She sighed and continued “A few years back, you probably remember, a rookie Jefferson Parish cop, making a damn traffic stop. Two assholes in a car, they had just robbed a 7-11 Store, the call hadn’t even come out yet, so the cop didn’t know. He walks up to the window and they blow him away.
Every cop in the Parish was hunting them. There were six of us, found one of them over near Lakeside, one of those crappy apartments off Severn Street. He was with his girl friend on the third floor. He didn’t resist, but I tased him right in the forehead. Ran the girlfriend out to another room, and we commenced to kicking the shit out of him. He died three days later from injuries received while resisting arrest. No problem, board took one look and rubber stamped it.
They both sat in silence, a waitress came to the table, Manning ordered “Bring us a couple of Roast Beef Poboys, dressed, and couple more of them drafts.” The waitress left the table, Thibodeaux looked at Manning, “You know, you are more to me than just a friend, I’m not much at putting words together, most of my sentences start with fuck or asshole, or shitbird, part of the job I guess. But Cheryl you are special to me, really, really, special.”
This was a different Ryan Thibodeaux than the one she had known. There was actually compassion inside that huge body. She looked at him “You’re very special to me Ryan, but when we aren’t chasing bad guys, and it’s just you and me, we need to stop being cops.”
Chapter 52
I had been at the hospital for four straight days. Shelby and Jasmine had come several times a day and had visited with Rachael. I had spoken to Carl on his cell phone, nothing was mentioned about the hospital incident, but I thanked him and just told him to be careful. Shelby had a company come into my house and remove the furniture, replace the carpeting and repair the door.
My cell phone rang, it was Detective Manning; she had called several times a day since the incident. I answered “Hello Detective.” Her voice was always comforting “How is she Mr. Carr? And how are you?”
I smiled at that, she always asked about me, “We are both about the same Detective, I saw Rachael about ten minutes ago. She has good color and looks so beautiful, but, but there has been no change in her otherwise.” The sympathy in her voice was obvious, “I met with Detective Thibodeaux earlier today; he asked about her, believe it or not, he is praying for her recovery in his own way.” I smiled, “I know he is, he is a hard ass, but inside I know seeing someone like my wife in this condition effects him, thank him for me, would you?”
I could almost sense her smile “I will, and you’re right, he does care, it’s just; this job can harden you sometimes.” This I understood, after two years of war and years of murder and drugs, I knew only too well what it could do to a person. “Please tell him for me, he is welcome to visit her anytime, just ignore me, believe it or not, I like him.”
She actually laughed, “Wow; don’t tell him that, in his jaded world he’ll think you looking for something.” I answered, “Hey you never know; maybe I am, maybe we both are.” We were both silent for a few seconds then Manning said; “Mr. Carr, would you mind if I came to visit with you for awhile, I would like to talk to you, and of course, go in and see Rachael.” I thought about that for a few seconds, not sure if she was fishing, but decided to tell her ok. “That’s not a problem Detective, but you have to promise me something, stop calling me Mr. Carr I feel old enough, my name is Jessie.” She responded, “I promise Jessie, and I’m not Detective Manning, I’m Cheryl. I’ll see you soon.”
We both hung up and I tried to digest the call. I wasn’t sure how to take any of this. I guess like everything else, I would just deal with whatever came my way.
About thirty minutes later Detective Manning arrived, she was dressed in tight fitting beige slacks with a low cut blouse. I had never really paid attention to her before, but she was an extremely beautiful woman. We greeted each other with a handshake “Jessie, you look tired, have you gotten any sleep at all?” I actually felt worse than I probably looked, “You know, I catch a snooze between visits with Rachael, I’ll be ok, I promised Rachael the minute she squeezes my hand, I’m going home to take a nap. The nurses have been very kind, they let me use the shower in their unit and bring me food trays. Did you know Rachael worked in the very ward a few years ago? She was surprised, “I didn’t know that, so she is among friends.” I nodded and added, “Shelby and Jasmine have brought clothes from home for me. So, long story short, I’m fine.”
She smiled and looked down, “Is there any improvement, I mean, even the slightest?” I shook my head, “No, absolutely the same since day one, her body seems to be getting stronger, but no reaction to any stimulus. The doctor has tried several things, trying to get anything, but so far nothing. They asked me if she was signed up as an organ donor, she is, but I’m not ready to discuss that anytime soon.” She nodded, “I understand, really way too soon for any of that.”
It was time for my five minute visit, I asked her to please come in with me. Rachael’s color was good and her skin was as beautiful as ever, she was still hooked up to all those machines. I kissed her cheek and held her hand. “Rachael honey, I know you can hear me, this is Cheryl; she is a detective and a good friend, she has checked on you every day. Everyone is praying for you baby, so stay strong, I love you.” I took her hand and Cheryl Manning took mine, together we prayed.
After the visit I had my usual cry, it had become a daily routine with me, I just couldn’t help it. We sat in silence for about ten minutes, both in our own world. Then Manning looked at me, “Jessie, can I talk to you, I mean, not about Rachael, about other things?” I had a feeling this was coming “Of course, whatever you want.”
She took a deep breath, “I just want to make sure you understand, this if completely off the records, I am talking to you as Cheryl, your friend, not Detective Manning.” I nodded and gestured for her to go on. “I know all of us do things we regret or things we feel we have to, because no one else is going to do it for us. Detective Thibodeaux, Ryan, and I are friends, good friends; he ain’t a bad guy, just a little rough around the edges sometimes. We see and do a lot of things that weigh on our minds, kids, women, innocent people caught up in the most horrible situations, it boggles the mind.”
I was listening and understood where this was going, she was struggling to ask, so I thought I would help. I raised my hand up to stop her “I know where you are going with this, I’m not sure why, but if I can help you understand me, and my life, just ask.”
She nodded in agreement, “Ok Jessie, Ryan Thibodeaux and I followed up on a murder in the Quarter, a pimp by the name of Sugar Bear. I don’t care what happened to him, we got enough pimps that treat their girls badly, one less don’t hurt my feelings, but the girl. That girl has been working on Ryan’s mind since it happened, he thinks she’s dead, and he thinks you killed her. I don’t believe that, I just can’t see you doing that. Not that you wouldn’t kill, but not her, and not without one hell of a good reason.”
I sat and wondered, is this a good idea. Am I hanging myself? For some reason, I trusted this woman, she seemed genuinely concerned about Rachael’s well being. She seemed to care about me, so I decided this one little bit of information wouldn’t hurt. “Well Cheryl, I am glad report, the girl from that night is alive and very well. Sugar Bear was a sarcastic bastard that liked to inflict pain; she was in very bad shape. I don’t think she would have lived more than a few more weeks with Sugar. Yes I stole her from him, not for my pleasure, I took her so he could never touch her again. That wonderful woman lying in that hospital bed saved that girls life, she would never admit it, but she did.”
Cheryl was looking at me and smiled “That’s great, but how did you get messed up with her in the first place, I mean a chance visit to the bar? You picking up a prostitute just don’t fit.” I had to smile at that, many years ago when in the military prostitutes were a weekly occurrence.
“I’m gonna tell you a story, now this story is just between the two of us.” Sh
e nodded her head and agreed. “My first wife was murdered, I’m sure you are aware of that. The men that did that are now gone, but I found out, one of the women they had planned on killing had escaped. I had a few details about her, so I went looking. I found her with Sugar Bear, her name was Simone. I took her away and Rachael nursed her back to health. This world can be cruel; she was with two murdering animals and managed to escape, only to be taken by Sugar Bear. I guess you could say, out of the pot and into the fire.”
She seemed to understand, “We’re talking about the same animals that murdered your wife, am I correct?” I nodded in agreement. “Shit, and the poor girl ends up hooking for a sadistic pimp, no, the world ain’t fair is it? I’m just so glad she is ok now, thanks for the information, I feel better now” I smiled and said “I bet if you met her you would feel even better.”
She had a startled expression on her face. “I bet I would.” I almost laughed, “Well Cheryl, you already have.” She looked at me with a confused expression, then it hit her, “Oh shit, the woman with Wilson, Jasmine, that’s her isn’t it.”
I leaned back on the chair and smiled, that was all the answer she needed.
Chapter 53
Detectives Thibodeaux and Manning were preparing to enjoy a seafood dinner at the Grand Isle Restaurant in the old Warehouse District. They had been making small talk, but Manning could tell Thibodeaux was dying to ask if she had found out any information from Carr.
She was smiling knowing he was about to bust. “Ok, go ahead and ask, you busting at the seams wanting to know.” He looked at her and laughed, “Me, no way, I don’t care, but if you want to tell me.”
They shared a good laugh and Manning said “Well let me give you the whole story. First off Carr is one nice guy, probably a killer, but still a nice guy. Oh and by the way, he said to tell you to feel free to visit his wife at any time, just ignore him if you want to.” Thibodeaux made a face. She laughed and continued, “I have to tell you though, that man has his demons. I don’t know his past, but I bet there are things in there that haunt the hell out of him.” She paused and took a drink of her NOLA Blond Draft then continued, “We talked for a good while after we went and visited with his wife, no change by the way, still in a coma.” Thibodeaux shook his head “Shit, I was hoping something good would happen with that, the longer it goes the less chance there is I guess.” She nodded “Yes, not looking good, but he’s not giving up; I think he’ll sit there for the next ten years if he has to. Anyway, he told me about the woman, Simone. He admitted picking her up, and as he put it, taking her from Sugar Bear.” Thibodeaux said “Hey he told us he wanted a woman since his wife was dead, I guess she was a good enough substitute.”
Manning shook her head no “That’s not it at all, he was looking for her specifically, and not for sex, like your dirty mind works.” Thibodeaux gave a shocked expression “Me, dirty mind, why else would you pick up a whore for Christ sake. He was horny, and wanted to get laid, I don’t care about that shit; he just wanted a piece of ass.”
Manning gave his a look, “You jackass, just shut up and listen, ok?” He nodded yes, she continued “I’m not sure how to put this but here goes, that woman, Simone, she was taken by the same men who murdered Carr’s first wife.” Thibodeaux almost yelled, “Aw; bullshit, that’s a crock of shit, we got no indication there was anyone else but the three women they killed and the one that disappeared. He’s feeding you a bunch of shit Cheryl, it all garbage.”
She was shaking her head, “Lower you voice, and I thought you were gonna shut up and let me finish.” He had been put in his place so he sat back to listen. “So here goes again, if I may. I don’t know how, but Carr found out about her. He knew enough apparently to know where to look, he found her in The Nest. He paid for her that night, but never returned her the next day.” Thibodeaux interrupted again, “That a crock of shit, he told us in the interrogation room he dropped her off that morning in the Quarter.” Manning was almost beside herself “In the interrogation room, what a fucking friendly atmosphere to get answers from someone you had just arrested for murder, and cuffed him. Wow, that’s right, I’m sure he would have told you everything, since you were being so calm and understanding with him.” He sat back again “Ok, ok, go on.”
She was nodding her head again “Asshole, of course he didn’t say anything about Sugar, but he told me the girl was in bad shape and his wife, Rachael, took care of her. She is now healthy and happy. Now you may speak.”
Thibodeaux sat forward in his chair “To start with, she is dead ok, we will never find her body; he made sure of that. Funny, the only person who can verify his story is in a coma. Secondly, we know nothing about her; that crap about her being with his wife’s killers is all bullshit. He has you eating out of his hand, man, you bought that fucking story I can’t believe an experienced detective like you could be so easily fooled.”
Manning had sat back and listened to his rant, now it was her turn; “You finished now; you feel better? Good, because you know what, I can prove this, I met her dummy.” Thibodeaux’s eyes actually bulged and his mouth was open, so Manning went on. “That’s right, you met her too if you will think back, that first night in the emergency room, think.”
Thibodeaux was looking at the floor and scratching his head, “The emergency room, wait, you and that woman with Wilson were the only females there, no; you mean the redhead with Wilson was Simone? That can’t be, Simone had short black hair, that woman had long red hair.” Manning was smiling, “You ever hear of hair growing or maybe dying your hair? It’s her I tell you, and I’m gonna talk to her to prove it.”
Thibodeaux finished his beer and singled for another round, “I want in on that, I want to talk to her.” Manning was shaking her head, “No fucking way; she and I are going to meet alone and I’m just going to verify the story, you will intimidate the shit out of her and she will never talk. And I’m not asking her anything about the murder of Sugar; because even if she knows, she will never give Carr up, you with me?” Thibodeaux had a defeated look on his face, “Yes I guess so, you really think that her?” Manning nodded; “I’d bet my ass on it.”
Chapter 54
It had been a week since the home invasion. I was still in the ICU waiting room where I had been every minute of every day since. I had visited Rachael about ten minutes ago and almost swore she squeezed my hand. I wanted to go back in, but had to wait the required amount of time. My heart had jumped when I felt the slightest of pressure, maybe it was my imagination, but at least it was something.
At 6:15 PM Detective Manning joined me, we chatted for a few minutes then she asked the question I knew she had to ask. “Jessie, I need something from you, would you allow me to speak to Jasmine? I just want to ask her a few questions, I won’t upset her; you can be with us.”
I thought this over, she really didn’t need to ask me, hell she was the police and could do it anyway. I nodded yes, “Of course, and I don’t want to be there, I want her to feel free to answer anyway she wants. I told you the truth Cheryl, I swear, now I want you to verify it.”
I called Shelby and Jasmine and asked them to come over for a little while, they agreed. Fifteen minutes later they walked in. They had met Detective Manning on that first night, but to be honest, that night was pretty much a blur. I introduced them again, but made sure they understood they were talking to a friend, Cheryl, not a detective.
At 6:55 PM Shelby and I went in to see Rachael, leaving Jasmine and Cheryl alone in the waiting room.
Chapter 55
Cheryl Manning was not one to beat around the bush, but she knew, if this girl had been through the events Carr had described, she had to tread lightly. They sat facing each other, Jasmine seemed a little uncomfortable, Manning tried to put her at ease “Jasmine, I spoke with Jessie the other night, did he mention that to you?” She nodded “Yes he did, he said you might want to talk to me, but never told me anything else. He did say to tell you whatever you want to know, as long as I felt com
fortable.”
Manning was satisfied with that “Good, Jessie told me that Rachael was the one that saved your life, she nursed you back to health, is that correct?” Jasmine smiled at the mention of Rachael’s name “Oh yea, I was really sick, I had infections all over and had some sort of……..” Jasmine looked down and seemed very uncomfortable, Cheryl tried to help “It’s ok Jasmine, was it a sexually transmitted disease?” Jasmine nodded, “Yes, I must have got it from someone I was with; I was so scared, I’m sorry.” She had begun to cry, Manning offered her a Kleenex, then Jasmine continued “I was with a lot of men, and some didn’t use anything to protect me. And there was one guy, the guy who took my money; he never did anything to help me.” She was looking down and looked very sad, Manning was almost crying herself.
“Jasmine, the man that you were with, was he the one they called Sugar Bear;” Jasmine nodded, Manning continued, “He forced you to have sex with other men?” Again she nodded, “Ok, I know this is difficult, we can stop if you need to?” Jasmine looked at Manning with tears in her eyes, “No, somebody has to know the truth about Jessie and Rachael, they saved my life, I was so sick; it took months for me to just be able to feel close to normal. I just felt sick and dirty all the time, Then Shelby came along, and accepted me for what I was, I love him, we gonna get married soon.”
Manning smiled “That’s great Jasmine, he seems very nice. Is it ok if I ask a few more questions?” She nodded “Ok, Jessie took you from Sugar Bear is that correct?” Through the tears she answered “Yes, he paid Sugar for me to go with him, I was scared at first, he took me to his car, I wasn’t suppose to go anywhere with a man in a car, Sugar said he would beat me if I did. But Jessie told me he wouldn’t hurt me, he took me home and cleaned me, but he never touched me like other men. He just helped me, then he got Rachael to come stay with me, and she got me medicine and we became friends.”