Everything seemed to be in perfect order; Ashleys dreams had been for nothing.
Except, of course, that the reenactment always made her think about Jake.
They were due to leave soon, within the next few days, but since Adam Harrisons group was still in New Orleans, they finished with the training they were doing there, and waiting for the move, Jake had agreed to go wandering around the French Quarter with his fellow newly minted agent, Whitney Tremont.
I must admit, Im going to be sorry to leave New Orleans, Whitney said. She stared out toward Jackson Square. There was so much paperwork after the Holloway case, it felt like we were picking up the pieces for days at first. But its been nice to have this bit of time to get ready for our move, since were all taking up residence in the D.C. area. Though, Im ex-citedI mean, were going to have offices, Jake. Like really cool offices, in a building in Alexandriawith help! A forensics lab! State-of-the-art equipment.
Jake grinned. Yes, its going to be interesting to get settled in.
Whitney grinned back. Her skin was like the café au lait that sat before them. He knew that the others had thought the two of them might wind up together, but what they had formed instead was a friendship, deep and binding.
But it was good, I thinkjust being thrown together as freelancers of a sort for our first case. Dont you think? she asked. But federal positions though I dont think we really get to stay in those fancy buildings that often, do you?
Were like any other team or unit for the FBI, I believe. The cases come in, and Im assuming that Adam Harrison and Jackson Crow decide what looks like something we should take on. Well get to discuss the situation then. And make the plans.
Do you think that any of us could put a case forward? she asked.
Sure. He smiled. Lets face it, Whitney, we are an experiment in paranormal investigations. Were unique, and Im sure there are those who will make fun of the Krewe of Hunters unit.
Not anymore. Not after the Holloway case, she said proudly.
We have to keep proving that were good at what we do, Jake said. The name Krewe theyd given themselves had begun as a joke, but theyd become a real crew through their passion for the work.
Hmm, Whitney said, twirling her straw in her iced café au lait. Its here somewhere.
Here? Whats here? Sometimes you make no sense.
That made her laugh. Only sometimes? I think that our new case is going to be here. Somewhere in Louisiana.
Were about to move to Alexandria, he pointed out.
I dont know I just have a feeling. I dont think well be going yet. You wait and see.
What makes you think that? Jake asked. Whitneys prowess was with film, sound and video. But she also seemed to have amazing intuition. Of course, they had all been gathered into the group because of their intuition, their ability to solve problems where others could not, but where Angela Hawkins was quiet, finding what she found without much ado, and Jackson would always be the skeptic, Whitney went in wide-eyed, eager for whatever might not be considered normal.
Feelings and logic, thats kind of the Krewe of Hunters motto, right? she asked.
He laughed, but something was knotting in the pit of his stomach. I think its supposed to be logicand then feelings, he told her. He gazed idly across the street. The mule-drawn carriages were starting to arrive in front of Jackson Square. An early-morning tour group was forming on Decatur Street. One of the history tours, he thought.
Well, of course, good old Jackson, hes still swearing solving cases is all logic, and we all know that he knows best, Whitney said.
Jake wasnt really paying attention. He had seen the tour-group leader come outhe wasnt sure where she had come from. Of course, there were a number of restaurants and bars in the area, and some had been open forever. It was New Orleans. No one frowned if you discovered you were dying for that 8:00 a.m. drink.
The tour guide was a blonde woman dressed in Civil War attire. Her bonnet hid her face, but she was tall and statuesque, and he had a feeling that she was going to be an attractive woman before he saw her face. Assured, probably in her mid to late thirties, she moved among the chattering crowd as they waited.
She was coming toward the sidewalk, politely excusing herself as she did so, but people didnt seem to notice as she made her way through them, which said a lot for the good nature of the group, since she was wearing a respectable day dress with large hoops.
She paused when she reached the sidewalk.
Jake started. She was staring straight at him, and she smiled, but her smile seemed to be very sad. Her mouth moved. He squinted. He wasnt all that much at reading lips, but it was almost as if he could hear her.
Were waiting, we need you. Hurry, he thought she said.
Jake?
Huh? He turned back to look at Whitney.
Want to move on? she asked.
Yes, sure, he agreed. He stood and left a tip on the table, having already paid the waiter.
When he glanced up again, the tour had moved on down toward the cathedral. He didnt see the woman, but they would be walking in the same direction.
Whitney, he asked as they did so, did you understand what that woman was trying to say?
What woman?
She was the guide for that group thats ahead of us. She looked right over at us and said something, Jake told her.
Whitney arched a delicately formed brow. First, I didnt see the woman, but I wasnt looking. And second, if shed spoken from across the street, unless shed been yelling, how could I have heard anything she had to say?
He shrugged. Good point.
They walked up St. Ann Street, took a pedestrian thruway as they passed by the square, then turned in right in front of the cathedral, where the tour group had now paused.
The woman wasnt with them. There was a man in a top hat and frock coat leading the tour.
Jake stopped short.
Hey! Hey there, remember me? Whitney said, nudging him.
Just a second, Jake said. He knew that the man would finish his spiel about St. Louis Cathedral, and then allow the group to take pictures.
This guide, however, apparently liked to hear himself speak. He added in several personal anecdotes regarding the cathedral, before allowing his group to disperse for pictures.
When the group finally thinned, Jake approached him. The fellow, in his mid-twenties, saw them coming.
The tour offices are actually on Decatur, sir, if youre interested in any of our offerings. We do history tours, ghost tours, vampire tours, plantation tours
Actually, were locals and could do the tours, Jake said, interrupting him with a pleasant tone. Im just curiouswhy did you all change tour guides at the last minute?
The man frowned. We didnt. Ive been scheduled for over a week to do this tour.
Jake frowned. I saw a woman with your group. She was dressed in antebellum clothing, bonnet and all.
Oh, she was probably heading for Le Petit Theatre, the tour guide said. Theyre doing several performances of Our American Cousin. Shes a bit early to be in costume for the matinee, but I imagine you saw one of the actresses.
When the group finally thinned, Jake approached him. The fellow, in his mid-twenties, saw them coming.
The tour offices are actually on Decatur, sir, if youre interested in any of our offerings. We do history tours, ghost tours, vampire tours, plantation tours
Actually, were locals and could do the tours, Jake said, interrupting him with a pleasant tone. Im just curiouswhy did you all change tour guides at the last minute?
The man frowned. We didnt. Ive been scheduled for over a week to do this tour.
Jake frowned. I saw a woman with your group. She was dressed in antebellum clothing, bonnet and all.
Oh, she was probably heading for Le Petit Theatre, the tour guide said. Theyre doing several performances of Our American Cousin. Shes a bit early to be in costume for the matinee, but I imagine you saw one of the actresses.
Oh, well, thanks, Jake said.
Why?
Oh, I just thought she was trying to tell me something, Jake said.
If she was trying to tell you something, wouldnt she have just done so? the man asked.
Jake was irritated by the tone; frankly, he hadnt liked the man since hed heard him giving his own lifes history along with the tour.
He felt Whitneys hand on his arm.
He forced a smile. Thanks, thanks for the help, he said.
Whitney pulled him along. Jerk, she said.
Ass, Jake agreed.
I meant you, Whitney teased. No, sorryhe was a jerk. But come on now! We dont have any reason to go to the theater.
But were going to pass it! Jake protested.
Let it go, Jake. You saw an actress, and you thought she had something to say. Without sounding just as jerky as that jerk, its trueif shed really wanted to talk to you, she would have come on over. I dont want to help you stalk a woman, Jake.
I dont want to stalk her. I want to know who she is, Jake said.
But they did pass right by Le Petit Theatre. He couldnt help but stop to read the playbill and look at the pictures of the actors in the show.
Shes not here, he said.
Well, God knows, this is New Orleans. Maybe shes just a kook who likes to dress up in Southern belle attire, though God knows why, the heat can be a bitch. Forget it, Jake.
Jake agreed. He didnt know why it was bothering him so much that hed seen the woman and hadnt been able to talk to her.
That wasnt true. He did know. There had been something vaguely familiar about her, although he couldnt quite put his finger on what it was.
Jake? Are you okay? Whitney asked.
Fine.
No, youre not.
Its nothing, really. Hey, nothing that car bombs tonight after dinner with the group wont cure, right? he said, setting an arm around her shoulders as he led her down the street.
Car bombs werent going to fix anything. He was truly disturbed by the woman.
Why was she so familiar? Was she real, or was she in his imagination? Had he brought his dream world to the surface, and did he want her to be from Donegal?
It was absurd, even for a ghost hunter, to believe that someone from the past was calling out to him, trying to reach him.
Logicand then feelings. That was Jackson Crows motto. It was only logical that he think about Ashley now, and logical that even after all these years, he wanted her to need him.
Logic
Somehow, it just wasnt working. Feelings were taking over. And thoughts of Ashley and Donegal Plantation.
2
Ashley surveyed the expanse of the property one last time; everything was going extremely well. Children were playing and laughing, the camp looked wonderful and there were activities going on everywhere.
She headed for the house. It was time for her to become Emma Donegal and get ready for the evenings battle.
But as she walked toward the house, she slowed, paused and looked over at the cemetery. The gate was locked.
Still, a creeping feeling of unease swept over her.
She shrugged it off; a dream was a dream. Good God, shed dreamed once that shed kissed Vance Thibault in high school one day, and she loathed him! She hurried on toward the house, trying to forget her unease.
Her grandfather, Frazier Donegal, was sitting on the back porch. She grinned; he looked spectacular, she thought. Frazier was eighty-three, but he showed little sign of slowing down. Today he was dressed in a frock coat, pinstripe breeches and high riding bootsa pure gentleman of the age with his full head of snow-white, a Colonel Sanders mustache and goatee, and bright blue eyes. She worried about him constantly; his health was good, but he was eighty-three.
He was really in the mood today, though, she thought. He was sipping a mint julep. He didnt even like mint juleps.
There you are! he said. I was starting to wonder.
Ashley sat in one of the wicker rockers across from him. Last-minute details in the stables, she told him. Charles Osgood didnt want to be a Yankee.
Frazier rolled his eyes and shook his head. It works, you know, for the property, it works. But why on earth everyone always wants to be on the losing side, Ill just never know. Did he finally accept his assignment?
He didbut Ramsay Clayton stepped in at the last minute to let him play Marshall Donegal, Ashley said.
Oh?
I dont think Ramsay cares. Its all play to him, she said.
Ramsay is a good fellow. You think he was trying to appear magnanimous in front of you? Frazier asked.
Ashley shook her head. Theres never going to be anything between Ramsay and me, Grampa, there just isnt.
He lifted his hands. I was just asking about his motives.
Ramsay had asked Ashley out the previous year; she had always liked him. He was a good artist, and a handsome man, but she had never felt the least bit of chemistry with him. He had accepted her wish that they just maintain a good friendship. Ramsay had been on the rebound, having broken up with his longtime lover. She wondered if she was still on the reboundeven if she had been the one who had run from Jake.
I honestly believe Ramsay just doesnt care, Ashley said. I think hell have fun saying, Oh, Lord! I had to be a Yankee. No, Ramsay isnt trying to impress me. Griffin even asked me to be his friendly companion for a dinner he hadand I said no. They all understand that the friendships we have are too important.
Well, then, good for Ramsay. And youyou better get dressed, Frazier told her.
Yep, Im on it.
She rose and walked into the house from the riverside.
The original architects had taken advantage of the river and bayou breezes when they had built the house. It hadnt been changed much since the day it had been built. One long hallway stretched from the front of the house to the back, and before the advent of air-conditioning, the double doors on each end had often been kept open. The house had one unique feature: double winding staircases to a second-floor landing that led to the six bedrooms, three on each side of the house on that floor. The stairway to the third floor, or attic, where there were still two rooms that could be guest rooms or let out to renters, was on the second floor, bayou side, of the house.