Page 26 of Witch
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No. No, I got a call from the university. One of my colleagues hasn’t shown up for work for two days now. It’s not like her, Gaspar.”
“Honey, she might be sick or visiting friends or just taking some time off,” he smiled.
“No. Gaspar, she’s aprofessor of medieval history. A brilliant woman who’s written three books. The last one was titled,Which Witch is a Witch: The History of the Authorized Murder of Women. She debunked witches and witch-hunters, Gaspar.”
“Shit,” he muttered.
“I asked Ace to check the camera footage from the university, and a man followed her to her car. It looked like they argued, and then she left.”
“And this man is our witch-hunter?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Please, Gaspar. Please help me find her. She’s a wonderful woman and a great professor.”
“What’s her name, honey?”
“Professor Linda Xavier. She’s about five-five, maybe one-thirty or one-forty. Brown hair, short, and she has brown eyes, I guess late forties or early fifties.”
“Alright. Let me get to the boys.”
Beside Adele, her sisters comforted her, Rachelle holding her twin’s hand. When they left for the cafeteria, the other women descended upon her, offering their support and comfort.
“We have to find that woman,” said Gaspar to the others.
“Gaspar! After I checked the university footage, I followed the rental car for Hopkins. He’s staying at the Crescent Motel on I-10. Late last night, he went for a drive toward Barataria. There aren’t any traffic cams that way, so I lost him around this point,” Ace said, pointing at the map.
“Damn,” muttered Miller.
“No, it’s good, I mean, as good as it can get. He was only gone from view for twenty-five minutes. Assuming he went to check on something, or someone, he would be in this radius.”
“That’s all the old fishing shacks from the cannery,” said Jean.
“Let’s go. We take several boats, and they will get us there faster,” said Gaspar. Trak approached them and nodded toward his feet.
“I have a better idea.”
As the boats followed the crew of gators, fishermen turned to stare at the strange group. Many knew the Robicheaux family, and they’d wave or offer their condolences.
“Sorry ‘bout your mama and daddy, boys.”
“Thank you,” said Jean.
“Lost some good ones. ‘Dem was good people, fellas.” The men would wave, nod with somber expressions, and continue to follow the congregation of alligators.
When Alvin slowed, Trak touched the back of his head, then turned to Gaspar. Gaspar nodded.
“Alvin says this is where she’s at,” he said. The men smirked at him, and he flipped them off, not wanting to hear their snide comments about his new animal skills.
Stepping lightly on the dock, which was ready to crumble, Kade entered first.
“She’s here!” he called back. Below her feet were two gators swimming in a circle. Both quickly swam away, having been given the signal from Alvin.
“Hold on, hun,” said Kade.
“Kade, those damn boards won’t hold all our weight,” said Nine.
“We can’t leave her like that. If I get wet, I’ll dry off. Just be ready to catch her.”
