Page 20 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

“Thanks, Burke,” Jace said, once Burke had pulled up next to his house. “Sorry we had to call you away from your dinner.”

Burke turned off the engine and twisted to look at the teenager in the back seat. Val sat beside her son, her arm around his shoulders. Both were pale, nerves shattered, although Jace looked more in control than Val did.

In the passenger seat beside Burke was Val’s husband Kaj Cardozo, the prosecutor. Kaj’s son Elijah sat on the other side of Jace, holding his hand.

Jace and Elijah had, with Val’s marriage to Kaj, become stepbrothers, but they’d been friends first. In that way, their relationship was similar to Burke’s bond with Kaleb Marchand.

Who had not called Burke back, even though Burke’s voicemail said it was urgent. Juliette hadn’t called back, either, and Burke was beginning to worry.

“I will always come to help you, Jace,” Burke said firmly.

Val patted his knee. “Let’s go inside. You haven’t eaten dinner yet. I’ll see what’s in Burke’s fridge.”

“I made a grocery order,” Burke said. “Lots of snacks, mostly fried, per Everett’s request.”

“ Yes ,” Jace said. “I think I need some comfort food.” But then he frowned. “What about Elijah? He shouldn’t have that kind of food.”

Because Elijah was a type 1 diabetic. Everyone in their circle watched out for the boy, but Jace was his biggest advocate.

“You and I will have something healthier, Elijah. There are veggies and a rotisserie chicken in the fridge, too.”

Elijah smiled. “Thanks, Burke.”

“Go on in, guys.” Kaj waved Val, Jace, and Elijah toward the house. “I’ll be right behind you. I need to chat with Burke for a minute.”

Val and the boys got out of the truck and Burke watched until they were safely in the house before turning to Kaj. “I’m sorry, Kaj. I hate that the kids got yanked into this.”

Kaj shook his head. “Don’t apologize. I wanted to tell you that I personally looked over Naomi Cranston’s file today. Val asked me what I knew about her.”

Burke wasn’t sure he was okay with that, but he’d talk to Val later about informational boundaries. Then he scratched the thought. Val was doing her job, using her resources to better keep their client safe. He’d thank her instead.

Somehow, in under a day, Naomi Cranston had upended his thinking. He had loyal people. He needed to trust them to have her best interests at heart, just as he did.

“What did you find out?”

“Hers was on the list of cases that the DA’s office started reviewing two and a half years ago,” Kaj said.

When Captain Cresswell and several other public servants were found to be guilty of everything from theft to extortion to murder.

“You had to review everything Cresswell touched.”

“We did,” Kaj agreed. “Miss Cranston was pushed to the front of the line when her attorney—the second one—requested a lab analysis of the drugs she supposedly took.”

“They turned out to be ground-up Sheetrock.”

“Exactly. The ADA who reviewed her case concluded that they didn’t have enough evidence to retry her at the present time, but her case wasn’t closed.”

“Meaning the option is open to retry her later.”

“Yes. I assume you’re going to try to clear her.”

“That’s my plan. She won’t be safe until I can prove Detective Gaffney is dirty.”

Which I should have done six years ago. Fear for his godsons’ safety—and his own—had stayed his hand.

“Well, if you find anything at all, let me know. I’ll do what I can to get her case closed for good. Val and Sylvi have kind of adopted her this past year.”

“I figured that out,” Burke said dryly. “I thought Sylvi was going to smack me this morning.”

“She really wanted to. You dodged a bullet.”

Burke’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he sighed in relief when he saw the caller ID. “It’s Kaleb Marchand.”

“I’ll see you inside.”

Burke waited until Kaj was out of the truck before he hit accept. “Kaleb.”

“Burke.” Kaleb sounded upset. “That you called me minutes before some guy tried to snatch my children can’t be a coincidence.”

Burke inhaled sharply. “What happened? Is everyone all right?”

“They’re okay,” Kaleb said tersely. “They were with Juliette, coming out of a restaurant near our house. A black SUV pulled up and tried to grab the boys. Juliette was carrying. She pulled her Sig and threatened to shoot their heads off. They got back in their SUV and drove away.”

This entire situation was Burke’s worst nightmare. “Did you get a license plate?”

“Trent did. He has that memory, you know? Whatever he sees, he remembers.”

“I know.” It was what made Trent so successful at school.

“He gave it to Juliette and she gave it to the cops.”

“I’m sorry, Kaleb,” Burke said, the words getting stuck in his throat.

“I know you are,” Kaleb said in the same weary tone, but then the tone hardened.

“Why is someone after my children? And do not even consider lying to me, Burke Broussard. Do you know how that feels? Getting a frantic call from your wife while you’re sitting in a hotel room, hours away by plane, and hearing that someone tried to kidnap your children?

” He made a bitter, scoffing sound. “No, you don’t know how that feels because you don’t have a wife or kids. ”

Burke winced, the words as sharp as a blade. Because Kaleb spoke the truth. Burke did not have children of his own. Nor a wife. And Kaleb was the only one still living who knew why.

But Burke didn’t lose his temper. Kaleb was a panicking father, his reaction perfectly understandable.

“I can’t tell you everything, but it seems like I’ve pissed off some rogue NOPD detective.”

Kaleb was quiet for long moment. “Just like last time. Your job put my children in danger again . Dammit, Burke.”

Burke felt a wave of shame wash over him. Once again, Kaleb had told the truth. “Yes,” he admitted.

“Who threatened my children? I want a name.”

Burke nearly told him but hesitated. “What will you do with the information?”

“Juliette’s going to give it to the fucking cops that came when she called 911 because someone tried to grab our children ,” Kaleb spat. “So tell me .”

Burke’s mind was racing, thinking through all the possible ways things could go wrong—or even more wrong, anyway—should Kaleb tell the NOPD that Gaffney was after his children.

If Kaleb and Juliette reported Gaffney, it would immediately get back to the detective that he’d been named in a possible kidnapping.

But surely Gaffney had to know that they suspected him. He’d come after Everett and then targeted Naomi by shooting up the flower shop. Only after those two failures had the attacks on the other children begun.

And Naomi had told André what Gaffney had done six years ago. And three days ago, as well.

“Burke,” Kaleb said ominously. “I asked you a question. I didn’t press you for information when this happened before, but I am now.”

Before, when Gaffney had been trying to get Burke to join their criminal enterprise. Before, when Burke had barely made it out of NOPD in one piece. Had it not been for Antoine and André and a rumor about Cresswell, he might have been forced to either stay in the NOPD and play Gaffney’s game or…

Hell. He might have been framed just like Naomi had been.

“You didn’t press me before. Why are you pressing now?”

“Because the first time, you said you’d handle it.”

“And I did. No one came near your sons.” His bluff that Cresswell hired male prostitutes had saved both himself and his godsons. Cresswell had been too afraid that Burke would spill his secret, so the captain had gotten Gaffney to back off.

“Except that it’s happened again . Tell me. Now. ”

Burke had no argument. “The detective’s name is Gaffney. He’s already been reported to the NOPD. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell just anyone in NOPD about this.”

The silence on Kaleb’s end went on for so long that Burke had to check to make sure they were still connected. “Kaleb?”

“I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” Kaleb admitted, sounding betrayed and still so very angry. “Someone threatened my children and you just left me a voicemail ? And then, when they follow through, I’m not allowed to tell the cops who did it? What the actual fuck , Burke?”

“I’m trying to protect you, dammit. I don’t know which cops I can trust, okay?

You know this. You know that’s why I left the force.

I’ve told someone I trust that Gaffney is involved.

It’s being investigated. But if you tell just any cop who shows up…

what if they’re on Gaffney’s payroll? I can’t promise you that they’re not. ”

“So we’re supposed to sit here and take it? Let our kids be grabbed off the fucking street?”

“No. Let me have the boys for a few days. They can stay at my house with a bodyguard. Just a few days, Kaleb.”

Kaleb exhaled. “No. I can’t trust that they’ll be safe with you. I’m going to hire my own security.”

Burke flinched like he’d been slapped. “I can keep them safe.”

“Maybe you can. But I’m not going to risk my sons’ safety in case you can’t.”

“Kaleb.” The single word came out rusty. And hurt.

“Don’t ‘Kaleb’ me. You don’t get to sound wounded, Burke. You aren’t the wronged party here. Why didn’t you go to my house if you knew my kids were in danger? Why didn’t you try to find Juliette and tell her in person?”

“Because I didn’t get a direct threat,” Burke snapped. “And I honestly didn’t think they’d go after Braden and Trent.”

And because he’d been tending to Harper and Jace. The shame was back, accompanied by guilt. Which I deserve. “I can recommend a few security companies in the city. Tell whoever you hire to send me the bill. I’ll pay for it.”

“Yeah. You will. Text me the names of the companies. I’ll discuss it with Juliette. I’m getting on a plane first thing in the morning to come home. And then, when my kids are settled, we need to discuss our working relationship.”

“Our working relationship?” Burke echoed, thrown for a loop. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I can’t work with you anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kaleb ran the company. Burke signed off on the major hiring decisions and major investments, but Kaleb managed the day-to-day operations, just like Kaleb’s father had before him.

“I’m going to assign someone else to give you the quarterly updates. I don’t think I can see your face for a while without wanting to smash it.”

Burke’s heart cracked. “If that’s what you need to do.”

“I also want you to stay away from Juliette and the kids.”

Burke couldn’t control his gasp. “What?”

“You attract trouble. People shoot at you. People try to kill you.”

“Not recently.” But it sounded weak, and Burke knew it.

Kaleb’s laugh was full of scorn. “People who are close to you get hurt, Burke. And if you had any decency whatsoever, you’d either quit investigating or you’d cut ties with anyone who might get caught in the crossfire that you draw.”

Burke pressed his hand to his heart. Which hurt.

Mostly because Burke could see Kaleb’s point.

Association with him was dangerous to the people he loved.

“All right,” he said with grim acceptance. “I’ll stay back. Will you tell the boys why I’m not coming around anymore? I don’t want them to think I don’t care.”

Kaleb scoffed. “If you cared , you wouldn’t have chosen the careers that you’ve chosen .

You go off to war like a goddamn hero, leaving the business to my father and me to run.

You come home and then do you join the business?

No. You become a cop and my children get threatened.

You become a PI so you can save the fucking world while my children—your godsons—pay the price.

If you cared , you’d make different choices. ”

Burke thought he might be sick at the torrent of bitter words. “Let me know if you need anything,” he finally managed in a strangled whisper. “I’ll do anything to keep them safe.”

“Just…stay away, okay? And send me the names of bodyguards. I’ll do the rest. Just like I’ve always done.”

The line went dead.

Burke stared at his phone, unable to believe what had just transpired.

But it had transpired.

And Burke had no one to blame but himself.

Well, and Gaffney.

At least he could focus on taking down that fucker.

And when the next bad guy comes along? When your friends’ children are targeted again?

Burke didn’t know. He only knew he had a houseful of people who were depending on him to fix this.

Drawing a breath, he texted Kaleb the names of two local companies who could provide protection for his godsons.

Next, he texted one of his part-timers, a guy he’d known since the Marines, and asked him to watch Juliette’s house until Kaleb’s security arrived.

Then, squaring his shoulders, he went inside.

He had a job to do.