She grinned in a way that made Griffen think she was about to ruffle his hair, so he took a protective step to the side and offered his hand to her friend.
“Hi. Griffen McCandles, long-suffering brother to this overgrown Valkyrie.”
“A pleasure. Nathaniel. I was all prepared to be jealous over that greeting, but the brother part changed my mind. Besides, I am just not sure that my spine is up to it.”
He took Griffen’s hand and shook it with an easy grip. His voice was like his grip and posture, smooth and un-forced, with just a touch of rolling accents that caught the listener’s attention.
“Hmm, am I surrounded by fragile things then? Will everyone break so easy? It is to sigh,” Valerie said.
“Absolutely. We are but paper tigers to you. You shall just have to get used to it,” Nathaniel said, and Griffen couldn’t help notice the smile the two shared.
“Can I get you two a drink?” Griffen said, but Nathaniel waved him off.
“Oh, by no means. First round is on me.”
He turned and strode off to the bar, leaving brother and sister more or less alone.
“You’re scowling, Big Brother.” Valerie nudged his ribs gently. He would have bruises tomorrow.
“I am not; he seems very…nice.”
“Don’t you believe it. He was giving a nun all sorts of problems when we met.” She made sure her voice carried, and Nathaniel turned around with a mock grimace.
“I did no such thing, and you shouldn’t spread stories. Mr. McCandles here is liable to take exception to my attentions to his sister.”
“Griffen please, and I’d love to hear this story.”
“He was seducing young girls away from the church,” Valerie said.
“I was being followed by a herd of ragamuffins who could barely read
He walked back with a drink for Valerie and gin for himself. A plastic cup or “party hat” was set next to Griffen’s drink, a marker of a drink already bought.
“Minors! Pedophile. And he offered them illicit treats for following him.”
“Such nasty talk from so lovely a lady. You really will be the death of my reputation.” Nathaniel was still smiling, and if anything the shine in Valerie’s eye was increasing as they bantered back and forth. Griffen managed a quick glance at Gris-gris, but found he had disappeared.
“Deny it if you can.”
“I do. Since when does a bamboo rose count as an illicit treat? I told you, they won’t let me give out candy anymore. Besides, it would have taken eight of them to make one of you, what are you worried about.”
“Is that a comment about my weight?”
“Oh, no! Someone save me. Griffen, how do you manage to appease your sister?”
“When she wants you trapped? You are on your own. If you manage the trick, tell me how it’s done.”
“Neither of you is to give the other one pointers. It would be cheating,” Valerie said.
She sipped her drink and Griffen tried very hard not to notice that she held it with her left hand, and that her right was under the table.
Gris-gris had come out of the bathroom and had settled into a far corner of the bar with his drink. Valerie seemed not to have noticed him at all, which was odd for her, but all her attention seemed to be on Nathaniel. Griffen shrugged; maybe they had had a falling out.
“Are you a local, Nathaniel?” Griffen said, trying to make conversation.
“Sort of,” Nathaniel said. “My family does a fair amount of business here in New Orleans and owns a condo here in the Quarter, which has me in and out of town several times a year. Right now my brother and I are in town for a couple weeks, maybe a month.”
“And what business is that?” Griffen said.
“Liquidation mostly. And yourself?”
“I do as little as possible; life seems to work so much better that way.”
Griffen had yet to figure out just what to tell the average person about his occupation. Somehow, running an illicit gambling ring just didn’t strike him as proper conversation.
As the three talked, Griffen found himself liking Nathaniel more and more. He really didn’t seem anything special, but he certainly seemed to hold the attention. The conversation was easy and amusing, for all parties, and Griffen found his initial tension easing away from him with every sentence. Besides, Valerie truly seemed to be enjoying his company. Still, something kept nagging at the edge of his attention. A faint kernel of worry that wouldn’t go away.
After their drink, the couple left. Valerie explained that she only stopped in to introduce the two of them before taking Nathaniel to dinner. That started off another bit of banter over who was taking who to dinner. They were still at it, with Nathaniel looking like the eventual winner, as the door closed behind them. Griffen shook his head, and finished his drink, walking back over to the pool table where Padre was already chalking his cue. After another few moments, Gris-gris got up and joined them.
“Hey, Grifter, got a minute?”
“Of course, Gris-gris.”
“Grifter, I strike you as a jealous sort?”
“Well, to be honest…” Griffen paused and thought it over very carefully. “I don’t know you well enough, Gris-gris. You could be. How we first met and all, yes, that was a form of jealousy among other things. But that was a long time ago, relatively speaking. So I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“Hmm…can’t say you don’t got a point. And that’s fair. I want to be clear, though. I ain’t.”
“All right, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Still, I was surprised. I thought the rumor mill would have gotten news of a new man in her life to me faster.”
“In case you have forgotten, Grifter, only a few days ago I was dating her. They haven’t been together long enough even for the Quarter gossips.”
Griffen mulled this over, and it worried him. Valerie seemed awful…attached, for so recent an acquaintance. He didn’t have time to think it over as Gris-gris went on.
“Way I figure things, me and your sister had some laughs, I figured we’d have a few more, but if she wants to laugh with someone else, that’s her business.”
“A very good attitude, Gris-gris, though I hear a ‘but’ coming, don’t I?”
“You sure do. I don’t trust that guy. Been around the block a few times, and he sets off all my bells. It’s not just who he’s with, I want you to understand that. It’s him.”
“He seemed nice and polite and, well, harmless to me,” Griffen said.
“Yeah, and my gut tells me that’s because that’s how he wants to seem. It was all just too damn smooth. With your permission, I’m gonna check him out.”
“Gris-gris, you aren’t someone I can order to do or not do something. You don’t need my permission. But if you do, and you really think you need to, you be careful. The last thing I want is you in trouble, and thinking that it was my fault.”
“Com’on, Grifter. You gotta be kidding me. I’m the only one responsible for me, that’s how I like it. Just want to make sure we all know who this guy really is. Besides one smooth damn dude.”
“Some people,” Padre said even as he sank the eight ball, “just have a natural charm.”
Griffen looked at him close, and felt that kernel of worry grow a bit. If nothing else, Nathaniel was the only out of towner who had made an effort to penetrate their group.
Was his little sister dating the George?
Griffen had to admit to himself, grudgingly, no place was perfect.
The French Quarter had food, music, endless variety. It was damn near impossible to grow bored there. Just the other day he had been wandering to his apartment when fireworks had burst to life above him. Grand, professional displays fired from a barge on the river just a few blocks away. No holiday, no special festival, just
