“Thank you Reverend.” Sugar Doll managed to say. She fell into Remy’s arms crying inconsolably. There would be no funeral in the lower Parish as it had been devastated by the horrific winds and water of Hurricane Katrina.
“We’ve lost so many, Sugar Doll. I want to go down to bless the ground but unfortunately they are still finding bodies.” Reverend Han stepped back wiping his brow. He was devastated himself. He knew that life would never be the same.
“And Bertrand?” Sugar Doll asked.
A deep furrow appeared on the Reverend’s brow. Mona had told him the details of the robbery. “Well, you know about our young misguided Kevin. Mrs. Han and I always tried to intercede with the boy and your grandmother too but we couldn’t do enough. He got killed trying to do the devil’s work. We can only pray that it’s not as your mother has said.” Reverend Han sighed.
“Bertrand would never be involved in a robbery. He had his own business, his own place. Why would he do something like that? Why would my mother say something like that?” Sugar Doll became freshly angered when she thought of it.
“Sugar, you’ve had enough bad news for today. Let’s go back to the apartment to decide what you are going to do about your grandmother’s funeral.” Remy offered.
“It seems that this hurricane brought only death and murder with it.” Sugar Doll cried.
“That poor young girl Elise…dying like that on the bridge.” Mrs. Han lamented.
“They just shot randomly at people, like they were animals.” Sugar Doll said.
“Sugar Doll, let’s go.” Remy wanted to take her away from all of the pain. He grasped her shoulder and led her to St. Peter’s street. The French Quarters were in remarkably good condition after the storm. They had remained at Mona’s house on Dauphine after the storm until things looked like they had blown over and each day brought fresh pain.
“Oh Remy, it’s too much to handle.” Sugar Doll said as they walked slowly back to his tiny flat.
“I know honey but we will…together.” He smiled weakly, even losing some of his own spirit of mirth in the sadness.
Marsalas sat in his offices in the ice cold air conditioned room which was his true home. He gave orders in this room. He gave orders of who would live and who would die.
“I want my money. It’s only a matter of time before Bertrand shows his face. I know that he wasn’t smart enough to pull off something like that on his own.” Marsalas said to Sid his right hand man. Sid’s job was to agree and to execute orders.
“He was pretty tight with that singer kid Remy.” Sid offered.
“I know and Remy is getting awfully cozy with Mona’s daughter Sugar Doll.” Marsalas said.
“You think that they had something to do with Tony’s death, they are kind of young to come up with something like that.” Sid asked.
“I don’t put nothing past nobody.” Marsalas answered.
“I’ve never trusted Mona. She has reasons of her own to want to kill Tony. I told him to be careful with that but he wanted her and you can’t talk to a man when he’s reasoning with his dick.” Marsalas shrugged. He knew that he minimized what Tony had felt for Mona because his nephew had no business loving some nigger woman. He had to keep up appearances for the family.
“What you want me to do boss?” Sid asked.
“Wait. They ain’t going nowhere. Too much media coverage with all of this aftermath stuff. Wait a few weeks and then I want you to start making inquiries. See if the kid is spending money he don’t have. I’ll handle Mona myself.” He thought of all of the delicious ways he would handle her.
The funeral was held in the city. Big Ma would have wanted to be buried in the Parish she loved but it was gone. The small town which had been her home was only so much rubble. Even though many had evacuated to different cities the funeral was standing room only. Somehow the grapevine had told everyone to come. That one of their beloved had left the earth and deserved to be honored. The woman who had fed those who didn’t have a mother, prayed with those who had lost a husband or a child and wept with those who had lost a loved one in battle was gone. People from all walks of life came to the tiny funeral home. They had had to extend the visitation because people kept pouring in to wish their final goodbye. Little Tommy was all grown up and in uniform having heard about Big Ma’s death while he was on leave from Iraq. He and Sugar Doll embraced and cried. The one person who was surprisingly absent was Bertrand.
“Where is he?” Sugar Doll asked Remy who was holding her hand as she scanned the room for her larger than life cousin. Remy didn’t ask who she was talking about, he knew.
“Something’s wrong” Sugar Doll worried. “No one’s heard from him in weeks. That’s not like him.” She looked at Remy. As the procession left the funeral home for the burial ground the somber occasion took a lightened turn as Brophy played “When the Saints go Marching In”. The crowd of mourners began the slow and steady second line. Big Ma would have liked that Sugar Doll smiled to herself.
“Any sign of that fat fuck?” Marsalas asked.
“No boss, no sign. We looked all over and waited before and after the funeral to catch sight of them.” Sid answered.
“Well one thing them niggers love is their mammies and a good cry at the funeral. If he wasn’t there he ain’t in the state. Put feelers out in Biloxi and Florida. He’ll turn up to his old stumping grounds sooner or later.” Marsalas was becoming impatient with waiting.
“I’m going to wait another week before opening the club again.” Mona said as she sat on her couch still dressed in black from the funeral. She felt tired and defeated. Big Ma’s death had hit her like a blow to the stomach. They had never gotten along but she was mama and now that person was gone. She felt all of her fifty-five years even if she looked twenty-five.
Mr. Renair rose and patted her on the hand. He saw the grief there and decided to give her time alone. “You know your momma’s in heaven?” He asked innocently.
“Yes, that I do know Mr. Renair. But where will I go when I die? I could never be what she wanted me to be.” Mona cried softly.
“Honey I have children too and the fact that you are is enough. She loved you. That’s all you need to know.” He gave her a fatherly pat on the head and walked to the door. He thought of his own mother then and tears came to his eyes. It was funny but he was nearly eighty years old and he still cried for her at times like this.
The atmosphere at Tony’s funeral had been the opposite of Big Ma. Marsalas sat in the front and had all but sneered at Mona when she stooped to view the body. “He was handsome.” Mona thought the familiar rush of sexual tension he inspired in her causing her to blush. “I’ll miss you honey.” She whispered as she bent to kiss his cheek. She felt a strong hand grasp her and pull her back. It was one of Marsala’s men. She walked backwards down the aisle of the funeral home. She thought of leaving but she decided to take a seat at the back of the church. She had spent nearly twenty years with this man. She didn’t share his final hour but the grief hit her hard now and she couldn’t bear to leave the room. “Maybe he did have something to do with Kurt’s death” she thought but she realized that she no longer cared. She realized that it was an excuse. She realized that she’d used that thought to keep the distance between him and her. She used it like a wedge to survive yet still she had loved him. When the priest closed the coffin she cried bitterly, like she’d never cried before.
Marsalas studied her, “Tears of guilt.” He thought and planned to have her killed before the week was done. Tony was a lady’s man and a gambler but he was his nephew and one of the few Marsalas could truly trust. His death left him alone with men who only wanted his position and knew nothing of loyalty, “Oh yes, that bitch has got to die.” He thought vengefully as the procession left the church and headed for the cemetery.
“Mr. Marsalas has asked that you respect the family and not come to the burial site. We want to keep this in the family.” Sid leaned down to whisper in Mona’s ear.
; “I am family.” Mona said through her tears.
“No you ain’t kid and that’s final. Don’t come. You ain’t welcome.” Sid put his burley hand on her shoulder and pressed her to the seat.
Mona sat still for awhile as the feeling of grief was replaced by outrage. She looked at the crucifix and waited as the final mourners left the church. She sat there in the silence of the church. “They think that I had something to do with Tony’s death.” She knew then that she had to leave New Orleans for good.
“We’ve got to find Bertrand.” Sugar Doll cried into Remy’s shoulder.
“Where would he go? Do you know that?” Remy asked her.
“Well, he usually vacations in Biloxi so that he can gamble. We really don’t have any relatives out of state. We have a cousin in Atlanta.” Sugar Doll sat up on the bed.
“Do you have his number?” Remy asked already reaching for the phone.
“Her number and yes.” Sugar Doll felt a rush of relief as the thought of finding Bertrand became a possibility. She went to her purse on the nightstand and retrieved her address book.
“I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before. Carla is a distant cousin but I do recall Bertrand saying that he was going to visit her just last year.” She took out the number as Remy handed her the phone.
The phone rang several times until she reached an answering machine, “This is Carla…you know what to do.” Carla’s friendly voice rang out and made Sugar Doll smile in spite of her concern for Bertrand.
“Hey girl, this is your cousin Sugar Doll in New Orleans. We are all alright but I haven’t heard from Bertrand and I was wondering if he came out your way? Give me a call on my cell to let me know if you have heard anything.” She hung up disappointed but hopeful. Remy pulled her close. They had been through a lot together and he hated to see the pain on her face.
“Hey dahling, cheer up! Tonight is the grand re-opening of Mona’s and we’re singing there.” He smiled. Sugar Doll smiled reluctantly as well. It seemed that Tony had gotten what he’d wanted. Bertrand’s club Beauchamp’s sat dark and closed.
“It has been three weeks; we should file a missing person’s report.” Sugar Doll sat up out of Remy’s arms.
“Honey the sheriff’s department is so busy with all of the devastation that they are not even going to pay attention to that claim. Besides there are thousands of missing person’s reports. Many people simply left the state to evacuate for the hurricane. That’s what they are going to assume about Bertrand.” Remy shrugged.
“That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do anything. Even if it takes time it’s better that we have some record of looking for him. Something may be wrong. It’s not like him not to call or contact me or someone else in the family. We all have each other’s numbers. I was numb after Big Ma died but I know for a fact that she wouldn’t just let this thing go. We have got to find him and we have got to try to find him!” Sugar Doll stood up determined to do something.
“I understand how you feel honey. I didn’t want to worry you but I already put in a missing person’s report but they told me what I just told you…basically that he’ll turn up.” Remy offered.
“Well thank you for that. Why didn’t you tell me?” Sugar Doll asked.
“I didn’t want to worry you with all else you were going through and I thought that they would come up with something before now but I see that is not going to happen.” Remy went over to hug Sugar Doll.
“I can’t help but feel that something bad has happened. I’m worried about him.” Sugar Doll cried.
“I know honey, I know.” Just then the phone rang.
“Hello cuz!” Came the bubbly voice of Carla. “What up?”
“That was fast.” Sugar Doll sighed a breath of relief.
“Chow, I’m at the barber’s. I got my hair cut to the quick honey and I love it!” Carla smiled into the phone.
“Cool…listen Carla, I’m calling about something serious.” Sugar Doll interrupted.
“What’s the matter?” Carla became immediately alarmed.
“Well, I don’t know yet but no one has heard from Bertrand since the hurricane. He didn’t come to Big Ma’s funeral. That’s just not like him.”
“Yes, I heard about it. I’m sorry I couldn’t come either, funds were tight. I’m surprised about Bertrand. He loved Big Ma the most.” Carla said.
“So you haven’t heard from him either?” Sugar Doll asked feeling the disappointment seep into her toes.
“No girl, I can’t think of the last time I did talk to Bertie. I hope he’s all right. Let me know when you hear anything. This hurricane has everyone all mixed up and confused. He probably just evacuated to another city and hasn’t had time to call.” Carla offered.
“It’s just not like him. My mother said that he was supposed to pick me up down home but I ended up coming up with the Sheriff.” Sugar Doll sat down on the bed.
“Have you filed a missing person’s report?” Carla asked.
“My boyfriend did a few weeks back but they said that they were backed up and it was not possible to give an immediate response.” Sugar Doll’s voice cracked.
“Go check back and call me back this evening.” Carla said finally.
Sugar Doll hung up the phone feeling completely defeated.
“Sugar, let’s get out of here and get ready for tonight’s gig. That should cheer you up.” He walked to the closet and pulled out the beautiful gown he’d purchased for her.
“Oh Remy! How wonderful! I love this. No one has ever done this for me.” Sugar Doll jumped up with glee.
“Before we go do you think that we could go down to the sheriff’s office and just check? It would make me feel better.” Sugar Doll asked as she hugged the dress closely to her waist.
“I don’t see why not. Go and get dressed. Give those policemen something to think about. They’ll probably help you faster after seeing you in that dress, cher.” Remy gave her an affection kiss on the cheek.
“Yeah boss I’m right in front of the apartment. The girl is a real looker. They look like they are headed for the club.” Sid spoke into the tiny flip phone as he sipped his coffee. It was too bitter for his taste but it woke up his senses. This type of work was well beneath him but his boss had taken a personal interest. If it was personal for his boss, then it was personal for him. He slowly edged the black sedan away from the curb as he followed the light blue Cadillac the kid drove.
As Remy looked for parking around the Sheriff’s department he noticed the same black sedan that had passed the street three times. He assumed that the driver was looking for parking but there was an odd tugging feeling in his gut so he gave the car a direct look and made eye contact with the driver. The older man became flustered and drove off.
“The kid made me. They went into the police office. I don’t know boss, if they were holding stolen money they wouldn’t go courting the police to my thinking.” Sid spoke into the phone.
“I don’t pay you to think. I pay you to find out information. I’ve got two cops down there on the payroll. Go to the Esplanade Mall in fifteen minutes and one of them will come to tell you what the kids were looking for in the first place.”
The sheriff of lower Plaquemines Parish scratched his head. The road block which separated the parish from onlookers was still in place. “If you ask me this whole thing is just a pain in the ass.” He spoke to his deputy who nodded silently in agreement. The clean-up was under way and there were construction crews coming in by the truck load.
“How in the hell are we supposed to tell the looters from the workers?” The Sheriff spoke mostly to himself.
“The bulldozers are easy to inspect but the rest of this crap… well, no disrespect but most of your lower parish was trailers anyway. There wasn’t really anything of value down there.” The deputy shrugged.
A large truck pulled to the side of the road right before the roadblock, “Excuse me your officers. I thought I should let you know that we found a floater
down in the old Fort. We tried to call ya’ll but you know we have no signal down that way.”
“Damn!” Was all the sheriff muttered.
Mona packed her bags hurriedly. She left the funeral and headed straight for her house on Dauphine. She didn’t stop at the club for fear that one of Marsala’s goons would be there. There was a knock at the door. She broke out in a cold sweat. The weather had been sweltering but her knees began to tremble. She looked out of the side window and saw Mr. Renair standing at the door.
She walked quickly to the door. She pulled him in as quickly as she could.
“I was surprised to see your car out front. I thought that you’d be staying someplace else.” Mr. Renair seemed surprised by her demeanor.
“I’m leaving. There’s trouble and I’ve got to go.” Mona spat out to her old friend.
“I know, that’s why I came over.” Mr. Renair said calmly.
“What do you mean?” Mona asked.
“I saw some of Tony’s men outside here earlier today. Don’t panic, they’ve gone, but they really looked the place over to see if you were here. From my guessing, they’ll be back, the dogs.” Mr. Renair said angrily.
Mona ran to the window to look out again but there was no one there.
“Go child. Go now.” Mr. Renair advised as he headed for the door.
The club was packed with customers. Many locals had come out to support the return to normalcy. All of the band members had returned to their posts. The jazz music which flowed out into the street gave everyone who passed a sense of hope. Sugar Doll climbed up the back stairs to her mother’s rooms. The door was locked. She knocked a few times before realizing that no one was there. Perhaps her mother was coming from the Dauphine address. Her gown glimmered in the overhead light. Her caramel skin glowed in the shadows. As she descended the stairs Remy caught sight of her again. She was no longer the girl he had first met. She was truly a woman of great beauty. He felt his heart melt at the sight of her.
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