Page 109 of The Lady on Esplanade
Camille sat up.“Sweet Adele.I did love her like a sister, you know.We were so close.When Henry lost yet another job, it was Adele who invited us to move to New Orleans and start over.She even got us our jobs at the Past Is Never Past.That’s what kind of a friend she was.In return, I tried to be the same kind of friend to her.”
I attempted to snort but could only hiss air from my nose.
“I was an excellent salesperson and bookkeeper.Just ask Mimi or Christopher.When I started giving Henry and myself well-deserved bonuses, they didn’t even miss the money.And they wouldn’t have had all the excess income without me, so it was really a win-win.It could have gone on forever without anyone knowing—I also did the taxes for the business, of course, and knew all the tricks—but Adele got it into her head that it would be a good idea for me to have a backup person.She said she didn’t want me to have to think about work while I was on vacation.That was Adele.Always thinking about others.”
She got to her feet and walked out of my field of vision.I heard the once-familiar sound of a bottle top being twisted open.Her footsteps neared and I smelled the beloved scent of bourbon.
She stood over me, a bottle filled with amber liquid in her hand.“I was able to hold her off until one day when I visited my parents in Alabama and Adele took the opportunity to start going through the books.She found the discrepancies right away—I almost think she was looking for something.She told me that she was going to tell not only Mimi about it but also the police.She was always about doing the right thing.Adele gave me the chance to tell Mimi myself, because that’s the kind of person she was.
“Henry thought we should confess to Mimi.He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, bless him.But I love him.I have ever since I first laid eyes on him.We had such a good thing going, and we even had money in the bank for the first time.I couldn’t let Adele ruin all that.”
She groaned as she propped my torso against the newel at the top of the stairs.Being upright made it easier to stay awake, but now I could see the red stain on the floor where the rug had been, and I could see the black shadow creeping along the wall near the ceiling.The temperature plummeted as fear billowed inside me.It was Mark, guarding his secret.With a sinking feeling, I knew that dealing with Camille might be the least of my worries.
To stay awake, I began chanting an internal litany to the tune of “Dancing Queen”—the first tune that came to mind.Hurry, Beau, please just hurry, Beau….
“Open your mouth, Nola,” Camille said sweetly.“You’ll like this part.This will be over quickly.You won’t feel a thing, just a little snap of the neck when you accidentally fall down the stairs.”
I felt her hands on my face, forcing open my mouth, and then there was the warm liquid taste of bourbon on my tongue.It burned as it slid down my throat, and my stomach betrayed me with the familiar hug of warmth that I’d missed.She held my head while I gagged until I swallowed.
Liquid dripped down my chin and neck and onto my sweater.She used my sleeve to wipe it, then dropped my arm with a look of satisfaction.“Sorry to be so messy, but it adds a realistic touch to this story, doesn’t it?”
She set the bottle next to me on the floor, the smell of it now entwined with the putrid stench and the perfume.I retched, feeling a mixture of soup and bourbon come up, then dribble down my chin.My shame and embarrassment were quickly drowned by terror as I looked down the steep, narrow stairs.Hurry, Beau.Please just hurry, Beau….
Camille struggled to lift me to a standing position as two sets of invisible hands held me down, thwarting her efforts.She stepped back, breathing heavily as she looked at me, seemingly unaware of the oily shadow oozing along the wall and of the drop in temperature.I struggled to breathe through the stench of death mixed with Estée Lauder perfume as small white clouds blew out of Camille’s mouth while she talked.“Little Sunny’s kidnapping was the best thing that could have happened to us, because Adele could barely eat or sleep, much less think about any bookkeeping improprieties.I couldn’t have planned a better distraction.”
Leaden weights seemed to have attached themselves to my eyelids, and each blink grew longer and longer.But I needed to hear the rest of the story, if only so I could repeat it later and see Camille punished.
She swiped her hands against her pants.“My work here is almost done.I just need to catch my breath so I can lift you.I suppose you wouldn’t be interested in helping me, hmm?”She gave me the warm, sympathetic expression I’d grown used to.“I am sorry, Nola.I really like you.You remind me of Adele, you know.Too smart for your own good.And much stronger than you look.I hope Beau can get over losing you.I’m glad he has Sam, although I can’t figure why he’s wasting his time with her when he’s got you.Poor Buddy, though.”
“Buddy?”I managed.Not just because I needed to keep her talking, but because I really needed to know.
“That’s a long story, and I’m afraid we’ve both run out of time.Good night, Nola.Sleep well.”
She leaned down to hoist me high enough for leverage.A loud crash came from behind us, and she dropped me.I fell forward so that I lay across the top of the stairs, my legs against the newel.Shards of milk glass from a broken lamp were sprinkled across the wooden floor like snow.Camille wiped a drop of blood from her cheek where a fragment had hit her.
“Who’s there?”Camille shouted.
I heard the chanting of the two women again, louder now, and seeming to come from the corner of the room where the humanlike shadow had grown and now covered the wall like a black stain.It was spreading, as if the dark energy was drawing strength from Camille as Sybil’s strength faded along with the scent of her perfume.
My hope dwindled as I cast about for something to hang on to.Where there’s a will, there’s a way.I turned my head, focusing on the women’s chanting.It had grown softer, yet the tone had changed to one that taunted the growing entity.This observation brought a small glimmer of optimism.
Camille stood and hooked her hands under my arms, attempting to pull me up to a seated position at the top of the stairs.I strained to lift an arm to stop her but my limbs were useless.I closed my eyes, surrendering to sleep, willing it to be quick.
Wake up, Nola.Wake up.He’s coming.
My eyes snapped open.Mom?I wasn’t sure if I’d spoken the word out loud.I felt Camille’s hands trying to pull me up at the same time the two other sets of hands pushed me back, their efforts growing weaker.I was helpless, the bourbon and pain meds having done their job.
Camille began to rock me back and forth.“One, two, th—”
Downstairs, the front door crashed open against the wall.Camille loosened her hold on me, my head falling backward.My landing was cushioned by what felt like a soft lap.
“Nola?”Beau.I would have felt crippled with relief if I’d had any feeling left.
Camille clamped her hand over my mouth when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching the stairway.
“Nola?”Felicity’s voice rang out.“I got your voice mail.Are you still here?”
After a moment, I heard Beau say, “Camille’s car is here.Maybe they’re in the backyard.”
