Page 100 of The Cajun Doctor

Of course, Clarence didn’t help matters with his constant refrain of “Holy shit!”

Which did not amuse the FBI agent, at all. “I’m a crack shot with clay pigeons, you know? One bird or another, makes no difference to me,” he told Clarence up close and personal, nose to beak. And he was serious.

Brad was a no-nonsense kind of guy, barely cracking a smile, except with Samantha with whom he was a little bit flirty. To Samantha’s delight, Daniel acted jealous, making sniping remarks about Brad under his breath, such as, “Probably sucks up steroids like lollipops.” Or “Didn’t anyone tell him the fifties are over with that haircut.” Or “If he winks at you one more time, I’m gonna puke.”

“There are two separate cases here, the only link between them being Angus, as a gambler with loan sharking issues to the Dixie Mob, and Angus working with Dr. Coltrane in illegal baby trafficking.”

Angus cringed, but Luc pressed his arm in assurance.

“Despite their differences,” Brad went on, “we’ve got to act quickly on both cases. Normally, I would put you two in safe houses until all the legal proceedings are completed.” He was looking pointedly at Lily Beth and Angus. Ignoring their obvious displeasure, he added, “But there’s no time for that.”

Uh-oh! Why is there no time? Samantha wondered.

“Instead, we’ll post guards here 24/7. One inside and one outside.”

More unwanted guests for Daniel! That was proven true when Daniel complained, “But there are no more beds here for . . . guests.” He was probably picturing more trips to the furniture warehouse.

Brad glared at Daniel for interrupting, but explained. “The agents will rotate shifts. It won’t be the same person all the time. And none of them will sleep here, or they’ll know why they call me the buzz saw.” That last was probably a joke, FBI humor, but no one laughed.

Daniel nodded, uncaring that Brad could do what he wanted, with or without Daniel’s approval. Samantha was about to warn Daniel to be careful but Brad had already moved on.

“Okay, two cases, two separate but overlapping crimes. The Dixie Mob first. Fred Olsen from our Baton Rouge office is already heading up that investigation. Fred, you want to explain the situation to these folks?”

Fred, about fifty years old, with steel gray hair, wearing a lime green polo shirt and khakis, looked like he would be perfectly at home on a country club golf course.

Scotsmen were avid golfers and the men, and women, of the Starr family were scratch golfers, except for Samantha who couldn’t see the sport in spending half a day hitting a little ball with a stick. Nick was a good golfer, too, more for the networking possibilities. Not that golf had anything to do with the current situation.

“We’re already well into an investigation of the Guenot branch of the Dixie Mob,” Fred told them. “In fact, we expect to make the arrests later today or tomorrow morning. We have enough evidence to put the bunch of them away for decades. That’s confidential information, by the way.”

“Does that mean, you don’t need me?” Angus asked hopefully.

“As you know, Mister Starr, your lawyer negotiated a deal for you,” Fred said, clearly not a happy camper about the deal or Angus’s question.

At first, Samantha didn’t realize that the FBI agent was referring to Angus when he said, “Mister Starr.”

Angus glanced over at Luc with surprise.

Luc shrugged. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you yet.”

“We’ll take all your testimony, Mister Starr, but we won’t use it in open court filings. A grand jury presence might be required, but that remains to be seen . . . and negotiated,” Fred explained. “However, we will require you to give us detailed intel on the Guenot compound, and you’ll come into my office this afternoon to look over some mug shots. We consider your information to be corroborating evidence.”

Angus did a little fist pump in the air, then asked in a way too aggressive voice, “And what do I get from this deal? Will I still have to pay Jimmy back the money he loaned me, with interest?”

Fred bristled at Angus’s tone, and Luc stepped in to elaborate. “Criminals, even those in prison, have long arms. If Guenot and his gang know you have anything to do with their conviction, they might have hit men on the outside come after you. You’d be looking over your shoulder for life.”

Angus’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times at that prospect, and he wasn’t looking quite so aggressive.

“So, your benefit, young man, is anonymity,” Fred said sternly, “or as far as we can keep it anonymous.”

Angus nodded his acceptance.

“That doesn’t mean that you won’t have to testify against Dr. Coltrane, however. Same goes for you, Ms. Starr, and you, Ms. Fontenot,” Brad interjected. “Besides, Mister Starr, you could still be arrested for your involvement in the baby-selling scheme. Your hotshot lawyer hasn’t negotiated you out of that one.”

“Yet,” Luc mouthed to Angus.

“As for the money to be repaid, no, you would not be handing over any money to the mob, but you might be handed a sizeable fine by the courts.”

Angus appeared duly chastised.