Page 7 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

As we worked, the stillness of the grove pressed in on us. It heightened my senses and made every rustle of leaves sound like an approaching threat. It felt like we were being watched. My gut told me the invisible eyes of the swamp's spirits were observing our every move.

“This place is a goldmine of information,” Phi said, carefully collecting samples of the magical residue. “If we cananalyze these, we might be able to pinpoint the shifters' next move.”

Lia nodded as her gaze swept over the grove. “This discovery puts us one step closer to understanding them. But it also puts us at greater risk.”

We finished our investigation as quickly and thoroughly as possible, knowing that every second spent in the grove increased the danger of being discovered. With our evidence gathered, we retraced our steps. “We need to get back and analyze this data,” Dani said, her voice steady. “And we need to plan our next move carefully. The shifters are more organized than we thought. We can't afford to accuse them unless we are absolutely certain.”

“Dani, are you sure we can handle a reunion for Marie Leveau? I mean she tried to kill us not that long ago.” I pointed out as we trudged through the dense underbrush. The swamp was oppressive and the humid air clung to our skin like a second layer.

Dani glanced at me with a confident smile on her face. “No problem. I've got ideas already percolating.” Of course, she did. Planning the perfect event was one of Dani’s superpowers. “Just because we're up to our necks in gator shifters doesn't mean the reunion gets a pass. Multitasking is our forte.” She wasn’t kidding about that. I was still amazed that we were able to keep our business running while also handling all the supernatural chaos in New Orleans. Most wouldn’t have been able to plan a party, let alone decorate and host one when stopping a dead witch’s curse from destroying lives or sending an evil loa back where he belongs.

Phi nodded. “Besides, with the kids taking a bigger role in the business, we have more time and breathing room. I can’t function without my sleep like I used to when I was in my twenties.”

“You and me both,” Lia agreed.

I watched as Dani pulled out her phone and began taking notes about her ideas. She sent Lia’s daughter a message about some designs to start working on. “Who do you think we should use for food?”

Phi brushed some Spanish moss away from her face using air. “I've been thinking about that. What about getting in touch with Chef René? His catering is legendary, and he understands the local cuisine.”

Dre nodded in agreement. "René would be great, but we might need more options in case he's already booked."

“How about that new food truck collective downtown?” Kota suggested “They have a variety of options, and they might be able to handle the size of our gathering.”

“We could also reach out to Aunt Eliza,” I added “She's been hosting big family events since mom passed away. She also has connections with some excellent cooks.”

“Whatever we do, don’t forget the gumbo,” Kota added. “It's not a proper New Orleans gathering without gumbo.”

“True,” Dre agreed. “We need someone who can make it just right. Maybe Mrs. Broussard? Her gumbo is to die for.” We continued throwing around ideas while we headed back to Lia’s car.

Phi changed the subject by asking, “What about desserts? We can't forget the sweets. We can have Tegan make them. She’s a good baker. Or we can find someone.” Lia’s daughter Tegan made extra money by doing desserts. As a college student, she needed all the money she could earn. And we used her whenever she had time.

Lia grinned. “I’ll ask Tegan if she has time. It’s close to the end of the semester, so she might be slammed with finals. If she can’t do it, there's that bakery on Chartres Street, the one with the enchanted beignets. They'd be a hit.”

Dani waved her cell phone at Phi. “I’ve started a list thatI’ll send to you so we can expand on it later. For now, let's stay focused here."

The magical energies became more volatile as we put more space between us and the shifter clearing. The spirits of the swamp were also restless and agitated. “These spirits are in turmoil,” I said, feeling the waves of distress and anger emanating from the spiritual plane. “We need to do something before it gets worse.”

This was not how I saw our day going. We had a couple of smaller events to plan and were knee-deep in that before getting the call. Thankfully, we’d nearly finished detailing what we needed for those. The kids could handle most of them while we focused on unraveling the mysteries of the swamp and in bringing Marie Leveau's family together for a reunion they would never forget.

CHAPTER 3

DANIELLE

“God bless it,” I blurted. “We've spent hours combing through these files and haven’t found anything.”

The sun cast long shadows across Willowberry as we gathered around the large oak table in the space between the main house and the outside kitchen. Our research materials were spread out before us. The air buzzed with anticipation and determination as we pieced together the fragments of the victim's background.

Lia nodded, her fingers deftly flipping through the pages of her meticulously compiled timeline. “It seems the victim, err Melanie, was deeply involved in environmental activism,” she explained as she scanned her detailed notes. “She was fighting to protect the swamplands from industrial development.”

Phi held up her tablet, displaying a social media post. “Her position was understandable as a creature who lives in those waters. I’m shocked she didn’t bother hiding it.”

Dre’s forehead furrowed as she leaned forward. “Do you think she could have been killed by one of the big companies she was trying to thwart? I’ve heard they do some underhanded shit, and killing one woman wouldn’t bother them.”

Phi shook her head. “That doesn’t fit for me. We found magical residue there. Not to mention the artifact and other ritual debris. There’s something else at play here.”

I leaned over the table and examined the highlighted sections of the victim's profile. “Hold on a second,” I interjected. “She mentioned attacks on her and her fellow protestors started to increase as they gained more traction in their advocacy efforts.”

Kota, ever the pragmatic one, crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. “So, you're saying these murders are a deliberate attempt to sabotage the environmental protection efforts?”

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