We picked up our lunch and were headed into the General Store when we spotted Hermes leaving the sheriff’s department. He took one look at us, scowled, and stalked over, pointing a finger at me.
“I know that situation last night was you. It cost me a fortune to get that truck lifted onto a flatbed. And as soon as I find those wheels, I’m going to run prints on them.”
“I was sitting right there on the porch the entire time. And although I’m extremely good at what I do, even I can’t summon lightning.”
Blanchet shook his head. “Your cousin isn’t going to back you on that one. There were at least fifty witnesses who put Fortune in the backyard the entire night.”
“Fifty intoxicated, or worse, witnesses.”
“And video,” I said. “I have a good hour of video and pictures—all with me in them. So unless video can be intoxicated, and I’ve figured out how to bypass the incredible amount of security Apple has embedded, I’d say that gives me all the alibi I need, especially when you add that your wheels were stolen while you were staring right at me.”
“You may not have done the actual deeds, but you were behind it.”
“So let me get this straight. In the time it took for you to crash the party, threaten Nora and most of the guests, including me, I managed to coordinate strikes around the town and have your vehicle vandalized. All while being in prime view of the entire party and yourself. I only wish I had that much pull. Especially the psychic communication end of things I would have needed to have.”
“You’re grasping at straws,” Ida Belle said. “Take your nonsense somewhere else. People here have things to do.”
“I’m watching you,” he said. “All of you. Why are you still here, Blanchet?”
He shrugged. “I told Carter I’d house-sit and unlike you, I like the people. Don’t have a job to get to back home. No kids, wife, or houseplants. Besides, it’s been fun watching you fail. Not that the opposite ever occurs, but I’m just usually not around to see your greatest hits.”
Hermes stared hard at Blanchet, unspeaking. Finally, Blanchet smiled and Hermes whirled around and stomped off.
“If I want to make a complaint about that man, who would I complain to?” Celia’s voice sounded behind us.
We all turned around and I looked over at Blanchet.
“It’s hard to say, ma’am. Normally, I’d say the mayor, but obviously Hermes got appointed over your mayor’s head, so she won’t be able to help. What kind of complaint would you like to make?”
Celia straightened herself up and a flush ran up her face. “That…that swine propositioned my niece in her bakery yesterday. In front of customers and in lurid detail. Everyone is talking about it. There’s even video.”
“So he sexually harassed her?”
“Absolutely.” She glanced at me, Ida Belle, and Gertie. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye on things, and I haven’t exactly been Carter’s biggest supporter, but if that man is put in charge, this entire town will become hell and no woman will feel safe. He shouldn’t even be allowed air, much less a badge.”
“We agree,” I said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t figured out a way around him. But I do think a phone call to the ADA is a good idea, especially if you can get your hands on that video.”
Celia frowned. “Why the ADA?”
“Because they’re buddies, but the ADA is gunning for the DA position. If he finds out how Hermes talks to women, especially when he’s wearing a badge, I don’t think he’ll keep backing that horse. And since the ADA isn’t a big fan of mine and you’re a longtime resident and relative of the victim, it will have a lot more weight coming from you.”
Celia gave me a firm nod. “Then that’s exactly what I’ll do. I would say I’d make the same complaint to the governor, but that man has cheated more than professional card players. Why people keep voting for him, I have no idea. Thank you and good day.”
“Who was that?” Blanchet asked as we climbed into the SUV.
“Our nemesis, Celia Arceneaux,” I said.
Blanchet whistled. “Carter told me all about her. Leave it to Hermes to get sworn enemies on the same side. The man has a gift.”
I nodded. “If I hear he’s pulled that crap with Ally again, he’s going to answer to me.”
“If you can beat Mannie to him,” Gertie said.
“He sure knows how to step in it.” Blanchet grinned. “We can only hope he’s dumb enough to do just that.”
Gertie nodded. “The good thing is, no one will have to post bail because they’ll never find the body.”
“Probably true,” I agreed. “But I’d prefer to keep Mannie and the Heberts from being the focus of an investigation. And I don’t want Ally knowing that she was the cause of a man’s demise, even though most people would be pleased about it.”
“Let’s just hope he hacks enough people off that even the governor can’t help him with a run for sheriff,” Gertie said.
“I’m sure there will be no shortage,” I agreed. “But if we can solve this case that he keeps ignoring in his quest to get something on me, it will put another nail in his coffin.”
Blanchet nodded. “Then let’s get to fishing.”
It was still a little chilly, especially with Ida Belle going full throttle, but the sun was shining, which made it a beautiful day. Or it would have been if we’d actually been going fishing. And if Carter wasn’t in the middle of whatever the heck he was in the middle of. But that was our reality, so we might as well roll with it.
Because he was our guest and client, I’d offered up my passenger seat in the boat to Blanchet, and I shared the bench cushion in the bottom with Gertie. Every time Ida Belle took a corner with the boat sliding over the water, Blanchet let out a whoop. I was glad he was enjoying himself, even if only for a short time. It took us about twenty minutes to cross the lake and enter the bayous that stretched into Mudbug, and then another twenty to maneuver around to the channel Lottie had indicated.
Ida Belle cut speed as soon as we rounded the corner into the narrow bayou, and we started scanning the banks for any sign of life. If he was still alive and still lived in the same place, I figured his actual home would be back in the trees, but if he was living off the land, then we would probably see crab pots or trout lines along the way. And sure enough, about twenty yards from the tree line, Ida Belle pointed to a line tied to a post just off the edge of the bayou.
“I can see a trail on the bank,” she said.
“Pull closer and I’ll get on the bank and follow it,” I said. “The rest of you continue ahead and make sure I’m clear.”
Hermits lived in remote places because they didn’t like people. They also tended toward an affinity for firearms and protecting their personal space. Since I had no idea where his space began or ended, I ran the risk of gunfire. Being on foot would be seen as threatening where being in the boat wouldn’t be viewed the same because people often traversed the channels looking for the best fishing spots.
The trail was well worn, beaten down to nothing but dirt, which meant it was used often. Weeds in the bayou practically grew overnight, so whoever was using this trail wasn’t setting the occasional crab pot for a boil. And he wasn’t accessing it by boat. I was sure the hermit had one, but he probably only used it when he had to go into town to trade for supplies. Otherwise, walking was zero cost except for time, and if he was living alone out in the middle of the swamp, I figured he had plenty of that to spare.