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Finally, she shuddered. “Kaj.” He couldn’t hear her, but he saw his name on her lips.
Relieved, Kaj sat beside her, pulling her to his lap. “Can you check the house?” Kaj shouted to Phin.
“Will do. You should get out of the open area,” Phin shouted back. “Bobby might still be around somewhere.”
Val shook her head. “Under the dock,” she said dully.
Kaj and Phin shared a look. Phin walked midway up the dock, then knelt so he could look over the edge. A minute later, Phin was sitting on the dock, his eyes closed. His body rocking slightly, he was mouthing, “No, no, no,” and his face had become as expressionless as Val’s.
Whatever Phin had seen had pushed him into a PTSD episode. Kaj had known he’d been twitchy. He’d hoped Phin could hold it together, but it appeared that the man had had enough.
“Where’s Bobby?” Kaj asked Val softly, letting her see his mouth.
She pointed at the dock again. “Under. I killed him.” She drew a breath and let it out. “Alligators.”
Kaj swallowed back bile, remembering the scene at Corey’s old camp. That had been one of the more gruesome things he’d ever seen. But it was also a fitting end for Bobby Landry.
Now that Kaj was looking, he could see that the water around the dock was tinged red. Bobby had bled a lot.
He gently touched a bloody patch on her shirtsleeve before cupping her cheek. “Did Corey hurt you? Did he shoot you?”
“No. Bobby grazed my arm. Corey’s shot went wide.” She touched her fingertips to her side. “I have a few bruised ribs maybe. From their boots.” She looked up suddenly, fear in her eyes. “Dianne and Noni. Did you find them?”
Kaj shook his head, confused. “Dianne? Aaron’s wife?”
“She was here. Noni too.” Tears filled her eyes, devastation mixing with the fear. “They hurt her, Kaj. Noni. She was almost dead. I got them out. They took the other boat. You didn’t find them?”
“No, baby. But we’ll search. I promise.” The NOPD had to be close by now.
Oscar leapt nimbly to the dock and came close enough that they could see his mouth. “She’s okay?” he shouted.
Kaj didn’t think Val was okay. At all. “Physically, yeah. Did you see another boat? With two women in it?”
Oscar shook his head. “I’ll get on my radio and put the word out.”
“Please do.” Kaj held Val closer, rocking her gently. “I’ve got you.”
She shook her head. “Noni. I need to find her.”
Kaj’s phone began to buzz in his pocket. He nearly ignored it but yanked it from his pocket at the last minute and was glad he had, because it was Molly.
He didn’t answer, texting instead. Where are you? Can’t hear you. Ears ringing. Gunshots.
You okay?
Yes. Corey’s dead. Bobby’s dead. Val’s here w me. Don’t think she’s hurt. She says 2 women escaped by boat. Dianne Gates and Noni Feldman.
I’ve got them. They went the wrong way. We’re headed to Des Allemands. Medevac on its way for Noni. Sent NOPD to help you.
It was several seconds before Molly’s next text came through. It’s not good. Tell Val we’ll get Noni to a hospital ASAP.
I’ll tell her. Hold on. He tipped up Val’s chin so that he could see her eyes. “Molly has Noni. She’s getting her to a hospital.”
Val closed her eyes and nodded once.
Thx. How is Phin? Molly texted.
Kaj looked at Phin, still sitting on the dock. Still saying, “No, no, no.” Oscar had knelt beside him and was saying something that Kaj couldn’t hear.
