Page 82 of The Cajun Doctor

She nodded tearfully.

“Are we safe here?” Angus wanted to know.

John shrugged. “Seems ta me yer as safe here as anywhere. Long as ya doan go blabbin’ yer whereabouts ta anyone.”

“Including Tante Lulu,” Luc added.

They all agreed to that.

“Well, I already notified the contractors not to send any men this week for the roof work and painting,” Daniel informed them. “So, no strangers hanging around.”

“If any strangers . . . even folks you know, like family members . . . come on the property, you two should stay out of sight,” John advised.

“How long will this all take?” Samantha asked. She hated that they were imposing on Daniel and Aaron like this, especially for any length of time.

John exchanged a look with Luc before answering. “Hard to say. Maybe a week or so before any arrests take place. We’ll want to act quickly, though, before word leaks out that they’re in trouble. Otherwise, they’ll hide evidence and skip town.”

“From arrest to trial, though, could take months,” Luc elaborated. “But if the perps are in jail, you won’t need to stay in hiding.”

“If the feds decide this location isn’t secure enough, they’ll find a safe house fer you,” John told them.

“You did the right thing calling us. Take it easy for now, and I’ll call you tomorrow with an update,” Luc told Angus and Lily Beth, who was weeping softly now. Angus stood and said he would take Lily Beth to the front parlor bedroom so that she could rest.

When they were gone, Samantha asked, “Do Daniel and I need to stay hidden? I mean, can I go into my office, or to the stores in the area?”

“No, don’t go to work, for the time being,” Luc advised. “The fact that Nick is calling you to ask about Angus’s whereabouts is alarming. He’s probably calling Angus’s father and friends, as well, casting a wide net. But I wouldn’t take any chances . . . yet.”

“Oh, geez. I went to a Houma medical center, a furniture warehouse, and the grocery store today with Daniel,” Samantha said, cringing. “And I’m supposed to deliver some rescue puppies to homes outside Nawleans today.”

John waved a hand airily. “I think you’re okay with short, local trips like that. Occasionally. I mean, Nick has no reason to connect you with Bayou Rose Plantation, does he? But don’t take any chances, like delivering the animals.”

Daniel pretended to groan. “Damn, I thought I was going to be rid of some of the creatures.”

She turned to glare at him.

And he winked at her, at the same time flashing his dimple.

“Hey, if your other felines are like that monster cat I saw out back, they would scare any intruders away. Guard cat, ya could say.” This from John, who also glanced meaningfully at Emily who was parked outside the green fridge, which was a little cooler than the rest of the room. “Or a guard pig!”

“Very funny!” Samantha remarked, becoming used to all the comments about her animals.

Luc and John said their good-byes and left, but before they could relish the blessed silence, Aaron appeared in the ground floor hallway that led to the front of the mansion. Having changed into black jeans and a Bayou Aviation shirt, he looked cool and clean.

“Oh, brother,” he cooed, leaning against the door frame, grinning at Daniel. “Congratulations are in order.”

“Huh?” Daniel said.

“You are now the proud papa to seven new babies. And you know that favorite Barry Manilow sweatshirt of yours? You might want to ditch it.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Aaron?”

“I went over to the garconniére to get some papers, and guess what? Your cat just popped out a bunch of kittens . . .”

“What?” Daniel exclaimed.

“. . . right on Barry’s pretty face.”

“You know damn well Mom gave both of us those stupid shirts. I couldn’t care less about that. But more cats! I’m getting a rash already.”