Page 9 of Carnival Queen

“That’s right,” she smiled. “I did some work for you a few years back.” Jean nodded as they entered the cafeteria. Before they could say a word, the women were swarming poor Deanna, and she was whisked away.

“What do you think?” frowned Ghost.

Gaspar shook his head, letting out a long, slow breath. He honestly wasn’t sure what to think. There was still the matter of her parents’ unsolved murders, which could be part of all this. And then this girl, Penn Carver’s daughter, if she was anything like her father, she was going to be difficult.

“I don’t know, but that looked like a lot of damage for a teenage girl.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Clay and Razor waited outside the classroom of Lottie Carver. They’d obtained permission from the principal to speak with the young woman, even though her parents hadn’t been included as yet.

“This place gives me the creeps,” frowned Razor.

“Expensive private schools always make me nervous,” said Clay. “Kids all wearing the exact same shit, looking alike, and there’s always a meanness to them. We had one in our town, and the kids always thought they were better than everyone else. It was just wrong.”

The last period bell rang out, and Clay and Razor waited for the door to open. As kids started to stream out, they looked down at the photo of the young girl. She was easy to recognize. She had more makeup on than any other girl in the room. Her hair was dyed a perfect million-dollar blonde, and she carried a leather backpack that costs nearly four thousand dollars.

“Lottie Carver?” asked Clay.

“Yeah, that’s me,” she said, looking him up and down. “You’re a little old to be here, aren’t you?” She snickered, looking at her friends, who started to laugh as well, then noticed the lack of a smile on the faces of Razor and Clay. Lottie wisely blushed and got quiet.

“Are you Lottie Carver?” he repeated.

“Yes. That’s me,” she said more respectfully.

“We’ve been given permission to speak with you about a problem,” said Razor.

“What problem?”

“Destruction of property. More specifically, the floats for the Mardi Gras parade. The same float that you won’t be queen on.” She turned fire red, looking at her friends, who all raised an eyebrow.

“You said you were queen,” smirked one of the girls.

“I will be! It was a mistake.”

“There’s no mistake. You’re not queen, and you won’t be,” said Clay. “Come on back into the room and take a seat.”

She followed him into the room and took her seat at the desk in the front row. The teacher nodded at the men, packing his own backpack and leaving. She held onto her backpack as if it were gold, and it might as well have been. No teenager should be carrying a backpack that cost more than a month’s pay for a military service member.

“Where were you two nights ago?” asked Razor.

“I was at home with my folks. It was my father’s birthday, and we had a family dinner.”

“So, you didn’t go to the warehouse with the floats and threaten everyone who worked there?” asked Clay.

“I-I was there earlier in the day. I didn’t threaten them. I just said they’d regret not picking me.”

“That’s a threat implied,” said Razor.

“I just meant they would regret choosing stupid Louisa Pollock over me! Why does everyone not understand what a mistake this is?”

“It’s not a mistake. Everyone has reviewed the information submitted by all candidates. Louisa is the right choice. You are on the court, and you should be grateful for that. If you so much as attempt to approach the warehouse again or confront Ms. Trehorn, any of the judges, or Louisa, we will make sure that you are removed,” said Clay. “You also might want to remember this. Ms. Trehorn was president of that fancy sorority that you wanted to rush this fall. Also, my wife was president of the sorority during her time at LSU. Both women are on the interview committee.”

Her eyes grew wide and filled with tears. She stared from one man to the next and nodded.

“I know you don’t believe me, but I didn’t do anything to those floats. I was with my parents.”

“We’ll be speaking with your parents as well,” said Clay. “A little advice, Lottie. You’re a lovely young girl. You make good grades. You’re pretty. But that only goes so far. Ugly is on the inside. If you want to succeed in college and in this world, learn to be kind, practice gratitude, do something good for mankind.”

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