Bayou Justice. Robin Caroll

take over at the casino. And that’s final.”

      Luc drew up to his full six-foot-three, towering a good four inches over his grandfather, and stared into the old man’s eyes. “No, I won’t. I’m staying as a freelance consultant.”

      “You will or else.” Grandfather stood toe-to-toe with him.

      “Or else what?”

      “Or else I’ll not only kick you all out in the street, but I’ll publicly disown you. You’ll be dead in this town.”

      TWO

      The morning sun split the blue skies, nearly blinding CoCo with its brightness. She cut her gaze through the Jeep’s windshield, over to the front door of the law office of Dwayne Williams for about the fortieth time in the past ten minutes. No sign of activity. She checked her watch again—8:01, still too early to show up for her nine o’clock appointment.

      “I don’t understand why I had to come.” Grandmere hadn’t stopped complaining since they left the house. “I told you, I can take care of Beau Trahan.”

      God, can I get a little help here? CoCo clenched the steering wheel and leaned into the blast of air conditioning. As if that could cool the frustration burning in her. “Because we’re going to do this legally.”

      “My way is legal.”

      “No, it isn’t,” CoCo said. “I don’t want to hear anymore about the traditions of old. Just this once, let me handle things. Okay, Grandmere?”

      Her grandmother huffed and rolled her aged eyes but remained silent. She turned her attention out the window.

      Hauling in a deep breath, CoCo closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Fatigue weighed down her very soul, and keeping up the long-standing argument with Grandmere wore her out even more. Sleep had flickered just out of reach last night. And it was all Luc Trahan’s fault.

      She’d managed to keep the wall she’d erected around her heart intact for two years. Two years! And with one measly phone conversation, it had begun to crumble. CoCo stared into the blazing sun. She wouldn’t allow Luc to worm his way back into her heart. Not after he’d left her dangling in the wind the way he had—right after he’d proposed. He’d broken her heart once…she wouldn’t let him close enough to crush it for good.

      “It’s about nine. What’re we waiting for?”

      CoCo snapped out of her reprieve and glanced over at the door to the law office. The blinds were now opening. “Guess we can go.” She killed the engine and slipped out of the car, rushing around to the passenger side to assist her grandmother.

      “I’m not old and decrepit,” Grandmere snapped as she shrugged off CoCo’s hand. “Despite what Beau Trahan thinks.”

      Ignoring the challenge in her grandmother’s tone, she led the way to the lawyer’s office. She’d grown tired of arguing with Grandmere over the past two years—to the point she’d avoid any further confrontation if at all possible. Opening the door, she smiled as the blast of frigid air hit her face. Just the walk across the parking lot had made her hot and sticky. She knew her face had to be beet-red, despite her tan.

      “Good morning. Ms. LeBlanc?” the perky receptionist sitting behind the front desk asked.

      CoCo nodded. “Yes. I have an appointment with Mr. Williams.”

      “Yes, ma’am. He’s ready for you now.” She stood and walked around the desk. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the conference room.”

      Their footfalls thumped softly on the deeply padded carpet as they followed the receptionist down the hall. Light paneling shone beneath the overhead track lighting. She swung open a door, revealing a long mahogany table and large windows overlooking the grassy area behind the building.

      “Can I get you a cup of coffee or a glass of water?” She waved them into the room while she hovered at the doorway.

      “We’re fine, merci.” CoCo pulled out a plush chair on rollers for her grandmother.

      “Mr. Williams will be with you shortly.” The receptionist pulled the door behind her when she left.

      Grandmere sat and glanced around the room. “This lawyer looks pricey, ma chère. It’d be easier if you’d just let me take care of Beau in my way.”

      The door swung open, saving CoCo from having to think of a response. A tall man in a business suit strode inside. His hair, black as the bayou bottom, contrasted against the chocolate color of his skin. “You must be CoCo LeBlanc. I’m Dwayne Williams.”

      He gave her a solid handshake. Her spirits soared—Grandpere had always said you could trust a man with a firm grip. “This is my grandmother, Marie LeBlanc.”

      Grandmere stood quickly and extended her hand. “Mr. Williams.”

      “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. LeBlanc.” He straightened and waved them both to the chairs. “Please, sit.” He moved to the chair across the table from them and sat.

      “Now, tell me what Mr. Trahan served you,” Mr. Williams said, steepling his fingers over the legal pad and pen sitting on the glossy table.

      Digging the paper out of her purse, CoCo’s hands trembled slightly. She set her jaw and slid the eviction notice across the table to him. “This is what he hand-delivered to us yesterday.” Why were her palms sweating? As casually as possible, she wiped her hands on her jeans.

      He scanned the paper and then lifted his pen over his legal pad. “Mrs. LeBlanc, is it possible that what Mr. Trahan states is true?” He tapped the pen against the paper. “Could your husband have signed over the deed to your property?”

      “Beau Trahan is a lying, two-bit scum. Marcel never signed over any property deed—not willingly. Beau did something underhanded—I just know it. Probably told my Marcel he was signing something totally different.” Grandmere’s eyes hardened around the edges.

      CoCo patted her grandmother’s hand. “Mr. Williams, I—”

      “Please, call me Dwayne.”

      She smiled. “Dwayne, I’ve lived with my grandparents for thirteen years, and this business about signing over the deed has never been mentioned before.”

      “It’s easy enough to check out. If this did happen, there’ll be a claim on file down at the courthouse. A matter of public record.”

      “So, what do we do?” CoCo held her breath and waited for his reply.

      Dwayne sat straight in his chair. “I’ll be honest with you. The main reason I took this case was because it involved Beau Trahan. I’m investigating him in an unrelated issue.” He pressed his lips together for a moment, pausing before dropping the pen. “I’m inclined to believe Mrs. LeBlanc.”

      “That Mr. Beau had my grandfather sign something he didn’t understand?”

      “Yes.” He held up a hand. “I’m not accusing Mr. Trahan of anything—not yet—but I can see something like that happening.”

      “Isn’t that illegal?”

      “Yes, it is. However, I’ll have to research it more fully. I’ll start by going to the courthouse and filing a motion against this eviction notice. At the very least, that should buy us an additional sixty to ninety days.”

      “And then what?” How could they prove Beau Trahan pulled such an underhanded scam on her grandfather?

      “What we discover will determine how we’ll proceed.”

      “Mr. Williams,” Grandmere interrupted, “your words are all good, but what’s this gonna cost us?”

      He smiled, his white teeth flashing in contrast to his smooth, black skin. “If you’re interested in me representing you in this matter, how about a one-hundred-dollar