They heard Dino’s car start up and he stopped beside them.
“Reyes will be contacting Madame Fleur, and I said I would come with him to translate. She understands fine, she refuses to speak English, for some reason.” He shrugged. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Take it easy, Dino. You watch out for yourself, or I’m going to be beastly and force feed you your medicine.”
“Yes, Ma’am!” He snapped a saucy salute and drove off, nearly having a couple collisions just pulling out of the driveway.
“Well, we have all afternoon off. What shall we do with ourselves?” Deacon looked slyly at Kacy.
“I see that look, you dirty, naughty man! I know what you want to be doing!” She slapped playfully at him.
“I was going to suggest a walk on the beach, maybe dinner and a movie? But if you’d rather hang out at the house and have incredible sex, I think I could arrange that.”
Giggling, she walked to the car and he opened the door for her again. Slipping inside, she fastened her belt as he walked around to the driver’s side.
“Hey, Deacon, did you leave this here?” She was pointing to an envelope on the seat.
Deacon pulled on his work glove before he picked it up. “No, I didn’t. I wonder what it is.”
“Don’t open it! You don’t know what it might be. Here.” She handed him a clean Ziploc bag from her purse.
“You always carry sandwich bags around with you?”
“You’d be surprised at how handy they are, I always have at least one.”
Deacon chuckled, taking the bag, he put the envelope carefully inside, sealing the bag.
“First stop the police station. Don’t suppose you know where it is?”
“Actually, yes. I saw it the other day when I was shopping. Head west till you hit US-1 and it’s north of Canal Street, a few miles. It’s on the highway on your left, you can’t miss it.”
“That’s always the kiss of death. I can’t believe it’s that easy.”
“No, seriously, it’s a piece of cake. You want me to drive?”
“I can manage, thanks.” He started the car and pulled into traffic much more carefully than she and Dino.
“You drive like my grandmum, Deacon.”
“I have to be careful.”
“Well it is Dino’s car, after all.”
“That’s only part of it.” He glanced at her, then back at the road. “I’ve got precious cargo. I’m not going to do anything stupid to risk losing you.”
Kacy sniffled loudly, wiping a tear. “Oh, Deacon, you’re too bloody nice to me.” She rummaged around in her purse, but couldn’t find a tissue.
Chuckling, he handed her his bandanna, it hadn’t been used that day and was still clean. She wiped her eyes, handing it back to him.
“Hang onto it. The way our conversations go, you might need it again.”
“I do get rather emotional, don’t I? I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m getting all worked up over this. It’s not like me to carry on so. You’ll want to be getting over soon, it’s just ahead.”
She pointed to the lighted blue plastic sign which said Police and bore the city crest. He slipped quickly into the left lane and made his turn at the next corner.
Their conversation with the desk sergeant was short and to the point. Detective Reyes was interviewing Madame, but they could leave the envelope and its contents with him. He filled out some paperwork, got their signatures, phone numbers and other important information. Driving back to the house, Deacon pulled over in a parking lot, stopping the car.
“What are you doing?” Kacy looked puzzled.
“Madame’s had offers on her property. I wonder if she and Dino compared names, if there are any in common.”
“Deacon, the police will take care of this, why are you worrying about it?”
“I wonder if Uncle Charlie got offers to sell, or Aunt Sophie? I don’t suppose there are any other relatives?”
“We’d have to ask Dino.”
“I keep thinking it’s not the building that he’s after so much as the land. Like Dino said, that is a prime parcel. If someone also had the spots next to it….”
He put the car in gear and pulled into traffic as cavalierly as Kacy. Horns honking followed them down the road. He waved a middle finger out the window as he accelerated.
“Where are we going?”
“To the florist.”
“What? Deacon, what do you want flowers for?”
“Trust me.”
He drove quickly, recklessly and zipped into the driveway of the florist shop next to the theater on the other side. Merle’s Florist was nearly as old a business as the deli, but it was no longer Merle who ran it. She had retired several years ago. It was her daughter and grandson who ran it now. Deacon introduced himself and Kacy.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
Dellani Oakes 