Page 110 of Buried Too Deep

“Not much. I’ll go see your boss as soon as I leave here. I want a description on whoever was following you. Does the library have cameras?”

“We do, but only around the book return slot.” She grimaced. “People abuse that slot.”

Everyone around the table grimaced along with her. “So gross,” Val murmured.

“It really is,” Cora agreed, pleased with how she’d shifted the conversation away from her father’s side business. She wasn’t going to give Alice up. The woman had suffered enough.

She rose, ready to have the detective out of her house. He’d managed to clean his plate amid the conversation, but she could be charitable. “I can fix you a plate to take with you, Detective. But I need to be getting to the bank.”

“I’m good, Miss Winslow, but thank you. You’re a damn fine cook.” He stuck out his hand for Burke to shake. “Call me when you’re ready to tell me everything. Make it soon, please. Subpoenas are a pain in my ass.”

Burke shook his hand. “When we get a clearer picture, we will.”

Clancy frowned. “Translated, there are things you aren’t telling me and probably never will. Miss Winslow, I can’t help you if I’m flying blind. Can I at least get those receipts you mentioned?”

Cora turned to Molly. “We have copies, yes?”

“Of course we do,” Molly said. She produced a folder from her large handbag. “They’re right here.”

“That was too easy,” Clancy grumbled. “I’ll be going now. Y’all have a good morning. Call me if the Camry tails you again. I’ll get an unmarked car to your location and they can follow the Camry after you’ve lost it.”

Val walked him to the door and Cora began clearing the breakfast plates, feeling grim. “That Camry better just be an overzealous reporter,” Cora said, her jaw tight.

“We can hope,” Burke said, equally grim.

“You were awesome, Cora,” Val said when she returned. “Nice evasion. Burke really should be paying you.”

“I’m not snitching on Alice VanPatten.” Cora wished that she and Phin were back in their blanket fort. She’d felt safer there. But hiding wouldn’t help. “My father’s murderer is close by, isn’t he?”

Burke shrugged. “We can’t afford not to proceed that way, at the very least. You’ll wear Kevlar when we go out today, Cora. Everyone will. To the bank, to see Detective Goddard in Houma, when you go out to walk your dog in the backyard. No complaints. Val, do you have an extra vest?”

“In my car,” Val said. “I’ll get it for you, Cora.”

Phin had tensed, his fingers back in SodaPop’s coat. It had been at the mention of Kevlar, which wasn’t a huge surprise. Gunshots would likely be triggering.

“You don’t have to go with me,” she whispered, selfishly hoping he wouldn’t take the way out she’d just offered. But she wouldn’t ask him for more than he could give.

He gave her a grumpy look. “Don’t even suggest it. I’m going. Besides, I’ve never been in a Swiss bank before.”

Stone laughed. “Swiss banks look just like any other bank,” he said. “When I was younger, I thought they’d wear those striped Swiss Guard uniforms, like the guys who guard the pope. I was very disappointed. Burke, how long before Clancy gets a warrant for Cora’s attic? Because he’s going to.”

“We have at least this afternoon,” Burke said. “We turned over the receipts we found readily. If Clancy figures out the tie to Alice VanPatten on his own, we’ll deal with it, but I don’t think he’ll find it too easy to get a warrant on Cora considering she’s been up front with the police so far.”

“I’ll call Alice,” Cora said. “She has a life now. I don’t want her blindsided by this. At least if she’s warned, she can come up with a plausible reply if Clancy comes knocking.”

Antoine dug into the pocket of one of his laptop cases, producing a burner phone. “Use this.”

“Thank you. I had to give the police the one I used to call 911 from your office washroom. I’ll get the papers I’ll need for the bank. I’ll take care of the dishes later.”

Delores shook her head. “You cooked. I’ll clean up. Don’t forget about the secret passageway. And the antique cookbooks.”

Cora smiled at the tiny woman. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Uptown, New Orleans, Louisiana

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 10:15 A.M.

Sage slipped a hundred-dollar bill to the guard in front of his grandfather’s gated community. “Text me if he comes in?”

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