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“Don’t pull me into your brother war,” Val stated as she moved her laptop from the table. “I think you’re both equally handsome.” Antoine was, however, the cool one. And, given that the online “exploring” he did might break a few rules—not that Burke’s folks asked, because no one really wanted to know for sure—he was definitely a thorn in André’s side.
Antoine gestured to the table. “Come on, y’all. Let’s have lunch. I’m starving.”
Elijah set the table and they all sat to enjoy the food Val’s friends had sent.
“Patty says lunch is low carb and she’s added the nutritional info so you can calculate your insulin.” Val handed Elijah Patty’s note. “And this note is from MaryBeth. She’s sent her sugar-free cake pops. With all the sugar and carb info. Maybe save those for later.”
Elijah’s smile was huge. “I’ll write them both thank-you cards.” He leaned around Antoine to see Jace. “If you want me to write anything for you, I will. Just let me know.”
Jace looked like he couldn’t believe what was happening. “Thank you. I will.”
“I was going to Skype with you, Val,” Antoine said as he filled his plate, “but then your friends brought the food and I figured I’d just tell you what I found when I saw your pretty face.” He then stuffed his face and chewed, his eyes closing in pleasure.
“Swallow and talk,” Val commanded. “What did you find out?”
She figured that anything he’d found would be a combination of police chatter and information he’d turned up through hacking into NOPD’s files. She wasn’t going to start asking too many questions now. She was just grateful for whatever intel he’d gathered.
“First of all, I have an addition to Corey’s background check.” Antoine glanced cautiously at Jace. “Corey’s military discharge was ODPMC.”
“I read that,” Val said. “Other Designated Physical and Mental Conditions. I assumed PTSD.” It was her turn to glance cautiously at Phin, because the man had also come home with severe PTSD. Phin gave her an even stare and a slight nod, so he was okay with the topic.
Antoine didn’t miss the exchange and sighed. “Corey’s was different. He nearly killed a local woman, he beat her so bad. It was the final straw.”
“Oh,” Jace breathed, his expression devastated. “I thought it was only us. Me and Rick.”
“No, kid,” Antoine said soberly. “Not just you. He’s a violent man.”
“And Bobby?” Val asked. “Is he also known to be violent?”
“He was reported for undue force by several people he arrested. But that’s not why he was forced out of the NOPD. At the time he quit, Bobby Landry was being investigated by IA for allegedly breaking and entering houses and stealing valuables. The victims had two things in common. First, they were all wealthy. Second, they’d all been transported to the hospital. Some had died, and the thefts occurred during their funerals. The others had extended hospital stays during which time their loved ones were constantly at their sides.”
“And not at home,” Val finished, her mind racing. “Which hospital? Please say County General.” Because that was where Corey had worked as a security guard.
Antoine smiled. “You’re very smart. But I already knew that.”
Jace sucked in a breath. “Corey worked at County when he came home from the army. Are you saying...” He slumped in his chair. “Corey was also stealing from people, wasn’t he? That’s what he meant when he said he’d picked up a few things while he worked at the hospital.”
“Not too shabby yourself, kid,” Antoine said approvingly. “It looks like it.” He turned back to Val. “The thefts went in fits and spurts. They’d stall when the cops were staking out houses of the recently deceased or those in the hospital, trying to catch the thieves. The thefts stopped after Bobby quit the force.”
“Which was only a week before Corey quit the hospital.” Val sat back, thinking about all the pieces and how they might fit together. “Jace, when did you meet Dewey Talley?”
Jace’s brow crunched in thought. “It was when I was living with Aaron and Dianne. I think Liam had just been diagnosed. It was a bad time. Aaron had started his new company and didn’t have good insurance. Liam needed special treatments that his insurance wasn’t going to pay for. Dianne cried all the time. Dewey was there for part of that. I remember him hugging Dianne one day when she couldn’t stop crying.” He looked at Val helplessly. “He could be really nice.”
Val briefly squeezed his free hand. “I’m glad he was kind to you. It doesn’t change any of the bad things that he did, but I’m glad he was kind to you. So Dewey and Aaron met right around the time that Aaron needed cash. Because Liam was sick.”
“Which was why Aaron sold drugs,” Jace said heavily. “Does Corey sell them, too?”
“That’s the big question,” Val said, determined to be honest with him. “Sixth Day was a major player among the drug gangs four years ago. Many of their street dealers got absorbed into other gangs. I don’t know how big they are now.”
“NOPD is working on that,” Antoine said. “The whole Narcotics division is hopping busy, investigating. I’ll keep you up to date with what I’m able to glean online.”
Jace drew a sudden breath, like he’d been punched. “Dianne,” he whispered. “Did Dianne know about the drugs, too?”
Antoine shrugged. “The cops are trying to find her,” he said. “She was supposed to go visit her sister in Houma, but she’s not there. She was last seen with Corey, yesterday morning. At the time, NOPD didn’t have anything to hold him on, so they had to let him go.”
Jace’s eyes grew glassy with tears. “Dianne wasn’t part of this. I can’t believe it. I won’t.”
Val squeezed his hand again. She wasn’t so sure that Dianne wasn’t involved, but right now, Jace needed to believe in at least one person in his family. “Let’s wait to see what Captain Holmes finds out.”
