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“I sure as hell hope so.” Burke rubbed his face. “Okay. André, who’s investigating the murders? Which department?”
“Dr. Benson lived in Lafourche Parish, so that’s their sheriff’s department. Mr. Woodruff, the mortician, died on his way home. He lives in Mid-City, but his car went off the road in Belle Chasse, so that’s Plaquemines Parish sheriff’s department. Dr. McLain was in Baton Rouge, so that’s BRPD. My boss knows that they’re connected, so I’m coordinating. It’s too early for any sizable amount of evidence to be processed, and Dr. McLain’s lab, as I said, is a mess. They’re proceeding very carefully there so they don’t corrupt any evidence. The sprinklers came on when the fire started.” He shrugged. “It’s not going to be quick.”
Molly swallowed another sigh, conscious of Gabe rigidly holding himself together. This was a disaster. “André, what do you know about Cornell Eckert’s death? Who are you questioning?”
André scowled. “That’s not my case, and I’ve been blocked from the information.”
That shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did.
Burke narrowed his eyes. “By whom?”
“By someone higher up the pay scale than me. My boss is trying to wade through the red tape. The Feds might even be getting involved, because Eckert had some prior warrants. They were there this morning, waiting for the arraignment.”
Burke groaned. “Lord have mercy. If the Feds get involved, we’ll never get any information.”
“That’s not fair,” André cautioned. “We have a mostly decent relationship with the Feds. I think the obstruction is on our end. But, to answer your question, Molly, I don’t know much. It had to be someone around the holding area. The logs don’t show anyone having visited him after his attorney left once he was booked. All I know is that it happened at the shift change. New guard came in to get him for court and found him dead.”
Molly rubbed her forehead wearily. “What about the guy posing as Paul Lott?”
“He’s gone under,” André said, clearly frustrated.
“His prints aren’t in AFIS, either,” Antoine added.
“And I did not hear you say that,” André stated.
Antoine put on his innocent face. “Say what?”
“But we do suspect he killed the real Paul Lott, right?” Molly pressed. “What evidence do you have from that crime scene?”
“Not much,” André admitted. “No usable prints. Lott had cameras around his home, but they’d been spray-painted over. All they caught was a guy in a hoodie. All of his skin was covered. No discernible features or traits.”
“So... nothing,” Molly said, feeling exhaustion creeping in. “Okay, so the route from present back to the past isn’t looking so good.” She eyed Gabe ruefully. “Tracking Nadia’s dog is looking better and better.”
Xavier glanced around the room. Everywhere but at his mother. “What if we lay bait?” He drew a breath. “Like me.”
“No!” The word exploded from Cicely’s throat, sounding terrified and final.
Molly could understand Cicely’s reaction, but this was the first proactive idea anyone had put forward.
Burke was tilting his head thoughtfully. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Burke!” Cicely shouted. Actually shouted. She pushed to her feet, planting both fists on her hips. “No. That is simply out of the question.”
“Probably,” Burke allowed, “but let’s hear him out. You raised a smart young man. Let him talk.”
Cicely shook her head but sat down slowly. “You’re going to get my son killed.”
Gabe put his arm around her. “Let’s hear him out, like Burke said. Then we’ll say no.”
Cicely chuckled, but it came out as a sob. “Fine. Talk, Xavier.”
“I’m not keen on getting killed, Mama,” Xavier started. “But our options don’t sound so good. Especially if we ever hope to go home. I’m thinking that we create a situation that I wouldn’t be able to resist. Kind of like they tried to do with you today, Burke. Luring you out with the woman who claimed to be the victim’s sister.”
“We’re listening,” André said. “I’m inclined to agree with your mother, but keep talking.”
Cicely crossed her arms over her chest mutinously and said nothing.
“What if you call the lady back from this morning?” Carlos offered. “Tell her that X wants to talk to her? Because he saw her sister die and he needs closure or something.”
