Page 55 of The Lady on Esplanade
Ignoring me, Thibaut said, “I need you to understand something, young man, so listen up.You hurt Miss Nola, you answer to me.I’ve already been to prison, and I ain’t afraid of going back.And I knowabout swamps ’round here where they ain’t never going to find what’s left of your body once I get through with you.”
Thibaut dropped Cooper’s hand and I silently applauded Cooper’s stoicism, but I did see him flex his fingers to restore blood flow and movement.“Yes, sir.You’d have to wait in line behind Jack Trenholm, though.He gets first dibs on anyone who hurts his daughter.He throws around the words ‘castration’ and ‘disembowelment’ whenever he can, so I’m well aware of the consequences.”His face became serious.“But I promise you that I have no intentions of ever hurting her again.”
Thibaut’s brow creased up to the crown of his bald head.
I moved to stand between them.“That was a long time ago—when I was in high school.We were both young and stupid.Water under the bridge.We’re just good friends now.”
“Hmm.”Thibaut considered Cooper with narrowed eyes.“Nola tells me you’re interested in buying this house.You have a degree in historic preservation or something similar?”
“No, sir.Not even close.”
“Good.We got enough of them types swarming around Nola’s house already.”He gave me a wink that, coupled with his bald head and tattoos, made him look more than a little bit like a pirate.
“I’d rather rely on professionals,” Cooper said, still flexing his fingers.“If I need brain surgery, I’ll ask a brain surgeon instead of trying to do it myself.Same with restoring an old house.I’d prefer to trust an experienced contractor to do the job.I don’t think rewiring an entire house should be left to anyone else.”
Thibaut clapped Cooper on the back, making the younger man jerk forward, but he held his ground.“I think we’ll get along just fine.And just call me Thibaut.No need for ‘Mr.’Any friend of Nola’s is a friend of mine.”
“Good to know,” Cooper said, looking relieved.
“So, what have you found?”I asked, resisting the impulse to cross my fingers behind my back.
“Knob and tube wiring, which we expected, and which is fixable.Also lead pipes in the plumbing, which will need to be replaced.But no mold and no asbestos—which already puts us way ahead of your house.”He gave a little chuckle but quickly sobered when he noticed I wasn’t laughing.
Cooper nodded.“So basically a straightforward renovation involving updates for current living and maybe a little reconfiguring of the floor plan.”At my pointed look, he added, “With a sensitivity to the historical character of the house.”
“Yes, sir.And hold your hands over your ears while I say this, Miss Nola, but there’s an old house on Moss Street that’s been condemned for multiple code violations, and they’re getting ready to tear it down.”
“Couldn’t they save it?”Cooper asked.
“Nope.It’s not located within a local historic district and it’s not a local landmark, so they didn’t need to get demolition approval from the Historic District Landmarks Commission.It’s a darned shame.As soon as they announced the scheduled demolition, scavengers with crowbars began circling it for the transoms, millwork, cypress built-ins, and iron fireplace grates.I’d rather see those things reused in other buildings than in a dumpster—that’s for sure.But it’ll be like clowns at a wig sale, so I’m gonna head over there as soon as we’re done here.I’ll admit to having jimmied a door to get a better look inside, and there are some beautiful crystal doorknobs and porcelain sinks that you might want for this house or Nola’s.”
“Thanks,” I said.“But I’m glad you didn’t get arrested for trespassing.”
“Like the New Orleans police don’t have anything better to do than stopping a person from salvaging what’s left of a condemned property.If you ask my opinion, I think they should be holding open the door and helping carry stuff out.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.Just be careful.I have no idea what I’d do without you.”
His smile softened his harsh features, allowing me to see his inner teddy bear.“Don’t worry.I’m careful.I’ve got eyes in the back of myhead.It’s one of the many things I learned while in prison, along with carpentry and electrical systems.”
“Good to know.”
We said our good-byes, and then Cooper and I made our way downstairs, pausing in the bedroom, where the door to the armoire remained open.“Hang on,” I said, going to close it.
The little mirrored door inside, where I’d found the creepy doll, was closed, the key protruding from the keyhole.I considered just closing the main door and walking away, but I was too much like my father to leave a potential clue to a mystery unexamined.I turned the key, then took a deep breath before tugging the door open.
I screamed as a hand touched my shoulder.
“Sorry—I didn’t mean to startle you.”Cooper’s expression was apologetic, but it still took me a few moments to find my breath to speak.
“That’s all right.It’s just that I was half expecting to find that doll in here.It keeps…appearing where it’s not supposed to be.”
His brows rose.“Interesting” was all he said, which made me like him even more.He peered around me into the armoire.“Empty,” he said.“Except for the perfume smell.”He indicated the stoppered bottle on the bottom shelf.“Did you want to leave that in here?”
“Yes.Leaving it gives me one less inanimate object to worry about.”
“Got it.”He closed the small door and turned the key, then closed and latched the main door.“Do you have time to walk through the rest of the house with me?”
I checked my watch.“We have two hours before Sunny’s plane lands, and it’s only about thirty minutes to the airport, so we’re good.”
