Chapter Nine
Sabine took a second bite out of her sandwich and tried to chew, but the roast beef that had been so juicy and filled with flavor the night before now tasted like cardboard. What the hell had she been thinking? Inviting Beau into her apartment? Feeding him roast beef? She should have suggested the restaurant. It was usually loud, and there would have been little chance of being overheard. No, instead she had to play happy hostess, serving home-cooked food just mere feet from the bedroom in her tiny apartment.
Like she didn’t have enough trouble already. She should have told Beau no when he’d asked if she’d like him to accompany her to meet her family, although his offer had sounded more like an order now that she thought about it. Regardless, she couldn’t afford to keep putting herself in this position. She was already horribly attracted to him, and spending time in such close proximity to wine and beds and the sexy lingerie in her dresser drawer wasn’t the smartest thing to do.
But he’s open-minded.
She held in a sigh. The men she’d dated in the past couldn’t be bothered to hear anything about her job, her shop, her beliefs. They liked her but didn’t buy into anything they couldn’t prove. Which shouldn’t have bothered her since, technically, Maryse had never believed either until Helena showed up. But Maryse had never had that smirk on her face when Sabine talked about the paranormal. Her friend had always respected her beliefs even if she hadn’t been able to match them with her own.
And now this super sexy, kind, intelligent, single former FBI agent had actually listened to what she had to say about supernatural occurrences and considered the facts as seriously as he would have a fingerprint or a smoking gun. Sabine wasn’t going to fool herself with thinking he believed everything she’d said, but he hadn’t discounted it either. Which meant he was a rare individual.
“I hope I haven’t scared you with all this,” Beau said.
Sabine snapped back to the present. “Not exactly, although I must admit it’s a little strange.” Beau had been telling her dirty family secrets over the sandwiches and now she struggled to make some sense of it all.
She pulled a pad of paper over in front of her and began to write. After a minute, she pushed the pad over to Beau. “Is that right?”
“Looks good to me.”
Sabine looked at the family tree for a minute. “So the long and short of it is that my grandfather had a twin brother, Lloyd, who disappeared during Vietnam and was wanted for treason. The family is filthy rich and has spent almost a hundred years answering to essentially no one.”
Beau nodded. “The FBI questioned them repeatedly about Lloyd and had them under surveillance for several years, but no one has seen hide nor hair of him since the Vietnam War.”
“Any chance the family helped him hide?”
Beau shrugged. “Anything’s possible, but the government tracked their funds for a long time. No money left their bank accounts that wasn’t reasonable and explainable. And nothing was transferred to other countries.”
“So most likely he died in Vietnam and his body was never recovered.”
“Most likely.”
“Well,” Sabine said finally, “I’m glad you were so thorough. I would hate to start asking questions about the family twin legacy. Those people are so uptight, they’d probably have me removed from the property and banned for life.”
“It does seem they’re a little touchy about appearance,” Beau agreed. “Based on the local gossip, at one time the family was a huge force in local charities, politics, and church, but ever since Vietnam they’ve become more reserved. Catherine still hosts several charitable events for the church during the year, but otherwise, she rarely interacts with the locals, and Frances is almost never seen out of the house except for church.”
“Small wonder there,” Sabine said. “I thought her head was going to spin around when she thought I killed chickens for a living.”
Beau laughed. “I’d say Aunt Frances is definitely missing a step or two upstairs.”
Sabine shook her head. “Hiding yourself away is counterproductive, really. Then people only assume you have something to hide, and let’s face it, you probably do.”
“Probably.”
Sabine sighed. “I guess you’re right. A family that old is bound to have secrets. What about William?”
“William seems to be the biggest disappointment locally. Apparently, before he left for the war he was always involved in a bunch of community service. He worked with underprivileged children at the local library, teaching them to read. He co-chaired several fundraisers to buy medical equipment for the clinic in town and was key in the development of a senior network that provided drop-in care for limited mobility seniors living alone, and all of that while he was still in high school.”
“Wow, he sounds great.”
“Past tense, I’m afraid. The William who came back from Vietnam isn’t the same man as before. The only charity he attends to now is the local bar, and from what I hear, he’s a big contributor.”
Sabine shook her head. “Post-traumatic stress?”
Beau shrugged. “There’s really no telling. Lots of men come back from war changed forever.”
Sabine’s mind went back to the scene in the living room when she’d described her business. “So what’s the story on crazy Aunt Frances?”
Beau crinkled his brow. “You know, that’s one thing I was never able to get much of a line on. Both kids attended the private Catholic school in town, but some of the older residents seemed to remember your father. He did some volunteer work down at the clinic, most particularly for a Dr. Grey, but the doctor died several years ago so I wasn’t able to get any more than that.”
“Makes sense with the family saying he was going to be a doctor.”
“Yeah. Even wealthy families usually don’t frown upon working for a living if you’re a doctor.”
“But the locals didn’t really know Frances?”
“Not really. She attended private school until she was seventeen and was homeschooled after that with a private tutor from another parish. He’s dead now, so that led nowhere. Other than that, she’s never seen outside of the house, except attending church, always at her mother’s hip and never speaking a word to anyone.”
“Agoraphobic?”
Beau shrugged. “I don’t know, and I seriously doubt you’ll ever get them to admit it if that’s the case. Whatever those people are hiding, they’ve been doing it successfully for a long time. That’s why I thought you needed what little facts I had before you had any more interaction with them…assuming you want to, of course.”
Sabine looked out the window and across Main Street. At the moment, she would honestly have to admit she didn’t want any further interaction with them. The entire meeting had been like the tiny pop of a firecracker when she’d been setting up for a dynamite experience all these years. But then what choice did she have? “I…guess I do. I mean, I don’t really know them yet and they don’t know me. I suppose things could get better.”
“I suppose.”
Sabine smiled and looked over at Beau. “This is what you were warning me about, wasn’t it? You and Maryse are cut from the same cloth in certain ways.”
“Really? How’s that?”
“Oh, Maryse has always supported my search for my family, even though I believe that for the most part, she’s thought it was a waste of time. She thinks the relationships you choose to make are far more important than the ones that are forced on you. She’s always saying ‘you have to love your family, but you don’t have to like them, or want to spend time with them.’ ”
Beau grinned. “You’re right. We are cut from the same cloth. So what’s up with Maryse’s family that she doesn’t have to like them?”
“Oh, nothing at all with her blood family. Her mom and dad are both dead and there’s no other siblings. I think she’s referring to her ex-husband and his mother when she makes that statement.”
“That bad, huh?”
Sabine grimaced. “You have no idea. Helena Henry as a mother-in-law is enough to drive a girl to the convent.”
“I read about Helena’s death in the paper, then all the excitement that followed. That wasn’t that long ago.”
“Yeah, the funeral was last month.”
“Well, then it looks like Maryse is free and clear again.” He smiled at Sabine.
Sabine tried to smile but wasn’t sure she managed it convincingly. “Seems like she should be,” she hedged.
Beau glanced down at his watch and rose from the table. “It’s late. I need to take off and let you get some rest. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
Sabine rose from the table and walked with Beau to the door. “I am a little tired. I think I’m going to take a long, hot bath, then climb directly into bed.”
Beau froze when she mentioned a bath and bed, and she stepped far too close to him for her own comfort, and probably his. He studied her for a moment, the desire in his eyes apparent. Even though she knew she should step away, open the door, and send him on his way, she didn’t. No, she inched even closer…and tilted her head toward his.
His breath caught. She knew he was waiting for her to turn tail and run like she had at the café. When she held her ground, he lowered his head, his lips barely brushing hers. Her lips started to tingle and the tiny shock of pleasure radiated all the way down to her toes. He paused for just a second, but then moved in for a deeper kiss, his lips locked on hers.
She leaned into the kiss, her body perfectly molding into his. He wrapped his arms around her, and she felt the hard lines of his chest press into her. She parted her mouth, and he deepened the kiss before pulling away from her lips and trailing kisses down her neck. She sighed with pleasure, her skin jumping alive with every touch of his lips. She opened her eyes just a tiny bit, wanting to see his face, the desire that she knew would be there—and saw something move in the kitchen.
Somehow, she managed to keep herself in check, but as she opened her eyes completely, it was clear that they weren’t alone. The refrigerator door stood wide open and a huge hunk of rapidly disappearing roast beef dangled just outside of the door. Instantly, Sabine’s mind jerked back into reality. What the hell was she doing?
She broke away from Beau, her quick retreat leaving him with a confused expression. “I-I’m sorry…I can’t…” She stepped to the side, praying he didn’t turn his head or Beau Villeneuve was going to get a crash course in the “I want to believe” games.
Beau’s expression hardened. “That’s all right. I understand. You won’t have to remind me again.” He opened the door and stepped through it.
“Wait,” Sabine called after him, but he hurried down the stairs, never once looking back.
Sabine waited until the door slammed shut, then trudged downstairs to lock the door. She peeked out the front window, but Beau’s truck was already gone. Frustrated with herself, she went back up to her apartment.
The roast beef was still floating, but now a jar of mayonnaise was suspended along with it, the roast beef seeming to dip itself in the jar then disappear in pieces. “I don’t care if you’re dead—this is still breaking and entering, not to mention theft. And at the very least, it’s just plain rude, even for you.”
The sandwich stopped moving and hung in midair. “Oh, please,” Helena said, “You were so wrapped up in that detective, I could have slaughtered a cow and started a barbeque right on your kitchen table and you wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Oh really? So why is it that I sent him packing as soon as I saw you?”
“Hmmmm, guess I didn’t exactly put that together.”
“How could you? You were too busy robbing me of my leftovers.”
“Next time I’ll be less obvious.”
“Ha!” Sabine laughed. “You’re about as unobtrusive as a freight train running through here. Besides, I don’t want you sneaking, either.”
“I can see why, if you’re going to act like a hooker at your front door. Although, there’s a huge advantage to you not being able to see me. That Beau is damned good looking…almost as good looking as Maryse’s man, but she always catches me. With you, I have a really good shot at seeing some prime male behind before I leave this earth.”
An image of making love with Beau flashed through Sabine’s mind. Helena was right—his behind was grade-A prime beef. And the image would have been perfect, except for the floating buffet at the end of the bed. Sabine shuddered. No way. “From now on, you will announce yourself before you walk through the walls, do you understand me, Helena? I can still do that exorcism.”
“Yeah, yeah. Jeez, you and Maryse are such bores. It’s a wonder men are interested in you at all.”
Sabine thought about the look Beau had flashed her just before he practically ran out of her apartment. “I don’t think that’s something I have to consider any longer.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t write him off just yet…not with the way I’ve seen him look at you.” The roast beef began its journey into the mayonnaise again. “Damn! This is some of the best roast beef I’ve ever eaten. If you gave him some of this, he’ll definitely be back.”
Sabine sighed and sank into a chair at the kitchen table. “What if I don’t want him to come back?”
The sandwich stopped moving again and just hung there. Finally, it moved forward along with the mayonnaise jar and then they both came to rest on the kitchen table. The chair across from her slid backwards and the cushion flattened.
“You’re afraid,” Helena said. “You’re afraid of letting him close to you because of the cancer.”
“Maybe. Yes. Well, wouldn’t you be?”
“Probably. The question is, are you scared for him or yourself?”
Sabine buried her head in her hands, her heartbeat pounding in her temples. “I wish I knew.”
“I know my opinion probably doesn’t count for anything, but I’m going to tell you like I told Maryse. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. I lived a pretty damned long life of nothing, hiding myself from people, afraid to make connections because I might get hurt. I married a man I knew I could never love, had a child that I never could connect with, and died without a single friend to my name.”
Sabine looked across the table at the empty space, wishing she could actually see the woman who was speaking. “You think the risk is worth it? To admit your feelings for someone who might not feel the same way? To share your darkest secret knowing it could be the one thing that drives them away? Or even worse, to have them stay and love you and in the end, lose it all to a dreadful disease?”
“But you’ll never ask yourself what if.”
Tears began to form in Sabine’s eyes. “I hate it when you’re right.” She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, silently willing the unshed tears to disappear. “I met my family today.”
Her comment was met with dead silence and for a moment, Sabine wondered if Helena had left, but the seat cushion was still flattened. Finally, Helena spoke. “I didn’t realize. So what happened? I mean, if you feel like telling me that is…wow, I can’t even imagine…almost thirty years of not knowing, right?”
“Just about. They’re…different, I guess would be the polite way to describe them. Wealthy. Hey, maybe you could help me understand things along that line. I know people with money have a different set of rules, but I’m having trouble getting a handle on it. The meeting today was, well, I guess the best word is ‘weird.’ ”
“Wealth often comes with conditions. Most people don’t realize it because the wealthy keep everything hidden. But family structure is paramount. Keeping appearances is the second priority, right after keeping the money. It’s definitely a different world. And not often a pleasant one for children.”
“Yeah, I’m kinda getting that.”
“So who is the family? Anyone I would know of?”
“Maybe. They’re not that far from here. The family name is Fortescue.”
“Holy shit! The Fortescues? Jesus, no wonder you said they were weird. Hell, weird is polite. Nuts is a better description.”
Sabine felt her pulse quicken. “You know them?”
“As well as one half-ass recluse can know another. I never had much interaction with the whole family, but I did deal with Catherine before she married William. The family pretty much dropped out of sight during Vietnam and never really emerged again except church events, and I always tried to avoid church events. My hypocrisy only extended to writing checks, not actually attending. The rumor mill was always running on about them though.”
“Really? About what, exactly?”
“Some said Frances went crazy, and that’s why they didn’t come out, but that never made sense to me. Frances was only a baby during Vietnam and attended the Catholic school in town for some time. Some said Catherine was the crazy one and she made Frances that way, since she dropped out of school her senior year. Some said William was never right after the war. No matter, most everyone assumed someone—or everyone—in the family was crazy. Then the son disappeared when he was a teenager—hey, that must have been your father. Damn, this is getting interesting. And seeing as how William’s brother had disappeared years before, everyone wondered what religion exactly was being practiced in that house. Last I checked, Christians didn’t make people disappear, but that family had more than their share of missing relatives and no answers for it, according to the local police.”
“So what did people think happened?”
“There was speculation that the family was hiding the wanted brother, Lloyd, during and after Vietnam, which is why they pulled back so much from society. But I figure there was probably all sorts of government agencies just itching to find Lloyd, so there was little chance they could have hidden him all those years, even in that monstrous house of theirs. More likely he died in Vietnam and was never recovered.”
Sabine nodded. “That seems to be the most likely. And my father? Did you know anything of him besides his disappearance?”
“Seems the townspeople knew your father pretty well. Apparently he didn’t stick to the rest of his family’s rules about associating with the lower class. There was always rumors that he’d taken up with someone the family didn’t or wouldn’t approve of. Most thought he’d simply run away with the girl, even though he was giving up a fortune in inheritance to do it.”
“And when no one saw him again?”
“I don’t know. People speculated for a while, but I think they finally decided that the family must have given him some money to keep their secrets and stay away. After a while, no one spoke of him at all.”
Sabine considered this for a moment. “But if anyone knew anything, or even thought they knew anything, they might be willing to tell me now, right?”
“Possibly, but I wouldn’t swear to it. Some think the past is better left buried. Some just don’t want to get involved in other people’s business…not the serious kind anyway. General gossip over extramarital affairs and plastic surgery is one thing, speculating about the possibilities of bribery and murder is entirely different. And with Catherine and William still alive, it might not be the smartest thing to go speculating on.”
“But it’s possible someone would be willing to?”
Helena sighed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you? I suppose I could come up with a name or two for you to start with, but you have to promise me to be careful. Hell, Maryse got caught up in all that mess just by doing her job. You asking questions about things people might want to keep buried is a lot more risky.”
“I want the truth, Helena, but you’re right. I promise to be careful, and if it starts to look dangerous at all, I’ll stop. Okay?”
“It’s already dangerous. The wealthy don’t like their secrets in the public eye, even if everyone else wouldn’t blink twice at them. Everything’s a possible embarrassment to them. Everything’s a possible slur to the family name. Whole lot of bullshit if you ask me, but then, I didn’t exactly play by the rules of money. Probably why I never got invited to those fancy parties. Ha.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess that part was intentional.”
“You’ve been hanging around me too long.”
“That is an overstatement.” Sabine rose from the table. “I’m going to take a hot bath and crawl in bed with a glass of wine.”
“Hmmmm, wine sounds good. Hey, I wonder if I can get drunk. What do you think?”
“I think we’re not going to try. Good night, Helena.”
“Wait a minute. If you have a phone book, I can probably jot down a couple of names for you. My memory’s not what it used to be, but the phone book should bring it back.”
Sabine pulled a thin local phone book from her kitchen drawer. She placed the directory, a pad of paper, and a pen on the table in front of Helena’s chair, then headed off to start her bath.
Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the steamy water feeling much more relaxed. Especially for someone whose life was falling apart at every end. She pulled on her pink cotton pajamas and headed into the kitchen to see what Helena had found. The ghost hadn’t made a noise the entire time Sabine was in the bath, which meant she was either engrossed in her studies or all that food had put her in carb overload and she was asleep on the kitchen table.
“I came up with three names,” Helena said as Sabine entered the kitchen, “but I think one of them died a couple of years ago, so maybe only two. Hell, to be quite honest, the other two might be dead by now, too. These women were closer to my mom’s age than mine.”
Sabine leaned over and took a look at the list, but the names weren’t familiar to her. “Do they live in Mudbug?”
“No. The dead one was from Rabbit Island and the other two were up around Bayou Thibodeaux.”
“That’s close to my family, right?”
“Yeah, a couple of miles up the bayou from town, but they could be anywhere now. Still, if anyone’s going to know the local gossip, it would be these two. If they’re still alive.”
Sabine nodded. “I’ll check tomorrow.” She stepped into the kitchen, pulled a brand-new bottle of wine from her refrigerator, removed the cork, and poured herself a generous glass. Then she took a couple of sugar cookies from the cookie tin, since apparently Helena had helped herself to the ones on the table, and headed to the bedroom. “I’m off to bed, Helena. Turn off the kitchen light when you’re done, all right?”
“No problem,” Helena replied.
Sabine placed the glass of wine and cookies on her nightstand next to the latest thriller she was reading and climbed into bed. Between the hot bath, the wine, the sugar, and the book, she ought to be out like a light in no time. She took a nice, slow sip of the wine, a huge bite of a cookie, and opened the book to her marker. She’d barely read the first two sentences when she realized something was wrong.
Her breathing constricted, like a whooping asthma attack, and she could feel her heart beating doubletime in her chest. She tried to sit up straight, hoping to expand her lungs a bit, but she seemed rooted in place, her limbs not responding at all. She tried to yell, but it came out not much more than a whisper. “Helena. Helena, help.”
She strained to hear something…anything moving in her apartment, but only the ticking of the kitchen clock met her ears. This is it. I’m going to die. Frantic, she struggled with her lifeless body, but couldn’t move her hand more than an inch. “Help. Helena, help.”
“What the hell are you whispering for?” Helena’s voice boomed next to her. “Speak up if you want something.”
Sabine opened her mouth, at least she thought she did, but no sound emerged. She looked at the side of the bed where she’d heard Helena’s voice, frightened beyond belief. Helena was her only chance. If the ghost couldn’t figure out what was going on, she was going to die right here in her bed.
“Holy shit!” Helena said, apparently realizing something was very wrong. “Just hang in there. I’ll dial 911.”
Sabine saw the cordless phone rise from her dresser and heard the numbers being depressed. Then the phone glided across the room and stopped with the mouthpiece at her lips. The operator answered and Sabine struggled to get out a word. “Help.” Her voice was so faint, she didn’t know if the operator had heard her at all. “Help,” she said again and slipped into unconsciousness.