Chapter 3 - WHAT ODETTE KNEW
“Come inside,” Carmine said.
Odette didn’t move.
“Now.”
She stepped over the fallen tray.
Nell stared at her.
“You know him.”
Odette shut the door.
Carmine pointed toward the chair.
“Sit.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“Then stand.”
Benny leaned against the wall.
Nobody spoke.
Finally Carmine said, “Vincent Calder.”
Odette swallowed.
“What about him?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know anything.”
Carmine’s voice stayed quiet.
That was when people became most nervous.
“You’ve worked for my family twenty-two years. You know when I’m asking and when I’m giving someone one last chance.”
Odette looked at Nell.
“I didn’t know about the fire.”
“That wasn’t the question,” Nell said.
Odette’s mouth tightened.
“No. It wasn’t.”
Carmine waited.
Odette finally sat.
“Calder used to visit your father.”
“My father?”
Carmine frowned.
“Years ago?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
“Business.”
“What kind?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Odette.”
She looked at him.
“Your father didn’t explain his business to the staff.”
“My father explained plenty when he wanted something done.”
Odette’s hands shook.
“There was a meeting here four years ago. Calder came late. Angry. Your father told him to leave.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“I only heard part of it.”
“Which part?”
Odette looked at Nell again.
“Magazine Street.”
Nell went still.
Carmine’s expression hardened.
“The bakery?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stop saying that.”
Odette stood.
“I’m telling you what I heard.”
“Then tell all of it.”
She took a breath.
“Calder said one stubborn old man was holding up an entire block.”
Nell’s eyes filled with rage.
“My father.”
Odette whispered, “Maybe.”
“No. Not maybe.”
Nell moved toward her.
“My father was the only owner on that block who wouldn’t sell.”
Odette looked away.
Nell’s voice cracked.
“You heard this before the fire?”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I didn’t know what he meant!”
“Then after the fire?”
Odette shouted back, “I didn’t connect it!”
“Three people nearly died!”
“Two.”
The word landed hard.
Nell froze.
Carmine stared at Odette.
“Two?”
Odette’s face drained.
Nell stepped closer.
“What do you mean, two?”
Odette looked trapped.
“You and your father.”
Nell whispered, “There was someone else in the bakery.”
Silence.
Benny straightened.
Carmine asked, “Who?”
Nell’s eyes were fixed on Odette.
“My mother.”
Odette stopped breathing.
“She died six years before the fire,” Nell said slowly. “You didn’t know that.”
Odette closed her eyes.
Carmine’s voice turned cold.
“How did you know only two people were inside?”
Odette said nothing.
“Odette.”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“I saw a report.”
“What report?”
“One that never made it into the official file.”
Benny stepped forward.
“Where?”
“Your father’s safe.”
Carmine stared at her.
“My father had a report on the Fontaine fire?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Odette shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Carmine grabbed his jacket.
“Where is it?”
Odette hesitated.
“Not here.”
“Where?”
“Your father moved several private files before he died.”
“Moved them where?”
She whispered, “The old warehouse on Tchoupitoulas.”
Benny cursed.
That building had been empty for years.
Carmine headed for the door.
Nell followed.
“No.”
She stopped.
Carmine turned.
“You stay here.”
“You’re investigating my life.”
“And whoever burned your bakery may still be alive.”
“That’s exactly why I’m coming.”
Their eyes locked.
Carmine knew that look.
He had seen it in men entering fights they knew they couldn’t win.
“Fine.”
Benny opened the door.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed almost immediately.
“What?”
He listened.
“How long ago?”
Another pause.
“Don’t touch anything.”
He hung up.
Carmine said, “What happened?”
Benny looked at Nell.
“Someone broke into your father’s care facility twenty minutes ago.”
Nell turned white.
“What did they take?”
May you like
Benny’s answer came quietly.
“Your father.”
