The Eagle's Rook and Tracking a Killer

By Marie Nadeau Lawson

Chris' parents are about to get married while the killer of his maternal grandmother is on the loose and Chris identical twin brother is with him.
Chris goes on his first paranormal cases with the Dressler Paranormal Research Team.
Chris and his family are finally reunited with Jean-Jacques after so many years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Nadeau Lawson
• Release date: Dec 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781517060770

Marie Nadeau Lawson

Marie Nadeau Lawson got her writing start at the age of eight when she and some friends decided to write a book about bunnies. Marie wrote the story while her friends drew the images. Upon completion the book was placed in the school's library.The years went by and Marie received her advanced degree in Counseling Psychology and forgot about writing save for the many reports she had to write for her job, until the day her youngest brother, Chris, suggested she start writing again. That night Love, Carly was born.Marie lives in sunny Southern California with her gray tabby cat.

Book preview

The Eagle’s Rook

and

Tracking a Killer

Marie Nadeau Lawson

The Eagle's Rook and Finding Hélène

By Marie Nadeau Lawson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Marie Nadeau Lawson

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For my mom. You don’t know how much I wish you were here today. I love you and I miss you every day.

Chapter I: You are Cordially Invited

The rehearsal went well, thought Chris as he and his parents walked into his great uncle’s Zaragoza restaurant, which was closed for the night for the rehearsal dinner of the Robillard-Sainz wedding party.

Carlos Sainz, the owner and head chef of Zaragoza, was a bit miffed that he was not catering the wedding as well as the rehearsal dinner, but he got over it soon enough. Effervescent Tio Carlos could never stay angry with anyone for very long.

Roberto, who had just found his beloved Hélène alive a few months prior, looked around and smiled as he told his son. This is it, he said aloud. Tomorrow, I shall be a married man after all these years.

Hélène looked at her son and sighed. Chris could tell she wished his twin brother was there as well. She gripped her son to her and said, I love you, Chris.

Chris smiled and said, I know mom. I love you, too.

Marguerite Emond-Hawkins, Chris’ longtime girlfriend, walked up and asked, Do you want to dance, cher?

After Chris and Marguerite’s dance ended, Chris said, I have to go make a speech now.

Marguerite smiled and joined her family; while Chris grabbed his wine glass and clicked in gently with his spoon to get everyone’s attention.

Chris smiled when he had all eyes on him and said, I just wanted to say, thanks to all of you for making this evening a night to remember. Those of you who have known me know I have always wanted my parents to be alive and together and it looked like I got my wish. Tomorrow is a day my parents have been waiting for sixteen years and barring any more weirdness that has surrounded my family for some time, I think it’s gonna go off without a hitch. So everyone, raise your glasses to my parents. Here is to mom and dad!

Chris looked for Jean Pierre to tell him a joke he had heard then went to Danny when he could not find him and asked, Where’s your brother?

Danny shrugged and replied, I don’t know, mon ami. However, I hope he is not drinking again. Doug flipped out the last time he did that at a party.

As they searched for Jean Pierre, Chris asked, Why don’t you call Doug dad? I’ve always wondered about that.

Danny shrugged and said, I don’t know. He has never asked us to call him dad, so we do not. I mean, we know he is our dad, but we do not have to call him dad just because he is our dad. Does that make any sense?

For you, it speaks volumes, for anyone else, I’d be lost.

They finally found Jean Pierre in the men’s restroom passed out from nearly one hundred half-empty glasses of wine. Chris got to him first and ordered Danny to get Doug. Chris held his best friend’s head in his lapped in case he vomited so he would not asphyxiate on it.

Doug and Danny arrived. Upon seeing Jean Pierre, Doug sighed and said, He might have alcohol poisoning. It used to happen to my wife a lot.

Jean Pierre slowly came to and asked, Where am I?

Chris frowned and replied, You passed out from drinking many, many glasses of wine. What were you thinking? You could have killed yourself, you idiot!

Jean Pierre groaned and said, I didn’t think I drank that much of it. I thought I only had maybe one or two. I’m so sorry, Doug.

Doug sighed and said, You shouldn’t drink at all, Jean Pierre You can’t handle it. You seem to have a weakness for alcohol, which makes you ill. Come on, I’ll get you some water, it’ll help a lot. They returned to the table.

Twenty minutes later, Roberto stood and handed four pairs of two-carat diamond cufflinks to his four groomsmen, Tony, Danny, Jean Pierre and Doug. Then he handed a new laptop computer as well as a pair of the diamond cufflinks to his son for his tile workshop in the backyard.

Soon, the rehearsal dinner was over and everyone went home. Roberto’s bachelor party was right after the rehearsal dinner at his house that night and playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker for Roberto’s bachelor party. Roberto’s guest list included Chris, Tony, Doug, Danny, Jean Pierre, Tio Carlos, his son, Rodrigo, Tio Frederico, his son, Esteban, Paul Croteau, who was Renée’s husband, Sam Black Croteau, Paul and Renée’s adoptive son, Tom Morin and Jacques Benoit, Hélène’s father

Hélène, Alyssa, Renée Croteau, who was the matron of honor, Tio Carlos’ daughter, Maria, Marguerite, Anne and Cecily were at the Parkway Shores Hotel in the Presidential Suite watching movies for Hélène’s bachelorette party.

Marguerite turned to her sisters and said, Remember the first time we were all in this suite?

Anne and Cecily nodded. It was only one and a half years prior the girls and their boyfriends left the safety of their homes in New Orleans to come to Fort Lauderdale on an adventure, the girls were positive would end in disaster, but ended in Chris finding his father in the Maison des Grands Jardins in Savannah, Georgia.

Hélène asked, When were you all in this suite, Marguerite?

Chris received a letter from Mr. Winkle telling him he’d inherited Roberto’s ship and that they were leaving on a voyage, June 26th at 8 pm. We snuck out of the orphanages in the middle of the night in N’awlins and came here. It helped that Mr. Winkle sent Chris twenty thousand dollars to pay for our trip here. We solved three clues that led us to Savannah and Roberto.

Alyssa said, The girls were all in St. Anne’s like you and Renée, Hélène. Chris, Danny and Jean Pierre were all in St. Jean‘s under your mother, who by all accounts, treated the boys like filth under her shoes. I heard she tried to get Sam thrown in CSH for just being black.

Hélène sighed and said, My poor mother was a troubled woman, I’m afraid. She turned to her best friend and asked, Are you and Paul okay about Sam being gay, Renée?

Renée smiled and said, Yes, we both are. There is nothing to be okay about them. It is who they are. We had a family meeting about it and Sam and Tom explained their relationship to us. Their relationship was still innocent. They told us they’re both not ready for sex yet, which is alright with me.

Marguerite admitted, Sam and Tom told us they were gay years ago. Jean Pierre has a lot of growing up to do. He freaked out when we walked off the elevator and saw them making out. How are Brian and David fitting in at Madame Lafarge’s?

Renée commented, Jean Pierre has always been like that for as long as I’ve known him. He gets upset over the most ridiculous things. Brian and David are doing quite well with us. Brian’s grades are up and he is dating Cecille Genais right now. David spends a great deal of time with Catherine Nicholar studying.

Hélène asked, What was my son like growing up in N’awlins?

Renée replied, Chris? Oh, he was the quiet one. For almost two years, we were not quite certain he could speak. He tends to retreat into his own world to process things. If he did not have Jean Pierre and Danny, he would still be there. He is a loner by nature, but he is a social butterfly by nurture. Wouldn’t you agree, Marguerite?

Marguerite nodded and said, He’s so shy about girls. We had been going steady for almost two years, but it took him until two weeks before the eighth grade dance to ask me to go with him. We had our first kiss on our first voyage on the Eagle’s Rook. He’s become much better about kissing me though.

Cecily glanced at Marguerite and said, Jean Pierre and I had our first kiss on the Eagle’s Rook, too.

Anne said, So did Danny and me. I had to take control because Danny had no clue what he was doing.

Renée said, But he’s always been the leader of the six of you. Danny and Jean Pierre always seemed to be walking behind him, they weren’t, but it seemed like it.

Anne said, That’s true. It is a natural quality with Chris. He is shy but he is a natural leader. It’s just a paradox with him, I guess.

Alyssa said, It was his idea to give Tony and me our honeymoon in Paris last Christmas. The girls stayed with Roberto and him.

Marguerite said, Roberto caught us making out on the front porch. Chris and I were so embarrassed that we avoided Roberto for three days or so.

Alyssa said, I remember Roberto thought you and Chris were already having sex, Marguerite. Doug told Tony and Tony told me.

Marguerite blushed and said, No. We decided years ago that if we thought we were ready for sex, we would discuss it and Chris would take care of the condoms. Safe sex has been drilled into our heads at school.

Cecily said, Jean Pierre and I have talked about it and decided we’re not ready yet.

Anne added, Danny and I are nowhere near being ready for sex.

Hélène said, You’re all so mature about it. I remember when I turned eighteen; Roberto and I could not keep our hands to ourselves. Back then, I would not even let him hold my hand when we first fell in love, because I was so afraid he would be arrested. It all seems like yesterday to me.

Renée soothed, That’s because to you, it is, cher. To all of us, it has been eighteen years. I wish I would’ve even had a clue that Elisabeth was holding you hostage. I worked with her. I knew how shady she was. Emily and I devised a plan to keep an eye on Chris when we discovered his paranormal abilities so that one of us would keep an eye on him at all times. We were afraid of what Elisabeth might do if she found out about his gifts.

Hélène sighed and said, My poor mother was so unstable by that point, I don’t doubt she would have done anything to get her hands on Chris if she learned of his abilities.

An hour later, all the women were asleep.

The following morning, Chris was the first one up, making sure he had the rings his father bought years before for the wedding that was not to be.

He went to the breakfast room and found the chef had already laid out the breakfast buffet for the groom’s party.

Tony was up next. He walked downstairs, saw Chris eating breakfast and asked, Where’s your father? I would have thought he’d be the first one up.

Doug came down and said, I heard the shower on in the master bathroom, so he’s up already.

Twenty minutes later, the groom came downstairs dressed in khaki trousers and a green polo shirt showing Chris’ influence on his father’s attire.

He asked, Is anyone ready to get married today? I know I am.

Chris laughed and said, Okay, dad. Mellow out. The ceremony isn’t till two this afternoon.

Tony said, I called the hotel and they said the ballroom is ready. The wedding coordinator was there at six this morning decorating it. Since yours is the only wedding today at the church, they were able to get in there and decorate as well.

Roberto nodded and said, Thank you, Tony. He then turned to Chris and said, I had no idea you were such a card shark, my son.

Chris said, I didn’t either. How much did I win?

Tony replied, Two hundred dollars, I think. We only played for nickels and dimes.

At one o’clock, the bridal party arrived at the church and went to their separate rooms.

When Hélène got into her wedding gown, the women in the room cried, knowing how long she had waited to marry the man of her dreams.

Jacques walked in and teared up as he saw his only child in her wedding gown. He said, Your Maman would have cherished this day, Hélène.

Hélène smiled through her tears and said, Thanks, dad. Okay, let’s get me married.

In the groom’s room, Roberto grew more and more nervous. He became fidgety and started to perspire.

Chris took control and said, Dad, look at me. Mom will be there. She is not going to bolt on you at the last minute. She is in the next room with many witnesses. She will be there. Okay?

Roberto nodded.

Chris smiled and said, Okay. Let’s get you married.

As Hélène walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, she looked at her son, who had tears in his eyes as he watched his own mother about to marry his father.

This is it, Chris thought. I’m getting everything I am ever wished for now.

Chris smiled as he watched his parents gaze at each other.

Thirty minutes later, the priest announced, By the power invested in me by the Roman Catholic Church and the State of Florida, I now pronounce you man and wife. Go in peace. You may kiss your bride now, Roberto.

As Hélène and Roberto walked back up the aisle as husband and wife, she turned and saw her son walking with her best friend behind them. She was surprised when she saw everyone in the church in joyous tears.

Fifteen minutes later, the bridal party was in a nearby park taking photographs with the hired wedding photographer. After half an hour, everyone was finished taking photographs and left for the Parkway Shores Hotel ballroom.

Jean Pierre and Danny, who were groomsmen, walked in the ballroom with their respective girlfriends after bring introduced by the deejay hired for the reception. Then Doug and Marguerite walked in with Tony and Alyssa. Afterward, Chris and Renée walked in together as best man and matron of honor.

The deejay announced, Now, the couple of the day, Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Sainz!

There was a thunderous applause as Roberto and Hélène walked in the ballroom as a married couple. This was a day long overdue and everyone in the room knew it.

Roberto looked at his bride and asked, "Shall we take our first dance as a married couple, my