Page 48 of Bayou Sunset

Casper began, “I watched the house and saw her sneak out. Unsure of what was happening, I followed her.”

“And ya had no concern for me? That she’d been able to leave alone?”

The agent casually nonchalantly lifted his shoulders. “I considered it more crucial to keep tabs on her, as I was certain she had no intention of causing you any harm.”

As Romeo turned over those profound words in his mind, he couldn’t help but acknowledge their undeniable truth. It also struck him that the course of action described was exactly what he would have chosen in that situation.

“Anyhow, she went to Mario’s boat.”

“And ya just let her?” Romeo asked.

“Well, yeah. I wanted to see what she was up to.”

Romeo heaved a heavy sigh as he contemplated the peril Daisy Mae could have faced if someone had planted explosives on Mario’s boat. Despite the looming danger, he left it and said, “Go on.”

“After arriving at the pier, I saw Mario leaving the bar, so I confronted Daisy Mae.”

“Scared the bejesus out of me was more like it,” she huffed.

“We hid. Mario passed out. We left. And here we are.”

Romeo suddenly realized that Casper had left out a few details, but after grasping the situation’s essence, he decided to press on.

“Why?” he asked Daisy Mae. “I told ya we be investigating. Ya no need to do it.”

“’Cause no one listens to me. It be Mario.”

Romeo's voice reverberated through the room as he emphatically stated, “Non, it's not. We cleared Mario. He not be the threat we're here to find.”

Daisy Mae's eyes widened with fervor as she leaped up from her chair, her voice filled with certainty as she declared, “Yes, he be! I know it!”

Romeo's gaze was unwavering as he pointed to the chair. “Sit.”

After Daisy Mae took her seat, Romeo crossed his arms over his chest and gestured toward Casper, indicating that he should be the one to speak. “Tell her,” Romeo urged, his eyes fixed on Casper, awaiting his response.

Casper cleared his throat and addressed the situation with precision. “Firstly, Mario has solid alibis for the time when your house was ransacked. Secondly, we thoroughly searched his place and found no trace of any explosives. Lastly, it’s evident that trouble seems to be following both you and your brothers, which indicates the culprits’ interest isn’t specifically focused on you.”

“Ya searched his place and didn’t tell me?” Daisy Mae asked, her voice filled with hurt and disbelief.

Romeo nodded solemnly. “I planned to sit down with ya after dinner and reveal everything.”

Daisy Mae winced. She’d been the one to ruin that plan. “Then who it be?”

Romeo took a seat in the open armchair. “We no be sure. Yet. But we have eliminated Mario. That be a step in the right direction.”

Casper chimed in. “We’re still investigating the treasure hunter and other potentials.”

Cocking her head in question, Daisy Mae asked, “What other potentials?”

Romeo knew they would need to disclose it at some juncture. With that in mind, the present moment seemed as opportune as any for the revelation. “Local ones.”

Daisy Mae shook her head. “No one local would blow up mebateau.”

“Are ya willing to bet ya life on that?” Romeo asked.

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Non.”

Finally, they would have her follow their every command, ensuring she remained under their constant protection, right where she belonged. Romeo’s anxiety spiked at the mere thought of something happening to her. He was immensely grateful that Casper had been on duty that evening; otherwise, he might have lost her, which he found utterly unacceptable.

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