NOLA

by Alexie Aaron

  “Yes, Murphy looked at bit worn out to me,” Ted said.

  “I was talking about…” She looked at the fading ghost and said, “nevermind.”

  “What’s in the mysterious envelope you have jammed in your new purse?” Ted asked.

  “Remember when I told you that Alexei Alexandrovich wanted to pay me to find his Mardi Gras mask?”

  “Yes, you refused.”

  “Well, he decided that he would get around my wishes by labeling it as a reward. I think he and Ralph cooked it up between them.”

  “The image of an old Russian Grand Duke and Ralph conspiring against you is quite delightful,” Ted said and shook his head, trying to contain his laughter. “You could always send it back.”

  “It would insult him. Besides, after what I went through, I think I’ll keep it.”

  “How much are we talking, Pumpkin?” Ted asked.

  “Ralph took fifteen percent. I thought he should have half.”

  “His fifteen percent would be how much?” Ted asked, angling to find out how much money was in that envelope. He had already calculated the size of the envelope, but he was stuck without knowing what denomination the stacks of cash were.

  “I didn’t want to be one of those sensitives who can be bought,” Mia stated, well aware Ted was on tenterhooks.

  “Anyone that knows you, can attest that you can’t be bought. Although, you did give a reading to Mike for a box of cookies once,” he reminded her.

  “Girl Scout mint cookies are no ordinary box of cookies,” Mia said, stalling.

  Ted put on his turn signal and pulled over to the side of the road. “Mia Cooper Martin, I’m going to throttle you unless you tell me how much cash is in that envelope.”

  Mia started to giggle. “A lot.”

  Ted put his head on the steering wheel in frustration.

  “Okay, I’ll tell you. Ralph’s cut was fifteen thousand dollars.”

  “You have eighty-five thousand dollars in your bag?”

  “I don’t know how much after taxes. Now that’s going to take some thinking. How do we tell the IRS it came from a ghost?” Mia mused.

  Ted was stunned.

  “Ralph suggested we put some away for Genius’s college and blow the rest on something for us.”

  Ted and Mia looked at each other and chorused, “A car!”

  Brian made noises that he was waking up. Ted pulled back onto the road while Mia sang, “We’re going to get a car,” softly. She stopped and said, “Can we afford a car and a deer-proof fence for Murphy’s seedlings?”

  Ted nodded. “I have been working on the problem but lacked the funds to put my plan into effect. With the extra cash, Murphy will have his tree sanctuary.”

  Murphy, who had been following the conversation with rapt interest, tapped his axe lightly to show his approval.

  ~

  Mia fed Brian and rocked him to sleep while Ted watched her from the doorway. He loved how gentle she was with their baby, yet he also knew how fierce she could be in battle. There was an amazon tucked up neatly in her very desirable body. He noticed that she favored one leg, and she promised to explain the injury tomorrow. Tonight, she just wanted to enjoy being home with her men.

  Mia laid Brian down and tiptoed out of the nursery. She looked up at her handsome husband and sighed.

  “Take me to bed or lose me forever,” she said softly.

  Ted scooped her up and paused a moment at the spot where Brian was conceived in the hall. He decided that he needed the bed tonight to show Mia just how much he missed her. He walked into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. He removed her clothing, kissing all the exposed skin. Mia gasped when he entered her, and as they moved together, Mia became part of Ted. She not only felt her ecstasy but his. Gone were her unfounded fears of Ted growing tired of her. They were replaced by emotions so deep and so erotic that it would be days before she could look at her husband without growing wet.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Mia looked over the footage and examined Audrey’s research. She had Jake run some footage over and over again. She could see the children Murphy had described. She saw a little more than the sketch that Murphy had given Audrey. The age-old wisdom of the sister was amazing. Greggy, too, had put the experience of his horrible death behind him. She watched Cid, very impressed with his natural ability to nurture. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see the children; he was every bit as emotional and protective of the Jones children as Audrey was.

  “They make a good team,” Mia mentioned to Ted, who was surfing the net looking for the perfect car.

  “I thought so. They’re not Mia and Ted, but they are well attuned to things that they can’t see. I wouldn’t be surprised if both of them were a little empathic.”

  “Everybody has a little of this and that inside of them,” Mia said in a voice almost too low to be heard.

  Ted was concerned. The Mia who came back was changed. Gone was fifty percent of her impatience, which was a good thing, but there were also moments when he caught her looking off into space and rubbing her leg.

  He knelt down and turned her chair around so she had to face him. He was more than a bit worried about the tears that flowed down her face. He took a moment to lock both the doors for privacy before coming back and drawing her to him.

  “What’s wrong, Minnie Mouse?”

  “I don’t want to tell you this. I just want you to continue to love me, and I fear after I explain some things, you’re not going to look at me the same way again.”

  He took both of her hands and said, “Tell me quickly.”

  “I’ve got demon genes, active demon genes.”

  Ted smiled. “I imagine all of us do.”

  “No, you’re not understanding me,” Mia argued. “I have enough demon in me that it attracts demons. My yellow-eyed telekinesis isn’t heaven sent.”

  “Slow down, I think you need to tell me everything.”

  “Judge Roumain…”

  “Wait, what does he have to do with this?”

  Mia explained her meetings with him and the conversation about floating genes, rejecting genes and attaching genes.

  Ted listened and cataloged the information, while using his big brain to suss out the important facts.

  “Seems to me that if we all have a little of this and that in us, and if you have the ability to tap into some of the power that comes with the yellow eyes, I see it as a good thing. I understand your worries, but I assure you, Mia, I will never love you more than I do right now. You seem to have superpowers, and you know how I love my superheroes.”

  Mia saw the sincerity in Ted’s face.

  “Roumain thinks that your genes protect Brian from inheriting my little problem.”

  “Your genes didn’t stop the kid from getting the Martin nose,” Ted argued.

  “I love that nose,” Mia said, reaching over and kissing the top of his. “It’s one of your superpowers.”

  “Now you’re going to have to explain that one,” Ted insisted.

  “It’s what attracted me to you.”

  “My nose?” he scoffed.

  “It’s the whole package. I can’t imagine you without that nose. Or that hat,” Mia added sarcastically.

  “The counter lady liked my hat.”

  “Oh she did, did she?”

  “Yes, she complimented Brian and me on our look.”

  “No more trips to the airport,” Mia said firmly.

  “But…”

  “No buts.”

  The twisting of the door knob was followed by a banging on the door to the workshop. “Come on, let me in,” Cid yelled.

  Ted got up. He stopped and looked at Mia one more time. “We’ll talk later, but I want to assure you that I love you, demon DNA and all.”

  “Thank you, Teddy Bear, I love you too.”

  “I know, what’s not to love?”

  Ted reached the door and looked at Cid through it. “Can I help you?”

  “Come on
, let me in, dude.”

  Ted opened the door, and Cid brushed by him and walked straight over to Mia. “Don’t you ever leave us alone with Ted again.”

  “Um, K. I’ll take him with me.”

  “No, you’re never to leave period,” he insisted.

  Mia angled her head. “Did you miss me, Cid Garrett?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Well, I’m here now, and I’m very impressed with your and Audrey’s work while I was gone. I don’t think PEEPs needs me anymore.”

  Cid paled. His mind was blown by the compliment, but the thought of Mia not being around to save their asses was too much to take.

  “Ted dear, I think Cid’s going to faint.”

  “Coming…” Ted walked over and guided the investigator into a seat at the conference table. “Put your head between your knees,” he suggested. “Mia’s not leaving PEEPs.”

  Something colorful caught Mia’s eye. She turned around and saw that Jake had decorated the screens with balloons with welcome home printed on them. She smiled. It felt good to be needed.

  Murphy stood watching Brian as he napped. Mia needed time to process all the PEEPs info on the library investigation, and he needed time to bond with his godson. He was amazed how much a child could change in just a few days. He understood Mia’s melancholy when she was away from Brian for so long. But the favors had to be repaid, and it was a good thing that they were in New Orleans at that moment in time. The soul eater, left undisturbed, would have gained so much momentum, it would have become impossible to stop.

  He reflected on the demon for whom Mia risked her life. He thought demons were vile things the devil made, but in actuality, they were just creatures much like birdmen. He wouldn’t go out of his way to deal with a full grown one, but this Sticks seemed to be an alright guy. But he was young, Mia said. Evidently, it took hundreds of years for a demon to come into full power. She estimated that Sticks was no more than a teenager, a bit rebellious and hormone driven. Murphy didn’t like to think that the thing had been attracted to Mia. Ted was bad enough.

  He felt two eyes on him. He looked down to see Brian staring at him.

  “Ooh ooh,” the child said excitedly. His little hands were reaching upwards.

  Murphy formed soft hands and raised the child up and cradled him in one arm. He tapped on the camera and said, “Mia, Brian’s awake.”

  “Well, I guess that’s my cue. I’ll be inside on diaper duty. Cid, I’ve got a recipe for gumbo for you to look at if you get a chance. I missed you too, by the way,” Mia said, pulling on her jacket.

  “Want me to go?” Ted asked.

  “No, I want to spend some quality time with Brain, dirty diapers and all,” she said.

  Ted and Cid watched her make her way to the farmhouse.

  “She’s quite a woman,” Cid said.

  “My woman,” Ted grunted.

  “I know,” Cid said.

  “How’s your woman?” Ted asked, changing the subject.

  “Fine, busy. Spring is home improvement time, and Marta’s inspections have doubled. I was thinking of asking her to attend the library’s Chocolate Lovers Challenge night.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  “Would you and Mia like to go?”

  “I’ll ask her, but Mia has a hard time in social situations,” Ted reminded Cid.

  “So do you,” Cid reminded Ted.

  Ted laughed. “You remember when you asked me to double with you and Cindy Snodgrass?”

  “Who were you with… Ah, Cathy Bonds. She was an interesting choice.”

  “She was my AP chem. lab partner.”

  “Did she ever get that cross-eyed thing fixed?” Cid asked.

  “Don’t know, she dumped me for Christopher what’s-his-name after a few dates.”

  “Anyway, here we were, waiting for you two at the roller rink, and you show up with Cathy, and she was sporting a corsage that you gave her.”

  “What did I know?” Ted said with raised hands. “It seemed like the Brady Bunch thing to do.”

  “She was miserable,” Cid said.

  “She could have taken that thing off,” Ted reasoned.

  “I don’t think she wanted to hurt your feelings.”

  “Do you think Mia would wear a corsage roller skating?”

  “For you, yes. And she’d blacken anyone’s eyes that said anything rude about it,” Cid added.

  Ted smiled. “Yes she would. Okay, who would win a catfight Mia or Catwoman?”

  “That’s a hard one. Mia is so much smaller, but she is meaner. I pick Mia,” Cid said. “How about Catwoman and Wonder Woman?”

  Jake wanted in on the discussion. He presented all the comic book facts and a few interesting graphics that had Ted diving to cover up when he heard the outside door open.

  “Are you boys watching porn again?” Burt teased and then saw the images and laughed. “Haven’t you moved on to real women yet?”

  “Have you?” Cid ventured.

  “No, but you should see what I’m drawing,” Burt said and then remembered that Ted was married to the heroine of the comic series Burt was creating.

  Cid quickly changed the subject. “I take it you’ve heard from Miss Hodges?”

  “Yes, indeed. She would like us to continue our investigation starting tomorrow night. I’ve called Mike and Audrey. I was hoping that Mia would be available…”

  “You can ask her,” Ted said. “She’s in the house. I showed her all the footage and data we’ve accumulated. She was very impressed with Cid and Audrey’s participation.”

  “I am too,” Burt said, patting Cid on the back. “It’s too bad you’re so ugly or we’d have you in front of the camera more,” Burt lied.

  “He’d break too many camera lenses,” Ted added.

  “You guys are so mean,” Cid said, believing them.

  Ted and Burt looked at the handsome investigator and shook their heads. Cid would probably never see himself beyond the thick coke-bottle lenses he used to wear. At least he was modest. It wouldn’t do to have another Mike Dupree in the group.

  ~

  “What is it that you do, that enables you to take me to long lunches without a problem?” Meg Armstrong asked Mike.

  The moment of truth had arrived. Truths had to be faced. Mike answered, “I’m a paranormal investigator. Actually, I’m one of the founding partners of PEEPs.”

  “I’ve heard of them. My nephew watches your show, I believe. I’ll have to get your autograph to send to him.”

  “Most of our investigations occur at night, so I’m free for lunch.”

  Meg took off her glasses and took out a little blue cloth from her purse and started to shine them. She worked on a spot and held them to the light before addressing the spot again.

  Mike looked at her without the glasses and wasn’t sure he liked how she looked without them. She was beautiful either way, but he liked the smart look the dark frames gave Meg. He never would’ve thought he’d have a spectacle fetish.

  “I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you,” he said.

  “Most guys would boast about it right from the get go,” Meg informed him.

  “There’s more,” Mike said.

  “Uh oh, you seem to want to spill all your secrets today,” Meg observed. “Spit it out, I can see it’s hurting you.”

  “My mother supports me. Ghost hunting doesn’t pay much, and she bought my condo.”

  “My dad bought mine. He wanted me out of the house to make room for Mrs. Armstrong number four. I make enough to get by, but I’d never be able to afford living in the city on my wages.”

  Mike sat back amazed. “You’re so honest.”

  “Us late bloomers are,” Meg said, pushing her food around her plate. “I didn’t want you to think I was a loser.”

  “I don’t. I kind of felt I was a loser.”

  “You’re not. We just don’t fit into society’s spots for us. I like that actually,” she said. “Changing the subject, I think t
here is a ghost in my old house, the one Father ousted me from.”

  “Do you want me and the team to take a look?”

  “Oh no. I want you to tell me how to rile the thing up. Give the bimbette a thrill or two.”

  “I take it you don’t like Mrs. Armstrong number four.”

  “No, I don’t. I liked one through three alright, but this last one is younger than I am. Gold digger through and through.”

  “Do you suspect she wanted you out more than daddy did?”

  “Oh, you can put money on that to win.”

  “But you do have your own condo,” Mike reminded her.

  “Yes, a nice consolation prize. Phew! I feel better now. How about you, Mike?”

  “I feel fantastic and hungry. Let’s order desert.”

  “So you do eat desert. I didn’t think you liked sweets.”

  “Sweets don’t like me,” he said, patting his stomach. “I’ve got to keep fit. The camera adds a few pounds.”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about cameras,” Meg said. “How about a large slice of decadent chocolate fudge cake?”

  “To split?”

  “Oh no, you get your own.”

  “Alright, two slices.” He raised his hand to get the waiter’s attention.

  “Mike, I have to warn you before we continue this relationship. I don’t intend to be the first of a series of Mrs. Duprees. Nor do I intend on keeping my thin figure either. So think hard before you ask me to lunch again.”

  “Fair enough,” he said, liking this upfront woman even more.

  ~

  Mia was uncrating a painting in the living room when Burt found her.

  “Do you need a hand with that?” he asked.

  “Yes I do, but you would be aiding and abetting,” Mia warned.

  Intrigued, Burt stepped up and held the crate while she pulled the brown-paper-wrapped square free. “Ralph bought this for us in New Orleans. He said he wanted Brian to be raised in a house where there was art on the walls.”

  Burt looked around at the various iconic science fiction and Marvel images and said, “You’ve got lots of art.”

  Mia hunched her shoulders. “I think you, Burt, like me, would fall under philistine in Ralph’s books.” Mia unwrapped the framed oil of the willow tree.