Rachel's Rebellion (Moss Bayou)
Read Rachel's Rebellion (Moss Bayou) Online
Authors: GiGi Duvall
GiGi Duvall
Rachel’s
Rebellion
A Moss Bayou Novel
The Moss Bayou Novels
From the Middle
From the Dark
New Beginnings
From the Truth
Rachel’s Rebellion
Coming
Summer
, 2014
Lily’s Surrender
Copyright ©2014 Regina Eckhoff
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be
used, reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any electronic form or any printed
form without expressed permission.
Excerpt from
From
the
Truth
copyright ©2013 Regina Eckhoff
This is a work of fiction. Names, places,
incidents, or events are either a product of the author’s imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,
businesses, other establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art by LiquidCrystal Graphix. Copyright
©2014
Acknowledgements
No book is complete
without acknowledging those who helped me turn it into the story I want to
tell.
Without Ka’Tina Dennee, I
would never be able to accomplish it all. She makes sure everything is all
pulled together. Without her allowing me to bounce ideas around with her, who
knows how this story would’ve turned out? Thanks to the best friend ever.
A very special thanks to
Baily Wilcox who provided Rachel’s beauty for the cover. Also, a very special
thanks to my dear friend Cory Walker. I knew you were right for Gabe. Thanks
for making Gabe look so good.
Once more, I need to give
the Facebook Cheerleaders a special thanks. This time it was chest hair or no
chest hair! You’ll have read on to see how it turned out.
Kylie
Hicks
You’re
the best secret reader an author could have.
April 3
Sergeant
Gabriel Deacon watched Moss Bayou Police Chief Dex Greer’s face and there it
was. The shock was unmistakable. Having just learned that not only was heroin
the big drug going through his town instead of meth, the police chief had also
just learned one of the most recognizable residents of Moss Bayou was possibly
leading the stuff into town. The silence was thick as everyone waited for Dex
Greer’s absorption to complete. The already stuffy room seemed to grow smaller
and warmer as Dex processed the information. Gabe knew the chief was a stand up
man and would do everything in his power to ensure the success of Operation
P-10 but he obviously needed a moment. His eyes passed from face to face of the
others in the small room before resting once more on Dex Greer. He then looked
toward Wyatt Hawke, who offered a shrug of his shoulders.
“Dex, I know
this is all a shock to the system,” DEA Agent Mike Furst said, swiping a hand
over his shiny bald head. “It is definitely not a meth operation as originally
thought. The burglaries and vandalisms in your town were, in some cases, a ploy
and in the cases of Wheeler’s Seafood and Boudreaux’s hardware, revenge.
Revenge for refusal to cooperate.”
“Are you
positive about him,” Dex pointed to the black and white photograph laying on
the desk before him
“Afraid so,”
Gabe confirmed. “The photo was snapped by surveillance support during a private
meeting he had with Denny Dennis and Russ Patterson near that old barn where
you were shot.”
“And Anthony
Till was murdered,” Dex muttered more to himself. “If he’s calling the shots,
that means he ordered the beating of his wife’s nephew. His own family member.”
“Won’t say
that it was his order,” Hawke threw in. “Nothing points to that yet. But it
looks like he’s okay with it.”
“Why revenge
on the hardware store and the seafood plant? What did the Boudreauxs or the
Wheelers do to deserve that?” Dex scratched his jaw and kept his eyes focused
on the photograph.
“In the case
of Boudreaux’s Hardware, it looks like Roger Boudreaux came too close to what
Henry Simpson was up to,” Mike Furst told him. “Maybe Henry Simpson was talking
too much and Roger Boudreaux was being too good a cop.”
“And Roger’s
father owns the hardware store,” Dex finished.
“Wheeler’s
was hit after refusing to allow Denny access to their docks.” Gabe shrugged. “The
docks appealed to them. The Wheelers threatened to call the cops. Simple as
that.”
“What about
Jensen Boats? Docks there as well.”
Mike Furst
toyed with his thick dark handle-bar mustache a moment. “We may have to bring
the Jensens into the fold. Give them a bit of a heads up.”
“Ray Jensen
is an honest and trustworthy man,” Dex told them. “So is his son, Brody.
They’re the ones running things there. They should have a heads up in this.
Some pretty expensive boats out there.”
“The list of
those in the know seems to be growing,” Hawke mumbled.
At that
moment, as if on cue, a knock sounded at the door.
“It’s good
now,” Mike Furst called out as he hurriedly shuffled all evidence of their
topic back into folders.
The door
opened to reveal FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Jenkins stepping aside to
allow Tellie Anderson enter before him.
Gabe had to
crack a smile as Tellie looked around the room, took in faces, and then stopped
at Wyatt Hawke and then his own face. A smile slowly crept across the woman’s
face as she raised a finger toward them.
“Deke and
Wylie? My left foot, Sha.”
“Yes ma’am,”
Gabe had to chuckle. “I’m Gabriel Deacon.” He offered his hand. “To my left
here is Wyatt Hawke.”
To Gabe, she
said, “Your eyes are not dark at all. Quite the opposite.”
“Contacts,
ma’am. Too noticeable otherwise.”
“Those
ultra-light blue eyes are like a beacon with his dark hair and tanned skin. We
should call him Beacon Deacon.” Hawke laughed, obviously proud of his own joke.
“I think
you’re a handsome man,” Tellie told him with a wink and then switched gears.
“Cally?”
“Cally is
also undercover.” Again, Gabe had to chuckle when Tellie gave him an I-knew-it
look.
“CJ or Cally
as you know her,” said Richard Jenkins, “is working her shift at your Café
right now.”
“Has Mrs. Anderson
been filled in?” Mike asked.
“Yes, she
has.” Richard Jenkins told him. “She’s been given the information we feel she
needs in her position. She has been informed of the need for secrecy. Just a
few details left to go over.”
“Special
Agent Jenkins informed me of what is expected of me,” Tellie affirmed. “I want
you all to know I can keep my mouth shut. I don’t want anything to hurt your
investigation or endanger any of you.”
“Now that
the introductions have been made,” said Richard Jenkins, “I’ll take Mrs.
Anderson back to my office for some instructions.”
Gabe stood
back as Tellie Anderson made her way out of the small room. He thought a moment
about telling one more person but knew he couldn’t. God, he wanted to be honest
with her. When Mike Furst pulled out papers and photos once more, he pushed the
thoughts of her aside and focused on business.
“It appears
the leaks are coming from Russ Patterson,” Furst was saying.
Dex shook
his head in anger. “How long before I have the pleasure of busting Russ
Patterson?”
“Sorry,
Dex.” Hawke shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Now what?”
Dex hitched a thumb toward the now closed door. “What about Tellie?”
“It was
decided to use Mrs. Anderson’s special position as a means of gathering
information.”
“But what
about her safety, Furst?”
“Mrs.
Anderson’s safety is our priority as well,” the agent told him. “While it is a
bit unorthodox, her position allows her to be privy to many things. Put that
with the fact that she knows just about everyone in Moss Bayou and we’ve got a
great tool.”
Gabe tried
to pay attention to the conversation but his mind drifted once more. Back to
that night.
Her
beautiful face.
“There is
something about you,” she… told him. “Something about you and I can’t figure it
out.”
“Something
good, I hope.”
“I think
it might be something … scary.” She looked away a moment. “Scary for me. And
yet…”
The taste of
her kiss.
“I know
you don’t know me but…”
He
waited. She licked her lips. He felt a sudden burn smolder down low.
“Can I
kiss you?”
He worked
hard to bring himself back to reality. What he found in that reality was more
than just a room full of cops.
Rachel.
One
Rachel
Emerson took a deep breath. It was almost time. The sixth of April arrived
bright and beautiful. Throughout the day, the sun warmed the southern spring
day, and seemed to compliment the feeling of everyone in town. The world of
Moss Bayou had operated with military precision throughout the day in
anticipation of tonight’s big celebration. Everyone had a job to do. Bright
pink vans emblazoned with the Petal Place logo zoomed between the florist and
St. Anthony’s and PJ Nites. The florist had two delivery vans but had been so
busy, it looked like a large fleet of them had occupied the streets. Latini’s
Bakery, fully remodeled after a fire in February,
had
ovens hot before the sun had risen. There were rolls and cakes and pies to
bake. All of which were overseen by Vincent and Teressa Latini and eventually
delivered to PJ Nites. Almost as early as the Latinis began their day, Nora
Kelly had begun hers. She was in charge of half of the catering and the kitchen
at Kelly’s restaurant ran at peak efficiency. With a small army of help
consisting of family and friends, everything from simmered roast beef slices to
chicken salad were made, packed carefully and delivered to PJ Nites, where
Charlie Jensen, in charge of the other half of the catering, worked to create
the remainder of the foods that would fill the buffet tables. While food was
prepared, the decoration committee, which also consisted of several friends and
neighbors and was kept running smoothly by her own mother. Susan Emerson and
Christine Wheeler worked to lay satin, ribbon, tulle, and flowers on every
surface imaginable at both the church and PJ Nites. And, if that weren’t enough
to make one’s head spin, Ruth Ann Gautreaux’s Beauty Den hustled with activity
as almost every woman in Moss Bayou had an appointment that day. How Ruth Ann
and her daughters Amy and Terri did it, no one knew, but the ladies of Moss
Bayou would look beautiful when the big event began.
Now, at
almost six, the evening was proving to be just as bright and beautiful but
thankfully, no longer as busy. It had been a hectic day, but it had been hectic
in a fun filled way. Hair appointments, last minute errands, giddy laughter,
and even a little dog named Sweetie Pie who demanded attention had taken them
all by storm. Now, Rachel stood in the large room at St. Anthony’s with the
others, waiting. It was a room filled with excitement, loud voices, and
laughter. The scents of perfumes, hair sprays, and flowers blended
together and tickled her nose as Lily Quinn sprayed her own perfume. She
smiled. Lily Quinn was never without all of the girly things she felt were as
necessary as air to breathe. Her purse and all of its goodies, were always
Lily’s first priority. And even though Sweetie Pie would not be in attendance,
her “aunt” Lily had even made sure to provide the little dog with a purple
satin bow for her hair. Yes, Lily’s first priority was definitely fashion and
looking good. Being a fashion buyer for Quinn’s Department stores was
definitely Lily’s calling.