Mystere

by Carolina Mac

  “Down at the end,” said Luke. “She’s been here for years and I’ve seen her before. That woman is Zara.”

  When they worked their way through the crowd of tourists and managed to reach Zara’s tent, Farrell was thankful for the shade.

  She glanced up from the doll she was making as they came in. “Gentlemen, do you wish me to read for you?” Zara had skin the color of coal and eyes as bright green as a gecko. A startling combination. Farrell stared.

  “Misty LeJeune is missing,” he spit out the words. “Can you tell me where she is?”

  In a deep, gravelly voice, Zara responded, “The black-haired boy was here looking for her and I told him.”

  “Maybe he didn’t understand,” said Farrell. “Could you look into your crystal ball or whatever you do and give me an update?”

  Luke’s eyes widened.

  “Fifty dollars is my fee.”

  Farrell raised an eyebrow. “Fifty bucks?”

  Zara shrugged and the chains of crystals around her neck tinkled together.

  Farrell opened his wallet and pulled out two twenties and a ten. He laid the money on the table and Zara picked it up. Her hands were huge with long curling nails painted in the same bright green as her eyes.

  She turned her head, focused on Luke and said, “The one with the damaged soul should take the choice he was offered.”

  Luke sucked in a breath and nodded his head.

  Farrell glanced at Luke, realized his partner had lost all color and wondered if Luke was going to faint.

  Zara closed her eyes and sat perfectly still.

  Farrell sat silently watching her and wondering if his fifty bucks was down the drain.

  Same deep voice, she began speaking. “Matthias desires the LeJeune book of shadows and will stop at nothing. He searches.” She stopped and inhaled sharply. “The book is hidden. Its location known only to the last of the line. She is trapped and soon the last and most powerful of the LeJeunes will succumb.” Zara opened her green eyes and stared at Farrell.

  What the hell does that mean?

  “Is Misty trapped?” asked Farrell. “Where is she?”

  “You passed close to her today. You were there and failed to help her.”

  Farrell jumped to his feet. “I’d help her if I knew where the hell she was,” he shouted.

  “She must be in the house,” said Luke. “Let’s go.”

  The Old Stonehouse. Smithville.

  JESSE sat across from Jan Wagner, happy that she’d finally agreed to a real date. The pretty dark-haired doctor had helped him achieve a new level of health and now that he was stronger, maybe their relationship would get rolling. It had taken a long time to get off the ground with her holding back because of his health every time he tried to move forward. In the weeks he’d been seeing her on a personal level, all he’d done was kiss her a few times. He wanted more. A solid loving relationship was what he needed.

  The waiter brought their drinks and Jesse ordered the prime rib for both of them. Specialty of the house and it was always cooked to perfection.

  Jan sipped her vodka cooler and smiled across the table at him. “This is a lovely restaurant, Jesse. She touched the white tablecloth and pointed at the vase of flowers. I’ve never been here before.”

  I rarely bring anyone here. It holds too many memories for me.

  “You seem quiet tonight,” she said. “Is everything going well for you?”

  “We had a busy day at work. A lot of activity, and thanks to you, I’m able to work a full day a couple times a week.”

  “Police work is one of the most stressful occupations. I’m not happy you chose to go back even part time.”

  “Hey, I quit smoking. You got your way on that one.”

  “I’m proud of your effort. You’ll start feeling the benefits soon, I’m sure.”

  “The crazy thing is, I don’t even miss smoking. I passed the book along to Blacky.”

  “He’s your young partner, right?”

  Jesse nodded.

  “I hope the book helps him too.”

  The waiter arrived with their salads and there was little conversation until the coffee arrived at the end of the meal.

  “Thank you for the lovely dinner, Jesse, and I don’t know how to say this without hurting you, but I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

  Jesse was surprised by her words, but more surprised that he felt nothing when she said them. “You have a reason you’d like to share?” His voice had an edge he hadn’t intended.

  “You sound angry.”

  “More surprised than angry. What’s the reason?”

  “I’m moving in with a friend. I’ve known her for a long while and we’re attracted to each other.”

  Jesse stared and tried to digest the information. Suddenly he wished he’d had more to drink. A lot more.

  “Okay, I’m processing it,” he said, “and if that’s where you’re headed, I wish you all the best.”

  “I’ll still see you as a patient, Jesse. I wouldn’t want you to lose all the progress you’ve made.”

  “I’m okay with it.” He smiled. “A helluva lot better than I’d be if you were tossing me over for another man.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  THE CREW were in the kitchen having a beer before they went home for the day. Blaine was standing in front of the Sub-Zero helping himself to another Corona when Cat called.

  “Hey, sweetie, congrats on the sweep. You had a busy day.”

  “Yeah, we did, Cat. Overall, it went well.”

  “You have new team members I haven’t met, and today after your success, it seems like a good time to meet them and to celebrate a little at the same time.”

  “It does?”

  “I want all of you to come over for drinks and I’ll order some pizzas.”

  Blaine chuckled. “Okay, I think we can do that.”

  “What are we doing, boss?” asked Travis.

  “Drinking beer and eating pizza at Cat’s house.”

  Saint Gillian Street. New Orleans.

  ARMED WITH a bag of newly purchased tools, Farrell unlocked the back door of Misty’s house and flicked the light switch. It wasn’t dark yet, but the sun was setting, and it soon would be. Nothing happened. The hall light didn’t come on.

  “Blacky said he had the power turned on for the property management woman,” said Farrell, “but the lights aren’t coming on.”

  “Good thing we bought flashlights,” said Luke.

  “Yeah, good thing, but having nothing but flashlights might slow us down.”

  “Where do you want to start?” asked Luke.

  “Might as well start here and work our way to the front of the house. We have to account for every inch of space. Then we’ll move upstairs.”

  Governor Campbell’s Private Residence. West Austin.

  BLAINE AND TRAVIS both drove to the Governor’s house and transported the others.

  “Can hardly believe the Governor invited us over for pizza,” said Peyton. “Doesn’t seem real.”

  “She’s lonely and bored right now,” said Blaine, “and I’m her go-to. Not that I want to be.” He gave a little laugh but found no humor in it. “Her gunshot wound is almost healed, and she’s getting antsy.”

  “I have a few policy questions I’d like to discuss with her,” said John, “but maybe I’ll save them until I know her a little better.” He laughed and that was a first. Hilder was a serious guy most of the time.

  Two state security agents stood on the front porch when they arrived and checked all their ID’s before letting them in the house.

  Cat stood in the foyer dressed in jeans and a black sweater, a corner of the white bandage underneath her sweater showing in the vee. Her red hair had been cut and styled since he’d last seen her and her weight was down. She was pale and thinner than Blaine had ever seen her. Too thin. He pulled her into a gentle hug and whispered, “You’re too fuckin pale. You need more rest.”


  She smiled. “Introduce me to all the new recruits, then I’ll get everybody drinks.”

  After everybody was acquainted and had settled in with a drink, John Hilder seemed less intimidated and more attentive to her Governorship than the rest. He was in his forties and closer in age than anyone else and he chatted at length to her.

  The doorbell rang. The pizzas arrived, and it was party time.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Friday, April 10th.

  Saint Gillian Street. New Orleans.

  IT WAS AFTER one a.m. when Luke found the discrepancy in the third bedroom they measured on the second floor.

  “There’s five feet missing between this bedroom wall and the wall in the next room. You can’t notice it because in the hallway, there’s a linen closet with a door, but that closet is only two feet deep.”

  They were handicapped working with flashlights and fumbling along mostly by feel. Everything was out of perspective. “I wish we had some goddam light,” hollered Farrell. “How are we gonna find the way in?”

  “We’ll find the way,” said Luke. “You take the wall in the next bedroom and I’ll do this one. Search every inch for a hidden button or hinge or a join in the wood that doesn’t belong.”

  “Okay, you’re right. We’ll find it.”

  Farrell searched with the flashlight and by feel for the next hour and he didn’t find anything. “What if she’s in there and she’s not dead and we don’t find a way in?” He tore at his hair and went back to searching. He’d done the walls twice and now as a last resort he was feeling every inch of the ten-inch high baseboard. His fingers felt the rough spot where the two pieces of wood didn’t meet perfectly. He grabbed the light and shone it on the spot. “Luke, get in here and help me.”

  Luke came running from the bedroom next door. “What did you find?”

  “I don’t know. Shine your light here.”

  “Okay, I see it. Did you press it?”

  “I did, and nothing happened.”

  “Okay, let’s play around with it.” Luke dropped to his knees and fiddled pushing on one side of the join and then the other.

  Farrell heard the click and a piece of the wall rolled back into itself leaving a narrow doorway. He shone his light into the pitch-black interior of the small space and there she was.

  Misty was tied up with wide black ribbon, wrapped head to foot and a piece in her mouth for a gag. She wasn’t moving.

  “Is she alive?” asked Luke.

  “Don’t know,” said Farrell. “I hope to God she is.” He pressed 911 and gave the street address.

  “I’ll get her out of there,” said Luke, “and carry her downstairs. The ambulance will come to the front.”

  While they waited in the dark in the front foyer for first response, Luke held the light and Farrell used his boot knife to cut all the ribbons away from Misty.

  “Should you call the boss?” asked Luke.

  “Nope, not yet,” said Farrell. “He’ll fire a hundred questions at me and expect me to know the answers. We need to know more.”

  “I’ll stay here with the scene and you go in the ambulance,” said Luke. “We’ll meet at our hotel when we’re both finished.”

  “Yep, you’ve got the keys to the Jeep?”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE was dead asleep when his phone rang. Exhaustion, plus too much beer from the night before kept him from opening his eyes. The phone kept on ringing and he grabbed for it. He checked the time. Five a.m.

  Farrell.

  It was Farrell. His heart almost jumped out of his chest. “What, tell me you found her?”

  “Good and bad. We found her, bro. You better come.”

  Blaine shook off his pending hangover, woke right up and sat on the side of the bed. “How bad is it?”

  “It’s bad. She’s in a coma.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Let me know the flight time and Luke and I will pick you up.”

  “Right, that makes sense. I’ll look now for a flight.”

  He’s not telling me much. It must be terrible. Fuck.

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  JESSE was in the dining room eating breakfast with his brothers when Blacky called.

  “Hey, you’re calling early. What’s up?”

  “Farrell found Misty in New Orleans. She’s in a coma and I have to go. I have a flight at ten, so I’ll start everybody before I leave. They’ll be drowning in paperwork from yesterday, but maybe you can check on them later. Travis will have a handle on them.”

  “Sure. I can do that. I’ll be at headquarters anyway interviewing. There’s another dozen that haven’t been questioned yet.”

  “Great. I have to pack, speak to the team then Lil is driving me to the airport.”

  “Call me with an update when you get there.”

  “I will, partner. I’m coming unglued right now.”

  “I understand.”

  Louis Armstrong International Airport. New Orleans.

  LUKE AND FARRELL sat in arrivals waiting for Blaine’s plane to touch down. It was on time and there were no problems reported.

  Farrell had called the trauma center twice already and both times they’d told him the same story. Misty was breathing on a respirator, still in a coma and doing as well as could be expected. Her doctor had said her chances were slim to none. None of these details had been conveyed to his foster brother. Farrell couldn’t bear to tell Blacky Misty probably wouldn’t make it. She’d been deprived of fluids way too long according to her doctor and it would take a miracle to save her.

  Blacky came blasting through the arrival doors with an overnight case in his hand, unshaven in the last twenty-four, his black hair flying and his expression telling the tale. He was stressed to the max.

  Farrell stood up and gave him a hug.

  “Hey, guys. Thanks for picking me up. Anywhere we could get a decent coffee?”

  “Sure,” said Luke. “We’ll get you one, boss.”

  “Thanks for finding her,” Blaine said as he climbed into the back seat of the Jeep Wrangler. Luke was driving. “Before you tell men any of Misty’s details I have to tell Farrell something.”

  “What is it, bro? You sound bummed.”

  “One of your informants was killed, bro, and that’s the last thing I want to tell you.”

  “Who?” asked Farrell. “Not Taffy.”

  “Taffy,” said Blaine. “I’m so sorry.”

  Farrell fell silent and Blaine spoke to Luke. “Tell me all the details about Misty.”

  “I’ll tell you while Luke finds the coffee.” Farrell twisted around in the shotgun seat to see his brother and recounted everything they’d done since they arrived in the big easy.

  Blaine listened without interrupting.

  “You guys did great. Better than I did.”

  “There’s still some murdering creep out there named Matthias that we have to find. He tried to kill Misty to get her father’s spell book.”

  “Jeeze,” said Blaine. “Who would want an old book that bad?”

  Farrell wasn’t good with Taffy being sacrificed, but he was covering it up well. It would come out later when Blaine least expected it.

  University Trauma Centre. New Orleans.

  BLAINE stood beside Misty’s bed in the ICU looking down at her pale face wondering what he could have done to prevent this tragedy from happening.

  Why does she always run off on her own? Doesn’t she trust me?

  It felt like only seconds before a nurse tapped him on the shoulder and told him his time was up. He couldn’t have another moment with her for a whole hour.

  At the nurses’ station he asked for Doctor Lee Chang and was told he wouldn’t be available until the following morning when he came for rounds.

  “Who is going to watch Misty until then?” asked Blaine.

  The head nurse smiled. “We are, sir. We’ll call the doctor if there are any changes. Don’t worry.”

  Don’t
worry? You gotta be out of your mind.

  The three of them hung out in the cafeteria and ate the lunch special while Blaine waited for an hour to pass. After the food was consumed, they retired to the smoking area and Blaine made calls. He’d already called Mrs. LeJeune before he left Austin and she was trying to get a flight from upper New York State.

  “Mom, Farrell and Luke found Misty.” He filled her in on the details and Annie began sobbing.

  “Don’t cry, Mom. Just think good thoughts for her. You have to be strong for tonight. Talk to Travis. He has the poker strategy all organized.”

  “Okay, don’t worry. We can handle it.”

  Jeeze, Mom. I hope you can. You’ve been a little off center lately.

  Blaine ended Annie’s call, called Carm and talked to her in Spanish. She was crying too when he hung up.

  Missing persons was the third call he made, telling them Misty had been found, and she was in the hospital.

  “Okay, after my five minutes in ICU, we’ll go to the house and look at the crime scene.”

  Saint Gillian Street. New Orleans.

  THE CRIME SCENE van was parked in the back lane and the techs were laboring on the second floor with makeshift lighting.

  Blaine introduced himself and asked what they’d found so far.

  “Lots and lots of prints, but hard to tell how old they are. This house is very old, and this little hidden room might not have been touched in years.”

  “Take my card and please copy my office on anything you have.”

  Blaine spent a moment in the bedroom examining the wall where the secret door was. “The mechanism is old, but it still works, obviously.”

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  TYLER was shaving in his ensuite before the poker game at Mark Selecky’s when Jesse stuck his head in.

  “I think I might go with y’all to the game. Molly said she’d listen for Charity and I’m kind of at loose ends since I got dumped.”

  Tyler looked in the mirror at his older brother. “The doc dumped you?”

  “It seems I’m batting from the wrong side of the plate and Jan is moving in with a woman.”