They all worked for the same tour company, and they were making a success of it, despite the competition in New Orleans. Maximilian Dupuis, the founder of the business, had taken Nikki on board first. Max had found her through the articles shed been writing for one of the local tourist papers.
Max himself was really something. Tall, dark and bony, he resembled a vampire and could have haunted New Orleans just fine himself, though the cigars he loved to chomp on kind of ruined the impression. Nor was he really interested in ghostly occurrences himself.
Max was out to make a buck.
His brilliance was in putting together what the public wanted and in the art of delegating, he had told Nikki. Hed had the cash to start up the business, shed had the ability and the knowledge. When hed hired her, shed suggested bringing in Julian, whod been her best friend forever. As theyd prospered, theyd added the rest.
Nikki was Maxs number two. She was responsible for hiring new guides, then for training them. It worked out well, since Max didnt particularly like to stick around and run the business. Max liked his money and having other people work for him, so he could travel the globe. At the moment he was hiking in Colorado.
That took long enough, Patricia said as they approached the table.
Nikki was flirting, Andy teased.
Oh? Patricia Broussard had been born and bred in Cajun country, and, like Andy, she had long dark hair. Her eyes were equally dark, and her grin was entirely impish. Nikkis got a guy?
Very mysterious, Andy said.
I gave a bum a dollar, Nikki said, shaking her head.
She gave him a twenty, Andy corrected.
He looked like he needed it, Nikki said quickly as Julian stared at her in surprise.
Actually, he looked like he might be pretty handsome if you cleaned him up a bit, Andy said.
You gave a bum a twenty? Mitch, their out-of-towner, a blonde from Pittsburgh, demanded. Wowyoure making a lot more in tips than I am.
Shes cuter, Patricia told him.
He just seemed really needy, Nikki explained. So lets get past this moment, shall we?
No, I like this conversation. All work and no play, Nikki Nathan, who was living with Patricia, teased.
Actually, Patricia said, eyeing Julian and then Nikki, most people think you two are a couple.
Ugh, Julian said.
Thanks, Nikki told him.
No, no, that wasnt about you, Julian protested quickly.
I know, Nikki assured him. She stared at Patricia. Its just that weve known each other forever. Its like a brother/sister thing. Now can we get down to business?
But Nathan grinned, leaning forward. Nikki, forget business. Weve got to get you set up with someone.
She sighed deeply. I do not want to be set up with anyone.
Her last excursion into amore didnt go so well, Julian said with a dramatic sigh. But, then, I did tell her not to date the creep.
Ive never seen you date, Patricia told her.
Thats because she hasnt in nearly a year, Julian informed them.
What? Why, thatsun-American, Mitch protested.
Nikki groaned, clenching her teeth. He wasnt a creep. He just wanted to go off to Hollywood and get rich and famous.
And he wanted Nikki to come along and support him while he did, Julian said dryly.
We had different agendas, Nikki said firmly. I love this business and I love New Orleans. I like California, but I want to live here. He really wasnt a jerk.
Not a total jerk, Patricia interjected. He was really good looking, and he could be really sweet.
Sweet? Mitch queried politely.
Flowers, opening doorsthe little things. But in the big things, he wanted his own way.
See, I just dont think that she felt that thing for him, you know? Good-looking guy, charmingbut when its just not there, its just not there, Nathan said.
Yeah, but if you always had to wait for it to be there, Mitch laughed, Id spend a lot more nights alone than I already do. No wonder youre so tense, Nikki.
Im not tense, Nikki said.
Yeah, and if you dont get off it, shell talk to Max and see that your ass is fired, Patricia warned sweetly.
Ouch! Mitch said.
Guys, please, Nikki said. Im busy, and Im discerning, and I take my time, okay? And right now we need to worry about work, okay?
Julian turned to Andy. Just how decent would this bum of hers be if we cleaned him up?
Pretty decent, Andy said thoughtfully. He just lookeddown on his luck.
Okay, guys, playtime over, Nikki said firmly. Julian, Greg wasnt that much of a creep, just a little self-centered. I had no intention of going anywhere with him, so it was fun, but its over. And thanks, but I dont want to date the bum. Im fine. I love my apartment, love my work and enjoy my friendship with all you guys. Im normal, not tense, and when I want to date, I will.
Maybe shes working the strip clubs at night under an alias, Mitch teased. She shot him a glare from blue-green eyes. He lifted his hands. Im going to behave now. Really.
Okay, guys, Ive got notes from Max. Mitch, youre welcome to introduce any new story, as long as you validate it first. Julian, if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable on the walks, tell them youre married.
What? Julian said, startled.
Nikki shrugged. Thats what Max said to tell you. He said it works for him all the time.
Oh, really? Who would be trying to pick up old Max? Julian demanded.
Oh, come on, Patricia protested. Max is cutein a creepy kind of way.
Great. I say Im married, then when the right person comes alongthey think that Im married or a liar, Julian said. There goes my social life. He groaned. Ill end up like Nikki.
Oh, come on, will you guys please, please leave me alone? Nikki demanded.
That bum is looking better and better, Julian said to Nathan.
You didnt even see him, Nikki protested, irritated.
Were just trying to help, Nathan said.
I dont want to be helped, Nikki snapped. Heywork on Andy for a while, huh?
On cue, they all turned to stare at Andy. She laughed. Nikki, they dont know me as well. I wont be nearly as much fun to torture.
Besides, Andy is a flirt, Nathan said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Really? Andy said.
Yeah, really, Mitch assured her.
Andy giggled. OkayI am a flirt. I admit it.
You can flirt with me anytime, Julian teased.
And if hes not around, and youre looking for a good solid Yankee boy Mitch suggested.
Never play where you work, thats what Mom always said, Andy told them with a sad shake of her head.
Well, you could just sleep with me, Mitch said. We wouldnt have to play at all.
Hey! Go back to torturing Nikki, will you? Andy demanded.
If you all dont quit, tomorrow nights off, Nikki said.
The tour is off? Julian asked, puzzled.
Of course not, Nikki said patiently. If youd all just behave like adults and listen We had a record month. Max is going to pay for a celebration at Pat OBriens. Dinner and drinks on him, tomorrow, after the night tour.
Of course not, Nikki said patiently. If youd all just behave like adults and listen We had a record month. Max is going to pay for a celebration at Pat OBriens. Dinner and drinks on him, tomorrow, after the night tour.
All right! Mitch cried happily.
At that moment Madame DOrso made one of her sweeping appearances, bearing her elegant coffeepot, chatting with her guests.
And they were special guests. Their tours met in front of her place, bringing her lots of business.
Its calmed down out here some, huh? Nikki asked her.
Yes. Not that I complain about business, but we had a busy late lunch crowd today, she told them, pouring them more coffee. At her place, it was premixed. Café au lait meant café au lait.
Hey, Mitch said to her, setting a friendly hand on her back, just above her waist. The gesture wasnt flirtatious, just affectionate. Mitch was in his late twenties. Madame was in her latewell, hard to tell, but she was a few decades older. Should Nikki date the bum who was in your place?
What bum?
You didnt see him? Andy asked.
Honey, I wouldnt have noticed if Robert E. Lee stopped in. It was busy in there today. As if this parish isnt nutty enough, its election time. Campaigners, do-gooders and politicians everywhere, thick as flies. Theres those trying to clean up the place, make New Orleans a family destination. And then theres those trying to keep her wild, wicked and free. She removed Mitchs hand, grinned and moved on.
Damn. Wish Id seen the bum. Then Id know if we could clean him up enough or not, Mitch said with a wink.
Drop it. Or there will be no free meal for you tomorrow night, Nikki warned him.
Its dropped, he assured her.
Nikki rose. She could see a tour group gathering out front. Julian, its showtime. Andy, youre following along. Patricia, Nathan, dont forget youre on tonight.
With a last long swallow of her café au lait, Nikki started off with a smile to meet the growing crowd. Twenty minutes later, she was standing in front of the Bourbon Street bar, once a blacksmiths shop, that the pirate turned patriot Jean Lafitte was said to haunt. She found the story of the man a fascinating puzzle, and focused her speech on his enigmatic history, along with a mention that there were definitely spirits of all sorts to be found theremany of them behind the bar.
Her smile was as enigmatic as her story. She was certain that Jean Lafittes ghost loved to have his story told. She could feel the mischief in the air, something a little wicked, and yet benign.
She always told the story of the man with affection, and she knew that she always gave her audience a few delightful chills.
Ghosts filled the streets here, between the neon lights that advertised Girls! Girls! Girls! and the shop fronts offering voodoo charms, the ever-present music, the mimes on the street, the antique shops, the boutiques and the T-shirt shops that also sold pralines and potions.
It was New Orleans, and she loved it.
Tom Garfield fought to retain his senses, fought because that was what a man did. It was simple instinct. And so many times before, it had served him well. But this time?
The girl. Had he gotten to the girl? He didnt know. No matter how he struggled, his mind was deeply fogged.
There had been a chance.
But he hadnt been able to talk.
And then
Then it had been too late. He had been followed.
Well, it had been a good fight. And he had done as much good as he could. Maybe someone would come after him, someone who knew the truth. He had tried so damn hard to talk
He felt a jostling, and he knew. He was being taken care of. It no longer mattered, even to him. Dreams were taking over reality. And he could see
The woman. Like a fairy-tale princess. Long blond hair, eyes both blue and greenAnd that face, porcelain, and the look of pity
Themoney.
More money than anyone ever gave a bum.
Not a bum. Once
In his minds eye, in dreams, all that remained, he could see himself in a suit. No, in a tux. Clean. Walking across a room. And there, the woman
He was jostled again, the dream broken. It was her kindness, he thought, that had most moved him.
He felt the needle.
Dreams
Dreams were good.
He was dying. And as he died, one regret tore at him.
They would never know the truth.
Unless she realized just what she had, what she had received, what he had slipped to her in that instant when they touched
It was over. Had he lost? No, he had to die for a reason! God help him, he had to have counted. She had to realize
Fading. Fading, fading, and then
Death.
2
The afternoon French Quarter tour wound up being a long one. They always allowed for questions after the tour, and it turned out they had a lot of people with questions. When they finished, Julian decided to head home, but Nikki wanted to do some shopping, so she and Andy headed off.
In addition to suggesting the party, Max had given Nikki a bonus. There was a corset shop on Royal Street and a certain piece of clothing she had been coveting for quite a while. On the way they stopped by Andys place to check on an old woman, Mrs. Montobello, Andy seemed to have adopted. The woman was full of tales about her younger years in New Orleans. She was an Italian immigrant whod come to marry a fellow Italian, sight unseen, but now her husband was long gone, her one son had also passed away, and her grandchildren were sweet but living their own lives in New York City.
That day, she was on a kick about the many voodoo queens, and tarot and palm readers in the French Quarter.
All shysters, she said, shaking her old gray head with animation. Once upon a time voodoo was a way for the slaves to have something of their ownand to get back at their masters, eh? But I can tell you thisthere were women once who really had a special gift.
Mrs. Montobello, Nikki said, Marie Laveau supported her powers by eavesdropping.
Dear child, Mrs. Montobello protested. Dont you go doubting things just because they cant be seen. I hear that you give the best ghost tour out there. That people believe theyve seen ghosts when they get back from a walk with you. Thats because you see them, dont you?
Nikki shook her head. I think its just a matter of seeing history, feeling the emotions that must have played out. But Im a girl who sees the real picture. We lead tours, we make money. I dont fall for the shyster palm readers. Oh, I believe there are people who give good readings, but I think thats because they would have made fabulous psychologists. They know how to read people.
Nikkis good. No matter what she says, Ive stood next to her and felt chills, Andy said.
So you really do talk to ghosts, huh? Mrs. Montobello said, rheumy blue eyes studying Nikki in far too serious a manner.
No. I have a feel for history, and I think Im a good storyteller, Nikki said. I do not talk to ghosts.
So you dont talk to them, but do they talk to you? Mrs. Montobello asked.
Good heavens, no! Nikki said. Id have a heart attack on the spot if that happened. And if theyre out there, Nikki said mischievously, they apparently know that.