Free miss fortune mystery (ff) - bayou bubba by sam cheever Page A

Belle murmured something that sounded a lot like “wimp” and Gertie giggled.
    “What did you call me?”
    “I called you a wimp. Deal with it.”
    I was saved from my impulse to batter an old lady when the door opened and a man stepped out.
    I sucked in a gasp.
    “Hi, honey.”
    I was rooted to the spot, shocked beyond words. I’d come to the cabin hoping to find my father, but after all the months of wondering and worrying… I swallowed hard, tears filling my eyes. “Daddy.”
    He opened his arms and I ran into them, burying my face in his flannel shirt as he squeezed me tight. “I missed you, honey.”
    I sniffled, scrubbing my eyes. “I thought you were dead.”
    “I know. I’m really sorry about that...” He stiffened at the sound of a car coming up the road. “Let’s get inside. It’s not safe out here.”
    My father ushered me and then the ladies inside the dark cabin. It smelled musty and was sweltering despite the heavy tree cover.
    I quickly realized both the heat and the smell were due to the fact that he had all the windows closed and covered.
    Ida Belle turned to him, hands on hips. “What the hell have you been up to, Bubba? You scared your poor girl half to death.”
    “And you got that homeless guy killed,” Gertie added.
    Felonius Chance eyed the two women, a perplexed look on his handsome face, then turned to me. “Felicity, would you like to introduce me to your friends?”
    “I think we’re way beyond pleasantries,” Ida Belle said.
    I nodded. “I have to agree with Ida Belle. What have you gotten mixed up in? Why are you here? And who killed poor Bubba?”
    He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Felicity.”
    I expelled air. “These are my friends, Ida Belle and Gertie. Ladies, this is my father, Felonius Chance.”
    “Nice to meet you ladies.” He offered them his hand but Ida Belle just glared. Gertie gave in and shook it. 
    “Shall we sit?”
    “No, dad. We shall not sit. I need some answers!”
    “You’re right. I owe you that. First of all, let me just say that I disappeared because I was trying to keep you safe. I figured if I wasn’t in Indy they’d leave you and Breze alone.”
    Ida Belle looked at me.
    “Breze’s my evil stepmother, a.k.a. trophy wife number three.”
    “Ah.” Ida Belle nodded in understanding.
    He frowned. “I’d hoped with me gone you two would have found a way to get along.”
    “Nope. So go on. Why did you leave Indy?”
    My father walked across the house, heading for a short line of cabinets that probably represented the kitchen. Though there wasn’t much to it. I followed, not wanting to let him out of my sight.
    He took a kettle off the stove and filled it with water. “I can’t tell you why I left.” He glanced my way as I bristled. “Believe me, it’s better if you don’t know, Felly.”
    “You have gators!”
    Gertie stood a few feet away, bent over a long, glass aquarium on the floor. I walked over and looked down and, sure enough, two baby alligators snapped and slithered inside the glass. They were about three feet long snout to tip of tail, like mini shoe-encased death.
    “Ish!”
    He turned the flame up under the kettle and joined us at the aquarium. “I found them in the yard when they were just a few inches long. I couldn’t resist taking them in. Their mother had been hit on the road.”
    I shared a look with Ida Belle. “Yeah, I think we almost ran over one of their relatives a minute ago.”
    Father nodded. The kettle started to whistle and he moved back into the kitchen, gathering cups and spoons, creamer and sugar. I frowned when he reached for a bag of cookies.
    “Dad, this isn’t a tea party. You still haven’t explained what’s going on.”
    “If he’s smart he won’t say anything.”
    We all jumped and turned toward the strange, new voice.
    As soon as I saw him, the memory I’d been trying to glom onto outside fell into place. “You!”
    The thug from the Backwater glanced my way, one eyebrow cranking