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“Of course, sir. I’ll see you on Monday.”
He left her staring after him.
Perfect.
The Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana
FRIDAY, JULY 29, 6:40 P.M.
“Wow.” From the front passenger seat of Burke’s Escalade, Molly stared up at the stately Garden District home belonging to one Lamont Ducote. “It’s even fancier than Mule’s house.”
Burke grunted. “He inherited the house and a lot of money from wife number one.”
“After he killed her,” Gabe muttered from behind her.
“Fucking asshole.” Xavier’s mutter came from the back floorboard.
“At least he doesn’t have a gate,” Burke said as he pulled up to the curb.
“And he’s not home,” Xavier added.
“Plan’s the same?” Molly asked. “I try first, then if she’s agreeable, Gabe will join me. Gabe, you’re our videographer. Try to be discreet, but I want a record of everything if possible. Xavier, you stay in the SUV with Burke and keep your head down. Don’t make me have to explain to your mother that you got hurt—or worse—on my watch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Xavier promised. “I will. We might not have even needed wife number three if Gabe’s aunt weren’t still gallivanting all over the world.”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t make this any safer. Okay, I’m off. I’m calling you now, Burke, so you can listen in on the convo.” She dialed Burke’s number and he crossed his fingers before hitting accept.
“Be careful,” Gabe whispered fiercely. “Please.”
She reached behind the seat to give his hand a squeeze. “I promise.”
The Ducotes’ lawn was impeccably manicured. Molly bet it took an entire team of gardeners to keep it this nice. She drew a breath when she got to the front door, tugging on her jacket to hide her holster. The gun in her holster belonged to Burke, because the cops had taken both of hers yesterday and hadn’t given them back, citing their use in the killing of the men attempting to abduct Chelsea and Harper. She supposed she was lucky that they hadn’t kept both her and Gabe, too.
Thank you, Willa Mae.
Bolstering herself, Molly knocked. And listened. She heard nothing. She pressed the doorbell and heard an ostentatious chime echoing through the house. But still nothing.
“Maybe she’s in the backyard,” she said for Burke’s benefit. “Maybe they’ve got a pool.”
She walked around the house, pausing when she came to the garage.
She could hear something here. An engine. She walked up to the side door to the garage and peered in. And her gut turned over.
“Burke, Gabe, you need to come. There’s a car in the garage with the motor running and it looks like there’s someone inside.”
“Wait for us,” Burke commanded tersely, then just before the SUV doors slammed she heard him remind Xavier to stay hidden. “Where?” he shouted as he rounded the house.
“In here.” Ending her call with Burke, Molly shoved at the door with her shoulder, then winced. “Ouch, that really hurt. Gabe, you start recording. I’ll call 911.”
Gabe started the video then handed Molly his phone. “Hold this for a minute. Burke, together on three.”
The two men slammed into the door once, twice, three times before the frame splintered. The three of them immediately started coughing at the exhaust fumes.
“This is 911. What is your emergency?” the operator asked.
Continuing to record her partners with Gabe’s phone, Molly answered the operator on her own phone, giving her the address. “We have a woman in a garage with the car engine running. My partner is trying to get her out of the car and into fresh air. Please send an ambulance.”
“It’s on its way. Stay on the phone with me, please. What is your name?”
