A/N: Apologies, but I've come to a conclusion. Inspiration comes when it comes. And sometimes that's weeks apart. That being said, don't hope for an update soon. I might update soon I might not. We'll see. Meanwhile, I think I'll try to post a new POTC story. I miss Capt. Jack! Can't wait for the movie! 38 more days! So read, review and as always,
peace, love and lipgloss,
Mlle.Fox
"Good morning my pet. Sleep well?" Remembering last night, Antoinette stiffened,
"A little..." Erik looked up at her again and then nodded for her to come closer. Her nightclothes swished as she walked up to Erik. He wrapped an arm up around her waist and drew her near his side saying,
"You've seen dead bodies before Mon Ange. What troubles you now?" Antoinette smiled,
"I just never found one before. Caught me by surprise. I'll be alright, don't worry. What are you doing?"
"Composing you little liar. Now...how do you really feel about last night?" Erik said.
"Stupid...and guilty. If I had been a little more alert and active in dealing with McMillan and the situation with my cousin while he was alive I could have prevented his death." Antoinette admitted.
"You could have done nothing. Something I've learned over the years Toni...is we can't go back and change the past. But we can make up for it by solving his death now. So...are you up for a good mystery, Mlle. Secretary?" asked Erik making her laugh,
"Always, Monsieur Fantome!" Erik took a notebook off the top of the piano and handed it to her,
"Here. Lt. Kingston sent this over this morning."
Antoinette opened the notebook and frowned sitting on his lap, not noticing he stiffened with unease and pleasure,
"There were four men there with their wives. M. Galvin..." Erik growled in annoyance at the mention of his name, but Antoinette smirked continuing, "As well as a Thomson Scavo, Jeffery Dobbs and Anthony Prior. All of them belong to the local gentlemen's club, they all arrived around nine. M. Galvin and M. Scavo said they saw McMillan take a glass of champagne from a waiter where he was hiding in the shadows of the open balcony doors. Dobbs and Prior didn't see him, but apparently, Dobbs wife Rebekah had an 'incident' with McMillan during the war."
"Let me guess, did it involve...'eating sandwiches?' " asked Erik.
"It's only a rumor. Nothing's concrete...but it'd be an excellent motive." Antoinette said.
Erik began to kiss her neck mumbling,
"It certainly gives me a few ideas!"
"Erik! Let me read!" giggled Antoinette.
He stopped with a sigh, "Spoilsport."
Ignoring his pout, Antoinette said fighting the urge to giggle, "They all owed money to McMillan from 'loans' they took out after the war. Here's a curious thing...McMillan wasn't stabbed, shot, strangled or beaten. The cause of death is unknown."
Erik narrowed his brow, thinking, "That only leaves poison...and poison means premeditation."
"Do you think someone asked McMillan to come to the party to lure him to his death?" asked Antoinette.
"No, remember the train tickets? I think he came on his own to take your cousin that night. But whoever killed him knew he was skipping town and would be there that night. So our next course of action would be to find out from the train station who else was there the day McMillan bought the tickets." Erik said.
"If we can. That is a distinct long shot. I think we better take Lt. Kingston's suggestion and bring in our own doctor to do the autopsy. And luckily for us, there happens to be a doctor in the family." Antoinette said with a grin.
"Who?" asked Erik.
"Mister Gerald's and Aunt Ginny's son Jacob Freedman! I'll have Gerald send him a telegraph. It might take a few days for him to get to New Orleans from Chicago though." Antoinette said.
"Firmin and Andre can probably stall Kingston. In the meantime, we'll have to check out each of the men that were there that night. And that riverboat gambler. This whole thing may have to do with McMillan's past as a smuggler. And that widow as well. An old woman certainly could poison a man more than she could strangle him or beat him." Erik said.
"I don't know. Widow Bankerson is a tough old bird!" Antoinette said causing Erik to burst out into laughter. Just then, Firmin and Andre came in fully dressed, Andre saying cheerfully,
"Good morning everyone!"
Antoinette quickly removed herself from Erik's lap and said,
"Good morning Messuires!"
Erik rolled his eyes at being interrupted, as Firmin clapped his hands together and said,
"Right! Let's get to work. Now the first thing we have to do is..."
"Firmin, Mam'selle Carone and I have already discussed what we need to investigate for this case." Erik said.
"You have?" Andre said.
"Oui Monsieur. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go get dressed and prepare a written list to keep our minds straight." Antoinette said making her way out.
Erik stood and said,
"I'll dress as well. Antoinette, perhaps you may also make copies of the facts of the case for all of us?"
"Certainly, I'll work on it as I write the list of things to investigate." Antoinette said as she and Erik made their way up the stairs. Firmin and Andre watched them go, and when they had gone into their rooms, Firmin remarked dryly,
"Do you think they even realize that we're the detectives and they're the assistants?"
Andre huffed and grabbed his hat saying,
"Well I for one am going back to that gentlemen's club and talking to Galvin and his associates. I am certainly aware they are suspects!"
"I'm coming with you! Erik and Mam'selle Carone's lists and methods be hanged!" Firmin said grabbing his hat as well.
"Well it's about time you cared about this case! Where has your mind been the last few days anyway?" Andre asked him as they exited the front door.
Doffing his hat, Firmin said,
"In the past."
"What?" asked Andre in confusion.
The early morning fog had just left the streets of New Orleans and the French Quarter. A lone figure walked up to a house and knocked on the door. Someone peeked out the lace curtains and then went away, their footsteps drifting off into the distance. The visitor waited until more footsteps came, then with a click of the bolt, the door opened just enough for a long, red glove to take a thick manila envelope from the visitor. An envelope filled with cash was passed to the visitor, the benefactor asking in a whisper,
"Did anyone see you leaving McMillan's rooms?"
"No…I even made it look like Coon Davis' boys messed up the place and not me." the man replied.
"Perfect. And what about the detectives? After your little task last night did my name come up?"
"Not once. They suspect all those dandies from the Gentlemen's Club and Coon Davis. I think you're in the clear." the visitor answered confidently.
"Don't get too cocky, Mr. Jones. After all, murder is a risky investment."
"I can't believe Andre and Firmin left to do their own investigation! We are all in this together!" Erik grumbled as he and Antoinette rode side by side on their respectable horses. When they had found them gone, they asked Gerald where they went and he told them they had taken the carriage to the garden district to speak with all the members of the Gentlemen's Club. Antoinette suggested they take the horses instead, maybe riding ahead to the train station to inquire about who might have seen McMillan that day. Now riding a chestnut mare, Erik riding a palomino, Antoinette sighed to the heavens,
"Well Erik, they ARE the detectives...officially anyway."
Erik harrumphed, "They won't even know to ask about poison or the train station!"
"They might learn it anyway! Besides we have to wait a few days anyway for Jacob to get in from Chicago so it won't be as if making a few trips to the garden district will stall our investigation." Antoinette reasoned with him.
Erik shook his head, "I don't know. I feel that if we waste anymore time we'll lose the scent of the murderer before we even pick it up." He and Antoinette rode in silence for a few moments when the rounded a corner and saw a carriage with a broken wheel. Three large men were repairing it, while a short heavyset balding man in a white suit and a gold cane sat under a shade tree, a thin blond fanning him with her black lace fan. Antoinette paled a bit and whispered,
"Erik! It's Coon Davis!"
"What's he doing out here?" Erik asked suspiciously.
"I have no idea…but there's only one way to find out." Antoinette said looking Erik in the eye. He nodded and started his horse again, riding close enough to hear Coon Davis call out with a friendly lilt in his thick accent,
"Good mornin' there Friend!"
"Bon jour Monsieur…do you require some help?" Erik asked. Davis shook his head,
"Nah…my boys got it. So what are you nice folks doing out on this glorious mornin'? Enjoying the day?" Erik realized that Davis was trying to discern Erik's and Antoinette's presence same as he was trying to do with Davis. Erik answered,
"Yes…and yourself?"
"Same, bout the same. You French?" Davis asked as his young lady lit a thin cigar.
"Yes we are…but Mam'selle Carone lived here as a child." Erik said seeing how he reacted to the name Carone. Davis took his cigar from his lady friend and took a long drag, savoring its flavor, mumbling out,
"That so? So ya'll come up from the Southern Manor Plantation?"
"Yes…that's right. We're visiting my cousin, Amanda." Antoinette told him.
"That right? Well, I happened to have a friend who knows Miss Mandy…intimately." Davis said.
"What do you mean?" Antoinette said, her hackles rising at his insinuation.
"Not a thing Miss Carone I don't mean to imply a thing. I'm just taking a ride out here to enjoy the day, same as you." Davis said.
"Really? Then may I ask why you have property surveyor equipment with you?" Erik asked spotting the items inside the carriage.
"Carriage's fixed Boss Davis." One of the men piped up standing from the ground and giving Erik a dirty look. The young woman with Davis helped him to stand. Davis regarded Erik with a long, sleepy analyzing look, taking just as long a drag on his cigar. A dangerous warning in his eye, Coon Davis took the cigar out of his mouth, the smoke curling around his head as he replied,
"Son, if you wish to enjoy many more days like today, you might want to keep your nose outta folks business, ya'here? Goodday to you both." He walked into the carriage with his companion, his bodyguards riding on top of the carriage, one getting inside. As they took off, Antoinette looked at a contemplative Erik as he said,
"Perhaps you were right my Darling. Perhaps is it best if we bide our time."