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Molly squeezed his hand. “Hey. You said she was a traveler. Let’s think of her on a sunny beach somewhere, okay?”
“She’s more likely to be climbing a mountain,” Gabe said, forcing a mental picture of Gigi in mountaineering gear over the gruesome imaginary picture of her being dead. “She’s feisty.” He braced himself. “What other calls did my dad make?”
“A few to his oncologist, a few to local businesses. One to the veterinarian.”
Gabe looked at Molly’s whiteboard. “Dad used his burner whenever he contacted Xavier, so none of those calls would show up. It never occurred to me to search Dad’s place for another phone. Was that what the vandals were looking for?”
“Possibly,” Molly said, her lips pursed. “If they found it, they’ve destroyed it, I’m sure.”
“Snipping loose ends,” Antoine agreed. “First Rocky, then the attempt to poison your dog to get to you, then the attempt on Xavier’s life, and finally the way that the Paul Lott wannabe tried herding Xavier to New Orleans for reasons still unknown.”
“But not good,” Molly said with a scowl.
“Not good at all.” Antoine rubbed his face with both palms. “I’m starting to wind down. I’m going to take a nap at my desk before I drive home.”
“Have Phin walk you out,” Molly said insistently.
“I will. He’s checked your truck for bugs and tracking devices. So far, nothing.”
“I’ve rented a car,” Molly said. “My truck is too visible and I’m afraid they’ll use the truck license number to find my car’s license number. I need to be able to move freely.”
Antoine made a sound of approval. “Be sure to charge it to Burke.”
“Already did,” she said with a quick grin, then sobered. “Is there any chatter about the guy who shot the cop and got away?”
“A little. Mostly concern for the wounded officer and vows to ‘make the bastard pay’ when they catch him. A few wondering who loosened his cuffs. They got prints from the SUV the guy had stolen from Paul Lott.” He smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “And guess what they match?”
They looked at him blankly. “What?” Gabe asked.
“Oh.” Antoine gave his head a rueful little shake. “I got ahead of myself. I dusted the papers you retrieved from your father’s house last night. The only prints were his own, but I’ve got access to the prints taken from the walls by the Metairie sheriff’s people.” He didn’t offer how he’d gotten access, and Gabe didn’t ask. “I got your father’s prints from the autopsy report, and I got yours from a coffee cup you used yesterday, Gabe—I hope you’re okay with that—so that I could eliminate any prints you and your dad left. I found a few of Burke’s, too, but there was one that was different. It was near one of the holes in the wall.”
Holes made because someone was looking for something hidden in his father’s house.
Gabe sucked in a breath as he made the connection. “The print on my dad’s wall matches the ones left in Paul Lott’s SUV?”
“Ding, ding, ding!” Antoine grinned. “One and the same. Unfortunately, there were no prints on the meat that was used to hurt your dog.”
“He wore gloves,” Molly said. “I saw them on his hands when he was running away. What was the poison?”
“Rat poison. A lot of it.” He looked at Gabe. “I’m so glad your pup didn’t lick it. He would have been seriously sick. If he’d eaten it all, it would have killed him.”
“Bastards,” Gabe snarled. “Going after college kids and dogs.”
“And retired cops and their sons,” Molly said softly. “You are at risk, Gabe. Please do not forget that.”
Gabe hadn’t. Not for a moment. “I know.”
Antoine pushed to his feet, swaying a little. “Whoa, that was a head rush. I am in serious caffeine decline. Gonna crash in my office for a while.”
Concern creased Molly’s brow. “Let us drive you home.”
“Nah. Phin’s here. I’ll be fine. I promise,” he added when she looked unconvinced. “I’ll even text you to let you know I’m home safe,” he added teasingly. “Mom.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hush. I wouldn’t be your mom for all the beignets in New Orleans. You must have been a handful as a kid.”
“And a half,” he agreed with a laugh. “Gabe, nice to meet you. When everything settles, I’m gonna come to your restaurant for more of that étouffée. Joy brought me some earlier, and it was fantastic. Almost as good as my mama’s, but I’ll never admit that to her.” He waved and ambled from the room.
Molly watched him go, still concerned. “I wish he’d let us take him home. I’m going to make sure Phin checks on him.” She rose to take more photos of the whiteboard, then began erasing it away.
