Page 35 of Death in the New Year

“Well, I haven’t exactly made up my mind, but they are cute,” she smiled. Gaspar looked at Luc and Baptiste feeding the baby hippos and cringed.

“Are you shitting me? You two are into this?” asked Gaspar.

“Mama’s right. They’re damn cute and pretty sweet right now. If their mama is gone, they need us. Maybe we need them.” Miller stood over his brothers, watching them feed the hippos. He was impressed with how damn cute they were.

“Pierre, you’re fucking with me right now, aren’t you?”

“No, mon frére,” he laughed. “Look, she was right about Alvin, although she shouldn’t have hid it from us. She was right about Semu and all the others. I don’t know what skill she has, but Mama seems to be the animal whisperer, and maybe these animals are here for a reason.”

“I’m never gonna win these arguments,” he muttered. Nine walked toward the hippo that Luc was holding and touched her smooth skin. She had big fat rolls at her legs and neck, but it was the cutest shit he’d seen in a while.

“Not you too,” asked Gaspar.

“Look, you’re right. We’re never going to win the argument on animals here. It’s your mother’s passion in life. Save the lost. She saved all of us. She’s saved more than a few folks wandering around out there. Maybe her next purpose was to save the animals.”

“Am I to assume that Harry and Harriet will not leave us any time soon?” he asked his mother.

“Well, they can’t leave until they’re old enough. Maybe a few years. Then we have to find a zoo that can take them, and that’s always hard to do.”

“Alright, alright, Mama. You win. Harry and Harriet stay. But if they start eating the giraffes and other animals, they gotta go.”

“They’re not gonna eat any of the animals,” laughed Irene. “We’ve had a long talk, and they know they have to eat what we give them or the fish. That’s all.”

“Alvin likes them,” said Trak, standing beside the alligator at his feet.

“Son-of-a-bitch, I’m gonna have an aneurysm,” muttered Gaspar.

“Irene? Irene, honey,” yelled Matthew, walking toward them. “Oh, good. You told them. I’m so glad.” She was shaking her head imperceptibly, but Matthew didn’t notice in the near blackness of the night.

“Told us what?” said Gaspar.

“Yes. About the hippos and the badgers.” Gaspar’s eyes grew wide, and he turned to his mother with his mouth wide open.

“Gotta run, son.”

“Mama!”

The men couldn’t help but laugh as Gaspar chased after his mother, trying to get her to understand that badgers were deadly creatures as well.

“Pops, she hadn’t told us about the badgers,” smirked Miller.

“Oh, I know,” said Matthew. “I wanted her to, though. I’m not worried about the hippos. They’ll love bein’ in the bayou and swimming around the islands. Those badgers, though, they could be trouble if we don’t watch them. Besides, Gaspar and your mama are more alike than they care to admit.”

“Pops, you’re something else,” laughed Antoine.

“So are all of you. Listen, I don’t know where the reverend is, but I do know he’s finding his next victims. You boys need to stop this one before he changes his face and disappears.” Matthew walked away, and the men all stared at one another, nodding. They knew it as well. The reverend wasn’t going to stop unless they stopped him.

“Get some rest,” said Nine. “The next thirty-six hours are critical. We head to the Quarter early tomorrow. Sweats, hoodies, loose clothing. Look homeless, look younger.”

“Younger?” frowned Pork.

“He’s only killed one old man. His age preference is young, healthy, and a sinner in his eyes. Overpowering youth is a turn-on for him. Let’s see what he does with all of us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Before the team set out to trap their killer, they met with the wives for breakfast to give a final holiday gift that had been a long time coming.

For years, they were in the shadows, rarely traveling for enjoyment, fearful that someone might recognize them or come for their loved ones. When the mess happened with that sensationalist talk show host, they were forced to face the public.

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