by Leo King
“Well, we lost control of the Castille accounts a few weeks ago, so we need to file an appeal—”
The door to the office burst open. Several people trampled inside, and someone said, “Mr. Mayor, Mr. Connick! We have an intruder in the building. He’s already taken out three of the guards on the roof. Sirs, madam, you have to come with us!”
Lovely. Just lovely.
Tania knew that in less than a minute, the entire building would be swarming with guards. Human and spirit guards.
Sister, we need to get out of here.
When Violet didn’t respond, Tania reached down within herself and pulled her forward. Damn it, Sister, I need your power now!
“No! Don’t! The bakulu—”
Forget the bakulu, Tania thought as she put on her mask. I’m going to smash through the window and run down the side of the building.
“What? Have you lost your stupid mind?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she focused on bringing Violet as far forward as she could. As she heard the bakulu snarl, she said a quick prayer and dove through the ceiling, landing right in the middle of six armed guards escorting Mayor Morial, Harry Connick Sr, and Caroline Saucier out of the plush, well-decorated office. Nearby was the bakulu. Translucent and glowing a pale, sickly white, it had a thick chest and a massive head that was mostly mouth. Two beady eyes rested on its low-hanging tongue. Its tree-trunk-sized arms ended in huge, clawed hands, and it was shackled with ghostly chains wrapped around its entire body.
The moment it saw her, it let out a roar so load the pictures on the wall shook.
“Run. Now.” For the first time since Violet had possessed her, she sounded frightened.
“Who is that?” Morial cried out. “I thought we were secure!”
Caroline stumbled back against a wall. “Isn’t that Blind Moses? Isn’t she dead?”
Tania didn’t wait, springing to her feet and rushing toward the window with the bakulu right behind her. As it let out another horrifying roar, she fired at the glass. In just a few shots, it shattered, brightly lit particles of glass dancing through the air. With a cry of her own, she dove through.
A moment later, her feet touched the side of the building, and she ran down, focusing each step to control her fall. By the time she reached the overhang at the entrance, she had slowed down enough to jump, flip, and roll. She landed in front of the steps, and then glanced back up. The armed guards were pointing at her and shouting into walkie-talkies. The bakulu was staring at her and breathing heavily, its mouth foaming.
“OK. I’ll admit it. You did really well just now.”
But don’t let it go to my head, right?
“Exactly. Now let’s get out of here.”
Tania harnessed the rifle on her back and ran off down the street as fast as she could. Then she jumped onto the roof of a nearby parking garage. Within a few minutes, she was far away from City Hall.
Chapter 39
A Cuff Link
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 1997
Time: 11:00 p.m.
Location: Russell Family Mansion
Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell
Despite being exhausted after getting back home from City Hall, Tania immediately threw a fresh costume into the backseat of her car and headed toward Slidell and the Russell family mansion. There was no way of knowing when it would be torn down, and her gut said that there was an important reason the Knight Priory wanted it destroyed.
Sipping on some convenience store coffee, she turned off the interstate and onto the side road leading to the mansion. She had been there once before, soon after the fire in Sam’s townhome, but the police had locked it up on account of it being a mechanized death trap.
“There’s something about Connick that concerns me.” Violet had been more talkative than usual.
Oh? What’s that ?
“I’m not sure. The way he talks and acts is so different from before. He seems like an entirely different person.”
Tania pulled up to the gates of the Russell estate and started getting dressed.
You think he’s possessed?
“That’s the thing. If he was possessed by a loa, then I’d know. If he was being ridden by a loa, then I’d know.”
She slipped out of the car, secured her rifle to her back, and got ready to pull Violet forward.
So what do you think it is?
“I’m not sure. Only a high loa could evade my senses, but there aren’t any left. Baron Samedi is bound, Madame Bridgette is fused with Sam, and Papa Ghede is pure benevolence. Besides, high loa can’t normally possess a human. It’s too unstable.”
Donning her mask, Tania thought, Ponder on it later, Sister. Let’s go!
Violet moved forward until Tania felt the power flow through her. The coldness, the focus, and the energy were intoxicating. With a single leap, she soared over the gates and toward the mansion. It was still shut down, boarded up tightly with thick metal sheets at every entrance. There were also warnings, like “Stay back” and “Dangerous machinery.” Tania had heard reports on the traps that Jonathon had installed to ward off and maim intruders. It was the very definition of overkill.
After circling around the mansion twice and not seeing a viable way in without tearing through walls, Tania finally climbed up to the roof. The skylight above the foyer hadn’t been boarded up.
“You sure the traps are disabled?”
Yes. The house has been off the grid and without generators for years. I think this place is as safe as a baby’s crib.
“I’m certain Rodger Bergeron thought the same thing.”
Snorting, she held her breath and jumped through the skylight. She landed gracefully on the carpeted floor below, shards of glass sprinkling around her like droplets of rain. Giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the light, she moved out from under the broken glass.
The air was dusty, and the stench of mildew was suffocating. All around, the walls and wooden fixtures were covered in mold. The staircase on one side of the foyer was flattened into a slide, leading down into a pit of spikes, the chandelier lay broken in the middle of the room, and at the front doorway, a guillotine blade lodged into the floor.
“I like this guy’s style.”
Hush it.
She carefully crept up the other staircase, which was normal. There were faded footprints in the mold—someone else had been here quite some time ago. At the top of the second floor landing was a set of metal bars separating it from the hallway. Several of the bars had been cut away, probably when the police removed Jonathan’s body. The footprints headed through that gap and down the hallway to the left.
“I don’t sense anyone, but be careful.”
Now moving more cautiously and with her rifle out, Tania snuck down the hallway, the flooring loose as if it had once moved on its own. Following the footprints, she came upon a room that she recognized as a study. The ceiling, which had spikes on it, was retracted by several large metal bracings. It looked like a section of the wall had been pried open. Inside was an empty desk.
I think that’s where Jonathon was shot.
“Look over at the other wall, dummy! I think someone searched there, too.”
Sure enough, part of a side wall had also been pried open. Inside was a small bookcase with rotted black velvet drapery. It had been picked clean, save for a few scraps of paper. She kneeled down in front of it, searching for a clue as to what had been there.
She was just about to leave when a glint caught her eye. Moving aside some of the dust, she pulled out a small button made out of copper or brass. The face of the button had the letters “NOPD” on it.
The police. I wonder whose it—
“Shh! Quiet! I feel something.”
A groaning sound disturbed the still night air. Pocketing the button and rushing out to the landing, she saw a translucent figure in an elaborate feathered headdress with an animal-skin shield and a spear. Its face was puckered tightly, with oversized eyes and pierced ears. As it
spotted her, it let out a piercing war cry that made her teeth clatter.
“What the? An ogoun?” Violet sounded shocked.
Ogoun? What’s that?
“An African war spirit, from the Nigeria and Guinea regions. Roughly as strong as a krabinay.”
The ogoun throw its spear at Tania, the ghostly blade nicking her cheek. Its movements were surprisingly fast.
What is something from the African pantheon doing here?
“I don’t know. Someone must have summoned it.”
It stomped its large feet in a trampling dance and let out another battle cry, never taking its eyes off her. Then it pulled out another spear from behind its shield and took aim.
I’m a sitting duck up here. I need to get down there and fight it on equal terms.
“Just remember what we learned from the Alexia Report. It’s your human will that allows your physical attacks to damage spirits. Focus your will to overcome it.”
Tania laughed as she jumped down to the foyer, landing with the grace of a cat. Sister, I lived through Vincent’s abuse, mother’s death, and your grumpy ass. I have will to spare.
Feeling Violet channel her power into her, she rushed at the ogoun as it threw another spear. This time, she was ready and rolled to the side, coming up in time to jump onto the side of the staircase and push off, flying right at it. With a yell, she kicked it square in its head, focusing herself into the attack, visualizing it connecting. Instead of her foot passing through, it made physical contact. The ogoun screeched and flew back, landing near the front door.
“Keep it up!”
With a frustrated glare, it let out another battle cry, drew out two spears with one hand, and threw them at her. She spun to the side and dodged one, only to be sliced across the stomach by the other. It felt like she had been cut by an icicle. As blood started to trickle, she unharnessed her gun and focused Violet’s energy to steady her aim. Then she fired off several shots, forcing her will into each one. Some of the bullets passed through it and sank into the wall, but one embedded itself in its chest, making it stumble back.
“Bullets aren’t as effective as close combat, dummy!”
You think?
Rushing at it, Tania focused her will through the butt of her rifle and hit it with an arcing uppercut swing. As it flew up into the air, she jumped after it, hitting it a dozen more times, and letting loose with a battle cry of her own. When she landed, she heard a wailing shriek. Above, the ogoun was arched back, white light pouring from it as it vanished into misty vapors.
“I am impressed,” Violet said. “You defeated it. Its energy has returned to the spirit world.”
Hey, you helped. I couldn’t have done it without you. We’re a team, Sister!
When Violet didn’t respond, Tania sighed. Violet had killed her heart while they were still children. It was the only way she could survive Vincent’s cruelty. That aversion to emotion carried into her death. While most ghosts oozed pathos and passion, Violet always grew silent.
So instead of pushing, Tania took that time to exit the house through the broken skylight. She headed back to the car and got out of the costume.
“So where to now?” Violet asked.
Whoever was here and took whatever was in those bookcases was a member of the police. We have only one contact with the police that we can trust. We go to him.
“Ugh. I hate visiting him. His dog is so damn annoying.”
Compared to how the rest of the evening had gone, breaking into their contact’s house was easy. Sitting in his easy chair, she fixed up her injuries with her medical kit and then let Violet contact the ghost that resided in the house. She had to go about it carefully, or her sister would wake up the family Shi Tzu, which would blow any secrecy to the meeting.
Ten minutes later, an elderly man in a pair of shorts came out, rubbing his eyes. “Mmmm… what’s going on? Who’s that?”
“Douglas, it’s me, Tania.”
Douglas Dugas groaned. “You couldn’t wait till morning?”
She turned on his light. “You know I couldn’t. Did Rodger wake you up?”
Sitting down and rubbing his face, he said, “Of course he did. Otherwise, he just sits in the bedroom rocker and watches over us while we sleep. Mabel, bless her heart, thinks he’s a guardian angel. Boudreaux now loves him and never leaves that chair at night. It’s a sight, watching him get petted by a ghost.”
Tania nodded. Thankfully, Douglas had adjusted to the reality of the supernatural very well, while most people were like Mabel, either ignoring it or losing their minds. “Well, he nearly spent all of his energy helping Dixie and Kyle while evading Vincent. This is probably all he has left. You’re lucky to have him protecting you. He must love you very much.”
With another yawn, he said, “I know he does. His death all but broke Mabel, so having him here is a kind comfort. Anyway, not to be rude, but it’s two in the morning. What brings you here?”
She leaned forward. “I’m onto something big. Remember how you swore you’d help me if it would stop the Knight Priory?”
“Tania, you don’t have to remind me of our agreement. What they’ve done to our city is plain criminal. And after talking to Rodger—well, his ghost—and finding out the whole story about Vincent, I’ll do whatever I can. So what do you need?”
Taking out the button, she tossed it to him. “I found that at a place of interest. Jonathon Russell’s old mansion. What is it?”
Catching it, he held it up to the light, squinting. A moment later, he said, “Well, I’ll be. It’s a cufflink for the NOPD.”
“Any guess what kind of cop would have one?”
“I don’t need to guess. I know. This cufflink is only given to commanding officers. Was offered a pair of them myself when I retired, even though I never made officer.”
That clinched it. In her mind, only one police commander could be involved in this sordid tale. “Ouellette.”
“Excuse me?”
With a shrug, she said, “It has to be Ouellette’s. There’s no one else.”
His expression immediately showed irritation. “Are you saying that Louis is working with the Knight Priory?”
At that, she shook her head. “No, my boss made it clear that he’s not. But listen—years ago, he told both Dixie and Kyle he was searching for something, and they believe that something was of interest to the Knight Priory. So one way or another, he’s involved.”
Sitting at the edge of his seat, he pointed his finger in her face. “Now you listen to me, you fool. He may be a great many things, but he is not a bad guy. He—”
Not flinching, she calmly lowered his hand. “All right. I apologize. Help me to search his office for information on what was taken out of the mansion. If he’s clean, then I won’t find anything.”
He tightened his fist around the cufflink. “How am I supposed to do that? I’m retired going on twenty-five years now.”
“Simple. You have lunch with him and get him out. I’ll handle the rest.”
He frowned, rubbing his head again. “Fine! But after this, no more nonsense connecting him to the Knight Priory.”
Smiling, she said, “Done.”
Chapter 40
Sobs of Sorrow
Date: Wednesday, June 11, 1997
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: New Orleans Police Precinct 8th District
The French Quarter
“We’re going to get caught, dummy.”
No, we won’t. And get back. We don’t know if Ouellette can detect you or not!
As she squeezed through the air ducts of the eighth precinct, Tania again took off the Blind Moses mask. It was difficult to see where she was crawling with it on, and unlike her sister, who had been guided by the loa Bwa-Cheh, she actually needed her eyes.
“I’m telling you, this is a bad idea. You shoulda just gone to work.”
I took the day off to do this. Gracious, Sister, why do you have to be so negative?
When Vio
let didn’t respond, Tania continued onward until she was over Ouellette’s office. Breathing slowly and softly, she peered inside. Ouellette was at his desk, going through the contents of a file folder. When he stopped and looked forward, she held her breath, ready to scoot back in case he glanced up. But instead, he went over to the door just as someone started knocking on it.
Is he precognitive?
“Not sure. He’s not being possessed or ridden.”
“Douglas, you old bastard,” Ouellette said as he let Douglas in. “What brings you here today?”
They sat back down. Douglas laughed. “Oh you know, just keeping myself busy. Mabel’s wanting to spend more time with the grandkids, and little Boudreaux has maybe a good year or two left. Can’t complain.”
“That’s wonderful, Douglas. And for the record, I think you and Mabel should go out of town and visit the grandkids more. They’re up in Chicago, right?” Ouellette, who usually sounded harsh and gruff, was being friendly.
“Yup, Chicago. That’s right.”
I can’t get a read on this guy, Sister.
“Neither can I.”
Tania exhaled in frustration. Aucoin had made it very plain that he didn’t trust Ouellette, but Dr. Lazarus stated he had complete faith in him. She didn’t know what to make of him.
“So, there’s been something that’s been weighing on my mind for a while. I was hoping we could go to lunch and talk.” Douglas’s expression was serious.
Ouellette put down the folder. “This sounds important.”
“Yeah. It’s everything that’s been happening. You know, since Rodger died. Everything’s going nuts. And with the Knight Priory making a comeback, I just don’t feel as safe as I once did.”
“Yeah, we need to go out. My treat. I’ll—”
Abruptly, Douglas leaned forward. “I just need to know one thing. Are you one of them?”
That question seemed to stun Ouellette. He looked hurt. “Why would you ask that?”
“I just need to know. Look, the Knight Priory used to be a good thing. Even back when Vincent was running it, they did a lot of—”