“And none of them current or previous ILS customers.” Dar looked satisfied. “Which is a good thing, since we don't need any more hot pokers to shove up the ILS board's collective ass.”
“Was that Alastair that called you before we left?” Kerry asked. “I guess they saw the story.”
“They saw the story.” Dar confirmed. “He's about tied up everything there, figures he'll be out by the end of next week. From what I got from him, we are very persona non gratis.” She pulled up to the ferry dock and put the truck in park, to wait for the next ferry. “They're fuming over not getting a piece of that action.”
“They wouldn't have gotten it anyway.” Kerry objected.
“No, I know, and besides, that's not really the direction we'd been taking the company. They stopped doing a lot of custom software a few years back.” Dar said. “They really don't have much to be pissed about, especially since Gerry renewed those support contracts with them. Alastair said he made sure they knew why.”
Kerry was quiet briefly. “How are the new guys doing?” She finally asked.
“My replacement has been busy shooting off hot air in Houston. Sees himself as a tech evangelist.” Dar said, in a mild tone. “Your replacement brought in about a half dozen of his own people, and is cleaning house.”
Kerry exhaled. “Damn.”
“If it's any consolation Alastair said Jose told him in the men's room he really misses us.” Her partner smiled. “He said he thinks this guy's a bigger ass than I was.”
“Oh Lord.” Kerry covered her eyes with one hand.
“The test will be the first major issue they have.” Dar concluded. “Lucky for them, we built up a lot of resilience these last few years but problems will happen eventually. Once that happens – either they'll be able to handle it and start making things their own, or they'll lose it, and the shit will hit the fan.”
“Well. If they're cleaning house, chances are they're going to be letting go the people who were closest to us.” Kerry remarked.
“And we need people. Synergistic.” Dar took the truck out of park and drove onto the ferry. “Sometimes things work out like that.”
“Sometimes they do.” Kerry settled back in her seat. “But let's worry about it next week. After Mardi Gras.”
“Sounds good to me.” Dar folded her hands over her stomach.
“Taxi, ladies?”
“Sure.” Dar steered Kerry towards the proffered conveyance. “Royal Sonesta.”
The taxi driver smiled. “You bet.” He gently closed the door and then jog trotted around the front of the cab to get in the driver's seat. “Beautiful night to be flying into Nola.”
“Its really busy.” Kerry was looking around, at the packed airport pick up area.
The driver glanced in the rear view. “You all did know you were comin in last weekend of Mardi Gras, right?”
Dar chuckled. “We knew.” She said. “We've just never been here before.”
“Ahh! Now.” The smiled again. “First timers. Lordy lordy”
“Got any recommendations?” Dar asked. “Hate to be a typical tourist if I don't have to be.”
“Well now, see.” The driver cleared his throat. “My view is, first time you're here, be a tourist.” He said. “See all the stuff, do all the stuff, specially if you're here for Mardi Gras. Ain't no other purpose for that then tourism, know what I mean?”
“Okay.” Dar looked out the window, hearing the blare of music that fell behind them quickly. “Good point.”
“Second time? Then you can start being choosy.”
“Oh Dar.” Kerry had been reading the plastic covered map fastened to the back of the seat. “They have a ghost tour. Can we do that?”
The driver laughed throatily. “Careful with that one if you get scared easy. There's plenty of old spirits here.”
Dar eyed the advertisement. “Sure.” She said. “Why the hell not?”
“Why do you have a lot of old spirits here?” Kerry asked. “Because the city's so old?”
The taxi driver met her eyes in the rear view. “You fooling with me? You ain't never heard of all the hoodoo and voodoo and things like that here? For real?”
Kerry looked over at Dar, who shrugged and lifted her hands in supplication. “No, you know, I don't think I have. I don't know that much about New Orleans. Do you, hon?”
Dar remained silent for a bit, then cleared her throat gently. “Well. I've heard a little bit about it. My father's folks come from Alabama, remember.”
'Whereabouts in Alabama?” The driver asked, with interest. “Got family there.”
“Small place near Ozark.” Dar replied. “Nearest big town is Montgomery, I guess.”
“Lordy that is deep woods Alabama.” The driver chuckled. “My folks are just north of Mobile. “
“Ah yeah, I remember that story he told us when he came back from his sister's wedding.” Kerry recalled. “You know, maybe we should have brought him and your mom here. Between his ghost tales and her being a pagan, we could have had some real fun on this tour.”
“Next time.” Dar remarked as they slowed down, turning into a part of the city that had narrower streets, and a lot more people. “Is this the French Quarter?”
“Yes, ma'am, it sure is.” The driver relaxed, as the pace slowed to a crawl. “Just get yourselves a good look now, we got plenty of time before we get to the hotel.”
Kerry felt like a kid, her eyes falling on another after another scene on either side of the car. The streets were filled with revelers, dressed in everything from casual clothing to lurid masks and paint.
Or just paint. “Dar.. is that.. “
“Woman naked? Yes.” Her partner was busy peering out her own window. “Is that legal?”
“That's what them Fleur d lies are for there.” The driver replied with a chuckle. “You got to have the illusion of something, see what I mean?”
“Oh. Yeah. I see what you mean.” Kerry put a hand on her cheek. “My Midwestern roots are curling up and screaming.”
Dar patted her on the leg. “Breathe, babe.” She could hear music through the window, brassy and penetrating, a rhythm she knew only slightly, new and raw. “Here's the hotel.”
Kerry glanced outside, her eyes lighting up. “Oh wow.” She studied the building, which wrapped around a corner and had old style wrought iron railings on the floors overlooking the street. “We're in one of those rooms, Dar?”
“We are.” Dar opened the door as the driver got hastily out. She handed him a folded bill. “Keep the change.”
“Yes, ma'am, and thank ya.” He gestured to the hotel as he handed them out their overnights. “You all have a good old time now, hear?”
“I am absolutely sure we will.” Dar paused as a man on stilts rambled by between them and the entrance.
“Wow.” Kerry tucked her hand inside Dar's elbow and they advanced cautiously through the crowd. “Hope you packed earplugs or we're not getting any sleep.”
“Didn't figure we would anyway.” Dar remarked, as they got inside the door. “I'm sure there's coffee here.”
The lobby was filled with people, but it was quieter inside. Kerry kept her grip on her partner as they eased through the crowd to the check in desk, turning when they got there to survey the interior while Dar attended to the necessary procedures.
The space was full of old fashioned furniture and trim, heavy velvet draping and chandeliers. Everyone in the lobby seemed to be holding a drink of some kind, and some had layers and layers of beads around their necks.
Wow. Kerry turned back around as Dar put a hand on her arm, and indicated the stairs to their left. “Might as well walk up.” She commented, regarding the crowd around the elevators.