Chapter 9

9

The Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 7:30 A.M.

PHIN PARKED HIS OLD TRUCK at the curb in front of Cora's big house and took a moment to stare up at the gorgeous structure. He loved the homes in this part of the city. The architecture, the detail, the grace.

He didn't love the price tag for the maintenance. He wondered how long Cora would be able to keep it up. It sounded like she poured every free moment—and every free dollar—into cleaning and fixing.

Well, now she'll have help.

He grabbed his toolbox and held the door open so SodaPop could jump out. Then, following protocol, he texted Val that he was here. She and Molly had switched shifts and Val's car was in the driveway, parked up against the gate that secured the back garden. Although, if someone wanted to get onto the property, the gate wouldn't stop them.

I'll be doing that. Hopefully with better locks on the doors and windows. And if that didn't work, then… I'll keep her safe.

He'd made it to the front porch when he noticed a car out of the corner of his eye. It was driving slowly past Cora's house. The hairs rose on Phin's neck and he herded SodaPop in front of him.

The car came to a full stop behind his truck and Phin exhaled.

Surely an intruder wouldn't simply park and knock on her door, would he?

Or maybe it was a reporter. The police hadn't officially released Cora's name in their report about Joy's shooting, but someone inside NOPD might have loose lips.

"Siri, call Val Sorensen mobile," he said, putting the phone to his ear without taking his eyes off the car.

"Phin!" Val sounded joyful to be talking to him again.

"In a minute," he said quietly. "There's a car parked in front of Cora's house, behind my truck. It's a black Lexus. Can't see the plate. And now the driver's getting out. Older man. Maybe fifty-five or sixty. Gray hair. Mustache. Dark glasses."

"Hold on." There were voices in the background and then Val was back. "Cora knows him. It's Patrick Napier, her friend Tandy's father."

Phin relaxed. "That's good. I'm not carrying like you, but the cordless drill in my toolbox could do some damage if it had to."

Val chuckled. "I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you. Come into the house, so I can see your face. It's been too long."

It had been too long. He'd missed all his work friends, but Val had become almost like the sister he'd left behind. Scarlett would love Val. She'd love Cora, too.

Scar would love all his friends. He needed to give her the chance. He only hoped she'd forgive him when he finally got his act together to go home.

Not turning his back on the older man cautiously approaching the front porch, he stepped into the foyer when the door creaked open. Loudly.

Need to WD-40 that.

"Phin."

He looked down to see Val smiling big. He didn't have to look down far. Val was six-one in her boots. Just a few inches taller than Cora had been in those ridiculous heels. He hoped she wore more sensible shoes today. He didn't like that her feet hurt her.

Val opened her arms, then waited, expectant. "Okay to hug you?"

He grinned down at her, not missing the way her eyes opened in surprise. He really needed to grin more often. "Yes. Please."

She threw her arms around his neck and clung. "Thank you."

He patted her back awkwardly, knowing what she was thanking him for and rejecting the notion. When Val and her boyfriend Kaj had been in trouble six weeks before, he'd stepped in, providing backup. In the end, he'd folded, spiraling right there in front of them. But that was over and done and he wasn't going back there.

He hoped. He prayed.

"I didn't do anything," he muttered gruffly. "You and Kaj did it all."

She drew back, holding his face between her palms. "Say ‘You're welcome, Val.'?"

He rested his forehead against hers. "You're welcome, Val."

She sighed, a happy sound. "You still going home for Christmas to see your family?"

She was the only one he'd told before yesterday. "That's the plan."

"I'm going to nag you."

"And I'll say thank you."

Her eyes went shiny. "I'm sorry that I pushed you. You weren't ready."

He'd stepped up to be a bodyguard six weeks before, but he really hadn't been ready. He wondered if he ever would be. "I'd do it again. For you."

That was the truth. Even if he got triggered and spiraled afterward. He'd done what he'd needed to do and had managed to hold off the episode until everyone was safe.

The shininess in Val's eyes became full-on tears that she wiped away with her sleeve. "You sweet-talker, you."

A creak on the grand staircase had them both looking up. Cora stood on the top step, watching them, her face a carefully blank mask. Val took a step back, watching them both.

Phin wondered what had happened. Cora's sweet smile was gone. She wasn't even angry like she'd been the day before when he'd frightened her on the street.

Val's brows lifted. "Come on down, Cora. Your friend's dad is on the front porch. I think Phin scared him out of knocking."

Cora descended, her long legs encased in sleek black pants. And she wore flats.

"You sleep okay?" he asked.

They'd texted for an hour before she'd grown sleepy enough. Phin had stayed up another twenty minutes afterward rereading their conversation. It had been a lot of little things. Mostly books they enjoyed. Some stories about her library patrons that had made him chuckle.

She was a good storyteller. My mom would love her, too. His mother was a retired high school English teacher and books had been a huge part of their growing up. Bringing home a legit librarian would make his mother so happy.

She'll be so happy when you just come home.

And he would. Soon. For now, his job was helping Cora stay safe.

Cora, who was so pretty in a green silk shirt that set off her red hair, making it look like a flame. But she didn't smile. She was…frosty.

What had happened?

Finally, the older man knocked on the door and Cora stepped forward to answer it, but Val held up her hand. "My job, remember?"

Cora nodded, saying nothing.

Frowning, Phin leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "What's wrong?"

She cut him a sharp look. "Nothing."

Well, shit. He'd learned from his mother and sister that "nothing" always meant "something." But he couldn't press because Tandy's father was in the foyer, his arms outstretched to Cora, much as Val's had been for him.

He felt an unexpected spear of jealousy at the familiar way the man embraced Cora, and then he got it. Oh. Oh. Nothing was something. Cora had jumped to the wrong conclusion seeing Val hug him.

He spared a glance at Val to see her shaking her head at him, her lips twitching. "I'll explain to her," she mouthed.

He wanted to roll his eyes but didn't dare. The man was watching him suspiciously over Cora's shoulder.

"I'm Phin Bishop," Phin said. "This is Val Sorensen. We work for Burke Broussard."

"Oh." The man released Cora, sliding his left arm around her shoulders. "My daughter told me all about him. I'm Patrick Napier."

"Patrick's been my surrogate father since I was in elementary school," Cora said. She leaned her head on the man's shoulder. "He and Tandy are the only family I have left."

"I was out of town yesterday," Patrick said to Cora. "I didn't hear about any of this until I got home last night. I nearly drove straight over here, but Tandy said you'd hired Broussard. Bodyguards are expensive. I can—"

"No, you can't," Cora interrupted. "We've had this conversation before. I'm not taking your money. Tandy told you about Joy?" She glanced at Val. "Patrick, his wife, and Joy were my mother's friends."

Patrick nodded. "Lots of carpooling when Tandy, Cora, and Nala were kids. I stopped by the hospital on my way in. Joy was asleep, but Nala said I can come back later today. I'll take you and Tandy, if you want me to."

"I'll be accompanying Cora," Val inserted smoothly. "You and Tandy can meet us at the hospital. Bodyguard, you know."

Patrick winced. "Sorry. Bodyguards are new to me. Cora, are you really all right?"

She smiled up at him, but the expression was strained. "I'm fine. Val and the others are taking care of me."

The others. Phin had been relegated to the others . Val better explain things quickly or Phin would have to make sure that Cora knew what was what.

Patrick sighed. "I didn't know someone had broken into your house. I would have mentioned the van I saw in your driveway on Friday morning if I'd known."

Phin was suddenly on full alert. Friday night was when Blue had woken Cora, barking at what had been the intruder's entry.

Val straightened. "Can you describe it?"

Patrick shrugged helplessly. "It was a van. You mentioned that you were having trouble with that commode upstairs that leaks. I figured you'd called in a professional to fix it. I meant to call you to make sure it was okay, but I forgot. I feel awful, Cora Jane."

Phin tensed. A white van had been parked a few doors down from Medford Hughes's house last night. One of his neighbors had seen it and told the cops while he, Burke, and Antoine waited to give their statements. "What color was it?"

"White or maybe cream. Or gray? It was light, that much I remember. Or it was dirty. Sorry."

Val frowned. "What about the driver?"

Another helpless shrug. "I didn't look. I should have. I'm so sorry. I was in a hurry to make a delivery to Mrs. Williams at the end of Cora's street. She'd ordered a sculpture for her husband's birthday and it was delayed. It had come in the day before but she was too busy to come in. I told her I'd deliver it."

"Oh, that's right," Cora murmured. "I forgot it was Mr. Williams's birthday. I'll have to drop off a card. She did tell me that she'd bought him a sculpture."

"Carved out of a chunk of jade bigger than my fist."

Cora's eyes widened. "Wow. That sounds expensive."

"It was," Patrick said. "Which was why I hand-delivered it." He dropped a kiss on Cora's head. "I've got to get to the gallery. You'll call me later so I know you're okay?"

"I promise. What time did you see the van in my driveway?"

"Eleven, maybe? It was before noon, I know that."

"Were you home on Friday morning, Cora?" Phin asked.

She shook her head. "I was at work."

"We'll ask your neighbors for camera footage," Val said. "We'll figure it out, Cora."

Cora nodded. "I know." But she didn't sound sure of that at all. "You go on now, Patrick. Tell Tandy that I'm okay. She's been texting me all morning."

"She worries." Patrick pressed another kiss to her temple. "So do I. Make sure these folks have my cell number in case you need me."

"I will." She started to show him to the door, then sighed when Val gave her a quelling look. "Sorry."

"You'll learn," Val said as she ushered Patrick to the door, leaving Phin and Cora alone in awkward silence.

"She's my friend," Phin blurted, unable to keep the words in his mouth.

Cora looked doubtful. "Okay."

Phin huffed. "Like a sister. She was with me the last time I…" He sighed. "The last time I spiraled. When I ran."

Cora's expression softened. "I see."

"I don't think you do," he muttered. "She's a twin. Like me."

She stared up at him. "You're a twin?"

"Yeah. I have a sister. Scarlett."

"That you haven't talked to in a while."

He nodded, but now his neck was stiff. His whole body was drawn too tight. "Right."

SodaPop sidled up to him, her whimper quiet.

"You can tell me, you know," Cora murmured. Her smile was genuine, and his heart eased. "Only if you want, of course," she added. "Are you gonna do the window locks today?"

"Yep," he said, relieved at the topic change. "And I thought I'd look at your water heater. Your water's only lukewarm."

She grimaced. "I know. I'm reminded every time I wash my hair, but I can't afford a new one. Not for a few months. I had to take money out of the trust last month to get the roof fixed."

"It might be a heating element. Not as expensive as you think."

She brightened. "Will you show me how to fix it?"

"Absolutely. Stay with Val today, okay? She's fierce."

"I promise." She hesitated, then briefly squeezed his forearm. "I'm glad she's your friend. You need support."

" Only my friend," he reiterated.

She grinned. "Got it. See you later. Can you check on Blue every so often? He's asleep at the back door."

"Of course. Wait. Where are you going?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you going to work?"

Cora sighed. "No. Well, yes, but only to get my library laptop. I already had this argument with Molly and Val. ‘It's too dangerous to go to the library, Cora,'?" she singsonged. "?‘Think of the people who could be hurt if someone came after you, Cora.' So I'm going to get my laptop so that I can work from home."

"It was a compromise," Val said dryly, closing the front door after seeing Patrick out. "Molly and I weren't happy with it, either, but Cora does have to earn a paycheck."

He didn't like the idea of her leaving the house, but he kept his mouth shut, watching as she gathered her purse and followed Val out to her car. He knew Val would keep her safe. He also knew that Val would be calling Burke immediately to inform him about the van.

The driver of a white van had murdered Medford Hughes and his wife last night. Assuming it was the same person—and they had to assume so as to best protect Cora—the intruder would not get their hands on Cora Winslow.

Phin walked into the kitchen and carefully set his toolbox on the marble countertop. He wasn't ready to bodyguard again but he had to do something.

He sent a text to Burke. You heard about the van at Cora's on Friday?

Burke's reply was instant. Val just called me. Not a good development.

Phin hesitated, then pushed forward. I can ask neighbors for camera footage.

There was a slight pause, the ellipsis indicating that Burke was typing. Stopping. Typing. Stopping. Finally, the reply came through.

Let's do it together. I'll be there in thirty minutes.

Phin could live with that. At least Burke was letting him be involved. I'll be waiting.

Until then, he'd work on the windows.

He swallowed a groan. So many windows. Where should he even start?

But the answer was obvious.

In Cora's bedroom. So she could sleep tonight.

The Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 7:45 A.M.

Having been using her Bluetooth so that she could drive, Val ended the call with Burke and glanced over at Cora. "You okay?"

"No," Cora said honestly. "I didn't know the white van was at the dead man's house last night until you told Burke just now."

These people—whoever they were—were killers. But hearing that the same vehicle had been at the scene of the brutal shooting of that man in his car made everything real, and she was terrified.

"It might not have been the same van," Val said.

"But you think it was," Cora said.

"Possibly. Either way, we will keep you safe."

Cora nodded, turning her attention to the window. She normally loved walking down this street, especially around the holidays. "Everyone's decorated for Christmas. I didn't this year. I just haven't had the heart to."

"Hearing that your father was dead when you'd thought him alive all this time was a shock. You're allowed to feel what you feel."

"I know."

"Did you decorate last year?"

Cora sighed. "No. John Robert had just died. And the year before that, my grandmother had just died. It's been three years since I decorated my house for Christmas."

"It'll get better," Val promised. "My brother died a few years ago, and it's hard. Different circumstances, but the loss is still the same."

"Your brother was your twin?"

Val glanced over, her brows lifted. "Phin told you?"

"He said you were a twin. Like he is."

Val's smile was sad. "Yeah, we have that in common. It's hard for people who don't have a twin to understand the bond. I heard Phin tell you that we were just friends when I was showing your friend out the door. I want to make sure you believed him."

"I do."

"Good. Phin's a good man."

"I can tell." And Cora could. There was a vulnerability in Phin Bishop that called to her. But there was also a strength of character. A resolve that she respected. She wanted to ask about his PTSD, but that was a conversation she needed to have with Phin himself. When he was ready. "We're here." She pointed to the library's driveway. "Turn in here."

"That was fast." Val pulled into the parking lot. "I bet you walk this every day instead of driving."

"I do. It's a nice walk, and I pass by my favorite little coffee shop on the way. The woman who runs it always has a cup waiting for me."

"Is she an old friend, too? You seem to know the people in your neighborhood."

"I've lived here my whole life. There isn't a lot of turnover on my street. Many of the homes have been in families for generations like mine. Myrna, who runs the coffee shop, is a friend and a library patron. I helped her locate an old high school boyfriend after her husband passed." She smirked. "They're getting married in three months."

"Burke told me about your extracurricular sleuthing," Val said. "I'm impressed."

Cora rolled her eyes. "Don't be. I'm just good at internet searches."

"I'm still impressed. So, this is what's going to happen. We're going to walk from here to the library and you're going to stay in front of me. I'll have your back. If I tell you to duck, you duck. When we get into the library, you get your laptop and then we're gone. You ready?"

"I am." Cora looked around the parking lot. It was mostly empty. Only two cars, one of which she recognized as belonging to the night cleaning service, who'd just be finishing. The other belonged to her boss, Minnie Edwards. "How do I explain you? I really don't want my boss knowing that I have a bodyguard."

"Say that I'm your friend, come for a visit," Val said as she got out of the car. "Do not get out. I'll come get you." She came around to open Cora's door and waited until Cora was on her feet. "Hustle, Cora Jane."

Cora glared. "Who told you?"

Val grinned before moving into place behind her. "Your friend Tandy. Molly and I were having coffee, doing our morning handoff while you were in the shower. Tandy knocked on the front door. Burke had sent us a photo of her, said she was your bestie and she was okay to let in. Tandy said that if we let you get hurt, she would make our lives a living hell."

Cora sighed. "She would, too."

"I never doubted it for a second."

They hurried up the stairs and into the library. Cora drew in a deep breath. The smell of old books had always calmed her. "I love this place," she said as she sat behind her desk, unlocking her drawer.

Val looked around. "It's nice. Lots of light. And not too many dark corners. Get the laptop so I can get you home."

Cora was sliding the laptop into her handbag when her boss emerged from her office, regarding her with concern.

"Cora?"

"Hey, Minnie. How are you this morning?"

"I'm fine," Minnie said. "But I thought you were working from home."

"I needed my laptop."

"And the woman?" Minnie pointed to Val.

"She's an old friend, here for a visit." Cora hated to lie, but Minnie already knew too much of her business. She'd been in the library the day the detectives from Terrebonne Parish had shown up with news about her father.

Minnie was not discreet. Now everyone in the library knew that Cora's father's body was the John Doe dug up in the Damper Building down in Houma. Some of them might have realized it by seeing Jack Elliot's face on the news, but most wouldn't have as their last names were different.

Minnie frowned. "I'm glad you're working from home. You had another reporter here this morning. He was waiting in the parking lot this morning. Said you'd made a breakfast date with him. I told him that you'd taken a day off, and he left. I wrote down his license plate, just in case." She pulled a yellow Post-it note from her pocket. "He was driving a black Camry. Brand-new."

Cora sighed. Reporters had been a problem over the past two weeks. If it was a reporter. What if it was one of them ? Whoever had been after her? That Patrick had seen a van in her driveway had rattled her soundly. "What did he look like?"

"Young. Handsome. Familiar, but I couldn't place him. I've been shooing reporters away since those detectives showed up here two weeks ago. Anyway, you be careful. I didn't like the look of him."

Val took the Post-it note. "I'll make sure Cora gets this after I've taken her home. Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome." Minnie frowned at Val. "And your name?"

"Ingrid," Val said.

Cora wasn't sure whether to be appalled or impressed with Val's ability to lie.

Val grabbed Cora's handbag and cell phone. "Let's roll, Cora Jane."

Val ushered them to the car, her steps quick, her gaze everywhere. Cora looked around, relieved that no black Camry lurked. Nor a white panel van. Or a van that might have been white or cream or gray or just dirty. The parking lot held the same two cars as when they'd arrived.

Val seemed tense, so maybe she was also worried that the Camry driver wasn't a reporter. "If I say duck, you get your head down," she said as she drove them onto the main road.

"I will." That it could even be necessary was surreal. "Why did you tell Minnie you were Ingrid?" she asked to take her mind off the potential threat.

Val chuckled. "That's my given name. Val's a nickname, more or less."

"I like Val better."

"So do I. Only my family calls me Ingrid."

Cora's mind was still spinning, still worrying about the Camry. She hated this. Hated being afraid. Hated not being in control.

Then do something productive. It was how she'd coped when John Robert was so sick. Searching for a marrow donor had helped her stay sane.

But what could she do? She was a librarian, dammit. Not a bodyguard or a PI.

But you do find out things. Do your job, Cora.

This mess had started when her father's body had been discovered. Jack Elliot was the key. And he'd bought .30-30 ammo in Twin Falls, Idaho, just weeks before he'd disappeared. Rifle bullets.

Why? What had he been doing?

She opened a browser page on her phone and typed Twin Falls Idaho Oct 1 .30-30 along with the year he'd died. She hit enter, paged through the results, then froze, staring at her screen.

"What the hell?" she whispered. She clicked on the link and gasped.

Val glanced over at her. "What?"

"I googled those bullets my father bought and got an article. ‘ Local Man Found Dead, Victim of Hunting Accident. '?"

"Read it," Val said tersely. "What does the article say?"

"It's from a newspaper in Twin Falls. The victim was Jarred Bergeron, a prominent businessman. The bullet was a .30-30. He was found by a hunting party, his body still warm. The shooter wasn't found and the ME ruled the death accidental. Bergeron died two weeks before my father was murdered." Cora's stomach roiled. "Did my father kill him?"

"I don't know, but we need to tell Burke." Using her Bluetooth earbud, Val called her boss and relayed the information, then ended the call. "Burke says we need to meet at your house."

Cora nodded numbly. My father killed someone. It was all she could think about until she heard Val curse. The curse was followed by a sharp turn onto a side street.

Cora's heart began to race. "What?"

"Hold on." The blonde turned down another street, moving away from her house. "We have a tail."

Cora pressed the heel of her hand to her chest. "Is it the white van?"

"No. It's the black Camry. Keep your head down. If I tell you to duck, get down on the floorboard."

Cora didn't need to ask why. Because if it got to that point, someone would be shooting at her.

What had her father done?