Murder in New Orleans (A Dodo Dorchester Mystery Book 11) by Ann Sutton

Author:Ann Sutton [Sutton, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Poppy Publishing
Published: 2023-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

As they jumped onto a streetcar, Rupert asked, “What’re your plans when we get there? See how the land lies? Nose around?”

Dodo looked out the window. “I suppose so. But we’ll have to be careful not to tip anyone off. We must look like ordinary tourists. I’m hoping for a spark of inspiration once we get there.”

The tram let them out at the bustling port and they wandered along docks full of muscular stevedores swinging loads off barges and onto the wharf. The workers eyed them both suspiciously. Seeing nothing overtly untoward and spotting a coffee shop, Dodo suggested they stop for a drink. “Places like that are a haven for local gossip.”

A redheaded, freckled, young woman approached their table, and after they had ordered, she dropped her voice and declared, “I love your dress, miss. You don’t see things like that in New Orleens. Are y’all from New York?”

Dodo had to smother a snort. “Thank you. Actually, we’re from across the pond.”

“Lake Pontchartrain?”

“The Atlantic. We’re from England,” explained Rupert.

The waitress’s cheeks flushed red and her mossy eyes twinkled with excitement. “Oh, my heck! Y’all are not! I never met an English person before!”

Eager to exploit the girl’s interest, Dodo asked, “I say, do you know much about the docks?”

“Oh, yes, miss. Lived here my whole life.”

“We were wondering about the place.” Dodo decided to get right to the point. “Are there any problems with smuggling? It’s a huge issue in London.”

The girl looked over her shoulder. “I’d say every port in the world has problems of the sort, wouldn’t you?”

Rupert’s brow hiked up with curiosity. “What kinds of products are smuggled? Whiskey?”

“No sir, not since Prohibition. More like tobacco and cocaine.”

“And this goes on under the officials’ noses?” Dodo asked.

The waitress checked the whereabouts of the manager then bent down to whisper, “Well, a bribe goes a long way ‘round here, or so I hear.”

“A young friend of ours used to spend a lot of time watching the boats by the water,” Dodo continued.

“Lots of people pass the time that way,” the waitress agreed turning to leave.

“Our friend’s name was Clyde—”

The girl spun around, her amber curls bouncing. “Oh! I know him!”

Dodo couldn’t believe her luck. “We’re worried he may have been muddled up in something like smuggling.”

“Really? He doesn’t seem the type. I see Clyde on my way home from work, sometimes. He’s a shy boy and I’m not supposed to speak to him because—well, you know, but he asks me questions and it would be rude not to answer, I say. But now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him the last couple of days.” She looked around as if he might walk past the restaurant.

Dodo’s stomach plummeted. “Then I’m sorry to have to tell you that he was killed.”

The girl slapped a hand to her mouth. “No!” Her big green eyes flashed over her fingers. “Do you know why? Was it the smugglers?”

“We don’t know. I was hoping someone here at the port might know something—”

“Miss Boothe!” cried a buxom lady who was obviously the coffee shop manager.

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