It occurred to me that I still didn’t know who the Brotherhood was, but it didn’t seem my place to ask just then.

  “The Brotherhood is on their own side, Maddy,” Miss Beauregard said in a huff. “And I thought I had told you that Madame Laveau claims the Brotherhood means to do something horrible.”

  “Madame Laveau!” Slidell spat. “That old hairdresser? You’re taking your orders from her now, then?”

  “Look,” Miss Beauregard said, “this city is going to fall one way or the other and you know it—”

  “No, we do not,” Slidell retorted.

  “—Even General Lovell knows it,” Miss Beauregard continued, unperturbed. “Troops and guns and horses and whatnot are all fixing to skedaddle. This city is lost to the Confederacy until someone’s husband,” I noticed her glance toward Madame Beauregard, “finds the time to come take it back. When he does, I wish him a great victory, I truly do, but right now the city is done and the Brotherhood, from what I hear, have some crazy plan to burn the city so the Union can’t have it.”

  “That may be,” Madame Beauregard said, speaking for the first time and in a wispy voice, “but what do you want from us?”

  “Word about the goings on of the Brotherhood are scarce as a hen’s teeth,” Miss Beauregard said. “I was hoping you might have some idea where they might be meeting up these days. That’s it. Point these boys in the right direction and help me save your city.”

  “No reason to get all bowed up,” Madame Slidell said. “If you want to send these boys to their death, that’s fine with me. Only, no one knows where they all meet up, anyhow.”

  “Well, all I’m asking is that we talk about it,” Miss Beauregard said. She took a seat in an ornate chair by one of the two large windows. “No harm in that, now is there?”

  I wondered if we were meant to sit, but Greene did not budge. The servant arrived with two china cups, full of coffee, set onto two small plates. I could only assume they could have offered cream and sugar, but they did not, so I did not ask.

  The three women chattered on for the next couple hours while we stood by, silent. They gossiped about all the comings and goings of various families. They discussed the scandals concerning which members of which families had been seen with which members of other families. Interspersed throughout, I heard them mention the abandoned properties of northern families. Some had been broken into and looted by the “rougher elements” of the city, some had been carefully protected by General Lovell, and yet others had become barracks for Confederate soldiers. A few had even been gifted by the mayor to loyal Southern families.

  At no time, during the entire discussion, did any of the ladies reference us in any way. I also noted that they never discussed the witch we sought. Greene and I simply stood there, knees and feet aching, while they prattled on about the wealthy families of New Orleans. I found it necessary to shift from time to time to avoid letting my legs fall asleep, but I also tried to do so as little as possible so that I would not appear to be fidgeting.

  “All right, then,” Miss Beauregard stated, “I think that gives us a good place to start.”

  Not a single word had been spoken which seemed in any way related to our mission.

  “I thank you ladies for the fine hospitality,” Greene said with a slight bow. “Please, don’t trouble yourselves on our account.”

  I bowed as well, but remained silent. Miss Beauregard rushed us out of the sitting room and back to the cloak room. The two ladies did not acknowledge our departure.

  “Probably best you remain in the trousers I gave you, but put your coats on,” she said. “You gentlemen are going to take me on a tour of the city, see if we can find a sinister looking spot.”

  “I don’t suppose we could get something to eat, Ellie?” Greene asked, and I was glad he did. The cook Golis had supplied had been baking bread when we’d left. We’d had nothing of sustenance except the one small cup of coffee.

  “Oh lord, I’m so sorry,” she replied. “Come on, let’s fill up those breadbaskets. Normally we’re a lot more hospitable down here. . . well Addy, you know. . . but today you are the enemy in a city that’s about to fall.”

  Chapter 23: The Search

  “A

  ll right, Ellie, I’d like to start with the Henderson, Wilmot, and Anthony residences,” Greene said as we left through the servant’s door. I recognized the names from the conversation, but could not recall any details about them.

  “Sir, is there a chance we can stop by to check on the men?” I asked.

  “No time, Alex,” Greene replied. “We wasted an enormous amount of time just getting here. There’s no telling when Farragut’s sailing in here, and we’ve got to stop whatever it is the Brotherhood is planning before the Union Navy arrives.”

  “This way,” Miss Beauregard said, and led us up a street, further away from the water.

  “Addison, that’s another question that’s been sitting with me,” I said.

  “Well, just look who’s getting all familiar,” Miss Beauregard said, and she cast a smirk in my direction.

  “You’re wondering why we’re chasing down the Brotherhood, whose importance we have not explained, when we’ve spent all this time chasing your witch,” Greene said. I chilled at his use of the word your.

  “Yes. You made a great speech about how we were going to get revenge for Conyers, and Parker and Garland as well, in a way,” I said. “I thought stopping her, by whatever means, had become the purpose of this company. I thought—”

  “Our purpose is, and has always been, to fight the evil that pokes its head out when the world’s gone mad,” Greene said. “That’s what you told the men, isn’t it? And you were right, because that’s what I told you, isn’t it? Before now, even I only knew of the Brotherhood through rumors, but if they’re the evil that Madame Laveau is worried about, then that’s the evil we’ve got to face. And I’ll bet my hat our witch is involved somehow.”

  “But if we have no idea what she’s up to, how are we to know what kind of trap she’s set for us?” I asked.

  “We can only solve one crisis at a time,” Greene said.

  “I declare, you two squabble like an old married couple,” Miss Beauregard said. “The first house is up this way.”

  She turned us up a wide street, which was lined with impressive mansions. Confederate soldiers raced about on horses, in wagons, or marched in formation. Few citizens seemed to be venturing about in the chaos. Thankfully, no one gave us a second look.

  “Last question,” I said.

  “Oh lord, I hope so,” Greene replied.

  “Madame Laveau?”

  “Yes, I should have discussed her with you more before we came here,” Greene answered. He grimaced and took a moment to think. “She’s a local, well. . .”

  “She’s a Voodoo priestess,” Miss Beauregard said.

  “Voodoo?”

  “Yes, Voodoo,” she repeated. “Here’s the Anthony House.”

  My inquiry ended as we inspected the mansion. The mansion had been identified as one of the abandoned northerner estates that might have been commandeered for the purposes of the Brotherhood.

  As we approached, we witnessed Confederate soldiers stomping in and out of the house. They carried out all the furniture, fabrics, lamps, paintings, clothing, and anything else they could get their hands on. The Confederacy was appropriating the property of their northern enemy before they vacated the city.

  “Well, I don’t think they’d be in there,” Greene said.

  “I’d ask if there’s no decency, but I do suppose there is a war going on,” Miss Beauregard said with a sigh. “There are another half dozen or so houses up this way. I can’t imagine we’ll have any luck, but, perhaps, if one of them is not being looted, that might be a sign.”

  We hustled past the bedlam of the Anthony House and continued.

  “Madame Laveau?” I repeated. “Voodoo?”

  “Oh yes, Voodoo is sort of the local religion down here,” Greene said.

  “Some think it’s a sort of magic,” Miss Beauregard said. “Whatever it is, Madame Marie Laveau always seems to know what’s going on in the city, and a lot of the coloreds treat her as a sort of spiritual leader. She does seem to have horse sense, and she’s never led me astray. I figure if we could find her just now, we wouldn’t be piddlin’ all over town looking for a needle in a haystack.”

  “You say she’s never led you astray,” Greene replied. “And I’ve had the same experience, thus far. Hell, I took it on her word that we put our company in a secure place, despite Alex’s objections. But if she’s dealing with forces from the other side, well, it doesn’t matter if she has a heart of pure gold and wits to match. She’ll pay the price someday, you mark my words.”

  Neither of us had a reply, and the conversation ended.

  For hours, we wandered up and down the streets of New Orleans, focusing on the places the ladies had discussed. We examined abandoned homes, markets, schools, theaters, and even a couple of old, rotting cotton mills. We went along the entire north bank of the river, looking for any empty shops or warehouses. Some places had soldiers rushing about in a panic; barracks which were being vacated. Some had been abandoned. Those took more time as we searched them for signs of activity. A few of the great mansions had new owners. Those, Miss Beauregard assured us, had been deemed unworthy of attention by the sisters. Greene seemed unconvinced, so I suggested we could return to them if we found no better candidates.

  Around midday, we snuck back into the kitchen at Slidell’s house for some vittles.

  In the afternoon, we explored a few more mansions and edged westward through where the banks and exchanges were located. We saw a prison that was still in service and appeared normal, as well as a couple active orphanages that Greene expressed interest in. None showed any signs of sinister activity.

  We’d circled back to the waterfront in the early evening, moving along the docks toward the Old Prison where we’d left the company.

  “So that’s it, Ellie?” Greene asked, disheartened and choleric. “Those are all the ideas you and those fine southern ladies came up with?”

  “That’s all of them,” Miss Beauregard replied. “I suppose, as you said, Alex, that now we’ll have to go back through the Yankee houses that were gifted away. Good chance we’ll rile folks up if we don’t play it just right. I say we head back to the Slidell House, grab a root, and call it a night. Maybe I’ll pick those ladies' brains some more on those families that have found themselves a mansion.”

  “I’ll be happy for us to sit out of that conversation, if you don’t mind,” Greene said to my relief. “Are those really the only two orphanages in the city? Just one for boys, one for girls?”

  “Well, there’s a much bigger one further out, way off in the outskirts, moved there years ago when they found themselves with too many girls,” Miss Beauregard said. “But it’s miles out, you were rather specific we were looking in the city, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, I was,” Greene replied. “Whatever it is that someone’s doing, it only follows that they’d do it inside the city if they wanted to wreak havoc on the Union Navy. Besides, I don’t think we have the time to trudge all the way out there to take a look.”

  “You said moved?” I asked. Both stopped walking.

  “You did say that, Ellie, didn’t you?” Greene asked. “Moved from where?”

  “Oh my, I did, didn’t I?” Miss Beauregard replied. “Well, I’m talking about the Poydras Asylum, an orphanage for young girls, but they got too big and moved to a much bigger estate out in the country a little before the war.”

  “Where was this?” Greene said, animated.

  “Just back yonder, between Lafayette Square and Tivoli Circle,” Miss Beauregard said. “At Julia Street and Saint Charles. The Campbells own it now and built a mansion in place of the old West Indies style home. But then Mr. Campbell, who’s a surgeon, headed out with the Confederate Army. Come to think of it, Caroline and Matty mentioned no one had seen Mrs. Campbell or her four children- no, five, they just had a baby- for some time.”

  “Dammit, Ellie, that’s it, I know it!” Greene said and turned about to march back. “We were just there!”

  “Lieutenant Greene,” I said in a tone which was not deferential. “The company is just up this road. We will check on them, sir, and then we will go take a look.”

  He spun back to regard me, rage on his face, but said nothing for a few, long moments. His look drained away, he nodded, and a slight smile grew on his lips.

  “Quite right, Alex, quite right,” he said. “Moreover, we may as well take them with us on this one. It’s the place.”

  “How can y’all be sure?” Miss Beauregard asked. “It’s just another building, same as the others we’ve seen.”

  “It’s the place,” Greene said. “An abundance of young virgins, centered in the city, transplanted just before the war. I’ll sell the devil my soul if some number of those girls never made it to the new orphanage.”

  “But Poydras House is a good place, that’s taken good care of those girls for decades,” Miss Beauregard said, sounding offended. “And anyway, the Campbells just completely rebuilt it.”

  “I don’t dispute that,” Greene said. “And I’m sure the new Poydras House still is. But the forces we face take pleasure in corrupting the good and, actually, the fact it’s been rebuilt makes me even more suspicious. Great opportunity to hide something nefarious in a reconstruction. And the fact they haven’t seen that family. . . they’re either complicit, hostages, or dead.”

  “Ma’am, may I ask what yer doin’ out and about with these Yanks?”

  I hadn’t heard the man approach and, by their shocked expressions, the other two in my party hadn’t either. A bearded, gray coated man walked towards us from an alleyway with a rifle leveled at us.

  “Yanks?” she replied with indignation and a smile. “Heavens to Betsy, no, my good man, I appreciate your concern, but these men are my protection. Can’t be too careful with the Union on our doorstep. I know our boys will whup them something fierce, but you know how crazy folk can get when there’s a fight nearby.”

  “I would say that lies do not become a Southern lady, but we all know the truth of that particular matter, don’t we?”

  The voice that spoke those words ignited both lust and rage within me. The honeyed voice carried a much more sinister undertone than it had when I’d encountered her in the swamp. The witch stood in the dark shadows of an alleyway between two shops, yet she glowed with the same unnatural light I’d seen before. Though my memory told me I’d found her beautiful, she now seemed as pale as a corpse and just as appealing.

  Greene ripped the rifle from the soldier’s hands and drove the butt back into the man’s face with a loud crack.

  “Ellie, run for it!” he shouted. He spun the rifle in his hands and pointed it at the witch. “Alex, get her into the prison!”

  As he fired point blank into the woman, I pulled my Navy pistol out with one hand and grabbed Miss Beauregard’s arms with the other. She shrugged me off and broke into an awkward run along the docks and shops toward the square where the old prison lay.

  I hesitated for a brief moment to see what the shot had done to the witch, but Greene ran into me and shoved me along. Other than the new black hole in her midsection, she seemed unaffected. She formed a grim smile and stayed in place.

  “Come on, you fool!” Greene shouted. I heard the stomp of boots behind us as I broke into a run.

  The sound of gunfire pierced the air and we charged up the street.

  “Left, up Toulouse!” Miss Beauregard shouted. Looking ahead, I found the reason. A group of Confederate militia had collected in the great square south of the prison.

  Greene’s Colt Dragoon pistol barked, a sound I’d come to recognize.

  Miss Beauregard let out a piercing shriek and stopped running. As I approached, I found her clutching her side and trying to limp forward. I ducked under an arm, wrapped my arm around her, and carried her up Toulouse Street. Greene caught up a moment later and propped himself under her other arm. Within a few short steps, we lifted her off the ground and raced onward.

  We turned on Chartres Street and found our way clear to the prison entrance. Musket fire ceased as we turned the corner on our pursuers. Greene and I found a steady cadence and picked up our pace.

  The metal gate of the prison’s stone archway had been blasted from its hinges, but a blockade of furniture, wagons, and barrels now lay across the entrance. As we closed on the barrier, I noted, with curiosity, that no enemy troops or cannon dwelled anywhere near the prison. I understood the reason even as I accepted that escaping inside was our only option.

  “It’s Lieutenant Greene and Sergeant Phillips, don’t shoot!” Greene called out. “And we’ve got an injured woman here, help us out!”

  Shots rang out from the square and zipped by us as Greene and I pushed Miss Beauregard over the makeshift barricade. My feet slipped twice on loose material, and our hands wound up in places that would have horrified me in any other circumstances.

  I heard footsteps from behind announce the approach of our pursuers.

  A shotgun appeared over the top of the barricade and blasted over our heads. Greene and I heaved Miss Beauregard up with everything we had. Finally, she was grabbed from the other side and hauled over. We scrambled over as well.

  “I’ll be honest, Alex, I didn’t think we’d make it,” Greene said, as we collapsed on the other side.

  “I’m still not sure we will,” I replied. “I’d say we found the trap, and we just joined the company in it.”

  Chapter 24: The Siege

  B efore I’d caught my breath, Van Benthuysen announced “Here they come!”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25