Robicheaux (Dave Robicheaux #21)

by James Lee Burke

Her face was impossible to read. She was one of those women who seemed to choose solitude and plainness over beauty, and anger over happiness. “You ever meet a guy named Kevin Penny?” I said. “Our convict gardener?” she replied. “I fired him.” I looked at Jimmy. He shrugged and turned up his palms. “I don’t know the name of every guy who cuts the grass, Dave.” “What is this about?” Emmeline said. “Veracity,” I said. “I don’t care for your tone,” she said. “I don’t blame you. It bothers me, too.” I pointed my finger at Jimmy Nightingale. “I think you’re slick.” “I’m dishonest?” “Take it any way you want.” “You’ve got some damn nerve,” he said. “Tell it to the eight murdered women in Jeff Davis Parish,” I replied. “What do they have to do with me?” “I heard you hung around Bobby Earl because you wanted his mailing list. I never believed that,” I said. “It’s politics. This is Louisiana.” “I remember many situations when I said it was just Vietnam.”