Page 46 of Bayou Sunset

“Why do ya follow me?” she hurled at him, anger bleeding into every syllable.

Casper shifted his weight back onto his heels and arched his eyebrows, giving off an air of familiarity with being challenged by a woman. “Because you needed it,” he responded confidently.

She truly needed it, although he had no idea at the time. Even as Mario frantically searched his boat, she couldn’t shake the feeling in her bones that it was him. As she needed to search his home, the opportune moment had arrived: he was inebriated and passed out on his boat. How could she possibly rid herself of Casper? Alternatively, was there a way she could persuade him to accompany her on the search?

“What have you done to Romeo? He would never have permitted you to depart unaccompanied.”

She likely couldn’t count on his help when it came to searching Mario’s home, so she contemplated how she could remove him from the situation. With Steve and Mario both sleeping blissfully, now was the perfect time. She had to try toconvince Casper of that point.

“He just sleeps.” She silently prayed that he was still deep in slumber. If he were to awaken and find her absent, she knew there would be a storm of fury to face.

“Uh-huh. Did you hit him on the head or something? Is he hurt?”

“Non.” She had done the “or something” but wouldn’t admit it. “Ya can go now. I be fine. I be going to visit mefrèresat the bar.”

“Right, and I’m the tooth fairy.”

“I no see wings,” she teased.

Casper narrowed his eyes. “You’re going to Mario’s house now, right?”

“Non!” she nearly shouted, giving herself away.

“That’s it. We’re heading back,” Casper directed.

“I no go, and ya can’t make me,” she said. “Tonight be the only night I can search. Since ya bunch of wusses won’t do it, I must.”

“Wusses? Are you kidding? We won’t do it because it breaks the law, Daisy Mae.”

“Well, I no care about dat. I will prove Mario blew up mebateau.”

“So,” Casper said, narrowing his eyes, “you won’t go home now?”

Daisy Mae shook her head. “I be safe with Mario sleeping. Don’t ya get it? He be the one.”

Casper let out a heavy sigh and addressed Daisy Mae, “We have our doubts about him. After seeing his behavior tonight, I’m even less inclined to believe he’s the one who blew up your boat.”

Daisy Mae was seething with frustration, her urge to throw a fit and stomp her foot almost overwhelming. Why couldn’t they see the truth? She had a history with Mario, but they chose not tobelieve her. It was clear to her that Mario was trying to push her out of the picture so that his charter could dominate the bayou without any competition.

“I no believe you. I know it be him.”

Casper shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what you believe now. What matters is we get you home and check on Romeo. Now, let’s go.”

She planted her hands firmly on her hips and defiantly held her ground, shaking her head. “Non,” she exclaimed. Determined not to return home empty-handed, she would go to Mario’s house to thoroughly search for evidence.

Casper arched a brow. “Is that right? Okay, we do it the hard way.”

In a whirlwind of confusion, Daisy Mae suddenly found herself effortlessly lifted over Casper’s shoulder. As she came to terms with this unexpected turn of events, she gazed down at his broad, T-shirt-covered back.

She pounded on his back, anger flooding her veins. “Put me down,” she exclaimed.

“Not happening. You’re going home like a good little girl, and we’re checking on my friend.”

“Put me down, Casper.”

“Looks like you finally got my name right.”

Daisy Mae rolled her eyes in frustration, wondering who cared about his name. All she wanted was to be set down, and she wanted it to happen immediately.

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