But Not Foredoomed by BJ Bourg

Author:BJ Bourg [Bourg, BJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 33

Seasville, Louisiana

Takecia and I parked in front of the florist building and were soon standing inside a cluttered room waiting on a robust woman to finish paying for some kind of flower arrangement. Takecia leaned over and told me what kind of flowers they were, but I didn’t care. Flowers were all around us and I could feel my allergies starting to protest.

When the lady had finished making her purchase, I stepped back and held the door for her. Her hands were full and she seemed to appreciate the help. I then turned and approached the counter with Takecia. The name tag pinned to the woman’s apron told us she was Mia Foret.

I smiled and introduced myself and Takecia. Her eyes drifted down to our badges and pistols. She seemed apprehensive. It must’ve been obvious we weren’t there to buy flowers.

“Is something wrong?” she asked. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, ma’am, we’re from Mechant Loup, so we have no jurisdiction over here,” I said with a grin and a shrug. “You can break any law you like and there’s nothing we can do.”

She chuckled. “Where’s Mechant Loup?”

I shot a thumb over my shoulder. “It’s over in Chateau Parish, down near the swamps.”

“Oh, yeah, I think I’ve heard of that place. Isn’t that where the giant alligator almost killed that man?”

I frowned, and nodded. “That’s the place.”

“I don’t know where it’s at, but I’ve definitely heard of it.” She glanced at Takecia and then back at me. “What can I do for y’all?”

“We just need some help verifying a story,” I explained. “It’s regarding an incident that happened at the Magnolia Life Church about nineteen years ago.”

I noticed immediately that Mia’s hands froze in place and her face lost a shade of color.

“Is this about the baby?” she asked in a hushed voice. “I thought that was all over and done with. I wasn’t even going to that church when it happened.”

“No, ma’am, like I said, we’re not from Magnolia Parish, so we had nothing to do with that case.” I cleared my throat. “It’s about an incident that happened during one of the church services. It involved two men named Ray Broussard and Carlos Marcella, and it happened a couple of years before the baby incident.”

“You mean the public whipping?” Mia put a hand over her mouth. “Is that what this is about?”

I nodded and shot a glance at Takecia.

“So, it was true?” I asked Mia. “It really happened?”

“Oh, yeah, it happened. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.” Mia indicated a bench toward the front of the shop. “Would y’all like to have a seat? This might take a while.”

I shrugged, but followed her to the seat. She sat wearily and smoothed out her apron. Takecia sat beside her and I stood in front of them.

“What do y’all need to know?” Mia asked.

I asked if she remembered what had initiated Carlos’ attack on Ray, and she nodded.

“It all started when Ray jumped on Carlos in the men’s bathroom one day after church,” she explained.

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