Bayou Betrayal by Robin Caroll Read Free Book Online

thing to do.”
    But would doing so put him in an awkward position with respect to the case? He couldn’t afford to cause any raised eyebrows. “I’ll see what I can do and let you know.”
    â€œBy noon, son, so I know how much to cook.”
    As if his mother ever cooked less than enough to feed an army. “Love you.”
    He closed the phone and dropped it into the console, then went back to his thoughts on Monique’s allegations. No, Monique wasn’t a crackpot. She’d endured a very hard and trying situation, but she wasn’t a loon.
    First things first, though. He’d call Felicia Trahan Bertrand and see if she even knew about Monique’s connection to Justin Trahan. Monique’s accusing Felicia or Luc of making the threatening phone call still made him chuckle. Once she met them, she’d see how outlandish the notion was herself.
    The police radio squawked to life. “Deputy Anderson, come in.”
    He smiled at the dispatcher’s twang as he lifted his mic. “Go ahead, Missy.”
    â€œNeed you back at the station. Fire chief’s here, needing to talk to you pronto.”
    Gary glanced at his watch, then back at the motel door. Forty minutes remained on the hour he’d given Monique. “Roger that. On my way.”
    He put the car in gear and steered toward the sheriff’s station. No traffic slowed the straight shot into downtown. He parked in the sheriff’s space and sauntered into the station, heading back to the sheriff’s office.
    The older man stood just inside the office. “Deputy Anderson.”
    Gary moved past him and sat behind the desk, waving him to the chairs. The faint remnants of smoke and ash clogged the air surrounding the fire chief. Gary cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming by.”
    The man shook his head. “No problem. Just wanted to let you know that we’ve determined the fire was arson. A form of diesel fuel was used as the accelerant.”
    So Monique had been right. “Any clues?”
    â€œNot yet. We’ve called in the arson investigation unit. They’ll send an investigator down this way tomorrow. We’ll know more once he gets here and does his initial walk-through.”
    Gary stood and offered his hand. “I appreciate the heads-up.”
    The older man shuffled from the office, leaving Gary alone with his thoughts. Again his logic and emotions were at war. On the one hand, he had the utmost sympathy and compassion for Monique and what she’d endured and would have to continue to face in the coming weeks and months. But on the flip side, excitement filled him. A real case. One that needed solving. And if he managed to pull that off before the sheriff returned, he’d be a shoe-in for the chief deputy position. Add to that the concern for Monique. Now there was proof positive her house had been burned down on purpose. What if someone was intent on finishing the job they’d started? Was it just a scare tactic, or was Monique really in danger?
    But it wasn’t just that he felt he’d earned the promotion. No, the new position also came with a raise. With the extra money, he could do more for his mother. Buy her some of the nice things she’d never had. With all the sacrifices she’d made for him over the years, he wanted to make her life easier, help her out more financially.
    The minutes ticked by as he weighed his dilemma. He prayed for guidance, then pushed to his feet. He needed to get back to the motel to pick up Monique.
    She was standing in the doorway when he pulled into the parking lot. Decked out in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt of his mother’s, she looked barely eighteen. The urge to protect and shield her sparked in him again. Especially when she smiled at him as she hobbled to the car.
    He jumped out and opened the passenger door for her, then shut it firmly after she was tucked safely inside.
    â€œI really appreciate the