Mischief in New Orleans Read online

  Mischief in New Orleans

  Lucy Quinn

  Copyright © 2019 by Lucy Quinn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  Cover by Lewellen Designs

  Editing by Angie Ramey

  Contents

  About This Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  About the Author

  Also by Lucy Quinn

  About This Book

  There's trouble brewing in New Orleans. When Evie and Dora arrive in the French Quarter, eager to secure the evidence that will clear Dora's name, they walk right into the middle of a murder... one nobody else seems to think happened. Now Dora and Evie have to put their plans for freedom on hold as they search for the package containing the evidence they need. While pretending to be women they aren't and planning a parade they don't want to be in, the dynamic duo uncover some unsavory characters who need to be stopped before more innocent people die. With an adorable dog by their side, a crazy mardi gras krewe, and plenty of beignets, it's up to them to solve the crime before they become the next targets.

  1

  Emergency lights flashed in Dora’s eyes, nearly blinding her. The chatter of the tourists in the French Quarter faded away as her stomach dropped from the bombshell that had just landed at her feet. She and her best friend Evie had driven from Pensacola to New Orleans to find Gertie Bonatelli and the evidence they needed to clear Dora of a murder charge, only to get there just in time for the woman to be wheeled out on a stretcher… dead as a doornail. This couldn’t be happening to them. “Marco,” she breathed. “He got to her, didn’t he?”

  “What?” Evie asked, turning to her friend, her eyes wide.

  “We brought this on her, Evie. Oh my god. This is our fault. He must’ve found out where we sent the Buddha and got here first.” Only days ago, Dora and Evie had dropped a flash drive full of embezzling evidence into a Buddha piggy bank that was mailed to Gertie Bonatelli. They were there to pick it up and drive it back to Pensacola where they could turn it in and take down Dora’s old employer while simultaneously clearing her from a murder charge. Without that flash drive, Dora was in serious trouble.

  “Dora,” Evie said with a hushed but stern voice. “How could he know?”

  “What if he got to Billy?” she asked, referring to the mailman who’d been kidnapped and held hostage after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. “Or Luke?” she choked out. “They both knew where we were headed.”

  Evie was quiet for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. Finally, she said, “Well, we can’t be sure that’s what happened. And since that Buddha might still be in her apartment, it’s time to find out.” Evie pushed back her untamed curly blond hair, took a deep breath, and straightened her slender frame as she widened her big blue eyes to take on a completely different persona. She cried, “Great Aunt Gertie is dead! How? Why? What happened?”

  “Aunt Gertie?” a small, older woman asked, placing a delicate hand on Evie’s arm. Her long hair hung down her back in a beautiful sheet of silver and she had sparkling, kind blue eyes. Her rich violet tunic would’ve been stylish if she hadn’t paired it with sweat pants and lime green Crocs. The woman needed a makeover in the worst way. And if Dora was noticing her poor fashion choices, it had to be bad. “Nieces? Really? I didn’t know Gertie had any relatives.”

  Evie clutched the leash of Sunshine, her small bichon frise, with one hand and dabbed under her eyes with her fingertips. “We meant to surprise her, but now…” She let out a sob and buried her face into Dora’s shoulder.

  Dora instinctively threw her arms around her friend and whispered, “What are you doing?”

  “We need a place to stay and time to find that Buddha. What do you think I’m doing?” she muttered back. Evie pulled herself out of Dora’s arms. “Can you believe it? If I hadn’t insisted we make that last stop at Cherry Poppers, we might have made it in time before Gertie”—she sobbed again—“Before she went to meet the big man in the sky.”

  “Cherry Poppers?” the woman asked, her own eyes going wide. “You mean that adult shop off of I-10? Why would you two girls need to stop there? Two lovely ladies like yourselves must have men lined up around the corner. Unless you’re… um, not into that sort of thing.”

  Dora groaned. Why had Evie mentioned the sex toy shop they’d noticed from the freeway? She could’ve mentioned any number of businesses, but no, her friend just had to go there. “No ma’am. We both have boyfriends.” It was a small lie. While Evie had a beau, Dora only had the possibility of one if they could find the flash drive they’d mailed to Gertie a few days ago that held the proof Dora needed to clear her name. “Evie just wanted some party favors for Bourbon Street.”

  The woman nodded as if Dora’s explanation made perfect sense.

  “But we won’t need those penis headbands now,” Evie wailed. “Not with Gertie gone.” Tears magically filled Evie’s eyes, and one fell down her cheek. “I just can’t believe it. What happened?”

  The older woman shook her head. “We don’t know yet. I went by to pick her up for our book club outing and I just… I found her crumpled on the floor. Maybe a heart attack. I don’t know. The paramedics won’t tell me anything.” She sniffled and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m so caught off guard I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Myrtle, Gertie’s bestie. Or I was…” Her voice trailed off, and tears filled the woman’s already red-rimmed eyes.

  Evie flung her arms around the woman. “I’m so sorry. This all must be so horrifying for you.”

  Myrtle let out a whimper of agreement and clutched at Evie, her entire body shaking with emotion.

  Dora watched as the paramedics slammed the doors closed on the back of the ambulance. In the next moment, the two first responders were back in the cab and the vehicle moved down the street. The two police cars followed, leaving nothing but a somber crowd.

  Still clinging to Myrtle, Evie said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do without Aunt Gertie. All I wanted to do tonight was curl up next to her and listen to all of her colorful stories.”

  Colorful stories? What was Evie going on about, Dora wondered. They didn’t even know the woman. What if she had been as boring as an accounting convention? She gave Evie another WTF look, but her friend didn’t acknowledge her. Sunshine on the other hand, moved to sit right next to Dora’s feet as she tilted her head and side-eyed her mistress. Even her dog was having trouble buying Evie’s act.

  Thankfully Myrtle had no such trouble. Her pained expression turned to one of sympathy. “Oh, you poor thing. Let me take you upstairs to her apartment. I’m sure it will comfort you both to be with all of the things she held dear.” Myrtle turned and headed for the building’s entrance. “Right this way, dears.”

  Evie gestured for Dora to follow and tugged gently on Sunshine’s leash.

  Do
ra felt slightly sick to her stomach. The idea of lying their way into a dead woman’s home didn’t sit well with her at all. But what choice did she have? She and Evie had to look for the USB drive that held the evidence of the money laundering her boss was involved in. Not even a week ago, Dora had accidentally stumbled on the files at work, and when her boss realized she was aware of their scheme, he tried to kill her. As they struggled, his gun went off, but instead of Dora taking the bullet, her boss, Steve Franklin, ended up with a fatal wound to the chest. After Dora realized he was dead, she panicked and ran from the scene. And when Franklin’s goons came after her, the evidence to support her alibi had been mailed to Gertie to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. If Dora wanted to go home again, she needed that evidence. She just hoped Marco, Steve’s son, hadn’t gotten to it first.

  “Dora!” Evie called from the front of the building. “Come on. Myrtle’s waiting.”

  Shoving her hands into the pockets of her capri pants, Dora hurried over to her friend, frowning. “Let’s just find the Buddha and get out of here.”

  “That’s the plan,” Evie said, nodding her agreement. “Bourbon Street doesn’t exactly sound that fun anymore under the circumstances.”

  Evie’s subdued tone told Dora her friend wasn’t exactly feeling all that great about having to lie to Myrtle either. And not for the first time, Dora admired Evie’s ability to power through any situation while playing any part she needed to in order to get the job done. It was truly amazing when Dora stopped and really thought about it. Usually Dora found herself tongue-tied when she was forced to act on the fly.

  When they stopped before an apartment door on the third floor, Myrtle eyed them and said, “Gertie was my best friend, and I can’t believe she never let on that she had any relatives. Did she have a falling out with your parents or something?”

  Dora stiffened. This was it. Myrtle had her suspicions. And who could blame her?

  Evie opened her mouth to no doubt explain away the reasons Gertie never talked about her family, but Myrtle cut her off and said, “Never mind.” The lock on the door clicked open as she turned the key she had on her keychain. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just so glad you’re here now.” She turned and clutched at Evie’s arm. “You two are the only ones I have left of her.”

  Dora slowly let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “I’d love to hear the stories you two shared sometime.” If they had to con their way into a stranger’s apartment just after she died, the least they could do was offer her friend comfort, right? “I’m sure you two got up to all kinds of mischief.”

  Myrtle gave Dora a shaky smile. “That we did.” Her voice cracked, and she dabbed at her right eye. “Maybe a little later. I’m feeling a little… shaken right now.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” Evie said, her voice low and full of sympathy. “I just don’t know what I’d do without Dora.” She met Dora’s eyes and emotion passed through the two friends.

  Dora felt tears sting the backs of her eyes as she thought about how she’d feel if anything ever happened to her bestie. She blinked, putting the thought right out of her head. There’s no use inviting trouble, she told herself.

  “Well…” Myrtle gave them a weak smile. “I’m so happy I’ve met Gertie’s two nieces. It’s like having a piece of her here still.” Myrtle reached out and grabbed a hand from both of them. Squeezing she added, “I think I’m going to go back to my apartment. You two settle in here. It’s what Gertie would’ve wanted. Just don’t mind the mess.” Myrtle gave them a weak smile. “She never really was great at organization.”

  The older woman slipped out of the apartment, her head bent and her shoulders slumped, leaving Dora and Evie alone in the cluttered space.

  Dora glanced around and winced. There were unopened packages stacked haphazardly in three different places on the floor, while small jewelry boxes that appeared to be from the 1920s filled a glass china cabinet along with glass Christmas ornaments, Fabergé eggs, silver spoons, mis-matched china, and other nominally valuable trinkets. Dolls, three rows deep, were lined up on the nearby credenza, while a large cardboard box of what appeared to be vintage shoes took up the space beside it. “Gertie looks like she might’ve been a hoarder.”

  “Nah. I don’t think so,” Evie said, shaking her head as she spun in a slow circle. “It’s too organized for that. A liquidator or secondhand-shop owner maybe?”

  Sunshine, who had been running around the small space sniffing everything, came to an abrupt stop in front of a smaller cardboard box. She nudged it with her nose and let out a tiny whimper.

  “What did you find, girl?” Dora asked, crouching to peek inside, praying there wasn’t anything moving in there. When she spotted the sparkling collars, she barked out a laugh and pulled out a pink one. “Leave it to you to sniff out the bling within minutes.”

  Evie hurried over to them and scooped her pup up into her arms. Grinning, she smooched the pooch on the head and said, “You’re such a good girl, Sunshine. But let’s not do pink. Too obvious. You need something that’s more out of character.”

  “Huh? You love putting her in pink stuff.”

  “She needs a disguise, doesn’t she, Dora? Anyone who knows us will think that’s the obvious choice. But I say we go with the black one. Sunshine has never worn that color before.”

  Dora had to refrain from rolling her eyes. She was pretty sure no dog collar, no matter what color it was, would deter anyone who might be looking for them. It wasn’t as if the collar covered her face. But instead of arguing, Dora shrugged. Evie was being Evie, and that was part of the reason that Dora loved her.

  “Come here, baby.” Evie clutched Sunshine with one hand and dug around in the box with the other until she found a black collar. The light from the window hit the crystals, and Dora’s eyes watered from the flash of the reflection.

  “Well, as long as we’re in the sun, there’s always the potential our enemies will be blinded,” Dora quipped.

  “That’s the spirit.” Evie smiled at her. “Now, let’s find that Buddha before Myrtle comes back and realizes we’re trespassing.”

  Dora groaned. “Do you have to call it that?”

  “What else am I going to call it?” Evie asked.

  “I don’t know. Visiting? Investigating? I really don’t like to think of myself as breaking the law. It gives me hives.”

  Evie giggled. “I know, my straight-and-narrow friend. But don’t worry. We’ve got this. Ten minutes, tops, and we’ll be back on the road to Luke-land.”

  If only. Dora frowned and muttered, “Famous last words.”

  2

  Gertie Bonatelli’s apartment was full of treasure. While the clutter was overwhelming, Evie could’ve stayed there forever going through the woman’s collection of unusual things. “What do you think, Dora?” Evie slipped a pair of compression socks into the pink rhinestone-covered bra she was wearing and lifted up her fake boobs with two hands. “Think they’ll let me be the queen of one of the Mardi Gras parades if I wear this?”

  Dora, who was holding a Santa Pez dispenser glanced up. Her dark eyes crinkled in humor. “Only if you lose the T-shirt and get a bra that actually fits you. Who was that made for, Dolly Parton?”

  Evie glanced down at the note inside the box where she’d uncovered the garment. “Actually…”

  “You’re kidding?” Dora gently placed the rare Pez dispenser down and hurried to Evie’s side. Her dark hair was swept up in a messy bun, and she had dust on her khaki capris and plain white T-shirt. Evie couldn’t help but want to order her to lose the dull-girl get-up and put on something that would show off her curves, but what did it matter since they were rummaging around Gertie’s apartment?

  “Not kidding. I think that dress belonged to her, too. Check out how small it is in the waist.” Evie waved a hand at the garment rack full of outrageous costumes.

  “Whoa,” Dora said, running her hand down a beaded white jumpsuit. “This looks lik
e something Cher would’ve worn.”

  “Try it on!” Evie urged. “You’d look great in that.”

  Dora blinked at her friend. “No, I wouldn’t. Besides, I wouldn’t be caught dead in this. The beads only cover the nipples and the rest of the top is sheer.”

  “I know.” Evie sighed, staring lovingly at the garment. She’d always wanted to be a model, but since she was height challenged, it wasn’t meant to be. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

  “Evie,” Dora said, dragging her name out. “We’re supposed to be looking for the Buddha. Or did you forget?”

  “Of course not.” She waved a hand at the pile of packages in front of her. “I was just taking a short break and dreaming about how wonderful it would be to own this stuff. Think of how much more fabulous I’d be with all these treasures.”

  Dora rolled her eyes, but gave her friend a soft smile. “You couldn’t be more fabulous if you tried. Now, enough with the daydreaming. We’re on a mission.”

  Evie grimaced. “You’re right. We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to sift through all of this stuff.”

  “I’ll take the living room, you check the bedroom,” Dora said, already turning to continue sifting through the packages.

  Evie reluctantly slipped out of the Dolly Parton bra and shuffled into the bedroom. The only surface that wasn’t covered in stuff was the large king-size bed. Evie longed to crawl under the covers and take a nap, but instead she walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the French Quarter. All different kinds of people milled around the street below. Everyone was so alive. It was a feeling Evie craved, and she itched to be a part of it all.