“I’d like to see him anyway,” Cyrus said. “The right question can jog the memory. I was hoping you’d be willing to come by Ike’s apartment with me. In case there’s more kinky stuff there, and I don’t know what it is.”

Nora glanced at the Viking, as if asking him permission.

“May I ask a few questions first?” Søren said.

Cyrus tensed. “Yeah, of course.”

“Eleanor said—”

“That’s me, by the way,” Nora said.

“I figured. Go on.” Cyrus nodded at the Viking.

“Eleanor said you wouldn’t tell her who hired you to look into Father Murran’s suicide. You seem like a very decent man,” Søren said. “But I need to know that before I let her get more involved. I’m sure you understand.”

Cyrus did. He respected the man for wanting to protect his girlfriend.

“No one actually hired me,” Cyrus said. “I’m doing this as a favor for a friend of mine on the police force. She was told to drop any investigation into his death, just rule it a suicide, clean up and move on. And with no evidence of foul play, she can’t really justify putting any man hours on the job. She asked me to dig a little, make sure there’s nothing more at play.”

“This is quite a favor she asked of you,” Søren said.

“Father Ike and my fiancée were friends. They worked together at St. Agnes Middle School a couple years ago. For her sake, and a little curiosity on my part, I’ll do some digging.”

Nora looked to her lover, waiting for his verdict.

“I’ll allow Eleanor to go with you today,” the Viking said, finally rendering his verdict. “If you promise to keep her out of harm’s way.”

“I can promise you that,” Cyrus said.

Nora leaned over and kissed her Viking’s bearded cheek. “I want you home by five at the latest,” he said. “We’re going to Mass with Juliette and Céleste.”

“So you’re Catholic, too,” Cyrus said.

“This is New Orleans,” the Viking said, smirking. “Isn’t everyone?”

Chapter Twelve

Cyrus sat on a red sofa in the lobby and called Paulina. She answered on the third ring.

“Hey, baby,” he said. “How’s your morning?”

“Good Mass,” she said. “Missed you there.”

“Working. I’ll try to hit evening Mass tonight.”

“I’ll go with you, if you want. When nobody’s looking, I’ll let you put your hand on my knee.”

“You know I can’t turn that down.”

“You coming over now? I can fix lunch.”

Lunch with Paulina sounded almost as good as his hand on her knee.

“I gotta check a couple things out,” he said. “I just wanted you to know I’ll be with a lady today.”

“Is that so?” Paulina sounded amused. Better amused than angry.

Cyrus lowered his voice. “I told you about the woman who Father Ike tried to call before…she’s going to be helping me a little today.”

“This sex worker lady?”

“I just had coffee with her and her boyfriend. Judging by him, I’m not her type.”