re going to interview him.”

“Good. There was something about him that I didn’t like. But I’m no lawyer. I’m an insurance agent. I didn’t know what else to do. Naomi’s silence makes a lot more sense now. Does Ruthanne know why she didn’t defend herself?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then I won’t say anything. Dammit.”

“Do you still talk to Naomi’s mother?”

James blushed. “Yes. We see each other often. We’re really just friends. We mostly talk about Everett. Naomi doesn’t know about us, though.”

“I won’t say anything. Naomi says you were the father she never had, by the way.”

James swallowed hard, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Thank you. That means a lot. I know why she and I don’t talk. My new daughter-in-law hates Naomi with the passion of ten thousand suns.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s jealous and insecure. She doesn’t like me, either. I tried to tell her that my son had been physically abusive with Naomi, that that was why she left.”

Burke had to shove down his rage. He hated domestic violence. Had lived it for too many years growing up in his own father’s house. “I wondered.”

“I didn’t want to believe it, but Ruthanne had photos. Jimmy hit Naomi hard. I don’t know what their fight was about, but Naomi definitely was not the winner.”

“What did your new daughter-in-law say when you warned her?”

“That Jimmy had told her Naomi was a lying…well, she used a word I won’t repeat.

McKenzie said if I continued to push the issue, she wouldn’t allow me to see Everett.

That she’d tell an ‘equally despicable lie’ about me.

I mean, I didn’t know what else to do. I’d told her a hard truth and she refused to believe it.

But she also doesn’t make Jimmy angry. She’s a dutiful wife who’s already had two children with him—and they have a third on the way.

She ignores Everett unless Jimmy is around, then she fusses over Ev. ”

“Everett doesn’t complain about her to Jimmy?”

“No. Everett loves his father. Plus, his world was upended when Naomi went to prison. I think he’s clinging to the parent he thinks will stay.

He knows Jimmy hit Naomi, though. He was there that night.

Saw the bruises. He just doesn’t want to think about it or talk about it.

When Naomi got arrested, Jimmy said some vile things about her.

His witch of a wife continues to do so. I try to intervene, but Ev doesn’t want to listen to me. ”

“Lotta not listening going on,” Burke observed.

“Don’t I know it. Anyway, if Jimmy went home and told McKenzie that he wanted to bring in a bodyguard for Everett because someone was threatening Naomi…

well, it wouldn’t end well for him. McKenzie was pregnant last year when Naomi was released from prison and wanted visitation with Everett.

McKenzie threw a fit. Later she claimed she’d nearly lost the baby.

And maybe she did. If there’s anything that’s important to Jimmy, it’s his kids.

Him not wanting McKenzie stressed by a bodyguard does make some sense.

In his mind, he’s choosing the safety of his family. ”

“But Everett is also his family,” Burke said.

“I’ll talk to him. Tell him that Everett should stay with me. That way the bodyguard can watch Ev from inside my house. Jimmy doesn’t even need to tell McKenzie why Ev is coming to visit. It can just be a visit. If Jimmy’s smart, he’ll allow it.”

“If he’s not?”

“I’ll petition for temporary custody. It would never get to court, but the filing would be public record and Jimmy would hate that.

” He sighed. “Jimmy’s mother took her own life when he was thirteen.

She was sick and in pain and she couldn’t take it anymore.

Jimmy was the one who found her and he’s never been the same. Not an excuse for violence, but…”

Burke still disliked Jimmy Haywood. There was never a reason to strike your spouse. None. “What would you like me to do, sir?”

“Let me go see Jimmy right now. Can you wait?”

“I can.”

James had reached the door when Burke got a call on his cell. It was Harrison. At the same time a text from Harrison appeared on his screen.

911.

Shit. That was their code that meant Burke should drop everything and answer. He abruptly rose, holding up his hand for James to wait. “What’s happening, Harrison? Is Everett all right?”

James went a ghastly shade of pale. Burke led the older man back to his chair.

“He is now,” Harrison said grimly.

“Hold on. James, Everett’s okay. Sit there and try to breathe while I get the details, okay?”

James nodded shakily. “Okay.”

“Go ahead, Harrison.”

“I watched him come out of the school—early, I might add. He was skipping his last class. He got in his car and I followed him to a house about a mile from where he lives. He got out of the car and an SUV drove up, boxing him in against his car. I’m glad I was there.

They nearly dragged the kid into their vehicle. ”

Shit. “He’s okay, though?”

“Yeah. Super shaken up.”

“I guess so. Where are you?”

“Texting you the address right now.”

Burke’s phone pinged and he noted the neighborhood. “Why did he go there?”

“A girl. She was hysterical. She saw the whole thing from her bedroom window. Apparently, she’d called in sick to school so that she and the boy could have a little nookie.”

“Okay. I’m with Everett’s grandfather now. He’s been more receptive to us than Everett’s father. I’ll find out what he thinks we should do. Any chance the kid will run?”

“I don’t think so. He’s pale and shaking like a leaf. Um…I might have had to get a little physical with one of the guys grabbing him.”

“What does ‘a little physical’ mean?”

“I might have broken his arm. But I was able to pull off the ski mask he was wearing, so I can give a description of his face.”

“I’ll call André Holmes, give him a heads-up about the abduction attempt. We don’t know anything about a broken arm, okay? You grabbed him just hard enough to make him let Everett go. Okay?”

“Exactly what I’d planned to say.”

“Good work.”

James covered his face with his hands. “Everett’s really okay?”

“He’s really okay,” Burke soothed. “Harrison, give me a minute to sort this out and I’ll call you right back. Do you have eyes on him?”

“I do. We’re sitting on the girl’s front porch. She went back inside to get Everett some water. She says they have security cameras, but she turned them off because she didn’t want to get into trouble for having a boy over when she was supposed to be home sick.”

Burke sighed. “We’ll ask the neighbors. Maybe one of their cameras caught it.” He ended the call, then perched on the edge of James’s desk to update him. “Harrison won’t leave him. What should we do with Jimmy?”

James rose once again, still pale but fiercely determined. “Leave this to me.” He started for the door, then turned. “Come on, Mr.Broussard. You need to tell Jimmy the unvarnished truth.”

“Okay.” Burke was in the lobby, passing Rosemary’s desk, when Val called. And simultaneously sent a text.

911.

Fucking hell. “Hold on a moment, sir. This is an emergency.” He answered the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“The alarms went off on Sylvi’s delivery van. You were right, they tried to hide the package versus handing it to Naomi. And when they realized we’d foiled their plan, they shot up the front of Sylvi’s shop.”

“Oh my God. Is everyone all right?”

“Yeah. Sylvi was up front with Phin. Naomi and I were getting ready to do afternoon deliveries when the alarm went off. Phin saw the SUV driving slowly by her front window. When the first bullet hit the glass, Phin got them both on the floor behind the counter. I’ve called NOPD.

Just letting you know we’re okay. Naomi is shaken up and saying she’s quitting because Sylvi and Phin could have been killed, but that’s nonsense .

” She spoke those last two words sternly, like she was talking to Naomi.

“I figured I’d bring Naomi and Sylvi into the office.

We’re going to tell the cops it was an attempted robbery. ”

“Okay. Tell Naomi that…” Shit. What should he tell her? “Put me on speaker.” He waited until he heard someone quietly crying. “Naomi?”

“I’m okay,” Naomi said, her words choked. “I’m sorry. I almost got Sylvi and Phin killed.”

“No, you didn’t,” Burke said calmly. “I need you to sit down. Everett is okay, I promise. Are you sitting down?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Someone tried to grab Everett, but Harrison was there. He stopped it, and Everett is fine. I promise that he is fine. He’s safe.”

“Oh my God. They said they’d hurt him and they tried.”

“Tried,” Burke said firmly. “ Failed. I’m with James now and we’re about to see Jimmy.

I need you to breathe and do whatever Val says.

When we’ve got Everett in a safe place, I’ll come by for you.

We’ll get all of you to a safe place. I promise.

Just let Val and Sylvi take care of you. Val, where’s Phin?”

“Up front, waiting for the cops. I’ll call you when we know more. Go take care of Everett.”

“Okay.” Burke ended the call and had to draw in a deep breath himself. “Someone just shot up the flower shop where Naomi works. We need to get Everett settled ASAP so I can help get Naomi moved to a safe place as well.”

James’s lips thinned as he grabbed the handle on his son’s office door. “Let’s do this.”

—

Kenner, Louisiana

Monday, February 24, 2:50 p.m.

Naomi was not okay. She sat at the workroom table, hugging herself so tightly that her arms ached. She realized she was rocking back and forth and was at least able to stop that behavior.

Everett’s fine.

Broussard had given his word. Regardless, her son should have been her biggest worry.