Read The Nightmare Game for Free Online

realizing how lucky I was
that he’d inadvertently intervened to save me.
    “It’s this way,” he motioned to our left. “And
then in a few streets we turn up there on Toulouse. It’s not too far.”
    “Thanks for taking my bags,” I said. “I really
wasn’t up to carrying them.”
    “That’s fine, ma’am, don’t worry about it. My
momma raised me to be a gentleman.”
    “It looks like she did a great job. You have no
idea how grateful I am that you came in when you did and that you stayed,” I
told him. “Something – and now to think about it must have been something in
that office – was making me really sick before you walked in. I just had to get
out of there. And that nasty woman was making me wait way too long.”
    “Yeah,” he said, agreeing whole heartedly, “She
sure is a piece of work, that one. You feelin’ better now?”
    “A little. I hope I didn’t catch a bug on the
flight. That would ruin my trip.”
    “Nah, I think you were right the first time,
probably just somethin’ in that office that got to you. Maybe that ol’ witch
put a hex on you or gave you the evil eye or somethin’.” He squinted one eye
and made the other as large as he could, squishing the rest of his face over to
one side. I realized then how cute he was with his tousled sandy hair and
sparkling blue eyes, making me wish for the first time in a long time that I
was still twenty.
    I couldn’t help laughing at the face he made.
“Charming woman, wasn’t she? I wouldn’t put it past her!”
    “Yeah, she probably put a hex on me, too!” he
laughed. “But really, I bet if you take a rest, you’ll be all ready to party
tonight. Like sleepin’ off a hangover.”
    “Maybe,” I said, unconvinced.
    We walked a few blocks and he pointed, “Here’s
where we turn. This is Toulouse Street.”
    We continued walking down a few more blocks. Even
though the air had done me good, the short walk had tired me out far more than
it should have and I was looking forward to flopping down on a nice,
comfortable bed. I really needed that nap after this afternoon’s mishap.
    “I think this is it,” I said, eyeing an old red
brick wall with a solid black iron privacy gate, both about ten feet high, that
guarded a townhouse. “This looks like the picture in the ad. Yep, the street
number’s right.” Turning to him as I stopped before the gate, I said, shaking
his hand, “Thanks again for the help. By the way, my name’s…”
    “Ashley,” he finished my sentence. “Yeah, I
remember from the office. I’m Troy, Troy Broussard.”
    Pulling out the keys, I said, “I hope you still
get a chance to run into Gilda while you’re here.”
    “Well, if not, I’ll look her up if I’m ever back
in town again. Listen, I gotta run, but I’m gonna be out partyin’ tonight, so maybe
I’ll see you in a club later.”
    “Maybe, but I don’t think so. I’m still feeling a
little rotten. I’ll probably just get something to eat around here later and
turn in early.”
    “Naw, that’s no way to do it! Like I said, sleep
it off. I bet you’ll be ready to hit Bourbon Street later on tonight.”
    “I hope so. And thanks again for your help. You
have no idea how grateful I am to you for rescuing me from that horrible
woman.”
    “I’m glad I could be there, ma’am. And don’t
mention it. I just spent about ten minutes with that old harpy and I couldn’t
wait to get outta there. Hey, listen, I’ve got an appointment in about five
minutes that I’ve gotta get to, but before I get going, why don’t we make sure
that gate key of yours works. I still don’t trust that old witch.”
    “I’d appreciate it,” I told him, inserting the
larger key into the gate’s lock and turning it.
    Troy placed my bags beside the gate and said,
“Hey, it works! Is there anything else I can help you with while I’m here?”
    “No, that’s okay. If this key works, I’m sure the
other one must, too. I don’t want to make you late for