A Ghost to Die For by Elizabeth Eagan-Cox Page A

mannequin in the likeness of Marie Laveau, the most famous voodoo queen in America, has to do with local mysteries in San Diego?” It was all I could do to phrase my query as politely as possible, inside I was seething. This mockery of Marie Laveau would not be tolerated in New Orleans.
    “Excellent question Miss Delaney. A famous San Diegan, none other than the notorious entertainer, Miss Ruby Red, once owned this display. Reports from the heyday of Ruby’s time indicate that she kept this display in her front parlor and that anyone who was so bold as not to approve of it, Ruby would invite them to drop in a dime and receive their fortune. Not too many people had the courage to do this. Especially after the first three who received unfavorable prophecies, were soon after found dead.” Greg stepped behind the display and brought forth a standing sign, “This sign explains in detail the story of this display.”
    Another hand was raised and Greg called upon a lady, about my age who asked, “Do all of us get a chance?”
    This was the question Greg had been waiting for. “Oh, most certainly. However, this evening is the only time the display will be kept plugged in. In order to discourage museum patrons from misusing it, we will keep it unplugged. That said, I will step out of the way and I invite you to come up and allow the voodoo queen to tell your fortune.”
    Oh, boy, was that a crowd-pleaser. You’d have thought this was a group of small children who were told to stand in line for a free ice cream cone. I left the display and walked away from the room and into the hall. For all intent and purpose, I was ready to leave.
    From the hall I could hear people joking and laughing about their fortune cards. And I wondered how many of these people would go home this evening and after crawling into bed would give a last thought to their fate. I shivered at that scenario playing out in my imagination. These people had no idea who Marie Laveau was or that in the State of Louisiana’s official biography of her, as a voodoo queen, it plainly stated she was one of the greatest clairvoyants of all time. I had my eyes closed pondering various scenarios when Alex tapped me on my shoulder.
    “Shannon, please try to understand, I had no say-so in the acquisition of the Marie Laveau fortune teller machine and I did not want you to become upset.”
    Alex was sincere and I had to grudgingly give him credit. Had I known, I would have probably voiced my opinion and all things considered, my opinion would not have made a difference. The show would go on.
    “I know and Alex, really I do not fault you. At least I am finished with this assignment.” I waved my pay envelope in front of him. “And I certainly have no complaints about the pay I received.”
    Alex nodded his head in agreement and then handed a flyer to me. “Here, you might find the story of Ruby Red and the fortune telling machine interesting. It is a true story and the way the three people died is weird. It was as if their fortune cards came true.”
    “Not right now. But I will read it later.” I folded the flyer and stashed it in my evening bag.
    “Then, do you care to stay or leave?” Alex asked.
    “I would like to see the machine, but not with that crowd of onlookers in there. Maybe we could hide out for awhile in one of the other rooms and then come back after people have left?”
    “That won’t take long. Greg has mustered up every ounce of diplomacy he has and is going around to small clusters of people, politely reminding them that the museum will close in a few minutes. If we wait here, we can go back in as soon as the last guest leaves.”
    Alex was right, even as we stood there, people began to leave and they took no notice of us. Within ten minutes Alex and I were alone in the room with the display. Greg had excused himself to the museum’s office. He said we had about twenty minutes.
    I scrutinized the mannequin of Marie Laveau. Unlike cheap fortune