Bayou Judgment Read Online Free

bedroom door interrupted her thoughts.
    â€œ Boo? Ready to go?” Luc hovered in the doorway, his presence reassuring but authoritative. Her protector. She appreciated his support, but resented that he was not able to comprehend her need to stand on her own two feet.
    Well, not really. She grabbed her cane. Not yet, but soon.
    Luc lifted her suitcase with one hand and gripped her elbow with the other, leading her down the hall to the front door. They passed two officers talking with Wes in the little sitting area.
    She should look away, she knew, but couldn’t resist a glance in the living room as they headed out the front door.
    The blood, now a deep brown, stained the floor.
    Felicia’s gagging reflex activated. She jerked free of Luc’s hold and hobbled to the front door, cane tapping against the floor. She needed cool air.
    The hint of honeysuckle blended with the early-blooming azaleas, filling the predawn air with sweetness. Too syrupy. Leaning over the sidewalk, Felicia lost her supper behind the box hedges.
    A gentle hand pulled back her hair.
    She straightened and wiped her mouth with the back of her good hand. Her gaze met Spence’s.
    â€œIt’s okay.” His voice came out soft.
    She gave a shaky smile.
    â€œYou okay?” Luc moved to join them.
    â€œOh, Ms. Trahan, I’m so sorry for what happened.” Mr. McRae waddled across the walkway. Her landlord patted her shoulder, his pudgy face wreathed in concern. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll get the apartment cleaned up for you.”
    â€œYou don’t have to do that,” she muttered.
    â€œI don’t think she’ll be coming back, Mr. McRae.” Luc hovered at her side.
    â€œOh.” Her landlord’s eyes held such sadness as he looked at Felicia. “I’ll be sorry to see you go, but I understand.”
    Back that truck up. She might be grief stricken, but she did still have a voice. “Actually, Mr. McRae, I’d like to stay.”
    Luc took hold of her elbow. “You aren’t thinking clearly, Boo. You can’t come back here.”
    She locked stares with Mr. McRae. “Could I change apartments? I’d still need one on the bottom floor, of course.”
    â€œCertainly. Six-A left last week. I finished the paint job just this morning.”
    â€œFelicia,” Luc interrupted, “I don’t think this is a good idea. Why don’t you take a couple of days to consider your opt—”
    â€œNo.” She shook her head to emphasize. “I’m not moving back home. Mr. McRae, how soon could I move into the new apartment?”
    â€œBy the end of next week.” He glanced at Luc and must have seen the storm clouds brewing in her brother’s face.
    â€œBut maybe you should think about this.”
    â€œMy decision is made. I’ll arrange to have my things moved next weekend, after I see about packing up J-Jolie’s things.” She hated how her voice cracked merely saying her name.
    As if it were the most natural gesture in the world, Spence took a step closer to her.
    Before anyone could argue, a uniformed officer ran up the walkway. “Sheriff, we have a neighbor who has some information you might want to hear.”
    Sheriff Theriot scooted from the doorway. “Whatcha got, Alan?”
    Felicia took two steps to get closer to the policeman, and craned to listen.
    â€œNext-door lady says she heard a woman pounding on the door here around seven-forty-five. Says she looked out her window and saw the woman, can identify her. Ms. Landry must have let her inside because the neighbor says she heard all kinds of yelling and screaming.”
    Felicia’s heartbeat drowned out coherent thought. Jolie yelling? Never. Jolie’s nature wouldn’t allow her to raise her voice.
    â€œDoes she know the woman?” Sheriff Theriot asked.
    â€œYeah. Says she recognized the woman as Sadie Thompson.”
    â€œI’m