“Wes, the first reason I called was Chantal knows about Pierre and Rosalind. She wants to speak with you.”
“Darlin’, go get your sister,” Tuck asked.
Harper returned from checking Chantal’s room and the nursery. “Um, Tuck, Wes—she’s not here.”
Tuck sat heavily in the desk chair. “I’ll show her my not-so-sweet Texas boy.” He picked up the phone. “I need a building shutdown. I have two missing patients.”
Harper heard the alarms.Channy, you haven’t changed.
Wes sighed. “Kyle will kill me if I lose Chantal and Lisette.”
Chapter 44
Tuesday, September 11th
Greta T+13 days
Water flowed through the opening. Under drought conditions, the saltwater from the gulf flows up the Mississippi River, making it salty. But, thanks to the hurricane, fresh water poured over his head. Grabbing Rene’s wallet, he pulled out the condom inside. That was a thought burned into his brain, a fun fact from his Navy days: condoms could hold water. After blowing up the rubber, he held it open as water filled the balloon. Not wanting to push his luck, he stopped at the half-full point.
Water began filling the mud cavern, extinguishing the fire. By the time the water stopped, it was up to his hips. He started to shiver, his head spinning. On a ledge he created sat the bottle of Gatorade. He drank three sips. He was vomiting less, likely because he was dehydrated. What he did throw up was bloody.
As dawn broke and light came through the hole, the water receded. Using some wood he wrapped in the rest of the silk from his jacket, and part of Rene’s toupee, he managed to get a fire burning again. Unable to stay awake any longer, he fell asleep beside the fire.
* * *
Chantal stormed into the penthouse.“I demand to speak to Kyle or someone else in charge!” she screeched.
Elin stood. At her full height, she dwarfed Chantal. She raised one manicured finger at her. “You do not demand anything. Besides, that tone is not good for that sweet baby. If you sit, I will find a supervisor for you.”
The collaborative glass room’s walls were opaque, but the occupants could hear Chantal. Kieran and the other top executives, after hearing the accuracy of Raven’s vision about Josh, were trying to unravel the other half of her vision about Kip. There were countless crypts in New Orleans, and there were even more outside the immediate area.
Moments later, at Kieran’s order, Chantal was in an elevator with Tobey. The door to Rosalind’s interrogation room opened. Mia held the door for Chantal, who rested Lisette in her arms. After six hours of interrogation, no headway with either of the Rousselles, and his fear for Kip’s life, Kieran agreed to try Chantal’s plan.
Noah leaned against the wall after closing the door behind Chantal. “Hello, Mother,” she said.
“Chantal. It’s good to see you,” she said in her autocratic tone.
“Cut the shit, Mother. You’re surprised to see me,” Chantal said.
“Language!” Rosalind gasped.
“I’m thirty-two, and you are still trying to correct me.” Chantal sat. “Where’s Kip Brennan?”
“How would I know that?” the woman had the gall to ask.
“I told Mia, you know, the woman who was asking you questions and is capable of pulling your brain through your nose, that you had some redeeming qualities. Now I can’t remember what they were. Oh, yes, I told her you loved children.
“You know the chemist and her husband you killed with one of the drug concoctions? They had triplet boys, sweet ones who are in incubators here, all about seven pounds and orphaned. Then there are Adelaide and Gabriel Matin’s children. Addy left them to Harper. Kip and she want to provide a safe and loving home for them. And then there’s me. I met a wonderful man, Kyle Cooper.” She waved her left ring finger at her. “He asked me to marry him and wants to adopt the child I conceived with another man. She’s the most beautiful baby ever. And you’ll never see her.” Chantal got up to leave.
“Wait,” Rosalind said. “What’s her name?”
“Lisette,” Chantal said. “She’s right outside.”
“Please, Chantal,” she whispered.
“Where’s Kip?” Chantal sat again.
“He’s in a crypt off the river. I told your father to dump him there while I packed.”
