Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
Jackson Square was a short walk away from the shop, but Bubba wasn’t having any of it. He had ordered a driver and car for us, and it waited at the curb.
“I think this is overkill,” I said for probably the fifth time.
Bubba shook his head. “I don’t care what you think. Two people are dead, one’s missing, and I’ve got two prime targets for our killer with me. Walking is too unpredictable. Catherine was snatched walking from the car to the terminal. Just that fast.”
“Well, at least I’ll get another tourist stop marked off in my guidebook.” Rory said, trying to defuse the tension. “The guidebook says there are three statues of Andrew Jackson in the middle. He was the hero of the Battle of New Orleans? Is that the guy who also became president?”
“I believe so,” I got into the car and put my seatbelt on. “Fourth grade history was a long time ago.”
“You never dig deep into history when it’s about where you live.
Except, I would have thought, as an antique dealer, you’d have more knowledge than most residents.
” Rory looked up from her guidebook. “The place used to be called, "Place d'Armes," and it was the site of public executions, military parades, and key historical moments, including the Louisiana Purchase transfer. We might have some problems if all this is true.”
Bubba frowned, “Problems? I think mostly it’s filled with artists and musicians trying to sell something now.”
“A place that was used for public executions is going to be brimming with ghosts and angst. Why on earth would someone bring a medium here? If Catherine’s still alive, the place has to be torture for her.
” I explained as I looked at the map I’d printed out before we left the shop.
“I don’t think we need to spend much time in the square, hopefully, that will limit our exposure.
Mercy said running water and crowds. The square is off the river somewhat. ”
“Are you going to be okay?” Bubba watched me for a reaction.
I shrugged one shoulder. “Every place in New Orleans is potentially problematic. At least at the square, I know what to expect.”
“I’ll have Fred keep the car close, just in case we need to get out of here, fast.” Bubba texted the driver instructions.
He was great at the logistics, but sometimes, he didn’t realize that the events around me were even happening.
He could only hear one side of my conversations.
I needed to watch out for Rory as well. He tucked his phone away in his pocket. “Anything else I should watch for?”
“Watch to see if I turn orange again,” Rory grinned. “Or maybe I should just not spray my potion.”
“If it’s your protection, you need to apply it.
Which reminds me,” I said, grabbing the water bottle that held the concoction that Annamae had made me.
I took a couple of swigs and felt the energy surround me.
I stared at the map. “Are there any buildings that have basements? Maybe a building that’s been abandoned? Or still under construction?”
Bubba stared at the map. “This one’s new. Maybe it has a basement. But it’s still leasing space. No one is there yet.”
Rory and I nodded, our gazes meeting as I said, “Then it might be the perfect place to hide Catherine.”
“Let’s go find a medium,” Rory added.
As we walked through the square, I smiled at the street vendors. Jewelry, baking and soup mixes, art, street food, there was a booth for every kind of creative outlet. As we turned toward the river, a woman sat at a table, reading cards. Her head jerked up as she felt us approach.
“Come, sit down a minute. Let the spirits do the work.” She called out to us. I met Rory’s eyes and she nodded. She could feel the power coming from the woman as well.
Rory and I sat, but Bubba stood behind us, watching the crowd. “We are looking for someone.”
“I felt the energy. I don’t often get New Orleans royalty at my table.” She smiled at me. “My name is Tasha Edgewood.”
“I’m not royalty,” I protested but as she shook her head, I realized she knew who we were. At least me.
“And you, left coast girl. What has you so far away from that handsome son of yours.” Tasha asked Rory.
“Deek? What are you seeing?” Rory leaned forward, almost to the edge of the folding table.
“Nothing bad, but congratulations on his book deal.” Tasha shuffled the cards. “I feel that Miss Eddie should cut the deck. You are leading this search, and New Orleans is your home turf.”
I saw Bubba was already on his phone, checking out Tasha Edgewood, but I had a feeling that wasn’t her real name. “I can cut the deck.”
Rory’s eyes were wide and I tried to calm her. The volley’s between us and the medium that included her son’s information had shaken her. She took a deep breath, and I realized my supporting energy had worked.
“Then let’s get going. I have a feeling that time is not on our side here.” Tasha shuffled one more time, then pushed the cards to me. I waited for her to let go before doing my cut.
Thin to win was the poker call. I wasn’t sure what winning was in this case, except finding Catherine alive. Tasha closed her eyes, shuffling a few more times after I passed the cards back. Then she started setting out a Celtic cross layout. She’d only set down two cards before she shook her head.
“Sorry, that’s my most common layout. The spirits want me to redo with just a three card, past, present, and future, layout.
I have to say, I’ve never been stopped mid reading before but there you go.
Reading is definitely a participation sport.
” She swooped up the cards, and reshuffled.
When she start to lay out the cards, she didn’t look at them. Just held my gaze.
When she’d finished, she set down the deck and collapsed back into her chair. “This is intense.” Rubbing her face, she took several breaths, then looked at the cards.
The Queen of Swords was in the past position. Eight of Cups was in the future position. And in the middle was the Eight of Swords. As she stared at the cards, her hand brushed by the stack, turning over one more card, a Queen of Cups.
“That’s unexpected.” Tasha stared at the cards as did Rory.
I didn’t know what I was looking at. Mercy had tried to teach me tarot the summers I worked at her shop, but that had been long ago and far away. “Read it please, I’m not proficient.”
Tasha’s eyes flickered up to meet my gaze, surprise showing in her look. “Okay, not what I was expecting, but if I speak wrong, please correct me Left Coast.”
“Rory, her name is Rory,” I said and Tasha smiled at my protectiveness.
“The past shows that you are on a quest – the Queen of Swords – the people’s champion. This isn’t just a missing person; you are fighting for a way of life.” Tasha blinked and she let out an audible, “Oh.”
And she’d just realized what we were dealing with. I gave her a moment to collect her thoughts and continue the reading. Finding out that a killer is looking for people with talents like yours can be a bit unnerving at times.
“Okay, then. A quest. A search. Down by the river, the water is dragging you closer. But with the Eight of Cups, your enemy has left. He is no longer close by,” her eyes blinked at that, “he has abandoned his prize. Or he thinks he can return and finish the job. He doesn’t expect you to find his treasure. ”
“Will we,” Rory asked. Sometimes being direct help lead the discussion but this reading was weird enough as it was.
“Will you find his treasure? Yes, at least part of it. Not enough to kill him, but to wound him. Then next card shows his treasure, surrounded by swords. Not to hurt her, but to keep others out. You need to be careful and not run into the scene. He might not be there, but he has set his trap. And you’ll need to be clever to get her out without hurting her, or any of her friends. ”
Bubba nudged my chair. He wasn’t seeing the point of listening to the reading. We’d only started our quest and Catherine’s life was on the line.
“Thanks,” I pulled out my wallet to pay her, but she shook her head.
“No charge, you need to find this guy. Soon.” She grabbed my hand, and locked gazes with me, staring into my eyes.
I saw her fear. “The spirits gave us one more card. The Queen of Cups. I believe this is you. That you are the only one who can stop this guy from eradicating us all. But you have to step past your need to be liked. To be fair. To be normal. You are the key.”
As we walked away, toward the river and the building, Rory was quiet. Bubba looked between us and frowned. “I didn’t get anything from that. Did the two of you? I can see I missed something from the looks on your face. What’s going on?”
Rory looked at me, then sighed. “She was challenging Eddie to take a stand. To lead on this quest.”
“Eddie’s always the boss,” Bubba said, not understanding.
I stopped and looked at him. “No, I’m not.
I’ve been hiding what makes me special all my life.
I didn’t even know how to read the cards.
I never wanted this talent, this power. I wanted a normal life but that blew up for me in Seattle.
I’ve been pretending that Grandma’s power and Mom’s sacrifice didn’t mean anything except heighten my ability to talk to ghosts which I never wanted.
Tasha is saying it’s more, and if we’re going to find this guy, I need to go all in. ”
“But you don’t want to,” Bubba guessed my answer.
“I never wanted this world. I thought Mom and Dad would deal with this. Nic was the firstborn. He should be in charge. I want to design pretty houses, not track down killers.” I could hear the whine in my voice.
“Sometimes you have to deal with what you’re given, not what you want.” Rory put her arm around me. “You’ve said that you think your mom’s death is part of this answer. Maybe that’s how you can take charge, by solving that mystery. Then if that’s true, your answer will lead us to the killer.”