The last time Louise Hall saw her daughter, she helped her pack a suitcase into her trunk.

They said goodbye, and Janet Cates, 56, drove off.

Cates, who in 1985 was convicted by a federal jury on seven counts including racketeering, conspiracy and cocaine distribution, and sentenced to 10 years in prison, died Saturday when her car veered across the center line on Card Sound Road in the Keys, and hit a tree past midnight, her mother said.

``She was the love of my life, of course,'' said Hall, who lived next door to her daughter in Key West, and saw her every day. ``She was the only child I had.''

On Sunday, her mother had no comment about Cates' previous troubles with the law.

Cates and her husband were nabbed along with 10 others in the case dubbed the ``Bubba Bust'' -- a drug ring that included Key West's police chief.

``That's been hashed out,'' she said.

Cates had since become an aesthetician.

She had been on her way to Fort Lauderdale to participate in a beauty convention.

Cates had recently moved her spa business to a new location.

She was excited about the prospect of attracting new customers, her mother said.

Cates left about 8:30 p.m. Friday and told her mom she would call when she made it to Coconut Grove, where she planned to stay with friends.

About 2:15 a.m., Hall woke from her sleep.

Cates had not called.

Hall said she figured her daughter got to her destination late, and didn't want to wake her.

But Hall wouldn't sleep that night after all.

About 6 a.m., Key West police officers came to Hall's door.

They informed her that her daughter was dead.

``We don't know why this happened. I guess God knows,'' Hall said. ``I can't hardly talk about it. I just don't know what to say. It's very hard.''

On Sunday, Hall's home was noisy.

She said she was surrounded by family and a steady stream of Cates' friends, ``but it doesn't take her place,'' she said.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Sunday. Hall said the ceremony would be simple, how her daughter wanted it.

``It's not supposed to be this way,'' Hall said. ``You're not supposed to bury your child.''

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