Page 28 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

He could hear the fear and the hopelessness seep into her voice and he hated it. He’d steer her back to a topic that gave her strength—investigating her own case. “Of course you don’t. What will you ask Cresswell, if you’re able to see him?”

“Of course I’d ask why they picked me for their frame.

I’d ask why they needed to frame anyone.

What were they trying to cover up? Or if I was a distraction, then from what?

I’d ask who took over when he went to prison, because I don’t know that Gaffney is capable of heading a large, organized operation like we were talking about tonight. He seems like more of a hired thug.”

“Agreed. Those are all good questions. Have you written them down?”

She patted her pocket. “I’m keeping a list on my phone.

I’d also ask him about the scope of the operation he had with Gaffney.

They tried to get you to help them skim drugs from busts, but what else did they do?

What kind of drugs did they distribute? Only what they stole from evidence, or did they buy and sell other substances? ”

Burke was impressed. “If knitting helps you think like that, maybe I should give it a try.”

She chuckled. “I’ll teach you if you want.” Then she sighed. “I’d ask him if they trafficked human beings, too. I hope I’m completely wrong about that.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you might be right.”

“Whatever they have planned, I think it’s going to be big for Mardi Gras, but we just had the Super Bowl here a few weeks ago.

Surely they wouldn’t have let that opportunity pass by untapped.

I wouldn’t ask Cresswell this, but I would ask your friend André if they saw any evidence of organized drug distribution or sex trafficking operations during Super Bowl weekend. ”

Burke hadn’t thought that far yet. That she had, given the upheaval of the day, was impressive. “Very good thinking.”

She threw him a self-effacing smile. “I was a cop. Not like you were, I know. Not a detective. But I was good at processing evidence and I’d follow the interesting arrests as they went to court.

Played my own version of Clue as the investigation and the prosecution unfolded. Never thought I’d be a felon, though.”

“You aren’t anymore.”

“No, but if they ever decide to retry my case, I might be. And I’m not going to think about that tonight. Can you ask your friend André about the Super Bowl?”

“I will. We’re going to investigate Winnifred Timms, too. Antoine’s looking into her financials.”

“Good. To think that I felt sorry for her that night, her car wrecked on the side of the road. Until I saw her smirk when the responding cop cuffed me. ‘Oh my,’?” she mimicked in a falsetto, her accent growing mockingly heavy.

“?‘I’m just going for my book bag and oh, my goodness, what is that on the floor?’ Bitch.

” Then she grimaced and peeked up at him. “Sorry.”

He laughed. “Don’t be. I’m surprised you haven’t sought her out.”

She bit her lip and said nothing.

Huh. He leaned forward, just as she’d done. “Naomi? Did you seek her out?”

“I did. I got her address from the internet but she didn’t live there.”

“That’s what Molly and Lucien said. They tried to interview her after they saw you at Sylvi’s shop. Did you ever find her?”

“I did. The person who did live there suggested I check the building where she takes some classes, so I waited outside the building for her to come out.”

“That was lucky.”

She winced. “I might have tried every day for three weeks until I spotted her.”

His lip twitched. “And then?”

“And then I followed her home. She went to an expensive high-rise on Poydras. I know, it was stupid and I shouldn’t have done it.”

She shouldn’t have done it, but this was information they didn’t yet have. “Do you remember the address?”

“Oh yes.” She looked pleased. “Did I get info that Molly didn’t?”

“You did.”

She grinned. “Good for me.”

He smiled at her. “So what did you see when you followed her home?”

“She met up with a man. Tall, dark, and handsome. Older than she was, by at least fifteen or twenty years. They were lovers or at least dating. I followed them to the Quarter one of the nights—”

“Wait. How many times did you follow her?”

Another wince. “Too many?”

“Okay. What happened when you followed them to the Quarter?”

“They went to a fancy restaurant and he kissed her very thoroughly before they went in. I didn’t follow them inside, but I did follow them when they went back to her place.

He went up with her. After that, I went home.

I guess she wasn’t a poor college kid after all, or maybe she was until someone paid her to set me up.

Made me wonder what else she was into to be able to afford that lifestyle. ”

“Can you describe the man to Antoine? He’s pretty good at creating sketches with software.”

“I’d be happy to. I got a clear look at his face and it wasn’t so long ago that I’ve forgotten what he looked like.

I honestly thought she’d be meeting up with Gaffney himself, but she didn’t.

I might also ask Cresswell if he was involved with her.

They needed someone they could trust to set me up. ”

“Is that on your list of questions?”

She pulled her phone from her pocket and typed. “It is now. I also just texted you the address on Poydras so you can track her down yourself.”

He yawned. “My mind is settling down.” He regarded her for a long moment, watching her knit. She was smart and observant. Maybe he could clear her name, get Gaffney, and make her happy. “You want to help? To come with me to investigate?”

It was ill-advised, spending more time with her. He liked her way too much already. But he was going to do it anyway.

She stared at him, her hands freezing mid-stitch. “Seriously?”

He wondered if she would have been so stunned at the request before prison or if her ex-husband’s emotional abuse had already whittled down her self-esteem at that point.

“Seriously. I’d like to get your opinions. If it becomes in any way dangerous, I’ll bring you back here.”

“Molly is usually your investigator. But she’s going to be guarding the children.”

He nodded. “She’ll say that she can still work the case, but her attention is splintered, and rightfully so.

It’s not the first time that her niece has been in danger because of a case she was working.

” Which Harper’s paternal grandparents were trying to use against them, trying to get custody of Harper.

“I won’t ask her to leave her niece right now. ”

Because I’m not a total asshole, despite what Kaleb thinks.

“Can I ask you a question first?”

He stiffened at her careful tone. “You can ask.”

“What happened tonight that made you so sad? Between arriving with Val and Kaj and the boys and when you came back in the house? I know your godsons were attacked, but you didn’t look like you were afraid. Only sad. Like you’d lost your best friend.”

He sighed. Somehow, she’d hit the nail on the head. “My family is all gone, all but one brother who really isn’t my brother. We share no blood.”

“Blood doesn’t make a family.”

“It doesn’t. Kaleb and I met when we were kids.

I was thirteen and he was twelve. My uncle and his dad were business partners and Kaleb’s mom had already passed.

Kaleb and I were inseparable. When Mom and I came to live here, with my uncle, we saw Kaleb and his sister nigh on every day.

Then my mom and my uncle died. Kaleb and I only had each other and his father.

I was devastated after the plane crash, and I just couldn’t stay here.

So I put aside my college plans and joined the Marine Corps, even though my uncle had left this house and the business to me. But I didn’t stick around.”

“Kaleb did.”

“Yeah. And when I came back from the Corps, I became a cop. Made detective and met a guy named Gaffney.”

“This story doesn’t have a happy ending,” she murmured.

“No, it doesn’t. Gaffney threatened my godsons—Kaleb’s boys—to get me to work with him in the drug-skimming op. I said no and managed to get away from the NOPD with my hide intact.”

“Someday you’ll have to share how you did that with me.”

“I will.” But not tonight. He had to work through his guilt first. He should have exposed Gaffney back then. “I started my PI firm and thought that my godsons would be safe.”

“And then they were threatened again tonight. Did Kaleb blame you?”

“He did. I’ve never heard him so angry. He told me that I was selfish to do a job that put others in danger. He told me to stay out of the boys’ lives.”

Her hands stilled, the needles pausing. “Oh, Burke,” she said sympathetically. “I hope he’ll cool down and change his mind.”

“His wife thinks he will. She didn’t blame me. But…”

“You feel guilty anyway.”

“Yeah.”

“And Kaleb’s sister?” she asked.

Burke flinched. “What?”

“You mentioned that Kaleb had a sister, but after the plane crash it was just you, Kaleb, and his father.” Her gaze sharpened. “She was on the plane, too?”

This woman was too smart. He’d have to watch what he said.

“She was checking out a university up north and my mother went with her. My uncle had a meeting with a vendor in the same city, so he took them with him on the company plane. She didn’t even want to see that college, because we’d both gotten into Tulane, but my mother insisted she at least look at the place.

So they went. The plane had engine trouble on the way back. Everyone on board died.”

“She was special to you,” she said softly.

“We were engaged,” he said, unable to believe he was sharing this. Not even Molly knew about Kyra. “We were young, I know, but we knew what we wanted. We were going to wait until we’d graduated from college to get married, but for me, she was it.”

“I’m sorry. That you lost her and that it still hurts you to talk about her.”

“It’s okay. I’m okay.” He wasn’t, but he never was when he remembered Kyra.

“So this investigation will help you save my son, all the other kids, your godsons, and maybe your relationship with your brother?”

“And maybe clear your name completely.”

“Then I’m in. We’ll ask Captain Holmes about any drug or sex trafficking arrests during Super Bowl weekend, maybe talk to Cresswell, and hopefully track down that bitch Winnifred Timms. When do we leave tomorrow?”

“After breakfast.”

“Then I’ll be ready.”