“I’ve got to go home immediately and clean up,” she explained.
Roland shook his head, “You don’t want to walk through the Quarter. I’ll take you up to Jason’s apartment. You can wash your face and brush your hair.”
“Roland, where are my clothes? Where are my wings?”
Looking around, Roland pointed to a big mirror inside the bus. Hanging over the mirror, draped across the dash board were a pair of glimmering Faery wings and a luminescent skirt, dirty and a bit torn, but still recognizable. A frown formed between Lilly’s eye brows. Roland quickly assured her,”No worries, baby, I’ll get some clothes from Leon, he will have something that fits you.”
By 1PM the group, minus Bart, was sitting at the round table in Valentines. The place was closed for Ash Wednesday except for the members of The Green Man Band who were Jason’s guests. He put a pot of coffee on the table and joined them. “Is Bart here?”
Everyone shook their heads. “Last seen yesterday with Joan of Arc,” Trey explained.
The timer on the oven binged and Jason brought out scrambled eggs and piping hot biscuits with butter and jam. As the group dug in hungrily, he went out to get a newspaper from the stand in front of the restaurant.
Jason opened the paper and sat, sipping his coffee. Lilly looked up, yelped and almost dropped hot coffee in her lap. Everyone stared at her. She couldn’t speak for a moment but kept pointing to the newspaper. Jason turned it over to see what she was so upset about.
Pointing frantically, Lilly spoke in a strained voice, “Let me have it please.”
Staring at her from the front page of the New Orleans Times Picayune was Alex’s face beside an older man. The headline read, International Business Man and Local War Hero Arrested for Sex Trafficking. Lilly was shaking so hard she couldn’t hold the paper, her eyes were bugging out of her head so shocked she couldn’t focus on the words.
Jason took the paper from her and read. “Lawrence Brankston, an international business man and with local Vietnam War hero, Alex Castiglio, were arrested Mardi Gras day in New Orleans. The charges: Sex trafficking. Allegedly the two men have been trafficking young women from Southeast Asia to various countries, including the United States. The arrests come after an extensive investigation by the FBI into the human trafficking growing in the U.S.
“Lawrence Brankston.” Lilly interrupted him, “Read the part about Alex, please.”
“Alex Castiglio, youngest son of the New Orleans Castiglio family, a veteran of the Vietnam war and highly decorated Air Force officer returned to New Orleans after his discharge from the USAF. He became the private pilot for New Orleans native and international businessman, Lawrence Brankston. The Castiglio family has been attempting to shed their Mafia profile since the murder of Carlos Castiglio Sr in 1956. There has been no comment from the family since Alex Castiglio was taken into custody yesterday.
“The arrest took place at Lakeside Airport in New Orleans early Mardi Gras day. Fifteen young women, ranging in age from fourteen to seventeen were on the plane. Castiglio was arrested disembarking from the plane. Brankston was arrested at his home on Audubon Place. At this time, neither Brankston nor Castiglio have made a statement.”
Lilly’s mouth hung open as she shook her head slowly back and forth. Finally, she took a breath and banged the flat of her hand on the table. “This explains a lot! The mother fucker was involved in this horror while he was married to me. I don’t doubt he would have sold me into sex slavery if I hadn’t escaped when I did.”
Tears burned her eyes. She couldn’t catch her breath. Jason jumped up and grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen. Roland held her hand as she sipped the water slowly, taking great gulps of air between swallows.
Her body shook and she laughed hysterically. The band members stole glances at Lilly and each other, not knowing what they should do or say in this awkward situation. Lilly calmed herself and looked from face to face. “Thank ya’ll for being here, for being kind to me. This is huge! You have no idea! This is great news. I am free and I’m sure the girls he was kidnapping and selling into sex slavery think this is great news too. This explains his aura looking like a dirty rag. I am so grateful to be here safe with you sweet, gentlemen. I am blessed to be alive.”
Roland put his arm around her chair, “This is big news for you and for those who love you. It’s been hard knowing that there is someone out there who wished you harm.” Tears filled Lilly’s eyes and she laid her head on Roland’s shoulder. Roland put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
Lilly gathered herself together, looked up and said, “I want to go home and soak in a bubble bath and really relax. I’m ecstatic, excited and exhausted.”
“Do you want me to walk you back to Panthea’s?”
Trey cleared his throat and gave Roland a hard look. Lilly saw Trey’s pointed stare. Not wanting to come between Roland and his band mates, she kissed Roland on the cheek, “Thank you, baby. I’ll go by myself, no one is threatening me any longer. You enjoy some time with your bandmates. I’ll be fine. I’m sure the Castiglio family has more important things on their minds than me. I’m going home to take a long hot bath, change my clothes and revel in this new development. I was married to a monster and now, thanks to his own wicked nature, I am free of him and his family.”
Chapter 26
Venus and the Moon Spell Disaster
Lilly walked home on a cloud of euphoria. Arriving at her apartment, she lit scented candles, put on soft music and sank into a warm bubble bath. She began to breathe deeply, filling
