NOLA (10 page)

Mia pointed out to Ralph the streetcar that rumbled past the building.  “I told you we could get here without bothering George.”

“Mia Cooper!” Ralph scolded.

“Mia Martin,” she corrected.

“Same thing.  Remember what you’re carrying.  Do you want to risk getting mugged?”

“They don’t know what I’m carrying,” she argued.

“Listen, you don’t live in the city like I do.  There are all sorts in a city.  You don’t take any chances.  Gerald’s paying for a chauffeur.  Use him.”

Mia nodded.  Ralph made sense, but she liked to be independent of the chauffeur.  She suspected that he was reporting back to Gerald.  She assumed that she would have to explain to Gerald why she used the chauffeur this morning when she wasn’t scheduled to meet with the group until that afternoon.  She hoped it wouldn’t result in a favor owed.

The Grand Duke’s host lived on the fourth floor.  A uniformed maid opened up the door and offered them refreshments while they waited for Alexei.  Mia’s nerves were on edge, so she indulged in a gin and tonic.  Ralph eyed her, pointing to his watch that it wasn’t yet noon.  She ignored him and walked out onto the balcony to plot out what side of the building they were on.  The canopy of trees hid most of the view, but what she did see was beautiful.  She spied the mechanics for the cable car and smiled.  The luxury apartment faced the front of the building.

“Hello, my dear,” said the beautiful older woman, dressed in a light blue linen suit, who walked out onto the balcony and took her hand.  “I’m so glad that you’ve come to help old Alexei out.  I’m Susannah Wintour of the Atlanta Wintours.”

“Mrs…”

“Susannah, please.  After all, I’m the one who’s come begging.  I see that Jean has supplied you with refreshment.  I think I’ll join you.  Alexei will be along soon.  I’m sorry for the delay, but he has to build up power.”

“I’m acquainted with that,” Mia said as she followed the woman inside to where Ralph was playing lightly on the piano.  The look he gave Mia was precious.  He was playing on a Steinway and loving it.  “I see you’ve already met my godfather Ralph.”

“Oh yes, he has made himself at home as I decreed,” Susannah said with a practiced laugh.  “It’s so good to have guests.  Most people avoid me like the plague.”

“Do people give you problems because you’re a medium?”

“Oh no, dear.  Mediums are a dime a dozen here in N’awlins.  I’m rather a bitch you see.”

Mia almost choked on her drink.  “I’m sorry, did you say…”

“Bitch.  Yes.  Alexei says that I could be nicer to the morons, but honestly, you should see how these
nouveaux riches
behave.  Their daughters don’t wear any bloomers!  Someone’s got to tell the little beavers what is what.  Lord knows what diseases they are picking up from the limo seats, or leaving!”

Mia didn’t know whether to flash the old lady her underpants or not.  So she settled on nodding in agreement.  “I have to caution you, I was raised by a ghost, so I’m just learning manners from Ralph.”

“At least you’re trying.”  The woman settled herself on a floral lounge and waved at Ralph.  “Dear, play us something rowdy.”

Mia sat near Susannah in a matching floral chair.  She was alarmed as she sank into it, and her feet stuck out just like a child.

“I should have warned you about that chair.  Don’t worry, I’ll have Jean pull you out when it’s time to leave,” she teased.

Ralph played Scott Joplin’s
The Entertainer.

Jean, the maid, showed the group that white women can dance by kicking up her heels while she delivered the next round of drinks.

“There used to be a time when everyone learned the piano.  No more,” Susannah said.

“Ralph is a multitalented man.  He designs sets for musicals,” Mia said proudly.

“Really? Let me see, the last musical I saw was
A Rose for My Lady.”

“His.”

“Oh, that was marvelous,” Susannah said.

Mia sensed something or someone come into the room.  She watched as a translucent, bearded older man picked up Susannah’s hand and kissed it.

“Alexei is here.  Do you mind if he joins us?”

“No, it’s why I came.”

Susannah laid back and closed her eyes.  Mia watched as the man sat down at first and then laid back into the older woman.  Susannah’s eyes opened, but Mia could already tell by the calculating look that it was Alexei who rose into a seated position.

“Thank you for coming, Mrs. Martin,” Alexei said as he picked a piece of lint off of the linen trouser.

“I have to admit, I didn’t really expect to be meeting you.  I thought I was being pranked by someone.”

“Surely the money and jewels would have shown you my good intentions.”

“I’ve been lured out on very expensive pranks before,” Mia said evenly.  “Tell me, Alexei, why do you need Susannah?  I can hear and see ghosts.”

“It’s the power needed for me to communicate.  Recently, my power reserves have been draining at a remarkable speed.  This is why I’ve asked you to help me.”

Mia waved Ralph to stop playing and come over to join them.  She looked back at Alexei and said, “First of all, I don’t need your money or jewels, and certainly not your medal, as payment for helping you.”  She pulled out the items and set them on the coffee table in front of her.  “I was born with this gift. Why would I make you pay?”

“You are a refreshing young woman. I will, however, pay your expenses while you’re in my hire,” he insisted.  “I’m not insulting you, Mia.  I’m just recognizing that your time is valuable, as mine was once upon a time.”

Ralph sat on the edge of the twin to the chair Mia was swallowed by.

“Ralph, may I present the Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia.  Alexei, this is my godfather and confidant Ralph Mendelssohn.”

Ralph stood up and bowed.

Alexei waved his hand in acknowledgment of the bow and to tell him to sit down.

Mia rolled her eyes.  Ralph gave her a warning stare.

“Mia, Judge Roumain has told me that you are a very strong sensitive, and you have some powers that you can call upon if you are in peril.  I would not ask this favor had he not recommended you.”

“I understand.”

“When I was a much younger man, I visited this country. You may have heard about my exploits elsewhere, but I fell in love with this wonderful city.  Here, I made friends with Albert Cully.  He was a most unusual man.  He collected things from all over the world, and his wife - I think her name was Prudence.  Anyway, Prue was fond of putting the artifacts and bric-a-brac to good use.  I believe she used Marie Antoinette’s makeup table as a writing desk. Can you imagine?  Albert, too, had a knack for finding the most unusual things.  After a while, they decided to share their findings with others, and they opened a museum.  When I passed, part of my estate, including my Mardi Gras mask, was sent to Cully for his museum.  I rode over the Atlantic with these treasures.  It was my way of escaping.  I always loved this country and was determined to spend my eternity exploring it.”

“We’re glad that you’re here,” Mia said sincerely.

The Grand Duke studied her face for a moment.  Mia could see his soften a bit.  He resumed his explanation, “After I arrived, I wasn’t too strong.  Albert’s son, Albert Junior, found a medium who would be my host while earning a large stipend.  Together, we watched your country grow.  I resumed my travels, but I would always return here from time to time to recharge.”

“Recharge how?”

“I need to be near my jewels and my mask.”

“Where are they kept, besides these ones?”  Mia pointed to the velvet boxes on the table.

“In the museum.  They are on loan there on the provision that they will be available to Susannah or her replacement at any time.”

“I see.”

“The mask is gone,” he said quickly.  “It was taken during Mardi Gras.”

“K.”

“It’s still in the museum, but I can’t seem to locate it.  I can feel its power, but it’s not in the display case, and the governors of the Cully Museum have no clue where it has been moved.”

“Let me get this straight.  You can feel it, but you can’t get to it.”

“Some of the walls of the houses that make up the museum are from an old monastery.  The priests were not fond of the undead traipsing through the chapel whenever it suited them, so they soaked the bricks in brine.  This made it painful and nearly impossible for a spirit, as weak as I am now, to move through the brick walls.  I can go through glass and wooden doors but not brick,” Alexei explained.

“What would you like me to do?”

“Find the mask, and return it to either Susannah or the museum.”

“It sounds straightforward enough.  Will I have the permission of the governors to search the property?”

“You will have their full cooperation.  But, Mia, I must warn you before you accept.  There has been something evil roaming my city.  Many souls have disappeared around the vicinity of the museum.  I feel strongly that it has something to do with my mask and the Cullys.”

“Can you explain further?” Mia asked, pulling herself out of the cushions and perching on the edge of the chair like Ralph.

“Around the time the governors estimate that the mask was taken, souls started to disappear.  Not transient souls, but spirits that have made N’awlins their heaven.  I can sense my power draining.  I think the mask is either being used, or is near, whatever is drawing power to exist.  I also know that Albert visited places better left alone when he was in West Africa.  The judge and I fear that he may have brought back something to summon a soul eater.”

“Soul eater?” Ralph questioned Mia.

She lifted her hands. “I can pretty much figure out the concept from the name, but what one looks like is beyond my knowledge.”

“The judge would welcome a visit from you, so he could explain this soul eater in detail.”

“I’m taking the walk of lost souls this afternoon, and Candy Kane wants me to go somewhere this evening.  I’ll be available after I return to my hotel or, perhaps, tomorrow morning,” she offered.

“I’ll tell him.  He will decide.  Please, don’t start this investigation until you have talked to him.”

“I won’t.  Alexei, I’ll do what I can to find your mask.  I may call upon a friend of mine to help me in this task.”

“Be careful, Mia.  This soul eater not only eats the souls of the dead but the living as well.”

Mia felt nauseous as her stomach flipped over.

Ralph put a comforting hand on top of hers.  “Mia, it’s time to go.  You have to prepare for the walk,” he reminded her.

Alexei rose and extended a hand to Mia.  She let him take her hand and kiss it.  He then nodded to Jean who escorted them to the door.

“Say goodbye to Susannah for us,” Mia said.

“I will.  Be careful.  We will be in touch.”

After the door closed, Mia felt her own power reserves fade, and she felt faint.  She stumbled and fell as they approached the elevator.

“Dear me, what has you so rattled?” Ralph said, picking her up off the floor.

“Gee, I don’t know, the soul eater or the prospect of spending the afternoon with Father Peter.  I really don’t know which is worse.”

“I lay odds on the priest,” Ralph said.

~

“I vote we ask Murphy to come with us,” Audrey said.  “He can talk to the ghosts, and Cid or Ted can interpret for us.  I feel it’s vitally important to find out if those children are happy or are lost.”

Burt looked at Audrey a moment.  “I think you’re right.  Mike, do you have any problems with Murphy helping us out?”

“None.  Ted, you may lose a babysitter though,” Mike warned.

“Tom’s mother is already here.  I figure if she got Braverman through puberty, then Brian is going to be a piece of cake,” Ted joked.

“Matt says that Brian is ahead of his group verbally,” Audrey reported proudly.

“Oh, like that’s surprising,” Mike remarked.

Ted and he locked eyes a moment, but Ted chose to brush it off.

Cid raised his hand.

Everyone looked at him like he was an idiot.

Burt said, “Yes, Cid?”

“I’d like to have another crack at the children.”

“Want to rephrase that?” Mike asked, a wry smile filling his face.

“I want to try to interact with the children in the reading room.  I think Murphy may scare them.  I was thinking about easing him in.  Maybe read them a Paul Bunyan story…”

“Great idea!” Audrey exclaimed.  “It would explain the axe.”

Cid beamed.

Murphy pushed his hat back on his head and smiled. He knew all the Palm Bunyan tales.  He asked, “Where’s my big blue ox?”

“Mike will be there,” Ted joked.

“Children,” Burt warned when Mike stood up.

Audrey looked around, and Ted motioned to where Murphy was standing.  She looked in that direction and said, “It’s great to hear you.  You have a nice voice.”

“Who put happy pills in your Froot Loops?” Mike asked.

Audrey opened her mouth but decided not to rise to his bait.  Instead, she passed out copies of newspaper clippings about the library.  “Here are a few possibilities for the gentleman downstairs.”

Burt scanned the photocopies.  One was of Ronald Whitmore who had a heart attack going up the steps of the building.  Another was of a man, Ezra Kohn, who donated a ton of money to the library in his will. The third was Chester Vogel, a homeless man found frozen in the libraries basement in the 1969 deep freeze.  To add insult to his injury, the pipe burst over him, and he was iced in.  It took three days to thaw him out enough to get him out of the basement.

He looked over at her and asked, “Any children?”

“Not that I could find.”

“So tonight, let’s concentrate on the reading room, and see if we can gather any clues.  The gentleman in the stacks too, if we have time,” Burt outlined.  “We also need to show the infrared recording of the entity checking in books to Miss Hodges to get her reaction on film.”

“Sounds great,” Mike said, getting up.  “I’m going to say hello to Brian before we head out if that’s okay with you?” he asked Ted.

“Sure,” Ted said, surprised.

Mike left the office. Ted opened the blinds and followed him over to the house with his eyes.  “I just can’t get a handle on that guy,” he said to the remaining PEEPs.