Page 42 of Gumbo, Ghosts, and Deadly Deception
"Is that why Ginger became a psychic? To try to contact Francine's spirit?"
Lucien stubbed out her cigarette in a crystal ashtray. "Partly. But also because she needed to find out what really happened that night. The police version never made sense. Francine was supposedly released after a few hours of questioning, then went to a Mardi Gras party where she met with foul play. But Ginger knew her sister would never have gone to a party after being arrested. Francine was too cautious, too frightened. Traffic alone would have been total hell. Why bother?"
That was fair. Getting around the Quarter on Fat Tuesday was virtually impossible.
"So what did happen?"
"That's what we've been trying to piece together for forty years. But maybe she never left the house."
Lucien stood up and walked to the cart, refilling her glass with amber liquid from a crystal decanter.
“Why have I never met you?” I ask. “You never came to the B&B or were at any of Odette’s parties. You weren’t a member of the Krewe with her.”
Aunt Odette was a proud member of the Krewe of Iris, as were most of her friends.
“I left all of those relationships behind me.” Then she sat down heavily. “Or I thought I did. The past never leaves us alone, does it?”
“In my case, it’s those social media posts I made in high school. Screenshots are forever.”
I half-expected a reprimand but Lucien gave a laugh. “I don’t envy you young girls that. Odette and I kept in touch, but from a distance. Safer that way.”
“Are you in danger?” I asked. She was getting on in age.
“Don’t you worry about me. Worry about yourself. Digging up the past brings a lot of bodies to the surface. Decomposing and filled with maggots.”
Now that was a visual I could have done without.
ELEVEN
“What about Mary’s relationship with Father Claude?” I asked Lucien.
That made the older woman snort. “Claude was a promiscuous opportunist. Probably still is.”
“He said he was in love with her.” Though now that I thought about it, I seem to remember he’d actually said he’d thought he was in love with her. Not exactly the same thing. Though his remorse did seem genuine.
“Claude is in love with himself.”
So Lucien was not a member of the Claude fan club. “What about his brother? The other Claude?”
She shrugged. “He was trying to do the right thing. I don’t think he was a bad guy. Just in over his head.”
That made me feel better for Hollis. He wasn’t delusional about his father.
“So Delia came back because she had new evidence?”
"Delia came back because she'd been contacted by someone claiming to have information about Francine's final days. Someone who said they knew where she was buried." Lucien returned to her seat, her expression grim. "Someone who arranged to meet her at your house."
"Who?"
"I don't know. I’m surprised she even told me as much as she did, or that she even reached out to me. Delia was being very secretive about it. She'd learned to be cautious over the years, but I think knowing there are so few of us left made her willing to partially confide in me.”
A thought came to me. “Who was supposed to be at the séance that night? Delia had another seat ready for someone but they must have canceled because she asked me to invite Beau at the very last minute.”
“Interesting. I have no idea. But whoever it was, they convinced her that they had proof of what happened to Francine."
"And instead of getting proof, she got killed."
"Exactly." Lucien leaned forward. "Which means we're dealing with someone who's been covering this up for forty years. Someone with the resources and connections to make people disappear. Someone who's willing to kill to protect their secrets."
