“Magic.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gaspar, Nine, Ghost, and Ian walked toward the tree where Irene seemed to be holding court with the reporters. Dozens of men and women with their cameras going off were recording every word his mother spoke.
“I’m gonna kill her,” growled Gaspar.
“Now, now,” smirked Ian. “You can’t hurt her in front of all these cameras.”
“Oh, there he is now!” smiled Irene as if sensing her son’s displeasure. “He’s such a good son. All my boys are such wonderful men. They’ve supported me entirely in tryin’ to save this park and especially this tree.”
“That’s wonderful, Mrs. Robicheaux, but we’re curious as to how you’ve maintained your health being over a hundred,” said one of the reporters.
“Now, now, Charlie, a lady doesn’t give away her secrets,” she giggled. The other reporters laughed, but Charlie just stared at her.
“How did you know my name?” he asked. “I didn’t tell you my name.”
“I’ve been listenin’ to the others talk to you. You’re a famous newsman, Charlie. I’d know you anywhere.” Charlie’s ego was pleased enough that he ignored Irene’s faux pas.
“Mama, can we talk to you and Miss Ruby?” asked Gaspar.
“Of course, son. I’ll talk to y’all later. Help yourselves to the muffins that Ruby brought.” Nine raised a brow, looking at her, shaking his head.
“Muffins, Mama Irene? Isn’t that considered a bribe?” asked Nine.
“It’s not a bribe. I’m not askin’ them for anything. Now, why do you boys look like you lost your favorite girly magazine?” Trak nearly spewed his coffee across the Square, shaking his head.
“What’s wrong, boys?” asked Ruby.
“We’re asking, only because there’s a possibility that you might know the answer,” said Ghost carefully. “Is it possible that someone placed a spell or hex or something on the Hampton family that would allow the ghosts to haunt generations of people?”
“A hex? A spell?” laughed Ruby. “You boys have been readin’ too many sci-fi comic books.”
“Miss Ruby, help us out here,” said Alec. She smiled at him, nodding.
“That was a lotta years ago, but if the person was powerful, maybe a true voodoo priest or priestess, it’s possible the spell was enough to last for generations.”
“We need to speak to Grover. He might know if anyone was that powerful,” said Nine. They looked around the Square but didn’t see him. Like all the ghosts, he came and went as he pleased.
“What about any of our ghosts?” asked Angel. “Was this the right time period for Franklin, Genevieve, or Archie?”
“It would be hard for them to know anything unless they’d visited that plantation,” said Irene. “But if they bought Grover from the Caribbean, it’s possible that the others were from that area as well. We just don’t have any records to prove it.”
“Prove what?” asked Grover, appearing in the center of the group. He’d learned that it was easier for them to speak with him if he appeared in the group. That way, it didn’t look as though they were speaking to thin air.
“Grover, baby, did anyone at the plantation have special skills? Maybe something that looked or felt like magic?” asked Ruby.
“I’m not sure. I know that Melba was considered the healer. Even the boss used her if he was sick. She made up medicines, lotions, and things to help everyone. I asked her once if she was voodoo, and she told me to be quiet, that it could cause her problems.”
“Melba. I know this is a dumb question, but did she have a last name?” asked Nine.
“No one had last names,” said Grover.
“Where did she come from?” asked Gaspar.
“She’d been in America a long time. I don’t really remember if she ever said where she was from.”
“Well, it’s something to go on,” said Miller. “Melba on the Hampton plantation.”
