Louisiana Lament

years back—random mugging kind of thing.”
    “Sort of like the way Donny Troxell died.”
    “Umm-hmm. Company was in a little trouble at the time. It recovered soon after that. Could have been some crooked accounting, something the guy wouldn’t go along with.”
    “Oh, hell. Could have been anything. Ms. Wallis, this is way too many coincidences.”
    “Yeah, Eddie. It’s real ugly. Do I need to tell you John Earl’s a big Buddy Calhoun supporter?” She knew she should have been scared to death, but actually, she was excited. This was the real deal; she had one hell of a big fish on the line. “I figure what happened, Stan didn’t just happen to be in that bar where Carl met him. Somebody got drunk and told Nora about him. She knew where Carl drank and sent Stan there. Carl arranged the hit, thinking he was going to get Nora and all Nora’s money as a reward—but that was never in the cards.”
    Eddie sat quietly. Talba knew from experience that he was thinking. Finally, he said, “Where are you tonight? Anybody staying with Miz Clara?”
    “I checked into the Hilton.”
    “The Hilton! Pretty rich for the firm’s blood.”
    “Yeah, but convenient, and really, really anonymous. The thing’s huge, and there’s always some convention going on—you can get lost in the crowd if you have to. I feel pretty safe there, but to answer your other question, I’m a little worried about Mama.”
    “Mmph. Maybe Darryl could babysit.”
    Hell, no,
Talba thought.
That wouldn’t work at all.
Miz Clara would probably make a pass at him, she was so crazy about him.
    Eddie said, “We need something to tie this stuff together.”
    “Well, I did get that job tomorrow—at Buddy Calhoun’s office. Maybe I’ll come up with something.”
    Eddie grunted. “Worth a try. Don’t forget to call in sick. And do something about Miz Clara, will ya?”
    She wondered what he was planning to do about Angie and Audrey. He could probably protect Audrey himself, but Talba could just picture Angie’s reaction to his well-meant advice.
    Back at the hotel, she called her sister-in-law, Michelle, planning to humble herself.
    “How’s my little Sophia?” she began.
    Michelle sounded slightly frantic. “She’s kind of a handful. Neither one of us has gotten a night’s sleep since she was born.”
    Thank you, God, if you exist,
Talba thought. She wouldn’t even have to beg. “Hey, I’ve got a great idea—you know, Mama would give anything to help y’all out. Why don’t you just ask her to come over for a few days?”
    “We couldn’t do that. It’s way too big an imposition.”
    “It would be the thrill of her life, swear to God. Listen, you’d be doing me a big favor—I have to be away for a few days, and I worry about her all alone over there.” Miz Clara was about as helpless as a boa constrictor, as Michelle perfectly well knew.
    “Oh? Where are you going?”
    “I’ve already gone, actually. I’m in Mississippi on a case. I just got to thinking about her there all alone. I was actually calling to ask if y’all could look in on her, but I know she’d love to come stay with you, and since the baby’s keeping you up…” She let it hang there, hoping Miz Clara would forgive her for volunteering her sleeping hours, but there was no help for it. Besides, it
would
be the thrill of her life; she doted on that child.
    By the time they hung up, Michelle had already dispatched Corey to go plead with his mama to come help out. Talba couldn’t have been happier—Miz Clara’d be safe in her brother’s gated community.
    Darryl presented another set of problems.
    He answered on the first ring. “Talba! Where have you been? I’ve been calling and calling.”
    “Well, things got a little complicated with the Patterson case and I had to check into a hotel for a few days.”
    “What are you talking about? You’re not telling me you’re in danger?” He sounded outraged, as if it were somehow rude of her.
    “I think I’m being watched, that’s all. I just wanted to let you know I’m okay.”
    “Well, thanks.”
    “And also to tell you… I mean, I guess there’s a chance they might go after you.”
    “
What
?”
    “Is there any place you could go for a few days?”
    “Are you kidding? I’m not going to be driven out of my home.”
    She almost mouthed the words with him. “Darryl, I’m serious. You can’t mess with these people. Would you at least… you know… be vigilant?”
    “I’m always