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Burke gave him a smile. “I know. You’re a good person, Xavier, and a helluva lot stronger than you think you are.” He started to bring the screenshots up on his laptop, but was interrupted by the buzzing of his cell phone. “It’s Joy. Let me take this.”
He picked up the phone, not putting it on speaker. “Good morning, sunshine,” he said with a smile. A smile that abruptly disappeared. “Play it,” he said tersely.
What now?Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
A minute passed during which Burke’s jaw got tighter, his teeth clenching hard. “Fucking hell.” He glanced at Xavier, seemed to be considering, then exhaled. “Play it again. I have Xavier here. I want him to hear this, too.”
From the corner of his eye, Xavier saw Carlos appear in the kitchen doorway, followed by Cicely. Followed by Manny and Willa Mae, who pushed to the front, coming into the kitchen to take a seat at the table.
“Okay,” Burke said. “I guess we’re all hearing this.” He put his phone on speaker. “Play it again, Joy.”
“Hello.” It was a woman’s voice, soft and quavering. She sounded scared. “My name is Alicia Rollins and I need to speak to Burke Broussard as soon as possible. It’s urgent. It’s... It’s a matter of life and death. Someone tried to kill me last night and I think it has something to do with a conversation I had with Rocky Hebert. He said I should call Mr. Broussard. I’m in New Orleans and can be in your office as soon as you can see me.”
She left her number, then added, “Please help me. I’m really scared.”
Then the call ended.
Xavier realized that he’d stopped breathing and sucked in some air. “Can she play it again? I don’t think I recognize the voice, but I want to be sure.”
Joy complied and Xavier shook his head when the message ended a second time. “I’m pretty sure that I don’t know her.”
Burke looked over at Willa Mae. “Your take?”
Willa Mae made a face. “I don’t know. She sounds scared, but...”
Cicely sat next to Willa Mae. “Can you call her at that number? Find out what she wants?”
Burke nodded. “I will, but I want a game plan first.”
“You and Willa Mae don’t believe her,” Carlos said. “Why? She does sound scared.”
Burke hesitated. “I don’t not believe her. But...” He sighed. “Two more people are dead. The private pathologist who did Rocky’s autopsy and the mortician friend of Gabe’s who transported the body.” He waited until everyone had gasped and uttered words of shock. “Gabe is devastated, as you can imagine.”
“More loose ends taken care of,” Willa Mae said quietly.
“So it would seem,” Burke agreed. “It’s very possible that this woman was targeted. And I want to hear what was said in her conversation with Rocky.”
“But you’re suspicious,” Xavier murmured. It wasn’t a major deduction on his part. It was written all over the man’s face, and Willa Mae was nodding.
“The timing seems convenient,” Burke said.
“You think she’s luring you out?” Carlos asked.
“To follow you back to us,” Manny finished grimly. “To Xavier.”
Burke shrugged. “I have to think of your safety. One thing’s certain—no way are you leaving this cabin, Xavier. If she’s legit, I’ll find her a safe house. If she’s not, I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
“Thank you,” Cicely whispered. “I was scared to let him go with you. I lay awake last night, wracking my brain for the address of Xavier’s mother’s house, but all I could remember was the street, not the house number.”
“I know,” Burke said kindly. “Now you don’t have to be scared, at least.”
“Not any more scared,” Willa Mae observed wryly.
“Sorry,” Cicely muttered to her friend. “I kept her awake, tossing and turning last night.”
Willa Mae patted his mother’s hand. “It’s all right. I just wish I could help you.”
“When will you leave, Burke?” Xavier asked.
