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It felt so wrong to rest when Leanna was still out there, maybe scared out of her mind.
“I’m up for a walk. You’re right. And send me the data. I’ll send an email to Roseline. Knowing her, she’ll probably jump on it as soon as she boots up her computer.”
The drive back to Dominique’s shop was quick, as Noelle fought to keep her mind alert and her body from relaxing andrisking falling asleep. Brandon didn’t even look tired, and Noelle would have resented him if he didn’t look so sexy.
Only one police car remained at the shop as a company installed large wooden panels over the broken window and door. She hated seeing this. Over the years, zealots had damaged her friend’s property for many stupid reasons, mostly with spray cans and angry messages, but it was the first time they’d done real damage and tried to burn the place down.
Her brain almost didn’t register when Brandon parked on a side street and got out.
“I know this is probably a wild goose chase.”
“It’s fine, Brandon. Although I visit Dominique often, I never go into the neighborhood behind the store. It’s not on my route, so taking a look is a good idea. And if I walk, I won’t fall asleep.”
She intended it as a joke but Brandon didn’t look convinced, so she wove her arm around his and started walking. The night was cool and calm, the neighborhood quiet with the city’s buzz low in the background. The street was long, without any streets intersecting it for at least half a mile, and relatively narrow, with cozy houses differing in size, and lush lawns. A cozy quintessential NOLA neighborhood not yet invaded by avid investors or rich people who didn’t live on the property.
This late in the spring, the air was filled with the smell of blooming flowers and humid grass. Brandon seemed to be thinking the same thing when he looked down at her.
“You know what? When I was offered the job at the NOPD, and I imagined the city, this is what I envisioned. This neighborhood, the sounds, a night like this, and I imagined what it would be like to have a stroll with someone on my arm. It’s perfect, except for the investigation and murder cases.”
“And efflorescence.”
His sigh was mixed with a deep chuckle. “Especially that. If you spoke to Dominique about it, do you think she’d know anything about it?”
“I doubt it. Mold isn’t very voodooesque.”
Noelle expected him to scoff, make a joke, or even snarl in disgust as many people did when talking about Voodoo. Brandon stayed silent a moment, and as she’d expected, a question came, but it was asked in a very logical voice, with a hint of curiosity. “What is her gift?”
“She knows things. I don’t have an explanation for it. But for as long as I’ve known her, that’s been her explanation.”
“Have you known her for long?”
Noelle loved this memory. “The first time I met her, was the first time I’d visited New Orleans. I think I was about nine. I’m from deep in Acadian country, and my family wasn’t interested in the outside world. One day, my mom visited her sister, who lived near the French Quarter. I was curious about the place which seemed almost mythical in my child’s mind, and I wandered off as soon as my mother was distracted.”
“You? I don’t see you as a rebellious child.”
Sadness tinted her voice. “Rebellious isn’t the correct definition. I came from a difficult background. We were poor as dirt, with little hope of a brighter future. I know it sounds clichéd, but it was my life. Even if life was hard, I dreamed of something so much bigger, and New Orleans was it for me. So I took the opportunity to explore, and the moment I realized I was lost, I found Dominique. I remember how kind her smile was. It was as if I’d found a long-lost friend. We walked and talked until we found my mother. Surprisingly, my mom bonded with Dominique, which allowed me to call her and communicate with her. My life changed somehow at that time. I suddenly had friends. My dad found a new job. My grades at school got better. It’s probably a coincidence, but I feel I owe a lot to Dominique.”
Brandon covered her hand with his. “I like your story, and I can tell you have a unique bond with her. In retrospect, I was lucky. I come from a middle-class family, and I didn’t have a care in the world apart from friends and pocket money.”
“But you had your sorrows with your friend Damian. This friendship changed the path of your life.”
“Damien was such a carefree kid until his mom died. Everything changed after that.”
For several steps, he remained silent, clearly churning memories he may consider sharing or not. “I told you before Damien changed when his mom died. There was a definite tension between him and his dad, Reinhard, and when I tried to dig, he closed up like a clam. My parents and I tried to reconcile father and son, but something was broken. I suspect Damien’s mom was the glue that held everything together.
“I thought he was sliding into depression or something even worse. He came home one night, full of energy and almost back to his old self, holding a brochure from the Army. I don’t know what got into me, but we started discussing the possibility of both enlisting. My dad was in the Army before marrying my mother and we had an open discussion about it.”
Noelle found his retelling captivating, a glimpse into the mind and heart of this man. “Why don’t I see you as a soldier?”
A smile pulled at his mouth. “I don’t think I ever saw myself as one either, but if I’m honest, I didn’t have any ambition at all. School was easy but boring, football wasn’t for me, and there was nothing in my future apart from surfing. And I was aware enough to know I wasn’t a good enough surfer to think about going pro. What else was there for me? I figured Damien’s idea wasn’t so bad after all, and I became a soldier. My parents were so proud, but Reinhard didn’t want his son close to a battlefield. If anything, his decision broke any hope of reconciliation between them. However, I went to see Reinhard before we leftfor basic training, and I promised that I would take care of Damian, protect him, and make sure to keep him updated on any news. That seemed to appease Reinhard and gave me hope for the future.”
The change was subtle, but Noelle could feel the tension going through his arm, making his muscles twitch. “What happened? You said Damien died, and I sense it’s painful for you.”
“Do you have a gift like Dominique you haven’t told me about?”
“Nah, nothing like that. I much prefer having you tell me. If you want, that is.”
“Surprisingly, you’re the first one whom I want to tell the sad ending of Damien. We were deployed together once more. We were fortunate to have been assigned to the same squad. A band of brothers formed a new family, one that helped Damien return to his old self. I have to admit that being in the Army is a hard life, but Damien gave me the strength to remain there and thrive. My friend was made for that life. He’d found his calling.”
