“Oh, it was a dream.” Laura mock clutched at her heart and looked to the sky. “Poor Charlie is being haunted by dreams.”
“I will physically pick you up and throw you in the dumpster out back if you’re not careful,” Jack warned. “I’m not kidding.”
“Oh, you’re all talk and we both know it,” Laura shot back, rolling her eyes. “Tell us about the zombies sitting up and pointing, Charlie. That sounds like a scene right out of a horror movie. Twenty bucks says she’s making it up.”
“Except Charlie isn’t the one who told me about it,” Hannah argued. “There was another worker in there. He was talking to Charlie when the buzzing started. The only reason I knew to check on her is because he ran from the room screaming. He was going on and on about the zombie apocalypse when he ran.”
Chris was so excited I thought he was going to burst. “Did the zombies get up from the gurneys? Did they walk out of the coroner’s office?”
Hannah shook her head. “No. They were all back in place by the time I got there.”
“There you have it,” Laura sputtered. “Charlie and this attendant worked together to perpetuate a hoax.”
“I very much doubt that,” Hannah shot back. “Charlie was on the floor when I entered and she was confused. Her pulse was racing. You can’t fake a reaction like that. Besides, the sheets on all the bodies were disturbed. They were meant to be drawn over the heads, nice and neat. Some fell on the floor and others were askew. There’s no way Charlie could’ve managed that in the short amount of time she was gone.”
Jack shot Hannah a grateful smile. “You have a very organized mind.”
“I do,” she agreed. “Besides, I have some rather unusual results from the autopsy. Barry Landry had definitely been embalmed. He was decaying at a relatively normal rate. That’s to say that there is no such thing as a normal rate when embalming is involved because a number of factors play into the results.
“I don’t know if oxygen got into his coffin ... or water ... or something else,” she continued. “Embalming is meant to be a temporary preservation. For example, if there are several weeks between a person’s death and the funeral, something will have to be done to that body every day to make sure it keeps looking fresh.”
I made a face at her choice of words. “Nice.”
“Mr. Landry was suffering from the normal wear and tear you’d find a year after being interred,” Hannah said. “In fact, I’m starting to think that he was better preserved than he should’ve been ... especially if he had a sealed casket. Most bodies liquify in those.”
My stomach threatened to flop. “That is lovely.”
Jack moved his hand over the back of my head but remained focused on Hannah. “So, basically you’re saying that we’re dealing with zombies.”
I wanted to laugh at his expression. If it wasn’t such a serious moment, that’s exactly what I would’ve done. He looked depressed, though, and it lightened my mood. “I never thought I would see the day when you would say something like that,” I murmured.
He slid his eyes to me. “What else should I say? I saw the guy on the floor. There’s no explaining what happened to him other than calling him a zombie. I’m not ready to admit that there’s a virus or anything about to take down the world yet. I won’t go that far.”
On impulse, I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
He cocked his head, surprised. “For what? I didn’t say I agreed with you. In fact, I’m still trying to get you shipped out of here because I don’t believe you’re safe. I thought you would be fighting me, not thanking me.”
I grinned because it was the only thing I could do. “You’re not going to send me away. You might think it’s a good idea, but when it comes to it you’ll change your mind at the last minute because you’re afraid whoever has targeted me here will follow me and I’ll be alone once I’m separated from the group.”
Jack scowled. “Oh, geez. I hadn’t even thought about that. But now that you bring it up ... .”
I was amused. “You’re not going to send me away.”
“I’m not.” Jack agreed after a beat, leaning forward so our foreheads almost touched. We weren’t the only ones in the room, but he obviously didn’t care that we had an audience. “You have to be really careful, Charlie. Something weird is happening here.”
Something was definitely happening. I needed to find out what ... and I had an idea how I was going to do that. Unfortunately, he couldn’t come along for the ride. There was no way I could explain what I had in mind. He would be angry and upset.
“I’ll be careful. I can’t back away from this. You have to realize that.”
He blew out a long-suffering sigh. “I realize you’re not going to back down. It’s hard for me to admit that, but ... I get it. You can’t turn away from this. You’re at the center of it.”
“Even if I wasn’t at the center I wouldn’t be able to turn away,” I admitted. “This is the biggest thing I’ve ever been a part of. We’re so close to proving zombies exist. I mean ... I could put my name on that report and it will be out there forever. No one would ever forget me.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Jack was flustered. “Charlie, no one who meets you would ever be able to forget you.”
“I will,” Laura countered. “As soon as she’s kicked out of this group I’m going to throw a party and then immediately forget her. Just you wait.”
Jack ignored her. “You’ll always be remembered. I know you can’t see that, but you will. Zombies don’t need to be a part of that.”
“What if I want them to be a part of it?”
He exhaled heavily. “Then that’s up to you. My biggest concern is your safety. Why do you think you’ve been targeted?”
That was a good question. I didn’t have an acceptable answer. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that. I think I had to have crossed someone’s path in the early days. I probably didn’t even realize what was happening.”
“Who did you talk to?”
“I don’t know. It could be someone staying in the hotel or someone who works here. I mean ... we haven’t exactly been quiet about our plans. People are aware of why we’re here.”
“But focused on you, Charlie, above the rest of us?” Hannah pressed. “I know that someone could’ve overheard us. Wouldn’t Chris make the most sense to fixate on?”
“Unless they’re looking for a woman,” Jack countered. “Chris is the biggest believer in the group, but he’s a man. There’s a lot of matriarchal power in the history of voodoo and hoodoo culture. Charlie is the biggest believer with ovaries.”
I made a face. “That’s a really weird way to phrase it.”
Jack’s grin was back. “Sorry. But you know what I mean.”
“So, we need to move forward on the assumption that Charlie being a woman is somehow important,” Chris said. “How do we do that?”
Twenty-Five
Millie and Bernard joined us about twenty minutes later. We moved to Chris’s suite so we could talk without the risk of people eavesdropping. We bounced a lot of ideas about, but no one had a firm plan.
I moved out to his balcony and sat in one of the chairs. I was interested in hearing what the others were talking about, but I wanted to work out my own plan in privacy. Jack was getting increasingly annoyed with some of Chris’s ideas — like using me as bait and shoving me in the middle of a cemetery alone to see if the zombies would come calling — but I knew that would never come to fruition.
Millie found me on the balcony and sat down next to me, quietly sliding the door closed – at least as much as possible without drawing attention to us. “You’re going to do something, aren’t you?”
The question caught me by surprise. “What makes you say that?”
“I know you,” she replied. “You’ve got a certain look about you when you’re planning something. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back to see Madame Brenna,” I replied.
/>
Millie balked. “Why? She didn’t offer any help the first time.”
“Didn’t she?” I wasn’t so sure. “She pegged me as different the moment we walked through the door.”
“That’s what grifters do. They read people.”
“You sound like Jack.”
“That’s not always a bad thing. What do you hope to accomplish by going back there?”
“I want to have a seance.”
Millie’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious. Why? It’s not as if she’s able to communicate with the zombies.”
“You assume that because you struggle with believing,” I countered. “I don’t labor under that particular problem. I think there’s a chance that the zombies will know who raised them if we manage to make contact. The human soul goes on. I’m certain of that. While I don’t believe the creatures who are being raised have souls, I still think the soul is partially tethered to the body. They have to know who is doing this to them or at least be able to give me a description.”
“And why do you think Madame Brenna can help?”
“I sensed a glimmer of power while I was there.” It was the simplest answer I could come up with. “Whether she’s completely the real deal or not, I can’t say. I do believe she’s my best shot, though.”
“What about the hoodoo chick?” Millie almost looked desperate as she licked her lips. “She seemed to know what she was talking about.”
“She did,” I agreed. “I don’t think she’s capable of conducting the form of seance I need. I don’t understand why you’re getting so worked up about this. It probably won’t work. But if it does, we’ll have a place to start investigating.”
“Yeah, but ... you’re going to have to do this alone,” she pointed out. “We both know you’re going to use your magic while you’re there. That means Jack can’t go with you.” She looked thoughtful. “I can. I know, so I can be with you.”
“You can’t be with me.” I was firm. “That won’t work. You need to stay here and distract Jack so I can get away.”
If Millie was annoyed when she first heard my plan she was downright livid now. “No way! You could be hurt if I let you go by yourself.”
“Now you definitely sound like Jack.” I refused to back down. “That place is only two blocks away. I can get there, do what needs to be done and get back before anyone knows I’m missing.”
“And how do you intend to do that? Jack will notice if you try to sneak out.”
“Who said anything about sneaking?” I slowly got to my feet and brushed off the seat of my pants. “I think I need a nap.”
“Of course you do.” Millie looked disgusted. “What happens if he offers to take a nap with you?”
“He might want to. He won’t, though. He’s too busy working things out with Chris. Testing all the possibilities in a plan is part of his job description. He won’t shirk his duties. That’s not who he is.”
“No, but ... .” Millie trailed off and then regrouped. “You’ve already worked this all out in your head, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no talking you out of it.”
“Nope. Once I go back to my room you can help. Keep Jack here for at least two hours. I should be done by then.”
“And what if he checks on you and you’re gone? What then? He’ll melt down if he thinks you purposely walked into danger.”
“I’m going to leave him a note explaining things.”
“But leaving out the truth.”
“For now,” I agreed. “I’ve been thinking about this nonstop for days. He needs to know. It’s not fair to keep him in the dark. The closer we get to one another, the harder it will be for both of us if he decides this relationship isn’t something he can deal with for the long haul. It’s best for me to tell him as soon as we’re clear of this. It might already be too late.”
“I think you’re wrong on that front,” she countered. “But I get it. It’s the right thing to do. He’ll stand by you. I have no doubt about that. I agree that now isn’t the time to tell him. He’s already struggling with the fact that you’re a target and he can’t figure out why.”
“You can figure it out, though, can’t you?” I kept my voice soft. “You’ve figured out why whoever is doing this has zeroed in on me.”
“I have. Whoever it is — man or woman — has marked you as an equal. Your magic is powerful enough to stop what’s coming. That’s why the hoodoo chick was all over you. She recognized how powerful you are.
“Just from a bystander’s point-of-view, Charlie, when scary things are afraid of you it throws people off,” she continued. “I recognize your heart. I know you’re a good person. I’ll stand with you no matter what. You have good instincts even if I believe your current course of action is madness.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me?”
“I will, but I hope this doesn’t backfire in your pretty face.”
“I don’t know what else to do.” I felt helpless. “We need divine intervention, and this is the only way I can think to get it.” I thought about relating the dream I’d had, my conversation with Papa Legba. There was every chance that would send her careening toward the ledge, so I couldn’t risk it. “This is the only thing I can think to do.”
“Then do it.” She was blasé as she leaned back in her chair. “I’ll do what I can. If I sense Jack is getting restless and wants to check on you I’ll text. That’s all I can do.”
“I don’t expect you to do more. If this blows up, I’ll leave you out of it and face the music on my own.”
“Well, let’s not get maudlin.” Millie mustered a smirk. “Even if Jack finds out, he’ll only rant and rave for five minutes until he gives in. You two are in that heady beginning part of your relationship. He won’t be able to hold onto his anger because of that.”
I hoped that was true, but it very likely wasn’t the reality I faced. “I’ll see what I can find out. This might be our only shot.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”
IF JACK WAS SUSPICIOUS WHEN I told him I was going to take a nap, he didn’t show it. He looked relieved. He walked me to the room, helped me get comfortable in bed, and then left to return to his argument with Chris. He was unhappy that every scenario our boss came up with to get our hands on tangible proof included using me as bait. He didn’t come right out and say it, but it was obvious he felt that way.
I waited five minutes, until I was sure he was gone, and then hopped up and dressed. I pulled my hair back in a loose ponytail and used the back stairs to slip out of the building. I checked over my shoulder multiple times to make sure nobody followed me and then stared straight ahead when I hit the street.
The faster I could get through this, the better.
Madame Brenna was alone in her shop when I entered. She didn’t appear surprised to see me. Instead, she looked as if she’d been proved right on some debate she’d been holding with herself.
“I knew you would be back,” she said.
“Really? That’s interesting. I didn’t know it.” I moved toward the table where she sat drinking her tea. “I have a proposition for you and I don’t have much time.”
“Well, now I’m doubly intrigued.”
I swallowed hard as I sat. The woman really was striking. She was in her sixties but could pass for being in her forties if she put a little effort into it. She obviously didn’t care what others thought. Her persona was based on the image she wanted to project, and I decided that was exactly how I wanted to be when I got older.
“Can you help me with a seance?” I blurted out the question without giving it much thought. We really didn’t have much time.
“You want to conduct a seance?” She knit her eyebrows. “Why? I thought you were looking for zombies.”
“I am,” I assured her hurriedly. “The thing is, I have a hunch.” I told her what I’d told Millie. When I finished, she was more open to the possibility
than my friend.
“I understand,” she said after a beat. “You think there will be trace magic left behind that will lead you to the guilty party.”
“That’s my hope,” I agreed. “I think that if we focus on one of the dead souls — maybe the neighbor you mentioned — we might be able to figure out who’s doing this.”
“Have you considered the individual behind this has a bigger plan? I mean ... is anyone really getting hurt by those that are rising? The dead are already gone before the bodies are being co-opted.”
“I get that, and up until yesterday I probably would’ve agreed with you. The thing is, Barry Landry came back yesterday. Did you hear about that?”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure I recognize the name. I feel as if I should, but ... I don’t.”
“His wife, Emeline, runs the Royal Dauphine Hotel.”
“Ah.” Madame Brenna bobbed her head, realization dawning. “I’m familiar with who you’re talking about. I never spent much time with Barry. Emeline does most of the work. She always has. We’ve been to several business meetings together. Are you saying that Barry is one of the risen?”
“He attacked his wife in the lobby yesterday. I intervened and he went after me, too.”
“What happened?”
“He’s not a threat any longer,” I replied simply. “I’m not sure exactly how he was taken out, but they did an autopsy on him this morning. He’s ... gone again. At least for now.”
“That is terrifying.” She made a tsking sound with her tongue. “I can try to help. I can reach out to my neighbor. I’m sure he would be willing to share information if we can find him. You’ll have to help. I usually call out to whoever is willing to talk. This time we’ll be looking for a specific soul. It will take more power than I have at my disposal.”
“I can help, but I’ve never done this before.” I got comfortable in the chair beside her. “You’ll have to direct me.”
IT TOOK MADAME BRENNA TWENTY minutes to arrange things to her liking. She locked the store door, turned the sign to “closed” and then focused on me as we sat in the middle of the floor.
The Undead Uproar Page 24