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  Burke's statement demanded the truth, and Seth gave it to him. "Yes, sir. I do."

  "Then I believe she is, too. Have you been able to verify the extent of Tony Arsenault's involvement?"

  Making a fist, Seth pounded it once, twice, on the chair arm. "No, sir. The most I've been able to get from Adrienne is an admission that he does some work for Senegal. I'll get him, though."

  "What about Mrs. DeBlanc? Will she testify against Senegal and Arsenault?"

  Seth sat there as images of Adrienne flashed through his brain. Her wince of pain as Tony squeezed her arm hard enough to leave bruises on her creamy skin. Her caution when he first met her. Her frightened eyes and the determined lift to her chin as she cut a deal with him to protect her mother, even though she still wasn't one hundred percent sure she could trust him.

  "Sir, the mob is threatening her with her mother's safety as well as her own. Her mother has had a stroke and is in a nursing home. If she could be free of the threat to her mother—"

  "What's your plan?"

  Seth swallowed. "She's desperate to protect her mother. She'll do what I say. When I give her the word, she'll notify the nursing home that an ambulance will be arriving to have her mother moved. Mrs. Caldwell is paralyzed from a stroke, but she's not on life support. I'd need two Confidential agents and an ambulance to move her, and guards twenty-four/seven wherever we put her."

  Burke's brows went up. "You don't ask for much, do you?"

  Seth paused before answering. He had nothing to lose, and Confidential had everything to gain.

  "Sir, if we can assure her that her mother is safe, I believe she'll testify to everything she knows."

  Burke nodded and picked up his cell phone. He spoke briefly, outlining the plan Seth had just given him. "Is there a safe house available? Right. Twenty-four-hour nursing care, physician on call." He looked at Seth. "Which nursing home?"

  "St. Cecilia's."

  "When can you arrange for permission to move her?"

  "Anytime. All I have to do is call Adrienne."

  Burke gave final instructions to the person on the other end of the phone, then hung up.

  "Call her now."

  Seth pulled out his cell phone. When Adrienne answered she sounded distracted.

  "Can you talk?" he asked.

  "Yes. I was just on my way out to visit my mother."

  "Good. Notify the nursing home that she's being moved."

  "Oh my God. When?"

  "When?" Seth raised his brows at Burke.

  "An hour."

  "Right now. You stay there. I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes."

  "Oh, Seth." Adrienne's voice sounded quivery. "Where? Where are you taking her?"

  Seth glanced at Burke. "I can't tell you, princess. You have to trust me."

  "I have to know! Please Seth. I can't let her out of my sight."

  "I promise I'll take you to see your mother as soon as it's safe. This is what you asked me to do," he said gruffly. "Now you have to trust me to do it."

  She hesitated and he knew what was going through her mind. Was he really one of the good guys?

  "Adrienne?"

  "Okay—" she choked.

  "I'll be right there."

  With a frown, Seth turned off his cell phone. It seemed he was destined to make Adrienne unhappy. He stood, suppressing an urge to salute Burke. "Thank you, sir."

  Burke leaned back in his chair. "How long is it going to take before Senegal figures out who you really are?"

  Burke's words left Seth speechless. He swallowed. "Sir?"

  Burke shot him an ironic look. "Don't be coy, Lewis. It doesn't go with your military background."

  Seth realized he was standing at attention, but he couldn't relax. "Yes, sir. I apologize, sir. I wasn't trying to keep anything from you. But until I saw Senegal's house, I had no idea—"

  Burke held up a hand. "That it was Senegal's wife your father ran off with? Of course you didn't. But I did. Do you think I'd hire you without a thorough background check?"

  "Then why did you send me in there? He might have recognized me. Might still. It could compromise the investigation."

  "We never intended to hide our activities from Senegal. Just our identity. He's a smart man, but an arrogant one. Right now, his concentration is divided. He's working hard to keep a handle on both his drug trade and his prostitution ring. He knows someone is behind the bordello raid and several other minor hitches in his plans. We're goading him, keeping him off balance. And if he happens to be distracted by your name and takes the trouble to start thoroughly investigating your background, that will work in our favor."

  "So Adrienne isn't the only scapegoat." Seth wasn't being ironic, just factual.

  "I have absolutely no doubt you can handle yourself against Senegal, if it comes to that. We've been trying to decide the best time to raid the coffeehouses. I'd rather wait until we have proof of where the mob is getting the drugs, but right now the D.A. is getting jumpy. Wealthy prominent citizens are being victimized. He wants the operation shut down before anyone else dies. And so do I. You've heard me talk about Wiley Longbottom. He's a very good friend of mine, and he almost died because of that drug. I want it off the streets, now."

  Seth nodded. He'd signed on to play his part. "If Senegal asks again, should I admit I'm Robert Lewis's son?"

  Burke stood and came around his desk to stand in front of Seth. "I'd let him go on worrying. If he asks point-blank, don't lie. Just be prepared." He gave Seth a measuring look.

  "I don't suppose it will be a surprise to you that your father is dead?"

  Seth jerked. He'd always suspected it, but now he realized he'd never given up hope. "Senegal?"

  "Nothing was ever proven. Robert Lewis and Senegal's first wife died in a single-car accident. Her car ran off one of the bridges on Lake Pontchartrain. They drowned. The names were never released to the press."

  His mother must have known. Even if the names weren't released, the police would have contacted her. She'd never said a word. Seth compressed his lips together, pushing away unwanted sadness and the old familiar ache of abandonment. He thought about his younger sisters. They were probably better off not knowing, at least for now. "Thank you, sir," he said.

  "Seth. About Adrienne DeBlanc. You know she has to be picked up, don't you?"

  Seth closed his eyes, imagining her being led away in handcuffs, her chin high, her small form stiff and proud. "Yes, sir."

  "I'd like to put her into protective custody, but that would raise red flags with Senegal. She'll have to be arraigned and indicted. As sole owner of Cajun Perk, she's right in the middle of this mess."

  "Will she be able to post bond?"

  Burke shook his head. "I seriously doubt it. That depends on whether her judge is in Senegal's pocket. He'll do his best to get to her. We'll do our best to protect her."

  "Sir, I can protect her."

  "You have other responsibilities. Stay focused, son."

  "Yes, sir." Seth paused. "Will you have a lawyer for her? I don't want her to have to depend on one of Senegal's people."

  "There will be an attorney waiting for her. His name is Brad Guilford. He's a Confidential agent. He'll make sure she's traumatized as little as possible."

  "I need to be able to see her, sir."

  Burke nodded. "I'll have Guilford arrange it. But Seth, it could be dangerous for her and for us if you mention Confidential."

  "Don't worry. I won't say anything that will put Confidential in jeopardy."

  As Seth turned to leave, Burke's hand squeezed his shoulder briefly. The gesture sent a fleeting memory skittering through Seth's brain. His father, back before Seth had known about the other women, clapping him on the shoulder when he brought home a good report card or won a ball game.

  Coming from Burke, the simple touch meant as much to Seth as his Purple Heart or his Silver Star. His throat tightened with emotion, and he couldn't meet Burke's gaze.

  "It'll work out, son. You're a go
od man."

  Seth nodded. He was afraid to speak, afraid all the emotion churning inside of him would come rushing out if he opened his mouth.

  Grief for the father he'd lost so many years ago, shame that he'd not come clean with Conrad Burke and, most of all, concern about Adrienne. He'd lied to her. He'd promised her he would protect her. He couldn't.

  But he'd make sure her mother was safe, if it was the last thing he ever did.

  Chapter Nine

  Seth picked up Adrienne, and took careful precautions to ensure they weren't being followed. They arrived just ahead of the ambulance. Adrienne got out of the car and rushed inside.

  Seth was slower. He carefully surveyed the grounds of St. Cecilia's for anything unusual. The grounds looked serene and peaceful, the iron gates lending an air of elegance as well as security. He saw why Adrienne had felt her mother would be safe here.

  His heart ached with compassion for her. She'd done everything she could to protect her mother from the powerful Cajun mob.

  The banked coals of his fury at what Arsenault and Senegal had done and were doing to her threatened to catch and burst into flame. She deserved to be safe, to know her mother was safe.

  As the ambulance pulled in, Seth saw Alex McMul-lin at the wheel, he acknowledged him with a look, but kept his distance. For anyone who might be watching, Seth was here with Adrienne, not associated with those involved in transporting her mother to another facility.

  Seth followed Adrienne inside as the EMTs opened the back of the ambulance and unloaded a gurney.

  Adrienne was nowhere in sight. Just as Seth was telling the receptionist to check with Sister Ignatius to verify that he had permission to see Kathryn Caldwell, he heard Adrienne's voice. She and a tiny, thin-lipped nun came down the hall.

  "Seth. This is Sister Ignatius, the director of St. Cecilia's. Sister, this is Seth Lewis."

  Seth turned to the lady and sketched a small bow. "Sister. I believe Mr. Burke let you know we were on our way."

  The nun nodded. "Mr. Lewis. It is highly unorthodox to move a resident without first conferring with administration at her destination, and confirming transfer."

  Seth nodded his head in agreement. "I deeply apologize for the irregular nature of this transfer, Sister. But I trust you were satisfied with the veracity of the request?"

  The nun's eyes lit with a trace of amusement. "The chief of police and a member of the governor's staff called, yes."

  Seth felt Adrienne's surprise. "The chief of—"

  He touched the small of her back. "We'd better get going, Adrienne."

  She recovered and held out her hand to the tiny woman. "Sister, I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful care your staff has given to my mother. I never meant to disrupt your facility."

  "My dear, your primary concern is for your mother. I understand that."

  The two EMTs passed them with Mrs. Caldwell on a gurney. Adrienne stopped them with a gesture. "One moment, please." She bent until her mouth was near her mother's. "Mother, these people are going to take you to a place where you'll be safe. I'll see you soon, okay?"

  A tear fell from Adrienne's eye. Seth watched it make a small wet circle on the sheet covering Mrs. Caldwell.

  "Come on, princess," he said softly. "We can't linger."

  She smoothed her mother's hair, then stepped back and allowed the EMTs to roll Mrs. Caldwell out the door and into the waiting ambulance.

  Seth put his arm around Adrienne as the ambulance doors closed. Her entire body was quaking with a fine tremor.

  "The chief of police and the governor's staff?" she whispered.

  He nodded.

  "So are you with the police?"

  He tightened his embrace reassuringly. "Remember what I said? I'm one of the good guys. I thought you were going to trust me."

  "I'm trusting you with the life of my mother. Are you certain this is the best thing?"

  "She'll be in a safe house. No one can get to her."

  Adrienne pulled away. "I hope you're right." Her liquid blue eyes questioned him. "Why can't I know where they're taking her? How can you know Tony won't find her?"

  "He won't." Seth heard the steel that rang in his voice, and so did Adrienne, because she glanced up at him, frowning.

  "Be careful, Seth. You don't know what Tony is capable of."

  Seth looked at the long-sleeved silk blouse Adrienne wore to hide the healing bruises from Arsenault's hands. Cold determination settled on him. "I know what I'm capable of."

  Adrienne shivered.

  Seth pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry. You and your mother are in the hands of professionals."

  He hoped she couldn't hear the doubt that he tried to keep out of his voice. He wanted to tell her about the raids, warn her that she would be arrested. But he'd given Burke his word.

  Besides, no one knew when the raids would go down, and he couldn't take the chance that Arsenault or another of Senegal's goons might force her to talk. Too many lives were at stake.

  "Come on, princess, let's go."

  Adrienne's attention was on the ambulance that was disappearing down the winding drive. "How long do I have to wait before I can see her?"

  Seth put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me. If I had my way, you'd be going with your mother and you'd stay hidden away with her until all this is over."

  "All what?"

  "I can't tell you that. You need to be on guard, ready for anything. You need to be brave."

  Her blue eyes turned wary and she retreated. He felt the tightening of her muscles, saw the infinitesimal withdrawal in her expression. He squeezed her shoulders reassuringly, wishing he could explain everything.

  How long would she be able to sustain her faith in him if he refused to tell her the truth? He hoped her trust wouldn't falter.

  He knew Burke was right. Adrienne was too vulnerable. She could be broken.

  "Why won't you at least tell me who you're working for?"

  He looked at her steadily, openly, hoping she would understand the gravity of his words. "Because if you don't know, then no one can make you tell."

  Five days later, Tanner Harrison pulled off the simultaneous raids on the seven Cajun Perk coffeehouse franchises in the metropolitan New Orleans area without a hitch.

  Burke and Harrison coordinated the raids through Police Chief Henri Courville, so the police had uniformed officers, CSI and detectives available at each coffeehouse. The raids were designed to do several things— expose the coffeehouses, thereby destroying their usefulness as distribution points for the drug, haul in their employees for questioning, gather any evidence that might hold a clue to the location of the refining lab and, most importantly, round up the on-hand supply of the drug and get it off the streets before more innocent people died.

  Seth stayed at headquarters with Tanner Harrison. It chafed him that he couldn't participate in the raids, but Burke was right. He couldn't afford to be recognized.

  Harrison definitely had the raids coordinated. The briefing room's plasma monitors were connected to cameras on Crescent City Transports delivery trucks parked across the street from each Cajun Perk coffeehouse.

  The trucks were put into place at 6 a.m. Seth was assigned to watch the monitors, and that's what he'd been doing for the past four and a half hours. The prostitute had told them most of the drug exchanges took place in the late morning, right before the busy lunchtime.

  He stretched and groaned, and glanced over at Harrison, who had been talking into a headset to the agents in the trucks, checking and rechecking their instructions. His gray eyes darted back and forth, from one monitor to the next.

  Seth looked at his watch. Almost time. "Sir, I just want to say I'm sorry about your daughter. I haven't seen anyone this morning that fits her description. But I'll be glad to help in any way I can."

  Harrison shot him a glance and a quick nod as he checked his own watch and repositioned his headset. "Lewis, you've got an open line to Chief
Courville, to call for extra backup if needed."

  "Yes, sir."

  Harrison spoke into the microphone of his headset. "Okay, people, we're on countdown. Pick up everybody then get out of the way, so the police and CSI can do their jobs. We'll sort out the innocents later."

  District Attorney Sebastion Primeaux learned of the raids from the chief of police in plenty of time to warn Senegal, but he chose not to. Instead, he scheduled an appearance at a discount store opening in his wife's hometown in south central Louisiana. He didn't want to be anywhere near New Orleans when the raids went down.

  As he sat in the back of his limousine drinking whiskey and looking out over the bayou country where he'd grown up, he thought about the cardboard sleeve hidden in Adrienne DeBlanc's wedding album. His careful planning and instinct for survival was about to pay off. The evidence was sure to surface when Mrs. DeBlanc was arrested, especially since he'd arranged for an anonymous tip that the police might find drugs in Adrienne De-Blanc's house. Because of him, her indictment was assured.

  Senegal would be pleased, and Primeaux would never have to worry about those pictures with the underage prostitutes. Primeaux wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. It was too bad he wouldn't be able to hit Senegal up for another hefty campaign contribution. But it would be detrimental to his career to associate with Senegal now.

  Adrienne felt lost. Her mother was safe, according to Seth, but Adrienne hated the uncertainty of not knowing where she was. It heightened her feeling of helplessness.

  At least when she'd been working on her secret plan, saving and hiding money away so she and her mother could disappear, she'd felt as if she were working toward a goal.

  She hated being at the mercy of other people. First her father, then the mob and now Seth, and whoever he was working for. There was nothing she could do but wait.

  She hefted the suitcase full of cash out of the closet and dragged it over to the marble-topped chest. Releasing the lever, she opened the secret bottom drawer and knelt to transfer the cash back into hiding.

  She hadn't missed the warning in Seth's words at St. Cecilia's. He was working for someone, possibly the police, who was trying to take down the Cajun mob. Her entire body began to quiver at the thought. She hoped they could, but her experience with her husband and Tony and Jerome told her that some powerful and influential people in New Orleans were in the mob's pocket.