Staying focused on getting in touch with Myrna, after her discovery of Avery was a true test of her mettle; she couldn’t pull herself together, but she knew it was something she had to do. She picked up her cell phone and re-dialed Myrna’s number, acting as though the ground beneath her feet didn’t quake just seconds earlier.
“Keith Baldwin Realty, how may I direct your call?” the same voice greeted her from earlier.
“Myrna Baldwin please,”
“Yes, just one moment please,” the woman responded sternly. There was a beep-beep on the line and then a ringtone.
“This is Myrna, how may I help you?” a voice on the other end answered on the first ring.
“Oh, thank goodness! Myrna, this is, Laurie De Verteuil – I mean, Gallagher. I purchased the chateau on Mon Fleur Heights from you a few years ago?” Laurie said, getting straight to the point. “It’s been a while, but I hope you remember me?”
“Um, Yes, I remember, how could I forget you darling that lovely figure, and all that gorgeous hair – how may I help you sweetie?” she asked, willingly.
“Aww, that’s very kind of you to say – thank you. Um, I have questions about the property and the family who lived there before I did…there were some strange things that happened, and I need to ask a few questions about the property and its original owners,” she paused, then continued. “I really need to meet with you as soon as possible; I’d really appreciate it if you’d make time today – so we could talk?” Laurie proposed.
“Well then, sounds like something important?”
“Yes, it is rather important,” Laurie confessed.
“Okay, I’ll meet with you today,” Myrna replied sounding confused about Laurie’s request. “Is there some sort of trouble with you and the previous owners – if so, I have proof that their lawyers had authorized my company to sell the property,” she added.
“Oh. No – it’s nothing like that,” Laurie clarified.
“I do have some information about the home but, not so much about the family. Baldwin Realty has a privacy clause against sharing personal information about our clients, so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to share with you.”
“I understand.”
“Can I ask, why do you need this information? No one has ever called me with such a strange request before hun,” Myrna was curious.
“Well, that’s why I need to talk with you – in person. There’s just a few things I need to know – I won’t take up a lot of your time – I promise!” Laurie added.
Myrna cleared her throat after contemplating whether she could be of any real help to Laurie.
“Lauren, to be quite honest with you sweetie, I won’t be able to tell you as much as Mr. Pierre. He lived across the way from your home for decades – he could give you some useful information about the family who lived there. Now, about the chalet itself – I can’t say,” she offered.
“Where can I find –” before Laurie could finish asking her question, Myrna replied as, though she could read her mind; she knew exactly what Laurie was going to ask.
“Mr. Pierre? Yes, yes. He lives in an assisted living community,” she affirmed.
“Great!” Laurie replied.
“Oh, I’ll go with you. At 118 years old, his hearing and memory are still remarkable from what I recall, but it would be better if I accompany you hun – since I’m a familiar face, or at least so I’d like to hope. You’ll be interested in talking with him I take it?” asked Myrna.
“Sure! Absolutely…anything would help – this is perfect – I’m so, so, very grateful Myrna – you have nooo idea!” Laurie exclaimed.
“That’s alright hun –You can ride over to the retirement home with me if you like. I go to lunch in forty minutes, do you want to meet with me somewhere so we could chitty chat a bit – and we’ll take things from there?” Myrna proposed.
“Sounds great Myrna! I’ll meet you at, Bread & Joe?” Laurie proposed.
“Okay Lauren, see you then hun,”
Laurie ended the call. What does this one, Mr. Pierre know about the property and most of all, its original owners?
“My goodness! Did she say 118 years old? Who lives that long anymore?” Laurie said to herself, feeling very fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with someone who potentially knew a great deal about her chateau’s owners.
Mr. Pierre had at least 100 years of memories dwelling across from Laurie’s chateau. Hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth was as good as it was going to get and Laurie wasn’t going to pass on the opportunity; anticipation of meeting his acquaintance was nerve wrecking. She got into her vehicle and was on her way to Bread & Joe.
Bryan Gates was out of office when he received a phone call from the lab about the completion of the tests on the specimens; the report was ready for pick up. He notified Laurie and Avery by text that they should be hearing from him within the next couple of hours about everything pertaining to the case; Avery was also due to return from his trip on that evening.
He made an appointment to meet with them later that day, so they could all sit down and comb through the details of what was found…or, what wasn’t.
As for the chateau – the evidence didn’t add up to Laurie’s claim, and there were no similar reports of, strange sightings by any other residents in the neighborhood, for this reason, Bryan knew that there was something peculiar about this case. The fact that there was no evidence, or anything that could be linked to a forced entry or, other tangible criminal activities left Bryan with no other option but to dismiss her claims. This meant that Laurie’s home was once more, safe to occupy in the state Detective Bryan Gates had left it; there was nothing present that would, or possibly could cause harm to her – unless it was self-inflicted, or she had an accident of some sort, of course, he concluded.
Nature, with its unpredictable, vengeful ways had put yet another kink in Laurie’s plan to return home. A few minutes after reading Bryan’s message, she received a text from her maintenance crew. They informed her that, the power lines had been torn down by a large tree that was uprooted during the thunderstorm, from the previous night. Mr. Ramos, the lead contractor, estimated that the work was going to take a considerable amount of time to repair since the roof had sustained some structural damage and the main power line was down. Based on the estimate that was provided, it would take another week, or two, before everything was going to be up and running as it should. Laurie sweared, loudly, upon learning this.
Coffee with Myrna
Laurie made it to the coffee shop about a half hour earlier, this afforded her enough time to think about the questions she had for Myrna. One of the burning questions she really needed to know was if anyone was buried in the backyard under the Kapok tree – if, in fact, she did see a ghost…could the ghost have been the spirit of someone who lived there?
After reading about the Kapok tree and the She-Devil, Laurie was terrified of finding out the truth about her home. Whatever force it was that chose to torment her that morning, was horrendous and epic, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the previous owners probably had a role to play in provoking and luring what seemed to be haunting the chateau.
Inside the café; a small space with wooden, white-washed tables and chairs, the distinct smell of a variety of coffee blends signaled that Bread & Joe was opened for business; it was a delicious and inviting aroma that lured customers in by the dozens. The coffee shop was Laurie’s favorite place to grab a quick cup of coffee. She visited it several times a week after her morning jog and had missed doing so during the time she was away from Chestnut- Field.
“Hello ma’am, nice to see you again!” a happy-go-lucky young man from behind the counter called out, as he replenished pastries in the showcase and refilled the coffee dispensers.
“Thanks! – Michael, right?” she asked.
“Yep, Michael!” the young man echoed, grinning – delighted that she remembered his name.
“It’s nice to be back, I was away
taking care of some business,” a happy feeling filled her at the thought of being missed for the little time she’d been away. She was becoming a part of the community, little by little and it gave her the warm fuzzies, knowing that she was a familiar face in the shops she visited.
“Did I miss any momentous events?” she asked.
“Well, besides getting a new stop sign at the corner of, Mon Sol and Mon Eau streets – nah – nothing new,” he said, wiping his hands on the crisp, white, apron that sported a green and brown logo: Bread & Joe, on the front, chest area.
“Good, I could do without the extra excitement these days!” Laurie added as she kept a close watch on her iPhone. Funny how her days seem to revolve around an inanimate, electronic gadget. She kept up with her clients, tracked meetings, and checked her inbox incessantly from the highly dependable, sleek, quadrilateral, device. This little device – it literally ran her life, and living without it was inconceivable, put simply. She often joked that with her iPhone, she wasn’t missing out on the experience of having a child; monitoring it was akin to having her own, electronic, baby; this assertion always sparked debates from her counterparts with children, as they always begged to differ.
“Oooh!! Laura honey, nice to see you again hun!” Laurie looked up, and directed her attention to a woman who appeared in front of her; it was Myrna. Myrna was in her early sixties, petite, and always impeccably attired. She’d managed to win the reputation as a highly, experienced, and equally well-respected realtor, and could win over anyone with her southern charm.
“Myrna, hi nice to see you, thanks for taking the time to meet with me!” she said, rising from her seat giving the petite woman a friendly hug. She smiled and was reminded that Myrna could never get her name right. It was either, Laura, Lauren, or Lorelei, but never, Laurie. Laurie had grown tired of constantly correcting her and decided that it was a hopeless battle – she didn’t mind being called, Lauren for the few hours they convened.
“I’ll have a regular coffee please,” Myrna called out to the young man behind the counter, accompanied by her usual contagious, smile.
“How have you been keeping sweetie?” Myrna asked, aglow with a radiant presence.
“Umm, well, besides why we’re here –pretty good. You look great as always! You’ll have to tell me your secret,” Laurie said, smiling, but beneath the composure she exuded, her flesh was terrified about uncovering more upsetting details about her home.
“Why, thank you hun. What a lot of people – women especially don’t realize is that, the secret is wearing your age proudly – I’m never afraid of showing my age – I love all of me all the time, wrinkles, lines, the sagging – you name it! And, I think my body shows it because it feels loved! Call me crazy but, I swear by this secret.” Myrna confessed proudly, as she held her shoulders up squarely while doing a little shimmy in her seat.
“Mmm, it’s that simple huh?”
“Absolutely hun – there’s no magic potion in any bottle that can stop what time’s gonna do to your face – heavens, just take care of your body and love yourself! Oh, and a regular glass of wine, with friends helps too!” she said, followed by an exaggerated, cacophonous laughter.
“Oh, I’m with you on that one– gotta have the wine!” Laurie chimed in, laughing.
“So, how exactly can I help you, hun? What is it that you want to discuss about the house?” Myrna asked, overcome with curiosity. Laurie cleared her throat and sipped her tepid coffee as she proceeded to present her embarrassing and nonsensical case to Myrna.
“Well, this is not easy to discuss or even bring up…to ease you in on the matter, it has a lot to do with, with the supernatural,” she said, waiting on Myrna’s feedback. Myrna squinted her eyes and cocked her head back, indicating her confusion.
“Supernatural? Okay.” Myrna said, with a renewed interest in what Laurie had to say.
“Well, it has everything to do with the supernatural. What can you tell me about the people who were the original owners of the home – my home?”
“Hmm…what I do know is that they were, um, socialites with a lot of businesses around Chestnut Field, Mandeville, and De Bruin.
They were well… like most of the people who lived – and still dwell here; wealthy – very wealthy. The family’s name was Laborteaux, and from the name, you could probably tell that they were French, well, of French heritage – like many folks in Louisiana.” Laurie listened and took a mental note of every word spoken by Myrna. Myrna tried her best to recall what was known about the Laborteauxs based on what she’d heard while growing up and from her dealings with a great, great-grandchild of one of the heirs to the chateau. “The owner – original owner, had plantations in many Caribbean islands. They left France after the Revolution, and bought many homes in Chestnut-Field, De Bruin, Mon Fleur, La Bayadere and other places in this parish,” she said.
“Umm…I see,” Laurie acknowledged, nodding.
“So, what did you see Lauren? Did something happen to you?” Myrna questioned, with a concerned look on her face. Laurie sighed deeply, sitting back in the chair. She was skeptical about divulging what she saw to Myrna – a complete stranger – but, she didn’t care – she just wanted to put an end to what was happening, before it took her back to the disturbed state that almost ruined her, several years before.
“Well call me crazy, but, I think I saw a ghost the other night,” she said.
“Oh, my God, you what? Are you serious? How do you know – what did it look like?” Myrna’s questions came flying at her like bullets down a range; one after the other.
“If you promise not to think that I’m crazy – then, I’ll tell you everything,” Laurie bargained.
“Oh, hun, I would never think you’re crazy…tell me everything!” Myrna demanded as she scooted forward in her seat with both hands folded on the faded coffee table.
Laurie shared her experience, and Myrna listened well. The story left her aghast, and she knew at once that it was best for Laurie to speak with Mr. Pierre. Myrna also had a remarkable story to tell about what was known about the Laborteaux descendants – but, most of which she admitted was hearsay and malicious gossip. There was always a whispered hush, and quite a bit to be speculated about the family, due to their elusive, private lifestyle.
The sensational confession of a haunted house whetted Myrna’s appetite for more – and in turn, she felt compelled to tell a little of what she knew from her childhood days.
“Affluence aside, there were rumors that they were, damned people, and dangerous to be around – you’re probably wondering, how do I know all of this stuff?”
“Well, to be blunt – yes. You talked about them being – aristocrats – but nothing about how much they were, disliked!”
“Well, these were stories that my mema and other folks talked about, they may have been false… The Laborteauxs had a reputation for being… sketchy. Now that I’ve thought about it Laura – they probably moved away to escape the bad name that was stuck to them…” Myrna reasoned, with wide eyes, now very much engrossed in the conversation.
“Oh, so this was the guy you sold the house – my chateau, for – we’re talking about his family?” Laurie questioned. “Just want to be sure.”
“Yes. I think his name was either Henry, or Harry, but he didn’t live there as far I know…he inherited it and rented it out from time to time. Then, it was vacant for quite a while, until you requested information on it when we put it up on our website.”
“Here is your coffee ma’am – sorry it took so long – it’s on us,” Michael offered, apologetically, as he set the cup of coffee gently in front of Myrna.
“No worries, sweetie,” she replied.
“Myrna, I really need to see photos of the original owners of the home – I know that’s probably asking too much, but, do you think you can help me with this? I found nothing on the internet, or no records about the chateau.” Laurie questioned.
“They were very private people. Have you checked
in the shed at the back of your house, or is there a basement? There should be a lot of things to sort through in those places – and maybe there is a lot that you’ll find out – you never know.” She said. This gripped Laurie’s attention.
“Oh! The shed – yeeah…about that shed – wasn’t it supposed to be removed together with some debris from the property by your guys, at Baldwin Realty? I saw it for the first time yesterday and ah…well, it looks like a safety hazard – it needs to go,” Laurie said, very candidly.
“Oh, I don’t know what to say. Well, usually when people buy house and land from us, we just don’t take it upon ourselves to go tear down any structure that’s on the land – unless you specify that we do.”
“And, I did.”
“Your request should have been in writing too,”
“It was,” Laurie responded, without delay.
“Well, whoever handled your paperwork back then might have overlooked your request. You know hun, they might’ve thought that maybe, some things would come in handy to you. You know, garden stuff, tools – you don’t strike me as the type to garden though,” Myrna joked while laughing loudly.
“No – I don’t have a green thumb,”
“Hun, are you serious though? You haven’t opened that old thing?” Myrna asked, genuinely surprised by the news.
“Nope – it’s still happily, planted where you last saw it. It was a nice gesture to leave me those – gifts, but, I don’t want other people’s junk. And there is one more problem, Myrna. Have you seen the gravestone that’s beside the shed? Can you explain that?” Laurie questioned.
“Gravestone? Gravestone! Oh, hush! I don’t know anything about a gravestone Lauren – I can assure you that there was nothing like that when I toured the property with…uh – I forgot his name. Gravestone?” Myrna was astonished and perplexed by Laurie’s allegations.
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