Leopard's Prey (32 page)

“Or he was drunk and was talkin’ smack,” Remy said. “That’s more likely. If you’re right about the Rousseau brothers, they’d take action.”

“Or kill him for kicks,” Gage suggested.

LeBrun shook his head. “This wasn’t for kicks. Whoever carves those bones wasn’t doin’ it for the fun of it.”

“Is there a possibility that there are two of them?” Remy asked LeBrun. He respected the man. Louis LeBrun wasn’t leopard, but he was very good at his job and he didn’t miss much.

“Of course,” LeBrun said, “but whoever harvested the bones is an expert. It has to be the same man every time. One could be doin’ the hangin’ while the other does the carvin’, but believe me, Remy, the carver is the same every single time. There’s no mistakin’ his work.”

“The murder itself is messy and careless,” Remy said, “but the harvester is meticulous. If you look at that altar, I’d have to say the same man put that together, payin’ special attention to every detail. There’s never one single drop of blood on his altar other than the bowl of blood provided by his victim, and if you look at the bowl, that’s not even messy.”

LeBrun nodded. “I don’ know how you’re goin’ to solve this one, Remy.” He swept his hand toward the body. “With all this every time he kills, you’d think he’d leave some forensic evidence behind, but the crime scene, in spite of the blood everywhere, is pristine, isn’t it?”

Remy steadfastly refused to look down at the partial leopard print. Forensics would find it, that and the fur, but he preferred not to help them. He and Drake needed time to warn the leopard community and get damage control underway before the news broke. He would suggest the fur and print were easy enough to fake, and clearly no animal had committed such a crime, not even the legendary Rougarou.

“Call me the minute you have anythin’ at all for me,” Remy instructed LeBrun. “I’m headin’ back to the station.”

LeBrun nodded, and Remy abruptly turned away. Gage fell into step beside him as he made his way to the sheriff’s boat. The moment he was in range to use his cell phone, Remy called Drake and told him everything that had transpired.

“Drake’s already on his way back. Robert and Dion are at the Inn with Saria and Bijou,” Remy told Gage. “I don’ like that one little bit. I can’t get back there to protect Bijou, and neither can you.”

Gage grinned at him. “I get your meanin’. The Lanoux boys are about to meet up with Lojos, Dash and Mahieu. They’ll be enjoyin’ their time with our brothers while we take care of business.”

“You know Saria won’ like it,” Remy said.

“Which is why you’re makin’ me make the call,” Gage guessed. “But that’s all right. I figure a man should be in trouble with only one woman at a time. From the way you’re tiptoein’ around I’d say your lady was truly aggravated with you. And probably for good reason.”

“Why would you say that?” Remy demanded.

“Because you’re smooth with all the ladies you don’ care about and a bit of a jackass with the ones you do care about.”

Remy glared at him, although he had a suspicion Gage’s observation might have some truth to it. “I’m smooth.”

Gage snorted. “You’re an idiot, and I say that with love in my heart.” Dramatically he placed his hand over his heart, his eyes laughing at his brother.

“I’ve got a gun,” Remy reminded. “You’re pushin’ the borders of my leopard’s ability to rein in his temper.”

“You blame that poor leopard for everythin’. You’re the one with the foul temper. Is that what happened? Did you manage to lose your temper and yell at that poor woman?”

“No, I didn’t yell at her. Although I thought about it. She could make Mother Teresa angry.”

Gage snorted again. “You’re so clueless, bro. Seriously. You’ve got the catch of the century and leave it up to you to blow it.”

“You’re the one who said she’d leave.” Just the thought of Bijou leaving him, let alone saying the words aloud, sent a stabbing pain through the region of his heart. He knew his brother was teasing him, probably crowing because Remy had always attracted women easily and Bijou wasn’t quite the easy conquest he’d expected. More, he hadn’t expected to be consumed by her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was there with every breath he drew and the moment he scented lavender, his body reacted with urgent, hot demand.

“Her leopard won’ let her run too far and you know it. She might try, and if she’s smart, she’ll definitely give you a run for your money…”

“That’s it. You’re about to go the hospital and have a bullet dug out of your ass.”

Gage burst out laughing. “You’re plannin’ on shooting me in the butt?”

“Well, it’s the only safe place, and it might be a bit embarrassin’ if you get a cute nurse, which, for the record, would be an added bonus.”

“I did say you were about the meanest man alive,” Gage pointed out.

Remy tried a blacker scowl to intimidate his younger brother. Ever since Bijou had come back home, Gage had been having way too much fun tweaking him.

“Just get the boys to the Inn fast,” Remy said. Otherwise, there would be no keeping his mind on interrogating the Rousseau brothers or Bijou’s manager and his assistant. He had to put her out of his mind and tell himself she was perfectly safe with Saria and his brothers.

She seemed so fragile to him. Saria was small, but she could take care of herself in any situation. Bijou needed… care. He just had to convince her that she did.

He drove back to the station house, refusing to give in to the temptation to call Bijou just to hear her voice and know she was all right. And he absolutely refused to believe he
needed
to hear her voice. It was just that with Robert going to the Inn, she might be scared and needing to hear
his
voice. He should probably call her to reassure her that his brothers were on the way. She’d feel much safer and calmer knowing he was thinking of her and making certain his brothers would protect her while he had to be away from her.

Satisfied that it was Bijou who needed to hear from him, and not the other way around, Remy parked in front of the station and whipped out his cell phone. She was under
Blue
and he found himself smiling for no reason at all. His thumb traced over her name before he could stop the automatic reaction. He looked around to make certain no one had seen that involuntary, silly reaction, more of a caress than anything else. If Gage or one of his other brothers had witnessed that incredibly ridiculous moment, he’d never live it down.

There was no response on Bijou’s cell. He left three voice mails and texted her three times, still to no avail. Swearing under his breath, he strode into the station house, straight to his office. Apparently everyone saw his face and quickly looked away, not greeting him. He picked up the phone and called the Inn.

Saria answered.

“Where the hell is Bijou? And why isn’t she takin’ my calls?” He demanded, furious, worried, and more than a little inclined to drive straight out to the Inn and the hell with interrogating anyone but his stubborn woman. “What the hell is wrong with women, anyway? How difficult is it to pick up the damn phone?” His voice went low, mean and gravelly, a sign his leopard’s temper was turning into a rage.

“She’s sittin’ right here, Remy.” Saria’s voice became soothing. “Her phone must be upstairs. What’s wrong?”

Okay, now he really looked like an idiot. He hadn’t considered she didn’t have her phone on her. And why didn’t she? “What the hell use is a cell phone if you don’ have it on you? That woman is so damned difficult.”

“Is she?” There was laughter in Saria’s voice that only served to make him angrier.

“I was worried about her, Saria. I knew Robert went there, and last night he challenged me for her. Then he challenged Drake. He’s a complete idiot and can’t be trusted. She’s such a fragile little thing and I knew she’d be really frightened.” He forced himself to sound reasonable when he still wanted to drive out to the Inn and see for himself Bijou was alive and well.

“Fragile?” Saria snorted. “You should have seen her reachin’ for the butcher knife when Dion refused to leave and we knew Robert was in the house but he refused to come out where we could see him. She even jumped up and put herself between Dion and me to protect me.”

His belly knotted up. “Is she crazy?” His voice dropped low. His scary voice. He even scared himself a little when he used that tone. He never knew exactly what he’d do. Robert and Dion Lanoux were going to get a visit from him in the dead of night and both would learn manners. No one threatened his mate or his sister. And certainly not in the home of the leader of the lair, or on Boudreaux property. They’d be lucky if they lived through the next night.

“I’d just told her I was pregnant, Remy. You would have been proud of her. I know you’re probably really upset with Dion and Robert but…”

“
Don’
defend them,” he snapped, cutting her off. Saria had always had a soft spot for the two brothers. “They have to live by lair rules just like the rest of us. They don’ get to go into your home scarin’ you or threaten’ you and not leavin’ when you tell them to.”

“I know,” Saria said, all reasonable, which only pissed him off more, “But there were extenuating circumstances.”

“They’re men, Saria. I know Robert was at the crime scene. He stupidly left a partial paw print and even some fur. Forensics will find it, and what do you think is goin’ to happen to all of us? We’ll be hunted. No one will be safe lettin’ their leopards run and if we can’ shift and they’re caged up, you know what will happen. Robert’s a man. He needs to take responsibility instead of whinin’ to his brother and then whinin’ to you.”

He truly wanted to beat Robert Lanoux within an inch of his life. There would be chaos in the lair and Drake had worked hard to get everyone under control. Everyone who lived or worked in or around the swamp and bayou would be under scrutiny by their neighbor.

“They’re waitin’ here for Drake. Robert knows he screwed up and to be honest, I think Dion’s had it with him. I put them in the sittin’ room.”

“Are the boys there?”

“They arrived just a few minutes ago.”

He could tell by her voice that she was somewhere between annoyance and laughter. “I do believe Robert is properly intimidated, which I hope, for your sake, was your motivation. I can take care of myself and so can Bijou.”

He wasn’t touching that one. Anything he said could get him in trouble with his independent and touchy sister. Of course his brothers were there to protect both women. Saria was pregnant, wasn’t she? He admitted silently to himself that he would have sent the boys pregnancy or not. “Put Bijou on, please.” At least he remembered his manners. Saria could turn stubborn fast and he wasn’t taking any chances.

There was a moment of silence and then Bijou answered. “Hello.”

His heart did some strange nonsensical bullshit that alarmed him. Maybe it was time for a checkup. Worse, that sultry, bluesy tone got under his skin and sent an electrical charge snaking through his bloodstream.

“Are you all right?”

“I was until your brothers showed up. They’re all starin’ at me and grinnin’ like idiots.”

The laughter in her voice sent a shaft of relief spiraling through him. “Don’ feel alone, they’ve taken to doin’ the very same thing to me,” he admitted. “Robert didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No, of course not.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be there to get him the hell out of there.”

“I think what you’re doin’ is far more important than bein’ here at the moment. I’m sure your brothers will insist he go if he makes any threats.” There was a small silence and then she made a small sound. “Um, Remy…” She broke off, hesitant, and her voice had dropped nearly to a whisper.

He liked that she was connecting them intimately whether she knew it or not. “What is it, Blue?” he prompted.

“When Robert came in, I felt her. You know.
Her.
It was a little disconcertin’.”

He stopped himself from grinding his teeth. “Did your leopard act happy to see him? Did you get that feelin’?” He was killing Robert Lanoux if her leopard dared to even entertain the notion of accepting the idiot. He couldn’t imagine it. She’d mated with his leopard, but Bijou was so confused, maybe her leopard was as well.

“No, she was definitely not happy. And I found myself fightin’ to maintain. Is that normal? Quite frankly, I felt a little scared that I might not be able to control her. I don’ think anyone noticed.”

“That’s good,
chere
, and very normal.” He tried to keep the relief out of his voice and stay neutral and informative, as matter-of-fact as possible. Deep inside he was rejoicing. “Your leopard is mated to mine and she won’ tolerate any other male interested in her. I know I’ve got a lot more to explain to you, but just so this makes sense, we find our mates over and over from one life to the next. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. Our leopards recognize one another, even if it’s the first cycle of life. I promise we’ll discuss more when I get there.”

He glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, I don’ know how long this will take, but when Drake gets close, he’ll give me a call. I’ll have to come there to talk with Robert and Dion.”

“Remy,” she whispered. “You wouldn’t really kill him, would you? He keeps actin’ like you want to kill him.”

He sighed. He’d told himself he wouldn’t lie to her. Not ever. Not about anything. But why the hell did she have to ask the complicated questions? “My leopard would definitely kill his if he persisted in tryin’ to get to you. So, yes, he’d be dead.” He had skirted the issue, blaming his cat, but he’d told the truth. His leopard would kill Robert’s in a heartbeat if it found the golden leopard anywhere near Bijou’s female.

“That’s just a little scary.”

“I know, Blue. I know this all must not only be shockin’ but very frightenin’ as well. I’ve got to go after this murderer, but I swore to you I’d get you through this and I will. Just please stay put for me. Don’ go off anywhere alone. I need to ask you a few questions though, about some things pertainin’ to the murders, just because the victim was at your club and harassin’ you.”

“Would it help if I come there?” Bijou asked. “I wouldn’t mind gettin’ away from here. If you don’ want me to come alone, I can ask one of your brothers to drive me there. My car’s a wreck anyway.”