LeOmi's Solitude Read Free Page B

above the horizon and a nipping wind was howling from the
north. The front door was a heavy solid structure, thicker than any
door she had ever seen. LeOmi entered, trying to look natural and
like she had been asked to come there.
    The building must have been a hundred years
old and whoever built it must have used un-tempered mortar on the
huge stone fireplace and chimney. The smell of old smoke struck her
as she entered the large open room. It must have leaked terribly.
There was an old coat of whitewash on the brick walls to try to
cover up the stains—but nothing would be able to remove the smell
and greasy smoke stains unless they pulled it all down and put new
in its place.
    There was a section of the carpet missing, a
rectangle that had been cut out. Within the hole there was her
mother’s bloodstain that had seeped through the carpet to the
cement slab. LeOmi could almost envision her mother lying there
with the life pouring out of her.
    A man’s voice came from another room.
    “There is no truth in this place.”
    LeOmi moved closer to the sounds, but made
sure to stay close to the wall. She could hear at least two people
moving around in the back of the building. They appeared to be just
walking and talking. At least one of the two was talking.
    “You would think that this place was a tavern
at one time by the look of it—but it has never been licensed for
that, although you can certainly tell that drinking is something
that goes on here, license or no.”
    Sergeant Polaris .
    LeOmi recognized the voice of the detective
who came to the house to talk with her father and Grand-Mère. Of
course there hadn’t been much to be said. No one knew where her
mother had gone. New Orleans was the last place that LeOmi had
thought she would be.
    What was she doing in a place like this?
    LeOmi listened for a clue to tell her who the
other person was. She only heard shuffling movements. She moved
closer to the doorway, keeping concealed and out of their field of
view.
    “Of course, New Orleans is an old place
anyway—fully ensconced in tradition and any number of other types
of ceremony.” The other person made no sound.
    “Why do you think she was killed
here...?”
    Now they both seemed to have stopped. “Why do
you ask me this Sergeant? I told you that she had returned here to
New Orleans on her own. I had nothing to do with it.”
    “I was told that she had been researching
something—having to do with...now how did she put it,” LeOmi could
hear note pad pages turning as he searched for the information that
he was looking for. “Sumerian Mythology, do you know anything about
that?”
    “Sergeant, I’m sure that I have no idea as to
what that is in referenced to.”
    “Yeah, I’m sure. Then I suppose that you were
also unaware that she had just returned from overseas. Calcutta to
be exact—I suppose that you know nothing about that either?” As the
Sergeant spoke his voice became louder and louder until it seemed
to boom.
    LeOmi heard the other man’s calm, well
educated but impatient voice, “I have told you Sergeant, I don’t
know anything about any of that. She had been gone for two weeks
when I got the call from your department.”
    What kind of accent is that?
    LeOmi could hear that they were walking
toward her.
    “Now if you are quite finished badgering me
with your questions, I will be going.” He didn’t see LeOmi; he was
so intent on getting out of the building. Sergeant Polaris stopped
upon entering the room that LeOmi was in but he called after the
man, “If you think of anything relevant let me know as soon as
possible.”
    Again, no words from the other man. He just
threw-up his right hand, not even bothering to turn around hurrying
to get out as if he had to get out of there or be eaten by a...what
did he say? … A badger.
    “Are you just going to let him walk out? He
looks guilty to me.”
    Sergeant Polaris turned to face LeOmi. “Well,
looky who’s here. It’s nice to know that