NOLA Page 5

  “Hello, Mister Murphy,” a young woman’s voice called from deep in the forest.

  He moved quickly to intercept whatever was searching for him. He was surprised to see a pale, stretched-out version of Mia floating there amongst the red maples.

  “Hello, sir, I’m Sabine, Mia’s cousin.”

  He nodded to the apparition.

  “I’ve just OOBed over to check on how Ted’s doing with little Brian. But there is no one at home. I though perhaps you would know what’s going on?”

  Her voice was so sweet. It seemed to float on the late winter breeze. Sabine was wearing a long, pastel, flannel shirt. Her feet were bare, but while she was bilocating, she wouldn’t feel the cold.

  “I have three little girls who had their one year birthday last month. I know that, no matter how well behaved, babies can be a handful,” she said to explain her being there.

  “Brian can see me,” Murphy said proudly.

  “Can he? Oh, that’s marvelous!” Sabine clapped her hands together. “Two of my daughters can see ghosts. The other one can’t, but she has other talents, earthly talents,” she qualified.

  “Ted’s taken him on a ghost hunt.”

  Sabine didn’t bother to hide her distress. “Does Mia know?”

  “No.”

  “Oh dear, I hope he has taken precautions.”

  “Me too,” he admitted.

  Sabine looked around her. “You sure have done a lot with your farm. I remember the hollow being a dark, sad place.”

  “A lot has changed. We have deer.”

  “Deer are nice, but they can get into trouble though. They eat bulbs and…”

  “Trees.”

  “Those too,” Sabine sympathized. “Have you ever tried coyote urine?”

  Murphy looked at her oddly.

  “On the trees, silly. What did you… You didn’t think I meant to drink it! Oh, you are silly!” she exclaimed. “No wonder Mia loves you. You make her laugh!”

  Murphy was a bit stunned by this revelation.

  “My late husband Brian was a voracious reader. Did you know that Chicago has a coyote problem in the northern lake neighborhoods? He told me he read that coyotes may be pests, but they are beneficial too. He told me that, as he said, ‘coyote piss will keep away rabbits and deer.’ You see, they recognize the scent and stay away, fearing the predators are in the area.”

  Murphy listened to the young woman, nodding.

  “I’ll call and tell Ted he needs to buy some tomorrow. He will be back in the morning, won’t he?” Sabine asked.

  “Yes. PEEPs are at a library not far from here.”

  “Aren’t you part of PEEPs?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why aren’t you there too?”

  Murphy frowned. “Not needed. They call me ‘the big gun,’ and they said I would be bored there.”

  “I think they should let you make up your mind if you’re bored. I’ll call Burt and…”

  “No!” he said and wished he hadn’t said it so strongly.

  Sabine didn’t appear to be offended. “I see, you would rather talk to him yourself. Good plan.”

  Murphy felt the kindness radiate off of her. Even in OOB form, Sabine cast off a good vibe. “Would you like to see some flowers?” he asked.

  “Already? It’s still winter.”

  “On the sunny side of the hill, there are crocus and snowdrops,” he said, leading her there.

  The hillside was almost covered with the emerging flowers.

  “Oh my,” she said as they approached. “I could just roll in them. Stephen, they are beautiful.”

  “There were more, but the deer…”

  “Coyote piss,” Sabine said with her hands on her hips.

  “Coyote piss,” he agreed.

  “Well, I better get back now. Tauni Cerise, she’s my nanny, worries if I’m gone too long. It was nice to talk to you, Stephen. If you ever want to visit me, just take the vortex and think…”

  “Take me to Sabine’s place,” Murphy said.

  “Yes! That will get you there. Bye, Stephen, have a nice night,” she said airily as she left.

  Murphy pushed his hat back on his head and had trouble for a minute remembering what he was doing before Sabine came along. “Trees!” he said loudly.

  Maggie came bounding back towards him. She had no idea why he had walked away and was talking to himself. Mia, too, talked to herself a lot. Maybe it’s what people and ghosts do.

  ~

  The desert of crème brûlée was served with bitter espresso. Mia had to refrain from making the little noises she made when she was enjoying something sweet. She didn’t want to mortify Ralph. She caught him looking at her from time to time, and aside from almost using her salad fork on the fish, she managed the utensils like a debutante. It was exhausting navigating through the meal. She had a priest on one shoulder and a Voodoo priestess on the other. They had no problems with the silverware. Their manners bore witness to good breeding. Mia felt like she alone represented the barbarian caucus.

  “I think everyone is finished. We’ll stay here and begin our meeting. This way, coffee can be drunk and cookies can be snacked upon as need be.”

  “I don’t know how anyone could eat any more,” Wendy declared.

  Mia waited until all eyes were back on their hostess before she took a cookie.

  “This year, we have seen the numbers of wandering souls quite depleted. Some of our resident mediums have complained that their spirit guides are reluctant to appear within the city limits,” Honor reported. “I almost feel like it was a mistake calling you all here. Still, we will do our spirit walk tomorrow afternoon. I think that we should concentrate our walk in the 9th Ward like last year. I’d like us to meet at the Upper 9th Ward at the Musicians’ Village at three o’clock. This area has had the most recent renovation. We will progress through the area, hitting spots where my spirit guide has seen lost soul movement. We’ll continue on into the night.”

  “Mia, since this is your and Ralph’s first walk, I’m going to ask one of the others to be kind enough to stick with you.”

  “They can stick with us,” Monique offered.

  “You want to put another fence-sitter in with you three witches? No, Mia will be with me,” Father Peter insisted.

  Mia looked over at Ralph, and he shrugged.

  “I would appreciate the help,” Mia said diplomatically. Inside, she was screaming, “No, no, no, and hell no!”

  “Then I think we can enjoy the rest of the evening. Those that have to leave may do so at any time.” Honor rose and then waved her hands. “Wait! Bring rain gear. It’s supposed to be a wet afternoon.” She moved away from the table and left the room.

  Mia picked up the pilfered cookie and took a bite. Her mouth was filled with butter and pecans, pronounced pee cans in N’awlins. If you pronounced it the way you were used to hearing it, you were quickly corrected. She took a sip of the last of her coffee and rose from the table. She felt a light hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Candy, the Voodoo priestess, looking down at her.

  “Mia, can we have a private word?” Candy asked.

  “Yes, of course. Here or out on the porch?”

  Candy’s face bloomed into a smile that was supposed to be engaging, but Mia found it a bit creepy. “The porch would be nice. The night air would do both of us good after that heavy meal.”

  Mia mimed to Ralph that she was going outside, and he nodded. He was enjoying the conversation he was having with Yum-Yum. They were dishing on the latest Seeley sister antics.

  The front porch was equipped with a few chairs.

  “Normally, on this end of town, you wouldn’t see chairs on porches, but Honor loves her garden and spends time watching the birds while she has her morning coffee,” Candy explained.

  Mia sat down and put her feet up on the wicker hassock.

  “You and I have a friend in common,” Candy started.

  Mia looked over at her and confirme
d, “The judge.”

  “Judge Roumain visited with me a week ago. He explained that he wanted you to replace Father Acosta. He knew that I could sway the witches and the mediums. He was sure that Father Peter would be against you. The father fears that you, being Bevil’s niece, will make a mockery of what we do.”

  “I assure you, I take crossing over those that want to go as a very serious matter,” Mia reassured her.

  “I know this. My guide said, Candy Kane, my dear, you believe what the judge tells you. I’ve seen her in action.”

  “Really? Cool beans.” Mia knew better than to ask who Candy’s spirit guide was.

  “The judge, he means well, Mia. He shouldn’t be dabbling on this side of the things, but he’s bored.”

  “I have a good friend at home who gets bored too.”

  “Ah, is this the Stephen Murphy I have heard so much about?”

  “You’ve heard about Murphy? Now this has me intrigued.”

  “My spirit guide is a bit of a gossip,” Candy admitted.

  “Forgive my ignorance, but considering your calling, I’m a bit surprised.”

  “Don’t let Hollywood movies influence you, little bird. They get Voodoo confused with Vodou and Vodun. I practice Voodoo.”

  Mia was a bit too unbalanced by being called a little bird, Angelo’s pet name for her, to concentrate on what Candy was trying to tell her. She managed, “I seem to have a lot to learn.”

  “Don’t worry, as long as you respect the practitioner, you’ll do fine,” Candy said and winked at her.

  Mia thought about asking her about Alexei but felt somehow this would be breaking a trust, so she kept quiet. She did, however, ask, “Honor seems upset about the shift in spirit activity here. Are you worried too?”

  “Mia, after we finish tomorrow, you and Ralph need to come with me, and I’ll show you why we are upset. I think the old adage ‘seeing is believing’ will help you to understand our dilemma.”

  “I’ll plan on it. Ralph, however, will decide for himself. He’s not really my assistant. He’s my overprotective godfather.”

  Candy nodded. “Oh, I know. He is an easy one to read, Mia. But thank you for being honest with me. You honor me.”

  “Did you read his mind?”

  “Yes. I also must warn you there are others that read minds in this bunch.”

  “Wanda?”

  “She and Monique. Monique is a Satanist.”

  “Well there goes my Hollywood mind again. That soft-spoken grandmother is a Satanist? I would have never cast her as one.”

  “She’s a great grandmother, little bird.”

  Mia frowned.

  “Is there a problem? I assure you, Monique isn’t dangerous.”

  “No. It’s not Monique. It’s that you call me little bird. It’s kind of a sore spot with me. Why did that endearment come to mind?” Mia asked.

  “Mia Martin, you are a little bird or were or will be. The mark of the birdmen is upon you.”

  “Not by my choice,” Mia told her.

  “No, but it’s still there. You can and have used the power that was left there when the gray bird left you.”

  “It’s not my intention to take anything from that order,” Mia insisted.

  “Honey, is honey okay?”

  Mia nodded. She was used to tall people thinking she was a sweet little thing. Honey was better than little bird.

  “Honey, use the power. It won’t bind you to them. It is a gift. As is Judge Roumain’s interest. He, like your Ralph, protects you. We strong women aren’t lessened because male entities want to protect us. They need protecting too. The judge may need you someday. Don’t reject his help now,” she counseled.

  Mia could see that the woman was adamant about Mia accepting the magical world around her. She didn’t want to have an argument, so she simply nodded.

  This seemed to satisfy the older woman. She asked Mia to open her hand. “I hear that you don’t like spiders, so I’ll give you this.” Candy place a carved image of a snake in her hand and explained, “This snake is called Weebee, and Weebee eats spiders. Just squeeze the charm, and Weebee will come and eat that nasty spider, or anything else that tries to eat you.”

  “Thank you. I wish I could give you something in return,” Mia said.

  “Perhaps you will help me in the near future. There could be a battle ahead. I would like you to have my back.”

  “I’ll be there,” Mia promised.

  The door opened, and Ralph appeared with Yum-Yum and Monique on each arm. “Mia, these wonderful women have made my night. Becky has told me about a cream to battle these laugh lines of mine, and Monique has a recipe that will diminish my gout.”

  “I didn’t know you had gout,” Mia admitted.

  “Oh yes, one of the many burdens of growing old…”

  “And drinking too much wine,” Mia added. “Are you ready to leave? I’d like to call Ted before it gets too late,” she said as she texted George that she was ready to depart.

  “Ladies, if you will excuse me. I hope to see you tomorrow,” Ralph said graciously.

  Mia and Ralph moved down the long front walk, and by the time the gate was opened, George had pulled the sedan up. Mia and Ralph got in, and as they drove away, their last view of Honor’s home was the three witches standing arm-in-arm.

  Chapter Four

  Ted had insisted that Mia video call so that he and Brian could see her when she talked. Mia ran her hand through her hair before placing the call. She put the phone on speaker and leaned it against the alarm clock so she could see them and they could see her.

  “You’ve reached Ted and Brian’s video chat room,” Ted said before his image moved into focus. He was wearing a Chiefs hat on backwards and held up a sleepy Brian who had a smaller, softer version of the hat on his head, backwards too. “There’s your mommy!” Ted said and picked up the infant’s hand and waved it, voicing for Brian, “Hello, Mommy.”

  “Hello, boys. I miss you two so much!”

  Ted looked at Mia’s image on the large monitor and felt his heart beat faster. She was unused to using the smartphone for self-videos and unaware that her chest was the predominate feature on the screen. He touched his nose and shook his head. He bet that his nose was humongous. Although, he suspected that Mia was looking past his schnozzola to Brian, who had opened his eyes really wide and was saying, “Ah am ah am.”

  “He’s really talking up a storm now,” Mia observed. “I’ve only been gone a day, and he’s already talking.”

  “Minnie Mouse, I hate to burst your bubble, but he makes the same sound when he’s filling his diaper.”

  Mia watched as Ted lifted the boy up and smelled his behind. He put him back down, leaning him against his chest. “False alarm, he must have been just talking about pooping.”

  Mia laughed.

  “Where are you?” she asked, not being able to pinpoint the background behind Ted and Brian.

  “At the computer,” Ted said.

  “Which computer?”

  “The one in the command truck.”

  Mia looked at the time and then back at Ted who seemed to be sweating.

  “You took our son into the command truck, why?”

  “Because leaving him in the van would have been irresponsible.”

  Ted winced as Mia’s brows furrowed. She leaned into the phone and wiggled her fingers in a come here motion.

  Ted leaned in and smiled weakly.

  “Theodore Martin, you have five seconds to tell me why you took our three-month-old, premature child on a ghost hunt.”

  “I made sure he’s in a climate-controlled, ghost-proof environment.”

  “That’s not an answer,” Mia said, her voice dropping into you-better-tell-me-the-truth-or-else mode.

  “I couldn’t leave him with anyone. Yes, they were all available, but I wouldn’t be able to concentrate because I would be thinking, what’s Brian doing and stuff.”

  Mia looked at her contrite husband, and hard
as she tried, she couldn’t get angry at him. Hell, if she could have gotten it by Gerald, she would have had Brian in a front pack while she crossed over the lost.

  “Is Burt okay with this?” she asked.

  “He wasn’t pleased but said we could try it out. So far, Brian has behaved himself. I’ll take him home if you insist, but I’d really like for us to get through the investigation together. Please let him stay.”

  “Okay, but don’t keep him up too late.”

  Ted was flabbergasted. “Mighty Mouse, I didn’t think you’d be so, so, reasonable.”

  He saw her roll her eyes and shake her head.

  “I’m always reasonable, except when I’m not, but then I’m still reasonable,” she said with a wry look on her face.

  “Thank you, so much,” Ted gushed.

  “Where’s the hunt at?” Mia asked.

  Ted proceeded to tell her the particulars. “I was certain that we could debunk all the librarian’s claims, but then she and Cid found a head in a stack of books.”

  “A head?”

  Ted told her the tale, embellishing where needed.

  Mia watched him talk along with Brian who had become interested in the underside of Ted’s chin. He finished his tale and asked about her day. She gave him a concise picture of the trip there until Ralph arrived.

  “Ralph’s there?” he asked to make sure he heard her correctly.

  “Oh yes, he came in with a rolling rack full of clothes. I’m wearing one of the dresses,” she said, moving back so he could see more of her.

  “Something else arrived with Ralph,” Mia said.

  Ted could see the concern on her face, so he settled in and let Mia tell her story in her own time.

  “I think I’m going to try to seek out this so-called host tomorrow morning. Since Ralph is insisting on going, it will be late morning. He really enjoyed himself at dinner this evening.”

  “The ghost hunter part of me is really jelly at your opportunity to meet the Grand Duke. However, the husband part of me wishes you wouldn’t.”

  “I’m not thrilled about doing this either, but I can’t get over the feeling that Alexei is real and needs my help.”