Page 10 of Shadow Killer
Just as Noelle was about to start the tour, Brandon signaled her over.
Once out of earshot, Brandon hunched a little, keeping his deep voice low. “I’m sorry about that. They’re here from Houston. They had this tour booked and invited me. It was a spur of the moment thing, and I had no clue you were the tourguide. I know it makes you uncomfortable for me to be here, so I’ll fake a last-minute call from work.”
As he got his phone out, Noelle felt terrible about it and touched his hand. “Very few people know what I do Friday nights. Your friends want you to be here. And my reasons for not liking you have nothing to do with the tour or this evening. We’re grown-ups and can act like it for the night.”
Noelle could’ve winced at the way she’d let that information slip. Mentally slapping herself, Noelle instead plastered on her best smile and turned to the group.
“Are you ready for a night of fright and magic?”
With each step she took, Noelle found the natural pace and enthusiasm she always felt when doing a tour as the familiar sight and smells of her favorite spots deep inside the French Quarter and far away from tourist traps surrounded her.
Under the cover of night, the beautiful turned sublime and mysterious, enhancing the stories Noelle recounted. In the shadows of an inner garden, she talked about the enchanting tale of a sad adventure, the passionate and heartbreaking story of a young creole couple who had lived in the house. When she learned about Ryland and Nico’s occupation, she decided to modify the tour to make it less bloody and more thrilling, focusing instead on rebels, lovers, and adventurers. Tales of that sort were plenty, and it would probably allow a reprieve from all the violence and gore they experienced in their profession.
One of the highlights of the tour was that Noelle had the keys to a property called Bouchette House. When they reached it, she invited everyone to enter and explore, search for possible ghosts in the dark, take pictures, and try to catch a sighting.
As soon as they entered, laughter, giggles, and whispers echoed in the old structure, which made her smile in return. It took Noelle a full minute to realize that Brandon hadn’t gone inside with his friends and was instead walking along the tall walls of the garden invaded by weeds and wildflowers. He wasn’t looking in her direction, and instead, strolled the perimeter, a lost expression on his face. She felt a pull toward him, despite everything he represented. He was handsome and charismatic, that was undeniable, but what Noelle felt was a bit more complicated. She wanted to hate him as much as she hated Reeker, but after hearing how he was settling in at the department and acted with his friends during the tour, there wasn’t anything she could grasp to build a case against him.
“Didn’t you want to go inside to try and find a ghost?” How had she bridged the gap between them so fast?
Even in the dark, his terrific blue eyes shone brightly when they zeroed in on her. A slow smile followed. “I’m not sure I believe in ghosts. And I have a feeling that Ryland and Nico are using the ghost excuse to get their ladies into a corner and do the unspeakable.”
“The unspeakable?” A chuckle bubbled up, breaking a little chunk of the barricade she had built against a potential enemy. “Well, I hope they don’t mind having a couple of ghost voyeurs with them.”
His chuckle faded fast, turning the mood serious again. “May I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
He took a step closer. “What did I do wrong? If I’ve done something to offend you, something that made you uncomfortable, I want to apologize. I’m still getting my bearings, and I know I tend to be curt when I’m in the middle of an investigation. Does it have to do with the Noble case I discussed with you, or was it something before that?”
Now she felt like the bad guy. “You haven’t done anything wrong, Brandon. It’s more complicated than that.”
The wind shifted, and she caught his scent.
“What’s complicated?”
Noelle was debating whether to reveal more when Leanna, Ryland, Jordyn, and Nico stumbled out of the house full of mirth.
“I’m sure I saw a ghost! I swear I did!” Leanna pulled up her phone screen, and a full-blown debate ensued. It was clear the men didn’t believe it, but both women had great arguments.
It wasn’t the first time Noelle had witnessed that kind of discussion, but it was fun to see it with the four of them.
“You’re such a fun bunch. Would you like to see a few more locations? My treat.”
Leanna smiled, but it was clear she was getting tired because of all the walking. “I think we’ve all had a long day, and I can’t feel my feet anymore. I’ve had so much fun, though. And you’re a born storyteller. I would love to spend more time with you. We’re staying a little while, maybe a later in the week?”
“You have the tour company’s number. Ask for me by name, and it would be my pleasure to organize another private tour just for you guys.”
Leanna jumped into her arms for a big hug, quickly replaced by Jordyn. The pretty black-haired woman sighed. “I enjoyed your tour very much. And I hope we can see you again. We plan to meet Brandon later this week, and you’re invited. Brandon’s friends are our friends.”
Noelle tried to backpedal, but they didn’t seem to want to let it go. Trying to find a way out, the trap closed even more tightly on her when Ryland frowned. “It’s later than I thought. Brandon, make sure to escort Noelle back home, would you?”
“No need, Ryland. I know New Orleans like the back of my hand. I have nothing to fear here.”
She must not have been very convincing as Nico stepped in. “We don’t doubt your ability. We’re just wired that way. Keeping people safe is who we are.”
With such sincerity, it was difficult to find a good excuse to disagree.
“Don’t worry. I’ll accompany her home safe and sound. And if we come across any thugs, I’m sure Noelle will be able to defend me.”