NOLA

by Alexie Aaron

  Tauni walked into the room. She was drying her hands on a dishtowel. “Sabine, why don’t you travel, physically, to the farm and help Stephen to present his recommendation?”

  “But the girls…”

  “They will survive. Besides, Holly has planned to take them over to Brian’s parents for the afternoon anyway. I’ll wait here for their return, just in case you decide to help out the PEEPs at the library.”

  “But…”

  “Go, you are needed.”

  “Please come. I can’t pay you unless you need wood cut or chores done,” Stephen offered.

  “Nonsense, the girl’s rolling in money. She needs a day out. All she has is us to talk to. You’d be doing her a favor,” Tauni insisted.

  Murphy looked over at Sabine. He could tell she was fighting with herself. She actually seemed to be whispering back and forth as if consulting someone else. Mia talked about Sabine being different, and this was Murphy’s first time viewing Sabine in action, aside from when she took on Whitney’s wife’s spirit at Rose’s house. “I’d like to go but driving…”

  Tauni picked up the phone. “Gerald, this is Tauni Cerise. Sabine would like to visit the Martins. Can you have a car at her disposal? Yes, what time?”

  “The meeting is at three,” Murphy said.

  “Have the car ready for two this afternoon. Thank you, Gerald.” Tauni hung up the phone and looked at Sabine. “No other excuses.”

  Sabine’s face flushed with color. “I guess I’m coming to the meeting, Stephen.”

  Murphy smiled and nodded a thank you to Tauni.

  “Would you like to stay for breakfast or do you need to get back?” Sabine asked.

  Murphy looked at the batteries and grinned. “I need to get back, but I’ll wait until after the girls have finished their meal.”

  “Oh, that’s right, that’s the entrance to the Sabine/Martin express line,” Sabine said with delight. “How about you and I talk about your plans for the farm? Did Ted get you any coyote piss?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mia opened her eyes. It took a minute for her to realize where she was, then what day it was, and finally, who she was. She pondered all the information that she had learned the night before from Judge Roumain. On a caffeine-starved brain, she had trouble making heads or tails, sorting out what was important for now and what was important to deal with in the future. She rolled over and looked at the time. She was surprised to see that it was eleven AM.

  Mia grabbed her phone. She saw that Ralph had left her a message that he had a video conference to attend, but he would be available for lunch after one. The Guiding Light Commission wasn’t due to meet until three, so Mia had a few hours to herself this morning. She approached and puzzled over the in-room coffee pot. She managed to get it working but was irritated that it only made two cups of marginal coffee at a time.

  Mia stretched, and aside from the damage to her right leg, she was feeling fit. She opened the drapes and turned a chair around, taking a moment to appreciate the view. She plopped down in the soft chair and put her feet up on the desk as she watched the lazy movement of boats on the Mississippi river, sipping her coffee. “I don’t have time for everything today, so I’m going to be an adult and report to Alexei and give him a more realistic timetable.”

  Mia dialed Susannah Wintour’s number.

  “Wintour residence,” Jane answered.

  “Jane, this is Mia Martin. I’d like to leave a message for Alexei.”

  “Hold on, I’ll grab a pen… Okay, fire away.”

  “Tell him that I contacted the judge and am working on a solution to the problem. If possible, could he or Susannah arrange for me to have the museum to myself tomorrow morning? Wait, I’ll need a guide.”

  “Is that all?”

  “I think so.”

  “I’ll make sure the individual gets the message. You have yourself a nice day now,” Jane said and hung up.

  Mia looked at her phone a moment before setting it down on the desk. “Goodbye to you too.”

  Her phone rang, and she picked it back up, expecting it to be Alexei but was surprised to see Sabine’s number.

  “Hello, Sabine,” Mia said enthusiastically.

  “Mia, this is Sabine.”

  Mia rolled her eyes and said, “Hello, Sabine, it’s nice for you to call.”

  “I’m calling to ask your advice.”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  “I’m going to be at today’s PEEPs meeting, acting as an interpreter for Stephen. What do you wear to a meeting? I don’t want to look like an odd duck.”

  Mia was surprised by Sabine not only being at the meeting, but for going in the first place. “If I were you, I’d wear casual pants and a nice sweater. Ted keeps the conference room colder because of the computers. Does Ted know you’re coming?” she asked.

  “I hope so. Stephen knows. Should I call him?”

  “No, dear, I’ll call him and make sure Murphy followed through. It’s nice for you to help out.”

  “Stephen depends on you to be his voice, Mia. Since you can’t, he asked if I would mind. Tauni Cerise pretty much kicked me out.”

  “Would you like to catch a ride with Mike?” Mia asked.

  “Oh no, I have a car and driver. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone. How are you doing in New Orleans?”

  “Barely holding my own. The other mediums and sensitives are much more experienced.”

  “Don’t let them bully you. Bev says you’re the most talented sensitive she’s seen in a long time.”

  “After you, Sabine, after you.”

  “Mia, that is so sweet, but I’ve not been on the job in some time. The only thing I need my abilities for these days is to keep Leta and Nura from picking on Maisha.”

  “Ah, the little witches are ganging up on the healer,” Mia mused. “How about you let me have Maisha for a weekend, and I’ll teach her some survival skills.”

  “Would you?” Sabine responded, her voice barely sounding above her excited breathing. “I know that they aren’t much more than a year old, but sometimes I feel like I’m dealing with old souls. And in Leta’s case, it’s an old burlesque comic.”

  Mia laughed. “All the girls are such dears. We’ll get this sorted out,” Mia promised.

  “Well, I better get going. Thank you, Mia, for sharing,” Sabine said.

  “You’re welcome, Sabine.” Mia ended the call. She next called Ted, and he answered in a sleepy voice.

  “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “Don’t be, I had to wake up and answer the phone anyway.”

  “Old joke,” Mia said.

  “You’re an old joke,” Ted countered.

  “You’re an old joke times three,” Mia played.

  “Damn, I forgot how good you were at this.”

  “Are you awake enough to remember what I tell you?” Mia asked.

  “Hold on.”

  Mia heard the pop of a can tab and the hiss of the Dr. Pepper he was downing in three gulps.

  “Okay, I feel more like Ted. Go ahead.”

  “Murphy has invited Sabine to the PEEPs meeting. Smooth it over with Burt please.”

  “Sabine… coyote piss, Sabine?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Shit, I promised her I’d order some deer repellant for Murphy. I better put that on my list too. So Sabine’s coming to the meeting?”

  “Murphy has some stuff to tell you all but finds talking too taxing.”

  “I imagine so. How’d he get in touch with Sabine? Can he use the phone?”

  “No, I expect he used the ley line.”

  “Ley line instead of landline, I think he’s becoming very social.”

  “Our little man is growing up,” Mia teased.

  “Okay, Sabine’s coming, and I need to order some piss. Speaking of, I have to go. Love you bunches, Minnie Mouse.”

  “Back at you, Teddy Bear,” she said and ended the call. Mia typed in the url to Brian’s baby monitor.<
br />
  The morning light filled the nursery. Mia could see Brian moving his hands in front of him. Ted had reported that Mrs. Braverman and Mike thought that their son was using hand signals to communicate. She wondered who Brian was talking to or about at this moment. Ted was in the bathroom. Was it Cid? Brian began to rise up out of the crib, and Mia knew that Murphy was there with him. No wonder the kid was so easy to raise. Murphy had stepped in when she and Ted were too tired to hear the little shaver. Mia thought about her misty mom, and a tear rolled down her face. She and Brian were very lucky people to have these nurturing entities looking out for them.

  ~

  Honor sat down again and tried to contact her spirit advisor. Nothing. It was a few hours before the group was to meet, and she needed the information her guide was supposed to collect. Nothing. Honor tried all methods to get in touch with the spirit who liked to be called Champagne. Worried, she called Monique.

  “Hello, Honor,” Monique said in her soft, singsong voice.

  “I’m having trouble contacting Champagne. I don’t know if I’m blocked or if something else is going on. Could you contact your guide and see if she will look over our planned route to see if anything has changed, spirit-wise?

  “I’d be glad to. I’ll also see if Mimi can make contact with Champagne.”

  “I would appreciate it, dear. I’m most worried.”

  Champagne wasn’t the only spirit Honor had on the ether payroll, but she was the most reliable. The thing about spirits who speak to the living is, they could be lying to you as sure as they were telling the truth. People who used witch boards no doubt had encountered such spirits. Honor reached out and tried to contact one of the others. Nothing. Either all the spirits had left town, or Honor had lost her power as a medium.

  Monique sat in the middle of the daybed in her office. She curled her legs under her and relaxed her mind. Gone were the troubles of day-to-day living. Gone was the arthritis that had a firm hold on her. All that was left was an alert mind cruising the ether in search of Mimi Delarosa, former jammer for the Memphis Maulers, a B listed roller derby team from the sixties. Mimi had had showbiz aspirations but also a need to knock a few chicks around. Roller derby to her was the obvious solution. It was exciting, and her overwhelming sense of balance came in handy. Alas, Mimi’s career was cut short by a small little nail head. The newly constructed track for the Windy City Rollers was having a problem adjusting to the erratic temperatures. Nails popped. One that did caught Mimi’s teammate’s skate and started a chain reaction that ended up sending Mimi flying off the track, landing on top of the Middle States regional trophy, breaking her back and piercing her heart with the little blocker on top.

  Monique and Mimi met during an experiment with peyote. Monique was seeking spirit gossip, and Mimi had a lot to tell. The two hit it off and had been friends ever since.

  Mimi rolled into the ether and settled behind Monique. “Yeah, whatcha want?”

  “Champagne has gone AWOL, and I need the information she was collecting for Honor.”

  “You mean Miss Goody Two-Shoes hasn’t appeared? Impossible.”

  “There’s strange things going on in N’awlins. Spirits disappearing. I’m worried that there is mischief afoot.”

  “Now, don’t be talkin’ like no G damn Sherlock Holmes, Monique. You’ll confuse me.”

  “I happen to know you have a Wellesley education,” Monique reminded her.

  “Very well, let’s see what I can do.”

  Mimi rolled away. Monique got up and walked into the kitchen where the mornings breakfast dishes were waiting for her. She pulled on the purple plastic gloves and began to run the hot water. Mimi rolled in behind her and drew her away from the sink.

  “No Champagne, no St. Mary Street crawler, no nothing. They’re all gone.”

  “What do you mean they’re all gone?”

  “There ain’t a spirit regular, or newbie for that matter, in the French Quarter. There’s no trace of the demons, no trail, no witnesses, nothing, nothing, nothing.”

  “This is most distressing. Okay, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to scout out today’s walk for me. I know it’s beneath your talents, but we’re in a bind. We only have today to clear out the emerging disturbers.”

  “Don’t be singing that song to me, dear. I know. Who’s been having your back for the last fifty years?”

  “Thank you, Mimi. When we’re done, I think you and I deserve a vacation. Pick a place far from here, and I’ll pack a bag.”

  “Don’t worry, you can count on me.”

  Monique waited until Mimi had rolled away before going back to her dishes. The rising bubbles from the dish soap normally tickled her sense of humor as they tickled her nose, but worry had filtered away happy thoughts and filled her mind with concern. The French Quarter without the dead was like a Twinkie without the filling. Could all the resident spirits have decided to seek their reward? Or were they forced into purgatory? A frown formed, and Monique started to ponder whether one of the Guiding Lights was overstepping their calling. Or could Fredericka’s granddaughter be the cause? Whatever it was, she feared for Mimi and longed to hear her roll back into her consciousness.

  ~

  Audrey pulled into the farm drive and marveled at how much the countryside could change in a few days. The trees had dressed themselves in brilliant green, and the twisted blackberry vines had new growth starting. The world was constantly making itself over. “Makeover, I wonder if I need one?” she said, glancing quickly in the rear view mirror. “Matt’s okay with the curls, but they are so dated.”

  Audrey pulled into the first available parking spot and reached over to pick up her briefcase and stacks of research materials. She looked up to see a pale visage looking in at her. The icy Nordic looks reminded Audrey of Mia, but Mia wasn’t supposed to be back for two more days. The pale blue eyes stared unblinking back at her.

  “Sabine?” she asked.

  “Yes, Audrey, it’s me!” Sabine’s excited but muffled voice bounced off the closed window.

  Audrey unlocked the door, and Sabine opened it and asked, “Can I help you carry anything in?”

  “Sure, I can always use a hand.”

  Sabine lifted the heavy pile of paper copies like they were air. The thin arms Audrey remembered were now well defined with muscle.

  Audrey got out and walked over to the woman. “I haven’t seen you since…”

  “You came and visited me with Mia. Thank you for the flowers you and your parents sent. Brian’s family was very impressed that I had so many friends.”

  “I didn’t know you were going to be here?”

  “I didn’t know I was either, until yesterday. Stephen asked me to interpret for him. I called Mia, and she thought it would be alright.”

  “You’re most welcome,” Audrey said awkwardly. “Does Burt know?”

  “Ted said he called him. Although, Burt was rather surprised when I met him at the car.”

  “Did you just stand there and stare at him like you did at my car?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, how to put this delicately? You kind of resemble a ghost. My first thought was, you were Mia’s ghost.”

  Sabine giggled.

  Audrey was relieved. Last thing she wanted to do was upset the fragile woman.

  “Oh dear. I am pretty pale. Perhaps I should use some makeup.”

  “Or get a tan. Nope, I imagine you’re a burner like Mia. I think you should just get used to surprising people. You’re perfect the way you are. Taller than I remembered,” Audrey said, looking up.

  “It’s these boots. I call them my away-from-the-girls boots. I would never be able to keep up with them in these things.”

  Audrey looked down and saw the expensive, high-heeled footwear and sighed. “I wish I could afford those.”

  “I know a guy that can get them real cheap.”

  “You’re beginning to sound like Shem.”

  “Uncle Gerald?” This bro
ught another giggle from Sabine. “I guess it runs in the family.”

  They had reached the office where Cid was standing patiently, holding the door open for the women.

  “Thank you, Cid,” Sabine said in her singsong voice.

  Audrey watched the investigator blush. Surely Cid had been exposed to Sabine before. Was it the soft, cashmere sweater which reminded men that Sabine was more than a fragile waif but a well-formed woman? Being a mother had taken the sharp edges off of the thin girl. Sabine looked less and less like a watercolor and more like an oil.

  Burt was manning the coffee machine, and Audrey was given a cup as she sat down. Mike was arguing with Ted over editing out a closeup.

  “But, dude, you’ve got a zit on your chin.”

  “So, everyone has zits.”

  The room hushed, and the investigators looked over at Mike in shock.

  Sabine, not used to Mike’s vanity, looked back and forth, trying to figure out what was wrong.

  “You told me that if any film hit the show which showed any physical flaw of yours, you would make me swallow a flash drive. And, dude, they are hell on the colon,” Ted defended.

  “Oh, I see,” Sabine said. “You’re talking about Mike’s former narcissistic attitude.”

  Everyone turned from staring at Mike to looking at Sabine and back again.

  “She’s right. Sorry, guys, but life’s too short to worry about a zit. A double chin, yes, but a zit is a zit, after all.”

  Audrey patted the seat beside her. “Come sit next to me, Superwoman.”

  Sabine sat down, pleased that, at least by Audrey, she had been welcomed.

  Murphy moved into the room and stood across from Sabine.

  “Hello, Stephen.”

  Ted turned around and nodded to Murphy.

  Burt cleared his voice. “I guess we’re all here, so let’s get started. First, I’d like to welcome Sabine. She’s sitting in as Murphy’s interpreter today.”

  The group nodded at Sabine, causing her to blush faintly.

  “Second, we need to hear from Audrey on the who’s who.”

  “More like the ghoul’s who,” Ted quipped.