He knelt in front of her and lifted the bag off her leg, placing his hand over the spot.
“It’s a little red from the cold, but I can’t see a burn. Keep the ice on while I see what’s in the package.”
She followed him into the living room, expecting to see a hole etched into her floor. Nothing. Just a wet spot.
Remy picked the package up by the string. “It’s the package of Holy Water.” He touched the wet paper with the tip of his little finger.
When he didn’t yank his hand back in pain, Gabby felt dumbfounded. She’d never endured such agony in her life.
She set the cold pack on the table and waited to see what would happen, but the pain was gone.
Remy dragged his index finger through the water that dripped from the package. He held the liquid in front of his face for a moment then reached over and drew a cross on her forehead.
She gasped. Her skin burned, but the pain wasn’t unbearable.
Remy sat back on his haunches and studied her. When the pain eased, she nodded. He dipped his finger in the water again and placed some at the base of her throat. “Hot, definitely,” she said, “but not burning.”
While he waited for her to nod again, he made the sign of the cross on his own forehead. His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t cry out in pain.
“Again,” she said when her throat had cooled. This time he placed the Holy Water on either side of her temples. “Only a little warm, now. What about you?”
“My skin tingles, kind of like a sports rub.” He untied the string. The stopper had come out of one vial of Holy Water. He straightened the vial and replaced the stopper, but only a drop or two remained.
“More.” Something inside her screamed at her to stop, like a part of her was dying, but she closed her mind to the sound.
He dipped his finger in the puddle on the floor and smoothed the liquid on the inside of her wrists. The liquid felt cool, like lotion on a sunburn.
She watched him rub his fingers together, then bring them up to his nose and inhale. “What do you think it is?” she asked.
“The first one had an oily feel. This one is a little gritty. They both had a chemical smell, but I don’t know if the odor is the same or slightly different. The vials may have started out as Holy Water, but there’s definitely been something added.”
A wave of despondency washed over her. “What if the spell comes back? It did before, or maybe it was never all gone. Maybe it’s waiting to swallow me up again.”
They were both sitting on the floor, and Remy reached over to take her hands in his. “Do you want it to?”
“No,” she shouted. “I don’t want that evilness inside me ever again. Why me, and not on you?”
“You were close to the fire. I wasn’t, and I still got some of the effects. And who knows what drugs they fed that chicken. Remember what that old woman said? ‘It’s easy to get drawn in. To feel the power. You must remain true to yourself.’ You fought the enchantment before, you can fight it again.”
Remy’s words calmed her. Despite loving the feeling of freedom, the hunger for power and the desire to live forever, she’d never forgotten about Adrienne. Her first concern had remained finding her daughter.
She’d recognize the feeling if ever Evil tugged at her spirit again. She’d fight the temptation with all she had. Who wanted to be that old anyway? Grand-mère must have said it a dozen times her last few years; ‘Getting old isn’t the blessing they promise. It’s more of a curse.’
Chapter 24
Remy adjusted his tie and twisted toward Gabby. “Do you think it will be okay if I don’t wear my coat?”
Gabby put the finishing touches on her lipstick. “Are you kidding? This is Comeaux. We’ll be lucky if everyone there is wearing shoes. But the gymnasium is air conditioned if you want to wear it.”
“No, I’m tired of the Western coats and hat. It’s starting to feel like playing dress-up. I think it’s time to just be who I am. A Yankee, coon-ass, redneck cop.” With a few complexes about being short and not belonging.
He watched Gabby search the closet and pull out a pair of flats. “How’s the parking? Will there be a lot of walking?”
She spun around to look at him. “Is your back still hurting? I can drop you off at the door.”
He did a couple of quick knee bends, surprised to find the pain gone. “No, my back is fine. I told you all I needed was to sweat the kinks out.”
“Adrienne’s graduating class isn’t that big. We shouldn’t have any problem finding a spot.”
“Then why are you wearing flats? You have lots of high heels in the closet.” All over the closet floor and under the bed and who knew where else. “And with legs like yours, you ought to show them off.”
“You don’t mind if I wear heels?”
Had he been an ass about that, too? Even with heels, Gabby stood shorter than him, if not by that much. And if she liked to wear them, who cared?
If he’d known it would take her fifteen minutes to find just the right pair and that she would have to change clothes to match them he might not have said anything, although, when she stepped out of the bedroom, he had to admit, she was worth the wait.
They arrived in front of Sherri Lynn’s trailer in plenty of time, and Sherri Lynn and her sister, Willow, rushed out before he rolled to a complete stop. Both girls were obviously in their Sunday best, but Willow’s dress might have been a hand-me-down. The sleeves were turned up and a belt cinched extra material at the waist.
“Thank you so much for the ride. Mom had to work tonight and she took the car. I didn’t have any way to get there.” Sherri Lynn sounded breathless.
Willow scooted in beside her but remained silent.
Gabby twisted toward the back seat. “We didn’t mind at all. Your brothers didn’t want to come and cheer for you?”
Remy glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Willow roll her eyes.
“No, ma’am,” Sherri Lynn answered. “They’re going to stay home and watch TV, but Willow promised to clap real loud.” She reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand.
Inside, there was a brief argument about who was going on the stage when Adrienne’s name was called. Gabby thought they should go together, but Remy insisted she go alone and he would sit with Willow.
“I did this already. You’re the one who had to sit it out because”—he glanced at the two girls and lowered his voice to a whisper—“Father O’Donnell was an ass.”
How that must have hurt and embarrassed her. And to think, he’d been something of an ass, himself, to attend graduation when Gabby couldn’t.
For now, he liked the thought of watching Gabby walk across the stage. Every man there would be jealous.
Willow followed him to an empty spot on bleachers that looked down on rows of folding chairs. Did high school gyms smell the same everywhere? Floor wax and teenage hormones with a touch of rubber from assorted volleyballs, basketballs, dodge balls, and tennis shoes.
With only one hundred and twelve graduates, this shouldn’t take too long. He and Willow clapped politely as every student’s name was called. When the principal read off Claudine’s name, he let his hands fall into his lap. Willow did the same.
Sherri Lynn’s turn came a few minutes later and he and Willow hooted and clapped as loud as they could, even stomping their feet. He took out his cell phone and snapped a picture as she reached for her diploma. “Your mom will want to see this,” he whispered.
Margaux came next, and he glanced at Willow, wrinkled his nose, and gave a small shake of his head. She flashed him a conspiratorial smile and didn’t clap.
But they both gave it their all for Evie, and then it was Adrienne’s turn.
He had meant to snap a photo of Gabby accepting the diploma for her, but a lump in his throat kep
t him from doing anything but a polite clap. When the rest of the students and parents stood, he had to dig a nail into the palm of his hand to keep from tearing up.
Fat raindrops splattered on the pavement as they made their way back to where they parked. Willow held his hand, but Sherri Lynn ran ahead with Gabby and ducked into the car to avoid the weather. Gabby’s face was flushed with excitement, but he recognized the sadness haunting her eyes.
She twisted her head toward the back as he started the engine. “Some of the kids were talking about an all-night after-graduation party at the community center tonight. Do you want to go, Sherri Lynn? We’ll be glad to take Willow home.”
“No, ma’am. I better get back. Those boys can’t be trusted for very long.”
Remy kept his eyes on the road, but spoke over his shoulder. “I’m sorry your mother had to work tonight, but I snapped a picture of you for her. I’ll email it to you tomorrow.”
“She was really disappointed, but Mrs. Dupre called in sick tonight and she had a chance for some overtime so she had to take it. We both thought Mrs. Dupre just wanted to watch Jean-Paul be valedictorian, but she wasn’t there, and she’s been sick a lot lately so I guess she wasn’t faking.”
“She isn’t sick.” Willow’s voice was so soft Remy had to tilt his head to hear. “I saw her going down the bayou in a skiff with Papa Legba and that guy with the big muscles, the same as she has the other days Mama got called in to work.”
The old chair creaked as Adrienne rocked back and forth. Only an inch from sleep, she had barely enough energy to keep the movement going.
If only she wasn’t so tired. Not that she did anything all day, but the nights had become downright miserable. There wasn’t any position that felt comfortable and the air didn’t cool off until almost dawn.
Even with the sun well below the trees, the breeze might as well have come straight out of an oven. The only blessing was that the heat kept the critters from moving around.
Five more minutes and she’d go inside, try to find something she could stomach to eat. Ten more minutes. If she waited any longer, she’d have to light the lantern and that raised the temperature in the cabin ten degrees. Not to mention the disgusting smell.
After refusing to turn the lantern off the first few days, now she hardly ever bothered to turn it on. She went to bed when it grew too dark to see, and stayed there until dawn came. That didn’t count the hours she simply sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, watching the moon grow smaller and smaller until it didn’t give any light at all. Now the moon had become a sliver again. Would she be stuck here watching it grow full, or back down to nothing?
What was her mother doing right now? Did her father even know she was gone? Was this Thursday? She tried to count back. She should be graduating, walking across the stage with all her friends. She had made her mother buy her a new dress for the occasion. How silly was that? I hope she can get her money back.
A tear escaped, but she brushed the moisture away before it fell.
Her eyes flew open when the wind caught a sound and sent it her direction. Was that a boat motor? They wouldn’t be coming at this time of the evening, would they? They had always come in the morning.
She strained her ears to catch the sound again. Okay, a boat, but where? Headed which direction? The one time she’d tried to yell for help when she heard the motor it was them and the young man, the one who looked like a football player, had been so angry she’d been frightened.
The old man had been angry also, but he just stared at her with those watery blue eyes and she knew she wouldn’t try calling for help again.
There, definitely a boat motor. And headed her direction. The pills. She’d always thrown them away one at a time, morning and evening, so the count would be right. But she hadn’t thrown away tonight’s yet.
The screen door slammed open as she ran inside. Where to dispose of the evidence? The pills floated for a few minutes before sinking, and they would see tonight’s if she tossed it off the galerie. That left the makeshift toilet. No one had used it when they were here before.
She tossed the pill down to the water below and slammed the lid as the boat appeared around the bend.
The same three people as always. The old man called Sebastian, Mrs. Dupre, and the young man. No one had ever said his name, and she refused to ask.
The young man scurried up first—she could never overpower him so there was no point in trying—and he helped Sebastian up the ladder with Mrs. Dupre aiding from behind.
Had it only been a couple of days since she’d seen them? Sebastian could have aged ten years. He hung onto Mrs. Dupre and made his way to the rocking chair where he almost collapsed.
“How is the girl?” he wheezed.
“I’m just fine, if you don’t count being held prisoner,” Adrienne snapped.
“Now, honeychile, there’s no reason to act like that. This is all for your own good. You and the baby.” Mrs. Dupre patted her shoulder.
“Come here, girl,” Sebastian called.
Adrienne stepped closer, but somehow the wheeze kept his voice from compelling her as it had before. No point telling him that.
“Have you been taking you pills the way we told you?”
“Yes, sir.” She let the emotion drop from her voice.
“How does she look, Yvonne? Is she ready?”
Oh, dear. Had she grown any since she started throwing the pills away? Maybe some, but not like before. Then, she was noticeably bigger when she got up every morning.
“I’m not sure.” Mrs. Dupre ran her eyes up and down. She emptied the bottle of pills into her hand and counted. “Maybe we should give her a few more days.”
“No.” The old man almost shouted. The effort caused him to have a coughing fit. “I can’t afford to wait any longer. Do it now.”
Mrs. Dupre dug in the bag she carried. “You’re getting close to time now, little one. We need to change your vitamins. The other ones aren’t good for the baby now.”
She dropped the old bottle into her bag and handed Adrienne a new bottle. “Let’s see you take this one.”
Adrienne eyed the contents suspiciously. The new pill was too big. She couldn’t possibly swallow it, could she? And the sour smell turned her stomach. What would happen if she refused? She risked a glance at the young man and trembled. Maybe she could pretend to obey.
She slipped the pill into her mouth and tried not to swallow, but Mrs. Dupre held her chin and poured water down her throat.
Adrienne gagged, but the pill slid down her throat anyway.
The old man’s breath tickled her ear. How had he gotten next to her so fast? “Now take one more in the morning and another as soon as the sun reaches the tree line in the afternoon.” His voice had grown strong again, with no trace of the wheeze. “Do you understand me, child?”
Adrienne nodded, unable to resist his orders.
Chapter 25
Gabby watched Remy’s face on the drive home. He didn’t speak, but she knew he was thinking, planning, by the way he chewed on his lower lip.
She’d give him time to decide what he should do. If he didn’t let her in on his plan, she wouldn’t get mad. She’d just ask. Then if he didn’t tell her, she’d get mad.
She had plenty to think about, too. She wasn’t sure what shocked her most, Willow talking, or what she’d told them. Gabby gnawed on her thumbnail. If only she knew where to find Yvonne Dupre, she’d go after the woman with her teeth and nails. Force her to tell what she knew about Adrienne’s disappearance.
Remy pulled into the driveway and Gabby’s heart clutched at the dark house. Every time, she hoped to find it lit up and Adrienne waiting in the doorway.
He slipped his key in the lock and the door swung open with its familiar creak. Where had he gotten a key to he
r house? Probably the extra she kept on a peg in the laundry room.
Let him have it. She was too tired to care.
She went to the kitchen and heated water for tea while Remy headed into the bedroom. By the time the microwave dinged, he was behind her.
“Is that Chamomile?” he asked.
“Yes. Do you want a cup?” She reached up to snag another mug from the cabinet.
“Do you have anything with caffeine?”
“I have breakfast tea, or I can make you a cup of coffee.”
“Coffee, if you don’t mind.” He glanced around the kitchen. “Any chance you have a thermos?”
She pivoted to face him. He’d changed into jeans and a black T-shirt, what she’d grown to think of as his ‘hunting clothes.’
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I won’t get angry. He’ll tell me what he’s up to. She put the coffee on to brew and leaned with her back against the counter.
He nodded toward the living room. “Bring your tea. Let’s sit for a minute while we’re waiting.”
They settled next to each other on the sofa and she cradled her warm mug under her nose and inhaled deeply. The Chamomile had a big job ahead if it was going to calm her nerves tonight.
“You know I have to go talk to Jean-Paul and Yvonne. Find out what that woman is hiding.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I don’t want you to worry. This is not dangerous, but I might be gone all night. Jean-Paul probably went to the party at the school and who knows where Yvonne went or when she’ll be back.”
Gabby took a long draw on her tea and swallowed hard in an attempt to dislodge the knot in her throat. She had what she wanted, Remy confiding in her. So why didn’t she feel any better?
“Are you planning to take your gun?” She wasn’t sure if she wanted the answer to be ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
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