The Righteous Cut Read Online Free Page A

him in Parish Prison.”
    Richards regarded Casey with a contemptuous sneer. “Don’t think I won’t remember this, Casey. I don’t have to take any puke from you or any other cop. With one call to the mayor I could get you reassigned to some district on the West Bank where you spend all your time in a rowboat.”
    Casey got to his feet and put his hat on. “I guess you could, at that. We’ll eventually get the woman. We’d find her quicker with a little cooperation, but we’ll find her. Thanks for your time.” He turned and left the office.
    â€œHe seems to think that the killer is somebody we’ve put the squeeze on,” Langdon said when they were alone.
    Richards gave his associate an ironic look. “I wonder why he thought that?” He sighed, then laughed and shook his head. “Jack had no sense about women. The chances are it was just what it looked like. She fucked his brains out and while he was half-asleep, she tried to make off with his goods. It was just his rotten luck he woke up too soon. We’d be in here laughin’ about it right now. Instead…” He left the thought unfinished.
    Langdon looked at his watch. “You’re due in council chambers in about twenty minutes.”
    â€œYeah. I got a thing to work out with Councilman Burkhart before the session starts. Take care of things until I get back.”
    â€œSure, Whit. I’m sorry about Jack. You and he go back a long way.”
    Richards put on his hat as he went into the outer office. Meredith Baker, the junior secretary, looked at him worriedly, brushing his hand with hers as he drew near. He paused to look at her, letting a soft expression briefly cross his face before he turned to go.
    Langon paused between the two secretaries’ desks until Richards had departed.
    â€œIs there any news, Mr. Langdon?” Catherine Landau, the older senior secretary, asked.
    â€œNothing, I’m afraid.” He ran thin nervous fingers through his fine brown hair, his dark eyes flickering rapidly behind his spectacles. “You’d better cancel all of Councilman Richards’ appointments for the rest of the day. If you get any calls from newspapermen, tell them nothing, you understand? Nothing.” He nodded reassuringly at Meredith as she sat down at her desk, then went to his own office and closed the door.
    ***
    At eleven o’clock that same morning, a twin-engine amphibian with private markings touched down at the hydroplane base near the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. It taxied slowly to the docks where a closed Cadillac limousine waited. After the hands made the large plane fast to the dock, the hatch to the passenger compartment opened. A wide-shouldered man with pale gold skin disembarked alongside a tall, elegantly dressed woman. The woman, her face hidden by a veiled hat, placed a gloved hand in the man’s and allowed him to help her over the gangway. A barrel-chested Negro helped them into the limousine and placed their luggage in the trunk. Within a minute they were driving in the direction of the city.
    â€œIt’s still pretty warm here,” Savanna Beaulieu observed as she removed the veiled hat and placed it on the seat beside her. “Maybe we’ll have a mild winter this year.” She took out a compact and inspected the makeup on her dark brown face. The rose-colored face powder accentuated her high cheekbones.
    â€œThat would be all right with me,” Wesley Farrell replied. “I’ve spent so much time in Cuba my blood’s thinned out.” He took Savanna’s hand, leaned over, and kissed her on the mouth. “Welcome home, baby.”
    Savanna’s gloved hand touched his face lightly. “I didn’t think I’d miss it so much, but I’m glad to be back.”
    They drove in companionable silence down Canal Boulevard, reacquainting themselves with the sights of the city. Twenty minutes later the