Between Dusk and Dawn

by Lynn Emery

  “So no big breaks, huh? No clues why those folks were in the woods?” LaShaun watched him finish spreading condiments generously on one set of slices. “Ease up on the mayo for me. Gotta watch the hips.”

  Chase looked around at her and let out a low whistled. “I’m watching ‘em for you. They’re doin’ just fine from this man’s point of view.”

  “Thank you, sir.” LaShaun blew him a kiss. “Too bad you guys can’t wrap up this case soon. I’m sure M.J. feels the same.”

  “Yeah. The longer this drags on, the more Reverend Fletcher can whip up a Salem witch trial mood around the parish. Thank the good Lord we haven’t found any voodoo dolls or farm animals with their throats cut. Still it’s freaky.”

  “What?” LaShaun kept her tone casual. She filled two large glass mugs with ice and put them on the center counter.

  “People getting their kicks running through the woods at night. First we have Patsy sneaking out at night, and tales of her coming home with leaves and grass stains on her clothes. I mean, dang, girl. Get a cheap motel room like normal folks cheating.” Chase laughed as he put plates with the sandwiches on the counter and sat down.

  “Yeah, freaky.” LaShaun watched him crunch on a handful of chips and then wash them down with some of the ginger ale.

  “Then we have this last couple romping around the sticks in the dark. We don’t have a full moon for nothing this fall. I tell you that much.” Chase dug into his sandwich.

  They ate in silence for another few minutes. Chase made most of the small talk between mouthfuls. LaShaun took a few nibbles. Food wasn’t on her mind. She tried to think of a way to lead into telling Chase her latest theory. She absentmindedly turned on the radio and searched for some music. Chase subscribed to a satellite channel so there were plenty of choices. A snatch of news report came on and Vermillion Parish was mentioned. Though she tried, LaShaun wasn’t quick enough changing to another station.

  “Wait, go back to that one.” Chase wiped his mouth clean of crumbs. He reached over to adjust the volume and made the male voice louder.

  “Halloween approaches in a picturesque Cajun Country town as the forces of good and evil seem poised for battle; at least that’s what a local preacher has to say. Famous phantom chaser James Schaffer is in Beau Chene, Louisiana tracking down tales of ghouls and goblins. Ghost Team USA promises to break news by All Hallows Eve that will send chills up our collective spines. Can’t wait, Edie,” the man said.

  “You think Schaffer’s finally got more than shadows on a wall this time?” The female radio personality made it clear she was skeptical.

  “I don’t know. We’re talking about the state where Marie Laveau worked her magic. Louisiana is known for being a place of mystery, voodoo and haunted plantations,” the man replied and did his imitation of ghostly sounds.

  Edie laughed. “Well folks, guess we should tune in and see what lurks in the swamps. Ghost Team USA airs on your local Fox Channel, so check local listings.”

  Chase turned the radio to a station playing eighties music. He gave a disgusted grunt. “Exactly what we don’t need; some idiot spreading nonsense to a national audience. We’ll have kooks coming out of the woodwork, calling the station with wild stories.“

  “Even you admit the goings-on have been weird,” LaShaun offered.

  “So far all I see is a bunch of crazy human behavior, but just barely. What is wrong with people, running around the woods half-naked some of them, acting like dogs in heat.”

  “You’re getting warm,” LaShaun mumbled.

  “What was that, babe? You’ve barely touched that masterpiece of a po-boy I made for you.” Chase downed the rest of his ginger ale and sighed. “Now what did you say about the weather getting warm?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I’ll tell you this much. Looks like somebody has been hosting wild sex parties out in the woods. Chances are they had drugs and liquor to help them commune with nature. Jumping each other in the woods like a pack of animals.” He shook his head.

  “What you’re seeing may be canine behavior. Just not dogs... exactly. I’m talking about lycanthropy,” LaShaun said as she looked at him.

  “What?” Chase chewed on a few chips. He wore a slight frown.

  She took a deep breath, let it out and jumped in. “Well, I think a lot of this peculiar running around in the woods stuff is related to lycanthropy. Remember the old stories about rougarous? “

  Chase swallowed hard and stared at LaShaun. “You’re serious.”

  “Lycanthropy is a clinical term. A lot of doctors and scientists say it’s a mental illness where the person believes he or she can become a wild animal. In this case we’re talking about wolves.”

  Chase slapped his hands together to dust off salt and crumbs. Then he stood up and put both hands on his trim waist. “You’re right. Those folks are crazy as hell if they’re howling at the moon and chasing around the swamps hunting rabbits for food. Lycanthropy.”

  “The rougarou legend says people are punished for not observing holy seasons, in this case Lent. They’re cursed to become half human and half wolf.”

  “Those were ghost stories told around the fireplace to make us kids behave. My grandmother scared my sisters straight more than once,” Chase said as he gave a short laugh, but the sound died away when he looked at LaShaun. “You really are serious.”

  “Listen, I don’t know if rougarous are real or not, but if people believe that they’re wild animals it could explain this behavior. Think about it, animals don’t follow the same rules as humans. They run free. Wolves also follow the law of the jungle. If somebody invades your territory, you kill ‘em.” LaShaun nodded.

  Chase scowled. “Lycanthropy, rougarou or werewolf; all of it sounds like an excuse. Some psychologist shows up to give ‘em an insanity defense. I don’t buy it.”

  “A lot of what our ancestors talked about wasn’t just superstitious nonsense. I told you about my grandmother, and her grandmother and great-grand parents. You know what I’ve faced. << In A Darker Shade of Midnight, LaShaun fought off a demon, and Chase witnessed it>> I didn’t make that up.” LaShaun watched as Chase closed his eyes and pulled a hand over his face.

  “When I signed up to be a deputy sheriff I expected to fight human crime. Damn!”

  “I know, honey,” LaShaun said and rubbed his arms.

  “Are you sure?” Chase looked at LaShaun.

  “No, but the signs are there. I’ve been reading this book from my family’s library. One of the old stories talks about what Joyelle described. Then this morning they talked to Pete, and he let slip--”

  “Oh hell,” Chase blurted out. “Please say Pete didn’t tell those two little old ladies that Vermillion Parish has a pack of werewolves roaming the bayous.”

  “I convinced them Pete was talking about the legends, and that he didn’t mean to say that rougarous were real.”

  “Our traditions run deep as the Gulf of Mexico, LaShaun. Before you know it talk about rougarou will be all over town. We got another full moon coming, and Halloween is just two weeks away.”

  “I’m sure they’re planning the next church bake sale and gossiping about their friends.” LaShaun smiled at him.

  “M.J. is gonna love this.”

  “We’re not going to tell M.J.,” LaShaun said quickly.

  “She sure as hell won’t hear it from me. But you did say lycanthropy is considered a form of mental illness. That could explain a lot. Yeah, so if we do have to bring this up to M.J. that’s the explanation I’ll emphasize. And stay away from the rougarou stuff.” Chase let out a long sigh. “Not so bad after all.”

  “Except that guy in the hospital has a cut that won’t heal, and he’s getting worse,” LaShaun murmured.

  “The doctor says he’s got some kind of infection, no mentioning silver knives in front of M.J.” Chase shook a forefinger at LaShaun. Before he could continue to lecture his cell phone went off. He grabbed it from the case clipped to his belt and glanced
at the caller ID. “Speaking of the boss, this is her calling.”

  “I’ll wash the dishes.” LaShaun slipped from the stool and picked up the plates.

  “Hi, Sheriff. What’s up?” Chase spoke in a light tone. He shrugged when LaShaun glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yeah, I’m home having lunch. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yeah, LaShaun does happen to be here.”

  Hearing her name, LaShaun forgot about drying the wet plates and spun around. Chase’s expression went tense again. The muscle along his jaw bone jumped a few times at whatever he was hearing.

  “What?” LaShaun mouthed at him.

  Chase waved to her to wait. “I don’t think that’s a great idea. The guy is unstable and-- okay. Put the fear of God into the hospital staff, and make sure they know that if this gets out there’ll be hell to pay. Right, I’ll call you back.” He tapped the key to end the call.

  LaShaun didn’t like the deep frown creasing his handsome forehead. “I hope it’s not another murder.”

  “No. Our suspect, the crazy guy in the hospital, has stabilized. He’s talking pretty clear.” Chase looked at LaShaun for a long moment. “And he’s asking for you.”

  Chapter 10

  At ten o’clock that night LaShaun and M.J. met the on-duty hospital security guard at a service entrance. He silver metallic nameplate had “James Collins” stamped in black. M.J. made terse introductions, including that she and James had been high school classmates. The husky man led them down a hall to one of the elevators used only by doctors and other employees. LaShaun felt flutters in her belly at the cloak and dagger routine, but M.J. had insisted. Not only did M.J. aim to thwart the small town grapevine, she didn’t want the reality show team to appear with their video cameras rolling. The security guard led them down a brightly lit empty hallway to an elevator used by staff only. Bland white tile floors and gray walls gave the place a sterile look. LaShaun pulled the denim jacket she wore closer to her body.

  “It’s freezing in here, colder than outside,” she said.

  “Keeping the temperature cool reduces bacteria growth, and keeps viruses from spreading. Something very important with a lot of sick people,” the security guard replied.

  “You know your stuff,” LaShaun said.

  The man grinned and nodded. “I learn all I can, and take classes. That’s the reason I’ve been promoted. I’m thinking about nursing school. Got three growing kids to feed and educate, ma’am.”

  “Good for you.” LaShaun smiled back at him. The elevator bumped to a stop, and LaShaun’s stomach flipped again as they stepped out.

  “We’re going around this corner,” James said with a nod, and then led the way.

  M.J. glanced around the hallway, and then down three that branched off to other wings. “You’re sure we won’t see anybody?”

  “It’s after visiting hours, and tonight we enforced that rule on this floor more than usual. I checked to make sure visitors left,” James said in a grave tone.

  “Good,” M.J. said, her voice just as solemn.

  “Your guy was moved to a wing with two empty rooms, but it’s still close to the hub. That’s what we call the nurses’ station. You’re in luck,” the guard said. “Mildred Jones is the charge nurse on duty tonight. She takes confidentiality so serious she could head up national security.”

  As if she’d heard her name, a tall woman with “M. Jones, RN” strode from an office next to the nursing station. She cast a brief glanced at LaShaun before nodding to M.J. “Evening, Sheriff. I hope we can get this over fast. My people are jumpy enough as it is.”

  “We won’t be staying any longer than we have to. How is he?” M.J. looked at two nurses who looked away and got busy doing something else.

  “He’s still able to talk sense, if that’s what you mean. I hope you can track down his next of kin,” the charge spoke low.

  “We’re trying,” M.J. said quietly.

  “You know who he is?” LaShaun looked from the nurse to M.J.

  “Not here. Let’s go, James,” M.J. said with a glance at the security guard.

  “Right.” James led the way.

  They walked several feet from the nursing station and around another corner. Chase stood with a deputy outside the second door to their left. Both of them seemed just as tense as their boss. The blonde deputy had a fresh-faced boy-next-door look . He appeared to be barely out of his teens. His hazel eyes were wide as though he expected some unpleasant surprise soon. Chase whispered instructions to him then approached them.

  “One of the male aides is in there with a male nurse. They’ve got something to calm him down fast if he gets violent again,” Chase said to M.J., but he was looking at LaShaun. “Let’s cut it short if he even looks like he about to get crazy.”

  “Definitely,”M.J. said and signaled James they were ready to go in.

  “Okay,” James whispered to no one in particular.

  He pushed open the room door, and then stood holding it as the others entered the narrow room. Chase led the way followed by M.J. and Nurse Jones. LaShaun tried to move forward to see the man, but M.J. shook her head. Two men stood beside the hospital bed, both dressed in light blue scrubs. They looked at the charge nurse who gave a slight nod toward M.J. and Chase as though saying, “This is your show now”.

  The male nurse cleared his throat, and looked at his boss. “He drifted off to sleep a few minutes ago. His vitals haven’t changed.”

  “His name is Willie Dupuis. He won’t tell anyone but you his story,” Chase whispered. “If we try to ask a question he shuts down.”

  “The doctor says he’s a little stronger, but whatever kind of infection he has is weird and persistent,” M.J. added.

  “Let him do the talking, don’t ask a lot of questions. At least not at first,” Chase said.

  The male nurse and aide moved aside. M.J.’s expression tightened into a grimace. Chase put a protective hand on LaShaun’s shoulder for a few moments. LaShaun nodded to indicate she was fine, and that she would follow his lead. Then she looked at the man.

  “My God.”

  Lying beneath the white light above his bed, the man looked like a creature from another world. Willie Dupuis’s skin had turned a shimmering shade of silver with a bluish tinge. LaShaun pushed past Chase before he could react and stood close to the bed. The male nurse glanced at the charge nurse. When she didn’t object, the men stepped back against the wall to watch. For several minutes no one spoke. LaShaun gazed at him steadily until her surroundings seemed to fade. She heard Chase speaking to her, but his voice seemed far away. Even that sound died when the first wave of bleak resignation hit her. LaShaun shuddered and let out a soft gasp. Willie Dupuis grimaced then opened his eyes. His gaze drifted to the opposite wall, up to the ceiling and then in LaShaun’s direction. Yet he seemed not to see her at first. He blinked a few times. His lips moved, and the effort caused him to flinch. The aide got a plastic cup with a straw and let Willie sip for a few seconds. When Willie nodded he’d had enough, the aide retreated to stand against the wall again. Willie looked at LaShaun.

  “Thank you for coming,” he rasped. He made the effort to smile, but failed.

  “How do you feel?” LaShaun glanced down the length of his body. A strange croaking sound came from his throat, and LaShaun realized he had laughed, or tried to at least.

  “About as good as I look,” Willie finally replied. Then took several breaths and winced.

  Without asking, LaShaun got the plastic cup and straw. “You need to drink a bit more water I think. Try.”

  “’Kay.” Willie looked at her with watery eyes as he sipped more. His lips parted and she pulled the straw away. “Time is winding down. I’m done with this life.”

  “The doctors are working hard to treat you,” LaShaun said.

  “They can’t help me. You delivered the cure.” Willie closed his eyes again.

  “What does he mean by that?” Nurse Jones said.

  “This whole scene is something out of a horror movie,�
� the aide mumbled, and the male nurse nodded agreement. Both men radiated a desire to be anywhere but in that particular hospital room.

  LaShaun barely heard their voices. She rubbed her forehead as if to clear away a fog, and glanced around. Chase stared at her with a frown of worry stamped on his handsome face. M.J. looked determined to endure. The charge nurse studied LaShaun with a mixture of curiosity and fear. LaShaun shook her head at them and put a finger to her lips asking them to be quiet. When she looked at Willie again his eyes were open.

  “Say a quick prayer for me, the old way,” he said.

  LaShaun put her hand on his arm. The shock of his cold flesh startled her. The charge nurse bustled forward to pull her away, but LaShaun resisted. “I need contact with him.”

  “We don’t know what kind of infection he has. At least come wash with anti-bacterial soap and then put on gloves. I have to insist. This interview may be a police matter, but I’m responsible for medical precautions,” Nurse Jones said in a firm tone.

  “She’s right,” Willie rasped when LaShaun started to argue.

  So LaShaun followed the nurse to the small bathroom in the room. She washed as the nurse instructed, used the air dryer connected to the wall and put on disposable latex gloves. Oddly the light blue rubber made her hands look similar to the color of Willie Dupuis’s skin. She went back to the bed. This time she found his hand tucked beneath the sheet and plain white cotton hospital blanket. Willie closed his eyes again, and so did LaShaun. She whispered a short prayer in Creole French as Monmon Odette had taught her as a child. The prayer ended with a request that God forgive the sin of consorting with evil spirits.

  “Amen,” Willie said when LaShaun ended the prayer.

  “This is weird,” one of the men whispered, and was shushed by several voices.

  Willie looked at LaShaun for a few moments. “You know it was me.”

  “Yes,” LaShaun said.

  “I didn’t want to jump you like that, but when it comes on me I can’t stop from being an animal.” Willie’s mouth trembled and a tear slid down his left cheek. “Sometimes you make a choice, and there ain’t no turnin’ back. Not ever.”