CHAPTER TEN: Pour Yourself Some Southern Comfort
"Here, we brought these for you, " Marie Katerina said as she sailed through the door of The Coffee Beans and Rice and handed Kenois Tous Tous a stack of photographs. "We knew you had to work today. So we snapped these on the digital camera and printed them off so you could see what Jacques put together for the Queen's gown."
Jacques walked in right behind Marie Katerina. He came over and gave Kenois a kiss on the cheek. "It's going to be fabulous, love. The Krewe of Muses will be the talk of the town."
Kenois shouted back to Dermot who was working feverishly behind the counter. "Dermot, how a round of lattes and some po'boys dressed when you get a breather?"
* Most people didn't work on the Monday before Mardi Gras. With half the town getting outfits ready for the Mardi Gras Gala that evening and the other half gearing up for the Krewe of Krewes parade through Mid-Town, many people took the day off of their paying job and focused on Mardi Gras activities. Many of them also went to the restaurants and coffee shops to eat, drink and eat some more. So it was a busy day at The Beans and there was a full shift working.
Kenois shuffled through a couple of the photos and looked confused. "I don't get it. What are all these parts? Is there a dress in here somewhere?"
Jacques grabbed the stack and shuffled through them until he found the right ones. "Silly us. There's one in here… Ah, here it is! I had to build it in pieces because it doesn't fit through a standard door. This is the entire costume assembled. Doesn't Marcy look grand!"
Kenois looked closely at the piece then her eyes widened. "My God! It's big!"
"Exactly," Jacques said, pounding the table, looking triumphant. "Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, should reach up to the sky!" Dermot came by with a tray of coffees and Jacques took the one offered him. "Thank you, young man. I've been up all night."
Jacques had worked at Raven's throughout the night, taking just short cat naps to refresh himself. Despite the lack of sleep, he looked alert and very sophisticated in a short silk jacket, simple black trousers and a well cut lavender silk shirt. Even though he looked way too sophisticated for Lake Charles, there was something about his likeable energy and excitement that verved through the coffee shop.
The members of the Krewe of Muses learned early in the process of putting the Queen's dress together that they should just do what Jacques told them to do. In turn, Jacques wisely assigned tasks to each according to her strength. Anna Marina was the primary seamstress; Marie Marguerite beaded pieces as they were finished; and Marie Katerina painted accessories and would be in charge of makeup. The gown was truly a joint effort, but Jacques was the indisputable engineer and creator.
The dress in the photograph hung over a dressmaker's dummy in many of the photos, though the last three showed Marcy fully dressed and modeling. The costume featured a full-length, flowing skirt made of indigo satin charmeuseand belted with a silver silk cord. She wore a bustier-like vest of intricate beading and star patterns over a long sleeve crew neck blouse of confetti dot sequined lace, beaded with clusters of tiny pearls. On her head, Marcy wore a headdress of a stiff gold lamé that featured a crown spreading out in six points and sported bright spangles at each point bursting forth with scarlet and gold.
The most stunning piece of the outfit was a beaded, sequined silver and midnight blue shoulder piece that formed a huge fan behind her, appearing like a like a thickly woven spider's web and spanning a nearly four feet semi-circle in the back. There were nine ribs forming parallel arcs and each had a small orb of shimmering silver light that transversed the rib. A train flowed from the shoulder piece and was held up by two silver painted scepters that were designed and painted in the manner of Greek classical structure.
"You can't tell from the pictures, but that is fiber optics ribbing that looks makes it look like the planets orbiting the sun. It's the most amazing material. That headdress -- that's the sun. Here, check this one out." Marie Marguerite searched for another photo in the pile. " This is the scepter. It's that same light plastic tubing material covered with the indigo fabric in the dress, but we found one of those $15 cheap disco balls made up with all the little mirrors and we wired it to the top. When Marcy gets to the front of the judges' stand for the final presentation, we've paid the light man twenty bucks to shine a bright light right on the scepter so it flashes like a comet." She put an arm up, made a fist and pumped it down. "Yesssss!!!"
Jacques lifted his coffee cup. "To a fine and glorious Krewe and a fine and glorious effort! To y'all!"
The clink of toasting latte cups was interrupted by the opening of the café door.
"They are celebrating already, Cay, and we are missing it," Francisco laughed, pulling his scarf from around his neck and tossing it onto a chair. He motioned toward the young man behind the counter. "Hey, Dermot, may I have a double cappuccino, please?"
"Make that two," Cayenne said as she took off her coat. "Now that I can eat something again." She pulled a chair over near Frank. " We found a good spot to park Bernard's camper. By the door, but hidden back a bit so we have some privacy to get Marcy ready. She went back to the house with Zydee Bob to get some rest before the big night."
Frank had driven Bernard's camper over to the parking lot of the Coliseum, then Cay had given Frank a ride back. After they had dropped off Marcy and Zydee Bob, Frank confided his suspicions about Anthony Blaine. He relayed how he had tried to talk to Chief Bull that morning about his suspicions. But Bull knew that Frank and Bernard were cousins. He told Frank to come down and make a statement, but to wait until after the Gala so that it wouldn't appear to be an attempt to smear the reputation of the Krewe du Lacquer. With Lake Charles being focused on Mardi Gras, all cases were being put on hold until Wednesday. That meant Bernard was going to spend his Fat Tuesday in a jail cell.
"What were you doing with Bernard's camper?" Kenois asked.
Jacques explained. "The racking of the tail piece is so wide, that I designed it so we can assemble the costume at the site. I cannot fit it into the camper fully assembled, so we'll go over early, put it together and send Miss Marcy on her way down the aisle. We'll use it as a staging area for the ball."
Dermot brought over a tray of oyster po' boy sandwiches with a couple sides of fried eggplant. "Here you go," He looked shyly at Kenois, then asked. "Kenois, do you think you could get me signed up on Miss Marcy's dance card? I sure would be honored to have a chance to dance with the Queen of the Krewe of Muses."
"Absolutely, Dermot. You deserve it after working so hard."
"Oh my God! We forgot about the dance cards! They still need to be assembled and stapled." Anna Marina grabbed a po'boy in one hand and a sliver of fried eggplant in the other. "Eat 'em up ladies. We still have work to do."
Before everyone split up, they agreed to meet at Bernard's camper at 6 p.m. to put the Queen's costume together.
"I'll bring the cocktails!" Marie Katerina said.
***********************************
It was closer to 6:15 when the member of the krewe ended up arriving. Most arrived at the same time and parked their cars in the fourth row from the entrance. People were already arriving and strange characters with pointed hats, painted faces, clacking beads and jester pants were streaming toward the door.
Cay drove over with Marcy, Jacques and Zydee Bob. She saw Frank turning his car into the parking lot right behind her. Mambozo sat in the back with Marcy, wearing a bowtie and a made-to-order French beret. Jacques had brought Cayenne a special dress from New Orleans, and it fit her tightly, with spangley blue beads in a simple, spaghetti strap design. Raven had loaned her a woven shawl and she felt self conscious as she got out of her car.
Frank parked his car right next to her and got out. He was looking pretty darn fine himself with a tuxedo jacket, bright purple tie, bright purple cummerbund all over a pair of jeans.
"Nice jacket," Cay complimented him.
He smiled and held up a purple mask.. "Matches my shirt." He looked closer at Cay and let loose a low whistle. "Nice dress! Very nice!"
Raven was right behind with Bryant and the sisters came with Kenois directly from the studio. Everyone walked slowly together, and Kenois and Anna Marina had their arms full of bags of dance cards.
Frank walked faster than the group and guided them over to the camper. But as he got closer, his demeanor changed. By the time the group were within 30 yards of the camper, Frank gave a shout, then started to run.
"God damn it! " he shouted. "Those bastards!"
Cay and Marcy saw what he was yelling about and started to run, too, stumbling in their heels. A side window of Bernard's camper had been smashed and the front door was open. Frank yanked open the door and disappeared into the camper. By the time the rest of the group arrived, he had emerged again. He was shaking his head, but he couldn't say anything. Cay, still carrying Mambozo in her arms, climbed up the wire stair and peeked inside.
"Oh my!" Mambozo said.
The place was a total wreck.
Everywhere you looked, there was torn fabric, broken pieces of plastic piping, and beads spilled over the floor. The contents in the cupboards were scattered over the floor. The dress form was tipped over on the floor and someone had taken the scissor points and shredded the padded fabric. The many different fabrics from the dress were cut haphazardly into smaller pieces and the disco ball was shattered into a hundred pieces on the floor. The dress was destroyed.
Jacques gasped when he got inside. He reached down and picked up a piece of the broken ball, not even noticing that he cut himself. "Who would do such a horrible hateful thing?" He had to lean up against the seat for balance.
After everyone got a look at the damage inside the camper, they gathered at the front bumper, away from the eyes and curiosity of the crowd streaming into the Coliseum. Cay was worried about Jacques. He seemed in shock and in a daze. He had just spent two weeks putting all his energy into designing the dress and he hadn't slept in the past 24 hours. Now his work lay in shambles on the floor, as if someone killed it in a murderous rage.
The giddiness of the morning seemed naïve now. The weight of the death of two friends, another kidnapped and still another in jail seemed real, and sobering. Their hopes for any kind of vindication by winning the Queen of Queens competition lay in tatters. Everyone kept looking at each other, like the players in a football huddle, but no one really knew what to say.
It was Jacques Teutite who finally spoke. He spoke slowly and deliberately. "My friends, it is obvious that we are dealing with some fierce competition. I cannot fix what has been undone here." He took a deep breath, drew himself up straight, "But ... I have never backed down when it came to a competition involving cloth, lace or costumes, and I refuse to let Lake Charles be the first."
His voice took on a steely tone and he clapped his hands together. "People, let's get focused!" He looked at his watch. "We have approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes before the grand promenade. I suggest you grab any kind of glue, needle, sewing machine, tape or even staples that you might have in your cars or can scour from the vicinity and meet me in the camper. Or, as we are now going to call her, the Katrina II." He offered his arm to Marcy. "M'lady, let's make you fabulous."
The camper wasn't big enough for everyone, so Zydee Bob, Bryant, Mambozo, Frank, Raven and Cay all stood outside. Marie Marguerite and Kenois recovered boxes of supplies from the vehicles and ferried them over. Anna Marina toted in her sewing machine. Marie Katerina came out to where the group was gather and poured everyone a round of gin and tonics before the door was shut.
All sorts of noises, including a blaring box of zydeco music came from the camper. It rocked back and forth from the movement of so many people working. Jacques could be heard barking out orders in an authoritative voice and there was the steady hum of Anna Marina's sewing machine.
Bryant viewed the scene then remarked. "You remember those old Hannah Barbera cartoons with all the animals? You know how buildings seem to breath, their walls going in and out when there was a fight going on. I swear that camper is doing the same thing."
Marie Katrina came out once to refill glasses, and shortly after that, Anna Marina came out of the camper and grabbed Mambozo out of Cay's arms. "Duty calls, soldier," was all she said.
She pointed at Zydee Bob. "Got your rubboard?" He nodded. She hooked a thumb in the direction of the camper named Katrina. "We're drafting you, too."
The rest of the group stood in the parking lot until Kenois came out. She clutched a couple canvas bags filled with dance cards. She looked haggard and solemn. "I got to distribute these before the band starts playing."
"We'll come in and help," Raven offered.
Cay nodded. "Me, too. It's better than standing here feeling helpless. I'm so sorry, Kenois."
Kenois walked closer and took her hand, giving it a good squeeze. "You brought us Jacques. He's taking this on as a personal challenge. I think we still got a chance."
But no one really believed it. They just didn't know how to quit the Krewe.
*************************************************
The Mardi Gras Gala was a huge event held in the Lake Charles Coliseum of the Convention and Visitors Center. This year's theme was "Southern Comfort" and the space was filled with tableaus of southern themes such as bayous and bougainvilleas, live oaks and the French Quarter, alligators and boats, dancing and sunset cocktails. There were over a thousand people on the floor. Some of the men wore tuxedos and many of the women were in stylish beaded and sequined gowns, but almost everyone wore a mask and several strands of beads.
In that large crowd, it didn't take long to pass the dance card favors that the Krewe of Muses had made.
"I need another drink," said Kenois after she gave the last two dance cards to a lesbian couple who had come dressed as Katrina and Rita. She was trying to stay upbeat and talk to the many, many people she recognized and knew.
But Cay could see that she was a woman on the verge on crying. She had put her small business on the line financially to back the nascent Krewe but now that meant nothing since two of her friends were dead and another missing. The violence of the carnage of cloth in the camper had really upset Kenois. Cay patted her on the shoulder. "We are going to find out whose behind this all and make sure that there is justice."
Cay already was confident that the Krewe du Lacquer was behind it. But she still needed to figure out how to meet her promise of justice.
It was a little after eight o'clock and the announcer began to announce Introduce the Parade of Krewes. There were 42 official krewes in attendance and according to tradition, the Krewes were introduced and announced according to their length of existence. A heavily accented male voice boomed over the band.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends. I would like to welcome y'all to the Lake Charles Mardi Gras Gala. Our theme tonight is 'Southern Comfort' in honor of our fine life in this fine part of the country. We will begin the promenade of Krewe Candidates for the Queen of Queens. From Lake Charles, I present to you Ardelia Commerant from the Krewe of Cosmos."
An elegant woman in her forties, dressed in a simple white sequined caftan with a ostrich feather sweeping behind her started down the roped off path. The crowd clapped politely as she passed.
Cay leaned over to Frank. "Good, we must be last since this is the Krewe of Muses' first year. That will give them a bit more time in the camper."
Frank also leaned over and spoke into Cay's ear as he adjusted his mask over his face. "I see a spot open near the judges' stand. Let's move over there."
Cay dropped her cornflower colored feathered mask over her face and pushed her way through the crowd following Frank.
The pageant and the Queen Candidates continued in a bright colorful and noisy blur. It was nearing 8:30 when Cay and Frank heard the announcer say,
"From Lake Charles, Daphne Carter, the Queen's Candidate from the Krewe du Lacquer."
Cay could see Chief Bull Fourchere on stage in the judges' booth. He was dressed in tuxedo and looked the part of a handsome military officer playing the guest at a White House function. He didn't seem to give any special notice to the name. Cay spotted Star Chamblee Phipps also near the stage standing next to Anthony Blaine. Cay nudged Frank and pointed them out.
Each Queen's candidate was able to designate a specific piece of music to accompany her promenade. For Daphne's, a snappy Dixieland jazz band ripped into a lively marching tune and the crowd started to clap along. Daphne marched in smartly, wooing the crowd with a beautiful smile and a strong show of confidence. Looking like the return trip from a jazz funeral procession, Daphne held an umbrella that was checkered in black and white dice and trimmed with bright white fur.
Her costume was stunning. Her headdress was a perfectly square dice and sat smartly on her head like a sassy Jackie Kennedy pillbox. She wore a tight body suit of chantilly lace and a bright red flippy skirt made of silk shantung that spun and dance with white, silver, black and red beads, hanging down like fringe from her belt. Her hose were also lace and her saddle shoes looked like a pair of slender dice on her feet. She wore white silk gloves with white ermine trim and her bright red lips were full and shiny. Behind her, a entourage of a half dozen young girls in tuxedos jackets and black skirts wore dice pattered cummerbunds and the same kind of dice-like shoes as Daphne's. The young girls threw red and black beads into the crowd.
Daphne marched straight up to the front of the reviewing stand and gave an extra sweet smile to Chief Bull. She held her umbrella straight in front of her and seem to wait for the right place in the music. Then she suddenly grasped the top of the umbrella shaft near the ribs and pulled sharply down on handle at the bottom. As if by magic, the handle slid downward and Daphne popped the top part of the umbrella backwards where it was caught by one of the waiting young girls. Meanwhile, the friction of the movement caused a flame to ignite on both ends of the umbrella shaft and the shaft transformed into a flaming baton. Daphne stepped forward and threw the flaming baton into the air and twirled around twice. Her belt fringed in beads swung out parallel to the ground and clacked as she slowed. She expertly caught the baton and held it high above her head, the ends still ignited in flame. She then bowed to the stand.
The crowd started applauding enthusiastically. Even the judges clapped their hands and nodded vigorously.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" A voice said at her side. Anna Marina squeezed up along side of Cayenne and Francisco. "That was really good!"
She turned to Marie Katerina who was right behind her. "We are so busted. "
Marie Katerina tisked. "Now, I think Marcy looks pretty good. Look," she jumped up a bit to get a better look and started clapping. "Here she comes!"
The music overhead turned to a rocking zydeco beat. Cay recognized the latest recording from Bang and the Quest Playboys. The announcer said, "And last, but not least, from the newest krewe in Lake Charles, Marcy Beauchamp from the Krewe of Muses."
From the doorway came the rocking, steely sound of a frottoir. Zydee Bob Beaux, dressed in a tall striped hat, patchwork tails and beaded Converse All Stars, led the procession of The Krewe of Muses. People cheered as they recognized him and he played to the crowd, weaving in and out and dancing a jitterbug step. Immediately following him was a creature that Cay only partially recognized as Marcy.
Her face was glowing in a beautiful, slightly silvery heavenly shimmer of the makeup job given her by Marie Katerina. Her eyes were painted black and they shone across the room. Pieces of the outfit looked like the early gown, but the look and the attitude was way different. She wore a tight fitting, indigo rhinestone studded body suit that was fastened to each wrist with a rhinestone studded bracelet and dozens of silver bangles.
Instead of the long trailing gown or the headdress reaching for the sky, everything was short. Her skirt formed a silver sprayed tutu handing down to just around her knees. Strands of pearls and rhinestone stars flowed down from her skirt. The headdress was no longer gold, but silver. A reduced version of the orbiting shoulder harness was perched on her head, and the fiber optics gave the illusion that a comet was swirling around her head in unison with the comet that seemed to flow around the light belt she wore at her waist. The skirt sported a bustle of silver foil stars that trailed to the ground and over Marcy's shoulders was a short cape of indigo velvet, beaded with one of Marie Marguerite's distinct designs.
The crowning glory was the scepter, made of thin tubing sparkling with silver, ribbons and beads matching those on Marcy's skirt. Upon looking a second time, Cay could see that the scepter was made from bits of the tubing that had been busted up by the intruder. It was covered in a mosaic made from the broken glass from the disco ball. The tubing formed a small perch and arch at the top of the scepter, where a miniature sphere had been pieced and glued together.
Cay saw a flash of light originate from a higher deck and she could see an intense spotlight directed at the perch. The scepter blazed with light. Zydee Bob stopped playing and turned to bow down to the Krewe of Muses Queen. With her free hand, Marcy, whipped off her velvet cape and waved it twice over the scepter. A flash of smoke caused the crowd to gasp.
Suddenly Mambozo appeared on the perch of the scepter. He was in a shiny, golden suit, which Cay recognized from the original sun material of the headdress. He was dressed to represent the the planet Saturn and two glowing rings seem to float magically around his waist. Besides the shiny reflection of the spotlight, Cay was amazed to see that the fiber optic rings around Marcy's tiara and her belt, were in perfect harmony with the rotation of light around the rings of Saturn/Mambozo.
As the duo stopped in front of the judges' stand, Marcy held her scepter out front then gestured toward the perch while executing a slight bow. Mambozo cleared his throat and to the second time spoke to the people of Lake Charles.
"My good people, I present to you my Muse, the Muse of Astronomy, the one who inspires poetry of the sky, inspires the wonder of the stars, inspires the lifting of our spirits to the heavens. I present to you, Urania."
Then he struck a dramatic poise and spoke again, his voice melodic and tinged with his Cuban accent.
Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
Cay recognized it as Caliban's speech in The Tempest. Mambozo had the audience captivated and silent. When he stopped, he gave a little chicken bow to the crowd and then a deeper, respectful bow to the judges. Marcy threw up her cape again and the smoke again appeared, When it cleared. Mambozo was gone.
The crowd went wild. The Convention Center exploded into applause and cheering. Anna Marina and Marie Katerina were jumping up and down and screaming. The crowd started a chant of "Muse! Muse! Muse!"
"Cool beans!" said a little boy, dressed as a dinosaur standing near Cay. He turned to his mom. "Can I get a chicken, Mom? Can I? Can I please?"
Cay reveled in the jubilant look on Marcy's face, one she had only seen once before when her friend carried her first flambeaux in her father's krewe. Cay searched the crowd for the rest of the krewe and spotted Jacques Teutite and Marie Marguerite just in time to see them high five each other.
She felt a tug on her arm and saw that Frank was trying to get her attention. He pointed over near the doorway and Cay could see that Anthony and Star were in a deep conversation. Anthony looked very serious and upset. Star was doing most of the talking, pointing her finger at him. Every once in awhile he'd shake his head, and she would point her perfectly manicured finger even more emphatically at him.
Frank grabbed Cay's hand and led her over. At one point Anthony crossed his arms and put his hand to his face. He curled his index finger over his lip, just like a human mustache. Frank squeezed Cay's hand hard enough to make her yelp.
"I knew it! That is that same guy who claimed to be an inspector over at the Harrah's Casino construction site."
The movement in the crowd caught Anthony's eyes and he saw Frank and Cay coming his way. He spoke something quickly to Star who turned in their direction. Then he slipped out of the side door and Star headed toward Cay and Frank.
"Why, Ms. Del Roi! That was quite an exhibition but on by your krewe." She laughed. "Very unusual. Very New Orleans, which is quite quaint. I'm sure y'all have the sympathy vote of the crowd." Star stepped deliberately between the charging couple and the door, then reached out to Frank. She spun him around immediately and before he knew it he was heading toward the dance floor. Star held tightly onto his arm and steered him toward Daphne who was near the stage talking to Tommy who was mooning at her with big, goofy eyes. "Mr. Estiponal, please do me a large favor and dance with my daughter. I do believe she will be the next Queen."
Star then gracefully caught the arm of a distinguished gentlemen standing just steps away and Cay recognized him as the mayor. Soon they were also dancing together and Cay was stuck by herself. Frank got waylaid again when Daphne set him up to dance with her best friend. Then Star once again cut in and kept him for a third dance.
"Nice waltzing out there, Baryshnikov!" Cay said grudgingly when Frank finally extricated himself.
"My Southern upbringing. I can't refuse a lady a dance," he said, obviously irritated by the interruption. "Where did Tone go?"
"Out that door somewhere."
Frank and Cay headed out the door and found themselves on the sidewalk on the north side of the building. From the back door, they had a good view of the parking lot and a partial view toward the Southside of the Lake.
Cay looked at Frank and asked. "What's the deal with Tone looking like the inspector? Why would he be passing as an inspector at Harrah's but really be with the Convention and Visitors Bureau?"
Frank shook his head. "This inspector came by and sealed off parts of the Casino that are still damaged and unsafe. He had some official court order and everything. Said the parish is still trying to determine whether to condemn those parts or let us rebuild them. He's been there a lot this week. Got that yellow tape all over the place."
Cay thought. "You know. That was the direction that fake pirate took off in when he kidnapped Nicolette. Think there is any connection?"
"Do you think that's where he has her hidden?"
"I think we need to check it out. Star seemed pretty serious about something in there and I don't think she was too happy when she saw that we still had an entry in the competition. I think she orchestrated the attack on the camper."
"Then I don't think we should wait until morning. It might be too late then," Frank said. "Come on. Let's go!"
It is a beautiful winter night, with a tinge of cool coming off the Lake. Cay and Frank ran as fast as her shoes would allow her. At one point, she just grabbed her heels in her hand and tried to avoid the stones and sticks in her path. But it was still slow going. Harrah's was about five minutes away and soon it loomed before them.
There were bright lights focused on selected parts of the building, but most of the construction site of the damaged Casino was dark and plastered with warning and "No Trespassing!" signs. Frank used a key for a side door for laborers to let them into a plywood-boarded passageway that led into one of the darkened main casino floors. With only the lighting from the emergency lights, Cay could see that the slot machines and black jack tables had been removed and rolls of carpeting waited in piles by the walls to be laid after the new base had been laid.
Frank made his way to a supply cabinet and grabbed a couple of flashlights, handing one to Cay. Keeping her eyes on Frank's feet in front of her, Cayenne followed him down a flight of stairs toward an area that was roped off by yellow tape with black stripes that warned Danger! and Condemned! Cay was getting nervous as they passed under the tape.
"This is where that inspector always hung around. We weren't ever allowed to come back here due to liability reasons. " Frank shone his flashlight around. It landed on a flimsy piece of plywood leaning up against the wall. More signs and yellow tape dotted the area.
"Let's find out what's behind that plywood." Frank said. He found a gap in the seam and easily pried it open with his hand. He shone the flashlight in there. "Hey, it's a big open space."
At the other end of the dark room was a hanging piece of visqueen. The air was stuffy and smelled of dust and urine. They walked over to the corner. "Check it out," Frank said, holding his flashlight steady.
In the corner was a clump of blankets and a thin, stained pillow. Obviously someone had been sleeping here and not by choice. There were knotted ropes scattered around the site and a few old rags bunched up in the corner. The smell of urine was stronger.
"He was holding her here. Looks like she might have been just recently moved." Cay reached down and picked up a cigarette butt. "This looks pretty fresh."
She searched the area some more. The floor was dusty and filled with sawdust. Her flashlight caught something a piece of silver glinting in the light. She leaned over for a closer inspection and immediately recognized Nicolette's alligator necklace that she had worn the first day she had seen her.
"Frank! Over here!"
She shone her flashlight down again.
"Check this out."
She pointed at the necklace with her free hand. "Look at the markings below it." Immediately below it were two wavy lines, deliberately traced in the dust. "What do you think it means?" She asked.
"The Alligator Pond!" Frank realized. "Nicolette was trying to tell us that Tone was taking her to the Alligator Pond!"
CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Krewe of Krewes Parade
Copyright by Aileen M. McInnis, 2006. All rights reserved. Contact the author at aileen_mcinnis@yahoo.com .
