Too Far Gone Read Free Page A

was called the “Crescent City.” She knew that Lake Pontchartrain was north and that the twin-span across it was the longest bridge in the world. She knew where the French Quarter, the Central Business District, the Federal Court Building, and FBI Headquarters were located.
    â€œYou ever heard of the LePointe family?” Manseur asked her.
    â€œCan’t say I have,” Alexa replied. “Sounds French.”
    â€œThey’re the most influential family there is around here. They’re socially prominent, wealthy, and as generous as people get. The LePointes don’t usually give out in the open.”
    He stopped talking to make a left turn.
    â€œAny questions so far?” he asked.
    â€œThese LePointes make the social page wearing tuxedos more than most people and throw around money and are fairly discreet about it,” Alexa said. “But not so discreet so that everybody isn’t aware of it.”
    Manseur sat as silent as might a nun who has just heard someone accuse the Pope of using money sent to the Vatican from poor boxes to buy lap dances.
    â€œSo, I assume your missing person is a LePointe,” she said.
    â€œGary West. He married Casey LePointe.”
    â€œSo Gary West would be a valuable target for a kidnapper?”
    Manseur nodded.
    â€œWhat were the circumstances of his disappearance?”
    â€œHe didn’t come home for dinner.”
    â€œMissed dinner? Obviously a kidnapping.”
    â€œOh, you’re being sarcastic. I’m sorry if I’m not doing this briefing right. I just want you to know we’re dealing with people who are important to powerful people.”
    Alexa laughed. “Forgive me. It’s late, and being a smart-ass is part of my FBI training. Go ahead.”
    â€œI don’t mind.” Manseur had slowed the car, so Alexa figured they must be getting close to wherever they were heading. “Dr. William LePointe is presently the last male LePointe. His brother, Curry, has been dead for twenty-six years. The Wests have a kid, I think a young daughter.”
    â€œThe family’s influence explains why an out-of-place LePointe by marriage rates the commander of Homicide.”
And an FBI agent who specializes in abductions.
    â€œKyler Kennedy, our Missing Persons detective who was at your lecture, is meeting us there. It should be Kennedy’s case—at least at first—but not this time. I was hoping you could watch how we handle it, suggest things we miss, or whatever. My superiors don’t want a big fuss made about this until it’s established that there’s a need for a big fuss. They’d like to keep everything low-key.”
    â€œLike keeping it a secret that one of these LePointes is missing?”
    â€œAlexa, you don’t see a LePointe in the newspaper except on the society or business page. Dr. William LePointe was Rex before he was thirty-five years old.”
    â€œRex?”
    Manseur smiled. “You’re not familiar with Rex?”
    â€œI only know from experience that it’s the number-one name for German shepherds.”
    â€œKing of Carnival. It’s about the biggest deal there is in this city. Well, being Momus is probably bigger, but Momus is always masked, so nobody but a few people in that secret society have any idea who the king of Momus is. See, Rex brings in Mardi Gras—Fat Tuesday—and Momus bids adieu to Mardi Gras.”
    â€œThe festive alpha and omega, or yin and yang. How did I miss that?” Alexa said. Manseur talked about Rex and Momus like a Catholic might speak of the Virgin Mary. He probably was Catholic.
    â€œBy the way, I didn’t mention to anybody that I was bringing you along.”
    â€œYou didn’t mention the FBI coming in?”
    â€œJust to advise, if that’s okay. Unofficially.”
    â€œWouldn’t have it any other way.”
    â€œI’ll be ranking officer at the scene. We have this new