Page 63 of Absinthe Minded

I’d all but decided to tell her not to investigate Chantal, but the more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself I needed to know. He’d lied about the call, and I suspected it wasn’t the first time.

“I know that look.” She grabbed my hand. “Tell me you’re not falling in love with him again.”

“I would, but you’d see right through me.”

Shanna muttered a slew of curses that would make a pirate blush.

“It gets worse. Chantal called my house, and he lied about it.” I blurted it out before I thought the better of it.

“That son of a bitch. He’s already cheating on you?”

I’d always heard of eyes flashing red when someone was angry, but until that moment, I thought it was BS. Shanna was about to lose her mind. “No. I mean, when does he have time? Maybe she saw the announcement in the paper?”

My best friend in the world gave me a look that told me I’d skyrocketed to the top of her shit list—right beside Gabe.

I checked the time and sucked down the rest of my coffee. “I’m late. I have to swing by the bar before I head to the office.”

“Go. I’ll get the check.” Shanna folded her arms. “Just don’t do anythingelsestupid.”

“I’ll try.”

I made a show of walking fast until I was out of view of the café. Other than the occasional deadline, I had no clock to punch. I didn’t really need to go into the office, except I wanted to check up on a few things, and I needed a public place to read the file Shanna had given me. Sure, I could do it at home, but I’d cry less if surrounded by professional journalists—or so I hoped.

21

Maggie

The conversationwith Shanna had shaken me, but being back in the French Quarter rattled me to my core. I used to love Jackson Square with its tarot readers and fun shops. I’d been baptized and taken my first communion at Saint Louis Cathedral, but I hadn’t set foot inside the building since my sister and brother-in-law’s funerals.

I would have loved to light a candle for them, but I had too much to do—plus I kept getting this creepy crawly sensation between my shoulder blades and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

The prank caller’s words pinged around in my skull to the point of paranoia. Was someone following me?

I’d seen enough movies to know better than to keep looking over my shoulder, but I couldn’t help myself. No one stood out as particularly menacing in the crowd, nor did I notice the same people twice.That’s it. I’m losing my mind.

Thankfully, the bar was only a couple of blocks from the café. I punched the security code on the backdoor and poked my head into the break room. A woman stood with her back to the door reading the notices on the bulletin board.

I cleared my throat. “Can I help you?”

“Oh, sorry. I know I’m not supposed to be back here, but the side door was open. I was looking for the owner.” She smiled a smile that reminded me of a news anchor. Pretty, but pretend.

“The owner’s working from home today.” I’d seen her here before though I didn’t know her name. “Were you looking at the job postings?”

After a brief silence, she nodded. “Are you still hiring?”

“I think so, but you’ll need to speak to Jessie.”

“Thanks, I will.” She turned for the door.

“I’ll show you out.”

“No need.”

I followed her anyway. Something about the conversation felt off, besides the fact she’d let herself into a closed bar. Why would a leggy blonde be waiting here for Gabe like they had a standing Wednesday morning date?

Once I locked the door behind her, I headed for the office.

Jessie glanced up from her paperwork and removed her earbuds. “Hey. Didn’t hear you come in.”

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