The Mystery at Belle Magnolia (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 3) Page 9

  "Were you able to discover anything during your time in the city?" asked Belle.

  Walter and Jonathan recounted their story about Quick Vinnie, and Hugh told of their encounter with Marguerite.

  "I do remember reading about the possible connection to the Mafia, but there was no mention of a particular name," she said.

  "Unless there was concrete evidence against Vinnie, the paper could be held responsible for slander," said Hugh.

  "I see. I do recall the article about Marguerite and how the death of Armand has all but destroyed the family. I completely understand it, but what a pity that they should blame us for it. It is a tragic set of circumstances. You say you have seen this girl on our grounds...how extraordinary. Perhaps it is she who left behind all the occult symbols―the gris-gris," Belle wondered.

  Madeline briefly explained what she had seen, but did not dwell on her beliefs that she thought Marguerite and her brother might be considered suspects.

  "We also have raspberry tarts, and we shall all have a taste of this absinthe Jonathan has brought," said Belle.

  When dinner was through, they returned to the drawing room for a glass of wine, and to continue to share their stories about the day.

  "You must forgive me. I wish to retire, but I would like to speak to you privately, Madeline, before I do so," said Hannah, once again now looking more other-worldly, almost drifting away in her movements.

  "Of course, I shall be up shortly," Madeline replied.

  She had wanted to engage the others before they withdrew to their rooms.

  In the drawing room, she gracefully moved Hugh and Jonathan toward a private area and said, "What do you both think of Hannah? Are you as concerned as I am that something is profoundly wrong?"

  "I suppose I don't think it that unusual, as she is newly widowed. And having lost her husband, no less than to murder, I think she is probably doing the best she could," said Jonathan.

  Hugh contradicted him, saying, "Yes, but you did not get to know her before Wesley passed. She is not half the person she was and behaves in a more peculiar way than just being in mourning. It is as if her mind drifts in and out of reality."

  "You are right. I am probably the least likely person to judge her. But if the assaults continue against the inhabitants and its dwelling, I would imagine it would make it almost impossible for her to begin her long road to recovery. However, Mademoiselle Mayfair seems to be faring well," said Jonathan.

  "She is someone to admire. True to her Southern roots—gracious, strong and in every sense a grand lady," Madeline said.

  I know it is late, and you have had a trying day, but would you consider going back to the city with Walter to see if you could catch a glimpse of Quick Vinnie," Madeline requested.

  "Truthfully, I'm done in, and I beg off. But perhaps tomorrow," said Jonathan.

  "What's that? Did I hear my name mentioned?" asked Walter.

  "We were speaking about the man you heard about today. Madeline wishes someone to go back and hunt for him. If anyone sees him—it is always after the midnight hour," said Hugh.

  Walter agreed, "I will do it. Jonathan, old man, you stay here. I'd like to see what goes on in the night in this eccentric place. Perhaps I will see your Madame Clarice or the witches that wander the streets you spoke about."

  "Now you are making me seem past my prime, but go if you like. I do wish to call it a night," said Jonathan.

  Madeline said, "I will get Samuel to take you down. He stays up most nights now watching over the horses and sleeps in the day. I will ask him to stay with you and ask him to see you safely home."

  "Splendid," said Walter.

  After another glass of absinthe, she felt more relaxed and said to Jonathan, "I'm so delighted you are here. My two dearest friends in the world are with me again, and we are once again facing a great mystery." With that she kissed his cheek and caught off guard, he only coughed and looked uncomfortable.

  "Thank you for that. I can see you may need all the help you can get. Let us hope there are no further incidents tonight. I do not relish seeing a snake crawl under my feet, even if it is not poisonous," said Jonathan.

  "I think I will go to Hannah now and see why she wishes to see me. I am glad of it, for I hope I may be of some use to her," said Madeline.

  Father and Belle were playing chess, Father coaxing her until she gave in. As strong as she was, father knew she needed some relief from the ordeal she was living through. Madeline kissed them both and bid them good-night.

  Hannah was sitting at the window when Madeline entered the room. Once again, she had on the sheer, white gown Madeline had seen her wearing at the window. Madeline was taken by her beauty and wondered if, unlike herself, if she would ever love again.

  "Sit by me," said Hannah. "Now tell me you have brought all the contents in Wesley's desk?"

  Madeline did bring the photograph but had hidden it within other papers. She replied,

  "Yes."

  "Good. Then it is safe, and they have not discovered it."

  "What?"

  "The false back in his desk. I was afraid someone may have rifled through to see if there was anything of value. Truth be told, there is. There you will find a safety deposit key to bearer bonds, and other personal documents that we have stored in the bank. Wesley thought it more accessible to him to have it in the office.

  "Here, these are the two pins you must affix to either side to release the lever that holds it in place."

  She gave her two iron pins, both having hexagon shaped heads.

  "Place them on the top at each side at the same time. You will see the tiny hexagon head where they fit into. The partition will spring open and should contain the key, at least, that is my hope. Will you go tomorrow to retrieve it for me?"

  "Of course. I want to help you in any way. This will be a very easy request to fulfill."

  "Thank you. I fear I cannot face going to his office...not yet, especially if they have already taken his name off the door. I also do not wish to see the people there that we dined with once and were so happy with."

  "I do understand. There is much to do in town. We will follow some of the leads we turned up today. Have the police been here today?"

  "Just briefly...to say they still are holding my husband's body at the coroner's office. I cannot even properly bury him—how outrageous that is to me. They believe it is the Sicilian Mafia faction. I heard them speaking. I don't know because I still can't believe anyone would kill my darling man."

  Madeline stood behind her, the moonlight shining on them both. She put her hands on Hannah's shoulders, leaving them there for a few moments in what Madeline hoped would convey her solidarity in assisting her.

  Tonight she would have a hot bath, and keep a watchful eye on the grounds. The field hands were taking their turn to be the protectors, but she felt she would never sleep easy again until the case was solved. The absinthe had created a delightful feeling of ease in her, and even though false, it relieved her tension.

  August 13, 1889

  I cannot ascertain if Hannah is coming around and beginning to accept Wesley's death, or if she is methodically acting out her part and is ready to have a breakdown. My fear is that it is the latter.

  Tomorrow I would like to see if we can all attend one of Madame Clarice's rituals by the lake. I believe Jonathan and Walter would be fascinated, as we were, with this bazaar practice.

  I hope Walter will be successful in his journey into town.

  I have taken to drinking a little wine and absinthe, and can say that this time I feel no remorse in it. Life presents us with so many challenges; perhaps that is why there is such a thing called lovely absinthe.

  Russell, poor Hannah finds herself in the same position as I did...we are both widows now, it seems doomed to a fate of loneliness.

  It was nearly dawn, just four when she heard the horses galloping up the long, winding drive toward Belle Magnolia. She glanced out the window, happy that they had arrived safely
home. Then, shortly after, she heard Samuel calling out to Belle.

  Madeline jumped up and donned her dressing gown, and immediately proceeded down the winding staircase. There she found Samuel holding Walter up and guiding him into the foyer.

  "Mrs. Donovan, something awful—Mr. Cahill, he's been hurt. I tried to stop the man, but he scared me half to death just alooking at me, and I done run away. I'm sorry."

  "It's all right...it's not that bad. A few blows to my stomach and a cut over my left eye. I wasn't expecting it and put up no defense at all," said Walter. "If you and Samuel will get me to a table, there is something I must do with all haste."

  "Samuel, could you assist me with bring Mr. Cahill into the drawing room, then could you please see if you can wake Mrs. Brown and ask her to put on a pot of tea? I will get Father to look at Walter's wounds."

  She did not stop to ask Walter what it was he needed to do. Once they had deposited him at the gaming table in the drawing room, she left to get her father.

  On the way to his room, she decided she would stop and wake Jonathan and Hugh. She was surprised they had not awakened but assumed because their location was at the back of the mansion that they did not hear anything.

  She bid them all to go downstairs after telling them that Walter had been injured.

  Father grabbed his medical bag, not even retrieving his robe, before bounding down the steps in his pajamas to see to Walter. Madeline was fast behind him.

  "Good heavens, let me take a look at you," said Father.

  "I feel I will need to lie down in a moment, but I would like to finish this sketch. It is the reason I am in this condition."

  By this time, Hugh and Jonathan had joined them.

  "What's this?" Jonathan asked, rubbing his eyes, looking more asleep than awake.

  "Madeline, will you get Walter a glass of bourbon so it will ease the sting? I need to stitch this wound around his eye, and the one near his lower right rib," he stated.

  "Tell us what happened," requested Hugh.

  "In a moment, gentlemen, after I have finished with him."

  "We may find out something if we speak to Samuel. I believe he may be in the kitchen. He looked as if he had seen Marie Laveau herself rise from the dead," said Madeline.

  Entering the kitchen, Madeline said, "I'm sorry we disturbed you. I hope you do not mind."

  "No, no...nothing will be ordinary I think for a long time to come. I will do my small part in any way I can," Mrs. Brown replied as she handed Madeline a cup of hot tea.

  "Gentlemen, would you like some coffee or tea?" asked Mrs. Brown.

  Hugh, of course, requested tea, and Jonathan opted for the coffee, asking to keep the pot nearby.

  Upon asking about Samuel's whereabouts, Mrs. Brown informed them that he went out to the barn to smoke a cigar.

  Scrunching through the hay, they found Samuel wedged between two hay bins, shivering.

  "Samuel, are you all right?" asked Hugh.

  "Yes, Mr. Scott, but I feel I let down Mr. Cahill. I didn't mean to be scared."

  "It's all right. He will recover. Can you tell us what happened?" asked Madeline.

  "Mr. Cahill, he came upon that man Mr. Wesley defended...that Guy fellow. He said he saw some man that Mr. Cahill was wishing to see. He took us to a place called Anthony's Way Inn Tavern. It was there that it happened.

  "We both were having a beer, sitting as nice as you could be, bothering no one. Mr. Cahill done took his fancy pad of paper out, and he was drawing a picture, the likes I never seen somebody do as nice as he could. He was drawing the man that would soon hit him. I don't know who he was, but I heared the people there were done scared of him.

  The man come over and said plain as you can, ‘"What the devil do you think you're doing?"’ He then tore up the picture and started hittin' Mr. Cahill. I tried to help Mr. Cahill, but he done look at me like he were going to kill me and I'm ashamed to say I run off," said Samuel.

  "Do you think he may be referring to Quick Vinnie?" Madeline asked.

  "It seems the most likely scenario. Poor Walter, I was afraid something like this might happen. He has the greatest sense of curiosity and has the boldness to set himself in the midst of everything, but he has the naiveté to not sense danger," said Jonathan.

  "From what I observed, he seems to have taken it on the chin, but without any significant damage, " said Hugh.

  "Samuel, it's all right. You brought Mr. Cahill to safety and did all you could do. Now, come in the kitchen and get yourself something to eat and a good cup of coffee before you retire," said Madeline.

  "Yes, Miss, I will do that."

  When they returned to the drawing-room, Father was sitting beside Walter, watching him work at the table.

  "I wanted to get this down on paper while I still could remember most of the details of the man's face. Yes, it is Quick Vinnie, and, yes, I shouldn't have been so obvious about capturing his image, but we had already partaken of several beers, and I don't believe I was altogether thinking straight.

  "I've got the blaggard; it's him all right. It's close enough that if we show it 'round, people will know who he is. The trick will be finding someone who is not afraid to talk," said Walter.

  "From his reputation, you're lucky he didn't inflict worse harm to you. But I have to admire you for your talent in getting this picture done. Great job! Now, we'll have to somehow engage him. Maybe we could try to hire him. He hasn't seen Hugh or I. We'll devise a plan," said Jonathan.

  Hugh said, "It should be me who does it. I'm an Englishman, and he would believe that I am not familiar with his reputation. I could say I want to settle a gambling debt or something like that."

  "It does sound like that could work," said Madeline. "I must go back to Wesley's office today, and also, I would like to have you all come to see one of Madame Clarice's...I don't know what to call it but a theatrical show. She has an amazing ability to capture your very soul while in the midst of her spell casting. Do you not agree, Hugh?"

  "Yes, it is something to see. Now, we must all rest if we are to make an early start of it," he replied.

  "Till tomorrow then. I hope you will be well enough to go along, Walter," said Jonathan.

  "Oh...do not worry about that. I will," he replied.

  Chapter Ten

  A Fine Kettle of Snakes

  It was obvious at six in the morning when the kitchen filled with people having coffee, that everyone—including Madeline—found it difficult to sleep. She had awoken at five, not wishing to disturb anyone. She sat silently, reading a book, and she felt a sense of relief when she heard the footsteps of people going down the staircase.

  Even Hannah had a plate of blueberry pancakes that she was nibbling on.

  Walter had his head bandaged, and was moving with some difficulty, but seemed very well indeed considering the ordeal he had been through.

  He once again relayed his story to all those who had not heard it the night before.

  "When will this effrontery stop? Perhaps we should leave this place forever," said Belle.

  "It is too late for that. The only thing that will save me now is to have some sort of justice," said Hannah.

  Hugh offered, "We will try to help you with that."

  They ended the discussion with definite plans to return to the market by the noon hour, leaving them all time for some additional rest and bathing.

  By noon, they had gathered outside, and Samuel had the carriage waiting for them. They had agreed that they would split up in the city and have their luncheon meal at different establishments, believing it would be best for discoveries of any kind.

  She had hoped to spend more time with Jonathan, but that would have to wait, as he left with Walter. She remained with Hugh.

  "Do you mind if we go to the office first before we eat?" asked Madeline.

  "Not at all. I was going to suggest it myself. I am curious to see this contraption on his desk," said Hugh.

  When they arrived, the receptionist w
as very polite and showed them directly into Wesley's office. Nothing as of yet had been disturbed—the girl had stated that the police requested this. Walking inside, they were surprised to find Andrew LeBlanc in Wesley's office.

  "Oh...I wasn't expecting visitors," said Andrew.

  He was standing at the bookshelf against the side wall, books scattered about on the floor, with several in his hands. He offered no explanation for his behavior, and Madeline did not feel it her place to ask, believing, after all, that he must use these law books and was searching for some information. However, his guilty look was evident.

  "We've come at Hannah's request. She believed there was a personal ledger and some other items we missed. I hope you do not mind if we look for them," said Madeline.

  "No...not at all. I was about to have my lunch. It is a beautiful day. I thought I would go down to the park. I have not forgotten that I have a duty to call on Hannah. Please tell her I will be down within the next day or two," said Andrew.

  "I'm sure she will be pleased. I will tell her," said Madeline.

  Hugh glanced at her but said nothing. Andrew smiled a tight, forced smile and departed.

  "So tell me...," began Hugh.

  "I didn't want him to know we had discussed him, or that I was aware of any feelings at all between him and Hannah. I also wanted to know his reaction, if he would be surprised when I said it. I wanted to see if he felt confident he was welcome. But, I couldn't make out from his expression what he was feeling. I must say, you lawyers..."

  "Wait a minute, do not include me in that remark," said Hugh jokingly.

  "Is it not true that you can keep a stoic look and not reveal your feelings?"

  "It is a must if you are going to defend clients.