Free Bayou Justice by Robin Caroll

okay?”
    â€œUh, yeah.” He wouldn’t dare admit he was more terrified than he’d ever been in his life. Even when he’d gone with her before, they’d never had a gator get this close. It was so big.
    â€œI rescued Moodoo from some poachers. Nursed him back to health myself.” She tossed something into the water. The gator swam away from the boat with a swish, and snapped at the object.
    Luc didn’t want to think about what it might have been.
    â€œHey, do you think maybe a poacher could have killed your grandfather? I’ve seen evidence of them increasing in activity in this area.”
    She might actually be on to something. “I don’t know. It’s something we should definitely run by Bubba.”
    â€œI think he wants to believe I’m guilty or my family is.”
    â€œBubba may be country, but he’s a good guy.” He watched her fire up the fan again. “Did you know he’s taking an online course in criminal justice?” he yelled over the roar.
    CoCo gave a shrug. “Then there might be hope for him yet.” She smiled, and it was as warming as the sun sitting high in the sky. He never would have thought they’d be together on the bayou ever again.
    Once at Grisson Landing, CoCo activated the trolling motor and maneuvered them around the area. Although they kept their eyes trained, nothing seemed out of place. Luc’s hopes crashed. He’d been hoping to find some clue, a piece of evidence or something.
    â€œGuess we should head back. There’s nothing here,” she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
    â€œMaybe it was a poacher. I’ll be sure to tell Bubba.”
    They made the trip back to her house in silence. Their truce, as it was, seemed as fragile and tangible as the lichen they had to duck under as she banked the boat.
    â€œThanks for coming with me, Luc.” She put her hands on her hips. “We’ll figure out who killed your grandfather.”
    He nodded; no words were needed. Better to savor the peace between them. Luc walked toward his SUV. “I’ll talk to Bubba and call you. Fill you in on what he says.”
    She gave him a shaky smile, then marched across her yard.
    Luc headed home. It looked as if the sheriff had beaten him there. Maybe they’d found the murderer already. Luc rushed to the veranda where Sheriff Theriot sat chatting with Luc’s mother. Oh happy day, his mother. He could only pray she hadn’t been nipping the brandy this early in the day.
    He loped up the stairs. “Hey, Bubba.”
    The sheriff looked at him, a guarded expression in his eyes. His notebook lay open in his lap. “Luc.” He nodded toward Hattie. “Your momma here’s been telling me about your argument with Beau yesterday.”
    Luc shot his gaze to his mother. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face drawn. Apparently she’d stayed up much later than he, soaking up the brandy. He’d make it a point to dispose of the whole stinkin’ bottle.
    â€œWhy’d you fail to mention the big fight you had with your grandfather? ”The sheriff held his pen poised over the notebook.
    â€œI really didn’t think about it, Bubba. My focus was more on my grandfather’s dead body.”
    â€œTell me about this argument of yours.”
    Sighing, Luc lowered himself to one of the big rockers across from the porch swing. “Not much to tell, really. It’s no secret Grandfather wanted me to take over as casino manager once he retired. I finally told him that I had no intention of working for the casino—that I intended to stay an accounting consultant. The news upset him.”
    â€œThe way I hear it told, he was more than a little upset.”
    Definitely time to kill his mother’s brandy addiction. “He got angry, but you know how Beau was. He’d blow up, simmer down, then cool off.”
    â€œDid your grandfather threaten to throw