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“She was my nana’s friend. And literally lives only a few blocks away. Trust me, if Lev is dead, she’ll know.”
Am I that desperate? “I don’t know.”
“I’ll call and tell her you knew the man who saved so many from the terrorist bombing.”
“I guess it couldn’t hurt.” At one time, she would have scoffed, but during her travels she’d seen a lot of juju. I’m that desperate.
“Finish eating, I’ll call her now.” Maggie rushed off to get her phone.
Rachel nodded and sipped her coffee. Talking to Madam Montfort might give her closure before she left New Orleans. She’d decided to tell Maggie she’d leave by the end of the week. Since working with Howard wasn't in the foreseeable future, she planned to look into working in Nepal. She’d have time to travel before she committed to applying. Winter time would be perfect. Less people travelled there during the winter and it would test her resolve to live under such conditions.
No matter how kind Maggie and Jim were, she wanted them to enjoy their nuptials alone.
“Good news, she’ll see you in an hour. I just need to call work and let them know I’ll be coming in a little late.”
“No. Don’t. Just give me the address.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, absolutely. I’m a big girl. Besides, you can’t call in late to your new job willy-nilly.”
“Good point.”
After breakfast, Rachel quickly dressed. She checked for emails just in case Howard had contacted her. She scrolled through all her messages. Twice. Nope. I wonder if the psychic can tell me about Howard. Rachel braided her hair, brushed her teeth and then raced down the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen on her way out. “I’m leaving.”
“Text me when you get there,” said Maggie from behind a stack of small boxes.
Rachel rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yes, Mom.” She went out the back and into the alley which took her directly to a small hidden away voodoo shop, Bernard’s Authentic Voodoo Store. Black drapes instead of window displays of dolls or other voodoo artifacts gave it a creepy don’t-go-inside vibe. No sign they were open. She looked at her mobile to double check the name and address. Not very inviting, but this is it.
Rachel took a breath and knocked on the door. A tall older black man with white hair opened the door. “Come in. Madam Montfort is expecting you.”
“Thanks.” The place looked authentic with botanicals, jars of creepy critters, voodoo fetish dolls and other magical items. No prices listed. Must be the real deal and not a tourist trap.
He pointed. “At the very end of the hall to the right.”
Her pulse quickened with each step. Maggie wouldn’t arrange a kidnapping would she? A bamboo curtain blocked the view of the opened door. Kind of cheesy. Not spending more than a hundred bucks on this.
“Come in, Rachel.”
She moved aside the bamboo curtain and walked in. A small plump woman with her white hair pinned up wearing a red dress sat at a round table. The chamber had a small couch and tables adorned with candles and other magical fetishes. Old bricks made up the walls, dating it several centuries. “Hi, thanks for seeing me on such a short notice.”
Her eyes widened as if Rachel had an extra head. Madam Montfort blurted, “Rougarou.”
Rachel looked behind her, expecting to see a zombie. No one. “Huh?”
“No, no. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She sighed. “Sit, please.”
You were the one who looked scared, not me. Rachel took a seat directly across from her. A velvet red tablecloth covered the round table, but no cards or a magic ball for divination. Thankfully, no voodoo dolls. “What did you say earlier?”
“Give me your hand.”
“You don’t use Tarot cards.” Rachel presented her hand and she grasped it.
“I’m clairvoyant.” Madam Montfort squeezed Rachel’s hand and closed her eyes. “You belong to a rougarou. A wolf man. He protects you, but cannot be with you.”
After seeing a wolf outside her kitchen window, what Madam Montfort said prickled Rachel’s scalp. “A werewolf?” She was either the real deal or savvy enough to have checked the police blotter.
“The wolf will come for you.”
