Page 65 of Home Again

“He needs five million dollars.”

Gianna started to cry. Sebastian wanted to crawl into his phone and comfort her.

“He says your uncle will help you get the money, and then you have to give it to him.” She used her sleeve to wipe her nose.

The video ended.

“What the ever-loving-fuck!” he roared. “What the fuck is she talking about?” He slammed his hands against the steering wheel.

His uncle?

He drew back his fist.

“Fuck you!” he roared at Gideon when the man grabbed his arm, stopping him from punching the windshield.

“Calm your shit down!”

“Did you hear her? Armand? What is going on?” He tried to get his breathing under control.

“Calm.” Gideon stared at Sebastian with compassionate eyes. “Calm.”

“How can my family be even more depraved? I don’t get it, Gideon. I don’t. How deep does the rot go?”

Gideon let go of his arm and Sebastian looked away from him, taking three deep breaths. This was not helping things.

His phone had dropped to the floor of the truck, so he picked it up. He swiped in his password and texted Armand. He probably should have done that from the get-go.

Your friend Fontenot has Gianna. Says you can help me put my hands on five million, and you’re the go-between. Call me.

He knew Gideon had been reading over his shoulder.

“Is that calm enough for you?” Sebastian asked.

Gideon nodded. “Sebastian, do you have the slightest idea why Fontenot thinks you can get your hands on five million dollars?”

“Hell no. It sure as hell isn’t from my checking or savings account. Lazar has money, but until he dies none of it is coming my way. Fuck, to tell you the truth, even when he does die I’m not expecting one red cent. So unless Armand has some way for me to kill Armand and get my inheritance in a couple of days, or get a loan from Armand, which isn’t fucking likely, then I don’t know what is going on.”

“Let’s get to the apartment and get changed. We can discuss our next steps.”

Sebastian nodded. There was nothing new about Gideon being the calm one, and God knew he needed it right now. He started the engine and headed toward Lafayette Avenue.

“We’ve got a couple of different things we’re working on,” Gideon said. “Two you know about, one you don’t.”

Sebastian glanced sideways at his teammate. “Start with the one I don’t know about.”

“Armand’s cell phone provider is the rinkiest dinkiest Podunk provider I’ve ever heard of. Why the hell he’s using it, is beyond me. Jada is trying to get into the system so we can set up some way of tracking the phone.”

Sebastian glowered at Gideon. “Why the fuck aren’t you doing it?”

“Again. Calm your shit down. She’s doing everything I would be doing.”

“Bullshit, you would have found a way to track him already.”

“No, I wouldn’t have. Now, number two. She’s already sent me some of the stuff on Fontenot’s family. They’ve reproduced like rabbits. The most interesting thing is that two of his three cousins, who got sent to prison for the chemical dumping, are out. They moved back to Landry Parish.”

“Then we start with them.”

“I agree,” Sebastian said.

“Next, we need to find Bradley Fontenot. Jada’s sent me his home address and where his ex-wife lives. Apparently where he spends most of his time is the Blonde Bayou.”

“You don’t think he’d be stupid enough to show up there, do you? Wouldn’t he be hiding under a rock?” Sebastian asked.

“I think he is one cocky son-of-a-bitch who probably thinks he can either pin this on one of his cousins again or Armand. He doesn’t know what I know.”

“And what’s that?” Sebastian asked.

“Jada recorded that entire phone conversation between him and Gianna in the car.”

“Holy shit. I’ve changed my mind. I really like her.”