Page 45 of Kidnapped in Dark Waters
Jacob Benoit sat alone at a two-top. The fisherman had been interviewed concerning his whereabouts on the dates in question. His alibi had been like the others. He’d been in his shanty alone at the times of the attack and when the notes had been left.
They finished eating and then headed back to the station. On the short drive back, Luke decided that was the last meal he’d eat in the café for a while. It was just too painful to see her and know she didn’t love him.
He realized he wanted—he—needed to keep busy. He desperately needed his mind focused on other things. Whenever there was a quiet moment, his head filled with thoughts of Dominique, and the heartbreak would come crashing down on his head all over again.
They had just gotten back and settled in the murder room when Gus called from the front desk. “I got a man here who wants to talk to the person in charge of the Santori murder.”
The three men looked at each other. Was it possible that finally this was the break they’d been waiting for? Could the man tie Pierre to the murder scene? Had Pierre finally made a mistake and talked to somebody about the murder?
“Send him to my office,” Daniel said as he stood. He hung up the phone. “You two come with me. Let’s hear what this man has to tell us.”
The three of them hurried up the hall to Daniel’s office, where Daniel sat behind his desk. Luke and Clay stood against the wall, leaving the chair in front of the desk for the new visitor.
They all had just settled in place when a knock fell on the door. Clay opened it and a tall man Luke had never seen before entered.
Daniel stood and held out his hand. “I’m Chief of Police, Daniel LeCroix, and these are two of my officers, Luke Madison and Clay Caldwell.”
The man grabbed hold of Daniel’s hand and shook it. “Lucien Rousseau is my name and I’m a fisherman by trade.”
“Please, have a seat, Mr. Rousseau.” Daniel gestured to the chair before him.
Lucien Rousseau looked to be in his mid-forties. His long dark hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and his features were bold and well weathered. He was also missing one of his front teeth.
“I understand you might have some information that would help in solving the murder of Mystique Santori.”
“I do.”
“Is this something you heard or learned recently?”
“No, I’ve known about it for months,” Lucien replied.
“Might I ask what took you so long to come in?” Daniel asked.
“A couple months ago I got a gig on an offshore fishing boat. The work was hard but the pay was good. I just got back to my shanty yesterday and got caught up with all the swamp gossip.”
They spoke for a couple of minutes about the name of the offshore boat and exactly who had employed Lucien. Daniel asked him several questions concerning his employment.
“Enough about me.” Lucien suddenly leaned forward in the chair. “I heard you’re wanting to put Pierre Guidry away for killing Mystique.”
“We definitely believe he’s guilty of her murder,” Daniel said.
“Well, you’re wrong. You’re all wrong. He didn’t kill Mystique. He’s not guilty,” Lucien finished flatly. Luke felt as if the bottom of his stomach fell out at the man’s words.
“H-how do you know he isn’t guilty?” Daniel asked, obviously stunned by the man’s words.
“Because on the night and time she was murdered, I saw him fishing in the honey hole he thinks is a big secret. He keeps a pirogue there hidden under some brush. Sometimes, when he goes out in the pirogue to hunt the big gator he wants to catch, I fish off the bank there.”
“Are you sure you saw him on the right night?” Daniel asked.
“Positive, because when I woke the next morning, I heard the Voodoo Queen was dead and then I left to get on the fishing boat.” Lucien flashed his dark eyes to each one of them. “I got no friendship with Guidry and no reason to come in here except I don’t want to see an innocent man go to jail for a murder he didn’t commit. Pierre isn’t your man and that’s all I got to say.”
Abruptly he stood. “And now it’s time for me to go. I got a wife who is mad I stayed out and away from home for so long and kids clamoring to spend some time with me. If you got more questions for me, you can find me at my shanty in the swamp.”
On that note, he opened the door and stepped out and then closed the door behind him. For a long moment, a stunned silence reigned among the three of them.
“Did you believe him?” Luke finally broke the silence.
“I’m not sure,” Daniel replied slowly.
