Bayou Judgment Read Online Free Page A

on my way.” The sheriff turned to Felicia. “Remember, I’ll need you to come by the station in the morning to give your official statement.” His gaze drifted to her brother. “We’ll get to the bottom of it, Luc.”
    But Felicia paid no attention as she let Luc lead her to his SUV. Why would Sadie come to the apartment?
    And what would possess Jolie to let her in?

THREE
    S weat dripped into Felicia’s eyes.
    â€œ Allons, girl, you can do it.” Her physical therapist, Mark, shoved her through the last set of leg presses. “If you want to walk without that cane, you haveta finish this.”
    Flashing him a stabbing look, Felicia grunted and completed the set. She let out a long sigh and wiped her brow with a towel. “Shouldn’t this be getting easier after all these months?”
    Mark chuckled. “We’re working new muscles.”
    â€œYou’re a slave driver.”
    â€œBut you love me.” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows.
    Despite her exhaustion, she smiled back. He had her there—she did adore him. He knew her goal of walking without aid and pushed her hard to achieve it. Besides that, he was a good person. Nice. Honest. A person she could allow herself to care about without worrying about romantic entanglements. Mark had a sweet wife waiting on him at home. No threat.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want to take a couple of days to get over the incident? You can do your exercises at home.”
    The incident? What a polite way to say her friend had been murdered.
    â€œNo. Jolie wouldn’t have wanted me to cut back on her account. She wanted to see me walk alone.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Mark laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
    â€œIt’s okay.” She wiped her face. “I think I’ll go hit the showers now.”
    â€œLuc picking you up?”
    â€œOr the driver.” Pressing hard on the cane, she shoved herself to her feet. Her leg muscles, unused for a lifetime, quaked under her weight.
    â€œI’ll see you tomorrow, then.” Mark gave a mock punch to her upper arm. “You done good today, girl.”
    â€œMerci.” Her thoughts jumbled as she lumbered to the locker room.
    Three days after the incident, and the police still hadn’t found the murder weapon. Meanwhile, they were looking for Sadie Thompson to question her, as well as Kipp Landry, who seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth.
    Felicia stiffened her back. Her best friend’s murderer walked around free as a bird. No, this wouldn’t do. If the police didn’t get answers soon, maybe she’d do a little probing herself. She owed it to Jolie.
    An hour and a shower later, she had no further revelation on the matter. The hot spray had eased some of the tightness in her left calf, but the ache grew, creeping up into her thigh. She hobbled back into the lobby of the physical therapy center.
    â€œHey, can I give you a lift?” asked CoCo, Luc’s girlfriend.
    Felicia smiled. “You didn’t have to come fetch me, yes?”
    â€œDon’t be silly. I wanted to check on you.” CoCo hugged her. “ Allons, let’s blow this joint.”
    Felicia had to laugh at her friend’s gangster imitation. She followed CoCo to the Jeep, her steps slower than normal.
    â€œLuc told me you didn’t plan on staying at home.” CoCo turned over the engine and headed toward the Trahan house.
    Ah, so that’s why he sent CoCo to pick her up—in hopes his girlfriend could talk her out of staying at the apartment complex.
    She hated to disappoint her big brother, but Felicia had no intention of staying back at home. “Yep. I need to arrange to move my things into the new apartment this weekend.”
    CoCo shot her a quick glance before shifting her attention back to the road. “Do you think that’s wise?”
    Felicia bit back the retort,