But despite the crowd and the noise, the night's festivities went fairly peacefully. A few men got a little boisterous from too much to drink, but Millard's bouncers handled them with ease. Millard came over to the table while Annie had gone to use the facilities, which were indoors rather than out back of the building, a luxury Longarm hadn't expected to find in a place like the Brass Pelican. With a nod to Longarm, Millard sat down and said, 'I was halfway expecting trouble tonight.'
'You and me both, Boss,' Longarm told him. 'I reckon Royale must be celebrating Mardi Gras like everybody else.'
'Let's hope so.'
Claudette swept over to the table then, followed by Paul Clement. She was laughing brightly at something Clement had said. 'Custis!' she greeted Longarm, and from the level of her merriment, he figured she had been sipping on a few drinks this evening. 'Paul, he is going to take me to watch the Mardi Gras parade. Why don't you and his sister come with us?'
Longarm swallowed hard. 'Sister?' he repeated.
'Oh, don't worry, Custis,' said Clement. 'I told Claudette how kind you've been to my poor maiden sister, paying attention to her while we're here in New Orleans.'
Longarm took back what he had thought earlier about Clement being understanding. He was a damn rabble- rouser! But there was nothing Longarm could do now except plunge ahead and be thankful that Claudette seemed to be in a good mood.
'Sure,' Longarm said. 'I don't reckon I've ever seen a Mardi Gras parade, so I wouldn't mind at all.' He looked at Millard. 'If it's all right with you, Boss.'
'Go ahead,' Millard said with a wave of his hand. 'Like you said, Royale's probably celebrating tonight too. He might even be at the parade. Who knows?'
Claudette looked at Longarm. 'Who is this Royale, Custis? Another of your lady-friends, maybe?'
'Not hardly,' Longarm replied vehemently. 'Just a... business associate, I suppose you could say. Nothing for you to worry about.'
Clement looked across the room and said, 'Here comes Annie now.'
It took a few minutes for Annie to make her way through the crowd. Even in the press of people, Longarm had no trouble spotting her in that colorful outfit. As she came up to the table, he stood and reached out to take her hand. 'We're going out to watch the Mardi Gras parade, if that's all right with you,' he said.
'Of course. I'd like that.' Annie looked at Claudette and went on. 'I don't believe we've met.'
Clement began, 'She's a friend of-'
'A friend of your brother, me,' Claudette cut in. She put out her hand and shook with Annie. 'Claudette, that is my name.'
'What a pretty name,' said Annie. 'And that gown and those earrings are beautiful. You and Paul are coming to the parade too, aren't you?'
'Of course. I would not miss my first Mardi Gras parade.'
Longarm tried not to heave a sigh of relief. Claudette was really helping him out. Most women would have been spitting jealous, but she was going out of her way to keep the peace with Annie for tonight. He would have to thank her later if he got the chance. And he hoped that Paul Clement's big grin didn't tip off Annie that something more was going on than was readily apparent.
With Annie on his arm and Claudette being accompanied by Clement, Longarm shouldered his way through the crowd and led the little group to the door. As they stepped out onto Gallatin Street, the press of people around them lessened slightly, but the sidewalks and the cobblestone street itself were still unusually crowded. All the street lamps had been lit, and light flooded out through open doors and windows so that the revelers could see what they were doing. Everywhere, purple and green and gold--the official colors of Mardi Gras--were dominant, and hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of voices were singing the anthem of Mardi Gras, 'If Ever I Cease to Love.' Longarm found himself humming along with the tune as he and his companions made their way through the throng.
'Come on,' Annie cried merrily as she tugged on Longarm's hand. 'The parade is on St. Charles Avenue.'
That seemed to be the direction the crowd was flowing, all right, thought Longarm. He was glad he wasn't trying to go the other way. It would be like trying to swim upstream against a strong current.
Claudette and Paul Clement were still talking animatedly. Longarm knew it was unreasonable, considering the way he had felt earlier, but now he was the one who was a mite jealous. Obviously, Claudette had been telling the truth: It wasn't so much seeing him again that had brought her to New Orleans. It was an honest desire to try something new in her life--an attempt to leave the bayous behind her. Longarm wished her the best of luck in the effort.
Longarm hadn't been to the hotel much in the past few days, but he had been aware of the sound of hammering whenever he went in and out of the place. Now he understood the reason why. Viewing stands had been built all along the avenue, and they were already packed. It was doubtful that Longarm and the others would be able to find a place to sit. They would have to stand along the sidewalks with the hundreds of others who had gotten there a little too late to fit into the viewing stands.
Annie noticed the same thing and mentioned it, then said, 'But that's all right. When the floats pass by, we'll be able to catch some of the things the crew members toss down as they pass by.'
She went on to explain the tradition to Longarm and Claudette. Each year, the members of the societies that built the floats threw candy, flowers, and coins to the spectators who lined the parade route. The gifts were meant primarily for the children... but at Mardi Gras, everyone was a child, at least to a certain extent.
Longarm, Annie, Claudette, and Paul Clement managed to find a place to stand near the front of the crowd. They were just in time, because not far away, someone shouted, 'Here they come!'
Annie leaned closer to Longarm's ear and called over the clamor, 'Rex, the King of Mardi Gras, will be on the last float! It's quite an honor for the gentleman selected.'
Longarm supposed that was the case. He would have felt mighty funny dressing up in a mask and a gold crown
