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“Just lookin’ for a friend. He might be hurt. Tall, black hair, nice build. Someone thought they saw him here.”
“Sorry, man. No one here except me and my daughter,” said Luc. “I’d appreciate it if you’d get off my steps.”
“Jefe, you should watch your tongue,” said another man. Luc smiled, pulling his weapon as Otto and Gabe did the same.
“I don’t have to. Jefe. This is my home, my city. You might do well to understand that this is south Louisiana. Almost every man owns a gun and knife and knows how to use it. Now get off my property.”
“No problem. We’re going. If you see our friend, let us know. We’re staying at the Delacroix.” Casey just nodded, looking at Luc. They watched as the three men walked away, then followed Casey to her door.
“You don’t have to come in,” she said. “I have several locks on my door.”
“Humor us,” said Otto. He watched as Casey unlocked the three locks, opening the door to a clean but small apartment.
“See, no one,” she smiled. Otto nodded his head, smiling back at her.
“Let us know if you have any trouble, okay?” She nodded, kissing their cheeks as they left. Seeing the sheets folded on her sofa, she thought maybe her guest was gone. Instead, he walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Oh!” she squealed, turning her back to him.
“Sorry,” he said. “I just needed to shower off the rest of this blood. Are you okay?”
“Yes. There were three men on my stoop looking for you, I think.” The man frowned, walking toward the closed blinds and peeking out. He didn’t see anyone on the stoop, but that didn’t mean they weren’t still near.
“I need to leave,” he said.
“It could be dangerous for you,” she said, chastising herself. “Why don’t you wait until tomorrow, and I’ll drive you out to your home.”
“No. I need to leave now,” he said, going back into the bathroom and putting on his dirty clothes.
“How will you get there?”
“I’ll find a way,” he smiled. “Thank you, beautiful Casey. I won’t forget this.”
“Wait! I didn’t get your name.”
He disappeared into her backyard, jumping over the fence to the yard behind her. He turned, smiling at her, and said something, but she couldn’t hear him.
“Of course. My knight in shining armor comes covered in blood, sought by gangsters, and disappears without a name. Your luck really sucks, Casey Islip.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ghost and Max drove out to the newly renovated Maison Belle to check on Mr. Houston. As they approached the apartments, both men smiled.
“Well, that’s a turnaround,” grinned Ghost.
“No, shit. Wow. Grant really outdid himself on this place. New landscaping, paint, windows, screens, lighting, all of it. Just wow.”
As the two men walked toward Mr. Houston’s apartment, they noticed a mix of residents seated in the courtyard. Some were playing chess or checkers, others were reading, while others cooked on the communal grill. Mr. Houston was seated right in the middle of it all.
“Well, I don’t think we have to worry about him, do we?” chuckled Ghost.
“No, it seems he’s made a few friends since last we saw him.” They got closer, smiling down at the blind man. “Mr. Houston? We were here a few weeks back.”
“You’re the men that did all this!” he said excitedly. Others turned, walking toward Ghost and Max, shaking their hands. “We can’t thank y’all enough. All the apartments are nice and fresh. Clean. We got windows we can open now and air conditioning that works. Hell, I even got a fan in my bedroom.”
“We’re happy to hear that, Mr. Houston,” smiled Max. “How about the rest of you?”
“I’m new,” said an older woman, “but this is the first place that offered a rent I could afford. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a scam.”
