Saving Savannah Read Free Page B

Lulu.
    The guy pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. “Do you like magic tricks, Katie? I always carry these in my pocket because I have a little boy your age who loves card tricks.”
    Katie nodded enthusiastically.
    He began to deal them both cards and explain some game to Katie in a low voice. It soon became obvious why. He was giving his aunt time to get Savannah in her crosshairs.
    “Girl .  . .” Tante Lulu started to say.
    At first, Savannah didn’t realize she was talking to her. At twenty-nine, she couldn’t remember the last time anyone had referred to her that way. And sometimes she felt so tired, she could be ninety-nine.
    “Are you in trouble?” Tante Lulu continued.
    “What? Why would you ask that?”
    “Because St. Jude, he’s tappin’ on my shoulder ta beat the band.”
    She’d always wanted to be a private dick .  . .
    “DID YOU GET her license number?” Tante Lulu asked Tee-John as the red Subaru peeled out of the parking lot.
    “Yep.”
    “What kin you find out about her?”
    “Pretty much everything.”
    “Her address?”
    “Usually, except I’m thinkin’ she lives in that car.”
    Tante Lulu gasped. “Why wouldja say that?”
    “All the signs are there. Looks like everything they own is in that car. Bed rolls and pillows. Labeled plastic boxes. Toiletries. Clothes. Shoes. Toys. Stuff like that.”
    “Thass awful. If she has a waitress job, why wouldn’t she have a place ta live, even if it ain’t real nice? And if she’s short of cash ta pay fer an apartment, why wouldn’t she stay at the homeless shelter?”
    “She’s probably afraid of losing her daughter. Plus, I’d bet my left nut—I mean, my left arm that’s she’s on the run.”
    “From what?”
    “Don’t know, but I’ll find out. Guar-an-teed.”
    “I gave her my bizness card, in case she’s in trouble.”
    “You have a business card?”
    “’Course, I do. I need it fer my traiteur bizness. It has the St. Jude prayer printed on the back.”
    “That should help Savannah.”
    He probably didn’t know that she could recognize sarcasm when it hit her in the face. What an idjet! “Yer darn tootin’ it will.”
    Then she said a little prayer in her head. We got us a mission, Jude . At least, she thought she’d said it in her head.
    But then, Tee-John said, “Jist don’t be draggin’ me inta any more of your acts of mercy. Last time I ended up bailin’ you out of the slammer.”
    “I dint ask you ta help. In fact, I was havin’ fun. You meet all kinds of interestin’ folks in jail, y’know?”
    John’s jaw dropped, as it often did when in the company of his wacky great-aunt. I know! I’m a cop. I deal with those “interestin’” folks every day.
    “The food ain’t so good, though. I tol’ the captain he needs ta find a cook what knows how to make a good roux. The gumbo was downright disgustin’.”
    Rolling his eyes, John cautioned, “You need to slow down, auntie. Relax and enjoy yer golden years!” Like that is ever gonna happen. Even so, Tante Lulu was getting old, and he hated the idea of her overdoing and ending up in a hospital or worse. She was precious to him and all his family, despite her interfering, outrageous ways. Probably because of those interfering, outrageous ways.
    “Pfff! There ain’t nuthin’ golden about creakin’ bones and farts what slip out without warnin’.”
    He chuckled before he had a chance to catch himself.
    “Besides, I like helpin’ people.”
    “Even when they don’t want yer help?”
    “Specially when they doan want my help. Those are the ones needin’ me most. Wait, wait, wait. Doan be in such a rush.”
    What now? He was steering her toward their parked car in hopes of getting out of Nawleans before noontime.
    “I tol’ you I need ta go to the Voodoo Palace over on Dumaine Street.”
    He’d been hoping she would forget. As he drove them over, he asked, “What herbs are you missing? I thought you had every weed and plant that