The music reached her before she spotted the crowd of people surrounding The Green Man Band. She found a warm spot on the steps of the cathedral, took off her big floppy hat and little round granny glasses. Leaning back on her elbows, she let the sun’s warmth bathe her face as the Celtic music washed over her.
Lost in the music she yelped when someone grabbed her arm. Looking up with a ready smile, she stared into the cruel smile on Alex’s face. “Time to come home, Lilly,” he said as he tried to pull her up.
She jumped up, jerked her arm free, balled her right hand into a fist and swung into his face with all of her strength. Not expecting the punch, Alex swayed and fell backwards onto the bricks.
Lilly turned and sprinted to the corner. Running down the block and across the street, she rushed into the door of the Place de Arms hotel. She walked sedately through the lobby, out the back door, around the pool and made her way to the hidden courtyard in the rear of the hotel. Instinct guided her. She knew she did not want to lead Alex, or anyone with him to Panthea’s. If he came into the hotel, she could scream and make a scene.
She squatted behind a stand of banana trees. Rivulets of sweat poured down her neck and between her breast. Swarms of mosquitos found her soft flesh and set to work drinking her blood.
Time crawled. It seemed an eternity before she stopped trembling, cautiously stepped out from the banana trees, crept through the shadows of the courtyard and made her way into the lobby of the hotel. The young woman at the front desk looked up, smiled, and resumed her telephone conversation.
Lilly peaked out the front door, checked both ways, and gingerly stepped out onto the banquet. Panthea’s front door was a mere ten yards from the hotel. She sprang into a run. Two meaty hands grabbed her shoulders. Jerking and twisting, she tried to shake off her assailant, lost her footing and fell heavily onto the brick sidewalk. Stars exploded before her eyes, as a black veil tried to drag her into unconsciousness. She lay motionless for a moment, her eyes flickering slightly. She fought off the temptation to surrender to the dark veil. She felt the bricks under her hands and remembered why she had fallen and why she needed to get up. Her head was spinning, as she tried to get to her feet. Strong arms pulled her up, grabbed her around the waist and lifted her from the sidewalk. A long, black Cadillac sped around the corner, its back door swinging open. The Cadillac slowed for a moment and Lilly was thrown into the backseat.
Another set of arms grabbed her around the waist. The smell of Alex’s Old English aftershave assaulted her and she promptly vomited on his shoes. Grabbing a handkerchief, Alex cursed, pressed it into her hand and demanded she clean his shoes.
She spit in his face. Alex grabbed her breasts and squeezed until Lilly screamed, “Stop!”
Minutes later, his soft voice crooned into Lilly’s ear, “Lilly, I’m so glad I finally found you. I’ve been so worried, I haven’t been able to sleep. The whole family is distressed about the way you left. Your mother and Rex are worried and want to talk with you as soon as possible.” Lilly moaned.
As they sped down North Peters Street, a voice from the front seat asked, “Where we going, boss?”
“Let’s go to Guiseppe’s warehouse over on Tchoupitoulas Street. This girl needs to be taught a lesson before she sees anyone.” Alex squeezed the nipples of her breasts again, delighting in her screams. His eyes shown with malice as cruel laughter twisted his mouth. The moment he laughed, Lilly’s fingers came alive, tingling with power. She took a calming breath and the tingling grew more insistent. The Cadillac slowed for the red light at Canal Street and came to a stop behind a mule drawn carriage filled with tourists.
Lilly saw her opportunity. The tingling power in her fingers moved into her hands. Grabbing Alex’s arms, she focused on one thought, ‘Release me!’ Alex screamed, his arms flew open, as the bolt of power delivered a white-hot shock to every nerve in his body. Lilly drove her elbow into his stomach, while she pointed a finger at the locked door. She pushed the heavy car door opened and jumped into the street.
She ran toward the crowded sidewalk on Canal Street. As she past the huge, gray government building on the corner, she glanced over her shoulder. The thugs were running around the corner of the building, with Alex trailing behind them.
Movement at the front door of the government building caught Lilly’s eye. A group of naval officers were coming through the door, talking among themselves. Lilly followed her gut instinct, plunged up the steps between the men and entered the building.
She was in a huge room, ‘Too exposed,’ she thought. Her footsteps echoed as she ran over the marble floor. Ignoring the woman sitting at the front desk, she found the stairs and ran up flight after flight.
Out of breath, she stopped, bent over and put her hands on her knees. She took a moment to recover her breath, then stood and looked around. The wide hall was lined with glass doors leading into offices. ‘Where can I get help, which door should I open?’
Her breath caught in her throat, as she heard footsteps running up the stairs. Lilly turned, opened the first office door and quickly closed it behind her.
A young woman, in a navy uniform, looked up in surprise as Lilly burst through the door. Seeing the girl’s head was bleeding, the receptionists quickly asked Lilly to sit down. She came out from behind her desk, as Lilly declined to sit.
“What has happened? Were you in an accident. Did
