Chapter 14: Stepping Out
Amy's "associate" in New Orleans came through with the promised cloud cover, which made things safe enough for the vampire to travel from the Amtrak terminal to the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street in the fading light of Monday evening. What no one had counted on was how well the witch's weather spell coordinated with an oncoming tropical depression that swept through the gulf.
Monday evening's cloud cover evolved into a thunderstorm that was followed by Tuesday morning's gulley wash, followed by Wednesday's high humidity (well, higher humidity, New Orleans in the summer is infamously hot and sticky) and misting rain.
Fortunately many of the local hotels, including the property Frank, Biff and Amy were lodging in, offered complimentary shuttle service to and from the MorialConvention Center for the NCLISC every half hour. However, this restricted any venturing about during the free time Frank got, and Biff was starting to get a bit restless. This came as no surprise to Frank really. Biff had been this way in junior and high school. The weeks that passed between football season and basketball season, and subsequently basketball season to baseball season were tortuous for the tall boy. With no where to release all of his pent up energy, Biff usually found himself getting into some sort of mischief and winding up grounded.
It was starting to feel like high school again for Biff. Get up, eat breakfast, sit in on some seminar, see the venders during the breakout session, eat lunch, sit in on another dull, droning lecture… How in G-d's name did Frank find any of this interesting? But there he sat, each speaker earning the young detective's rapt attention, taking notes or discreetly switching on his digital recorder so that later he could replay the lecture again over and over…
Amy was her usual aloof self. A "Do Not Disturb" sign remained on her door all day. And at night, despite the rain, she patrolled the rooftops and alleys of the French Quarter, the Central Business District, Marigny, the Seventh Ward and Storyville. Amy called Ezekiel nightly, relieved that no further incident had occurred since Sunday night's encounter with the young werewolf of the local pack. At least Ezekiel had made a new friend out of the ordeal.
But as the barometric pressure rose, so did the nagging feeling Amy had that something was about to happen.
…
"Yes!"
"What's up?" Biff asked when Frank fist-pumped into the air as he sat on his bed early Thursday evening.
"The weather channel," said Frank as he looked up from his tablet, "zero percent chance of rain tomorrow, winds light and variable, only forty percent humidity. And tomorrow's a free day before the farewell banquet."
"Thank you Jesus! I was starting to go stir crazy cooped up in this hotel, even if it is the Ritz!" Biff flopped down on his bed and stretched out. "I guess I'll go hit this place's gym again before it closes for the night."
"Would you rather come and stretch you legs with me? I believe the rain clouds are starting to push off." asked Amy as she entered through the door that adjoined their guest suites. The tall ebony-skinned vampire was wearing a jade green, deep V-necked dress with a pleated skirt that hit her legs mid-thigh. Her matching break-neck high heels made her appear as tad taller than Biff. Frank whistled low as the statuesque woman turned around for him when he made a twirling motion with his finger.
"Nice Amy. I have a feeling you're going to explore more than rooftops and alleyways tonight."
"Indeed, I feel the need to mix in with the locals tonight. The change in the weather will bring the humans and other creatures back out in droves. And I could use an extra set of eyes and a nose tonight."
She looked at Biff in his worn-out jeans and faded t-shirt with his gym's logo on the front.
"Please tell me you packed something better to wear than that!" she sniffed.
"What? I'm a walking billboard for my gym? Gotta drum up business." the athlete defended.
"Oh, you look like a walking advertisement for something…"
"Hey Biff, what about that Burberry shirt Vanessa gave you for your birthday? I saw you hang up in the closet. That would look nice while you're out with Amy" Frank suggested.
"The burr what?" Frank sighed and rolled his eyes. He got up from his bed and walked to the closet, pulling out the trimmed-to-fit shirt.
"It's hot as blue blazes out there and you think I should wear a long sleeved shirt?"
"Hmmm, roll up the sleeves and button the roll-up tabs and it should be fine." Amy nodded. Biff huffed, but he took the shirt from Frank's hands and stalked off to the bathroom.
A while later he emerged from the bathroom with the shirt on and the front of it was buttoned up almost all the way to the collar. Amy shook her head and stood in front of him, unbuttoning a few more buttons with her cool fingers. Biff thought for a moment that he might have been feverish, as his skin tingled hotly and he shivered from her touch. Then his slayer training kicked in and he looked at her to make sure she wasn't breathing right into his face. But instead he saw that she was paying more attention to adjusting his rolled cuffs and making sure his collar was straight. He looked away from her over to Frank, who had returned to his spot propped up on his bed. The brunette gave him a smug look before returning to his tablet.
"Wait a minute! Who's going to baby-sit Frank?"
"I have a few of my "relatives" watching all corners and entrances to this hotel. Besides, they don't have the werewolf's smell in their scent memory like you and I do." Amy answered.
"I was going to hang here and call Phil anyway. Since the weather's going to be nice tomorrow, I was thinking of finally exploring the French Quarter. That is, if you're up for it after carousing all night with Amy." Frank explained, not looking up from what he was reading.
Amy stepped back from Biff and scrutinized his appearance. She placed a long, slim finger on her glossed lips as if she was considering something. Then her eyes widened and she headed in to the boys' bathroom. She came back out with a tube of hair product that Phil had slipped into Frank's toiletries bag and squeezed a small amount into her hand.
"Whoa, whoa! What're you going to do with that?" Before he could stop her, Amy was running her fingers and the clear gel through Biff's short, light brown hair.
"There, much better. Now you look like you did not just roll out of bed." Amy smiled at her handiwork. She turned to Frank for his approval and the detective nodded.
"You're a stud Biff."
"Very funny Frank." He grumbled. Amy picked up her clutch purse from the foot of Frank's bed and grabbed Biff's wrist.
"I won't keep him out too late, Frank. Have a good evening." Amy waved.
"You kids have fun now!" Frank called after them. At that Biff not so subtly flipped Frank the bird just before the door closed behind him. Frank cackled however, knowing Biff only ever made the gesture to be funny.
…
"Housekeeping…" Rang out a feminine voice that startled Frank.
"Just… a minute!" he called out as he started tucking himself back into his pants. He picked his smart phone back up and cradled it between his ear and shoulder. "Phil, Hon? Can you hang on a sec? Gotta get the door."
"Mmm, I'll try… I wanna finish with you…"
"Oh, G-d…" Frank panted as he set the phone down and tried to control his breathing as he crossed the room to open the door.
"Did you order extra towels Mr… Johnson?" The short and swarthy woman stood there in her black maid's uniform with a white, starched apron.
"Oh, um, the rooms are booked in Miss Johnson's name. I'm Hardy… I mean I'm Frank Hardy." Frank fumbled as he tried his best to keep the lower half of his body behind the door so the maid would not see the embarrassing bulge in his pants.
"Oh, Sí. Did you order extra towels Mr. Hardy?" The woman asked again.
"No, I didn't, but my roommate may have." Biff had been taking a lot of showers on this trip. "I'm sorry, I'm just…um… a little tired from a long day." Frank shook his head realizing he was making a damn fool of himself. He'd only been caught masterbating once in his life, and he could now add a second time to that short list. Frank opened the door a little wider to allow the woman in to put the towels away. While she was in the bathroom Frank grabbed his wallet to get out some money for her tip. His hard on had begun to calm down thanks to the interruption, and he hoped Phil didn't finish without him.
"Is there anything else you would like Mr. Hardy?"
"Oh, no thank you…" Frank glimpsed her name tag, "Rosario." He reached out to hand her the tip.
"You're very welcome Mr. Hardy." Her eyes went wide momentarily when her fingertips touched his. She recovered quickly and nodded. "Thank you for such a generous tip."
"You're welcome. Have a good night!" He tried to smile genuinely, but he really wanted her to leave so he could get back on the phone with Phil. Rosario left the room and Frank quickly closed the safety latch behind her and launched himself back toward the bed.
"Phil? You still there Hon?"
"Yeah Babe, I'm still here and rock hard for you. Pull your cock back out and touch yourself." Frank wasted no time doing as he was ordered.
…..
Rosario Martinez took the service elevator back down to the linens room and checked off on a computer screen that the towels had been delivered. She pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her uniform's pocket and approached the other maid who was reading a gossip magazine and sipping on an orange soda.
"Maria, estoy saliendo fuera a tener un cigarillo.*"
"Rosario! Son esas cosas vamos a matar un día!*" Marie hissed. Rosario chuckled and walked out of the back door to the back lot.
"Buenos noches!" She called back into the building.
"Buenos noches?" Maria looked up from her gossip rag, confused.
Rosario didn't stop to smoke however. Other than the security cameras outside, who knew how many other "eyes" were looking down on the entrances to the Ritz. She stepped out to Burgundy Street and then walked south onto Iberville Street and turned in to a dark, narrow, and cluttered alley between two businesses that never re-opened after Katrina. When she was well cloaked by the shadows Rosario suddenly wasn't Rosario anymore. She was a taller, bottle-blonde woman, and Rosario's petite sized uniform clung to her curves and the snap buttons at the bust popped open. The woman pulled a cell phone out of her pocket and dialed a number she knew well. She lit a cigarette as she waited for the other line to pick up.
"Oui?"
"Found him. He's alone now but the bitch has got the place covered."
"We need to draw him out."
"I think I've got that covered."
"You think?" the voice balked.
"You just be ready tomorrow. Okay?"
"Fine my little sorcière. I'll have things ready."
"Oh, and there's one more thing you need to know…" When she finished her conversation she snapped the phone closed and took a final drag from her cigarette. She dropped the still glowing butt and snuffed it out with the heel of her now too-tight sensible shoes.
"Thanks for the smokes." She said and tossed the pack down to the corner of the alley, and into the lap of the undressed, very still, very dead, real Rosario Martinez.
…
"Here, I got you something to drink." Amy said as she produced two large cups she got a bar serving drinks from a street side window on Bourbon Street.
"You know I can't have alcohol!" Biff hissed, but Amy smiled and took a sip of the slushied drink.
"It is a virgin daiquiri Allen. I did not forget that you are a teetotaler. However, we need to blend in and look like we are having a good time." Amy put her free arm through Biff's and guided him down Bourbon Street.
Biff would be lying if he said he wasn't having a good time. The lively music that was pumping out of the different venues made his pulse quicken with excitement and a smile slowly crept onto his face. But he could see why Amy might need a little help scouting the area from street level. So many sights, sounds, smells and colors were an assault on the senses. And unlike the bustling throng he was used to in New York, the crowds on Bourbon street didn't seem to mind the occasional stare or eye contact. They were met with smiles and salutes of poorly pronounced "Laissez le bon temps rouler!* " from sunburned and very drunk tourists. This made looking around for anything suspicious easier, because there was something to see everywhere you looked.
They came up empty on Bourbon and Royal Streets, so they walked on toward Jackson Square and on toward Decatur. Finally they decided to stop when they reached the boardwalk that ran along beside the Mississippi River. They both sat on a bench to take in the breeze and rest. A short ways off, they could see the steamboat Natchez which was lit up brilliantly even though it was done cruising for the night.
"Did you ever ride on one of those?" Biff asked in an attempt at pleasant conversation.
"Yes, but further up north, where people of my color were allowed on board as something other than second class citizens."
"So you had to deal with all that stuff I learned about in History. The segregation, prejudices..."
"Yes and no. Magnus and I spent many years abroad where one's color mattered little. And being a vampire had certain advantages as well." Amy sighed and turned to Biff. "Enough about me and my long boring life…"
"Oh I don't find it boring. Even though I don't ask many questions, whenever I hear you explaining something about your past… or history in general, to Frank or Phil, I find it really… interesting." Biff began to blush as he realized he was babbling.
"Oh, I see." Amy gave Biff a small smile. "Well, enough about the past then. You are a young man Allen, surely you do not plan on working in a gym your whole life. And I cannot imagine there being any profit to be found in slaying."
"Actually, I'm saving up my money to buy out the owner someday, or open a gym of my own. I'd be three quarters of the way there if Buddy could buy out my half of Papa's farm. But he and Sherman aren't in a place financially to do that. Firefighters and elementary school teachers don't get paid that much."
"You and your cousin could sell the farm and split the revenue."
"No, we want to keep the farm in the family. And Buddy and Sherman would love to move in someday and start a family."
"How much do you need to make things even between the two of you?"
"About… oh, no way, I'm not telling you. I know you've got pretty deep pockets, but I don't need your charity. Papa would roll over in his grave if he knew I took money from a vampire."
"Charity? That is ridiculous…"
"Oh come off it! Do you really expect me to believe that Phil closed on that house as quickly as he did without your help? I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but I'm not stupid!"
"No one ever said you were stupid, at least not I. I have seen you in action, it takes a sharp wit to strategize and fight the way you do. I respect that."
"You… respect me?"
"Yes, I do. You are just too blinded by your own prejudices to see it." She stood from the bench and straightened the wrinkles in her dress. "It is getting late. Let us head back the way we came. You need your rest so you can explore the city with Frank tomorrow."
She noticed Biff was just staring at her, and her mouth actually went a little dry when she recognized the look in his eyes.
"Allen?" Biff didn't realize he had been staring and stood quickly.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan." He tossed his empty drink cup into the trash bin by the bench and gave Amy his arm.
"This way milady?" Biff asked as she entwined her elbow in his and they headed back toward Jackson square.
…
Author's Note:
*Spanish: "Maria, I'm going outside to have a cigarette." "Rosario! Those things are going to kill you someday!"
*French: Let the good times roll!