The Mystery at Belle Magnolia (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 3) Page 11

  We obtained information that led us to believe Vinnie, or someone close to him, might be involved," said Jonathan.

  "Vinnie is involved with most things that have to do with the clan. He has a high ranking there because he was never caught. The police watch him, but he eludes them. That keeps him in favor. His quick temper and ability to disappear has given him the name Quick Vinnie. I can tell you where you might find him, but I doubt whether that would help you. He won't speak to anyone he does not know," said Francis.

  He went on to write down three different known places and gave them two names of people that Vinnie associated with.

  Hugh, who had played an integral part of this meeting, now had joined them.

  "To your point, let me introduce Hugh Scott," said Madeline.

  Jonathan said, "We'd like to get Hugh in a position to hire Vinnie. The story will be that he wishes payment for an unpaid gambling debt. I will be the target. It's risky, but we will take the chance."

  I know that this is not the sort of thing he does, but if we let it be known that Hugh is a rich Englishman, unfamiliar with these parts, it may work to entice him," said Madeline.

  "What would be the rate for something like that?" asked Hugh.

  "In my circle, the price for something like that would be about fifty dollars. I would say if you offered something more, such as one hundred it might work," said Francis.

  "We will offer two hundred. We must get a meeting with him," said Madeline.

  "Two hundred might seem a bit suspicious. I think one hundred will do," said Francis.

  "We will all be there this evening to see Madame Clarice. If you could let people know that I will be at the...let me think, how about the Orleans Inn at midnight? I had seen the place, and it looked rather rough, a spot he might feel comfortable in," said Hugh.

  "I will take care of the details and send word around of your description. You might wear something that he will know you—a flower perhaps," said Francis.

  "I will carry a walking stick, with a wolfhound head," said Hugh.

  After being paid, Francis fairly bolted from the mansion, once again looking over his shoulder as if the devil himself was chasing him.

  "That was interesting—a good start. Gentlemen, I believe we have just enough time to change and then depart. I told Mrs. Brown we would take our supper in the city. I hope that is agreeable?" asked Madeline.

  "I will see if Walter still feels he can make it into the city," said Jonathan.

  Within the hour, Samuel was driving them into the square. It was nearly six in the evening. Walter stated he would not miss seeing Madame Clarice, even if he had to crawl. They would have to separate for dinner, as they did not wish for anyone to see Jonathan and Hugh together. If their plan had any chance of working at all, they could not be known to be friends.

  Hugh and Madeline sat outside a small eatery partaking of a bowl of seafood gumbo. Madeline was trying to acquire a taste for seafood but still found it too unusual a taste for her liking.

  "I do yearn for some of Mrs. O'Malley's roast beef and brown gravy," said Madeline.

  "Really? I quite enjoy it. Besides the novelty of it, I think it has a unique flavor," said Hugh.

  "Unique indeed. I must tell you what Jonathan found, items that certainly belonged to Armand LaLande. I believe Marguerite may have dropped them when she was running in the brush. I hope to confront her brother with this evidence."

  She went on to describe the rabbit doll and the necklace with Marguerite's photo.

  "I'm sorry we can't share the experience of seeing Jonathan and Walter as they see Madame Clarice for the first time," she said smiling.

  The full moon seemed to shine directly upon them as they maneuvered through the crowd as if lighting their way.

  "I hope we get as close to her as possible," said Madeline.

  For some reason, the people gathered let her and Hugh pass through them and make their way within twenty feet or so of the strange woman. It was almost as if they were expecting her. Something about the way they looked at her made her shiver.

  The beating of the drums seemed to grow louder as they moved closer to where Madame Clarice was standing. Her graceful, rhythmic movements were hypnotic. Even in the dark, her crimson red dress—in contrast to her black hair—was striking.

  An elderly, white-haired lady, sitting upon a large, black blanket said, "Come here, my dear and sit. I have been waiting for you."

  "What curious words...waiting for me, Madam? But you do not know me," said Madeline.

  "Someone told me you would be here. There are not many here with such fair skin, and none with your burnt, reddish hair," she continued.

  "I am Madeline Donovan, and this is my friend, Hugh Scott," she said. "I don't believe anyone ever described my hair like that before."

  "I speak only the truth as I know it. You will see. I am Anastasia of the forest," she said.

  All of her bottom teeth were missing, but somehow when she smiled, she still looked lovely, a soft, kind of sweet loveliness, born by those who have seen much of life in every way, the good and the bad. Madeline was fascinated by her and wanted to know more about her and how she had come to know who she was.

  "Can you explain to us what Madame Clarice is doing?" asked Madeline.

  "Why she's drawing the veve, of course!"

  "The veve?" questioned Madeline.

  "It's how she calls the spirits to come. See the design she makes on the ground? It will call the loa, the spirit that will enter the body of the one intended.

  "That goat over there is getting washed and fed for the ritual. The one who requests the spirit to enter them brings it. It happens when the ti bon ange leaves and allows the spirit to enter the body," explained Anastasia.

  "I believe that means good angel. What does it all mean?" asked Madeline.

  "We believe there are two parts to the soul: the gros bon ange and the ti bon ange. The gros ange guards the body throughout our life. The little guardian angel departs during sleep so that we are allowed to dream and so that a spirit may inhabit us temporarily," said Anastasia.

  Hugh touched Madeline's hand and motioned to Madame Clarice. Two partially clothed dark skinned women with tattooed faces brought the intended to Clarice. Madeline let out a gasp as the whimsical Marguerite DuPont appeared before them.

  "Hugh, it is Marguerite. She looks lost to the world. Over there...it is her brother watching. I thought he protected her. Why would he allow this?" asked Madeline.

  Anastasia said, "Allow it? No one can stop one who wishes to be possessed...not even Madame Clarice. It has been set in motion now."

  Madeline's heart was racing as she watched Marguerite writhe and moan, her eyes appearing glazed.

  "It doesn't seem such a thing should even be legal. Look what's happening to that poor girl," said Hugh.

  "She is so vulnerable and still such a child. If Pierre let her come here, he must love her very much to give in to her in this way," said Madeline.

  "You look, but you do not see. She is not troubled," said the old woman.

  Then Madame Clarice called out the name of Armand LaLande and chanted imperceptible words she could not understand. The drums continued to beat louder and louder.

  "It is the poor boy's spirit that she seeks, the child she so dearly loved," said Anastasia.

  Madeline wanted to speak out what nonsense and how destructive she thought this was, but in the presence of all believers her words would only bring contempt.

  "It is almost finished...see how she twirled about. It's the boy's loa taking over her," explained Anastasia.

  After a few more erratic movements, Marguerite fell to the ground. Shouts went up from the crowd, and the tattooed women helped her to her feet.

  "Now, there will be a celebration. See? They bring the goat," said Anastasia.

  The unsuspecting animal, still chewing on some food, was brought before Madame Clarice. With a swift stroke, her knife sliced his throat open. The crowd once
again yelled out its approval.

  "The sacrifice of the animal must be—it is to appease the spirit world. You will stay and eat. They will cook him, and we shall have a fine meal," said Anastasia.

  Madeline grimaced, looking at Hugh with a look of revulsion on her face.

  "I must speak with Madame Clarice," said Madeline.

  "Of course. I will see to it," said Anastasia.

  "How can you be so certain?" asked Madeline.

  "I thought you would have realized it. Did you not guess that I am a witch?" asked Anastasia with a wink of her eye and a crooked smile.

  They all laughed at her words. But now, looking at her long, black dress and observing her behavior, she chided herself that she had not guessed this fact. But most of the people there all look as if they belong to some faction of the occult.

  "I will take you to her. She is expecting you," said Anastasia.

  "Hugh, while I am gone, could you see if you can confront Pierre regarding the doll and photo we found on the property?"

  "I will do that. I will go right now before he walks any farther away," said Hugh as he motioned to the figure of Pierre with his arms around his sister, guiding her away from the crowd.

  She followed Anastasia, feeling as if she were in control instead of them. Even though she wished to speak with Madam Clarice, she somehow felt as if she were doing Clarice's bidding.

  Anastasia was moving in the direction of the dilapidated shanty where they had met before. Her long, slender fingers beckoned Madeline to come.

  "It is all right, my dear. She will not harm you as long as I am here. I have white power and can protect you from her," said Anastasia.

  "What do you mean?"

  "She means you harm. Did you not know that? Of course, you did."

  Now she felt that she should have asked Hugh to accompany her. It was unnerving to be in the presence of two women whom she thought might be mentally disturbed.

  Madame Clarice was sitting at the round table, lit only by a dozen or so candles flickering. Once again, there was the strong odor of incense.

  "You seek me out for what purpose?" asked Clarice.

  "As you seem to know everything else, I would assume you would know the reason for my visit."

  "I do. You think me responsible for Randolph's death...a good death, a deserving death."

  After watching Madeline's face, Clarice continued, "I shock you then. Why? He allowed a murderer of our people, no, the murderer of a pure innocent, to walk the streets of Bourbon once again."

  "Mr. Finaldi and Mr. Randolph are completely innocent. You seek your vengeance against innocents. If you are to have the vision you claim to have, you would already know this. We will catch the person or persons, and they will not be connected to Belle Magnolia in any way. What then will you do with these crimes laid at your door? Will you repent? Will you tell your followers the truth?"

  Madame Clarice continued to smile at her during her tirade. Madeline felt her fear of the priestess dissipate, as the anger against her grew.

  "I see nothing but danger in your future. I am never wrong. There would be no vengeance if there were no crime. It is not on my hands the responsibility for these things. I have been called upon to correct the wrongs committed, and I shall do so."

  "Be careful, Clarice. This one has strong magic also. There are not that many who look you in the eye and defy you. There is something...it is you, I think, who should be worried," said Anastasia, unexpectedly defending Madeline. She began laughing and scratching her side, then danced something that looked like a jig in front of Madame Clarice.

  "There is the law...it can stop you," said Madeline.

  "There is no man-made law that can stop the laws of witchcraft," Clarice laughed, a deep-throated laugh that momentarily frightened Madeline.

  "Now, I ask you both to leave. Do be careful in the dark," she added.

  Anastasia toddled out ahead of her so slowly; she thought she might have injured her foot.

  "Come, this is the best way back," Anastasia beckoned.

  She continued to move methodically along for several minutes on an unbeaten path strewn with pebbles and debris. She was about to question her choice to travel this way, when she turned and said, "Continue until you get to the clearing, it is not far."

  Madeline bent down to remove a large piece of debris from her way, and when she straightened, to her surprise, Anastasia was gone. She was startled to be left alone in the forest like atmosphere. She could see light farther down where Anastasia had pointed to her, but where she was standing were only shadows and darkness.

  She wondered why she had trusted the old woman, and why she had left. Why did she pretend to be unable to walk and now was gone like the wind?

  She believed she did not have far to walk to the clearing, so she began her careful plodding. She had the uncanny feeling of being trapped although completely in a wide, open space. Stopping to release the hem of her dress that had caught on a hedge, she suddenly felt the pain of something choking her.

  She could not scream. Her hands grasped onto the thick, smooth thing around her throat. As she struggled to release the grip around her neck, she felt the thing moving. Feeling that she might lose consciousness, she began to kick behind her at whoever was strangling her...there was no effect.

  Then she heard Hugh calling out to her, "Madeline, are you there?" said Hugh.

  The snake's grip then released, and she pulled it from her, hearing it hiss and strike at her upheld arm before slithering away. Falling to the ground, she felt it difficult to breathe. Then blessed darkness came.

  When she opened her eyes, Hugh was holding her in his arms.

  "Madeline, you gave me such a fright. I was about to carry you back to the clearing. Can you walk? We need to get you back to the mansion and have your father look at you," said Hugh.

  She put her hand to her throat and felt the painful sting. Her voice came out in a whisper, "I don't know what happened, but someone tried to choke me."

  "Dear God...I should never have left you. I'm so sorry. I see the marks around your neck. Don't try to talk," he said as he assisted her from the ground.

  "Look," he said.

  Directly behind her was a large oak tree, its Spanish moss hanging down low enough that it touched her shoulder. A knife had sliced through a piece of soiled paper and stuck into the tree. The note read: Leave Belle Magnolia or there will be another body hanging from a tree.

  Hugh removed the knife, placing it and the note in his pocket. "We will turn this over to the police."

  She tried to move but felt faint. "It is not far. I will carry you until we are in a safe place, and then get Samuel. He should be waiting near the clearing with the carriage," said Hugh.

  She did not resist—she was too unwell. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she felt safe. Her initial reaction of terror at what happened was dissipating, now she wanted to cry and have Hugh comfort her. But, of course, she would never do that. The time for tears would have to wait until this madness could be sorted out.

  They were now in an area where people were milling about, still lingering after the gathering of Madame Clarice's followers.

  "I will leave you here, and return shortly." He bent down to hug her, apologizing again for not having been with her.

  "You could not have known, nor I, that I would be in danger. In the future, I will take more care. I do believe now that the forces that are plodding against us are dangerous. Be careful," she said as he walked away.

  Several people walked by her but did not stop. An old woman who reminded her of Anastasia approached her.

  "I see your neck—you've got the curse upon you. Be careful, my child, for the sign of snake is upon you now. Take this, it will help ward off the evil," she said as she handed Madeline an amulet and quickly disappeared.

  When she saw Hugh in the distance, she felt such relief that she called out to him in happiness.

  "What a sight you are. Thank you for being so quic
k," said Madeline.

  "I have sent Samuel to tell Walter and Jonathan what has happened. I must take you back and then return for my meeting with Vinnie. I would dismiss it, but I don't think we will get a second chance at this."

  "No, you are right. The plan must go forward. I cannot speak anymore; it is too painful."

  "Rest. We will back home soon."

  Chapter Eleven

  The Letters

  When Father saw her, he looked as if he were about to weep. His eyes became glassy, and his hands trembled as he and Hugh helped her up the stairs.

  Belle came running after them to see what had happened to Madeline.

  "Your neck...my Lord, what has happened to you?" asked Belle.

  Hannah had come to the hallway and gasped when she saw the scene in front of her.

  "Madeline...oh, my dear," was all she said.

  Mrs. Brown now entered, stating she would be in the kitchen making tea and biscuits for everyone.

  "What I need are cold compresses against the wound to help with the swelling. If someone could get fresh water from the well and gather some aloe plants from the garden, I would be grateful," requested Father.

  "Hattie and I will go," said Belle.

  Hannah offered, "I will fetch the water."

  Hugh quickly explained to the doctor the reason he must return to the market area.

  Then he said to Madeline,

  "I shall return with our friends as soon as we finish our business with Vinnie," said Hugh.

  She nodded, now finding it difficult to speak.

  Dr. Donovan embraced her, and she softly spoke, "Father, it is so good to be safely home. For a moment, I thought I might never see you again."

  "Don't talk anymore; you must allow yourself to heal. You can tell us what happened tomorrow. For now, let's see if we can attend to that nasty wound on your neck...what a curious mark. We shall speak of it later."