Page 58 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

Uptown, New Orleans, Louisiana

Val looked around admiringly as they approached Kaleb and Juliette’s house. “This is a nice neighborhood, Burke.”

Burke grunted his agreement. It was a nice neighborhood. Quiet and well kept. But he didn’t care about that today. He was too worried about what they’d find at Kaleb’s house.

After a lot of pondering, he’d texted his godsons. Yes, he’d promised to keep his distance, especially from the kids. But even the boys weren’t answering his messages and he was becoming frantic with worry.

“They’ve only lived here for a few years. They used to live in Metairie, near the factory. I actually liked that place better. It was homier.”

“Why’d they move down here, then?”

“Kaleb wanted a place ‘befitting a CEO.’ Juliette wasn’t happy about leaving the old house. The boys had always gone to private school up there and she didn’t want them to change. So she does the drive every day.”

“Brutal, especially this time of year.”

“It really is. But once his father passed and Kaleb became the CEO, he said he needed to be able to entertain customers. Which he does. Juliette throws amazing parties. I don’t know if I’ll be welcome at those anymore.”

Val sucked in a startled breath. “You own the company!”

“But Kaleb runs it and he resents me not being more involved. He thinks I’ve made choices that put him and his family in danger. And he’s not wrong.”

“Burke.”

He glanced away from the passing houses to her profile. “What?”

“I…” She swallowed. “If you did, then so did I. So did Molly. And Lucien. And André, even. He and Farrah are going to be parents and he’s an NOPD captain. Of all of us, he’s made the most enemies.”

“Don’t tell him that, please. He’s enjoying the anticipation of fatherhood.”

“I won’t. You know I won’t.”

“But?”

“You remember when Elijah was in danger and Kaj was second-guessing being a prosecutor?”

“I have a vague recollection of the case, yes,” Burke said dryly.

She pulled the SUV to the curb, a few houses away from Kaleb’s house, and turned to face him.

“Phin told Kaj the story of how a criminal had come after his family because his father was a cop. They were fine, but his father was thinking of quitting. His mother told him that situations like theirs—like ours—are like the one plane that crashes out of thousands of safe flights. That’s how I’m going to choose to look at this week.

And Jace is still a million times safer with me than he was with his brothers. ”

Jace’s brothers had emotionally and physically abused him for his whole life.

“I agree with you. And so did Kaleb, the first time his boys were threatened, back when I was trying to leave the force. This time was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“That sucks. I’m sorry.” She started to drive again, but Burke stopped her.

“If I just waltz up and knock and they’re fine, I will have broken my word to Kaleb. If the boys see me, they won’t want me to leave. And I won’t want to, either.” The thought of being so close and not seeing them hurt.

Her eyes softened. “Do you want me to knock on the door?”

“Would you?”

“Of course. You stay here and keep your head down.”

“Just…hurry, okay? Call me if anything’s wrong. I’ll come running, but only if you call.”

“Okay, boss.”

Two minutes passed without a call from Val, then five. Then ten.

Burke had his hand on the door handle, ready to get out and check for himself, when he saw Val and Juliette walking quickly toward him.

Val opened the driver’s door and Juliette got in. Val leaned her head in. “I’m going back up to the house so that the boys aren’t alone. You two chat. Call if you need me.”

“Wait!” Burke called. “Why are the boys alone? Where is the protection Kaleb hired?”

“When nothing happened yesterday, he sent the man away,” Juliette said, her eyes cast down. “Thank you for watching over them, Val.”

“You betcha.” Val jogged back to the Marchands’ house.

“I’ve always liked Val,” Juliette said. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders. And a good heart.”

She sounded so sad.

“Juliette?”

“I’m sorry you were scared for us. I wasn’t getting any of your calls. It seems that Kaleb blocked you on my phone.”

“He did what?”

She nodded miserably. “He got into my phone and blocked your number. On the boys’ phones, too. I checked before I came down here. The boys are livid.”

“I bet they are,” Burke murmured, stunned. “Why would Kaleb do that?”

“He really doesn’t want you talking to us,” Juliette said. “I thought this would blow over, but he’s dug in his heels. I’m sorry, Burke.”

“Not your fault,” Burke said, his heart aching at the rejection. “He shouldn’t have made that choice for you.”

“No, he shouldn’t have. It’s also not the first time he’s done something like this. He’s searched my phone before. I’ve seen him do it.”

Burke stared. “But why?”

“At the time, I didn’t know. I…didn’t confront him over it. But now I get it. He wanted to find out what I suspected because he’s been having an affair with a much younger woman.”

“No.” He couldn’t believe it about Kaleb. He’d known the man for thirty years and Juliette for nearly that long. She and Kaleb had been high school sweethearts. “I mean, I believe you, but…”

Her laugh was bitter. “I was stunned, too. But I saw them together.”

Burke winced. “Together together?”

“No, but enough that it was clear they were lovers. She makes sales calls to Kaleb. He closes the door and they’re alone. Sometimes for hours.”

“Dammit, Jules. But that doesn’t mean—”

“I hired a PI,” she blurted out.

Burke wondered when the bombs would stop dropping. “What?”

“I hired a PI,” she repeated. “He followed Kaleb around. And he took photos of the two of them, Kaleb and…her. He goes to her place nearly every day.” She covered her face with her hands, sobs shaking her shoulders. “I don’t know what to do.”

Burke took one of her hands and held it tightly. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I should want to leave him. I do want to leave him. But I think about the boys and I don’t know what to do. I finally confronted him, but he denied it.”

“When did you confront him?”

“Yesterday. We were fighting and it just came out.”

Burke found himself wincing once again. “Fighting about me?”

“Only partly, so don’t you blame yourself, Burke Broussard. None of this is on you. It’s squarely on Kaleb. I…didn’t tell him about the PI. I couldn’t.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to help you?”

“I didn’t want to put you in the middle. You’re Kaleb’s family. It didn’t seem fair to drag you into it. But here we are.”

“What else were you fighting about?” Burke asked, remembering Naomi telling him that nobody knew exactly what was happening in another couple’s marriage.

She’d been so right. Burke hadn’t seen this coming.

“His business trip. When I called to tell him about what happened—what nearly happened—to the boys, he was furious. And then I heard a woman asking him if he was all right. He was in his hotel room, so she was there, too.”

Burke was terrified he’d say the wrong thing, but he had to try.

“Maybe it was a coworker and they were having a meeting in Kaleb’s suite. He always stays in the fancy places with boardroom tables and stocked bars. Maybe they were having a late-night meeting.”

“I heard jazz music, Burke. I don’t think he left the city.”

“Dammit, Jules. What can I do to help you?”

She squared her shoulders. “When you’ve solved this case and everything quiets down, can you find out where he was this week?

The PI never saw him kissing the woman, just hanging out all the time.

Just Kaleb going to her apartment and staying until the wee hours of the morning.

Which should be enough, I know, but I guess I need a smoking gun before I file for divorce. I need to know for sure.”

“Okay. I’ll also call the security company and get someone to cover your house until this is all over. I won’t be able to think if I’m worrying about you being unprotected.”

“Thank you. Can you call Val now? I think I’ve dumped enough on you for one afternoon. I know you’re worried about whoever tried to grab Jace and Harper.”

And Everett , Burke thought. He called Val and she was back at the SUV in less than a minute.

“I wish I could do more, Jules,” he said. “I wish I could fix this for you.”

“I know. You’re a good man, Burke.” She forced a smile. “Once I get through this, I’ll get back to finding you a wife.”

“Don’t,” he said, unable to stop his own smile.

“Did you meet someone?”

He thought of Naomi, of the kisses they’d shared. Of all the other things he wanted to share with her. “I did. I’ll tell you all about her soon. She’s a good person. You’ll like her.”

“I’m so glad. At least there’s one piece of good news.”

She got out of the SUV and Val walked her back to her house.

Burke texted Antoine. Need a favor. Utmost discretion. Only you to see search results.

Name it , was Antoine’s reply.

When you get a break in the next few days, can you check flight manifests for Kaleb Marchand? He was supposed to have flown to Chicago on Monday morning.

Why?

He may be cheating on Juliette. So mention this to no one.

On it.

Burke hoped he was doing the right thing. If Kaleb found out, their relationship might be destroyed beyond repair, if it wasn’t already.

He couldn’t believe Kaleb had dismissed the bodyguard. That did not sound like his friend.

Maybe something was wrong with Kaleb. A brain tumor or something. Anything to explain this behavior away.

He called the first of the two protection companies he’d recommended to Kaleb. “Hey, Doug, did you get a call from a Mr.Marchand about protection? I recommended you to him. It would have been Monday.”

Doug Burnham hesitated. “You know I can’t tell you that, Burke. As much as I like you—and you know I do—I can’t divulge a client’s business.”

“I know and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. His house is unprotected right now and his sons are my godsons. I’m trying to figure out what to do about it.”