Page 6 of Rowe

Hex stepped closer, one small step at a time. He opened the tablet to the screen where the face of the deceased child appeared. A sweet angelic face with dark hair. He turned it slowly toward Mara and had his answer.

All color drained from her face. There was no sound coming from her, nothing. Yet it said everything. Doc pushed into the room, checking her vitals and the readings on the monitor as they blared their warnings in the quiet room.

“Mara? Mara, honey look at me. Breathe. I need you to take a breath,” he said. The monitors began to scream louder, wildly blaring in the small room.

“What happened?” yelled Jane running into the room.

“Get out,” said Doc. “Everyone out!”

They left the room and walked out to the FEMA desk where the federal agents were gathering all the information on Pelican Insurance.

“You can add one more murder to their charges,” whispered Hex. “A child. Mara’s niece. She couldn’t pick her up because they’d kidnapped her. That resulted in the child’s death.”

“Shit,” muttered Jackson. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

The chaos of stabilizing Mara and ensuring that everyone from the storm was treated, continued for days. When the storm finally dispersed over Texas and Mexico, it left behind a path of destruction unlike anything anyone had seen before.

But Belle Fleur was spared for the most part, and they all knew just how fortunate they were. They prepared kits for those displaced. They made repairs to homes that were repairable. And they prepared for the court proceedings for Pelican Insurance.

“Where’s Rowe?” Luke asked Iggy.

“He’s still by her side. Refuses to leave except to shower. That woman will never be the same,” he said shaking his head. Luke nodded.

“Maybe not. But it’s our job to make sure that if she’s not the same, she’s better. Stronger. Happy, in a new way. We will not abandon her, nor will we let that child’s death be in vain. One way or another, Pelican will pay for it all.”

“We just got news from FEMA,” said Hiro. “Calder, Voss, and Lenora were shot while entering the detention center. Long-range rifle most likely from one of the government buildings across the street.”

“Someone didn’t want them talking,” said Ham. Luke looked at the group of younger men who were part of Shadow Warriors.

“We’re going to devote our time and energy to the clean-up and rebuilding. If you need us, just call,” said Luke. They all nodded.

“The house on the lake did belong to Pelican,” said Hiro, “but the downpayment was provided by Lake Industries. Desks, chairs, and other office equipment had been rented to them five months ago and placed in that mansion. Two days before the storm hit, it was all removed. If I were a betting man, and I’m not, I’d say the women were kept in the room with the restraints while the house was cleared. Then they were moved to the concrete platforms.

“Lakeside is a shell company for something much bigger, but I haven’t found out the owners yet. There are at least fifteen businesses in the area with them listed as owners. Everything from gyms to daiquiri shops and t-shirt stands around the quarter.”

“So, this is bigger than just those three idiots,” frowned Gator. “We need to know who was backing them and where their money was going. We know they were going to move the money once the storm was over. But the question is where.”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out now,” said Tanner. “Mike said he knew Mara. She was a great dispatcher and was always available for them in the department. Most of the men and women at the firehouse know her. She’ll have help when she needs it.”

“Good,” nodded Ham. “Although I suspect our boy Rowe will be by her side for a while. He seems attached.”

“He saved her,” said Rush. “He was the one that jumped off that fucking concrete slab with her. I’d be attached too.”

“Have we thought about searching around those slabs? I mean, search beneath the water,” said Gator. “If they chained them out there, there might be more that are beneath the slabs.”

“Fuck me,” said Cowboy. “It’d be the perfect grave. Chain them until they die, then just let them sink into the bayou, chains, and all. It’s not very deep there. If there are bodies, we should be able to find them.”

Ham rubbed his temples and nodded.

“We need SEAL divers,” he said calmly. “This is a volunteer operation. If we don’t do it, we’ll notify the sheriff, but we all know it will be low on the priority list.”

“I’ll do it,” said Cowboy.

“Me too,” said Christoper. Beside him, Patrick nodded, raising his finger.

“Alright. Three is plenty. Get your gear together and we’ll head out there while the sun is out. I pray like hell we find nothing, but my gut is telling me we won’t be that lucky.”

CHAPTER FIVE