That resulted in Chanel’s great grandfather and other Killer Crows buying up incredibly cheap land around Dream Lake.
In the Jones Mansion, there’s a framed picture of an old news article.
The title proclaimed, “Crazy Negroes Buy Property Around Haunted Lake.”
The reporter believed that they would die or be taken by ghosts soon.
But, nothing ever happened.
Granted, Mom heard all the stories and believed that there were no ghosts. She guessed that the Killer Crows were the reason for the magic of the haunting. Hiding in the water with diving gear, they probably spent their weekends yanking white swimmers down to their deaths. She also thought they stole the boats, killed the passengers, and hocked the vessels for parts.
But none of that explained the fact that many people still saw ghosts at night when they camped around it. That didn’t account for the tombstones that always rose to the surface and floated on the same week every year, the Week of Blood.
And that never explained why Mom never allowed me to swim in the lake, when I would come to the Jones’ to visit.
On the balcony, Chanel grabbed my attention. “Last night, I watched so many restless souls roaming the surface.”
“Were they singing like when you saw them last month?”
“They’re always singing, but the sound was so low. It was hard to hear.” She took another sip from her glass. “Do you want something to drink?”
“No. I’m too busy today. You enjoy it for me.”
“I’ll do my best.” She took another gulp. “Are you coming to Romeo’s memorial tonight?”
“I will.”
“I know you hate driving down into the South, but Romeo loved Marcelo’s club.”
“Even though mine are better.” I spotted several men below us, walking up to the end of the lake. They were all dressed in red, which told me they were Killer Crows. They had planks of wood scattered around. Others were on the side, hammering wooden planks together.
“You’re quiet, Dima.”
I continued to watch the men hammer. “I’m always quiet.”
“Especially, when you’re hiding something.”
“I’ve never noticed that about me.” I spotted more men near the lake, dragging out boxes of tools.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re hiding from me? Or should I just let you do your thing? I already have a lot on my plate.”
“I vote for you to let me do my thing. Trust me as you always have.”
She eyed me. “And whatever you don’t want me to know, it doesn’t have anything to do with Romeo’s killer?”
“It doesn’t.”
Not really.
She sipped her drink.
I turned her way, getting a better look at my friend. “Have I ever disappointed you?”
“Not yet, Dima.”
“I’ll take that.” I gestured to the men by the lake. “What are they building?”
An exasperated breath left her. “Romeo’s lawyer read the will this morning. My dear brother had thirty pages breaking down his plans for his funeral.”
I grinned. “I’m not surprised at all. He was a bigger control freak than me.”
“And an extreme narcissist. I’m also to commission two artists to paint a massive mural of him on the Mercedes Benz brick wall facing Luxury Road. So, anytime people enter the West, they’ll see Romeo smiling at them. He wants the word, legend, written in gold and above his head.”
“Just one word? That’s humble of him.” I pointed at the wooden planks. “But what are they making.”
“Romeo also requested a Viking funeral.”
“What?” I quirked my brows.
“You heard me. I’ve got our people building a boat according to his specifications. Then, we’re supposed to put his body on this boat, cover it in white lace drenched with gasoline, push it out onto the lake, and shoot lit arrows at.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m very serious.”
“But didn’t the Vikings bodies go out to the ocean?”
“Dima, I don’t know what the hell the Vikings did. I just wish Romeo wanted something simple like a casket and burial.” She shook her head and drank some more. “If he was alive, I would kill him.”
“This will be an interesting funeral indeed.”
“Let’s not forget about the parade.”
I smiled. “Does the parade come before his body gets set on fire?”
“Thankfully. He also wants a grand ball a week after the Viking funeral.”
Good. Romeo is keeping Chanel and the Killer Crows busy so they won’t go on a war rampage. He always thought several steps ahead of everyone.
I glanced back at the men building the boat. “I’m going to miss Romeo. He was a mastermind.”
“Do you have any suspects?”
“Chanel, I need more time.”
“Fine, but when I’m done with my brother’s instructions, then I’m on the case too.”
I stirred. Chanel on the case meant her running around Paradise with her guns. Her sleuthing equated to bullets to the heads and blood covering the streets. Most of the time, someone confessed just to stop all the horror in the city.
And with the passing of her big brother, no one would be able to hold Chanel back anymore. Not even Lei.