Page 37 of Death in the New Year

“In the meantime,” smirked Gaspar, “we’ve got gift cards for each of you to buy whatever you need, whatever you want for the trip. The SUVs are completely decked out and secure with our new security features. A couple of the younger VG guys will take you wherever you want to go, just to be safe.”

“Escorts? Really, babe?” asked Alexandra.

“It’s all we ask. To make us feel better,” said Gaspar. Alexandra kissed him, her hands framing his face.

“I would do anything for you. Anything,” she whispered.

“How did we get so fucking lucky,” said Baptiste as he kissed Rose.

“We all know the answer to that,” she laughed. She looked at the other women, and in perfect harmony, they all said it.

“Mama Irene!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“2025 is not starting out to be a good year,” said the newsman. “Since midnight, New Orleans has recorded six murders, and police suspect they are all related.”

“Six? There are nine! Nine, you fools! Do I need to do your jobs for you as well? Nine people, none of whom deserved to live. I took care of that for you. Now, you have to take care of things for me.”

Moving around the small home, he pushed one of the bodies to the side and knew he’d have to dump that one soon, or it would begin to smell. A man who propositioned a young woman in a bar shouldn’t be allowed to just walk the streets without consequences. No, he would need to be taught right from wrong. Which is what he had the courage to do.

Sitting at the kitchen table, he looked at the multiple live images on the screen showing different parts of the city, street corners, bars, restaurants, all of it. The New Year’s debauchery had long since been going on. It was almost worse than Mardi Gras.

“So much to do. So much to do,” he sang.

Grabbing the ankles of the dead man, he dragged him down the steps and into the garage. With great effort, he dumped the body into the trunk of his car, securing it once again.

Back inside, he opened the closet to see the horrified face of a woman staring back at him.

“Oh, don’t worry. This will all be over with soon enough. You really shouldn’t have been out there tonight. I mean, a married woman having fun without her husband.” The woman sobbed, the gag in her mouth preventing her from crying out loud.

“Shush, shush, now. I’ll be back soon, and we can party together. Be back soon,” he said, closing the closet door again. As he pulled the car out of the driveway, he began singing as loud as he could.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgotten…”

He ignored the news on the radio, instead turning to a music channel and blasting at full volume. There were so many opportunities to get his hands on more victims it was an absolutely thrilling feeling.

The likelihood of him being caught was fifty-fifty in his mind. He’d been able to evade everyone thus far, but soon, it would become harder and harder. He turned onto the side road that led to the dark bars of the bayou. There was one in particular that he really wanted to visit and find what he wanted. He just knew it would be there.

“Oh, this is going to be a record night! Then, off to Mexico, get some tweaks to this handsome face, and I’ll be back for more. Exciting, exciting, exciting!”

“Hey, Jonas where are you headed?” asked Garr, walking toward him with a few other couples.

“Nowhere,” he frowned.

“Aren’t you doing New Year’s Eve with Khloe?” asked Clark. Nell stared at the man, wondering why he had distanced himself from their beautiful new doctor.

“No. I don’t think so,” he said, shaking his head.

“Well, that’s a shame,” said Nell. “We’re headed to The Well, which is where she went with a bunch of others. Pretty woman like that won’t last long in a place like that.”

The group moved to one of the boats, boarding as slowly as possible, hoping that the stubborn Jonas would get the hint. Just as they were about to pull away from the dock, he leaped onto the boat and took a seat. No one said a word, just grinning behind their hands.

The Well was always busy, but on New Year’s Eve, it was insane. They easily spotted their group on the top deck and moved through the crowds to join them. Sure enough, Khloe was sitting with Ajei, Luke, Kennedy, JT, Lucinda, and Irish.

He immediately noticed the beautiful silver satin of her blouse and the silver sequined jeans. She looked like a gorgeous ornament. Her hair was piled loosely on her head, and the bright red of her lipstick made his dick hurt.

Turning toward the new group, Khloe smiled at Jonas, hoping to get one in return. If he didn’t, she would move on. She thought there was a half-smile, but it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

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