“Because the police have ruled her death as suspicious.”
He narrowed his eyes and I saw his hand twitch near the trigger. “You saying I did something to Molly?”
“I’m not saying anything, but the insurance company needs to make a decision on her death before they’ll pay out. The policy was new. That always brings questions, and the way Molly disappeared and with no body, it’s hard to wrap these things up.”
“Look, I don’t know what kind of game that insurance company is playing, but I went to that agent’s office and signed those papers. He said Molly took out the policy herself. I didn’t know nothing about it.”
“Hmmmm. And you signed those documents in Stan Morgan’s office?”
“No. That wasn’t his name. Last name Kent. His office was just off the highway before you get into New Orleans. Has a big Coastal Insurance sign right there on the front. Now, I’ve told you everything I know about this. I suggest you put all that in your report and get to cutting me a check.”
He turned around and limped inside.
I headed back to the SUV, unable to keep from smiling.
“I take it we’re making a stop at this insurance agency?” Ida Belle asked as she pulled away.
“Definitely,” I said. “But first, let’s swing by that marina and see if there’s anyone around who can talk about Johnny. I would like to make sure everyone has their stories straight.”
Chapter Nineteen
We waved at our friends in front of the convenience store as we passed. I could tell by their expressions that they were disappointed we didn’t stop, but I was like a dog on the trail of a scent. The turnoff for the marina was halfway between where Silas lived and the NOLA city limits and on the east side, like Silas’s house. The road to it was maintained much better than the path to Silas’s house, with a topping of rock to help fill in the holes that all the trucks and trailers created. When we exited the trees, we were in a decent-sized parking lot. Three docks stretched into the bayou in front of us, shrimp boats tied to pylons lining each side. A couple of older men were fishing at the end of one of the docks and looked back as we started down the pier.
“Nothing’s biting but the heat,” the first man said as we approached.
“Then why are you fishing?” Gertie asked.
“Because it beats sitting in the house with my wife,” he said. “Been married to the woman for fifty-six years. There’s nothing we need to say that hasn’t already been said at least ten times.”
The other man shook his head. “That’s why I never remarried when my Jenny died. Shouldn’t be a reason for fishing other than wanting to fish.”
The first man reeled in his rod with a sigh. “And unfortunately, it’s about time I head back. Got that thing at my daughter-in-law’s this afternoon. Grandkid’s birthday party. Bunch of screaming kids and sitting around in the heat. My daughter-in-law won’t even let us have beer.”
“That’s just wrong,” the second man said.
“Was there something you were needing?” the first man asked as he packed his tackle box.
“I was hoping to find someone who could tell me about the day Johnny Broussard disappeared,” I said.
Both men frowned.
“That was bad news,” the second man said. “Why do you want to go stirring it up again?”
I pulled out my card and handed it to him. “Because I have a client who asked me to stir things up again.”
Both men’s eyes widened.
“This is because of what happened to Molly, isn’t it?” the first man said. “I said straightaway that it wasn’t right—brother and sister going the exact same way. I don’t believe in coincidence. Not that much of one, anyway.”
“Neither does my client,” I said.
The first man nodded. “Well, the guy you want to speak to about Johnny is sitting right here. Mel was the last one to see him. I best get going.”
He took off with his tackle box and Mel motioned for me to take a seat. I figured it was more polite than standing over him and grilling him so I sat. Ida Belle and Gertie each sat on a piling.
“I told the police everything I could at the time,” Mel said. “What is it you want to know?”
“You were here that day when Johnny took his boat out,” I said. “Was anyone else here?”
He shook his head. “The commercial guys didn’t even bother coming out, not with that kind of weather coming round. And the fishermen that thought they’d give it a try anyway had all packed up and left before I did.”
“You weren’t ready to give up?” I asked.
He gave me a sheepish look. “To be honest, as soon as everyone left, I reeled in and pulled out a book. I’d rather read than fish anyway, but you can’t let this lot know things like that. When the storm clouds started rolling in, I packed up.”
“And you saw Johnny when you were in your vehicle,” I said. “Where were you parked?”
“I was parked at the back of the lot over there in the corner,” he said. “My doctor gets onto me about walking, and since I’m not one to go walk around for no reason, I started parking away from things. Probably doesn’t make a bit of difference but it gets the doctor off my back.”
“And where did Johnny park?”
“Right close to the dock. I thought at first that maybe he’d come to grab something off his boat. I mean, the weather wasn’t fit for shrimping and Johnny knew that better than anyone.”
“Was it raining by then?” I asked.
“Not yet but it was dark like evening and it was sure coming. The wind had already picked up. But when he got on the boat, he untied it from the dock. I started my vehicle and he looked my direction and lifted a hand. Then he went to the wheel to start her up and left. I watched him go up the bayou a ways and then it started to come down, so I got out of there myself before the road got muddy.”
“And you’re sure it was him?”
“’Course. I know everyone’s truck and their boat and Johnny’s a big guy. Biggest guy on the docks. Besides, he was wearing that slicker his sister bought him. Bright purple stripes. Took a lot of razzing from the guys but couldn’t no one talk him out of wearing it. Every time someone tried to make something of it, he just grinned and told them they were jealous. That boy and his sister were thick as thieves.”
“Could you see his face?”
“Don’t suppose I could exactly but who else would it be? It was his truck, his slicker, his boat, body size was right, and he waved.”
“Was he carrying anything? Pulling a cooler maybe?”
“Nothing that I could see.”
“Did you take part in the search?”
He frowned. “Yeah. That was a bad deal. I still don’t understand. I guess I thought maybe he needed to move the boat. Take it for a repair or gas it up, even though I’m sure those things could have waited. But I never thought he’d head into the lake. Nobody did.”
“But that’s where the boat was found?”
He nodded. “Got hung up on a sunken boat along the bank. Tide pushed it in and then it got wedged on top of the wreckage.”