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Ti or intent, he turned and ran as fast as he could down St Ann toward the Square He shot across the street to where cars were parked on the right side and put them between hi it! Where were all the tourists? For once, there was little pedestrian traffic on the street he could lose hi the distance between them

Why couldn’t she be out of shape in this world? Was it really too much to ask for a Couch Potato Tabitha?

He considered running into the Place d’Armes Hotel, but then reconsidered it Like Karma’s house, it was haunted And he didn’t want them to corner him

“Stop! Thief!” Tabitha screa his head do, Nick ran with everything that had made him a prized fullback for his school teas of trash by the corner stop sign and dodged past a do-gooder who tried to block his path He cut right and shot between the St Ann light post and the Presbytère entrance

Unlike the street, the Square was crowded Tourists scattered out of his way and shouted, but Nick didn’t slon Not until he ran up the steps and through the open door of the cathedral, into the dark foyer, where several people turned to scowl at hih hiht “Hallelujah! Felt the Lord calling h What can I say, ladies? It’s good to be alive”

They rolled their eyes at hi other than the adrenaline rush fro, Nick beelined for the small font of holy water on the left, just outside the interior doors, and crossed himself with it Only then did he turn around to find the twins outside the threshold of the church They eyed him with malice, but for whatever reason, didn’t step one foot onto holy ground

Thank you, God, I’ly face!

Overconfident and euphoric, Nick strutted back and forth, taunting the twins, who couldn’t reach hied as he realized what had just colanced over to the gaping volunteer as running the gift store cash register “Sorry, ma’am The devil’s an evil beast It’s why I ca her posture, she narrowed her eyes with disdain “Make sure you add your shae to your confession on Saturday, Mr Burdette”

“Yes,hiesture of his own, but he’d already sha He wasn’t about to add ift shop and bought candles No one would lared at him the whole time Like she’d never screwed up in her life Ued,” he said with a smile as he handed over the money then took his candles to the prie-dieux so that he could light theet here soon He had no idea what he’d do if she failed to show

Nick had barely begun the third round of prayers before a shadow fell over hi up, he saw a cop

“I need you to coestured to his candles “Dude, I’m in the middle of prayer here”

“And I have toer over the fact that the tould accuse hi so foul widened his eyes and ht” Nick stood up and pulled his pockets out for the officer to see what he had in his possession “I don’t have nothing but my wallet and the two candles I paid for”

“Well, that’s not the story they’re telling”

“Then they’re lying”

“Why don’t you cohten this out at the station”

Nick shook his head “I didn’t do anything and I’ anywhere”

“Is there a problem, officer?”

Nick looked past the cop to see the rector, who thankfully was the same one who presided over the church in his realm, too

The cop bristled “This doesn’t concern you”

Father Jeffrey s the faithful who are here to pray, so it would seem that it does”

Nick stepped toward the priest “I didn’t do anything, Father Jeffrey”

The priest patted him on the arm while he continued to speak to the cop “Do you have any probable cause?”

“Titnesses claim they saw him steal merchandise from their store”

“And what store is this?”

“Erzulie’s”

Father Jeffrey gaped “The Voodoo store on the corner?”

“Yes, sir He ran in here after they caught hi the police”

The priest turned to Nick with an arched brow “Nicholas?”

He“They’re lying Father, you knowin this world I want bad enough that I’d make myself out a thief to have it And if I ever did, you’d be the first one I’d tell about it on Saturday”

Father Jeffrey s you every step of the way to the confessional” He returned his gaze to the police officer “He’s right I’ve never known this boy to take anything from anyone”

In more ways than one

“Well, I have a complaint”

“And I have a phone What say we call Nicholas’s parents and have them escort him to the station for you?”