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  “Roddy’s father is still willing to cut deals with them? These people are suspects in his death. Unless you haven’t told him,” MiMi added.

  “Roderick may have made a mistake in that mineral import arrangement. And believe me his father let him know it.” Drexel shook a forefinger in the air. “I put it down to being rash, not thinking in the long term. Black business owners are shut out of the competition in subtle ways. I’ve always told you that.”

  “Yes.” MiMi hoped he wasn’t about to go off on one of his favorite rants again. She knew it well. “I don’t see what that has to do with Roddy’s murder.”

  “Black entrepreneurs with foresight, the ones who’ve done their homework, are thinking global. We’re leveraging overseas partnerships with people who look like us. We’re on the verge of making a break through to leverage international partnerships. We’ve built solid relationships and established credibility as serious contenders with the right resources.”

  “So Mr. Jefferson agrees with you,” MiMi said, pressing the point.

  He picked up his cup again. “He’ll come around. Naturally he’s grieving now. The point is, before you make another move, check with me.”

  “You come into my house for the first time and…”

  Drexel glanced around and then looked at MiMi. “You moved in here like a kept woman. At least your sister found her own husband. You ran around with Jack Crown of all people. His father is a fool. Another Black politician who got caught red handed. Your mother can’t stand the wife either.”

  “Jack was good to me. By the way, the Landry family can’t throw stones, Daddy,” MiMi clipped.

  “At least he had more brains than his father. Humph, must have skipped a generation. You didn’t even wait until the man was actually divorced. Use your head next time,” Drexel replied.

  “Like with Roddy? As I recall you and Mother thought he was the perfect catch.” MiMi gave a snort.

  “He had his faults, but he knew his family business well. More importantly, Roderick was willing to overlook your past.”

  “You… I can’t believe this.” MiMi bit off the stream of cuss words that almost came out. “Roddy is the reason I ended up in prison.”

  Her father seemed to ignore the truth. “Roderick would have talked you both out of the situation, but as usual you acted on impulse.” Drexel heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to fight with you, MiMi. What we built, the effort we made for over a year has the potential to make our company a lot of money, not just in the immediate future. I’m looking ahead. These men have access to more mining firms, imports goods. No more begging for minority set asides or taking insults that the only reason we have business is because of affirmative action. Damn bigots.”

  “You, you, you. Adrienne didn’t fall far from the tree. You probably could care less if I end up in prison. Just like you don’t care that Adrienne is trying to destroy my family.” MiMi’s voice trembled despite her efforts to not get emotional.

  “You benefit very much from what I worked to provide young lady. As for Adrienne, your sister is trying to give your child a good life. You keep getting into scandals and sketchy situations with those so-called friends of yours. I mean Jack Crown’s estranged wife and her jailbird stripper sister.” Drexel pushed the coffee cup away as he gave a grunt of disgust.

  MiMi came around the counter. “Get out of my house. Now.”

  “Think carefully before you burn this bridge. I helped maintain this house, make life very comfortable for you. Your friends can’t bankroll a fancy lifestyle ,” Drexel rumbled.

  “I’ll work three minimum wage jobs before I take another dirty dime from you,” MiMi said, shaking with the effort not to scream and frighten Sage. “I mean it. Get the hell out of my house.”

  Drexel stood slowly. “I won’t easily forgive you speaking to me like this, MiMi. I’m your father and I demand respect.”

  “You haven’t earned it, not with money. Oh, and I’ll tell the police anything they want to know. Goodbye.” MiMi glared at him.

  “Okay then. As of right now you’re on your own.”

  Drexel went to Sage and patted her on the head. He frowned at MiMi once more before he strolled from the kitchen. MiMi followed him to the front door, fists balled tight at her side. Her father turned as if to say something, but stopped. Something in her eyes must have changed his mind. He undid the locks, pulled open the door and went to his shiny black Mercedes GL SUV. Once the door slammed shut, MiMi shook with the strength it took not to fall apart. Somehow she managed to play with Sage, give her a bath and put her to bed. Yet the toddler became fretful as though she’d picked up on the tension. When she finally tucked Sage in for the night, MiMi stumbled to her bedroom. She spent the night crying into her pillow.

  Chapter 17

  MiMi and Jazz sat on Willa’s patio, the only space she’d let Jazz smoke. All three friends were dressed in T-shirts, Capri slacks and sandals. The kids were busily working off the hot dogs and chips they’d wolfed down. Sage romped around with Mikayla on the back lawn. After a time they settled on the grass to make a flower necklace. In a rare concession to family time for a teenager, Anthony was at home. He was playing a pick-up basketball game with a couple of friends on the wide driveway. No doubt generous helpings of food had played a part in his decision. The sounds of the bouncing ball could be heard on the other side of the wooden fence. Willa returned from the kitchen with refills of her special strawberry lemonade. The lovely spring Saturday afternoon should have been a happy time.

  Jazz sucked on her cigarillo and blew smoke above her head. “I still say you should let me whip Adrienne’s ass. Add your daddy to the list.”

  “Nah. Besides, daddy might be old, but he’s tough as a pitbull.” MiMi tried to make a joke of it and failed. Miserably. She wanted to cry because after all those years he could still hurt her.

  “Nobody is whipping anybody’s,” Willa snapped. Still holding the tray with tall glasses, she stared down at Jazz. “Especially not anybody’s daddy.”

  “I’m just kiddin’ around.” Jazz shrugged.

  “Uh-huh, make sure you keep it that way.” Willa put the tray on the round table and sat down.

  “Your family is bat shit crazy,” Jazz muttered.

  “Watch your language. The kids might hear you,” Willa said as if by reflex.

  “Not way over there. Relax your butt muscles.”

  “They reached a new level of low down,” MiMi said, for once not noticing Jazz’s language. “Crazy is only half of it.”

  “The best thing we can do is make sure our kids don’t go through the same kind of craziness,” Willa said.

  “I’ll drink to that,” MiMi replied.

  The three women raised their glass, tapped them in a toast, and drank in unison. For a few moments they sat in silence watching and listening to the children at play. The cool morning had given way to warm weather in the upper seventies. The birds flew against the clear blue skies and a few white clouds. Giggling, Sage jumped up to run around holding a long string of flowers with Mikayla in hot pursuit.

  “I won’t let my parents make Sage feel like a second hand dress. And Adrienne? She mostly wants to take something from me. Having a pretty little girl to create her ‘picture perfect’ family is a bonus.” MiMi picked up her lemonade glass, suddenly wishing she could swig something a lot stronger.

  “Hey, you’ve pulled the teeth out of her custody case. You’re not a suspect for Roderick’s murder, well not their best one anyway,” Jazz said.

  MiMi sighed. “Adrienne has plenty of ammunition left. I’m still connected to two murders. As for my job? Let’s just say I’m hanging onto it by a thin thread. Kelly would love nothing more than to cut me loose.”

  Willa shook her head. “Hey, you have to look at the positives. Edselle says mud slinging won’t hold up in court. He’s got the transcripts from the Dominican court, which shows you didn’t even know about the drug deal. You fully cooperated with the Baton Rouge detectiv
es, which resulted in a promising lead to real suspects.”

  “Now if we could just take some shine off your sister’s solid citizen, loving wife and mama image…” Jazz squinted as if coming up with ideas.

  “I didn’t find anything,” Willa said.

  MiMi gasped. “You looked for dirt on my sister?”

  “Sorry, I should have asked you first.” Willa wore a sheepish expression. “I went over the line.”

  “No, you did what a real friend would do.” MiMi got up, hugged Willa and sat back down. She dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.

  “Our background checks from usual data sources turned up zero.” Willa crossed her legs.

  MiMi leaned back in her chair and took a nice long sip of the lemonade. “I rattled one particular skeleton. As your Aunt Ametrine would say in her church lady voice, I think them dry bones are about to fall out into the light.”

  Willa frowned. “What does that mean?”

  For the first time, MiMi didn’t have to force the smile she wore. “Adrienne probably doesn’t even remember telling me about her hubby’s mistress.”

  Jazz waved a hand. “Girl, please. Everybody has a side piece these days, wives and husbands. Naw, you need something juicy. You know, pictures of him goin’ into a seedy massage parlor or with a street prostitute. Maybe a few pictures of him dressed in a diaper getting a spanking. Yeah, I’m liking these ideas more and more. ”

  “Oh hell no!” Willa blurted out loudly. When Mikayla’s head snapped around, Willa waved at her. “Just saying hello to you guys. Let me know if you want more lemonade.”

  MiMi laughed. “Thanks for the creative solutions, but let’s save the scorched earth approach as a last resort.”

  “Okay, but remember I’ve got the resources.” Jazz gazed back at Willa, undaunted by her scowl of disapproval.

  Willa hissed, but turned her attention back to MiMi. “Okay, now give us the delicious details. This sounds really good.”

  “I did a little investigating on my own with some friends, and friends of friends. Chris is sleeping with a divorced ex-debutante in their social circle. Nedra is a bit needy, and she’s hoping he’ll leave Adrienne.” MiMi paused to sip more lemonade.

  “Amazing how women believe married men when they say that stuff,” Willa said.

  “Apparently she’s counting on it. Nedra attended a big charity event put on by Baton Rouge Links, Inc. I’ve skipped the last two or three, but not this year.” MiMi grinned widely. “I might have dropped a few hints about the happy couple, how they’re going at it hot and heavy to have a baby; how Chris just adores his trophy family.”

  Jazz shrugged. “So what? Side-line women expect their married guys to put on a front.”

  “I have to agree, MiMi. Plus I don’t get how dropping that knowledge on her will help the custody case.” Willa blinked in confusion as though trying to figure it out.

  MiMi rested her head against the chair. Her plan had sounded so smart a few days before. Describing it to her pals made it sound flimsy, and very uncertain. Still, she had hope. “We’ll see. I need insurance even with things looking a bit better.”

  “Hey, mama, we got company. Anthony gave a short jerk of his thumb over one shoulder when the women looked around.

  Don strolled in ahead of Detectives Drake and Forrester. His expression was unreadable behind the dark sunglasses he wore. The two detectives walked onto the patio wearing mirror frowns.

  “Afternoon, ladies,” Don said, speaking up first. “My colleagues wanted to talk with y’all again. They agreed to let me tag along.”

  “Coming was all your idea,” Drake retorted. “Not that it’s going to help your little friends here.”

  “Ladies.” Forrester gave them all a curt nod. “We’re having a problem finding Miss Nairoby Villa.”

  “Mostly because you gave her the heads up and time to run,” Drake put in, pointing a meaty forefinger at MiMi.

  MiMi shrunk back into the canvas of the chaise lounge in the face of his fierce gaze. “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You visited Ms. Villa on April twenty-seventh. Two hours later she checked out of her room. Coincidence?” Detective Forrester took off his sunglasses and shoved them into a shirt pocket.

  “I wanted to talk to her, sure. She claims I owe her and her business partners a lot of money. My lawyer has been discussing that claim with them, but I wanted more information.” MiMi glanced at Willa for a signal.

  Drake moved forward as if he’d seen the non-verbal cues bouncing between the women. “You told us you and Mr. Jefferson weren’t in business together.”

  MiMi resisted the urge to look at Willa or Jazz. Instead she lifted her chin to gaze back at Drake. “The supposed business was with my deceased fiancé a couple of years ago. Jack Crown.”

  “Damn, how many murdered ex-boyfriends does this woman have?” Drake gave a grunt and looked at his partner. “Some bad mojo getting romantically involved with you, girl.”

  “So you come in here insulting me and expect cooperation? Well let me tell you a few things, detective.” MiMi sat up straight.

  “No, we’ll do the talking for a little longer, and then you’ll cooperate,” Forrester said in a tone that sliced through the atmosphere like a steak knife. His measured, reasonable persona dropped, he crossed to sit in the empty chair near MiMi.

  “Look guys, these ladies are good people. MiMi might be fumbling around playing amateur detective, but…”

  Drake held up a palm. “Addison, we agreed to let you come on one condition. So stay outta the way and keep it shut.”

  “Hey, don’t you talk to him like that,” Jazz said jumping to her feet. She put both hands on her hips. “Don’s a decorated and very respected cop. He wouldn’t put his career on the line even for me.”

  Drake shot his partner a look. Then he glanced from Don to Jazz and back again. “Oh, so that explains why you wanted to come today. Seems we’re out of the loop on station house gossip.”

  “Put your smart remarks on hold, Greg, or else…” Don spoke in deceptively even tone.

  “Or else I’ll let the boss know you’re interfering with our investigation to protect your lady friend,” Drake replied.

  “Detective Addison, my partner has a point. Let us ask the questions and let Ms. Landry do the answering,” Forrester broke in. He raised a palm to his partner as if telling him to back down. Drake huffed, but said nothing. “Ms. Landry, we only have your word that you and Ms. Villa aren’t associates of some kind.”

  “I didn’t help her go back to the Dominican Republic,” MiMi blurted out.

  “Ms. Villa found out from you we’re looking for her. Now why would you warn a suspect?” Drake crossed his arms.

  “I didn’t warn her. I only wanted to get more information before she left. I mean once she was out of the country learning more would have been impossible.” MiMi didn’t flinch when his dark eyes narrowed to slits.

  “Except she’s not out of the country,” Forrester said.

  “But she…” MiMi stopped at a hiss from Jazz.

  Drake gave a short humorless laugh that was more a growl. “Surprise.”

  “Your behavior implies that you know more than you’ve told us. Interfering with a police investigation is a crime,” Forrester said and glanced at Don as if warning him to keep quiet.

  “Might make us think you helped these folks kill Jefferson, maybe some sweet payback for him slipping around behind your back. Let’s go.” Drake jerked his head toward the door leading into the house.

  Don took off his sunglasses as he stepped forward. “Hey, wait up guys. You didn’t say anything about taking her in for questioning.”

  “I’m not going anywhere today. My little girl is here. I’ll set up an appointment for Monday.” MiMi glared back at Drake.

  “You’ll come now, Ms. Landry. We have a warrant for your arrest based on forensics from the crime scene, your actions with Ms. Villa and circumstantial evidence.” Forrester placed a ha
nd on Don’s chest. “Stand down, Addison. Our case. The boss was clear. You want to call him?”

  “Look man, I know these are friends of yours. But getting in the middle now is a bad idea,” Drake said quietly.

  Willa went to MiMi and put an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of Sage and make sure she doesn’t get upset.”

  MiMi stood. “At least let me go tell my baby goodbye. Willa, call my lawyer.”

  ****

  Two hours later MiMi was at home. She wouldn’t answer questions without Edselle Cunningham. Once he got there, they had to let MiMi go. At home with Sage, MiMi tried to relax. She moved around doing chores with Sage perched on one hip. She put clothes in the washer and started. Next Sage’s dinner went in the warmer and her own leftovers warming in the oven. MiMi worked on making their Saturday evening normal. When she yelped at the front doorbell, MiMi realized she wasn’t doing a very good job. Sage blinked at her with a baby frown as if deciding whether to cry.

  “Calm down, baby girl. Mama’s just being silly.” MiMi laughed and made a funny face. When her little frown eased into a smile, MiMi sighed with relief. “Now let’s see who’s at the front door. But we won’t open it unless it’s somebody nice to us, will we?”

  “Baba,” Sage replied.

  MiMi placed her on the living room floor and piled up toys. She went to the front door. “I’ll just take a look and see who we’re going to ignore tonight.”

  “It’s me, open up,” Willa called out. She stood back to make sure MiMi could get a good look under the lights on either side of the door.”

  Once she’d undone the locks, MiMi glanced around. “What are you doing here?”

  “Checking on you, and finding out what happened.” Willa didn’t wait for more of an invitation. She walked past MiMi. Hearing Sage’s baby talk, she continued into the living room. “Hello sweet pea.”

  “My nerves are on edge,” MiMi said.