Page 136 of Buried Too Deep

“What other leads do we have?” Joy asked.

Burke brought her up to speed with what they knew, including the discovery of the weapon that had killed Jack Elliot in the dead hand of Medford Hughes, the presence of Renaissance-style paint on Jack’s slacks, and the attempted arson of Cora’s house the night before.

“Vincent Ray?” Joy murmured. “I knew his daddy. No good sonofabitch. Apple didn’t fall far from that tree.”

“How did you know him?” Phin asked.

“Busted his daddy’s ass a time or two when I was on the force.” Joy had been a detective when she’d been shot on the job. “Petty stuff back then. Shoplifting, vandalism. Vincent Sr. didn’t get into the drug trade until later. His older brother—your intruder’s uncle—was always smarter. He always managed to slide free of any legal entanglements. That family has themselves some damn fine attorneys.”

“Do you keep tabs on them?” Burke asked.

“Not specifically. I watch the news feeds and listen when I go to lunch with my old partner from NOPD and his cronies. I’ve met Vincent Jr. He’s been in my house a time or two. My youngest son knew him from the basketball court in the park. Wayne thought he might save Vinnie from his family, but no dice. If Vinnie broke into your place, I’d look at his uncle’s connections. Is Vinnie still in jail?”

“As of a few hours ago, yes,” Antoine said. “But he’s been there less than twenty-four hours. My sources tell me that he hasn’t yet spoken to the cops. Hasn’t even asked for an attorney.”

“His uncle is probably letting him stew,” Joy said. “For being dumb enough to get himself caught. He was going to burn Cora’s house down? Because that wouldn’t have worked. There are sprinklers throughout the house.”

Phin frowned, because something didn’t make sense. “Did Patrick also know there were sprinklers? Because Cora says he fixes a lot of things in the house.”

Joy snorted. “Tries to. He tried to fix a loose electrical socket for Priscilla once and she had to call an electrician when the thing started to spark. He couldn’t have sent Vincent to burn Cora’s house down, if that’s what you’re insinuating. He knew about the sprinklers.”

“Maybe he didn’t want the whole house to burn down,” Phin said quietly. “Just the contents of the attic.”

“Shit,” Joy muttered. “Did I make things muddier or clearer?”

“Neither and both,” Burke said with a frustrated chuckle. “You get some rest, Joy. We’ll be by tomorrow.”

“With cupcakes,” Joy demanded. “Val, you better bring me some or Antoine will be my favorite Burkette.”

Burke blinked as Antoine sputtered.

“Burkette?” they said together.

Joy cackled. “I said what I said. Burke Broussard and the Burkettes. Cupcakes, people. Or don’t bother showing your faces.” She laughed. “Okay, that was wrong. Please bring cupcakes and your faces. I miss you guys.”

“We miss you, too,” Phin said.

“Love you, Joy,” Val said.

“Not a freaking Burkette,” Antoine said.

“I’ll bring cupcakes,” Burke said. “Sleep, Joy. Love you.” He ended the call and shook his head. “I do love that woman.”

So did Phin. “I’m glad she’s going to be all right.”

Burke reached across the table and slapped Phin’s shoulder. “Thanks to you and your friend Stone.” He settled back in his chair. “What are our other leads? Where is Molly’s whiteboard?”

“Still hidden in the pantry,” Val said. “Want me to get it?”

Burke shook his head. “Antoine’s been taking notes. It just feels…brainstormier if Molly’s got her whiteboard.”

Phin shook his head, laughing under his breath. His friends were ridiculous. “What about Medford Hughes? The gun that killed him was the same gun that killed Jack Elliot. Why was Hughes killed? What was his role with our laptops? He didn’t steal them. Did he try to break into them before he died?”

“Somebody did,” Antoine said. “That’s what set off my alarm.”

Phin rewound the conversation with Clancy in his mind. “What about the wife’s sister? She might know who Hughes was connected with.”

“She already told Clancy,” Val said. “He works his job and volunteers with his church.”

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