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28
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2:40 P.M.
KAJ STARED AT his phone, shaken from Corey’s call and fighting the need to throw up. “Is that true, Antoine? That you can’t track his phone?”
Antoine’s expression was grim. “It’s a burner. Makes it... difficult.”
Kaj’s heart sank. If Antoine said it was difficult, that meant close to impossible. “We need to get there fast.”
“This property can’t be accessed by road,” Molly said steadily, studying a map on her laptop screen, and once again, her no-nonsense tone helped Kaj get ahold of himself. “Antoine, Farrah’s still here with André, right? We need her boat. Her folks have a camp on Lake Salvador,” Molly explained to Kaj as Antoine called Farrah. “It can be accessed by road. From there we’ll take their boat to Lake Cataouatche. Farrah’s family allows André and Antoine to use the boat anytime, but we need to make sure it’s in working order.”
Antoine ended his call, then slid two keys from his key ring. “These go to the lake house and the boat. Farrah says the boat is tuned up and gassed up. Who’s going?”
“Phin and me.” Molly glanced at the incoming text on her phone. “Lucien’s with Elijah, so Phin’s going to meet me at Burke’s SUV. Antoine, you stay here. Keep us updated.”
Sylvi stood uncertainly. “What about me? Should I go?”
“Stay here with Kaj,” Molly said kindly. “We’ll contact you as soon as we know something. And do not mention this to anyone. No cops, nobody.”
“I’m not staying behind,” Kaj said, gearing up for a fight. Elijah was being guarded by Lucien. But Val was still gone.
Molly sighed. “It was worth a try. I’ve got an extra gun in the SUV. Can you use it?”
Kaj nodded, surprised that she’d agreed so quickly. “Not as well as you, but yes.”
“You wearing Kevlar?” she asked.
“Yeah. Under my shirt.” Burke had insisted he wear it that morning.
“Good. Although it won’t stop a high-powered rifle bullet. That’s what got Burke. He was wearing a vest and now he’s having a bullet removed from his thoracic cavity.”
“It’ll have to do,” Kaj said, trying not to think of Burke on that stretcher, struggling to breathe. “Unless Phin’s got extra of the military-grade armor.”
“He doesn’t. Antoine, can you keep Ivan’s papers safe?”
“Of course. And I’ll sit with Jace when he comes out of surgery. Farrah and half of the NOPD are in with André, Jessica’s here for MaryBeth, and Joy’s here for Burke. I don’t want Jace to wake up alone.”
Molly nodded once. “Then let’s go.”
Sylvi followed them out, her eyes shadowed with fear. “Please bring her home.”
“We will.” Kaj squeezed her arm. “Go to the surgical waiting room. Burke’s office manager Joy is there. You can sit with her until we get back.”
Antoine walked Sylvi to the waiting room, and Kaj and Molly hurried to the parking lot. “We’re going to be cutting it close,” Molly said. “There’s no fast way to get there.”
“Get where?”
Kaj and Molly spun around. Detective Drysdale was giving them a suspicious look.
Kaj faked a polite smile when he really wanted to hit the man for making Val second-guess herself last night. “We’re going out for some food.”
Drysdale’s smile seemed forced. “Then you won’t mind if I tag along.”
Molly shook her head. “After what you said to Val last night, you have some nerve, Detective. We can’t stop you from following us, I suppose, but you’re not riding with us.”
She and Kaj got into Burke’s SUV just as Phin slid into the back seat.
