Page 3 of Mea Culpa

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Before everything went down at Lamour, we’d had our next episode lined up. It was one I wassuperexcited about. We were doing some kind of multi-family domicile in the Ninth Ward, just off the levee. But what made it special was that it was a set of historic steamboat houses and the buildings surrounding them. The two big manses were situated catty-corner to each other on either side of Egania Street, and each had a residence on either side of them that was connected to the main structures by modern and fairly recently added elevated walkways. I didn’t know much about the background of the current owners—if there even were current owners. At least, not yet. But Ididknow the original history of the big houses. Nearly everyone in New Orleans did, but they’d been privately owned for decades so you couldn’t tour them, and I had been dying to get my hands on them. Just walking or driving by made my breath catch.

“Nope, nothing else came up. It’s still the Doullut houses in Holy Cross—or whatever they’re called now. They’ll always be the Doullut houses to me.” He laughed, and I totally agreed. A riverboat captain built the first house in 1905, the entire structure in the shape of a steamboat, complete with smokestacks instead of chimneys and a wheelhouse overlook on the upper level. He added the other across the street eight years later for his son. The structures were absolutely stunning and had stood strong, even after Hurricane Katrina, thanks to their all-ceramic bottom floors.

“Oh my gosh,” I said. “I cannot wait to get in there.”

“You and me both,” he agreed. “Hold on a sec. Hanlen wants to say hi. I’ll put you on speaker.”

I heard some shuffling across the line and then, “What’s up, girl?”

“Hey, Hanlen. How are things?” I asked.

“Can’t complain. Have had some fun local cases for Arbor Investigations, and the work on Arborwood has been surprisingly satisfying. Who knew I’d come to love the plantation I’d sworn off for a decade—ghosts and all?” She laughed.

“That’s great. I’m so glad you’re settling in so well. So,” I said, bringing the conversation back around, “when and where do you need us, boss?”

“Mmm,” Dev hummed. “I’m thinking we’ll start things on Monday. That”—he paused, I assumed to check his phone or a calendar—“gives us all four days to wrap up our personal stuff, get the signed paperwork returned, and get home to Louisiana for those of us who are out of town. I think Aaron and James are still in Colorado, too. Maybe we can even meet on Sunday to create our plan of attack if everyone’s back and free. Does that work for you?”

“Absolutely. I don’t have much to finish. I have some readings booked through Friday but didn’t schedule out anything after that. Things may come up, but I can shuffle as needed. Turner’s been trying to set me up with a friend of his, and I keep putting him off. But I might just go on the stupid date to get it over with so I can get back to work without distractions.” I laughed.

“Good God, chic, go on the date,” Hanlen said. “Turner’s a sweetie. I bet his friends are great. I just hope they’re older. I mean, he’s way mature for his age, but nineteen . . . are you feeling your cougar tendencies, Bird?”

I had just taken a sip of water and busted out laughing, the liquid spraying my table and now very unamused cat. He shot me a gold death glare and jumped down, shaking his head and paw as he twitched his tail and fast-walked away with one last narrow-eyed look over his shiny shoulder.

Choking a little, I answered. “First, thanks for making me almost drown in the water I just drank. And Phantom may never forgive me for the shower I just gave him. But to answer your question, no. Turner said the guy’s basically my age. Thirty-four.”

“Well then, what are you waiting for? Go get you some!”

“Hanlen!” I shook my head. “I’m just fine, thank you very much.”

“Girl,” she interjected before I could say more. “Youarefiiine. Superfine. I mean . . . I’d do you. In a heartbeat.” There was a short pause. “What? I’m just being honest, Dev. Lark’s super-hot. Who wouldn’t want a petite, curvy redhead with magical powers and a brain like hers?” A masculine grumble preceded another little pause over the line and then the sound of flesh meeting flesh as if she’d tapped him on the cheek. “Oh, turn that frown upside down, babe. You know you’re the only one for me. Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate our girl’s smoke show.”

“I love you, Hanlen,” I said. “Thank you for winning the boss’s heart and joining our family. I honestly can’t imagine my life without you.”

“Same goes, sweet cheeks. Oh. Oh, shit. I gotta run. I have a dirtbag to bag and tag and return to jail. Love you, girl. See you soon.” I heard a kiss and a little moan across the line. “And you . . . I’ll show you just how much I loveyoulater. Bye, all.”

I shook my head again and heard boots clomping across the floor. I could almost see her long, mahogany ponytail swinging from the back of her ever-present baseball hat.

“You found a good one there, Dev,” I said, meaning it.

“Don’t I know it? I thank the lwas for her every single day.” He cleared his throat. “Okay, so Monday good for you?”

“Monday’s great. Are we meeting here at HQ?” The show’s headquarters was downstairs in the building I now lived in, taking the place of the old museum.

“Yeah, let’s. I’m excited to get back to work.”

“You and me both. See you soon. Have a great weekend.”

“You, too. Later.”

We disconnected, and I smiled. I couldn’t wait to see everybody again and get inside those gorgeous buildings.

While it had been nice to have some time off, I really missed everybody, and those houses had always called to me. There was just something about them that sent a tingle down my spine.

Chapter2

~Kholt ~

Iset a glass of ginger beer in front of Turner and sat across from him with my Seelbach. Brennan’s Roost Bar had the best cocktails, and this was one of my absolute favorites. Bourbon, Cointreau, bitters, and sparkling wine. It was a bubbly yet oddly manly delight for the senses. I grinned at the kid across from me, wishing for probably the millionth time that he wasn’t so young. I never thought about it in the general day-to-day; he’d been done with college for a bit already and was seriously brilliant and mature. But when it came to things like this, going out for a drink and just shooting the shit? It smacked me upside the head then.


Tags: Rayvn Salvador Paranormal