Big Easy Escapade

by Joan Rylen

  “But look at all the mirrors,” Wendy said. “It could be something to do with her dream and we just don’t know what. She’s had these freaky dreams before, and they seem to work out.”

  Vivian closed the brochure and handed it to Kate. “Just seems a little far-fetched to me.”

  Mr. Brochure bounded up next to her. “I’m telling you ladies, this here is the crème de la crème of tours. You’ll see some amazing things. Things you’ll never experience anywhere else.”

  “How much?” Wendy asked.

  “For you beautiful ladies, $30 per person.”

  Vivian started walking. “No way in hell am I paying 30 bucks for that.”

  “Wait wait wait. How about I give you a discount? A deep discount.”

  “How deep is deep?” Wendy asked.

  “For you sexy ladies a 50 percent discount. That includes transportation to and from.”

  “Does that mean we walk there?” Wendy asked.

  He started laughing. “Have you been on this tour?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have.”

  “Okay, you ladies drive a hard bargain. Ten each.”

  Wendy pulled out a hundred and he had to go back to his kiosk to make change. When he returned, he handed each of them a sticker. “Y’all meet your tour guide at the corner of Bourbon and Conti in an hour. Gives ya time to have a hurricane. In fact, take one for the tour.”

  “I’m not ready for a hurricane, but I could use some yogurt,” Kate said.

  They turned to go back to the yogurt shop next to Harrah’s, but a fleet of police cars surrounded the entrance. Detective Leffall leaned against his unmarked car, in front of the yogurt shop, across from Harrah’s. He locked eyes with Vivian.

  “We better go find a different yogurt shop.”

  Chapter 27

  The girls headed down Canal in search of a yogurt shop for Kate. They didn’t find a yogurt shop, but an ice cream shop. Blue Bell, no less. Brenham, Texas, home of the happiest cows in the country.

  Vivian bumped elbows with Wendy. “Remember when we went there in elementary school? We took the train.”

  Wendy opened the door, and the smell of creamy goodness floated out. “I don’t remember that at all. I’ve killed too many brain cells. Such a shame.”

  Vivian ordered a Dutch Chocolate cone, Lucy a cup of Vanilla Bean, Kate a double scoop cone of Southern Blackberry Cobbler, and Wendy got her top two all-time favorites, Key Lime and Lemon Bliss.

  Vivian asked for a sample of the Key Lime since Wendy wasn’t sharing. Chunks of graham crackers melted in her mouth. “Mmmm.”

  The girls ate their ice cream in the A/C and waited until the last minute to walk to Bourbon and Conti for the cemetery tour. Their guide was easily identifiable, as the grave logo on his shirt matched their stickers.

  He smiled and checked his watch as they walked up. “Thought y’all might’ve gotten held up by a three-for-one.” The dreads in his goatee jiggled as he talked and matched the long, black dreads he wore pulled back.

  “We were held up by ice cream,” Lucy said, “but now we’re ready to go groovin’ with the ghosts.”

  “Excellent,” he said and started walking down Conti, a bounce in his step. He turned back to them. “I’m Lazare, and I’m going to show you some of the coolest and creepiest graves in New Orleans history. And the graves of my ancestors.”

  He and Wendy talked about their New Orleans ancestry as they made their way to St. Louis Cemetery #1. She had traced her fourth-great-grandparents to living in the Sixth Ward in 1860. Part of his family arrived from the Dominican Republic in the late 1700s; the other side were prominent French Creoles. The mixture of the cultures was as common then as it is now.

  He led them through the gate and started explaining about New Orleans being below sea level and therefore the need to bury people above ground. “The coffins would just float away.”

  Kate shuddered.

  “That’s only part of it,” Lazare said, leading them into one of the oldest sections. “A lot of it is due to French and Spanish tradition. This cemetery replaced the older, and no longer in existence, St. Peter burial ground after a fire in 1788 and the city was redesigned.”

  Vivian heard music in the distance. “Where’s that music coming from?”

  Lazare stopped in front of an ornate tomb and looked to his right. “It’s a jazz funeral. They’ll be closer in a minute, you’ll see,” he said, then got back to his history lesson. “Who here is a gambler?”

  All the girls looked at Vivian. She waved.

  “Then you would have liked Monsieur Bernard de Maringy. Not only was he a playboy, he brought the game of craps to America.”

  Vivian rubbed her hand on the stone wall. “Thank you, sir. Wish me luck later tonight!”

  Lazare laughed and kept moving, pointing out a grave covered in skulls, one built in brick and crumbling, and one with a guardian angel on top, keeping watch.

  Vivian stopped in front of one and giggled. “Who was this? He has a funny name.”

  “Homer Plessy. He was the plaintiff in the civil rights Supreme Court case in 1896.”

  Lazare had them scoot back about a minute later as the jazz funeral walked slowly by, playing a dirge. A man in a top hat, wearing a sash and carrying a parasol, led a tuba, three trombones, two trumpeters and a drummer, followed by the mourners.

  The band started up a festive tune and Vivian thought, I wouldn’t mind being sent off like that. She watched as the mourners turned down another row and started dancing, several with feather boas and one with a tambourine.

  Kate pulled out the brochure for the cemetery tour and tapped on the picture with the mirrors. “Where’s this tomb?”

  “It’s on the opposite side of the cemetery, but I’ll take you there. We’ll go past Marie Laveau’s resting place on the way.” Lazare started down a narrow row and they had to turn sideways to pass another tour group, all wearing bright yellow matching shirts.

  He stopped at a tomb with messages scribbled on the walls and a circle of shells in front of the door. Inside the circle was a cigarette, a praline and some loose change.

  “It is believed that Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau is interred here with the Glapion family. People leave offerings to her and write well wishes or prayers on the walls.”

  Lucy tossed a few coins inside the shell circle. “For Daisy’s safe return.”

  Kate snapped a picture of Lazare with the other three girls, then he took them over three rows. “This is where my lighter side originated. Mr. Vignaud met my great-great-great-great-grandmother at a ball and had a little too much fun. He at least put her up in a small shack and made sure she and the baby were clothed and fed.”

  Vivian looked at the other names, birth and death dates on the crypt. “So it looks like they got married?”

  Lazare laughed. “Why, yes, he got married, but not to my grandmother. She remained his mistress, though, for the rest of his life. They actually had three children together.”

  Kate gasped. “You mean he had a whole second family?”

  “It wasn’t as rare as you’d think.”

  They walked for a few minutes before reaching the mirrored grave. Vivian felt like somebody was watching her and looked around. Not seeing anyone, she dismissed it as the cemetery creeps.

  Lazare led them to a taller structure with a trio of steeples. “This is the Duplantier family tomb. We’ll have to go around the back to see inside.”

  They shuffled along the pebbles to the back, where a circular opening about the size of a basketball gave view of the inside. Vivian, at 5-4, had to stand on her tippy toes to look in.

  “There used to be stained glass here, but it’s been long broken out.”

  All different shapes and sizes of mirrors lined the walls. The window was so high Vivian couldn’t see the floor, but she could see several crypts on one side and mementos on the other.

  “Let Kate see,” Wendy said.

  Kate stepped up to the window. T
hree inches taller than Vivian, she had an easier time seeing everything inside and took a good, long look.

  Short little Lucy tried to see past Kate’s head. “You getting anything?”

  Kate sighed and turned around, looking behind Vivian. “No, nothing. But who is that?” She pointed a few rows over.

  Everyone turned to look, but no one saw anything.

  “That’s one of our friendly ghosts,” Lazare said with a smile, then he looked at Lucy. “You want a boost?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  Kate kept looking around the cemetery. “I swear I saw somebody.”

  “Let’s check it out,” Vivian said. “You lead.”

  Kate walked past Vivian, and the rest of the group followed. “He had blond hair and I swear I’ve seen him before.” She walked several more rows and looked around, then went left. She stopped again and covered her nose and mouth. “Do you smell that?”

  Vivian sniffed. “Smell what?”

  Kate took a few more steps, then stopped. Slowly, she turned to the group and stiffened. Eyes wide and hands still covering her nose and mouth, she said, “It smells like death.”

  Chapter 28

  Vivian held her breath and stood frozen in the cemetery. Scared to keep going and needing oxygen, she inhaled quickly but didn’t pick up on the scent of death that Kate was experiencing.

  Kate walked down the row a little more, stopped in front of a small, crumbling tomb and pointed to the ground. “This is it.”

  The grass in front of the door was pulled away, but it looked like someone had tried to push it back down.

  Lazare followed Kate, examining the writing on the entrance. “I don’t recognize this family name, but regardless, something’s not right.”

  “Exactly,” Kate said and took two steps back. “You should look inside. I’m not going any further.” She walked to Lucy, grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “I might be sick.”

  Lazare tugged at the door, which opened a crack. He stumbled backward, turning his head and gagging.

  Vivian threw her hand over her nose from the stench.

  He got up, pulled the door open more and peeked inside. He walked away from the tomb and covered his nose and mouth with his shirt. “We need to call the police.”

  They moved down a few rows, trying to escape the stench emitting through the partially open door of the tomb. The scent was burned into Vivian’s memory forever, no matter how far away she walked.

  Lucy sat down on the grass and leaned against a stucco-covered grave. She put her head in her hands, then looked up at Kate. “Do you think that was Daisy?”

  Tears welled in Kate’s eyes and she started to say something, but her voice caught. She shook her head.

  The sight of Kate crying got to Vivian, and she started crying, too. This experience was traumatic, but Vivian was an empathetic crier anyway. She could see a stranger crying in a restaurant, and she’d start in, too.

  “What did you see in there?” Wendy asked Lazare.

  He ran his hand down his face, then did the sign of the cross. “It was dark, but it was a body that didn’t belong. It wasn’t properly entombed.”

  Vivian cringed and heard sirens in the distance.

  “I’m going to meet the police at the entrance,” Lazare said. “Are you okay staying here?”

  “We’ll be fine,” Wendy said, though two out of the four were still crying.

  As he walked off, Vivian sniffled and said, “We’ve got to go see Jason. He’s going to be devastated.”

  “Hold on, Viv,” Wendy said. “We don’t know for sure that’s Daisy in there.”

  Lucy wiped a tear. “But Kate’s dream brought us here. It’s got to be her.”

  Kate let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

  Lazare returned along with two uniformed police officers and explained what happened. “I do this every day and this isn’t part of the regular tour, but she,” he pointed to Kate, “noticed an odd smell and led us over here.” He walked over to the tomb where the door was ajar. “This is it,” he said, then walked back over to the girls.

  Vivian watched between the rows and saw one of the officers pry the door open a little more. He threw his arm over his face and backed up. Not wanting to see inside, she turned away.

  Two other officers arrived shortly, then a few more. A female officer walked over and got names and ID.

  The girls were moved toward the entrance and sat there about 30 minutes before Antonio walked past them toward the tomb. A little while later, he approached the girls. “Tell me what happened.”

  Vivian explained, Lazare by her side confirming what she said. She grabbed Antonio’s arm. “Is it Daisy?”

  “We’re still waiting on the medical examiner.”

  She nodded.

  “Come over here with me,” he said, and led her a few rows over. “Listen, Adrienne told me about what happened in Mexico and now you’re around another murder? It doesn’t look good, Vivian.”

  She was shocked. “I didn’t have anything to do with Mexico! And Kate’s the one who found this poor person. I was just here!”

  He looked skeptical and didn’t respond, so she continued. “What are you trying to say?”

  He stepped closer. “I’m not saying anything, but this is not normal.” He ran his hand down her arm and stopped on her elbow. “You need to lay low and stay away from this investigation.”

  “We were on a cemetery tour! Thousands of tourists do this every year!”

  He looked down at the ground and shook his head. “Dammit. You’re frustrating, but you’re cute!” He grinned, then led her back to the group. “Everyone’s given a statement, right?”

  All the girls and Lazare nodded.

  “You can go, but stay around town, and please,” he looked at Vivian, “stay out of trouble.”

  The girls left the cemetery and stood outside the arches to regroup.

  “I’m going to call Jason and find out where he is,” Vivian said. When he picked up she tried to pull herself together and sound normal. “Hey there. How are things?”

  “Good here. We’ve already distributed almost 5,000 flyers and I just got a call from the local ABC affiliate. They’re coming to the hotel soon to interview me and Daisy’s parents.”

  “That’s awesome, I’m happy to hear it. Listen, the girls and I want to come by, if that’s okay.” The lump in her throat was growing and her eyes began to water.

  “Yeah, sure. I’m at the Marriott on Canal, 1422.”

  “Okay, see you soon.” She clicked off and wiped a tear from her eye.

  Wendy handed her a tissue. “Are we going to tell him about the body?”

  “No way,” Lucy said. “Nothing has been confirmed. For all we know some stupid tourist got drunk, passed out and died in there.”

  Vivian put the tissue in her pocket. “I’ll pull it together before we get there. I just feel like we need to go.”

  As they made their way to the hotel, Vivian’s phone rang.

  “What’s this I hear about y’all finding a body?” Adrienne asked.

  “Kate’s nose led us to it,” Vivian said. “But we didn’t actually see it. We were too chicken to look inside.”

  “Just your luck.”

  “I know. We’re freaking out thinking it might be Daisy. We’re headed over to Jason’s hotel.”

  “You can’t tell him!” Adrienne yelled.

  “We know that. We just want to be there for him if something bad goes down.” Vivian switched ears. “He said he’s got an interview with a local news station.”

  “Good. Al’s been working on that. Sounds like he’s making some headway.”

  “Let us know if you hear anything from Antonio,” Vivian said.

  “I will. ’Bye.”

  They arrived at the Marriott and went up to Jason’s room. Kate knocked on the door.

  Jason answered holding an energy drink. He smelled of soap, his bald head was sleek, and his eyes were clear.
“Come in, come in.”

  Two suitcases were on the floor beside the dresser. One was open with a dress and high heel hanging out. There was some paperwork on the dresser, and Vivian couldn’t help but notice it said “Marriage Certificate.”

  “My parents and hers are downstairs getting a quick bite to eat before the reporter gets here.” He opened a cooler. “Anyone want a drink? I’ve got beer, water, more of these.” He held up his caffeine bomb.

  “No, thanks,” Lucy said.

  Jason pushed a pizza box off one of the two beds. “Here, sit. Sorry it’s such a mess. I haven’t let housekeeping in.” He noticed Vivian looking at the papers. “Yeah, I went and filed for a marriage certificate today. Only one of us had to be there, and I had her driver’s license and her mom helped me get the birth certificate and social security stuff. That way, when I get her back, we’re ready to move forward with our life together.”

  Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, a knot in her stomach. She tried to smile at him, but couldn’t. “We saw Harry today. He was at Harrah’s. He was pretty torn up, looked like total crap. We called the police and they showed up. Detective Leffall was there, so I’m sure they got him.”

  “Finally that piece of shit has been found. I can’t believe the cops haven’t called me.” He pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket and checked his call history.

  Vivian looked over at Kate, who looked down at the floor. Wendy quietly cleared her throat and gave a slight shake of her head. Lucy’s eyes portrayed a silent message to Vivian. Don’t!

  Jason noticed the exchange. “What the fuck is going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Vivian couldn’t help herself and started crying. He turned pale and clenched his soda can.

  After a moment, she took a deep breath. “We took a cemetery tour this afternoon and there was a body in a grave.”

  He looked confused. “It’s a cemetery. There are going to be graves with bodies in them.”

  Kate walked over to him and touched his arm. “This body wasn’t buried. It was just inside one of the tombs.”

  He wrinkled his brows. “What?”