Page 12 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

“Another good question, Officer Ferguson,” Sylvi said, still recording. “We’re hoping your people can zoom in and figure it out.”

Antoine at Broussard’s office already had a copy of the footage and was working on that very thing.

“The alarm goes off,” Val says, “and the guy gets back into the SUV. They drive through the alley to the front of the shop.” She tapped her screen. “This is the camera in the front.”

Naomi closed her eyes when Val’s phone played back the shooting, the sound of the gunfire making her sick all over again.

Naomi opened her eyes when Ferguson made a thoughtful noise. “The shooter aims high,” he said. “I wonder if that was intentional.”

This young man was going to make a damn good cop. He was already better than Langley, who’d been on the force for at least fifteen years.

“I wondered the same,” Val said. “A message of some kind?”

Ferguson looked at Sylvi and Naomi. “Ladies, have you had someone try to shake you down? Was this an act of intimidation by organized crime?”

Sylvi gave him an approving nod. “No, Officer, no one’s tried to shake me down. The business owners in this area have been fortunate in that respect. If anyone tries, I’ll report it. I promise.”

Naomi noted she’d said “me” and “I.” She’d kept the question focused on the shop, managing to protect Naomi without uttering a single lie.

Naomi was grateful for the day she’d been approved to join Sylvi’s flower-arranging class in the prison. The woman was a good boss and an even better friend.

“Phin!” a woman called from up front. “Dammit, let me through. My husband’s back there.”

Phin exhaled, his expression relieved. “Cora’s here. My wife.” He met a very pregnant woman at the workroom door. She looked like she was ready to deliver any moment. “You shouldn’t be back here, Cora Jane. You should have texted me from the car.”

“I was scared,” Cora said. “I needed to see that you were all right.” She lumbered to the worktable, visually assessing the dog without touching her. “Is SodaPop okay?”

“I think so,” Phin said. “The bleeding’s stopped.”

“Good. I was so worried.”

“I can’t believe those cops let you through,” Sylvi said.

Phin smiled down at his wife. “I can believe it. I do everything she says.”

Cora huffed, but she smiled back at him before turning to the cops. “I’m going to drive my husband and SodaPop to the veterinarian. Can we leave?”

“Of course,” Langley said. She reached out to pet SodaPop, but Ferguson gently grabbed her arm.

“Service dog,” he murmured. “She’s working.”

Langley gave her partner the dirtiest of looks. “Of course.” She turned to Phin with a tight smile. “My apologies, Mr.Bishop. I’ll need you to sign a statement. Can you come by the police station when you’re done at the vet?”

“I will. It may be tomorrow. The flowers still have to be delivered.” Phin dropped a kiss on Sylvi’s cheek.

“I’ll be back to do the deliveries and I’ll send a few of my construction guys over to cover the window with plywood when the cops are done processing the scene.

If you need a place to stay, you’re welcome at our house. ”

“You’re the best,” Sylvi said. “Call us when the vet’s seen SodaPop.”

“I will.” Phin gathered the dog in his arms. “I want to make sure there’s no more glass in her paw.” He nodded to the cops. “Officers.”

“We’ll need access to your camera footage,” Langley said once Phin had left the room.

“I’ll be happy to download the file and send it to you,” Val said easily.

“Thank you, Miss Sorensen,” Langley said, both her tone and body stiff. “Is there anything else you can think of? Anything that can help us identify the man in the van?”

“No,” Val said. “But I did like your analysis, Officer Ferguson. It didn’t appear that the shooter actually wanted to shoot the people in the shop. I think you’ll find the bullets embedded in the plaster at the edge of the ceiling.”

“You already checked,” Ferguson said, unable to disguise the admiration in his tone.

Val nodded. “First thing I did once I made sure everyone was safe.”

Langley turned to Naomi. “You’ve said very little, Naomi .”

That Langley had referred to everyone else as Miss or Mister was not lost on Naomi. “Everything’s already been said, Nora .”

Langley’s nostrils flared. She opened her mouth, no doubt to chastise Naomi for the familiarity, but glanced at Sylvi, who still held her phone, still recording. “If you think of anything else, please let us know. We’ll be going now.”

“I’ll meet you outside,” Ferguson told his partner.

Langley gave him a sharp look but took her leave.

“I know who you are, Miss Cranston,” Ferguson said quietly. “I know that you served time and had your conviction overturned.”

“Thank you for still being polite,” Naomi said, not sure what else she could say.

“Try to have a good evening, ladies. I’m glad no one was hurt.

” He started to leave, then paused. “Just so you know, I don’t buy your story.

I don’t think this was random, and I don’t think they were trying to steal your van.

I think they were putting something in it.

What that might be, I don’t know. But if you figure it out, give me a call. ”

Naomi didn’t say a word. She wished she could believe that this kid was legit, that he’d really work to help her.

But she didn’t trust easily anymore. So she dropped her gaze to the worktable, relieved when Ferguson shut the door behind him.

“Well,” Sylvi said, putting her phone on the worktable. “That was fun.”

“Langley is a real piece of work,” Val complained. “I liked the kid, though. Wanted to, anyway. Not sure if he was just playing good cop or not.”

“I thought it was just me being jaded,” Naomi said.

“We’re all jaded,” Sylvi said ruefully. “But we’ve got your back, Naomi. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, it’s Val and Burke and their crew.”