Gertie stood on the edge of the bank, covered in mud and laughing as we pulled up. “Lord, that was a ride! Better than those roller coasters at Six Flags. I’m in mud up to my knees though.”
Ida Belle edged up to the bank and I jumped out of my seat to help her into the boat, effectively covering both of us with the slimy mud. She dropped into the bottom of the boat next to Blanchet, who still appeared somewhat dazed by it all. I scrambled back into my seat and motioned for Ida Belle to continue. We were still too close to the Brethren to have a stop-and-chat.
Ida Belle made quick work of the channels and finally slowed when we reached the large bayou that bordered Mudbug.
“What the heck was that?” she asked.
“There was a trip wire,” I said.
“Is that what happened?” Blanchet asked. “I didn’t even feel anything, but there was this tiny noise. I had barely even registered it when Fortune grabbed my shoulder and pulled me backward. If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
Ida Belle frowned. “Trip wire?”
I nodded. “Someone was watching us when we got to the cove, but they never made a move. Now I know why.”
“They didn’t have to,” Ida Belle said grimly. “They’ve rigged the perimeter.”
“That sounds more David Koresh than Billy Graham,” Gertie said. “Why would a bunch of religious nuts who are mostly nonexistent to the rest of the world need that kind of security?”
“Good question,” I said. “My guess is the usual answer.”
“Something illegal,” Blanchet said, his expression dark. “You think they’re trafficking women?”
“I don’t know what they’re up to, but it seems highly likely they’re holding people there against their will.”
“There’s no way that girl got through that minefield and all the way to Sinful without help,” Ida Belle said.
“I know. I wish we could talk to her.”
“If she doesn’t remember anything, how can she help?” Gertie asked.
“Maybe she doesn’t remember because people aren’t asking the right questions,” I said.
Blanchet nodded. “You think if you prompt her with questions about the Brethren, it might get her mind to firing again.”
“I’ve seen it before.”
“You managed to access her in the hospital once already,” Gertie said.
I shook my head. “They’ll be keeping a close watch because of that, and if Hermes is doing his job correctly, he’ll have a deputy stationed there.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that one,” Blanchet said.
“I hate to say it, but your best chance might be when the hospital releases her and she’s placed in a home,” Ida Belle said.
“The problem being I’m not the only one who can get to her then.” I looked down at Blanchet. “You all right?”
He nodded. “Probably going to be feeling my age tomorrow, but my ears have stopped ringing.”
“Let’s head home. Gertie, Blanchet, and I need a shower, and I need to give Emmaline a call and make sure she’s not climbing the walls. Maybe Harrison will have some news for us.”
“Or Myrtle,” Ida Belle said. “She’s keeping tabs on Hermes…best she can anyway.”
Blanchet raised one eyebrow. “The sheriff department’s dispatcher is a spy?”
“Who do you think tipped me off last night?” I asked. “And made up those flyers and hung them downtown?”
He laughed. “Hermes has no idea what he’s up against.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
We made a swing by Gertie’s camp to get some fish from her live box and tossed them in the cooler. Then we headed for my house. I wasn’t remotely surprised to see Hermes walking across my backyard as we docked.
“That was a long fishing trip,” he said. “Must have been hitting well. Why are you muddy?”
“I fell out of the boat,” Gertie said. “It happens. Fortune helped me back in.”
“Why are you on my property?” I asked.
“I’m the law. I can be wherever I want to be.”
“I think you need to review the lawbooks again.”
“I’ll be happy to leave if you can produce some fish. Otherwise, I might decide you were out there interfering with my investigation.”
“How, exactly? The girl was found in Sinful bayous, not Mudbug, but I’m fairly certain she didn’t grow there among the cattails. And since I didn’t see you out in the bayous searching for clues, I have to assume there aren’t any there. Unless, of course, you’re admitting to not doing your job. In which case, we wouldn’t be interfering with anything because you’re not doing anything.”
Hermes’s face turned red, and I knew he was trying to come up with any reason to arrest me, but he didn’t have anything that he could make stick. He was walking a fine line antagonizing me, but I knew he was just dying to kick the line to the side and go for my jugular.
“I’ve about had it with you. Show me the fish, or I’m taking you in for impeding my investigation.”
I had already leaned over and opened the bench where the built-in cooler was. I grabbed the biggest trout I could find, turned around, and chucked it at him. Hermes had the reaction speed of a tortoise, and when the fish smacked him right in the chest, he yelped like a child. The fish then slid down his shirt to the ground, leaving a slimy trail on its way down. Then after a couple seconds of warm air, it started flopping around on his shoes.
“I’ve got more,” I said. “How many would you like to wear?”
“I should arrest you for assaulting an officer of the law.”
“Prove it.”
“What?”
“Prove it. I have three people here who will state that I was minding my own business on my private property and unloading my fish when you trespassed and stepped into the path of a toss that was already in motion.”
“Four people.” Ronald’s voice sounded from the side yard, and I looked over to see him step in between the bushes that bordered our properties.
Hermes glanced over, and his dismay was so comical that I wished I had it on video. Ronald had outdone himself. He was dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, complete with the braids and the shiny red shoes. He had a basket on one arm and a stuffed terrier on the other.
“Looks like I found the Wizard,” Ronald said. “And he’s just as fake as the movie one.”
“I don’t know what kind of tomfoolery you people are up to,” Hermes said, “but you best get back to where you came from.”
“That would be somewhere over the rainbow,” Blanchet said, and started laughing.
Ronald winked at Blanchet. “I like you.”
He took a step closer to Hermes and gave him a once-over. “But I also like a challenge. I could work with you. Bring out that sexy-cop look that I love so much.”
Hermes’s eyes widened, and so much blood rushed into his face that I thought his head might explode. Blanchet collapsed on the side of the boat.
“I’m free tonight,” Ronald said.