Leroy knocked on Billie Jo's door. He'd just gotten back from New Orleans and he wasn't even sure she was in. He hadn't called her as what he had to tell her wasn't exactly the sort of thing you could tell someone on a cell phone when she could be out in public or something.

When he heard the door unlock he plastered on a half-assed smile.

"Hi. Thought you might want an update on what happened today. Or if not, I'll just..."

"No, I do.  Please, come in," she said, standing back from the door.  "I'm glad you came by.  Are you hungry?  Have you eaten?"

"No. I mean I haven't eaten. You want me to go get some Chinese?"

"Good heavens, no.  I've got a pot of chili ready.  Unless, do you like chili?"

"Oh sure, chili's good. I just, you know, didn't want you to go to any trouble."

"It's no trouble honey.  It's almost ready.  Would you like a beer or something else?" she asked, heading for the kitchen.  "Come sit in here and tell me your news while I finish dinner."

"Ok. Beer's good." He followed Billie into her kitchen and got himself a beer from the frig. "I should get you some groceries at this rate. You keep feeding me."

She grinned.  "If you want.  But you really don't need to.  I like to cook and I like your company so I figure it works out."

"Yeah, but still. I blew up the kitchen when I was six so wasn't allowed in there any more."

She laughed.  "Oh my.  I bet you never got a chemistry set either."

"Not after that," he replied with a grin. "Dixie accused me of planning it that way so I didn't have to do the dishes or clean the kitchen."

"Your sister?  Was it just you two?  Or were there more kids?"

"Just us two. Dixie pretty much raised me after mom got sick.  So listen, about today."

"Yeah?" she said, setting the table.  "I'm listening honey."

"Why don't you sit down?"

She looked at him for a minute, then turned the heat off on the stove.  She turned back to him, not moving and waited, holding her elbows in front of her.

"The ghosts got him to show us where the body was. They found it an hour ago after dredging the bayou. I'm sorry, Billie."

She nodded, sucking her lips between her teeth while her hands went white on her elbows.  "I...I see," she said, turning suddenly towards the stove, gripping the edge with both hands.  Her head dropped forward while she took several deep breaths through her nose, struggling to subdue the revolt in her stomach and the tears that she'd managed to avoid most of the day.  The tears won this time.

Leroy was up in a heartbeat and wrapping her up in his arms where he stood behind her. "I'm so sorry, Billie," he whispered as he held her.

She nodded her head wordlessly, turning to sob against his shoulder.

Leroy patted her back a bit awkwardly. "We've got the contents of the missing box. Mama and Angelique are going to use it to lift the curse. You know, to set the ghosts free."

She nodded and lifted her head.  "I'm so sorry for doing this to you, crying all over you.  I know he's not worth it."  She swallowed and took a step back, pulling a wad of kleenex from the back pocket of her jeans.  "When are they going to do it?"

"Tomorrow night, 9pm. Listen, you don't need to go. I've got it in hand. And maybe it'd be better if you just, you know. Take it easy tomorrow."

"No, I want to be there.  I already feel like I dumped everything on you while I was...because I was...I want to be there."

"And I'm telling you I don't feel dumped on. It's okay. But if that's what you really want..."

"I do. So," she said after a minute, turning the heat back on under the chili, "anything else happen?"

"Uhm, no not really. Pretty usual sort of day, actually."

She ladled some chili into two bowls and handed them to him.  Then she put a pan of cornbread on the table and sat down.  "Well, I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure it was a nice change, having a routine day."

"Yeah, it was. Kinda relaxing actually. So you didn't miss much at all."  He took a bite of cornbread. "Oh, that's great. Nothing like Northerners cooking. They just don't have a clue on cornbread."

It had been raining off and on all day in New Orleans.  The weather guys were saying the evening would be more of the same with some early spring thunderstorms roaring through.  Billy pulled her rain coat closer and looked around the yard.  It hadn't changed much at all since the first time she'd seen it.  She sighed.

"So, Mama -- what can I do?"

"You sit down, Billie. We got things almost ready. Leroy you come with me. I want you to reach me something high."

"Sure, Mama. I guess I am the tall person around here," Leroy replied with a grin.

When the two of them were away from Billie and Angelique had joined them Leroy broke the silence while he was putting lights way up into the trees, "I'm kinda worried about how Billie's gonna react when she sees Joe. Did they like let him get cleaned up and stuff? The ghosts I mean?  He's not gonna show up covered in pea soup or anything? Oh, and the NOPD has half the force out looking for him."

Angelique patted his arm.  "It will be fine.  But perhaps you should warn her, cherie?"

"Oh, yeah maybe.  Okay."  When he was free he walked over and sat down beside Billie. "Uhm, I forgot to tell you something last night. Joe's gonna be here."

She met his eyes and nodded.  "Thanks for letting me know."

"And, uhm, he's not exactly himself."

"I'm sure he's upset," she said.

"Well, that's not what I mean. He's... possessed. Josephe kinda took him over to make him say where the box was. Desiree was real mad about him not being willing to give her the box back."

"Oh," she said, the color leaving her face.  She reached out and touched his arm.  "Thank you for worrying about me.  I'll be fine, honest."

"I know you will, honey, honest. But I thought maybe I should warn you because he's not gonna act much like himself."

"It's probably just as well," she said after a minute.

"Yeah, probably true. We'll arrest him and turn him over to NOPD as soon as the ceremony is over. Or I will."

She chewed her lip for a moment and then nodded.  "Okay.  Try not to worry about me, sweetie.  Just keep your mind on what you need to do tonight.  I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Right. Oh, here they come."

Joe, at least relatively cleaned up, came walking in with the ghosts clustering around him. Desiree darted around his head looking at his face quite often. Jospehe was still in possession. Gayle hung off behind them. Other presences began to reappear as they had the night of the seance, drawn out of the darkness by what they knew would occur.

Mama La Tourneau, dressed for the occasion, lay down a cloth over the wooden table, and spread out the coins on it, and bits of rusted metal, all that could be found of the box.   Bella looked at Angelique.  Then said, "Let us all take a seat."

The ghosts moved closer without a word while Billie forced her attention from Joe to mama.

Mama held out her hands and the circle was completed.  Joe stood under the acacia tree, the ghosts clustered around him. The wind, which had been rustling the tree all day, suddenly dropped to dead calm.

"Baron Samedi, Baron Samedi, come to complete your bargain," Mama intoned.

The wind stayed still while the air took on a feel of oppression, heavy and expectant, the humidity a molding wrap smothering her pores.  Billy Jo stifled the urge to let go of Leroy's hand and wipe her face.  She withdrew her senses from the ghosts clustering at the end of the garden, trying to let the murmured words they were speaking flow past her.  She felt infected by the restlessness they were exhibiting, so unlike the night of the seance when they'd been still and almost peaceful.  Instead she listened as Mama continued to intone the Baron's name in a monotone chant, hypnotic and dulling, trying to hear each syllable as a separate and distinct sound whose meaning was as vital as the sum of its parts. 

He was at first an outline, standing on the table looking down at them. Then he began to take form. He wore a white top hat and tails, dark glasses, a tee-shirt under the jacket. His face was pure white his feet clad in shoes with spats over them. He held a baton in his right hand, which he currently held resting against his shoulder. "Who dat who calls me?" he asked as he reached up to pull off his sunglasses. His eye sockets were empty. Even so he looked down at Bella and Angelique.  "Ah. You two. Again."

"What do you mean, again?" Angelique demanded.  "I have never called you voluntarily.  That time was just a misunderstanding."

The Baron bent down to look her in the eye.  "It is not wise to lie to me, Tante Angelique."

"I do not lie," she said flatly.  "And you agreed after I explained to you what happened it was a misunderstanding.  But, you are looking well, I must say.  Much more rested than last time."

"And you are looking dreadful, Angelique. Why are you and Bella bothering me?"

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Baron.  I shall certainly have to do something about it.  We are calling you about a member of my family.  Desiree.  I'm sure you will recall her."

The Baron looked around at Desiree. "Oh. I gave you what you begged of me, child."

"I know and I am grateful.  But the innocent are being hurt, like this poor child," Desiree said.

The Baron turned his empty-eyed gaze on Gayle.  Then, after a stare that seemed to last forever, he looked back at Desiree. "You cared nothing for the innocent when you cast your spell and begged me to grant it.  You told me then you wanted only revenge and you cared nothing with regard to who it hurt."

"I have grown wiser in the years since as have you."

The Baron broke out into loud laughter. "And what have I learned over the years, dear Desiree?"

Desiree looked helplessly at Mama.  "I would not presume to the familiarity required to specify, Baron."

Bella looked at the Baron with a frown. "She wishes you to end the curse."

The Baron stared down at her. "Does she now. And how is she to pay for such a thing, eh? She wished it to last to eternity."  He swung his gaze back to Desiree. "What is the payment, child?"

"I have brought you gold.  And I do not ask to be freed myself.  Nor do Josephe or Alec.  We understand our guilt," she said.

"Then why do you wish the curse to be lifted?" the Baron asked. "Think you the alternatives are better for you?"

"Because it is harming those it was never meant to harm," Desiree explained.  "I seek no alternatives for myself or for the others."

"Who do you wish to spare, then?"  the Baron asked her.

"The innocent.  This child and all the others who might be condemned because of me."

"No," the Baron replied bluntly. "You must pay the price."

"I am willing to pay the price.  I do not seek to evade it in any way.  But I am sure that you would never wish it to be known that you sought payment from those who do not owe it," Desiree said bluntly.

"You are a fool then, Desiree," the Baron laughed. "Someone must pay, beyond you three. I require a live sacrifice. "Him," the Baron said pointing at Leroy. "I will take him."

Leroy's face drained of color.

"Oh no!" Billie Jo said.  "No!"

"Him or nothing," Baron Samedi replied, using his baton to touch Leroy's shoulder.

"I have someone far better," Bella replied. "Him." She pointed at Joe who's own eyes had gone wide as he was frog-marched forward by Josephe who was still in possession. "And," Bella added, "It has the added attraction of being just."

"No," Leroy yelped and stood up, pushing the Baron's baton aside. "No."

Angelique laid a restraining hand on Leroy's arm.  "It is just, cherie.  If he were tried and convicted what do you think would happen."

"He'll go to prison. I won't let you kill him," Leroy hissed. "Not like this."

"Ah, so you want me to take you do you, young man," Baron Samedi said bending down so he was nose to nose with Leroy.

"No, I don't. But Joe there is my prisoner and I'm not lettin' you have him!" Leroy replied, eyes narrowed, determination in every gesture.

"Leroy," Angelique said, stepping between him and the Baron, determination in every line of her, "this is a different world and a different way of justice but it is justice nonetheless.  From a different time and place.  He has nothing left but you have much still to do.  Your death will only make it worse; his will make it better."

Leroy glanced over at Billie Jo who sat there frozen. "Doesn't matter. I won't do it. Take me Baron if you have to have someone. I couldn't live with it on my conscience."

Billie Jo jerked back into the here and now.  "Please Leroy," she whispered, her eyes huge, pleading with him. "Please don't."

"It'll be all right," Leroy said to her, just before Mama picked up a rock and knocked him out.

"Now," Mama said as Leroy slumped to the ground. "You may have Joe."

Billie Jo doubled over at the waist and covered her face with her hands, while Angelique patted her on her shoulder.

Desiree nodded.  "It is right that justice is done in this way, cherie."

Billie Jo just shook her head, relief and repugnance making her dizzy.

The Baron looked around. "A shame. I like him," he said looking down at Leroy. "Idiot. But I like him. All right. I accept the offer. This one," he said, looking at Gayle, will be freed. The other four of you will serve me in eternity."

Angelique nodded and looked at Desiree.

"We are agreed," Desiree said.

Mama stood and began calling power to her. The Baron swirled away into a wind filled with the smell of rot and decay. "I call on the powers of voudoun to undo that which was cast. I call on the spirits to help me free these souls from the curse that has bound them and pay with this man!" she shouted pointing at Joe, whose knees began to buckle.

The air began to blow then, violent and implacable, covering the gold in ice, steaming cold and sparking blue and green.  The sparks became flames rising higher and higher, burning colder feeding on the coins and the metal and the chemise while the stench of blood joined the smell of rot and decay.  Billie Jo bent forward over her feet, gagging and retching, wanting to run away but unable to leave her seat.  She was jerked upright by the explosion that lit the night and engulfed the table.  When it died back down the coins, the metal and the chemise were gone, leaving only a pile of glittering dust in its place.

The wind rose again, concentrated and sharp edged, shaping the dust into letters.  Billie Jo read them and vomited again, the spasms holding her helpless.  Angelique, standing next to her blanched and looked Joe with something akin to pity on her face.

Bella, speaking under her breath, raised her arms and motioned toward the dust. It swirled up into the air, glittering brilliantly and then, with a pause, formed itself into a line aimed at Joe. Joe, panicked, and began fighting against Josephe's hold. He broke free and began running. The dust swirled upwards, paused at the top of the arc, then dived down at Joe, swirling around him and, as he screamed in terror, entered his mouth.

"He will not die immediately," Desiree said.  "But over the course of the next day or so he will sicken and the end will come.  We will stay with him until that time.  At the moment of his death Gayle will be freed."

Leroy groaned as he came back to consciousness.

Angelique gave him a swift look and went to the trailer.  "I'll be right back," she called over her shoulder.

Billie Jo knelt down beside him, holding his hand and smoothing the hair away from his face.  "Honey, you're going to be just fine.  You just rest right there and we'll take care of everything."

Remembrance of what was going on flooded into his eyes. He searched for Joe's face and found it. Joe looked grayish and ill already. "Oh no," Leroy whispered. "How could you," he hissed at Mama.

Angelique returned with an ice bag and some aspirin.  "Hold this to his head," she told Billie while she lifted his head and gave him the aspirin, holding a glass of water for him.  "It isn't serious cherie.  Do not fret, he will be fine.  He has a very hard head, this one and is very hard to kill."

"It is not your place to pay for their mistakes, cher'. Be still, take your aspirin. Billie, see to him.  Look!" Bella added, as Josephe left Joe's body and joined Desiree and Alec. The three of them began to smile, and they swirled away together.

"It's not your fault, honey," Billie Jo said, still holding his hand.  "You did your best.  And I appreciate it but I'd much prefer that you live."

"But no one should suffer like that. Not even him," Leroy said, even as he let her hold the ice pack to his head. "And I don't want you always having nightmares about it."

"I won't," she said simply, smiling at him.  "I promise."

"It's really too late? We can't save him?" Leroy asked her, his eyes wide, the merest hint of hope flaring there.

"Yes."  She gave his hand a comforting squeeze.  "Please, don't blame yourself."

"Blame me, cher'. How is your head?"

"Mama, you..." Leroy began, running out of words.

"Stop talking to me. Say goodbye to Gayle, who is the only innocent here. Thanks to you she is freed."

Gayle floated nearby, smiling.  "I can't thank you.  There's no way.  But I'm truly grateful for all you've done."

Leroy's look softened. "I'm so sorry Gayle. I'm glad you're free at least."

"I know.  And I'll never forget you.  Thank you."

Leroy watched her until she disappeared.

"You should go home now, Leroy. We will handle things here. Take Billie Jo home."

"But..." Leroy protested.

"Go, child. It is done," Mama repeated.

"Please sweetie, take me home," Billie Jo said. 

Leroy nodded and zapped the two of them to the brownstone. He sank down, dizzy from his head when he got them there. "Man, she clobbered me," he muttered. "Sorry, I need to go lie down."

"Here honey, let me help you," she said, slipping an arm around his waist and supporting him into his apartment and back into the bedroom.  She guided him over the the bed, ignoring his protests.  "You get undressed and I'll make you some tea." 

He fell onto the bed, managing to kick his shoes off and not much more. He was lying down when she returned with the tea.

She shook her head and set the tray down.  Then she began unbuttoning his shirt.  "Sit up," she said, slipping an arm behind him to help him. 

"I'm okay, Billie. You should go."

She shook her head and set his shirt aside.  Then she started pulling off his socks.  "Not until I make sure you're comfortable.  Nobody ever rested right in their clothes."  She reached for his belt.  "Now you just relax."

He opened his eyes just as her face got near his. Their eyes met for a moment and Leroy suddenly put out a hand and pulled her face to his, kissing her.  She hesitated for a split second and then relaxed into it, kissing him back, her hands framing his face.

Then he seemed to remember what he was doing and who he was doing it with, and broke it off. "Oh, shit. I'm so sorry Billie. I didn't mean. I mean... I ..." he groaned.

She looked at him, not saying a word for what seemed like forever.  Finally she smiled.  "I'm not and I did mean..."

"Thanks. I don't know what came over me. I... I just need some rest I think."

She nodded and drew the covers up for him.  Then she handed him a cup of tea.  "Drink."

He drank the tea, not taking his eyes off her face. "We're okay?"

"Yes, we're okay," she said solemnly.  "Besides, I like the way you kiss," she added flashing a grin at him.

He groaned. Then flashed a quick grin. "You ain't half bad yourself, sweetie."

"I'm sure glad you liked it, sugar.  I'd hate to think you were feeling bad about it, 'specially since I'm not."

"Yeah, well, I'll try not to feel too bad about it then. Listen, you should go. I'm fine."

She nodded and took the cup.  "I'll be down later to check on you, make sure you're okay.  I don't think you have a concussion but I don't want to take any chances.  You just rest and if you wake up and want something, just let me know."

"Okay, sure. Hey, you gonna be okay? I'm real sorry about Joe."

Billie Jo looked at him, her eyes steady.  "I'm not sorry about him.  Not in the way I think you mean.  I'm not happy he's going to die, but I'm not sorry about it either.  I'd a whole lot rather have you alive and him dead than the other way around."

He looked away and nodded. "Okay. I'll see you later then, yeah?"

She bent over and hooked his chin with her finger, drawing his face back towards hers.  "See ya later," she said, and dropped a kiss on his cheek.

He watched her leave then groaned as he fell back to his pillow. "Man, you are truly an idiot."