at her for a long moment. “I am so sorry for your loss. My apologies if I’ve upset you by bringing up her name, her having so recently left us.” He crossed himself.
“No, it’s fine. You just… surprised me.” Ava Mae leaned forward. “Did you know my mother then?”
A slight smile brought up the corners of his mouth. “I did, but it was rare I got to see her. Those house companions of hers—”
“Lally and Augustine?”
He nodded. “They never cared much for me. Said I was a bad influence.”
If they thought that, he is.
Ava Mae frowned. “You were a bad influence on my mother? How?”
He grinned. “I’ll tell you, but if you tell Augustine you’ve met me, he isn’t going to like it.”
“I won’t say a word.” Anyone Lally and Augustine didn’t like instantly intrigued her. “Tell me.”
His smile broadened. “I’m what most would call a voodoo doctor. In truth, I am a follower and practitioner of the voodoo religion. Does that scare you?”
Harlow’s panic turned the taste in Ava Mae’s mouth bitter. Get away from him. Ava Mae blinked, her curiosity piqued by Harlow’s instant aversion to the man. “No. I’ve never met a real live voodoo man before. You’ve just become twice as interesting as you were a minute ago. What did you say your name was?”
He laughed. “Most people call me Father Ogun. But like I said, you can call me Rufus.”
“A real voodoo doctor?”
Rufus nodded. “I guarantee.”
A jumble of thoughts swirled in Ava Mae’s borrowed brain. A voodoo doctor might know how to silence Harlow for good. Ava Mae didn’t want to lose her sister, but the incessant chatter and constant battles for control of the body wore her down. If there was a way for Ava Mae to be assured of always having the upper hand, she would gladly take it.
The bitter taste in her mouth remained. Nothing good will come of this. Nothing.
Ava Mae pointed. “What’s that little pouch on your necklace?”
His hand went to the small red sack. “That’s my gris gris bag. Brings me luck. Keeps me peaceful. Draws good things to me.” He glanced at it, then at her. “Maybe you’re one of those things, hah?”
She smiled, thinking the same thing. “Maybe I am. Could you make one of those for me? Something that would protect me from those trying to harm me?”
Concern creased his face. “Of course, but my dear child, who on earth would want to harm you?”
She’d already been gone so long from the tree and even though she had a piece of it in her bag, she still felt uneasy at being away too much longer. She bit her lip. This wasn’t an opportunity she could afford to lose. “I have to get home soon. Maybe we could meet again? I’d love to talk with you some more. Ask your advice on a few things.”
He splayed his fingers against his chest. “I would be honored to help you out in whatever way I could. I’d be pleased to meet you again. Let’s make plans, shall we?”
Augustine followed Detective J.J. Grantham into his grandmother’s house, a neat and tidy single story. Here and there were a few signs of her voodoo involvement, but it was nothing like Father Ogun’s overwhelming collection. And instead of the powerful stench of incense, the warm embrace of freshly baked cookies greeted them. If this was the other side of voodoo, he could get real comfortable with it.
Grantham called out, “Mawmaw, it’s J.J. and I’ve got that friend with me I told you about.”
“In here, baby.”
They followed her voice into the kitchen. J.J. kissed her on the cheek, then introduced Augustine. “Mawmaw, this is Augustine Robelais. Augustine, this is my grandmother, Queen Jewelia Grantham.”
Augustine offered his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Queen Jewelia.” Grantham had prepped him on queen being the appropriate title for a woman of her position in the voodoo religion. “But you can’t be Detective Grantham’s grandmother. You barely look old enough to be his mother. More like his sister, I’d say.” None of which was a lie. The woman before him had flawless mocha skin, hair as thick and black as any he’d seen, and she held herself with the perfect carriage of youth. All of it seemed proof of her skills as a mambo.
She smiled and before shaking his hand, wiped hers on the apron covering her long blue dress. “If you’re trying to sweeten me up, J.J. has already told me to cooperate. But feel free to