Red Witch

Miko was born in the Louisiana swamps by a Creole father and a Seminole mother. Her mother named her "Pihchok Miko" which translates in English to "Little Dove".

She may have a Seminole name, but her interest was the Creole heritage of her father. By the time she was ten, she was interested in the black magic of the Creole people of her father. She hung around the priestess in the little village she was raised in deep in the swamp in middle Louisiana. By the time she was thirteen, she was learning the Remed Fey, or "Bush Medicine" of her people. She was also being instructed privately by the local priestess in the Voodoo spells and curses. They did this privately as her parents had forbidden her to study Voodoo. "The Mistress of the Night", a powerful priestess from New Orleans had to intervene with her parents when she turned sixteen, the age of consent with the Creole people. Miko moved to New Orleans to study under the Mistress.

She was interested in her mother's heritage also and convinced the Mistress to allow her to go to Florida and study under an old Medicine Man of her mother's people. Miko wanted to understand as much of the dark powers as she could. She didn't trust the white man much and wanted to learn about the dark powers on both sides of her family. She has seen what the white man had done to the swamps in the name of progress and profit. She wanted nothing to do with them.

After a year with the Medicine Man, she returned to the Mistress. By the time she turned eighteen, she was well-versed in the voodoo spells and curses, as well as the Seminole chants and dances.

The last thing she needed to be respected by her people was to have a successful spell put on someone. Most spells are for general things, i. e. Blessing spells, binding spells, cleansing spells, break-up spells, ambiguous desires that are sometimes hard to quantify. The power spells and health spells are more definite. Privately, most of the health spells are accomplished with poison, hidden by the chants and smoke. She learned about all the Creole poisons available, and how to use them secretly. She would need to have one of these spells work for her name to spread.

Miko is a little 5'4", 110-pound wisp of a girl with coal-black hair and eyes that seemed to burn if you looked at her too long. She generally wore a light robe with a hood covering her head whenever she went out. She was mysterious as shit and even the Creole people tended to stay away from her. Just being with the Mistress for years made them respect her.

Her "break" in the voodoo world came about almost by accident. Post Katrina, gangs took power in many of the areas that had been wiped out by the hurricane. There were many such gangs, and they fought with each other often. The regular people of New Orleans were usually left alone, but sometimes they would get caught up in the violence. It was during one such encounter that a popular Christian minister that had a well-known street ministry downtown was gunned down.

The outrage was immediate and harsh. Privately, even a few of the city leaders came to the Mistress to ask for help identifying the killer. The mistress did know who was involved, but doesn't assist the authorities, privately, or publicly.

Miko also knew the name of the man. Her people keep track of everyone in New Orleans. He was a well-known gang leader near Buorbon Street. She happened to be in a small shop of a Creole apothecary that specializes in herbs and spices for spells when the man that had killed the minister came in with a couple of his boys. Miko was in a corner with her hood up as they started hassling the owner. One of his boys bumped into Miko and pushed her out of the way. She turned and lowered her hood and stared at the men without saying a word.

Finally, the leader said, "What's your problem, witch? Yeah, we know who you are, and we aren't afraid of witches." She continued staring at him until he began to get agitated. "Leave me alone, witch."

She started a quiet incantation without blinking as she stared at him. He made the mistake of crowding her to try and get her to stop staring at him with those eerie eyes. The fatal mistake was letting her get too close. When he reached out to grab her, she slashed his arm with one of her fingernails. He jumped like he had been bit by something. "What'd you do, witch?" He began rubbing the spot where a little blood had surfaced on his arm.

The other two boys had seen enough and bolted out of the shop. The killer stared at Miko for a minute, until he lost his nerve and bolted.

Miko calmly went to the counter, paid for her goods, and left the shop owner shaken and confused.

When the killer died two days later, the shop owner spread the word of what Miko had done. She was now a made witch in New Orleans. No Creole person would test her or bother her. Even the gangs decided to give her a wide berth, just as they do with the Mistress.

Creole people began coming to her for simple spells. Things like, getting their troublesome neighbor to move, breaking up a couple a parent didn't like together, banishing an illness; even the basic egg cleansing spell for someone's home. They would make offerings for her services. The mistress was happy she was branching out, but she cautioned against any large demonstrations. As long as the authorities considered them charlatans for weak minds, they would be left alone. It was only if they came to the attention of someone in power would they have a problem.

For the next couple of years, everything was quiet. None of the gang the killer had belonged to wanted anything to do with her, and it only made her status around Bourbon Street grow.

The Mistress set her up in the back of the shop where she had encountered the man. The owner was happy to give her a small place in the back. There was a steady stream of people coming to see her, and she would often recommend ingredients from the shop for simple things they didn't need to pay her for. The owner began giving her some small amounts of money for her help.

It was at this time that Anthony Dubois came into her life. He was the person in power the Mistress had warned her about. He was a white lieutenant in the NOPD. His wife had been sick, and their maid had suggested the shop for a simple herb.

As he was discussing the herb with the shop owner, Dubois couldn't help but notice the people going straight to the back of the shop. When he asked the owner, she only shrugged and gave him the herb.

Dubois stood looking toward the back for a minute. Maybe he'd go see where everyone was going? His mind was made up for him when his phone rang and he headed back to his car.

Miko only had one friend from the village where she grew up that she stayed in contact with. Isabella Pomet was the only girl in her village that wasn't afraid of what Miko was into. Her mother believed and had given Isabella a sense of caution around things one doesn't understand. Caution, but not fear. She never believed her friend would harm her, and the smoke and chants were interesting to her.

When Bella moved to New Orleans, Miko's parents had given her the address of the shop, and she looked Miko up.

Bella stood in the doorway of the back room for a second as she watched Miko deal with the people. When she finished, she looked up and broke character. "Bella, it is so GOOD to see you. Are you visiting New Orleans?"

Bella laughed. "Nope, I'm afraid you're stuck with me. I have moved here. By the way, great look, all mysterious and spooky. Dark robe, a hood and eyes that light up the dark. Of course, you always had bright eyes, even as a kid you'd scare the crap out the other kids."

Miko laughed and they hugged. "You free now?"

"Sure."

"Come with me." Miko led Bella out into the street and down to the small apartment she lives in. It is plain, but free. The owner of the building had stopped charging her when the gang-member died. No one ever spoke of it, and Miko never threatened him. He apparently made the decision on his own to error on the side of caution and hope the voodoo spirits would reward him.

They sat and talked late into the night, catching up. Miko was so happy to see a friend, especially a friend that wasn't afraid of her. This witch thing had made her very lonely. There was no dating, even though there wasn't anything wrong with it. The Mistress had encouraged her to seek out a mate. She cautioned Miko that her life would be isolated and lonely without a man in her life. Her problem was finding a creole man who wasn't afraid of losing his dick to one of her spells the first time he pissed her off. The white population had no pull on her. She had grown up without them in her life, and she didn't know a single white person she could talk to if she wanted to. It's not that Miko hated white people, it's just that she'd never been around any and didn't think about them.

Belle had gone to LSU after high school and knew a lot of white people. She usually dated white boys. She found them more adventurous, and they always had more money to spend. She graduated with a degree in Criminology and had been hired by the New Orleans Police Department. She worked in the crime lab as a forensic examiner.

Miko was so happy to have Bella in the city. Having a friend around would be nice, and a trusted friend would be even better. Who knows, maybe Miko would even meet a white person or two around Bella. She was okay with that.

Dubois was a detective in homicide. His job brought him in contact with Belle. It didn't take long for him to like her work. She was smart and fearless. She was also thorough. They worked on a couple of cases together and got to know each other.

Dubois' wife came to see the shop owner herself a few days later. She was feeling better, but still not perfect. The shop owner nodded at her and asked her to wait a moment. She went into the back and motioned for the lady to come on back.

Miko met her at the door. "Good morning, madam. I understand you aren't feeling well?"

"Yes, it is in my stomach. I just feel off."

"How long has this been?"

"Over a month now. My doctor gave me laxatives and probiotics, but I still don't feel right."

Miko patted her on the arm. The lady was older than Miko, but it didn't feel wrong when Miko answered her. "Child, this can be fixed." Miko handed her a small vial. "Put this in some hot herbal tea before going to bed tonight. By morning, your system should have reset itself. If not, come back tomorrow. Understand?"

Cynthia Dubois took the vial, thanked Muki, and took out her wallet. Miko waved her away with a smile. She didn't return the next day.

A week later, Miko was walking on Bourbon Steet toward the shop. The shop was only a couple of blocks off Bourbon Street and there was a car accident at the corner ahead. It wasn't a terrible accident, just the kind that happens a hundred times every day in America. Miko stood on the corner, watching the people mill around, trying to get the people out of the cars. Suddenly, a back door on one of the cars was pried open and a young girl stumbled out onto the pavement. She was breathing hard and very agitated. They leaned her against the tire of the car. Muki could see she was in distress, so she stepped off the curb and went to her.

Just as Miko bent down in front of the girl, she heard someone behind her yelling. "Get away from that girl. I'm a doctor. I will help her."

Miko ignored the man, took a little jar of salve out of her bag and rubbed it on the girl's throat and clavicle area. "I told you to step back, young lady. I need to get to her quickly."

Miko patted her on the shoulder and backed away. By the time the doctor had bent down in front of her, her breathing had cleared up and she was becoming calmer.

Instead of being happy the girl was better, the doctor turned on Muki. "What did you do to her? I told you to leave her alone."

A crowd was gathering around them, and a policeman was trying to keep the crowd away. The doctor pointed at Miko and shouted. "Arrest that woman for interfering with a doctor performing his duties."

The cop looked at Miko, held up his hands, and motioned Miko to come with him. The crowd was very displeased. They were aware of who she was and could see the girl was much better. The cop put her in the car and took her to the station.

They put Miko in an interrogation room while the cop filed his report. Finally, after an hour or so, one of the interrogators went in to speak to Miko. Dubois is assigned to that station, and everyone heard the "witch doctor" had been arrested. He had never seen her and immediately went to the window to get a look. He was listening when the interrogator sat down.

"Miss, I see you have no identification on you. Where is your driver's license?"

"I have no driver's license."

"How about your birth certificate? Miko shook her head. "Social Security card, anything?"

Miko shook her head. "I was born and raised in the swamps. I never left the swamps. I'm sure my parents have some papers, but I've never needed them and have never asked for them."

"How do you file your taxes?"

"I make no money. I have never filed taxes. You are the first person of authority I've ever spoken to."

Dana Thompson had interviewed hundreds of people in her job with NOPD, but she had never come across anything like this before. She was at a loss. "We'll come back to that later. Why did you ignore the doctor?"

"I was closer, and I knew how to help her. It was a simple thing, and the girl felt much better immediately. She was just in shock, and her lungs were straining to get air. I calmed the body enough to allow her to breathe. That is all."

"That is not what the doctor says."

Miko sat for a second. She didn't want to go into this, but she didn't see any other way out of it now.

"I'm not surprised the doctor doesn't understand. Western medicine has ignored the rest of the natural world in favor of their high-priced drugs. It is in their best interest to make everyone dependent on them."

"That's a very cynical attitude."

"You might want to study a history not written by western historians. Are you aware that the Arabs knew about diseases and treatments hundreds of years before Europe. Europe was still throwing their feces into the dirt streets while the Arabs had paved streets with oil-burning lamps lighting them at night and a sewer system that removed human waste. They had running water in their homes, and medicines that treated common ailments. None of this is in your history books because western historians ignored the Arabs as "ignorant Muslims" that couldn't be that advanced. It was only after the crusades that the Europeans discovered what the Arabs had for hundreds of years and imported what they liked back to Europe. Things like coffee, medicines, sorbet, oil, etc."

The interrogator sat speechless for a second and finally got up and went out to the hall. Dubois was standing there with a small crowd of cops, watching. Thompson looked at him. "Have you ever..."

"Yeah. A piece of advice. Release her now. Don't piss her off. You have no idea what she is capable of. Just release her and tell the doctor to be thankful he hadn't threatened her with bodily harm. By the way," as he was leaving he turned back to her, "everything she said in there is true."

The interrogator met with her supervisors, and they agreed to let her go. She walked out of the station a few minutes later, only to be met by Dubois. "Miss, may I have a word, please?"

She stopped and smiled at him. "Certainly, what may I do for you?"

"You've already done it. Cynthia Dubois is my wife." Miko held up her hands in a question. "The young lady you gave the potion to put in her herbal tea to settle her insides. It worked great, and I thank you."

Miko remembered the lady. "I'm very happy it worked for her. Sometimes it isn't that simple."

"So, what do I call you?"

"My name is Miko."

Well, thank you again, Miko." Miko walked away as Dubois watched. He wasn't a believer in voodoo, but, living in New Orleans, he had seen things he couldn't explain, and he had decided to keep an open mind on the subject.

Belle came looking for Miko that afternoon. She had heard the stories about Muki and the girl around the police lab, and she had a pretty good idea who they were talking about. Belle couldn't just call Miko because she doesn't have a cell phone, or any other phone, and doesn't want one. She has no bills and is completely off the grid. As far as Uncle Sam is concerned, the records for the little girl born twenty years ago stopped on her birthday.

Belle found her at home, resting. "Miko, you're famous now."

"Don't remind me. This is the thing the Mistress warned me about. Not to come in contact with the authorities. It can only end badly. They are very nervous about things they don't understand, and they always assume it is a danger to them."

"I'll keep my ear to the ground and try to warn you about anything coming." She hugged her friend and went back to work.

Everything was quiet for a few months. Miko helped anyone she could. In her free time, she studied her black arts to strengthen the more difficult spells, and incantations. She spent time with Mistress as often as she could.

St. John's Eve is the most popular holiday celebration in the New Orleans Voodoo world. It is June 23rd, at the beginning of the summer solstice.

The most famous Voodoo King and Queen was Dr. John, or Bayou John in the late 1800's, and his disciple, Marie Loveau. Muki's mistress was a disciple of Marie Loveau's disciple. Loveau died in 1881, and her disciple died in 1961. Miko has no idea how old Mistress is, but she is generally thought to be in her eighties.

Miko is proud of her heritage as a fifth-generation Voodoo priestess in New Orleans and takes it very seriously.

Miko and her Mistress went to a party for St. John's Eve deep in the swamp. Only true believers were there, and unusual things occurred. There were "medicinal libations" served very liberally, and most passed out during the evening's festivities.

Miko came home late the next day with a terrible hangover. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed for two or three days. That wasn't possible because Belle was waiting for her in her apartment.

"Please don't speak too loudly, Belle. My head is about to explode."

"Where were you last night? No one has been able to find you since yesterday morning."

"Of course not, it was St. John's Eve, and I went to a large celebration in the swamp. I am just getting back now."

"Well, I guess you haven't seen the news?" Miko shook her head. Even that was a chore. "The police chief was killed last night, and they are saying it was by voodoo. Your name is at the top of the list because of that little incident with the girl."

Great. She figured that detective that knows her now would be coming around soon. Fortunately, he only has the shop address, and she can stay away from there for a few days until she can talk to the Mistress.

By mid-afternoon, her head was clear enough to make her way to the Mistress' private residence. Once Miko had started seeing the people for her, the Mistress retired to a quiet place on the edge of the swamp that very few people knew about. She only saw people when it was absolutely necessary. Muki went looking for her. Mistress let her in with a shake of her head. "What did I tell you about these people? They are only a burden to be avoided."

"You're right, I know. But I help everyone I can. How was I to know the white woman who came to me was the wife of a police lieutenant?"

"What is done is done. Now we must find who killed this man before they burn you at the stake. They would love nothing more than to have a large show trial."

"My first guess would be the gang whose member I killed. He was a leader in that gang. Maybe we should start there?"

"I hope you've been working on your spells. This is going to take serious spell power. These people are going to go underground."

"Yes, but the binding or power spells take at least three days to complete."

"True, but I do have help we can use. You will probably be arrested as soon as they find you. I'll bring in some help for us." Mistress wrapped herself in her shawl. "We will need a Simbi Veve spell. We will need clarity of sight and mind to ferret out the lies told around us."

Miko agreed. "Yes, Simba would give us clarity of mind to understand the complexities of our enemies' plans."

"I'll go home and start the power spell. I will need to have the powder mixture with me on the third night to spread it where I need to. I'll need to be careful. The timing of this is essential. We will have three days to find out who we need to dominate so he will tell us what we need to know. Once the spell is in motion, I'll go back to the shop so Dubois can find me. It might be up to you for the rest."

"Don't worry about me, child. I still have some power left."

Miko went home and began the power spell. She rolled the large white candle in the oil, then rolled it in the salt and camphor mixture. She then lit the candle. When it has burned completely, all she will have to do is spread the remainder of the mixture in the path of their target and he should answer the questions she puts to him. At least, she hopes so. She hasn't actually used this spell before, but Mistress swears by it.

When the candle was burned, she swept up the remainder of the powder and put it in a small pouch. She was as ready as she could be. She hid it in a secret place between her apartment and the shop. No one will find it there, and Mistress knows where this is. If she is still locked up in three days, it will be up to Mistress to finish the spell. Once they find who to use it on, that is.

She hadn't been at the shop for more than ten minutes before Dubois arrived. They obviously were watching the place and had called him when she arrived.

"Miko, I'm afraid you'll have to come with me." She got up and followed him to his car. He didn't try to handcuff her. He didn't think she'd fight at this time, and he was right.

She was back in the same room she had been in the first time. There was definitely a different air in the room now. Tension was everywhere with everyone.

It was the same interrogator as last time. She was much more confident now. "Okay, Miss Pihckok Miko Roque. Yes, we know your full name now."

They had put handcuffs on her in the room with the chain going through a ring fastened to the tabletop. A person from the lab in a Haz-mat suite came in and scrapped each of her nails. She almost smiled but didn't. They wouldn't find any poison on them.

"Where were you last night around ten P. M.?" She said nothing.

After a couple more questions, she closed her eyes and sat quietly, waiting for them to lose patience. It only took two more questions. "If that's the way you want to play, it's okay with me. You can just sit in that cell until you are willing to talk to us. Take her away."

They led her to a cell and left her there. She was in a cell by herself. There were other people in the cells beside her, but none spoke to her. They knew who she was, and they wanted no part of her.

She was awakened at three in the morning by a whispering voice. "Mistress, are you awake? Please wake up."

She opened her eyes to see a small creole man outside her cell. She got up and stood near him. "Mistress says the police chief was involved with the gangs and the NOLA Commission was investigating him." NOLA is an anti-gang task force set up by the mayor to combat the serious gang problems. "She said to tell you she'd have a name soon."

Miko nodded and went back to sleep. Around 5 A. M., she was awakened by Dubois. "Miko, you must come with me now, please."

She shook her head clear and looked around the cell block. Everyone else was either asleep or deliberately looking away. "Won't you get in trouble getting me out of here?"

He shook his head. "Just hurry, please."

She nodded and went out the open door. He led her through the quiet building. The cop at the desk nodded at him as they left, otherwise, Miko saw no one as they left.

Once they were in his car, she had to ask. "What's going on?"

He was grim, but she could see he was firm. "I got a magistrate that is a friend of mine to sign your bail. You've been released into my custody." He smiled at her. "So, please, don't put a spell on anyone that will get me in trouble with the law, okay?" She just looked away. That was one promise she had no intention of making. "Right now, we just need a place to get you out of sight for a while."

Miko knew a place. "We can go to my apartment."

Dubois looked at her. "I've always figured you had a place. Lead the way."

Within ten minutes, they were in her apartment. He sat on the couch to think. "Maybe you'd like to take a shower and freshen up before we talk?"

She smiled at him. "Great idea, and thanks for this."

As she went into her bedroom, Dubois shook just a little. Her smile could be just as haunting as her "frozen eye stare" she is famous for.

He had time to think. He knew members of the police department were in league with the gangs that moved into New Orleans after Katrina. The country basically abandoned the city, including thirty percent of its population. Large swaths of the city had been wiped away and the people gone. The gangs moved in. There was no one there to stop them. It had become so bad over the last twenty years that the state and city finally had to put together a special group to combat them, the NOLA Commission.

The gangs countered by spending money on several politicians and police officers. Now, no one knew for sure whose side each of them was on. It made for a very tense situation in the political structure of the city.

There was one group that stood apart, and as the city fell apart, most of the remaining population gravitated to them. It was the Mistress and her Voodoo people. They feared neither the police nor the gangs, and those people were never sure how much power they actually possessed. One thing each side agreed on, the Mistress had the trust of the people more than the others. Dubois was now counting on that trust to get them out of this situation.

Dubois never really had an opinion on New Orleans Voodoo. Voodoo here was a hybrid of Haitian voodoo and French voodoo of old. The creole people believed in it, and when the Haitian people escaped to America, they naturally gravitated to the swamps of Louisiana.

Dubois was fascinated with the tenets of Voodoo. It is a mixture of Catholicism and the belief in spirits. Most of the believers are Catholic, and they believe God rules the world. However, they believe some of the spirits in purgatory roam the earth until they are assigned their final destination. It is these spirits the sorcerers try to convince to assist them in the real world. The spells and curses are to enlist the spirits' aid.

Dubois himself tried to keep an open mind about such things, but one thing he is sure of; in his years in New Orleans, he had seen things he couldn't explain.

His revelry broke when Miko came back into the room. She was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt. He had never seen her without her robe. She was a very pretty creole woman, slight but a well -defined shape. Her wet, black hair shined in the morning light. But, of course, it was those eyes that captivated you. Fiery red. He had never seen red eyes before. He didn't know if they were natural or contacts, but they were very striking. Combined with the robe, hood, and incense it presented a very commanding presence, even for a small woman. It wasn't her size that dominated a room, it was those eyes, and her quiet, still manner.

She was drying her hair with a towel when she came in. "Thanks for that. It felt good after that place."

"You're welcome."

She sat down in a chair beside him. "Now what?"

"We need to find out who the people in the police and city hall are that are aligned with the gangs and who is on our side."

"We have an idea who they are. A person's soul reveals itself if you ask the right questions."

Dubois came up in a start. "What, you know the bad apples?"

"We have a pretty good idea about some leaders, yes."

"So, you can divine people's character?"

"It's not that simple, but a person's aura does shine through most times. It is the demons I must be careful of. They appear like you but are devils inside."

Dubois was quiet for a few minutes. "You know, I'm risking everything by trusting you. My family, my future, my career. I hope this turns out okay."

She put her hand on his arm. "Anthony, I swear by all I hold true that you and your family will be safe from evil people."

"You lips to God's ears." He shuddered a little. This was one spooky bitch. Then she smiled at him. It pierced him to his very soul. The combination of that smile and those eyes were enchanting. He could see how she ruled the voodoo world in New Orleans.

He stood up to leave. "I must go to work and face the music. My bosses will find out you are gone this morning. Stay here out of sight."

"No worries. My people will keep me informed without me leaving here."

He headed for the inevitable confrontation.

Dubois was called into his boss's office the minute he arrived. The captain of detectives was fuming. "Who do you think you are, taking that witch out of this station?"

"We both know she had nothing to do with the chief's assassination. And that is what it was, an assassination. She was at her St. John's Eve celebration in the swamp. They do it every year, and she was there until morning. I have a hundred people who will testify to that."

"OF course you do, you idiot. Those people will say whatever she tells them to say. You can't trust her, or any of her people. When she blows this thing up in our faces, you will be through here. Now, get out."

He couldn't argue with him. If this goes badly, he knew he'd be the scapegoat. Somewhere, deep in his soul, he was okay with that. There comes a time in everyone's life they must choose right or wrong. He felt like this was his time, and he'd let the chips fall where they do. He was oddly comfortable with entrusting his future to that red-eyed sorceress.

The person he wanted to talk to was Gater Al. His real name was Bobby Carl Dupree, but everyone called him Gater Al. He was raised in the swamps like Miko, and everyone knows him. He knows every gang leader, and if anyone had any idea who was behind the killing it'd be Gater Al.

Finding him would be the challenge. No one knows where he lives, and you usually don't find him unless he wants to be found, especially by cops. Dubois started by going to a couple of the bars he knows Al frequents. He left a fifty with each bartender with his request. He also gave them a phone number Al could call.

To his surprise, Gater Al called him that night. They set up a meeting at one of the bars. As he was entering the bar, he heard Al from the woods calling him. He looked around to make sure they were clear, and went into the woods to see Gater Al.

Al started. "I see you're hanging around with the Red Witch now."

It wasn't a question, and Dubois didn't bother answering. "Watch out for that one. She doesn't know how powerful she is yet. When she does, some people in this town are in a world of hurt."

"That's why I'm here. I'm sure you have an idea about the police chief. Care to point me in the right direction?"

"What does the Red Witch say?"

"Not much. She had nothing to do with it, but we already knew that. I need to find who really did before they run a show trial with her."

Al shook his head. "They don't have any idea how bad that would be for them. That just shows how desperate they are to make this go away quietly."

"I know all this. Give me something I can start on. I know this was an assassination. I must find out why and who before the entire voodoo world lands on New Orleans."

Al was surprised how perceptive this white cop was. Almost all the white people in New Awlins, as the locals pronounce it, only have a fanciful understanding of the underbelly of New Orleans. Tourists pronounce the name as N'awlins because of a few stupid movies, but the locals hate it. With their accents, it comes out as New Awlins.

Al figured if he told this cop what he understood had happened, maybe when he told the Red Witch and she compared this to what Mistress knew, they could do something to head this mess off. "Okay, I'll tell you what I know but you must not repeat any other this to anyone but the Red Witch. You understand? If any of this gets back to certain people, you and I are dead. You understand?" Duboise tried to be calm, but it was getting harder. Here they are, in the deep woods near the swamps in the dead of night, and this man is whispering like the trees will tell on them.

Dubois nodded and waited. "The chief was corrupt, of course. They all are. The difference with him was the scope. He had designs in the Mayor's office, but much more. He wanted the Commission's power, and the local ward power. He was tied to powerful billionaires. Their plan is to buy up a lot of the now deserted land for a song and build billions of dollars' worth of whatever new city they are dreaming of. They are using the gangs as muscle to get rid of the stragglers."

"That wouldn't explain them killing him. So, who killed him?"

"The mayor wasn't just sitting by and letting them buy up the land. He had his own group, a different set of billionaires. This is a proxy war between billionaires."

"Why now, twenty years later?"

"Most of the individual insurance claims have been settled, and most of the people didn't want to come back and start over after all this time. So, both groups had shills out there trying to convince them to sell their land cheaply. Both groups have had success, and now, they each own large chunks of New Orleans. However, the map looks like a patchwork quilt of the two interests. They have been secretly negotiating a deal to combine their interests. This didn't sit well with either the Mayor or the Police Chief. One of them will have to get cut out, and it has become nasty."

"Why don't they just pay one of them off to go away?"

"They've been trying to buy both off. The mayor had finally agreed, but the Chief was holding out for much more. The word is, his people finally got tired of waiting for him, and decided it was cheaper to kill him than pay him."

"Why involve the Red Witch?"

Al laughed. "That's the tricky part. There is one large piece of property that they need. It is on the river and in the middle of their plans."

Dubois was still confused.

"Guess who owns that property?" Dubois shook his head. "The Red Witch's parents."

Dubois couldn't imagine Miko as a large landowner. Even her mysterious parents didn't seem like the type to own land down by the river.

"That's the thing, they don't really know just yet. Her father is a poor, Creole villager in the swamp. HIS father, however, is Anton Burgoyne."

Dubois was speechless. Anton Burgoyne, a direct descendant of "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne, one of the British Generals from the Revolutionary War period. After the war, Burgoyne returned home and made his fortune trading with the new country. He set up his company in what is now New Orleans while it was still in the hands of Spain. By the time Jefferson purchased it in the Louisiana Purchase from the French in 1803, his son was firmly established there.

Burgoyne's descendants survived the Civil War and recovered to again have a thriving business there. The ancestral home of the Burgoyne family was built around 1890. Most of the land was eventually sold off to pay debts, but the family still owns one hundred acres right on the Mississippi River.

Al continued. "I have no idea if that ties into the Red Witch."

Dubois had to think this through. "Thanks, Al. I'll keep your name out of this."

"You'd be smart to keep your name out of this too."

Dubois went home to his family. This will keep until tomorrow.

Dubois went to see Miko early the next morning before going to work. "Miko, please ask your sources what they know about two large groups competing to buy up land from Katrina." She agreed and he went to work.

The next place he needed to go was the informal group of gang leaders that were trying to keep the peace between the gangs and the police. They didn't want to make any more headlines. The leader of the largest gang was Pierre LaFontain. A funny name for a gangster, but there was nothing funny about him. A two-time loser in a federal penitentiary, LaFontain is rumored to have killed his way to the top of the largest gang in New Orleans. He is mean enough and crazy enough to keep the other gangs at least partially in check. LaFontain would never speak to a cop. Maybe, the mistress, maybe.

Dubois went back to Miko to see if she could talk to the Mistress about him. He also told her about the billionaires trying to buy up land in the city, but he left out the part about her family. Mistress of the Night may be the only person in the city LaFontain would agree to meet with. Miko promised to ask her.

Miko dressed casually and went to see the mistress. She told her what Dubois had told her.

"I know about the people trying to buy up large chunks of distressed properties here. They are using several dummy corporations to hide their intent. The largest of these calls themselves "Rebuilding New Orleans" and is really owned by the billionaire Reginald Montgomery from New York. They have an office building here that they use as their home base. I think it's time we visit them and work a little magic there. I have people on the cleaning crew. They will contact you. I want you to go with the crew and stir the place up." Miko nodded. "Let's see if the rats will run when the cat appears. Your power spell is ready tomorrow, correct?" Miko nodded. "Good, put the powder under the desk of the big boss. Make sure you use his name when you make the incantation. Maybe he'll give us some information if we ask nicely."

Miko nodded. "And LaFontain?"

"I'll send word to him. He is fearful of our spells, and won't come within physical contact of me, but he might send one of his boys to see what I want."

Miko went home to prepare the power powder. Tomorrow was the third day, and all she had to do was get the man to step in the powder on the third day, and he would be susceptible to her suggestions.

She put brown contacts in her eyes to cover her red eyes. She couldn't get them by any security guard. She dressed in blue jeans and work pants, put her hair back with a dull jacket on, she was ready for the cleaning crew assignment.

The crew picked her up at 11 P. M. They had an ID prepared for her, and they had no problem getting past security and into the companies' headquarters. While the crew cleaned like they had been doing every other day for a year, Miko left a couple of spells in the right places. When she got to the boss' office, she saw his nameplate read "Henry Bellefonte". A good New Orleans name is she ever saw one. She ran through the chant while putting the powder under his desk and calling out his name. It is an eerie chant, invoking the dark spirits to enfeeble his mind long enough to answer the questions she would need answered. Since the Red Witch couldn't come calling, she added a trigger name to get in to see him. "Susan B. Anthony".

They were gone within two hours.

LaFontain answered the Mistress that he would send one of his men to speak with her.

When he arrived, he stayed as far from her as he could. "Mistress, may I assist you in any way?"

She was dressed to kill, literally. Her entire Voodoo Queen wardrobe. She had several of her men there to form an impressive court. The man saw the firepower in the room, but he was more concerned about her power than the guns.

In a cold and quiet voice, she spoke, "You are aware the Red Witch is suspected of killing the Police chief. We both know who killed him, and I will destroy anyone who attempts to harm her. I wanted to let your boss know that if I must come after the gangs, I will start with him. It would be in his best interest to assist me to clear her name before the mist of the night must roll over New Orleans."

Even the mention of that night one hundred years later still struck fear in him. Hundreds fell sick, and many died before the sun rose the next day. It had been the Mistress' mistress that had brought it down on New Orleans in the 1930's, and many are still alive whose parents and grandparents still have nightmares. In truth, it was a contagious disease that was carried in the mist and by the wind. Mistress was given it on her mistress' deathbed; with the promise it would never be used again. She is the only one that knows of its existence, and she hasn't decided whether she will give it to the Red Witch before she dies.

He bowed in front of her. "Please, mistress, our people don't deserve that again. I will give him your message and will urge him to help you. Please, Mistress, please." He backed out of the room and left, visibly shaking.

She had no intention of ever using it. She knew the effects of what she had done haunted her mistress until her dying day. Mistress didn't want to have her legacy be that she killed her people. She could only hope LaFontain would feel the same way.

Miko dressed in the only classic business suit she had. She again put the contacts in and made up her hair. She even put makeup on her face. When she looked in the mirror, she saw a professional working woman in today's business community.

She entered the company's office and walked up to the receptionist's desk. The security guard smiled at her when she walked by. "My name is Susan B. Anthony, and I have an appointment with Mr. Bellefonte."

The receptionist called upstairs to his secretary, and after a few minutes, she was told to go up. The secretary went inside while she stood in the doorway, and then she waved her through.

"Miss Anthony, I don't remember an appointment with you, but I do seem to remember something. What can I do for you?"

"Thank you so much for giving me a couple of minutes. I know this is unusual, but would you mind if I used your bathroom first? I know, but I'm suddenly not feeling well."

"Of course, miss, right there."

When Miko was in the bathroom, she pulled her robe out of her bag, removed her contacts, and the Red Witch appeared in the mirror. She nodded and opened the door.

When he saw the red witch, he started to get up and say something, but she cut him off. Her red eyes burned into his soul. "Stop! Sit down!"

He immediately did both. She hadn't frozen his movements, but fear was doing that for her. She stood beside him and dropped a small smoke bomb under his seat. It wasn't much smoke, but it had the fragrance she needed. "You will tell me who you hired to kill the Police Chief."

He sat staring straight ahead without speaking. She went around to the front of the desk and put her hands on the desk. She was wearing black gloves. She didn't need any fingerprints if this went wrong. "Who hired the killer?" She stared into his eyes, and she could tell the spell had worked. He was frozen with fear. "Tell me now and you will live. Make me ask again and you die where you sit."

Finally, "It is a local gang. They were hired by my boss in New York."

"Which gang, and your bosses name."

"My boss is William Johnson at the home office."

"Write his name and number on this piece of paper." He did so. "Now, which gang, last time I ask."

"The Swamp Gators. But I didn't handle it. I know nothing about it, I swear."

She knew he was telling the truth. He was so entranced he wasn't even sweating. A normal man that had been threatened with death twice would at least break a sweat. This man had terror in his eyes, but he was otherwise completely calm.

"What do you normally drink during your work hours?"

"I have a special coffee they make for me downstairs."

"Excellent. Call your secretary and ask her to go get you one now." He did so. "Now, our meeting went very well, and your bosses will be very pleased. You will have difficulty remembering the details, but it went well. You will not remember what Susan B. Anthony looks like, but you did have a meeting with her today. Do you understand what I've said?" He nodded. "Good, stay there for a second."

She went into the bathroom, put the robe in her bag and put the contacts back in her eyes. She then told him he wasn't feeling well, but the coffee would fix him.

She slipped out into his empty front office, and into the hall. She went to the stairwell and was down and out in five minutes. The security guard didn't look at her when she left the building.

She went straight to Mistress' house. After they had exchanged notes, they sat down and talked.

They now knew who had killed the Police Chief and who ordered it. The Swamp Gators was a nickname for LaFontain's crew. Mistress had thought they would have brought a pro into town to make it clean and quick, but apparently, they wanted to keep it local. Something with that prestige and pressure would certainly have been done by LaFontain himself. That would make it easier for them.

There was a lot of buzzing in the station when Dubois got in to work that morning. One of his friends told him the interim Police Chief was meeting with the Mayor in his office. There were rumors that something was about to go down.

When the mayor left, the interim chief came and addressed the men. "There will be a press conference by the mayor this afternoon at 1 P. M. where he will announce the decision to prosecute the killer of the Chief. He wants security in front of the courthouse to be perfect. That will be every one of you, no exception. We want a perimeter around the square by 12:45 P. M. That is all. Dubois, I want to see you in my office."

"Dubois, I want you to pick her up before 1. You understand?"

"You understand she had nothing to do with this, right?"

"I understand orders, and if you want to keep your job, you will too."

"Understood." He stood up and made an exaggerated salute before leaving. Asshole.

She was not home, but he wasn't going to put an officer there to wait for her. He went to Bella's office to see if she'd heard from her.

"I'm sorry, Anthony. I've not talked to her in a couple of days. Why?"

"They want to arrest her for the murder."

Bella shook her head. "I know poison was used, but it isn't her type."

"What, there's types of poisons?"

"Of course, she really doesn't use poison much at all. It kills and a priestess doesn't want to kill, just manipulate. What good is a person to you if they're dead. You can't persuade a dead person."

"No, but you can scare the hell out of his friends."

"Very true, you mean like the man that killed the minister and suddenly turned up poisoned?"

"Precisely."

"I can tell you they were not the same poison. Even if I were to admit that the first one was hers, and I'm not, that would prove she didn't do the second one."

"Look, you're preaching to the choir here. We both know she didn't do this. If you hear from her, please have her call me."

Dubois decided to wait at her house for her to come home.

Miko finally came home. Dubois found her and told her she had to come with him. She asked for a couple of hours to see Mistress first. Since they had three hours until the press conference, he agreed to meet her back here at noon.

Miko went to see Mistress. Together they talked about how they would handle the press conference. Mistress sent a man to LaFontaine and told him it would be worth the show if he and some of his men were to be in the back of the press conference.

Mistress and Miko were ready. At 11:45 Miko went home to find Dubois waiting for her.

"Look, we can finish this, but you can't take me in until after the press conference."

"I've been told you must be locked up before the press conference."

"I don't want to hurt you, but I must be at the press conference."

Dubois looked at her long and hard. "Why?" She didn't answer but he knew he wouldn't be able to force her. "Okay, we'll walk up at 1 P. M. Okay?"

She nodded. They agreed to meet back at her place at 12:50.

The two of them arrived at the square at 12:55. The ring of cops let him lead her through security and up to the side of the microphones. Miko saw Mistress quietly come up in the rear, and she saw LaFontaine, and a couple of his men come up behind the crowd on the other side of the back. She closed her eyes and meditated until the mayor started talking.

The mayor had seen Dubois walk up with Miko and had nodded at him.

"Good afternoon, everyone. We are here today to announce we are ready to arrest the person responsible for the chief's death. That person is in this crowd at this moment. Lt. Dubois, please bring the prisoner forward."

Dubois started to take Miko's elbow when she threw her cloak off. She was dressed in her ceremonial robe, and when she dropped her hood, everyone around her could see her flashing eyes. Everyone around them made room and she moved in an ever-moving circle toward the front of the crowd until she was standing in front of the mayor.

A hush grew over the crowd. While no one was watching, the Mistress's men surrounded the square. The police and LaFontain were now outnumbered.

The Red Witch spoke in a clear and cold voice, loud enough that everyone in the square could hear her words clearly. "God is displeased with the corruption in this matter. He has allowed the spirits to intervene in the affairs of men today because of the great wickedness before us." She raised her hands and shook them. A thunderclap was heard above them. It startled everyone. It was a clear sky and nothing in the air, but they were all sure they had heard it. "The land of New Orleans is being stolen by outsiders with the assistance of the mayor, the late police chief and the Swamp Gators." She pointed to LaFontain. The people around him moved away like they were about to be struck by lightning. Even LaFontain started backing up.

"The spirits tell all. Greed is the evil that corrupts the heart, and there are devils in our midst. God is ready for judgment day. I ask Him to strike down the guilty parties now!"

She raised her hands again and began chanting. Smoke began rolling out of her robe sleaves as she chanted. No one noticed the Mistress moving forward until she raised her arms toward LaFontain. He fell to the ground and began convulsing. Before the terror-stricken crowd could move the Red Witch turned to the mayor and pointed at him. He immediately fell on the ground and began convulsing.

Dubois was speechless, just like everyone else. He knew he was keeping an open mind about this stuff, but this is some scary shit here. How had they done this? They weren't that close, not close enough to fire anything into them.

The ring of police officers tightened the circle, but none would get near the two witches. Mistress's men picked up LaFontain and dragged him toward the front of the crowd. The cops didn't try to stop them as they dropped LaFontain beside the mayor.

The Red Witch stepped up to the microphone. "The mayor and chief conspired with a company named "Rebuilding New Orleans" to buy our people's ruined properties at a discount and use them for their profit. When the chief held them up for more money, they sent LaFontain to kill him with poison. However, it is not the poison Voodoo priestesses sometimes allegedly use. It is the wrong poison." She points to the two men. "Here are your criminals."

At that moment, a giant thunderclap boomed above them, and fog rolled in from the woods. The people ran for what they thought were their lives until only the Mistress' men, the Red Witch, Bella, and Dubois was left. Even the cops ran.

Miko was satisfied until she saw her Mistress fall. She screamed and ran to her. She took her head in her lap, crying. "Mistress, mistress, you can't go. I'm not ready, you can't go."

She opened her eyes and smiled. "My child, you are more than ready. The thunder was from you. Good spell, my dear. It is time I go, and you become Red Witch, the Mistress of the Night."

She closed her eyes and was gone. Miko held her head in her lap and cried while their men surrounded them in a protective circle. They didn't need to. None of the people downtown near the square would have come anywhere near that scene.

When a couple of the police officers finally returned, they called the paramedics for the two men. By the time they arrived at the hospital, they had confessed to everything. They did recover for their trial. The scheme to buy the land fell apart under the glare of a public trial.

Dubois didn't try to get to Miko. He let her and her men grieve in peace.

The coroner came, but he let the mistress' body be taken by her men to her own doctor. She was prepared and buried near the other four Queens of Voodoo of New Orleans.

But not before they had a parade that was compared to Marti Gra. The celebration went on for days. Even the people in New Orleans that didn't believe in Voodoo joined in the celebration. It may have something to do with the mayor and largest gangster in town both going to jail, or it may have been just something to do.

Afterward, Miko moved into the house of the Mistress. It was a magnificent house, the one she had left when she "retired" to the swamp. It has housed the last two mistress, and now it would be the home of a third.

Bella came and visited often. The first time, she had insisted Miko tell her how they had done it. Just like magicians, sorcerers don't give up their secrets, but she did give a few hints.

"We have people everywhere. We had one man in LaFontain's inner circle. That morning, we made sure he was given a special drink of whisky. He always drank whisky in the morning, and this one was loaded. The same with the mayor. His assistant went to get him a cup of coffee, and we made it special coffee.

The timing worked out great, but that was just an accident."

"I can see all that. What about the thunder? How'd you do that?"

"I can't tell all my secrets." She just smiled.

The Red Witch was now the Mistress of the Night in New Orleans, and Bella was sure New Orleans was in good hands.

Dubois never told her about her grandfather. He figured someone else would tell her when the time came. He thought she was doing all right on her own and would have no use for that land now.