Bayou Paradox Read Online Free PDF

LeBlanc had been rushed to the hospital with the same strange illness barely twenty-four hours later. Something was going on in his town, and he intended to find out what. He headed to the nurses’ station outside the emergency room.
    â€œSheriff.”
    It was Tara LeBlanc. She stood in the hallway, her eyes red and puffy. Her long hair was captured in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, spilling over her shoulder and down her back. She looked delicate, alone. His heart tugged and he took her arm. “How’s your grandmother?”
    â€œUnconscious.” She pulled free of his grip.
    â€œDid the paramedics indicate any reason? Maybe she had another heart attack?” The old woman’d had one a year or so ago.
    â€œNo. They have her on a monitor now, but the preliminary EKG shows it wasn’t her heart. She’s just unconscious. Sound familiar?” Her soft tone now shifted to downright sarcastic.
    Anxious enough himself, he reached into his pocket for his notebook and pencil. He’d just ignore the tone. Better to keep it all business. Despite the fact that even under duress she still struck a chord in him. One that made him want to hug her and comfort her, protect her. “I’ll need to ask you a few questions. Do you have a minute now, or do you need to be with your grandmother?”
    â€œThey’re preparing her to move up to ICU, so I’m fine. But your questions aren’t going to do any good. The door was open to the house when I got home. Nothing had been disturbed. I found Grandmere just lying over the sink in the bathroom.” Her voice cracked on the last sentence, the sarcasm giving way to fear and worry.
    â€œWhere had you been?”
    She hauled in a breath, releasing it with a slight hiss. “At Tanty’s.”
    What? He stared at her. “Whatever for?”
    â€œI, uh, needed to feed Spook. I didn’t even go into the house. Deputy Anderson and the guy from the gas company got there just as I was leaving.”
    â€œStay away from there for now.”
    â€œThe cat has to be fed.”
    â€œI’ll take care of him.”
    â€œI have a key. It’s not like I broke in or anything.” Her tone resembled a child’s defensive whine.
    The thought occurred to him again—could she know something and subconsciously be trying to tell him?
    Her big brown eyes filled with unshed tears. No, she’d never do anything to hurt Tanty, much less her own grandmother.
    Time to bring the subject back in hand. “Did you notice anything unusual at your house?”
    â€œAlready told you, no.” She popped her knuckles. “Well, somebody must have visited Grandmere this morning because there were two cups and plates in the sink. She hadn’t mentioned anyone planning to come by.”
    â€œWas that unusual? People just dropping in to say hello?”
    â€œClients used to quite a bit, but ever since Grandmere found God, the only people who show up are church folk.”
    Her animosity wasn’t hard to miss, but he let it go. This had to be extremely trying for her. Especially since CoCo and Luc were on their honeymoon and Alyssa and Jackson lived in New Orleans. Basically, she would have to handle a serious situation on her own. “I’ll need to come by and check things out later.”
    She shrugged. “The house is unlocked. Be my guest to poke around. You won’t find anything.”
    He’d argue the point, but chances were he’d find just what he’d found at Aunt Tanty’s—zilch. A big fat nothing.
    â€œThis isn’t a coincidence, Sheriff.” Her sharp tone brought his focus to her.
    â€œI’ll be investigating what happened to your grandmother, Tara.” He kept his voice low, his tone even. Professional. Authoritative. Well, at least he hoped that was how he sounded.
    She huffed out a breath. “Like you’re investigating what happened to Tanty?”
    He