The bandana and floppy clothes were gone. The move to New Orleans truly had allowed her to start her life over. And this time she was living the life she’d always wanted.
After a short walk to the Court of Two Sisters restaurant, Lucy was greeted by a doorman holding the door open. A man in a black tuxedo took her hand and escorted her through a maze of tables. People gave her compliments as she passed—a far cry from what they used to say behind her back. She reciprocated with a smile and a flicker of her eyelashes. The maître d’ waltzed her over to a preferred table overlooking Royal Street, where her friend sat waiting.
With a smile and a kiss on the cheek, Lucy said, “How are you, Stella?”
Stella just smiled. They hadn’t really talked since their kiss outside Port of Call.
They both fiddled with their napkins and avoided eye contact. Lucy broke the ice. “Okay, you kissed me, and I liked it—now let’s move on to lunch.”
They both laughed. It was just the icebreaker they’d needed. Lunch was a great time, and they made plans to meet the next night.
Life is good, Lucy thought as she headed back to the salon. Strolling down Royal Street, she did her usual window-shopping. It was when she stopped in front of an art gallery that she felt someone watching her and confirmed it from the reflection in the glass. It was a couple, walking hand and hand. The woman smiled as she passed, and the man nodded and said, “Good afternoon, Ms. Jones.”
It was the second such greeting she’d received since leaving the salon. At first, she thought the man might be a night caller, but surely, he wouldn’t have acknowledged her in front of his wife. Word had gotten around, and apparently the community had decided to accept her. She dressed like them and ran a successful beauty salon among other things, and most of all, the word had spread like wildfire that she had special powers.
No longer was she the frightened newcomer to the French Quarter, dressing down just not to be noticed. Now she was a classy, beautiful woman who walked with her head held high. How times had changed since her Tupelo, Mississippi, days. She was Ms. Lucy, and you’d better respect her; if not, Voodoo Lucy might surface and put a curse on you.
When Lucy returned to the salon, she found Detective Nelson waiting in the kitchen. It was his third visit since Vivien’s death.
“You have an update for me, Detective?” Lucy said, taking a seat.
“No, I’m here on a different matter,” Zack said, opening a folder. “Remember the first time you met me?”
“Sure,” Lucy said. “You came to tell me my father had died.”
“Well, that’s close,” Zack said, stone-faced. “I came to tell you your father was killed by police during a bank robbery.”
“The same outcome. He’s dead either way.”
“I also asked if you or Wanda had had any contact with him.”
“And I told you we hadn’t seen him in months,” she said, answering just as arrogantly as he’d asked.
“Did he send you money?” he said, glaring at her. “Is your answer still no?”
Lucy thought the money issue had died with her father. Breathing slowly, not showing a reaction to his question, she answered, “Of course, it’s still no.”
Zack pulled a page from the folder he held and slipped it to Lucy. “Have any idea how these three hundred-dollar bills showed up in your bank deposit?” He paused and watched her reaction. “The serial numbers match the stolen money from the Clarksdale, Mississippi, bank robbery.”
“You’re monitoring my bank account?”
Zack rose, towering over her, then spoke. “Just answer the question.”
“Wow—that’s funny,” Lucy said and paused, giving herself a split second to think. “Some gal must have paid for a dye job with stolen money.”
Lucy got up and walked to the door. “I have appointments waiting, Detective. If you get any more crazy ideas, do stop in and share.”
The End
ENJOYED THIS BOOK? YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. A committed and loyal bunch of readers. And I thank each and every one of you.
If you’ve enjoyed this book I would be very grateful if you could spend just a few minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like) on the book’s Amazon page.
Honest reviews of my book help bring them to the attention of other readers.
Once you click go to the bottom of the page and look for “write a customer review.”
Leave a review US
Leave a review UK
Thank you very much.
Check out all of Vito Zuppardo’s books. CLICK HERE
Join the mailing list CLICK HERE for Free books
Over the years, many readers have engaged with me, and I’m always happy to hear from you. I’ve been asked, Is that true? Did that really happen? What’s the address of the restaurant you wrote about in New Orleans? Three of my books are based in New Orleans and there are more to come. I’m always happy to share with my readers more about the location of a chapter or what encouraged me to write about a street, building, restaurant, or person.
Chapter One: Don’t go looking in the French Quarter for an alleyway that Royal Street and Bourbon Street back up against. No such thing. Hard to believe, but nightclubs and restaurants still put trash cans on the Bourbon Street curb. Usually, the waste goes out as the club closes sometime after three a.m. and it’s gone by six a.m.
Chapter One: Café Beignet, a coffee shop Lucy visited often, is a real café, and it has a charming French Quarter atmosphere. It’s located at 332 Royal Street. Check it out—it’s a fun place with great coffee and beignets.
Chapter Two: Looking at Café Beignet, the store to its right is David’s Antiques, which is the location of the interior and second-floor apartments that are brought to
