Page 77 of Xavier

“No.” He shook his head. “Feisty. She’s feisty and won’t let much get her down.”

“She is that.” Lissette secured her hair in a ponytail at the base of her neck and pulled on her shoes.

Downstairs, in the kitchen, they worked together making omelets and fed Napoleon pieces of bread.

“I’m sure Gerard and Bellamy have some chicken feed at their place,” Xavier said. “I’ll ask him to bring some on his way through town.”

Jacques and Anton joined them, opting for coffee and toast. They were heading back out into the bayou. A couple of hardheaded men had refused to leave their homes. They’d give them one more shot at leaving with them, then head back to town, where they’d hole up in the boat factory that had been hardened when they’d remodeled it for use as headquarters for the Bayou Brotherhood Protectors.

They all left the boarding house at the same time, running out into the rain to climb into their vehicles.

Jacques and Anton headed for the marina.

Lissette went with Xavier to their headquarters.

Remy was already there with Beau and Landry, who’d dressed in rain jackets. Lucas and Remy were fitting them with body cameras similar to those worn by law enforcement officers. The difference was that these would provide a live feed of their meeting with Odette. Lissette could observe from within her ankle-monitor safe zone.

After they’d secured the cameras over their jackets, they tested the feed on the computer. Beau and Landry stepped out into the boat factory portion of the building while Lucas, Remy, Xavier and Lissette observed what came into the cameras’ range.

Once they were certain the cameras were working, Beau and Landry, armed with the addresses of Odette’s home and business and a list of questions, stepped out into the rain.

To conserve the batteries, they wouldn’t turn the cameras on until they found Odette.

For the next forty-five minutes, Lissette paced the conference room, returning to the blank computer monitors, willing them to go live.

At one point, Remy received a text. “She wasn’t at her home. They’re heading for the business address.”

Ten minutes later, Remy came to stand next to Lissette. “It’s quite possible she left under the mandatory evacuation order.”

Lissette shook her head. Odette had to be there. They needed answers, and she might be the only one who could provide them.

The two monitors blinked to life. The view was one of heavy rain with the outline of a building barely visible through the downpour.

“They’re live,” Lucas announced and turned up the volume.

“We’re outside the business address. It looks like a small warehouse,” Landry said. “There’s a pickup parked in front of it.”

He stood back while Beau approached the door and knocked. After several seconds, he knocked again. When no one answered, he opened the door and called out. “Hello! Anyone home?”

Landry had followed Beau to the door. “We hear a voice inside. Sounds female.”

A woman appeared in Beau’s camera feed. “Hello. Oh dear, do come in out of the rain.”

The woman Lissette remembered from her visit to the Mamba Wamba hurried toward Beau with a warm, friendly smile. “I was just packaging some items I just can’t leave to chance with this hurricane. Can I help you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Beau said. “I’m Beau, this is Landry,” he pointed back at Landry. “We’re with Bayou Brotherhood Protectors. We’re looking for some information. Could you answer some questions for us?”

“Of course. If you don’t mind, I'll keep working while we talk. Come with me.” She smiled and led the way into the warehouse, stopping in front of a crate full of items already rolled in packing paper.

She picked up what looked like an urn-like vase, wrapped it in packing paper and placed it gently in the crate. “What is it you’d like to know?” She waved toward one side of the building. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No, thank you,” Beau said. “We don’t want to hold you up.” He pulled the list of questions out of his pocket and spread it out.

“My, my. You came prepared. What kinds of questions do you have on your list?” She rolled an ornate box in more packing paper and laid it in the crate.

“Ms. Prejean, have you heard about the cemetery near Bayou Mambaloa?”

She blinked at Beau. “Oh, dear, yes. Such a tragedy. All those tombs vandalized, damaged and looted. The families must be beside themselves.” She smiled at Beau. “What can I do to help?”