Free Showdown in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon Page A

sunglasses (worn inside), and the fact that he stood in front of the captain’s desk rather than sitting in one of the chairs. Definitely a fed.
    “That was fast,” Zach said. “What did she do, steal your personality?”
    “Zip it, Blanchard.” The captain shot him a warning look. “This is Special Agent Fields with the local office of the FBI. He wants to know where you got the print you ran. And so do I.”
    Zach hesitated for a moment, not wanting to give away his information, but he couldn’t think of a single way around it that didn’t involve his going to jail. Which wouldn’t exactly help his quest for a promotion. “I got it off a suspect.”
    “What suspect?” the captain asked. “The only case you better be working is the kidnapping, and I haven’t been made aware of any suspects.”
    “Maybe suspect is too strong a word. Person of interest is probably better.”
    “And just how did you come up with this person of interest, and why haven’t I been informed?”
    “She came into the station yesterday and claimed to have psychically received information on the kidnapping.”
    “And you believed her?” The captain stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
    “Of course not. But when I ran the case through the national database, I realized that she was right. She’d given me information on all the previous kidnappings with a similar MO. Things that were never released to the papers.”
    The captain’s face turned red. “Jesus H. Christ, Blanchard! And you didn’t think that was something the rest of us should know? That woman either took those kids or knows who did.” The captain looked over at Agent Fields. “Someone better start explaining. Why does the FBI want this woman?”
    “That information is confidential,” Agent Fields replied.
    “Confidential, my ass!” The captain rose from his chair and glared at Fields. “If that woman was involved with kidnapping the mayor’s granddaughter, I want to know why.”
    “She wasn’t involved with the kidnapping,” Agent Fields said.
    “Says who?” the captain asked.
    “Says the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Agent Fields replied, a bored look on his face. “Now, if Detective Blanchard would provide me with this woman’s alias and her address, you’ll be free to go about your business.”
    “And if I don’t?” Zach challenged.
    Agent Fields smiled. “It wouldn’t be very good for your career to refuse. Federal prison is generally not a pleasant place for cops.”
    Zach clenched his fists and fought the urge to clock the condescending butthole. “Her alias is Raissa Bordeaux. She owns a shop on Landry Street.”
    Agent Fields removed a BlackBerry from his front pocket and tapped the keys. “Address?”
    “I don’t have it memorized, but you can’t miss it. It’s the only shop on the street with tarot cards and a crystal ball painted on the window.”
    “Great,” Agent Fields said. “This department is under orders not to contact Ms. Bordeaux in any way. Is that clear?”
    “Now, hold it one minute,” the captain argued. “This woman is the only lead we have in a kidnapping, and you’re telling us to step off but giving us no good reason why?”
    “Exactly,” Agent Fields said. “I’m so glad you understand.” He slipped the BlackBerry back in his pocket and walked out of the office without another word.
    Zach stared at the captain. “He can just leave like that?”
    The captain stared after Fields and muttered something that sounded like “worthless motherfucker,” butsince Zach wasn’t completely sure whether the captain was referring to Agent Fields or himself, he didn’t comment.
    “Yeah,” the captain said, “he can leave just like that.” He pointed at Zach. “You are going to sit down and tell me everything you know about this Bordeaux woman.”
    Zach sighed. “I could tell you everything I know before I even finished sitting.”
    Five minutes later, the captain was convinced that whatever