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“No, why?”
“Bea told me there might be some stories from out there past the gate, some things I wanted to look into and verify, but we didn’t make it out that far.”
“I’ll take a look on my way to the car. See if it’s even feasible for us to investigate there,” Remy said. “Speaking of heading out, I’m done for today, and it’s getting dark. Need to head home and take care of the nightly rituals.” He grinned and waved and headed off towards the gate.
“Interesting guy,” I said as we climbed into the SUV. “Are all of your cast and crew like that?”
“We’re a diverse bunch, that’s for sure,” Dev answered, buckling his seat belt. “Actually, if you’re up for it, we usually have a cast and crew dinner before we start an investigation. We don’t generally invite the property owners or clients, but it would be great if you came. If you want to, that is.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’d love to meet your people before we delve into the show stuff.”
“Awesome. I’ll let you know when and where tomorrow when we finalize things.”
Chapter 11
Dev
I was so damned tired. I’d stayed up way too late the night before doing all sorts of research on Arborwood and making lists for my lists. A lot went into the production of a show like this, and every episode had unique challenges. During our walk-through yesterday, I’d felt a few different things and saw a couple of others, even outside of that first apparition I’d seen crossing the courtyard threshold. Nothing major, and I didn’t even let on to Hanlen that I’d seen or felt anything, but there was definite activity there, and I couldn’t wait to dig in and bring it into the light.
Today, I needed to get in touch with a few of my contacts—those alive, dead, and divine—and make sure my resources were in place. And then tonight was our pre-production cast party at Lafitte’s. I couldn’t wait to see Hanlen again. We’d settled into comfortable conversation on our way back to my place from Arborwood, and I found myself more and more enamored by her.
She was a unique light, and I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I only hoped I wouldn’t get burned. Or become the gasoline to her fire. She’d been burned enough. And I knew the kind of toll that could take on a person. Not only had I lost my sister, I’d lost a dear cousin, as well. Another senseless crime in a city full of it. I loved New Orleans, and I’d never want to live anywhere else, but NOLA had its fair share of pain and heartache, and for someone who saw, felt, and lived it residually, it was sometimes a lot to take in. Especially when it hit close to home like that.
I shook away those melancholic thoughts and got back to work. I headed upstairs to my attic ritual room and opened a way, sketching a geometric veve sigil on the wooden floorboards in chalk to create a doorway to the other side before making offerings to the lwa—the primary spirits of Vodou—and inviting the others in that I wanted to talk to. About an hour later, I had secured the assistance of Maman Brigitte, lwa of the dead; my runner ghost, Desmond; Fin and Wren, of course, and a few other dearly departed I used as scouts. I had done a ritual the other day to protect everybody, including Hanlen, from anything or anybody that might mean them harm or set out to hurt them. I always did it as a precaution before a hunt got underway. There was even a paragraph in the client contracts that gave me permission. It was just worded in such a way that those who didn’t believe wouldn’t be alarmed by it and wouldn’t think anything of it.
Just as I was closing the way and shutting the metaphysical door to the other side, my cell rang. It was one of my co-hosts.
“Hey, Lark,” I answered. “What’s up?” Larken Maynard, better known asBirdieto most of the cast and crew, was a powerful natural-born witch and a very strong medium. She was highly sensitive and intuitive and was an absolute gem. An amazing find for the show and for my circle of friends. We met in Jackson Square one day during my second season ofHaunted New Orleans, our energies somehow drawn to each other. Across the way, at separate intersections, we’d locked eyes and walked towards each other, basically saying in stereo that we were meant to meet. She had been new to the city and down on her luck at the time, living out of a local shelter and looking for work, and things were getting big enough with the show that I really needed a co-host. Two episodes later, we introduced her to the world as a paranormal investigative trainee and the rest, as they say, is history. I couldn’t imagine the show without her—or the rest of my team, honestly.
“Hey, Dev. Say, this is really random, I know, but Gunnie came to me last night.”
I felt a bit of a shiver at the name. I hadn’t talked to my cousin in some time. She was what I liked to call a shy ghost. She still hadn’t moved on, as often happened with most dearly departed who’d been taken suddenly and tragically, but she didn’t like to be super active on this side of the veil either. I saw her occasionally and knew she was okay, but it still pained me greatly that her murderer hadn’t been brought to justice.
“Yeah,” I said hesitantly. “What did she have to say?”
“That’s just it. I’m not sure. I felt her, heard her, and sensed her urgency, got the random impressions that came with her visit, but it was almost like she was . . . underwater, for lack of a better description. I couldn’t really understand what she was trying to tell me. It was kind of like something was blocking her. I just wanted you to know. I’m not sure why she didn’t come to you directly, but I thought you should know in case you wanted to try and reach out.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Are you coming tonight?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said, and I heard the smile in her voice. “I gotta run. I have a hair appointment before I need to get ready for later. Talk soon.”
“Bye.” I disconnected the call and thought about Gunnie. Why would she go to Lark and not me? If she had something to say, I was always a safe place. I’d have to think about it later. I had to do some research at the local library and run a couple of errands to pick up some new equipment, and the day was already farther along than I’d like.
* * *
At seven on the dot,my phone buzzed with a text.
Hanlen:I’m downstairs.
Me:Why don’t you come on up for a second? I’ll buzz you in.
Hanlen:K.
A couple of minutes later, presumably after she’d parked, the chime sounded from outside, and I hit the buzzer to unlock the security door and finished what I had been doing. When footsteps sounded on the stairs, I called out.
“Up here.”
I glanced up when Hanlen rounded the landing, and my heart nearly stopped. She was gorgeous in some kind of black and cream bustier and a leather jacket, paired with black jeans and knee-high boots. She looked incredible.
