(Saturday)
The next day John and Punk were walking back along one of the trails from Lake Pontchartrain. Tom had lent them some fishing gear, but neither one had much success.
"I think the reason no one comes here much is the area is so swampy, not the best part of the lake." Punk said.
"I got on enough bug repellent to scare off Mothra." John laughed.
"Your jokes are so corny!" Punk groaned.
"Knee need rest?" John asked.
"It is okay, been resting it pretty well." Punk said. "Brace is uncomfortable."
As they reached the inn, they saw Evalena sitting on the front porch typing on her laptop while Rocky snoozed at her feet.
"It's the Vols fans and Rocky Top!" John said.
Evalena looked up and smiled at them. "Hey guys…..catch anything?" she saw the fishing gear they were carrying.
"Nothing worth keeping." Punk said.
"You working on your book?" John asked.
"Yes, working on the first fire. I have the early chapters with the background of the Roberts' finished." Evalena said.
Punk sat down in the chair across from her at the patio table. "You never did explain to us how one man could die twice."
"Like I said, it is a long story." Evalena said.
"Well fishing didn't work, might as well entertain ourselves with a mystery." John sat down, leaning the fishing poles on the railing.
"The man who was supposed to have died twice was Clarence Roberts. He and his wife lived in Nashville, Indiana. Typical couple, raised a family, involved in the community and successful in business. But they tried living beyond their means, were heavily in debt and then their business ventures failed." Evalena started.
"Wasn't this on a show….the one with the creepy old guy?" John asked.
"Robert Stack…yes he was the host of 'Unsolved Mysteries' which did feature this show at one point." Evalena chuckled.
"How did you know that?" Punk asked John.
"Gotta watch something when I can't sleep." John shrugged.
"Well in November of 1970, there was a huge fire in the barn at the Roberts' home. Authorities found a badly charred body with a shotgun in the ashes. It was really badly burned; only one tooth left and clothing had been burned away. However, also found in the ashes was Clarence's ring….undamaged." Evalena said.
"How could it be undamaged if the body was so badly burned?" John asked.
"Exactly…my theory is that it was planted after the fire so the body would be identified as Clarence's." Evalena said. "See Clarence had a million dollars in life insurance on himself with his wife as the beneficiary."
"Wasn't it suspected Clarence killed a drifter and set fire to the barn to fake his death?" John asked.
"You have got to quit watching late night TV." Punk said.
"He's right. And the biggest evidence that the body in the fire was not Clarence was the fact the body had type AB blood and Clarence's blood type was Type B. Even in 1970 that should've been enough to prove it wasn't Clarence but the Roberts' buried the dead man as Clarence and started trying to collect the insurance money." Evalena said.
"But why would they…." Punk was cut off by Rocky jumping up and starting to growl.
"Rocky…..what is it now?" Evalena grabbed his collar.
Tom walked around the corner of the inn. He smiled up at them. Rocky began barking, once again all his hair turned up like facing a predator.
"Back from fishing I see, have any luck?" he asked the men, staying at a distance.
"No, not much biting today." Punk said.
"You can leave the gear there. I will put it away later." Tom said and kept walking.
They watched as he walked around the back of the inn. Rocky calmed down and sat down near Evalena, watching where Tom had walked off to.
"Man, your dog really hates him." Punk said.
Evalena didn't respond. She patted Rocky's head looking lost in thought and frowning.
"Evalena?" John asked, no response. "You okay?"
She still didn't respond.
"Hey…you okay?" Punk tapped her shoulder and she looked up at him startled.
"Oh sorry…did you say something?" she asked.
"Everything okay? You spaced out there for a second." John asked.
"Did you guys…..and don't laugh…..did you guys hear anything strange last night?" Evalena asked.
"No, I slept with my iPod on last night." Punk said.
"Me neither, of course I sleep like I am dead. Thunder couldn't wake me up." John said.
"Did you hear something?" Punk asked.
"I don't know. I could've sworn I heard…..it's hard to explain…it sounded like a weird low humming...intermixed with words or something. I have heard it a few nights since I got here." Evalena said.
"Could you have been dreaming?" Punk asked.
"I thought so too and just brushed it off, but the way Rocky keeps acting…I dunno maybe he keeps getting upset because he hears something I can't….animals have super hearing and all." Evalena said.
"Is there a church nearby? Maybe you heard chanting or prayers or something." John said.
"I have passed a church nearby a few times while jogging but….it's a Nazarene church, they don't chant and I doubt they were having services at 3AM." Evalena said.
"You were probably just dreaming." Punk told her.
"You're probably right. I have been known to have some crazy dreams in my day and I even sleepwalk so…you're probably right." Evalena smiled.
"And Rocky….maybe he just doesn't like Tom for a weird reason. My neighbor once had a dog that hated men with long hair." John said.
"I think working on this crazy man dying twice story has you dreaming strange things." Punk chuckled.
Evalena smiled. "You are probably right."
"You busy tonight? Why don't you come out with us? We were gonna head into town, grab some dinner. Why don't you come with us?" John asked.
Punk raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
"That sounds nice, but I don't wanna intrude." Evalena said.
"No intrusion. We'd love the company and you can tell us more about Clarence Roberts." John smiled.
"I would like that. Thank you." She smiled.
"We gotta shower. We'll stop by around 6 for you, is that good?" John asked.
"That's fine." She smiled.
"Come on Philip, let's go get showered so Mothra doesn't get angry." John stood up.
"Your stupid corny jokes. And don't call me that!" Punk stood up and followed him.
(Evening)
Punk sat in John's room flipping through a local newspaper while waiting for John to finish getting ready so they could go out to dinner.
"What the hell is taking you so long? I could've showered 5 times by now!" Punk called out.
"I had to get all the bug spray smell off me." John chuckled.
"So why did you invite Miss Tennessee out with us tonight?" Punk asked.
"Does it bother you?" John asked walking out of the bathroom in jeans.
"No, I am just wondering what your motivations are." Punk said.
John dug through his suitcase. "She sounded a little…weirded out and I thought a night out might help." He shrugged.
"You have a thing for her?" Punk raised an eyebrow.
John chuckled as he decided on a shirt. "She is cute and seems pretty smart. But I ain't gonna be here long enough to start anything with her and I gave up one night stands years ago. Why?"
"Because if you had a thing for her I certainly wasn't going and be the third wheel." Punk said.
"What do you think of her?" John raised his eyebrows.
"What does that mean?"
"Just seeing if you had a thing for her and thought I was competition." John laughed.
Punk rolled his eyes. "You are a fucking riot John. I think she is a nice girl, that is it. Although it seems odd to me that she didn't recognize you. You've been in movies, all over TV and shit."
"Maybe she doesn't watch much TV, who knows." John shrugged, grabbing his wallet.
"Well let's go." Punk stood up.
They walked out of John's room and Punk knocked on Evalena's door. After a few minutes she opened the door. She was dressed in light blue summer dress and heels. They could see Rocky watching them from the floor.
"You ready to go?" John asked.
"Yes where are we going?" Evalena smiled and shut the door behind her.
"Have you been to Pier 424 yet?" John asked. "They serve really good food and serve seafood so Mr. Pescetarian there can eat."
"That sounds great." She smiled.
"Come on, Bourbon street is gonna be crowded." Punk said.
They walked downstairs and out of the inn. They walked across the yard towards John's rental car. They noticed Joe Beauchene, Tom's father, trimming the hedges. John popped the locks. Evalena started to get in the backseat.
"No, you're our guest. You ride shotgun." Punk said.
"You sure?" she asked.
"Yeah." Punk opened the passenger door for her. Evalena smiled and climbed in. Punk shut the door and noticed John smirking at him. Punk rolled his eyes and flipped John off over the roof of the car.
Punk climbed in the backseat and John started the car. He pulled out and headed towards New Orleans and Bourbon Street.
"You guys gonna try fishing again tomorrow?" Evalena asked.
"Nah, we're headed into New Orleans tomorrow. Day after that I am headed back to work." John said.
"What about you, more working on the twice dead guy?" Punk asked.
"Yes, I have been trying to get John Pless to agree to an interview with me but apparently he doesn't like my questioning. He was the pathologist that swore up and down the body in the 1970 fire was indeed Clarence Roberts." Evalena said. "I just wanna know how any moron could swear that was the right body when the blood types didn't match. And then the jackass turns around and claimed the body in the second fire was Roberts and that he had been mistaken about the first body."
"She's kinda feisty." John chuckled and looked in the rearview mirror at Punk. Punk rolled his eyes.
"Sounds to me like you ask the hard questions." Punk said to Evalena. "I like that."
"Why stop doing the criminal psychology thing?" John asked.
"I still do that, I just wanna branch into another area…hopefully become successful and can use psychology knowledge in my writing as well." Evalena said.
"Smart and success driven." John said looking at Punk again.
Punk glared at him, wondering what John was up to.
When they arrived near Pier 424, John parked the car so they could walk down Bourbon Street to the restaurant. "Sit still and I will open the door for you. No lady that rides in my chariot opens her own door." He winked.
Punk rolled his eyes and got out. John made his way around the car.
"Chariot? You are so fucking corny. What do women ever see in you?" Punk said.
"Just trying to be a gentleman." John shrugged.
"If you didn't have those damn dimples lines like those would get you slapped." Punk said.
"How sweet, you noticed my dimples." John gave a cheesy grin.
"Why the fuck do I hang out with you?" Punk sighed.
John chuckled and opened the passenger door so Evalena could get out of the car. They walked to the restaurant. It was already crowded but they were finally seated. Several people in the restaurant waved to John and Punk but if Evalena noticed she didn't mention it.
"The clams casino looks wonderful." Evalena looked over her menu.
"I was thinking the same thing." John said.
"I was leaning towards the Tuna Napoleon." Punk said.
The waiter came to take their orders. John and Punk both tried to keep a low profile.
"So Punk, why you staying in Louisiana for a month?" Evalena asked.
"I hurt my knee at work so I decided to take a little vacation while it healed." Punk answered without going into detail.
"So what is next for you after you finish writing the book about Clarence Roberts?" John asked.
"Actually there is another unsolved case I would like to research and write a book about. It happened here in Louisiana so I thought if I finished my book in time I could start the research while I am still here this summer." Evalena said.
"Wow, another book idea. What is the case?" John asked.
"The Audrey Moate case." She said.
"How many times did she die?" Punk chuckled.
"We don't know, she was never found. Her married boyfriend was found dead in his car at Lake Pontchartrain where he and Audrey had apparently been having sex. He had been murdered by gunshot but Audrey was never found." Evalena said.
"She probably got mad he wouldn't leave his wife and offed him, then left the area." Punk said.
"Not likely. Found at the murder scene was Audrey's clothes, most of the contents of her purse and women's bare feet tracks. Besides, she had three kids and they never heard from her again." Evalena said.
"I am gonna buy these books. You're getting me hooked on unsolved cases." John chuckled.
"I thought you already watched that late night stuff." Punk said.
"Hey Evalena might be nice enough to discuss the cases with me after I read the books." John said.
"You ever thought of writing about something besides unsolved cases?" Punk asked.
"I might someday. But unsolved cases interest me. There is something intriguing about a case that was never solved." She answered.
"An inquisitive mind." John looked at Punk.
Punk raised his eyebrows but chose to ignore John.
Finally their food arrived and conversation died down as they ate. The restaurant was getting more crowded and both John and Punk kept a low profile not wanting to attract attention to them. And both felt it would freak out Evalena if she found out who they were because they were mobbed by fans.
"I am stuffed; I don't think I can eat another bite." Evalena said as she finished eating.
"I have got to come back here before I leave New Orleans." Punk said.
"Seems like the place is really crowded. Long line of people waiting to get in." John said.
"We ready to head out? Maybe we can get Tom to build another fire for us in the fire pit." Punk said.
Evalena smiled. "That sounds nice. I will just leave Rocky in my room. For whatever reason, he hates Tom."
"I'll stop somewhere and pick us up some drinks." John said as they stood up.
They paid their bill and made their way out of the restaurant to head back to the inn.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews. Loved them and can't wait for more. Let me know what you think of the story.
