Page 48 of Romeo
Romeo shook his head and took up the story, “They weren’t rich girls at all, but they did come here to find husbands. The name comes from the fact that they traveled with à la cassette … or in Englishsuitcasesto the French colonies in America. They arrived in the New World with a trunk, or cassette, containing their belongings. This name was mistaken as caskets in translation. So they were dubbed The Casket Girls. They did, however, take shelter at the convent. But I do have to say that Julie is right, they ended upincaskets at the Ursuline Convent.”
Stephano shook his head. “While interesting. And no insult to Ms. Regatta or Romeo, none of that pertains to our situation. But this location is a testament that this V is eccentric like her brother Deacon,” he reasoned. “Neversmile, then now The Casket Girls?”
“Eccentric?” Glory asked him. “Is that your word for schizoid?”
Dante laughed and added, “My choices would be crackers, bonkers or gaga.”
“So how do we find out who’s really in that crypt?” Redemption asked.
Shrugging, Logan replied, “Haven’t figured that out yet. Opening it would be the only way. But it would be a great spot to hide and ambush someone. That’s for sure.”
“So, we don’t know if Jarret is there or if he’s at this convent?” I asked.
“We don’t,” Logan said. “And the signature that left the Meatrie earlier seems to still be sitting in the vehicle at the convent.”
“So what do we do now?” Legend asked no one in particular or everyone present maybe.
“You need two teams now,” I said. “One for the crypt with the original switch plan. Then at the same time, a second team invades the convent.” I looked around at them all. “And yes, head down to that basement. I bet odds that she is down there.” I paused a minute to wonder if this V could be caught and if so, I had to hope she wouldn’t be hurt. I needed to talk to her. Then another thought struck me. “I believe there is another way into that church besides the doors.”
Logan looked over at me. “A secret entrance?”
I nodded. “Only oddball history buffs would know about it.” I glanced over at Dante and gave him a smirk.
He shook his head as he smiled.
Talon looked over at Stephano.
He raised his hands and nodded. “She is our advisor, so I trust what she says.”
With his trusting words, I felt conflicted. I shouldn’t even be here, let alone be their advisor. I had a personal investment in this that they were unaware of. I didn’t like it that I kept this from them. I needed to tell them about it, but I didn’t know where to start. Besides, this V may not be the person I hoped for her to be. It could all be conjecture. I never had any proof that Deacon or Ophelia had anything to do with what happened to my family all those years ago.
“Exactly the plan I had in mind,” Talon agreed. “Only minus the secret door.”
“Well, it’s not a door really,” I said.
They all looked over at me.
I shrugged and admitted it, “It’s a tunnel.”
“The Ursuline is encircled by an ominous fence that we could be seen traversing perhaps,” Logan explained as he scrolled his mouse and the image zoomed down and in. “So a tunnel would be very handy.”
“A tunnel?” Redemption asked. “This is New Orleans, so some of those are gone since Katrina hit.”
“It is still traversable. They had tours through it last year.”
“Don’t tell me, you were there?” Romeo asked with a smirk.
“I was,” I replied.
Talon stared at me. “So how do we find this tunnel?”
“If your tech guy can zoom over to the north a bit I can show him, I think?”
Logan did so.
I stepped closer and pointed at the spot. “Right here at the Ursuline Mausoleum.”
“Another cemetery?” Dante asked as he grimaced.
