by Robin Caroll
“I’m so sorry.” It sounded so lame to keep saying that, but she was sorry, and that’s all she could think to say.
“There was a lot of political mess about my brother’s shooting. Some say my brother wasn’t armed, others testified that he was. The cop took a lot of heat, and when the investigation ruled that the cop didn’t do anything wrong . . . Well, I’m sure you know all that happens in situations like that here.”
Addy nodded. Unfortunately, she did know. The climate between many neighborhoods and the police made her worry so much about
Beau. Right now, she wondered if she’d ever see him again. Or Dimitri. Her chest tightened at the thought.
Her captor kept talking. “My mom was desperate to save us, worrying that me or my little brother would follow in our older brother’s footsteps. She met with some women in Jackson Square who told Mom they could put some protection spells on us.”
“And that worked?” Addy asked, truly interested. She knew about all the voodoo and hoodoo beliefs, of course. Growing up in New Orleans, everyone knew, but she’d always wondered about how people felt who had such things willingly done to them.
He shrugged again. “Guess so, because me and my brother were never shot or anything. He moved to Texas about five years ago. Got married and had a kid. We don’t see each other much. His life is a lot different than mine.” He paused, and Addy kept her head down so he wouldn’t notice she could see a little, but she sure wished she could gauge his expression. “Do you believe in voodoo?”
Wasn’t that a loaded question. “Well, I know many people who do. My best friend, for example, is very respectful of it.” In spite of the situation, Addy let out a chuckle. “Of course, she kind of has to be. It’s her business. She runs one of the St. Louis nighttime cemetery tours.”
“Really? I grew up with some people who kept me safe with voodoo after my mom died. I owe them my life.”
Well, if he believed in all that, maybe he’d be impressed with Tracey’s supposed lineage. “My friend is actually a descendant of Marie Laveau.”
No mistaking his quick intake there. Everyone knew who Marie Laveau, renowned Voodoo Queen, was, even people who didn’t live in New Orleans.
Why not really impress him? Tracey’s pedigree was respected in the circles. “My friend is a direct descendant of Marie’s look-alike daughter, the second Marie.”
“That’s the dark one.” No mistaking the awe in his voice.
All native New Orleanians knew the story of Marie Laveau and Louis Christophe Dominick Duminy de Glapion, her left-handed husband. Rumor had it de Glapion was a man of noble French descent in the 1830s and was in a placage relationship with Laveau. Together, it was said, they had at least seven children, but only two survived: both daughters named Marie, one the look-alike of Marie Laveau who embraced the darker side of voodoo in Bayou St. John. Although not confirmed anywhere, it was said that the second Marie murdered her own older sister, Marie Philomene Glapion, the only other living descendant of Marie and Louis Christophe. This was Tracey’s heritage.
“Yeah. Tracey’s got the direct-line thing going, so I am really aware of how serious voodoo is to the people who believe in the practice.”
“Your best friend’s name is Tracey?”
She nodded. “Yeah, Tracey Glapion. Do you know her?” That would be too sweet, and extremely helpful to her current situation.
“I know of her. She’s a powerful woman.” That awe in his voice again.
It would be amazing if Trace was one of the people he credited with saving his life. “Is she one of the people who you said saved your life after your mom died?”
“No.” He swallowed loudly. “I didn’t really know her back then.”
“Oh.” Well, there went that possibility.
“I’ve stayed close with two, even after all these years.”
“That’s good. Tracey and I have been friends since high school. She’s the one I can always count on to be there for me.” All she could do now was keep him talking and try to pick up on any clues he gave her. Anything that would help her.
“Well, these two weren’t my best friends. It was a mother and her daughter. They kinda took me in and shared their lives with me. Made me feel like part of their family. The mother passed away not too long ago.”
“I’m sorry.” Addy hated that it sounded so lame to just keep saying that, but there really wasn’t any other proper response.
“Me and the daughter, well, we talk almost every day. I do owe her a lot, but she doesn’t let me forget it. Every time she wants me to do something for her, if I don’t want to, she brings up how much she and her mom helped me.”
Addy forced her breathing to stay regular and her voice to remain even as her mind raced as she began connecting the dots. “Oh, that’s not good. If someone helps you, that’s a wonderful thing for them to do. But you shouldn’t be indebted to them for their decision to be a good person and help out their fellow man.”
“Right! I mean, that’s what I think, but she doesn’t see it that way. She’s always holding it over my head. Telling me that she could always just remove the protection over me and my brother.”
Addy felt more nauseated now than when she’d felt something crawling on her. While he was allowing himself to be manipulated, the threat over his little brother . . . Well, it was despicable. “I’m by no means an expert in voodoo, but if you want my help, I can ask Tracey.”
He hesitated. “You’re just saying that so I’ll let you go.”
“No, I’m not.” As she thought about it, Addy realized that strangely enough, it was true. She did want to help him. “Look, I don’t know you, but I’ve kept my word to you just like you’ve kept yours to me. I haven’t so much as touched my blindfold since you untied my hands.”
“Why would you want to help me? I hit you on the head and tied you up and am keeping you here.”
She softened her voice. “Because we both know none of this was your idea. This wasn’t your plan. It’s all hers, isn’t it? The girl who helped you when you didn’t think you had anybody else. The girl whose mom stepped in and filled that role for you when your own mom died. The girl who used voodoo to protect you. The girl who is manipulating you to do what she wants by threatening your brother. It’s all her, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” His voice was softer too. “I’m sorry.”
Addy dipped down her head so she could see over the top of the blindfold with her right eye.
He sat with his head hung.
The anger returned to Addy with a vengeance. “Don’t be sorry. Do something.”
“What?” He lifted his head. “There’s nothing I can do. I don’t know how voodoo works or how to control the power like she does.”
Addy jerked her head upright as well. “Don’t let her do this to you. Don’t let her use you like this.” Her heart raced.
“I can’t. It’s not just me. She’ll hurt my brother, and he’s happy. I mean, really happy. Has a good job. A wife. A little boy.”
“What can she do to him? You said he lived in Texas, right? Has a job and a family. I bet he doesn’t even believe in voodoo anymore. I don’t know a lot, but I do know if you don’t believe in it, you’re ahead of the game.”
“He lives over in San Antonio.”
“That’s a good bit away. He’s out of her reach.”
“You don’t know that. Voodoo knows no distance. She would do something, I know it. Something just to prove to me she could.”
Addy snorted. “Even if that’s true, we can get Tracey to help. You said yourself that she was powerful.” Oh, Trace was going to get a real power rush over this one. “Tracey’s ancestor is the voodoo queen herself.”
“How do you know she’d be willing to help me? You could just be saying all this to make me let you go.”
Oh, she’d had enough of this. Addy jerked off the blindfold and stared at him. “Really? No. Tracey will help you because it’s the right thing to do, but also she’d do it for m
e.” She hoped she was right— on her gut instinct of what was going on with him and on who the woman manipulating him was.
His eyes widened, and he staggered to his feet but he didn’t bear down on her.
She reached down and started untying the ropes around her ankles. “And I’ll help you because while I’m mad you hit me and tied me up, I know that deep down you only did it because you wanted to keep your little brother and his family safe. You wanted to protect the people you care about.”
He made no move to stop her, just stood there staring as if his feet had been cemented in place. The scar on his cheek stood out angrily against the paleness of his skin tone. His bushy beard was uneven and very unkept.
“Helping you is the right thing to do, and I’ll do it. But right now, you need to help me up so that we can stop that woman from whatever plan she’s got cooked up.” She held out her hand, hoping he didn’t notice her slight tremble.
He took one step toward her and took her hand, then gently helped her stand.
Relief almost made her legs give out from under her. Or maybe it was that they’d been in the same position and confined for too long. Either way, she swayed. He wrapped an arm around her and caught her. The stench of his body odor was overwhelming, but she didn’t care.
“Whoa, there. Steady.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. I don’t think we’ve met properly. I’m Adelaide Fountaine, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. Do you know where my cell phone is?”
26
Beau
“Stay here.” Beau glared at Dimitri over the roof of the cruiser. Their open doors illuminated the darkness with the car’s cabin lights. They were in the parking lot on Basin Street and had parked right beside Addy’s car. Beau put his hand on the hood. It was cold.
Dimitri snorted. “I’m not staying out here.”
“Look, I let you come. I appreciate your argument, but if Addy’s in there being held against her will, then it’s a police matter.” Beau tried her car door. It was locked.
Whatever reply Dimitri had was lost as Marcel whipped his car beside them, his headlights off.
“Trying to replace me?” He nodded toward Dimitri as he stepped onto the parking lot. His own car’s cabin added to the area illumination.
“Uh, no. Mr. Pampalon here is the owner of those two abandoned warehouses and has granted me permission to enter the premises.”
“Nice.” Marcel nodded. “Okay, what’s the story?”
Beau quickly brought his partner up to speed as he walked alongside Addy’s car, taking note that there was nothing to indicate any foul play. At least nothing he could detect in the darkness.
“Which one do you want to check out first?” Marcel pulled two police vests from the trunk of his car and passed one to Beau.
“Don’t suppose it matters.” Beau pulled the Kevlar vest over his head and tightened the Velcro. He pointed at Dimitri. “Stay put. I mean it. If you start following, I’ll handcuff you to my steering wheel.”
Dimitri lifted his chin and straightened his shoulders. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Beau glared. “Try me.” He nodded at Marcel. “Let’s go.”
Both of them pulled their guns as they made their way toward the entrance to the warehouses. No lights blazed in the upper-story windows. Beau glanced over his shoulder to make sure Dimitri stood by the cars.
“You okay here, Beau?” Marcel lowered his voice as they crossed the pothole-littered parking lot full of trash, loose gravel, and rocks.
Beau nodded. He hadn’t taken the time to consider what he’d do if he found her in the warehouse . . . No, he wouldn’t finish that thought. She had to be okay. Had to be.
“Okay.” Marcel glanced back over their shoulder. “Can’t believe you brought him.”
“Didn’t really have a choice.”
“I’m guessing that was a fun car ride.”
Beau glanced over his shoulder to check on him again. Darkness had swallowed most of the space, yet he could make out Dimitri’s outline by the car’s dashboard lights. “Yeah. Defined awkward.”
Marcel chuckled. “I bet.” He sobered as they got closer to the entrance, his gaze darting as he took in the details. “Right or left?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Hey.” Marcel put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “No matter what we find inside, it’s okay. All right?”
No, if it was bad . . . If Addy was hurt, or worse, he didn’t know that it’d ever be okay again. But that Marcel had his back was enough. It was all he could expect at the moment. He nodded, then pointed to the warehouse on the right. Through the dirty window, a flicker moved, like a flame dancing in the night breeze. He nodded.
“Right it is.”
Marcel moved to the door on the right. Beau fell in line behind him, watching his back, staring up at the windows to make sure no movement revealed someone might soon be shooting at them, then scanning the row of darkness in front of them. He did a quick self-check, as he always did just before going into an unknown, to make sure he was good to go.
Vest, check. Gun, check. Extra magazine loaded, check. “Let’s go,” he whispered.
Marcel stole up the stairs silently yet quickly. His gun was in his hand as he reached for the door and swung it open.
Beau was at his six as they entered the warehouse.
A light blazed down the hall. Footfalls fell on their ears.
He and Marcel both took their stances and lifted their guns. A silhouette moved into the hallway.
“New Orleans Police. Freeze!”
“Wait. Don’t shoot!” A slender figure pushed up alongside the larger silhouette.
“Addy?” Beau’s heart caught in the back of his throat.
“Beau! It’s me. I’m okay. Don’t shoot.” She moved toward him, but the silhouette moved with her.
“Addy, what’s going on?” He nodded at Marcel, who kept his gun trained on the shadowy figure, and holstered his own gun. He took a few steps toward her.
“I’m okay. So is he.”
Beau rushed toward her, and in seconds she was in his arms. She’d never felt so good. He held her tight and sent up silent prayers of gratitude.
Addy took a step back and looked up into his face, her hands on either side of his cheeks. “I’ve never been so happy to see you.” She leaned forward and gave him a peck on his lips, then drew him tight to her in a bear hug.
He wanted nothing more than to stay just like this for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, though, Marcel cleared his throat and clapped his shoulder. “Happy you’re okay, Addy. Want to tell us what’s going on?”
She eased out of his embrace. “Yes. First, this is Willie Neyland.” She motioned for the man to join them. “Now, before you two say anything, I need y’all to hear me out, okay?”
Beau held up a finger. “Hang on a second.” He reluctantly moved his arm from around her. As much he didn’t want to include Dimitri, he knew how worried the man had to be. They’d both been to the breaking point. It wouldn’t be fair to keep Dimitri on pins and needles.
Opening the door to the warehouse, Beau let out a whistle. His car door opened and closed, and in moments Dimitri was at the stairs. “Did you find her? Is she okay?”
Beau just held the door open and let him inside.
Dimitri caught sight of her at the same time she recognized him. “Dimitri!”
He ran to her and swept her in his arms. “Oh, mon chaton, I was so worried about you.”
Beau turned so he didn’t have to see Addy in Pampalon’s arms. He sent a quick text to Vincent that Addy was okay and they would call him soon.
“I’m okay. I’m fine.” Addy hugged Dimitri back, then eased out of his embrace. She smiled and winked at Beau. “So, I guess you need to know what happened here now.”
He nodded.
“Let’s turn on some lights.” Dimitri headed across the large, empty space and pulled a lever. Instantly, light flooded the room. Everyone blinked to get the
ir eyes adjusted.
Dimitri shrugged as he returned to the group. “Father keeps the electricity on so he can write off the monthly bill.”
“How do you fit in here, Willie Neyland?” Marcel hadn’t let the bigger man out of his sight since he’d followed Addy down the hall.
The man let out a hard breath. “I’m the one who hit her and tied her up.”
Both Beau and Marcel reached for their guns.
Addy stepped in front of Willie. “No, wait. He was blackmailed into this.”
The man had hit Addy. Blackmail or no, the man was going into handcuffs. Beau pulled his set from the back of his belt.
“No, Beau. He’s as much of a victim as I am.”
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter, Addy. This is my job.” He handcuffed Neyland, then turned back to her. “He hit you. Let me see.”
She shrugged off his touch. “It’s a bump on the head. No big deal.”
“Did you lose consciousness?” He glared at the man. “Did she lose consciousness?”
“No,” she said at the exact same time the man nodded. “A little, yeah.”
Beau took a slow breath in through his nostrils, then exhaled.
“I’ll call the EMTs.” Marcel had his phone out.
“I’m fine. I don’t need any ambulance or anything.” Addy shook her head, but winced as she did. Her head was obviously hurting—she just didn’t realize how badly yet.
“It’s protocol. We have to call it in. Marcel will let them know it’s a nonemergency, though.” But Beau would feel much better once they got here and checked her out.
“Oh.” She chewed her bottom lip.
“Tell us what happened.” Marcel spoke so softly that even Beau had a hard time hearing him.
She looked like she was ready to drop. Beau took her gently by the shoulders and led her out to the door. He swung it open, and led her down the stairs to sit on the bottom one. Dimitri sat beside her, while Marcel ushered the handcuffed Willie Neyland to stand on the concrete.