Page 38 of Killer Moonshine

“Good evening, Mr. Hugo,” said the desk clerk.

“Good evening,” he said with an aristocratic air.

“Shall I have them begin to prepare your evening meal, sir?”

“Please. And tonight, have them send up dessert as well. I’d like pecan pie with vanilla ice cream and the double-chocolate cake.”

“Oh, you’ll love that,” smiled the young man. “They’re the best.”

“Good. Good,” he smiled.

In his room, he quickly showered and pulled on lounge pants with a t-shirt, checking his e-mail. He needed to find a way to draw out the men to a remote location, giving the Samaan family a chance at their revenge.

The Quarter was too public. Too many people, too much traffic, too many cameras. Just too much. Shopping malls were out with all the cameras and people.

“There has to be something,” he whispered to himself.

When a knock on the door came, he stood, welcoming his evening meal. He looked at the young girl, thinking he might need a distraction tonight, but then noticed she had an engagement ring, immediately changing his mind. He didn’t need that kind of trouble right now.

“Thank you, Jeannie,” he said, signing the bill. “I appreciate the quick service every night.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hugo, for the great tip. My fiancé and I are attending university, and it definitely helps.”

“What are you studying?” he asked without really showing any interest.

“Exotic animals. I get to do work at the New Orleans Zoo and this really cool island in the bayou that rescues animals and brings them back to good health or helps elderly animals die with dignity. It’s so cool!”

He stared at her, nodding.

“In the bayou, you say?”

“Yes, sir. It’s got a short little bridge to it, but you have to be invited, and then they’ll let you on the island.”

“So, I can’t just go out there?”

“No, sir. You have to be invited by the zoo or the university or the owners, and I don’t know who they are.”

“You know, I have a fascination for preserving wildlife. Do you think you could get me an invite to the island? I’d like to make a sizeable donation but don’t want them to know that just yet.”

“Oh, wow! I could see. Can you give me a few hours to check?”

“Of course,” he smiled. “Take all the time you need.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“What’s going on with them, Gabi?” asked Nine, staring at the young people all lined up in the room.

“I’m not sure. They’re not delusional. Their heart rates are elevated, their senses seem to be on high alert, something is definitely putting them all on edge, but none of them can pinpoint what it is.”

“These kids have never been dramatic about anything. Not even when they had a right to be dramatic. I don’t think this has anything to do with Hugo, I mean, how could it? But something has affected them.”

“I’m going to keep asking questions, and we’ll draw some more labs,” said Gabi. “Listen, Nine, we’re not sure what was done to them in their special schools or what was given to them. Those poor kids could have been kept unconscious for long periods of time, experiments done on them, and we may never know. I don’t want them to feel like lab rats, but I’m also worried that this might get worse and drive them to something strange.”

“You don’t think…” asked Gaspar, tapering off.

“No. No, no. I don’t think any of them are even contemplating something like that, but it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about the potential.”

“Hey! We’ve got Hugo on the line,” said Code. Nine nodded at him as Gabi rose to leave the room. She closed the door, allowing Nine, Gaspar, Ian, and Ghost to handle the call.

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