“Do your neighbors make a habit of shooting guns?”

Cora shook her head. “This is a very quiet road, Officer.”

Barrett shut his notepad and placed his pen back into his chest pocket. “Okay, Cora. I will go up to your neighbors and see if Ned is up there. I’m sure he’s okay, and I’ll tell him to hurry back.”

“Thank-you, I appreciate it.”

Officer Barrett exited the house and climbed into his cruiser. He’d barely started his shift and was already answering calls. He’d hoped for a slow night, an uneventful night where he could park his cruiser in a hidden location somewhere and snooze. But it didn’t look like that would happen. Going to be a crazy night, he thought. I can feel it coming.

****

“I don’t know about you, kiddo, but I’m exhausted. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed,” Lorelei Charbonneau said between yawns. She got up from the king-size bed and headed to the bathroom.

She had expended more energy today than usual and already felt the aftereffects.

After reserving a room at the Blue Dolphin Inn, they rented bicycles and rode out to the beach, where they ate supper and collected shells and sand dollars until sunset. It had been time well spent. Her freckle-faced baby was growing up faster than she cared for, maturing into a young woman right before her eyes. Soon Alisha would be leaving the nest. Lorelei hated the thought.

“Mom, I have this weird feeling Dad is in trouble.”

Lorelei stopped and looked back at Alisha. Her daughter sat cross-legged on the bed. A concerned look clouded her pretty face. “Oh, I think Arcadias is probably fine.”

Alisha shook her head. “Mom, this is a strong premonition. I’ve had it ever since we left Dad’s treasure hunting shop. I think we should pray for him.”

“I suppose it can’t hurt anything to pray for your father,” Lorelei said and flopped back onto the bed. She grabbed Alisha’s hand. “Do you want to do all the praying or do you want me to pray too?”

“We should both pray.”

“Okay, honey. You start.”

Alisha bowed her head. “Dear Lord, something tells me that my Dad is in trouble. I can’t say why I feel this way. I just know he needs you right now. Please watch over him and protect him. Bring him back into your fold. Don’t give up on him. Let him know you love him. And let Dad know I love and forgive him. Please take away his treasure hunting obsession. Help him to realize what is really important in life. I ask these things in Jesus’s name, amen.”

Lorelei squeezed her daughter’s hand and began to pray. “Lord, you know I no longer love Arcadias the way a wife is supposed to love her husband. I’m still bitter over how he abandoned us. Take away this bitterness. It’s not helping me, only hurting me. And it’s an emotion I would rather not have anymore. I know I need to at least love Arcadias as a fellow human being. Help me to do that. If Arcadias is in trouble right now, please show him the way out. Help him to think clearly and to do your will. And please convict him and make him realize what a wonderful daughter he has. Alisha wants to have a relationship with Arcadias. Please move Arcadias’ heart in that direction. And finally, I ask that you will help me forgive Arcadias for what he’s done to this family. It’s in your son’s name I ask these things, amen.”

Lorelei raised her head and looked at Alisha. Tears filled her daughter’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

“I hope it’s not too late for Dad,” Alisha said.

Lorelei nodded her head. “Only God can help him now. But Arcadias has to stop running. It’s hard to hear God’s voice when you’re running. You have to be still and listen. And I don’t know if your father is willing to do that. He’s a prideful man.”

“But God can do anything, Mom.”

“I know. Nothing is too difficult for God. But Arcadias has to take the first step toward God. And I’m not sure he’ll do that. He has an academic mind. He thinks God and his kingdom are nothing but fairy tales.”

“That doesn’t make sense to me, Mom. Dad was a history professor. And the Bible is mostly a history book. Why can’t he believe?”

Lorelei closed her eyes. “Sometimes the most intelligent people can be the dumbest. Their great learning has pushed aside their childlike faith and replaced it with skepticism. I think this is what happened to your father. He doesn’t know how to believe anymore. His heart has hardened into a stone—a pitch-black stone.”

Chapter 27

Confident he would succeed where Iris failed, Damien opened the door. A well-heeled man in a navy sport jacket stared back at him. Damien put on his friendliest face. He noticed a briefcase dangling from the man’s right hand. “May I help you?”

“My name is Keith Jepson. I’m a family law attorney. I have a document for Jon and Annie to sign. Are they here by chance?”

Damien shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Mr. Jepson. Jon and Annie left for the evening. But when they come back I’ll tell them you were here.”

Disappointment furrowed the attorney’s brow. “How soon will Jon and Annie be back? I’d hate to miss them. My office is in Baton Rouge.”

“They didn’t say how long they would be gone,” Damien said. “But I have an idea, why don’t you just leave the document. They can sign it and bring it back to you, or just fax it to you.”

Jepson mulled over Damien’s suggestion. “I also wished to talk to them a bit. Adoption is a complex matter. I’m sure they will have questions,” he said, his bespectacled eyes looking over Damien.

Damien followed the attorney’s eyes until they stopped and stared at Damien’s waist. Too late, Damien noticed the grip of his Taurus handgun sticking out from under his t-shirt. After the gun battle with the Rafters he’d shoved it behind his belt and into the waistband of his jeans near his right hip. His t-shirt must’ve ridden up at some point.

“You know what, I think I will come back another time. The document can wait,” Jepson said just before turning to leave.

Damien stood at the threshold, hesitant at what to do. Arcadias didn’t want additional hostages. He would be furious to see another one added to the mix. But the lawyer saw his gun, and might squeal as soon as he climbed into his car. One 911 call and the place would swarm with cops.

Damien drew the Taurus out from his waistband. “That’s far enough, Mr. Jepson. I lied when I said Jon and Annie aren’t here. They’re inside. You can talk to them in there.”

The attorney turned slowly around. His face blanched when he saw the side arm in Damien’s hand.

“Well come on, Mr. Jepson. Don’t be shy. You wanted to conduct business. Now is your chance. Your clients wait inside.”

“I really don’t want any trouble,” Jepson stammered, his eyes fixated on the Taurus aimed at him.

“That’s good to hear. So be a good sport and step inside the house.”

Jepson acquiesced and walked into the plantation house. Damien followed close behind, his gun leveled at Jepson’s back.

“The parlor is to your left, Mr. Jepson. Head for it.” Damien shadowed Jepson and entered the parlor. “Everyone meet Keith Jepson—attorney at law. We now have legal representation.”

Damien watched jaws drop in unison around the room. No one appreciated his weak attempt at humor, especially Arcadias. His older brother fumed. Arcadias’s ruddy, sun-bronzed face grew even redder. He glared at Damien and shook his head in disbelief.

Chapter 28

Arcadias growled, “Have you lost your mind, Damien?”

“I’m sorry, brother, but he saw the grip of my gun sticking out. I thought he might call the police if I allowed him to leave.”