Terror on the Bayou by Stephen John

Author:Stephen John
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Miss Fortune, Humor, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Whodunnit, Strong Female Characters, Twists and Turns
Publisher: J&R Fan Fiction
Published: 2022-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, Walter cleaned and fileted two spotted sea trout. Brennan, who has proven to be a magnificent cook, took the filets and grilled them over open fire with onions, lime, jalapenos, garlic and cilantro. He added roasted root vegetables.

“This is amazing, Brennan,” Gertie said. “This is the best sea trout I’ve ever had.”

“It is,” Ida Belle agreed. “I think I’ve gained five pounds since we got here. What is your secret, Brennan?”

Brennan smiled, “Trout has a moderate-flaky, white meat. It is softer than other inshore fish, so it’s important to not overcook it or it becomes mushy.”

“Well, it’s perfect,” I complimented. “Right, Carter?”

“Mmh ummm,” he mumbled, with a giant mouthful of fish.

I smiled at Brennan, “That’s Carter’s way of expressing his satisfaction. Did you make dessert?”

Brennan shook his head, “No. not tonight. Why?”

“Nothing. I thought I smelled something sweet.”

“Is that a hint?”

“No . . . but it could be.”

“You’re in luck,” Walter said. “I’m handling dessert tonight. It won’t be fancy like Brennan’s but it’ll be good. I brought along everything we need for s’mores.”

My eyes widened, “S’mores! My weakness.”

Gertie was being quiet, I noticed, staring into her Jean Lafitte books. She was flipping through the pages in her three-ring binder and making notes. Curiosity was getting the better of me.

“Gertie, you look like you're cramming for an exam. What are you doing?”

“Well, since you and Carter gave such a detailed description of the ghost of Jean Lafitte . . .”

“Gertie, I never said it was a ghost.”

“Hey! You asked me a question. Do you want to hear the answer or not?”

“I’m sorry. That was rude of me. Yes, I do.”

“Good. Like I was saying, since you got such an accurate description, I decided to compare it to other sightings over the years. After all, people have been reporting ghost sightings of Jean Lafitte for nearly two hundred years.”

“That’s actually a very good idea. I’m sorry I interrupted you. Did you find anything?”

“Actually . . . yes, and it’s very interesting.”

“Sorry,” Brennan said. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Did you say you compared the description of Fortune’s ghost to other Jean Lafitte sightings?”

Gertie nodded.

“Wait for me,” Ida Belle urged. “I want to hear this, too.”

“I’m out,” Carter said. “I’ve spent enough time on this topic. I’m helping Walter with the s’mores.”

“I’m with Carter and Walter,” Jules added.

“Don’t mind them,” Ida Belle said. “Tell us what you found, Gertie.”

“Well, you may recall, Lafitte died in 1823. Ghost sightings began very shortly thereafter. However, most of the original reports were in or near Galveston, Texas.”

“Galveston? That’s four-hundred miles away.”

“I know, but Lafitte lived there in his final years. He lived in a mansion in the Fort Maison Rouge in Galveston. That’s where his ghost legend began.”

“Keep going,” I urged.

“Well, according to local legend, Jean Lafitte haunted his former home with a pack of wild dogs, better known as the Campeche Devil Dogs. They were bred to hunt men as well as animals.”

“Ghost dogs?” Brennan repeated. “No one here has said anything about dogs.

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