“The goddam oil companies! They think they’re God,” René practically snarled. “Every friggin’ one of ’em comes in, rapes the environment, then skips off, leaving the bayou to die off. I am so sick of it all.”
Everyone sympathized with René and his fervor regarding the rapid decline of the southern Louisiana ecosystem, whether the culprits were oil companies, other industries, sport fishermen, or developers. The problem was, greed and profit always won out in any battle with the so-called tree huggers.
People like René did make a difference, though. Slow progress but progress nonetheless. Raoul admired the guy for his ideals and for his willingness to fight for those ideals.
“My DEA contacts weren’t of much help,” Remy said, “except that one of their snitches is supposed to meet with me this week. He might be able to help, especially if he can establish a connection between Gaudet and the oil crooks.”
“I really appreciate everything you’ve all done for me. I mean, I’m overwhelmed.”
“Hey, you’re family,” René proclaimed, and the others nodded.
Not really, Raoul thought, but it sure felt good. He turned back to Luc and tapped the folder in his hand. “So, what do we do with all this? Is it enough to reverse my conviction? Can we go to the D.A. now?”
“Just a little bit longer. I have a friend at one of the banks where Gaudet has a checking account. If we can get a paper trail on excessive deposits, that would clinch the case. There is one thing, though, Rusty.”
“Yeah?”
Luc pulled out another folder and handed him a paper and pen. “You need to request an autopsy on your father’s body.”
“Oh, man!”
“I know how you feel, but we don’t want any loose threads here. When we present the D.A. with our evidence, we’ve got to have covered all loose ends.”
He nodded and signed the paper quickly. Just then, he looked up and noticed Charmaine standing in the archway of the living room. There was a stricken expression on her face just before she spun on her heels and bolted back toward the kitchen area.
He frowned, but then he decided she must be upset over the prospect of exhuming his father’s body. Hell, it was distasteful to him, too.
“One more thing,” Luc said and handed him yet another folder.
Lawyers and their folders!
This time Raoul got a bit of a jolt. Inside were the new divorce papers for him and Charmaine to sign.
“You want to sign this now?” Luc inquired, a mocking tone in his voice.
Raoul let out a loud exhale. “Give me the papers to look over. I’ll send them back to you.”
“Yeah, right,” Luc said, clearly unconvinced.
René and Remy were smiling, as if they didn’t believe he would sign them either.
It would be the best thing he could do for Charmaine, to sign the papers and let her start over. But not yet. Oddly, he liked being her husband, even if in name only.
For a little bit longer, anyhow. In the meantime, he excused himself. There was one thing he could do for her now.
He went to his office, where he placed twenty-five thousand dollars in bonds in an envelope he marked, “For Charmaine.” Then he headed toward her bedroom, where he planned to leave the “surprise” on her bed.
But he was the one who was surprised.
Charmaine was there, and she looked like sweet temptation with a frilly skirt and a corset top that sucked in her abdomen and waist and pushed her breasts up and out. He didn’t know if she was supposed to be a gypsy or a peasant girl or a happy hooker, and he didn’t care. She’d obviously been crying.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” He grabbed a couple of tissues from the box on the dresser and reached out for her.
She took the tissues but swatted his hands away.
Dabbing at the wetness and smeared mascara under her eyes, she told him, “It’s just smoke burning my eyes. Someone needs to go out there and slow Tante Lulu down. She’s practically got a bonfire going on the barbecue grill.”
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously but accepted her story. “Here,” he said, handing her the envelope. “This should make you feel better.”