everything she had done for him and how much he had loved her.
" Pauvre ’ Defante ’ Evangeline," Nicholas whispered into the wind as tears rolled down his cheek. "My poor sainted mother."
Chapter Ten
Welcome Back
" B obby’s in the back. Just wait here a minute and I’ll let him know you’re here. Mr. Vincent?" the deputy asked.
"Vizier, Nicholas Vizier," Nick corrected the man before sitting down in one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs in the lobby.
Deputy Arceneaux disappeared into the back room of the Sheriff’s Office for a few minutes and left Nick alone with his thoughts. He wasn’t sure if this was a good move on his part as he was certain some of his ill-gained notoriety followed him. Lieutenant Foster called ahead and gave him a good recommendation, Nick was sure of it, but he knew that the sheriff would make a few calls of his own. Louisiana law enforcement was a close-knit community and word got around quickly, particularly when it came to ‘rats’. Even so, Nicholas reasoned that no matter where he went, his reputation would follow him.
"Sheriff Galliano will see you now," the deputy called out, motioning toward the big office in the back.
Nick walked toward the sheriff’s office, pretending not to notice the stares from the other officers who, in turn, were pretending not to stare. Bad acting seemed to be a prerequisite for small town policemen.
"Mr. Vizier, pleased to meet you," the sheriff said, extending his hand.
After their introductions were completed, the two sat down, Nicholas trying to appear relaxed while the sheriff glanced through some file or another.
"Lieutenant Foster called," Galliano said aloud. "He gave you a glowing recommendation."
Nick just nodded and remained silent. He knew what was coming next.
"Of course, I made a few calls of my own," the sheriff continued. "Doesn’t look like you made many friends over in Orleans Parish."
"Internal Affairs never does, Sheriff," Nick answered.
"Nope, I don’t suppose they do. All the same, I don’t really think I have a need for any internal investigators at this time."
"I figured as much. That’s not why I’m here. My specialty is missing persons. My stint in the rat patrol was done as a favor to the previous police chief. As you probably know, the NOPD has had numerous problems with corruption and unfit officers. When some of my fellow officers began to end up on the wrong end of a gun, I was asked to help. I make no apologies for my actions. I did my duty. The investigations I was involved in were successful, which is why I have been maligned and despised throughout the unit. So be it."
"Then tell me, Vizier, just how successful are you with missing persons?"
"I haven’t solved them all, but I sure have made a dent, Sheriff. Sometimes you never find people. That’s just the way it is. I do, however, know what I’m doing and my record reflects that."
"Yeah, I checked on that, too. It does. The problem is, this ain’t the city. We are surrounded with swamps out here. It’s a whole different thing searching for folks in the swamp."
"Yes, sir, I suppose it is. I have been in the swamp plenty, Sheriff. I grew up out here. I might not be some swamp rat coonass with a hound dog nose, but I am resourceful."
"Well, you’re gonna have to be. We got a big problem ever since those storms came through. We have a backlog and not enough manpower or resources to tackle them."
"I look forward to the challenge, Sheriff. Does that mean you’ll take me on?"
"Now hold on, I didn’t say that. I might consider giving you a run and see how you do, but there are a few things we need to get straight first. Everyone ‘round here knows your rep. Not many people are going to be too happy to help you out. On top of that, seems you have a history of abandoning your priorities whenever things suit you."
"Now, just wait a minute, Sheriff."
"Don’t interrupt me, Vizier. I wasn’t finished. I did my research. I know all
" Pauvre ’ Defante ’ Evangeline," Nicholas whispered into the wind as tears rolled down his cheek. "My poor sainted mother."
Chapter Ten
Welcome Back
" B obby’s in the back. Just wait here a minute and I’ll let him know you’re here. Mr. Vincent?" the deputy asked.
"Vizier, Nicholas Vizier," Nick corrected the man before sitting down in one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs in the lobby.
Deputy Arceneaux disappeared into the back room of the Sheriff’s Office for a few minutes and left Nick alone with his thoughts. He wasn’t sure if this was a good move on his part as he was certain some of his ill-gained notoriety followed him. Lieutenant Foster called ahead and gave him a good recommendation, Nick was sure of it, but he knew that the sheriff would make a few calls of his own. Louisiana law enforcement was a close-knit community and word got around quickly, particularly when it came to ‘rats’. Even so, Nicholas reasoned that no matter where he went, his reputation would follow him.
"Sheriff Galliano will see you now," the deputy called out, motioning toward the big office in the back.
Nick walked toward the sheriff’s office, pretending not to notice the stares from the other officers who, in turn, were pretending not to stare. Bad acting seemed to be a prerequisite for small town policemen.
"Mr. Vizier, pleased to meet you," the sheriff said, extending his hand.
After their introductions were completed, the two sat down, Nicholas trying to appear relaxed while the sheriff glanced through some file or another.
"Lieutenant Foster called," Galliano said aloud. "He gave you a glowing recommendation."
Nick just nodded and remained silent. He knew what was coming next.
"Of course, I made a few calls of my own," the sheriff continued. "Doesn’t look like you made many friends over in Orleans Parish."
"Internal Affairs never does, Sheriff," Nick answered.
"Nope, I don’t suppose they do. All the same, I don’t really think I have a need for any internal investigators at this time."
"I figured as much. That’s not why I’m here. My specialty is missing persons. My stint in the rat patrol was done as a favor to the previous police chief. As you probably know, the NOPD has had numerous problems with corruption and unfit officers. When some of my fellow officers began to end up on the wrong end of a gun, I was asked to help. I make no apologies for my actions. I did my duty. The investigations I was involved in were successful, which is why I have been maligned and despised throughout the unit. So be it."
"Then tell me, Vizier, just how successful are you with missing persons?"
"I haven’t solved them all, but I sure have made a dent, Sheriff. Sometimes you never find people. That’s just the way it is. I do, however, know what I’m doing and my record reflects that."
"Yeah, I checked on that, too. It does. The problem is, this ain’t the city. We are surrounded with swamps out here. It’s a whole different thing searching for folks in the swamp."
"Yes, sir, I suppose it is. I have been in the swamp plenty, Sheriff. I grew up out here. I might not be some swamp rat coonass with a hound dog nose, but I am resourceful."
"Well, you’re gonna have to be. We got a big problem ever since those storms came through. We have a backlog and not enough manpower or resources to tackle them."
"I look forward to the challenge, Sheriff. Does that mean you’ll take me on?"
"Now hold on, I didn’t say that. I might consider giving you a run and see how you do, but there are a few things we need to get straight first. Everyone ‘round here knows your rep. Not many people are going to be too happy to help you out. On top of that, seems you have a history of abandoning your priorities whenever things suit you."
"Now, just wait a minute, Sheriff."
"Don’t interrupt me, Vizier. I wasn’t finished. I did my research. I know all
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