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“And let him go?” Molly asked sarcastically. “Like they let the Paul Lott impersonator go?”
“If they do, we’ll be waiting to scoop him up. I promise you that.”
Molly’s throat worked as she swallowed. “Okay. I want to take Xavier to his old neighborhood today. I need to know where his neighbor lived. Is that too dangerous now?”
Burke was quiet for a long moment. “Probably,” he finally answered. “His mother tried to remember Xavier’s old address, but she could only recall the street name. It was on Center Street near the intersection with West Judge Perez in Chalmette. I’m going to show him photos of the current neighborhood on Google Earth. If he can’t remember from the pictures, you can take him. But you won’t go alone. I’ll find someone to go with you.”
Molly met Gabe’s gaze and for a moment he thought she would tell him that he couldn’t go. But she didn’t, surprising him yet again. “Gabe will go with me. I’m not leaving him alone.”
“You could bring Gabe to my cabin,” Burke suggested.
“I might afterward. For now, he stays with me.”
Burke was quiet again, then sighed. “Everyone wears Kevlar. No exceptions. I’ll have Val bring it to you after she goes to court for the arraignment. I want eyes in that courtroom.”
“Will they close the arraignment to the public?” she asked.
“Possibly. But given these charges are technically only road-rage and weapons related, probably not. If they do, I’ll contact André. I also want to know who’s financing Eckert’s attorney. And, if he makes bail, who paid it.”
“All right,” she said, her tone quiet but steely. “But I’d prefer not to wait too long for the Kevlar. I’ve got a vest with me. Can you send Phin over with vests for Gabe and Patty? We don’t have any idea of how long Val will be in court. I don’t want to waste time that I could use searching for the Katrina victim.”
“I’ll tell him. He can bring you what you need.”
She nodded once. “Thank you. Where are you?”
“At the camp. I’m with Xavier now. He couldn’t sleep. We’ll try to get an address for the Katrina victim. Hold tight until we call back.”
“Burke, wait.” It was Xavier. “Don’t hang up yet. Gabe, it’s me. I was upset yesterday that I’d dragged my friends and family into danger. What did you tell me?”
Gabe exhaled. Damn the kid. “That it wasn’t your doing. That it wasn’t your fault.”
“Yeah. Same goes. This isn’t on you. This is on the assholes who killed them.”
“I know,” Gabe said hoarsely. “But knowing it and knowing it are two different things.”
“I get it, Gabe,” Xavier said, his voice heavy with regret. “I really do. Molly? Don’t let him feel guilty.”
Molly’s smile was small but genuine. “I won’t, Xavier. Thank you.”
Gabe ended the call and sat, clutching his phone while staring into Molly’s calm eyes. “I don’t know what to feel right now.”
She brushed his hair from his forehead, then cupped his cheek. “I know, baby. I can’t make it better right now. But we will not rest until the assholes who killed them are either dead or rotting in jail.”
He believed her. He had to believe her. She was all that was holding him together right now.
“I need to do something for Dusty. We were friends since high school. He has a wife and two little kids. I need to call her.”
“Not just yet. As soon as it’s safe, you can do whatever you think is right. And I’ll go with you, if you want, to pay your respects to his family in person. You aren’t alone, Gabe.”
He bowed his head, resting his forehead on her shoulder. “Thank you.”
She kissed his temple. “Stay here. I’m going to check on Patty and tell Val what’s happened.”
He shook his head, following her when she rose. “No. We stay together.”
He thought she’d say he was silly because she was just going to the adjoining room, but she simply gripped his hand harder. “Together.”
