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Marble decorations flanked the front entryway, the stone shaped delicately into the three-petaled lily easily recognized as a fleur-de-lis.
“Now that’s beautiful!” Mel beamed and hopped to the marble symbol. He snapped his head from the carving to Anastacia. “We have fleur-de-lis everywhere around the city, it’s the symbol for the city. It’s in churches representing the holy trinity, painted and built into homes showing their French roots. Hell, we got it on the Saints' helmets. But you rarely see them this detailed. Someone loves this city as much as I do.”
Anastacia followed Mel’s tracing of the marble with her eyes. He was right. The carving was a masterpiece and very well cared for. Curtains rustled in the windows above them as if someone had just peered out. “This is a restaurant.You sure we’re at the right place?”
“Yes, this is Dominic Deblous’s place. He lives above it.” Knight nodded at the top two floors before they walked under the gallery trimming the corner building.
“I thought we were looking for a Sam?”
“Sammy works for him as a busboy. Come on.” Knight walked ahead.
“You have dealings with creepy restaurateurs?” Anastacia whispered to Mel, who watched the lights pop on along the side of the building along the second story. The city was transitioning for those who lived for the nightlife as the sun sunk beyond the Mississippi.
“Not me. Maybe Jay asked him for some funding. I wouldn’t blame him for reaching out to someone who has a place like this.”
“I know you’re steadfast about your friend. But things like this make me more and more cautious about him.”
“I know you don’t trust him but believe in me. I trusted Jay with everything. He was more dependable than I ever was, and more put together. He was one of the only genuine friends I had. If there is a connection, it’s small.”
Distant sounds of dishes and jazz were muffled by the large doors out front. The ambiance grew louder each time a new couple or group was let in from the immense line stretching along the corner. Anastacia’s stomach growled once she caught the delicious aroma of seafood and maybe notes of garlic with — was that sausage? The German side of her heritage drooled at the thought of sausage, especially after her dismal lunch provided by one of the officers who went on a sandwich run.
“God, that smells delicious.” Anastacia wiped at the corner of her mouth, surprised to be salivating.
Knight chuckled from beside her. “You’d be right, too. Damn shame we’re not here for the food tonight.”
They approached the podium, passing the line and all the muttering people in it. Anastacia caught more than one unpleasant scowl directed at them.
“You two are not garnering any favors with this crowd,” Mel noted and pointed at one lady in particular as they passed. “I mean, she is throwing daggers.”
Anastacia bit the inside of her cheek to hold back any remarks at the ghost.
The woman at the podium smirked as Knight sauntered right up
“Why, Detective Knight, to what do we owe the pleasure? You here for a table? I’m sure we could find somethin’ for you and yourcher.” She purred at him with practiced familiarity, leaning forward on the podium as her smirk grew into a predatory smile, dark eyes flashing between Knight and Anastacia.
More groans and unpleasant remarks flew from the line at their side.
“This isn’t a pleasure call, Loretta.” Knight flashed his badge and the muttering from the people in the line lessened. “You should know better.”
Loretta’s spine straightened as her lips bowed momentarily into an exaggerated pout. “You do have a certain business look in your eyes. I’ll let Daddy know you’re on your way back. You know the way.”
“Appreciated.” With a curt nod, he walked back, and Anastacia followed close behind him.
Anastacia wondered about the interaction. He was more than familiar with the place and with the woman at the podium. With a glance back, she caught Loretta flash a saucy wink in Knight’s direction before shifting her attention back to the line.
“She a friend?” Anastacia queried, a lift to her voice bordering jealousy.
Knight chuckled easily, looking like he belonged in this new upscale world more than he did at the station. “We go back a ways.”
“Why do I feel completely under-dressed?” Mel quipped.
Anastacia fought the urge to squirm as she became painfully aware of the hundreds of eyes on them. Of course, diners and servers alike weren’t outright staring— that would be rude— but she could feel their scrutiny all the same, hear the hushed whispers under polite conversation. Men were dressed in suits cut in the same fashion as Knight’s, but more polished and expensive. Women wore elaborate dresses that bordered as gowns, all of them altered for an exact fit, all far more expensive than anything Anastacia could ever afford. She and Knight did not belong there, and no one hid their contempt at the intrusion from people as low-class as they were.
There was a high chance the staff would probably mop the floor wherever they walked as soon as they left. Anastacia snorted at the thought, garnering a squinty glare from an over-coiffed woman at the nearby bar.
Anastacia felt the pull of spirits heavy in the air. It was mixed in with each breath and every note from the live jazz band on the stage at the back of the dining room. She studied the doorways and archways of the building as they passed through toward a small set of stairs. Talismans, charms, and the framed words of chants were embedded in small alcoves in the archways to keep all evil spirits out but the good ones present. Someone here was very superstitious and into the teachings of Voodoo regarding ghosts and spirits.
Anastacia passed by a window where she caught sight of a dark soul trying to get in but was repelled by the charms at the window’s edge. Seeing the charms made her relax somewhat. Her run-in with Voodoo hadn’t helped too much, but if someone believed in something with enough passion, it worked strongly for them. Maybe Voodoo worked and she just didn’t have enough faith in it.
