The two men left the room and Daniel headed to his office. It was only noon and he was already tired. With a plan to continue his investigation into Pierre set, he now thought about how he could continue moving forward in Angelique’s case.
The fact that she couldn’t think of anyone she’d had words with in the past spoke highly of her pleasant personality. But there had to be somebody she had ticked off.
Marianne Lutgen. Was it possible the swamp woman had built up a deep resentment…a hatred for Angelique? He definitely needed to have a little chat with her. According to Angelique, Marianne might have also had a deep resentment toward Mystique. Definitely somebody who needed to be questioned.
The men returned with their lunches, and Daniel told them about his plan to find Marianne in the swamp and interview her. He wanted his two top officers to be with him as he never knew what he might encounter in the thick vegetation and wildness of the swamp.
“We go from a stinky gator hunter to a cute gal who likes to party.” Luke shook his head and grinned. “Never a dull moment in Dark Waters.”
They finished eating and were about to leave the office when Daniel’s phone rang. It was Jacque LeBlanc, the gator hunter who lived in the very depths of the swamp.
“Ranger Chauvin,” Jacque said.
“What about him?” Daniel asked.
“He’s always been a strange dude, but he’s definitely being more secretive and stranger lately. While out in the swamp I’ve heard him mumbling to himself, and several times in the last couple of days I’ve heard him mention Mystique and Angelique’s names. His shanty is just to the north of mine.”
“Thanks,” Daniel said. “I appreciate the tip.” When he hung up the phone, a new bolt of adrenaline rushed through him. “A new suspect…let’s head out.”
Once they were all three in the car, Daniel explained what Jacque had said. “You two know anything about this Ranger guy?” Daniel asked.
“I’ve seen him around town. From what I know of him, he’s not a very friendly guy,” Luke said.
“Doesn’t he hang out around the hardware store?” Clay asked.
“That’s where I usually see him,” Luke replied.
“What in the hell does he have to do with Mystique and Angelique,” Daniel asked.
“Hopefully, we’re going to find out,” Luke replied.
They rode in silence to the swamp entrance. A new hope swept through Daniel as he considered another suspect. When they reached the swamp, they walked for about a half an hour into the thick vegetation. When they were almost to Jacque’s place, they began to look for a shanty to the north of his.
“This looks like the place,” Daniel said as they came upon a small shanty not too far from Jacque’s. The boards of the structure were a weathered gray and the front window sported dirty curtains, but no glass.
As they approached, Daniel caught a whiff of the scent of acetone and rotten eggs and cat pee. Apparently, Ranger had a meth lab either inside his shanty or someplace nearby.
Out of an abundance of caution, Daniel pulled his revolver, and Luke and Clay did the same. “Ranger Chauvin,” Daniel yelled when they reached the bottom of the porch stairs.
There was no response. “Ranger, it’s the police department…come on out,” Daniel yelled loudly.
The door flew open and a tall, lanky man stepped out. He had on a pair of jeans and a dirty blue T-shirt, and it appeared he notonly cooked the illegal drug, but also indulged in it as well. His thin face had the typical meth sores that he obviously picked.
“What’s up? What’s up?” he asked, his features twitching as he danced back and forth from foot to foot. “What do you want? What are you all doing here?”
“Ranger, we have a few questions to ask you,” Daniel said.
“I got answers,” Ranger replied. “I got plenty of answers, so ask away.”
“How well did you know Mystique Santori?”
Ranger’s eyes opened wide. “You mean the witch lady? It’s a good thing somebody slit her throat and killed her so she couldn’t say anymore wicked curses.”
“Did she put a wicked curse on you, Ranger?”
“She might have,” the man replied as his dark eyes narrowed. He reached up a hand and worried one of the sores on his cheek. “I think she did. Yup, I’m almost positive she did.”
“Why would she do such a thing to you?” Daniel asked. He put his gun back in the holster as he felt no physical threat with the man.
