“That was just a little slip of the tongue,” Angelique replied with a small laugh. “I’m getting nightly reports from him on where the investigation is going. But enough about that, we’re going to go and enjoy our breakfast together.”
“If Monique ever gets here. I swear that girl is always late,” Dominique said.
“Hey, I heard that,” Monique said as she stepped out of the green vegetation and approached where the other two stood.
Within minutes, the three of them were in Angelique’s car and headed into town. She tried to keep the conversation light while she drove and thankfully her sisters followed her lead.
They had all grieved long and hard in the days following the murder, but life moved on and now it was time to move forward in the best way they possibly could. That’s what their mother would have wanted for the three of them.
It didn’t take too long before the three of them were seated in a booth in the café. The café was an attractive place withpink bougainvillea flowers painted on one wall, majestic tupelo trees rising out of sunlit waters on another wall and the colorful storefronts of Main Street on a third wall.
It was also the most popular place in town. It was where everyone came for good food at a reasonable price and, most important of all, the latest gossip.
“Good morning, ladies.” Sunny Herbert greeted them with a warm smile. Angelique knew the blonde waitress and Dominique were close friends. “You don’t get enough of this place working here?” she teased Dominique.
“Unfortunately, this is the only place in town to get a good breakfast,” Dominique replied.
“Good answer,” Sunny said with another one of her bright smiles. “So, what can I get for you all?”
The three placed their orders. Angelique got a cheese omelet, Dominique got the French toast and Monique ordered pancakes. They all got their coffees and then small-talked as they waited for their food to arrive.
Monique worked at a dress boutique in town, and she talked about who had been in and who had bought what in the past couple of days. It was always fun to hear who had shopped and who Monique had made sales to.
As they talked, Angelique was aware of the curious glances that came from the other diners in the place. This was the first time the three of them had been out together in public since their mother’s funeral. Of course, they had always garnered curious gazes since they were the voodoo queen’s daughters.
Their food arrived and for a couple of minutes they fell silent as they focused on eating. They were halfway through the meal when Lucinda Reese stopped by their table.
Lucinda was one of the wealthy in town. She was in her sixties and from the top of her perfectly coiffed hair to the bottom of her expensive shoes, she looked like money.
She was one of the clients who Mystique would meet at her house. There was no way a woman like Lucinda could make the trek through the swamp to see the voodoo queen.
“I just wanted to stop by and give you all my sympathies,” she said. “Unfortunately, I was out of town on the day of her funeral and didn’t get a chance to give my condolences.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reece,” Angelique replied.
“Your mother not only helped me with some personal issues, but I also considered her my friend. Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your meal now.” She didn’t wait for a reply, but instead rejoined three other women who were seated at a four-top table nearby.
Angelique knew Daniel had spoken to Lucinda about the murder. There was no way Angelique could believe that the older woman had murdered her mother. But maybe she wanted Mystique’s book so nobody would ever know the reason for her visits. Maybe she’d paid somebody to kill Mystique and steal the book.
Aware of her thoughts leading her down a dark road, she focused again on the conversation her sisters were having.
The rest of the meal went by with no more interruptions. They finished up and paid and left a nice tip for Sunny, then they got back in the car and headed home.
“We all agreed we’d let you be the voice for all of us as far as the investigation went. So, what have you heard from Chief LeCroix?” Monique asked from the back seat as Angelique was driving them home.
She filled them in on what Daniel and his team had been doing for the past week and then brought up the missing book. “Is it possible Mama carried it to one of your homes and she accidentally left it there?”
“I’ve seen the book in Mama’s bedroom before, but I don’t think I have it at my house,” Dominique said. “But I’ll look around to make sure it isn’t there.”
“I don’t think I have it, either,” Monique added.
“Is it possible whoever killed Mama took the book?” Dominique asked.
“I think it’s very possible,” Angelique replied. “Anyway, you’re all caught up now, and I’ll let you know what’s happens with the investigation as it goes on.”
By that time, they were back at the swamp entrance. Angelique parked and they got out of the car and headed into the thick vegetation they all called home.
When they reached Monique’s shanty, Angelique gave her youngest sister a big hug. Monique clung to her for a long moment and then the two released each other. “Call me tomorrow?” Angelique said.
