A/N: Dang it...I tried to keep my new years resolution I really did. Sigh...Oh well. However I have good news. Only one maybe two more chapters of Murder on the Bayou! And I've already thought up the plot for the next Phantom and the Secretary Mystery, "Complimentary Gun on the Pillow". Check out my profile for more. Apologies for the delay. I hope I still have my loyal fans! Even though it's no excuse, I've been working my butt off at work, counting down the days until I go to Disney World in June. I swear I shall have every story currently active on this site completely finished and I won't upload any new stories till I get back from that vacation. Besides, I'll have have plenty of inspriation for material once I actually meet my muse Captain Jack Sparrow in person! (Well...as played by the guy playing him)

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

"Well Mister DuL'Soir...you're my kind of poker player." Coon Davis said puffing on his cigar and looking leisurely at his hand. Then his grinned with the cigar in his teeth and pushed all his chips forward,

"But let's make this interesting shall we?"

Erik lifted one side of his lips in a smirk of his own and followed suit,

"Certainly Monsieur..."

The crowd gathered around them began to chatter and whisper. No one had ever called Coon Davis in a 'winner take all' game. Who was this Frenchman? Coon Davis was not happy. Part of the fun of poker was getting your opponent to back down. This Frog wouldn't give up. Then Davis consoled himself knowing humiliation was also satisfying. He laid down a confident hand of three kings. The crowd murmured again as Erik nodded in approval, his face showing disappointment at his hand.

"A very good hand Monsieur. That could easily beat any hand."

"Thank you Mister DuL'Soir." Coon Davis replied. Then his fat grin faded as Erik smirked and laid down a full house.

"All except this hand of course." Erik said smugly as he gathered his chips. Coon Davis reached over to shake Erik's hand,

"A game well played Mister DuL'Soir. We must play again sometime."

"So we must." Erik said standing. He bowed to his host and to the dispensing spectators and began to mingle in with the other players in the floating casino. Men were shooting dice like bullets in a duel, and with just as much desperation involved. Women of questionable occupation were hanging on the arms of men with wedding bands, getting drinks for others and whispering sweet nothings in their ears, flirting with their feathered boas and bright bold colors and revealing garments of short skirts, glass beads, black trim and corsets. A Blackjack table offered Erik a nice view of all the activity. Nearby a Roulette wheel spun madly, the dealer's back to Erik. Erik noted how he discreetly pushed a small button and the white ball jumped to a certain spot.

"45...House wins." said the dealer.

'Not for long...' Erik thought.

"Your bet sir?" the Blackjack dealer asked Erik. Noticing his two cards for the first time, Erik lifted them up without question to see he had 'sixteen'.

"I'll stay." Erik said.

"Very good Sir." the dealer said. Erik was never one for such a thing, but he figured even the smallest of talk could yield the greatest information.

"So...how busy does this place get?" Erik asked.

"On hot nights like this one, plenty. Heat must affect peoples brains." said the dealer.

"Hmm...And their money belts?" Erik asked taking a glass of whiskey from a passing waiter.

"They shrink." the dealer replied with a lift of his lips.

"I suppose anyone who tries to jeopardize Coon Davis' business would be in jeopardy themselves." Erik said as the dealer dealt cards to fellow players.

"I suppose."

"Like this one fellow...what was his name? I read about him in the papers...poisoned at a party I think..."Erik said snapping his fingers trying to recall.

"McMillian? Yeah, he was in business with Davis. But Davis wouldn't poison a man. He'd just make them disappear." the dealer said.

"You certainly speak openly about your employer." Erik observed.

"Davis only doesn't care for talk dealing with crimes he actually has a hand in." the dealer said. Then he revealed his cards, the seven of spades and the Jack of Diamonds.

"Seventeen...house wins."

"So who do you think could have murdered this McMillian?" Erik asked.

"What's it to you?" the dealer asked as he began to deal again.

"I'm a scientist. Curiosity is one of my downfalls." Erik smiled.

"Well Mister...if I were you...I'd quit asking questions. 'Cause round here...curiosity killed the cat." the dealer said. Erik took the subtle hint and played three more rounds. All the time watching the dealings of the casino. And it was then he noticed something about all the young ladies there. They were all familiar. Why were they familiar to him? Then he saw they were all wearing a similar necklace. A strand of diamonds with a teardrop ruby perched perfectly in their pert bosoms. Erik nodded to the dealer towards the girls,

"So if the money attracts the men, what attracts the women?"

"The men's money." the dealer said showing his hand of nineteen, which Erik beat with twenty. Then he said goodnight and left the table, blending into the crowd again, this time keeping his sharp eyes on the girls. The blackjack dealer watched him go, before leaving his table a moment. He crossed the room to Coon Davis who was sitting in the corner, watching the going on's like a king over his castle. He whispered in his employer's ear,

"You were right Sir. That Frenchman's been asking questions."

Coon Davis blew out a thick puff of smoke and then told him,

"Then maybe I better give him an answer then." And with that he stood, hand behind his back as he wandered over to the tall, board shoulders of his target. Erik stood at the craps table, trying to listen in on one of the young women talking with her lover, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Erik turned to see Coon Davis smiling at him like a Chesire Cat. And Erik felt like a trapped door mouse.

"Mister D'LSoir...I've noticed you've been eyeing our young female guests tonight."

Erik tried to be nonchalant,

"What of it?"

"Well...if you'll pardon a figure of speech, why lick the spoon when you can taste the goodies? That is...why don't I introduce you to one of these fine young fillies?" Davis offered.

"That won't be necessary." Erik said.

"But I insist..." Davis said with no argument in his tone. Erik watched helpless as Davis waved over a young blond with a curvy petite figure. She reminded him of little Meg Giry, the daughter of the woman who had saved Erik's life so many times at the opera house. He threw up in his mouth a little at the thought of what this girl had to do to survive. Davis grinned and said,

"Gina, may I intro Mister Erik D'LSoir, he's from France. Take good care of him Lil' Darlin'."

Gina nodded and took a helpless Erik away by the hand, Erik's eyes throwing darts at Davis. The pit boss and Davis' right hand came up to Davis' side. Davis took out his cigar as he watched the girl take Erik out to the deck. With a bored tone he told his man,

"When they're alone...send the Frog into the Mississippi...dead or alive."

"Yes Sir."

"So have you ever been to Paris, Mister Erik?" Gina asked him with a beguiling smile.

"I lived there for many years." Erik replied, his sharp hearing picking up the sounds of footsteps behind him.

"I've heard so much about it from the Madame." Gina said.

"The Madame?" Erik asked paying more attention to who was following them.

"Madame Devaroix." Gina answered. Erik stopped in his tracks.

"Madame Marie Devaroix?" Erik asked.

"Why yes. Have you met her?" asked Gina. But Erik's mind was a fury of activity. When something clicked in his brain, he heard the sound of a Billy club smacking against a hard hand. He clapped a hand over Gina's mouth and pushed her into the darkness. Davis's boys stepped into the dim lantern light and looked around.

"Where'd they go?"

"I'm over here!" whispered a voice to their right.

One of the men swung his bit of chain and exclaimed,

"Who said that?!"

"Shut up!" said the pit boss looking around for the source.

"Here I am!" whispered the voice behind him.

"No here!" said a voice behind the third's ear.

"Here...no here...here...no over there...Miss me?...come on and find me!" the whisperings increased as the three looked all over in confusion. Finally, a figure reached out from the darkness and grabbed hold of the one with the club, his mouth covered before he could cry out. He must have melted into the dark for the other two saw no sign of him anywhere.

"Charlie?" asked the pit boss to the shadows as a figure swung over his head and knocked out his remaining compainion. But the pit boss saw Erik in time and hit him over the head with his fist, but Erik quickly recovered and elbowed him in the gut and then threw him overboard into the river below. Erik stood by the railing, making sure his adversary was gone, when he heard over his head,

"Is he dead Joe?" Coon Davis asked from a deck above, lighting his cigar. Keeping his back to Davis, Erik replied in a perfect imitation of Joe the pit boss,

"Not sure Boss...but he's gone."

"Good...I don't want nothin' interferin' with me gettin' my hands on that property up by Southern Manor. Stupid McMillian. If he had the sense to marry that girl like I told him too when I told him, we would have the deed already and the casino up at the house already. Now he's dead and I have to find another way to get my goods cross the state line. Well...come on in here and get back to work." Davis said with a wave of his hand.

"I'll be in a minute." Erik said as Davis went inside. Gina came out of the shadows, and asked Erik as he bent over the unconscious lackey and searched his coat,

"Hey...how'd you do that voice thing?"

"I've had a lot of practice. Is there a way off this boat?" Erik asked.

"Why should I tell you? Davis might take it out of me if he found out I helped you." Gina said with her hands on her hips.

"Give me your necklace and a way off this boat and I'll give you fifty dollars." Erik offered. Gina considered it and then countered,

"A hundred."

"Seventy-five. Final offer." Erik said bluntly.

"Done." Gina said undoing the clasp of her jewels. She handed the necklace to Erik who told her,

"And if Davis asks, just say Joe took the necklace before he jumped ship."

"Go to the paddle wheels. Ride them down to the river. You can get in the water a lot quieter than jumping in." Gina said.

"Or being thrown overboard." Erik said with a smirk.

"If you want to swim to shore, watch out for the 'gaters. But I'd find me a raft of one of the river rats and hitch a ride, if I were you."

Erik bowed before her and kissed her hand,

"A pleasure doing business with you Mam'selle."

"Sure you don't want to mix business and pleasure?" she asked eyeing him up and down.

Erik didn't even reply. He bowed a silent good night to her, then ran for the stern of the steamer.

A few hours later, dawn rose over the docks of the Mississippi River in glorious reds and oranges, but a lone carriage driven by a half asleep Gerald slowed to a stop as Firmin stomped down,

"He'd better be here!"

"He's here Monsieur. Only Erik would be foolish enough to face Davis alone!" Antoinette replied with a huff. She was furious! When she had taken up the piece of pie, she had found an empty room with a curtain flowing in the breeze. Not even a note! Which surprised the partners. It was only after hours of pacing and worrying did they dress and try to track their Phantom down. Antoinette had realized he must have gone to Davis, who at night was king of a floating city of sin. Andre stepped down, craning his neck to the distant steamship,

"It's miles away! I do hope he is alright."

"I hope it was worth our lack of sleep." Firmin said as they went to the rail of the docks to watch and wait.

"I just hope he's alive...so I could kill him!" Antoinette hissed drumming her fingers on the rail with venom in her eyes.

"I wonder what he found?" Andre asked as Erik casually walked up behind them, having docked on the shore moment ago thanks to a small fishing boat.

"What who found?" Erik asked.

"What ever he went on Coon Davis' ship to find." Firmin asked not noticing to whom he was speaking. Erik shrugged,

"It wasn't what he was expecting I can tell you that."

"Well that's all well and good Erik, however...ERIK?!?" Firmin said doing a double take at the young man behind him. Antoinette gasped and flung herself into Erik's arms sobbing,

"Oh Erik!"

Erik chuckled and rubbed her back,

"Are you going to kill me for my actions by drowning me in tears?"

"Andre this is doing nothing for my nerves!" Firmin said leaning against the railing and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Erik! Where have you been? Well...we already know where you've been...that's Coon Davis' ship. But why did you go without us?" Andre asked.

"Because I barely escaped that steamer myself. I wasn't about to endanger anyone else." Erik said rubbing the back of his head.

"Things got rough aye?" Firmin asked.

"Rough isn't the word." Erik said.

"Erik! Don't keep us all in suspense. What did you find out?" Antoinette asked.

"Coon Davis had no motive to kill McMillian. McMillian was his key to gaining Southern Manor as a new casino and a center of operations for what I can only guess is a smuggling ring."

"Of course! With McMillian dead, he has no connections to Mandy." Antoinette exclaimed.

"Miss Carone, your cousin would have been the perfect cover. Merely a hostess of lavish gatherings where one can imagine unlicensed gambling would reign." Firmin said.

"And the nearby swamp would have hidden away the smuggling ships." Andre said.

"That's why McMillian took such a fast interest in my cousin. He was after Southern Manor!"

"At least at first. Seems McMillian took the game too far. He truly fell for her." Erik said.

"Lusted is a better word. Anyway, couldn't Davis still have a motive? McMillian would have ruined his plan with his moving up North. He could have been seeking revenge." Firmin pointed out.

"Not likely. If McMillian had succeeded in taking Miss Mandy away, he would have forced her to sell Southern Manor. And guess who would be the only one to buy it after having scared off the competition?" Erik asked.

"Coon Davis." Antoinette said with a shake of her head. As Erik nodded, Andre asked,

"But if Davis didn't kill McMillian...who did?"

Erik cast an uneasy eye to Firmin before fishing out the necklace and saying,

"I have a theory...one who would have used poison to cause a slow, tortuous death. One of a quiet power able to influence all of New Orleans to their bidding. Who has eyes everywhere including on Coon Davis' steamer. Eyes that all wear this necklace to signify their devotion to them. Tell me M. Firmin...does this look familiar?"

Firmin went pale as he took the gems with a trembling hand. Concerned, Andre asked his old friend,

"Michael?"

"Monsieur Firmin?" Antoinette reaching out to touch his forearm. Firmin lifted his eyes to Erik's and said quietly.

"Marie. Marie Devaroix killed McMillian."