The Mardi Gras Murder

by Jackie Griffey

Elfrieda raised her eyebrows at that but didn't comment. Dubois picked up his phone and asked for the report on Flora Keeper, Hannah McLaughlin and friends. He got up when someone knocked and took the report at the door, already reading when he got back to the desk.

  "Brutal." He laid the report down and looked at Elfrieda. "Hannah McLaughlin and her friends are accused of murder."

  "Yes. I did get a glance of the report. But the girls you have in jail didn't kill the woman. They were trying to help the victim. They witnessed the murder. Someone named Jack did it."

  "Oh. Jack. Big help." He shrugged and read the report again.

  Elfrieda sat like a stone statue, waiting.

  "This Jack, if you can find him and can get any evidence that he was even there, would be a start on helping them. Right now, this looks bad. There was no one there when the police got there according to the report but these three women. And this Hannah McLaughlin was holding the murder weapon, or it says here she had just dropped it. One of the approaching patrolmen saw her."

  Elfrieda ignored the reference to the report. "You want evidence he was there? Like what? There wasn't but one witness. A four-legged one. A big black dog. It bit him, in fact. Helped them fight the man."

  Dubois nodded. "Nothing here about a dog either. According to this report, it was a bloody scene. Maybe if we'd found some of this Jack person's blood as well as the victims? You said the dog bit him. Could there be another witness maybe that they didn't see? Any of them see anyone around at all? Have they got a lawyer?"

  "No," Elfrieda frowned. "And they're all career women who live from one paycheck to the next. Is there such a thing here now as a Public Defender, or did the hurricanes wash that all away too?"

  "We've got one shyster who wavers between setting himself up as a Public Defender and thinking up excuses not to take clients. He just wants to choose his cases and charge the court, is what it boils down to." Dubois gave her the brutal facts.

  "Where can I find him?"

  "Just a minute." Dubois rummaged in his top drawer and came up with a card. He handed it to her as she got up.

  "Thank you. I'll be in touch. I'll let myself out."

  "Sure you will." Dubois smiled, admiring her legs as she left.

  * * *

  Elfrieda stood, looking at the address Lebo had given her. The door opened directly off the sidewalk and it was locked. A changeable sign on it said Closed, but office Muzak was audible through the thin door. The music was tinny sounding like western swing.

  Putting her hand on the knob. Elfrieda heard the lock click. She pushed it open and opened the door. She was looking at a small strictly functional office where a secretary sat by a large word processor and a phone. She was alone in the small office but another small desk with a typewriter on it shared the space. The only decoration was a small calendar on the wall.

  The secretary looked up, surprised, and Elfrieda could hear a man's voice through the open door behind the secretary. He was reading someone a riot act on his phone and hung up as the secretary looked away, embarrassed at the tirade.

  "I don't have an appointment but I understand Mr.?" Elfrieda consulted the card, "Chelsea, sometimes acts as a Public Defender. My daughter's friends are in jail accused of murder and none of them have a lawyer. Their names are Hannah McLaughlin, Flora Keeper and…"

  "NO!" The voice in the other room bellowed. The invisible man in the office resented interruptions and didn't want to be bothered. "Heard about it soon as they did it," the male voice added. "Keeper and McLaughlin, couple of losers. Three of them, I think it was. Killed a woman. I've heard about it, it came in over the wire. Last night. They're dead meat. Muggers. Some of the trash that drifts in for Mardi Gras. Don't waste my time. Shut the door," he shouted.

  The secretary got up looking embarrassed.

  "But?" Elfrieda said.

  "Shut up! I'm speaking. They were caught red handed. I'm not wasting my time on that. Tell her the office is closed!"

  The last was obviously addressed to the secretary. She and Elfrieda looked at each other until the secretary looked down and took a deep breath, searching for words.

  "It's all right," Elfrieda assured the embarrassed secretary. "I'll find someone else. Thank you."

  Outside on the sidewalk again, Elfrieda stepped away from the door and took out the cell phone number Flora had given her.

  Chapter 26

  Hannah looked up as a guard stopped at her cell door.

  "Come with me," the guard said with no expression at all.

  Hannah followed, feeling vulnerable and alone in her ill fitting jump suit. She was cold. She tried not to shiver. She looked around surreptitiously, hoping to get to see Gina or Flora. They were nowhere in sight.

  They stopped in front of a closed steel door. The guard opened it and motioned her in. Hannah went in alone and sat at a table in a cold, uncomfortable straight chair. She barely managed to keep her teeth from chattering. She wondered self-consciously if people were looking at her through a window on one of the room's walls until a man in a rumpled suit came in.

  "Hannah McLaughlin?"

  "Yes, sir." She nodded and watched as he set a small rectangular recorder in front of her. He didn't look at her as if he wasn't interested in one more accused murderer, and sat down opposite her. He positioned the recorder closer to her.

  Hannah looked at the thing like it had fangs.

  "My name is Detective Duggan. This statement is being recorded, so please speak clearly."

  "Aren't you supposed to ask me if I object?"

  The tough looking detective appeared to be in his early sixties and gave her a weary smile. "Sure. Do you?"

  "Uh, no, I guess not." Her brow wrinkled and she wet her dry lips with her tongue. "I need to tell what happened."

  "That's the idea." He nodded as if she might be going to get a prize. Hannah crossed her arms across her chest again.

  The detective started off with her name, the date and their location, then glanced at her when he began his questions.

  Hannah answered confirming her name and began speaking as if she were addressing students at the library. The man actually nodded his surprised approval.

  When she paused, his first question was, "How long have you been in New Orleans and why did you come here?"

  Hannah cringed, but spoke up. "I came here with friends. We had some vacation days and came here to see the Mardi Gras parade and see New Orleans. The others have been here at least once before, but I had not."

  She kept her eyes on the little recorder, glad to the bone he didn't ask her how they had gotten there. She pictured his face if she told him that and bit her lower lip to keep from laughing hysterically.

  He didn't make any comment about their reason for coming and the interview went well till they got to where Hannah told him they heard the murdered woman's cry for help. After that the detective quickly turned off the recorder several times to be sure of her meaning.

  Every time they resumed the recorded interview Detective Dugan had to go through the identification again and state nothing had transpired since the interruption.

  Hannah shuffled her feet under the table, her arms folded as she waited for him to again state her name, location, the date, and that no further information had been given since the brief hiatus and thought it was as ridiculous as her being charged with murder.

  "Please," Hannah begged at one of the breaks, "Before you turn the recorder back on, we saw the man who killed this woman. All of us. My friends and I all recognized him. He had been following us! We saw him."

  "You did, hum? And he'd been following you? Who is he? How well do you know him? What is his name?"

  "Jack. He told us his name is Jack. I don't know his last name, but we know where he works."

  The man was listening and Hannah started talking faster. "My friend, Flora, can give you her friend's name and cell number and she can give you directions to the place."

  The man started to speak and Hannah held up
her hand. "Her friend's name is Didi Martine and this place he works, she can give you directions to the place, too. I guess it's an alligator farm. Anyway, it's a place where they raise them and where they have tours and you can watch them feed the alligators."

  The detective managed to get a word in. "You saw him. All of you saw him. You recognized him. This friend knows where he works. I got it. Her name is Didi Martine. Now, when I start recording again I'll put all this in question form and we will cover it that way. Clear?"

  "Yes, sir. Thank you."

  The interview was finally finished, with all the information Hannah wanted to include and someone brought them coffee.

  Hannah figured someone or maybe several someones were definitely watching to have been so on-the-spot with coffee. The coffee was strong enough to bite back, but it was hot and comforting and it felt good going down.

  When the detective picked up the recorder to leave Hannah got up with him, glad this was over.

  "May I see my friends now?" She asked as they reached the door.

  "No. They're probably being interviewed somewhere too. But you just wait here and someone will come for you so you can make a phone call. You are entitled to a phone call. I am supposed to tell you that too, ma'am." He gave her a wintry smile.

  "Thank you."

  Chapter 27

  Troy and Muriel stood locked in a tight embrace just inside the motel room door. Muriel's frightened eyes peered at Troy through the fingers of her imprisoned hands.

  His eyes searched her face. "You all right now? You were hysterical."

  "Not hysterical. Scared." Muriel winced. "Please, you're hurting my wrist."

  Troy let go of her wrists but held onto her and guided her to a chair in the little sitting area. He sat down on the other side of a low table. "Sorry. You sure you're all right?"

  "Yes. How did you find me?"

  "Find you?" Troy looked at her is if she still wasn't making sense. "I wasn't looking for you. If I wanted to find you, I'd call you. What makes you think I was looking for you?" He squinted at her.

  Muriel didn't answer and he grinned self-consciously. "The last time we talked on the phone I didn't get many words in."

  He looked around at the mini-suite. "Are you here just taking a break?" His face got grim. "Or did you come here with someone?"

  Muriel flushed at the implication. "No," he quickly amended. "I didn't mean that. But this isn't very far from home for taking some time off, unless you just want to rest." He studied her face. "Is Tim working you too hard? I'll have a word with him."

  "No! No. Troy, you know Tim. The only person he overworks is Tim Carpenter." Muriel relaxed a little and smiled at that. "I felt guilty leaving work without notice."

  "You left with no notice? Humpf. That doesn't sound like you. No wonder you feel guilty. Why did you do that?"

  Muriel sat a little farther back in her chair and sighed. "I was hiding."

  Troy paused. He tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Hiding? From what?" His expression darkened again, "Or is it who? You just TELL ME!"

  "From YOU, Troy."

  "ME?" Troy's voice exploded in the quiet room and he quickly lowered it. "I told you I wasn't looking for you. What makes you think I was?"

  "Troy, think back. Remember the last time we talked on the phone?"

  Troy pursed his lips and took a deep breath. "Only too well. You really read me the riot act about running for judge again."

  Muriel nodded. "I said I wouldn't have it, you back in public office again. I said a lot of things that should have stayed between us, or unspoken at all."

  Troy looked at her with amused affection. "I believe your exact words were I know where all the bodies are buried. And by George, you do, too." He laughed. "That's why I said I'd talk to you later and hung up."

  Muriel leaned forward, "That's just it, Troy." Her face was frightened again and she had his full attention. She spoke carefully. "After you hung up, before I realized you had, someone else hung up!"

  Troy froze. "You mean, someone was listening to us?"

  Muriel nodded, watching him. He gave it some thought before his eyes met hers again.

  "But Muriel, if someone heard all that, it would be me they'd try to blackmail. There was no reason for you to hide. No one can blackmail you or cause you any trouble." He relaxed a little, leaning back in his chair.

  Muriel stood up, wringing her hands, looking miserable. "There's just no easy way to say this, Troy."

  "What about the plain old truth? Tell me what's going on." Troy's face was getting redder as his patience got thinner. He got up too and started pacing.

  "After I left, I decided that too. I mean, that there was no reason for me to hide. But before I went back, I had already arranged to meet Margaret to explain to her why I left suddenly."

  "You left without even telling your sister?"

  "I was scared, Troy. Anyway, I met Margaret at the Roadhouse and when I got in her car she had a picture of that poor girl who drowned in our lake. Cas was passing them out trying to find out who she was. And I recognized her. I'd seen her at your office and thought SHE must have been the one who heard us on the phone."

  Troy had stood like a statue until the truth finally dawned on him.

  "My God! That's why you were hiding! You thought I killed her!"

  Chapter 28

  Elfrieda Major appeared behind a shrub half a block from the Martine residence and walked toward the Martine's damaged house. She had changed in transit to slacks and sandals to be more comfortable.

  Two women parted at the door as Elfrieda drew closer. One of them left with a curious glance at Elfrieda and walked to a nearby house. The one still standing in the door held out her hand which Elfrieda took with a smile.

  "Are you looking for someone?" Didi looked beyond her but didn't ask how she had gotten there. The other woman had started through the yard of the neighboring house.

  "Yes. I'm looking for Didi Martine, a friend of Flora Keeper's?"

  "I'm Didi." She smiled and came back outside, closing the door behind her.

  "Our air conditioning isn't all that wonderful. Let's sit on the porch." Didi led the way. "You're a friend of Flora's?"

  "Yes, I've known her a long time. And I'm Elle's mother."

  A smile lit Didi's face. "Elle is a beautiful, sweet girl. I can see where she gets her good looks."

  "Thank you. Have you heard from Flora Keeper and her friends?"

  "Not since the parade." Didi smiled. "They, she and her friends were going to the Mardi Gras parade then planned on leaving the next day or maybe the next. They're probably on their way home now."

  Didi smiled suddenly, "Are you here to tell me they found Jake?"

  "Jake? Oh, the dog. No. I mean, they don't know where he is now. I'm afraid I have some bad news."

  "Jake's dead?" Didi's brows drew together.

  "No. They don't know, about the dog, that is. Maybe I'd better explain about that first. Unfortunately, Flora and her friends witnessed a murder the night of the Mardi Gras parade and tried to help the victim. A dog they think is Jake showed up, Flora said she called Jake's name and clapped her hands and he came to help them rescue the attack victim, but the murderer kicked him, viciously, and he ran off on three legs."

  "You said the murderer?" Didi gasped. "You mean someone was killed? And they were there when it happened? Are they all right? Flora and her friends? What happened?"

  Elfrieda Major told Didi everything she knew about the murder and that Flora and all her friends had recognized the attacker as a man named Jack who had been following them.

  "We can't even prove he was there, and they don't know his last name," Elfrieda explained. "I'm trying to locate him is why I'm here. Flora said you might be able to tell me where he works."

  "I can. I don't know him, or his last name, but I saw him and know they said he'd been following them. I know the man who is running a little tour bus for transportation and tours and he goes by that alligator farm wh
ere this Jack works. The bus is one that a man I know salvaged from a church which was destroyed in the storms. It runs and it beats walking, and since we can all use a good laugh, someone painted little chiggers with little black legs on it. I guess they told you about that."

  "Not yet, but I'm sure I'll hear about it. Where can I find this Jack person?"

  "Just stay right here with me and I'll flag my friend down next time he comes by. He can take you right out there." Didi took a deep breath, "And if this Jack killed someone, you'd better be careful. You can use my phone to call and tell the police about this, or I'll go with you if you want me to?"

  "No, that's all right. I've talked to the police and don't worry, I'm not going to try and make a citizens arrest or anything as dramatic or dangerous as that. I'll just find out if he does work there, and what his real full name is, then let the police take it from there."

  Didi nodded. "Wise move. But, what about Flora, Hannah, Gina, and Elle? Are they in jail? What can I do to help?"

  "Yes, they're in jail, but they know the cavalry's coming," Elfrieda smiled. "And they're all right for now. Thanks for the offer, but no, there's nothing you need to do and no need to feel guilty."

  "You're psychic too?" Didi touched Elfrieda's hand. "I was wondering if there was something I could have done to prevent all this trouble."

  "Sometimes I am. Especially where my loved ones are concerned. Elle is my daughter. But this had nothing to do with you. They were just caught up in something bad that happened. Flora and her friends were only trying to help the woman who was killed, and," Elfrieda reassured her, "Jake will probably turn up again."

  Didi nodded. "Yes, you said he ran off, so at least I know he's alive." She stood up when Elfrieda did. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

  "No, but thank you. Is that the Critter Bus?" Elfrieda pointed.

  "That's it," Didi laughed and went out to wave it down.

  * * *

  The gay little bus stopped at the alligator farm to let Elfrieda off.

  "Thank you," Elfrieda slipped a folded hundred dollar bill in the delighted driver's shirt pocket.