Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons

by Prakash

  Next day saw some hints coming in.

  Chapter 19

  Looking for more hints

  The policemen in plain cloth were keeping a close watch on the 6 prime targets practicing the Afro –American magic form.

  The policemen were collecting information from the neighbors, visitor or clients who were visiting these targets.

  The received inputs were shared with detective Bob and Sargent Tayler in the afternoon and the evening. They were giving further directions to these cops on further probe to be done.

  The probe zeroed on two targets at the end of the day one. Both these prime suspects were practicing Voodoo in the locality and staying in the town for last two decades.

  Bob started exploring further on Voodoo till he waited for further intelligence.

  Voodoo was brought to the French colony Louisiana from Africa and from the Haitian exiles after the Haitian revolution. From 1719 to 1731, the majority of African captives came directly from what is now Benin, West Africa, bringing with them their cultural practices, languages, and religious beliefs rooted in spirit and ancestor worship. Their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and the ritual creation of charms and amulets, intended to protect one or harm others, became key elements of Louisiana Voodoo.

  The slave community quickly acquired a strong presence in Louisiana. The colony was not a stable society when slaves arrived, which allowed Africans to maintain a prominent position in the slave community. According to a census of 1731-1732, the ratio of African slaves to European settlers was over two to one.

  The ownership of slaves was concentrated into the hands of only a few of the white settlers, facilitating the preservation of African culture. Unlike other areas of active slave trade, there was little separation in Louisiana between families, culture, and languages The Embargo Act of 1808 ended all slave imports to Louisiana. Authorities promoted the growth of the slave population by prohibiting by law the separation of families. Parents were sold together with their children less than fourteen years of age the high mortality of the slave trade brought its survivors together with a sense of solidarity.

  The absence of fragmentation in the slave community, along with the kinship system produced by the bond created by the difficulties of slavery, resulted in a “coherent, functional, well integrated, autonomous, and self-confident slave community As a result African culture and spirituality did not die out, but rather thrived in French Creole culture.

  The practice of making and wearing charms and amulets for protection, healing, or the harm of others was a key aspect to early Louisiana Voodoo The ouanga, a charm used to poison an enemy, contained the poisonous roots of the figure maudit tree, brought from Africa and preserved in the West Indies. The ground up root was combined with other elements such as bones, nails, roots, holy water, holy candles, holy incense, holy bread, or crucifixes. The administrator of the ritual frequently evoked protection from Jehova, the Christian God, and Jesus Christ. This openness of African belief allowed for the adoption of Catholic practices into Louisiana Voodoo

  Another component of Louisiana Voodoo brought from Africa was the worship of ancestors and the subsequent emphasis on respect for elders. For this reason, the rate of survival among elderly slaves was high, further “Africanizing Louisiana Creole culture .

  Bob and Tayler could now understand why the black magic is still popular. The information collected from the history was informative enough. Both of them till that point were not aware about this historical aspect of the Voodoo.

  During collecting the information they also came across information about so called “ Voodoo Queens “

  During the 19th century, Voodoo queens became central figures to Voodoo in the United States. Voodoo queens presided over ceremonial meetings and ritual dances. They also earned an income by administrating charms, amulets, and magical powders guaranteed to cure ailments, grant desires, and confound or destroy one’s enemies.

  Most noted for her achievements as voodoo Queen of New Orleans in the 1830s was Marie Laveau. Once the news of her powers spread, she overthrew the other voodoo queens of New Orleans. She acted as an oracle, conducted private rituals behind her cottage on St. Ann Street of the New Orleans French Quarter, performed exorcisms, and offered sacrifices to spirits.

  Also a Catholic, Marie encouraged her followers to attend Catholic Mass. The influence of her Catholic beliefs further facilitated the adoption of Catholic practices into the Voodoo belief system. Today, she is remembered for her skill and compassion for the less fortunate, and her spirit is considered one of the central figures of Louisiana Voodoo.

  During the 1930s, true Voodoo went underground when New Orleans became a tourist destination. Voodoo acquired an exotic, Hollywood image in the 1932 film White Zombie. The misconception developed that the principal elements of Voodoo are hexing and sticking pins into dolls. Visiting tourists asked favors of voodoo practitioners, who made it a point never to refuse one who asked for help. Exhausted by fame, voodoo became an underground religion. At this time, those in search of a fortune took up the “business of superstitions,” charging money, as true voodoo followers never did, for fake potions, powders, and gris-gris

  The main focus of Louisiana Voodoo today is to serve others and influence the outcome of life events through the connection with nature, spirits, and ancestors. True rituals are held "behind closed doors" as a showy ritual would be considered disrespectful to the spirits. Voodoo methods include readings, spiritual baths, specially devised diets, prayer, and personal ceremony. Voodoo is often used to cure anxiety, addictions, depression, loneliness, and other ailments. It seeks to help the hungry, the poor, and the sick as Marie Laveau once did.

  As a result of the fusion of Francophone culture and voodoo in Louisiana, many Voodoo spirits became associated with the Christian saints that presided over the same domain. Although Voodoo and Catholic practices are in conflict, both saints and spirits act as mediators with the priest and Legba presiding over specific activities. Early followers of Voodoo in the United States adopted the image of the Catholic Saints to their spirits.

  Other Catholic practices adopted into Louisiana Voodoo include reciting the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer.

  Bob and Tayler were getting confused as they tried more and more to collect all the possible information.

  They could understand that the original intent of the Voodoo practitioners was to protect the members from the nature forces , Negative energy and common ailment. However over the years it had been turned into a business. The practice which was benevolent till then was then turned into some sort of ritual for getting individual’s personal or professional wishes getting fulfilled, The practisoners started looking for the gullible clients who would be happy to doll out hundreds of dollars to get their personal and professional problems solved through Voodoo or some sort of black magic.

  As long as this practice of voodoo or black magic was confined to the private dealings and settings , there was no way the police or Government could interfere in it. It was a willingly act by the two consulting parties and as long as it did not turn out to be a problem for some individual or community , there was no way the enforcing agencies could intervene in it.

  The black magic practcisoners all over the US took advantage of this and as such nowadays also all these things are going out freely .

  Detective Bob and Sargent Tayler decided now to fully concentrate on the two target suspects and led a trap to gather every movement ,every visitor visiting them. They were sure that somehow at least one or both of them could give some leads to Rag Peter case,

  Chapter 20

  The Two aces in the clog

  Pedro Gomez was a Mexican born to US in 1950’s. His parents came to US for better life and settled in New Orleans way back in 1940’s. They did all the odd jobs in their journey to the betterment. His father initially started as a petrol pump attendant and later on started on his own garage. His mother initially did the odd household jobs and later on started
her roadside small shop. The family life enjoyed by Pedro was that of a typical lower middle class.

  Pedro was an average student in his primary school .By the time he entered secondary school, his progress in studies indicated that he was a below average student. Sensing that their ward would not excel in the academics , the parents decided to train him in their garage business.

  Leaving the school in the 7 th standard, well-built Pedro joined his father in the garage business. Pedro was dull in the academics but was good in day today work in life. Soon he had picked up all the small details of the garage business .He had mastered the art of vehicle maintenance and servicing. His parents were happy at his progress in the business.

  During this time ,Pedro got attracted to an Afro American Girl. What started as a dating affair initially soon took a turn and Pedro became disciple of his own partner and started learning the voodoo from her. During this time Pedro lost his interest in the garage business and started devoting more time to voodoo . His parents tried to counsel him but he did not listen.

  In about one of years’ time ,Pedro started his own small shop by selling his father’s garage. The shop was opened up in the Mandeville locality. He started advertising in the local newspapers about his magic skills and cure for each and every human misery. The business flourished more than his expectations as more and more gullible population started coming to him for their personal and professional problems.

  Pedro though was low in academics was a street smart player. He exactly knew the problems faced by these middle and upper middle class people. He started advising black magic rituals as a cure to these problems. Some of the cases he handled got through and mouth publicity made him famous in the area,

  In next 2-3 years he made a huge fortune as he got some influential clients and as they got good results from Pedro they had showered lot of money on Pedro.

  With this money Pedro got himself located in a good locality in the Mandeville. Word of mouth publicity and some local newspaper advertisements on weekly basis ensured him steady flow of the clients.

  The second suspect on the radar of Bob and Sargent Tayler was an Afro-American woman named Kerren.

  She was also having a thriving business in the Mandeville locality. She was born and bought up in the locality and learned her lessons in Voodoo arts from her maternal side. She had left the school in high school and learned about the voodoo art for three years.

  Most of her clients were women clients. She had a small shop in the Mandeville town. She mostly used to deal with the family disputes, marital disputes and local issues.

  She was single and was living with her parents. She always tried to capitalize of the fears ,jealousy and aspirations of her woman clients and suggested those different Voodoo ways to get to their dreams or aspirations.

  Her modus Operand was simple. She used to tell her clients that it would be a small fee for the basic remedy and then she used to suggest additional remedies which could fetch better results. Most of the women clients who came to her get lured by the small initial fee at first but over the period of next 5 to 6 months used to pay much more for additional or optional services.

  The plain clothe policemen on the track were collecting all the information possible about Pedro and Kerren to both Bob and Tayler from time to time.

  They were just waiting for the right moment before proceeding any further in this case.

  There was also speculation that Kerren was also dealing in real estate .Many builders and small time estate agents were also her clients. What she actually does for these clients was not known outside but many times the community have seen these people visiting her.

  One of the vital communication received from the human intelligence during this period was that at least 2-3 people in the neighborhood had communicated to the plain clothe cops that they had seen the victim Rag Peter visiting both Kerren and Pedro for many years, Though his visits were not regular but at least he was there attest twice or thrice in a week.

  This particular intelligence was vital.

  Bob and Sargent Tayler decided to question and interrogate both these prime targets of the investigation.

  When Bob and Tayler reached Pedro’s posh house he was busy with his client. They had to wait for half an hour before they could start their session with Pedro.

  “ Yes Sir what you want to know please tell me “ Pedro straightway came to the point.

  “ Sure “ Bob also decided to be direct.

  Flashing photos of the dead Rag Peter in front of him Bob asked “ Do you know him ?”

  “ Yes I knew this gentleman for years together like everyone else in the town” Pedro replied.

  “ I mean , he was a frequent visitor to your place “ Bob dropped another question.

  “ Not very regular but once or twice in a week he used to visit me “ Pedro supplied the information.

  “ And for what “ Sargent Tayler interrupted in between.

  “ I cannot give private information about my clients “ Pedro took a stance. He knew the legal right and protection he had got in this regards.

  “ We respect the confidentially clause with the clients. However please understand the person had been murdered “ Bob tried to explain the seriousness of the matter,

  “ Yes , I read that in last week’s newspapers “ Pedro replied.

  “So you are aware of the incidence” Bob just causally asked

  “Yes rather entire town knows. So is that something strange?” Pedro seemed little irritated.

  “When you met Rag Peter last ?” Bob asked

  “Maybe 11-12 days back. I do not exactly remember “ Pedro replied.

  “And Rag Peter was murdered around the same day or the next day “ Bob looked in Pedro’s eyes.

  “What are you suggesting officer…” Pedro‘s voice was on a louder tone

  “I am not suggesting anything. I am sharing the coincidence “ Bob calmly replied.

  “It would be in interests of all of us if you could share something about relationship you had with Rag Peter. That could lead us to some vital clues” Bob continued pursuing Pedro to share something more.

  “Officers I do not think my and Rag’s dealing had anything to do with his murder.” Pedro was adamant.

  “ Maybe true. But if we get some more details probably we would be able to get to the real culprits “ Bob tried again.

  “Listen officer… Rag Peter used to sell handmade material especially the black dolls made up of old clothes not only to me but too many others who deal in Voodoo art. We used to pay few dollars to him for that “Finally Pedro revealed the nature of dealing between them.

  “Was Rag Peter also practiced this art ?” Bob questioned.

  “ I do not think.” Pedro replied.

  “ Do you know anyone having some grudge or animosity towards Rag Peter” Bob again was trying to go into details.

  “ Officer.. Seeing his lifestyle , his meagre earning , I doubt if anyone was having the animosity or grudge against that poor fellow “ Pedro was to the point.

  Bob asked few more questions. This interrogation had at least revealed that Rag Peter was supplying some material used in Voodoo to different practisoners. This was new information they got from Pedro. They thanked Pedro and left for Kerren’s house.

  Kerren’s house located in the central of the town was also as good as that of Pedro.

  While entering the house Bob remarked that this black magic community seems to be prosperous and earning much more than what we earn .Sargent Tayler just nodded in the affirmation.

  Here also the attendant told them to wait as madam was with the client. While waiting for Kerren both were watching the hall and décor. The hall was aesthetically designed and had all sorts of artifacts and paintings. Most of the artifacts and painting were related to African culture.

  In one of the showcase some of the Voodoo artifacts were also arranged nicely.

  “ Seems to be a highly rewarding business “ Bob again commented.
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  Just then Kerren entered the hall.

  “ Good afternoon officers.. What can I do for you “ she asked politely while pulling a chair from the corner.

  “ Good afternoon Kerren.. We want some information from you “ Sargent Tayler took the lead.

  “ Sure.. “

  Sargent Tayler handed over 3-4 photographs of Rag Peter to her.

  Before Bob could ask any question ,Kerren replied “ He is Rag Peter “

  “ So you know him “ Bob asked.

  “ Yes for many years. He used to come to me at least 2-3 times in a week to sell handmade clothe dolls “ Kerren replied.

  “ When Rag Peter met you last “ Bob started going into the detail.

  “ I think 1 day before he was murdered “ Kerren replied.

  “ So you are aware that Rag had been murdered “ Bob asked.

  “Yes officer, entire town knows and had a great sympathy for this poor fellow” Kerren replied.

  “ Do you have any clue about possible animosity or grudge someone may had against Rag “ Bob tried probing further

  “ To my knowledge no…” Kerren replied.

  Bob now decided to open another topic .