Rumble on the Bayou by Jana DeLeon

interested in the family business."
     
    He blew out a breath and ran one hand through his hair. "Roland struck out on his own when he was twelve. Child Protective Services came to check on him and the parents said they hadn't seen him in weeks."
     
    Dorie shook her head in disgust.
     
    "I know. They also hadn't reported him missing and didn't seem very concerned. CPS returned a couple of weeks later to follow up and found both parents dead in the house. They'd been stabbed over twenty-five times each and were lying next to a pile of drugs that had been left behind."
     
    Richard gave her a hard look. "Roland was the main suspect, of course, but the local cops never found a trace of him. They finally gave up, figuring him for dead."
     
    "I knew it," she said, disgusted. "He is a ghost. You're telling me this man has existed all those years in nothingness?"
     
    “ There was a woman once. But it was over thirty years ago. She gave the agency most of our information on him. She wanted out."
     
    "What happened to her?" Dorie asked, pretty sure she wasn't going to like the answer.
     
    "I don't know The agency never heard from her again, and they never located her."
     
    "He killed her."
     
    "Probably."
     
    Dorie blew out a breath. A drug dealer suspected of multiple homicides-his first as a minor-had stopped off in her town. This week was going to hell in a handbasket.
     
    "I guess we'd better start right away," she finally said. "God knows, you need my help. At the rate you people are going, I'll never get you out of my town."
     
    ***
     
    Ten minutes later, they were bouncing down the logging trail to Maylene Thibodeaux's house. For some reason Dorie couldn't fathom, Richard wanted to see the pool where the alligator had been found. If this was the way the DEA performed an investigation, it was no wonder they hadn't caught Roland. What a waste of time. Roland had never been in Maylene's swimming pool. If he had, Maylene would have bagged him and probably had him mounted on the wall over her portable television.
     
    Still, Maylene might be a quick way to get rid of Richard. No, that was even too cruel for Dick. Best keep him away from Maylene's brew.
     
    Dorie pointed to the house as they approached. "There's the house. And I'm giving you fair warning. Maylene is a widow on search for victim number two. Do not drink anything she has to offer."
     
    Richard stared at her, a confused expression on his face, but nodded. "Okay. I promise I won't drink anything."
     
    They walked up the steps to Maylene's house, and Dorie knocked on the front door. They waited a moment, but heard no movement. She knocked again, harder this time. Finally, they heard rustling inside.
     
    "I'm coming," Maylene yelled. "I'm coming."
     
    The door flew open and Dorie smiled. Richard's first look at Maylene Thibodeaux was a doozy. She had obviously been asleep. Her choice of nightwear consisted of a belly shirt and G-string underwear. Of course, on Maylene, there was a lot more belly than shirt and that string on her underwear was probably lost forever.
     
    "Damn it, Dorie. It's after five. You know I've been at happy hour since three. What the hell is so important that you're banging on my door after working hours?" Then Maylene caught sight of Richard. "Well," she changed her tone from angry to her version of sexy. "This looks important. You bringing me gifts, Dorie?"
     
    Richard looked alarmed and took a step back, just out of Maylene's reach. Dorie bit her lip and tried not to laugh. "No, Maylene. He's not a gift. This is Richard Starke. He's with the DEA in D.C., and he's here about the drugs we found on the alligator."
     
    Maylene looked disappointed. "City dude. Hmpf. City dude would never be able to keep up with me. Guess you better come on in since you're not going away."
     
    "That's all right," Dorie said. "We really wanted to take a look at the pool. I just didn't want to go into the backyard without your permission
     
    Maylene