Mumbo Gumbo Murder

by Laura Childs

  “Before the mayor’s press conference happens,” Ava added. “And the real killer goes scot-free.”

  Drake gazed at them for a hard moment. “You’re not making this up?”

  Carmela and Ava shook their heads.

  “You have to talk to the police. At City Hall.” Drake was still digesting their words.

  “But all the streets are blocked,” Carmela said.

  “I can help,” Drake said. “Our parade route goes right past City Hall.”

  “Oh, wow,” Ava said.

  Drake waggled a finger, and they stepped to the side of the street where a gray Subaru was parked. “You’re lucky you caught me at the start of the parade.” He opened the car and pulled out two costumes. “Hurry up, put these on.”

  “The man comes prepared,” Ava said, impressed.

  “Thank you,” Carmela breathed to Drake.

  Within minutes they were suited up, Carmela in a furry bat costume with gauze wings attached to her back, Ava in a flying monkey costume complete with curly tail.

  “Now get in line,” Drake instructed. “And try not to cause too much of a scene.”

  They marched along, the crowd cheering and waving at the puppets. Walking at the back of the pack, Carmela and Ava waved back. Mimi had popped her head out of her tote bag and stared in awe at the crowds.

  “This is cool, huh?” Ava asked. “Reminds me of when I was in the Miss Teen Sparkle beauty pageant. Of course, that was much fancier and we rode on the back of a shiny convertible.”

  As the marching band and Beastmaster contingent continued down Basin Street, Carmela and Ava executed a fast left-hand turn. They skirted past a police barrier and made a beeline for the plaza just outside City Hall.

  “Hey!” a uniformed officer called after them. He made a pro forma attempt to chase them but petered out after fifteen feet.

  “Keep going!” Carmela cried as they ran toward the plaza ahead.

  “I see TV cameras,” Ava huffed as she ran alongside Carmela.

  “Good. The more press, the better.”

  They were in the thick of reporters, TV vans, and camera crews now, and one reporter yelled out, “Hey, Batgirl,” as Carmela flew by.

  “What am I, chopped liver?” Ava asked as she tried to keep up.

  Carmela looked about frantically. Where was the mayor? Where was Babcock? Better yet, where was that murdering skunk Peter Jarreau?

  Suddenly, she spotted a wooden podium just up ahead. There was a barrage of bright lights set up around it, camera lenses were aimed at the podium, and microphones were clipped to its front edge.

  Okay, Carmela thought, now we’re getting somewhere.

  But were they really? Because dressed as they were, in goofball costumes, they looked awfully ridiculous.

  Her fear soon came home to roost when a policeman reached out, pinched her shoulder, and yelled, “Stop, right there!”

  Carmela’s forward progress ground to a halt as she gazed into a face that told her he was dead serious.

  “I need to talk to Detective Babcock,” Carmela said. “It’s an emergency.”

  “Let me guess, you double-parked your Batmobile?” the officer said.

  Ava tried to intercede. “This woman is Detective Babcock’s fiancée,” she said. “And it’s really important she talk to him. A matter of life and death.”

  The officer stared at Carmela, as if trying to make up his mind.

  Carmela gave him a look of intense concern. “It has to do with the mayor’s press conference.” Her bat wings bobbed as she spoke.

  “It’s going to have to wait,” the officer said.

  “It can’t wait,” Carmela said. “I have information about a homicide that’s under investigation.”

  “Two homicides,” Ava said. She held up two fingers, trying to be helpful. Then she reached into her tote bag and pulled out Mimi. “You see this cute little dog? Her owner—her most favorite person in the whole world—was murdered in cold blood.”

  At having Mimi shoved in his face, the officer released Carmela’s shoulder so he could raise his arm and push Ava and Mimi away.

  That was all Carmela needed.

  Like a sprinter bolting from the starting block, Carmela dashed toward the podium. “Detective Babcock!” she cried out. “I have to talk to Detective Babcock.” She couldn’t see him anywhere, but maybe he would hear her?

  Bright lights swung her way as cameramen suddenly turned and focused on her. Carmela was aware they were probably rolling tape but didn’t much care. She kept running, her breath coming in shallow bursts, the whoosh of blood in her ears.

  And then, seconds later, the mayor appeared, smiling, waving, looking dapper and polished in his two-thousand-dollar suit. And at his side . . . Babcock.

  “Edgar!” Carmela screamed. Even though her heart was hammering inside her chest, and she was almost out of breath, she managed to make her voice carry above the babble of the crowd. And then suddenly, thankfully, Babcock’s head swiveled, and he saw her running toward him.

  “Carmela?” The blood drained from Babcock’s face, and he looked positively baffled as he ran to intercept her. “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Sonny Boy was a thief, not a killer,” Carmela managed to stammer out. “You’re accusing the wrong man!”

  Chapter 33

  “CARMELA, what are you saying?” Babcock shouted. He looked angry, but there was urgency in his voice, too.

  “I tried to call you. Ava and I figured it out!” Carmela cried.

  “Figured what out?”

  “Devon’s killer,” Carmela said. She was so out of breath she was nearly choking as she danced around on the balls of her feet, trying to make Babcock understand, trying to make him listen. “And Sonny Boy’s killer, too.”

  “Carmela . . .” Now his voice carried a warning tone.

  There was an enormous commotion off to their left. People applauding and reporters and cameramen trying to edge closer as the mayor stepped to the podium.

  “Now is not the time,” Babcock told her. “I’ll listen to you, but not until this is over.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Jarreau is the one. Peter Jarreau is the killer!”

  “What?” Babcock said this so quietly, Carmela was afraid he hadn’t heard her.

  “I said . . .” Carmela gazed past Babcock’s shoulder and practically gasped. There was Peter Jarreau, bearing down upon them. He wore a determined, steely-eyed look on his face and carried a stack of press releases—probably text of the mayor’s speech—that he’d hand out to the media afterward.

  Jarreau walked directly up to Babcock, glanced at Carmela, and said, “Get rid of her. She’s a distraction.”

  “I know what you did,” Carmela said from between clenched teeth.

  Jarreau had turned away, but now he hesitated and looked back at Carmela. “I could have you arrested for interfering in police business.”

  “Now just a minute,” Babcock said. He seemed torn between the two of them.

  “Stop wasting time,” Jarreau said. “Get her out of here. We have a lot on the line tonight.”

  “You killed Devon Dowling,” Carmela spat at him. “You stabbed Sonny Boy Holmes. And you’re a drug dealer. I have a brick of cocaine that proves it!”

  Jarreau’s face turned bright red as he shook his head. “You’re completely crazy, you know that? I always knew you were trouble, and now you’re making lunatic accusations that you can’t possibly prove.”

  “Oh no?” Ava screamed as she rushed up to him. “Tell that to Mimi. She was a witness!”

  At hearing her name called, Mimi popped her head out of the tote bag. She looked around, saw Peter Jarreau, and suddenly went crazy. Barking and snapping at him, she fought her way out of the tote bag, then launched herself direct
ly at Jarreau.

  “Aggh!” Jarreau cried as Mimi landed squarely on his chest. She scrabbled to gain purchase with her hind feet and sunk her teeth into the side of his neck. Jarreau’s papers fluttered everywhere as he staggered backward. His right arm flailed in the air for a moment, and then he whipped the pistol out of his pocket and aimed wildly.

  BOOM!

  Time seemed to stand still as people screamed, ducked, and tried to scramble out of the way.

  Luckily, Jarreau’s shot went wild and struck the statue of a minor Louisiana dignitary that stood at the edge of the plaza. The man’s head blew off as if it had been hit by mortar fire, then landed on the patio and rolled away.

  There was no second shot. Babcock had already wrestled Peter Jarreau to the ground, and three uniformed officers had jumped into the fray to help handcuff him.

  Standing at the podium, the mayor looked terrified for a split second, then a grin creased his face and his dignity was once again intact.

  “What?” he said in a joking tone. “Have the redcoats come back? Should we alert Andrew Jackson and Jean Lafitte?”

  The crowd erupted in laughter.

  The mayor held up his hand. “One moment please while I confer with a couple of my guys.”

  Babcock and Bobby Gallant hurried to the mayor’s side and spoke into his ear. The mayor registered surprise, shock, and then agreement, as he listened. This wasn’t his first rodeo. He was a political pro.

  Finally, the mayor gripped the podium with both hands and addressed the crowd.

  “I actually have two important announcements to make tonight.”

  There was a buzz of excitement, then the mayor continued.

  “My first announcement is that the man who murdered two of our citizens, Mr. Dowling and Mr. Holmes, has been apprehended by members of our outstanding New Orleans Police Department. I will release all pertinent details once they conclude their investigation.”

  “Hey, don’t we get any credit?” Ava asked as she and Carmela stood and watched.

  The mayor straightened up and looked a little less serious.

  “My second announcement is that Detective Edgar Babcock has been promoted to deputy chief!”

  Babcock gazed in surprise at the mayor, then his eyes sought out Carmela as she stood nearby. He quietly mouthed, You okay with this?

  I’m so proud, Carmela mouthed back.

  “Me too!” Ava shouted.

  Chapter 34

  CARMELA waited anxiously as reporters jostled around the mayor and Babcock, asking questions, jotting notes, grabbing sound bites.

  Finally, Babcock walked over to where Carmela and Ava were standing.

  “Excuse me,” he said as he took Carmela by the hand and led her a few steps away, out of the hubbub of the crowd. Then he wrapped his arms around her.

  “You did it,” he said. “I don’t know how—I probably don’t want to know how, but you did it.”

  “And you’re not mad?” Carmela gazed up at him.

  “Of course I am. But I’ll get over it, like I always do. My main concern has always been your safety.” His mouth crinkled in a wry grin. “You do tend to hang it all out there.”

  “I’m good,” Carmela said. “You know I’m good.”

  Babcock shook his head. “No, you’re very, very bad. You never listen and you take ridiculous chances.”

  “But I . . .”

  “And, excuse me, ma’am, but what’s with this costume? And the wings?”

  “I’m supposed to be a bat. Don’t you like it?”

  “I wouldn’t say it’s my idea of a sweet, romantic outfit.” Babcock touched his nose to hers. “Truth be told, I’d much prefer you in a wedding dress.”

  “This is all I had in a pinch,” Carmela said. “Besides, don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding?”

  Babcock grew very still. “Is there a dress?” he growled. “Is there a wedding? Can we finally set a date?”

  Carmela rose up on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.

  Babcock whispered something back that made Carmela smile, and then his lips closed on hers.

  Scrapbook, Stamping, and Craft Tips from Laura Childs

  Dip Dye a Scarf

  Turn a plain white scarf into an of-the-moment dip-dyed scarf. Prepare a dyebath in your favorite color, then completely wet your scarf. Dip one end of the scarf into the dye until you get the color saturation and “dipped” effect that you want. Then dip the middle of the scarf in the dye to create a fun accent area. Simply let your scarf dry, and it’s ready to wear!

  Autumn Burlap Flowers

  If you’ve ever made paper flowers, then you can easily make these sturdy blooms. Just cut your burlap into petals, pinch one end, and tack or use hot glue. You can make large blooms to ring a candle or even create an autumn wreath.

  Snow-Covered Wine Bottles

  Select 3 wine bottles of varying sizes and spray with white primer. Allow to dry. Now spray bottles with adhesive and, while still tacky, roll each bottle in Epsom salt, making sure to coat the entire bottle. When your new vase is dry, tuck in silver floral stems from the craft store. Clustering votive candles or ornaments around the base of your arrangement makes it even more festive.

  Little Felt Critters

  Make small ghosts, cats, and pumpkins using felt and fringe yarn. Using a cookie cutter for a pattern, trace 2 images on felt and cut out. Place the felt pieces together and sew the edges using a blanket stitch, feeding in a piece of fringe yarn with the thread as you go along. Before finishing your critter, pull the fringe out from under the thread so you get a nice shaggy border. Stuff critter with fiberfill and finish stitching.

  Decoupaged Bears and Dogs

  Buy a couple of brown papier-mâché bears or dogs (or cats) from the craft store. Now gather up scraps of all your fun papers and tear them into random pieces. (Note: The thinner the paper, the easier it is to work with.) Brush glue onto your papier-mâché animal, then begin to stick on bits of paper. Be sure to keep brushing on glue as you overlap the various bits of paper. If you hit a tricky spot (legs or head) cut a few slits in the paper so it will lie flat and not buckle up.

  Driftwood Art

  Add a beachy look to your wall with this driftwood art project. Start with a flat piece of wood and a bunch of driftwood pieces that you’ve collected. Arrange the driftwood pieces in a fun design (fish, sailboat, crab, etc.) and glue to your board. Now paint the whole thing using white or cream-colored paint. Frame and hang on your wall. (Note: If you use a small piece of paneling, you can replicate a tongue and groove look. Or if you use old barnwood for your background, you may want to leave it natural.)

  Favorite New Orleans Recipes

  Caramel Bread Pudding

  1 cup brown sugar

  5 slices buttered bread, cubed

  2 eggs

  2 cups milk

  ½ tsp. salt

  ½ tsp. vanilla

  Place brown sugar and bread cubes in top of double boiler. In a separate bowl, beat eggs lightly, then add in milk, salt, and vanilla. Stir again and pour over bread in top of double boiler. Cover and cook on medium heat for 1 hour or until bread pudding becomes firm. Run knife around edge and turn pudding upside down onto a serving dish. Serve with a dash of cream or whipped cream. Yields 4 to 6 servings.

  Party Hearty Shrimp Dip

  1¾ oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

  ⅓ cup chili sauce

  1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

  ½ tsp. fresh dill, minced

  ¼ tsp. garlic powder (optional)

  1 can shrimp (4 to 6 oz.), small shrimp or diced

  Mix all ingredients together, adding shrimp last. Chill approximately 2 hours and serve with crackers or chips. Yields approximately 2 cups of dip.

  Bourbon Hot Dogs

&nbs
p; ¾ cup bourbon

  ½ cup ketchup

  ½ cup brown sugar

  1 lb. hot dogs, sliced diagonally

  Mix bourbon, ketchup, and sugar in medium pan. Add hot dogs and simmer for 45 minutes. Serve hot with slaw and beans. Yields 6 servings.

  Carmela’s Apple Dump Cake

  2 cans apple pie filling (21 oz. each)

  2 tsp. cinnamon, divided

  1 box yellow cake mix

  2 sticks butter

  ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread apple filling in bottom of 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle on 1 tsp. cinnamon. Pour dry cake mix evenly over apple filling. Cut butter in small squares and dot on top of cake mix. Sprinkle with nuts and an additional 1 tsp. of cinnamon. Bake for approximately 45 to 50 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with whipped cream. Yields 8 servings.

  Pecan Jazz Tarts

  2 sticks butter, softened

  5 Tbsp. powdered sugar

  2 cups flour

  1 tsp. vanilla

  1½ cups chopped pecans

  additional powdered sugar to roll cookies in

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together butter, powdered sugar, flour, vanilla, and chopped pecans. Roll out in small oblong balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Roll still-warm tarts in additional powdered sugar. Yields 15 to 20 cookies.

  Ava’s Slop-It-On Hot Dog Sauce

  1 can chili (15 oz., no beans)

  1 can tomato paste (6 oz.)

  ¼ cup chopped onion

  ¼ cup chopped green pepper