by Lynn Emery
LaShaun felt a warm shock like electricity at her words. She smiled softly at the knowledge that her own extra sense confirmed her friend’s opinion. “You’re right. But if he loses the election...”
“He’ll chalk it up to experience and plan his next campaign. Or he’ll keep being a top investigator. Either way he wants you by his side. Without the right person to share life with the other stuff means very little,” Savannah said with certainty ringing in her voice. “Take it from a woman who found her wonderful soul mate. I almost pushed him away for good. Don’t make that mistake.”
“Yes, mother dear,” LaShaun quipped.
“I’m serious. You’re a loner, and you tend to be suspicious of people. That’s okay if you haven’t found the one.”
“I know. Being alone won’t do, and trying to be with someone else would feel even worse,” LaShaun murmured.
“Exactly. Hold on tight, girl. He’s worth it, and you deserve it. Chase is a good man, and they’re too rare. He’d fight lions, tigers and bears for you.” Savannah winked at her.
Or even wolves, LaShaun thought. She kept that to herself. No need in scaring Savannah, whose little girls would be trick or treating in a few days. Instead she pushed aside thoughts of supernatural killers. She smiled at her friend.
“Indeed he would. He’s going with me to visit Manny Young. Mr. Young isn’t happy, but I made it clear that was a condition.”
“You’re not scared to go alone, or ride with Mr. Young,” Savannah said with confidence.
“Right again. Chase insisted, and I agreed so he wouldn’t be worried. Maybe if Manny trusts me a little, he’ll be willing to talk to Chase.”
“I can’t wait to hear about your visit with the guy. It’s so strange to hear such conflicting stories about the same man. On the one hand he’s a crazed killer, and folks say they knew he’d come to no good. Others claim he wasn’t such a bad guy, at least not as a kid.” Savannah’s eyes were bright with interest.
“You would have loved being in the courtroom on that one,” LaShaun said.
“When I was single, you bet. But that kind of a case can consume your life for months. Not to mention dealing with that kind of evil seeps into your pores. I wouldn’t want my family exposed even second hand to that kind of bad karma.” Savannah shook her head firmly.
“You almost sound superstitious, counselor,” LaShaun quipped.
“Tante Marie and godmother always told me when you believe in God then you know there is a devil.” Savannah pointed a finger at LaShaun to punctuate her sentence.
LaShaun got up and went to the photo of Savannah’s family. “What you said about your kids, keeping them away from even the scent of evil. I don’t think having a child is in my future, and maybe that’s a good thing. “
“That’s downright ridiculous talk,” Savannah replied promptly.
“No, think about it. I stirred up something bad, real bad. I had to fight off that demon, and I’m not sure it’s gone for good. What if going after an innocent soul is temptation enough to bring it back?” LaShaun put down the photo and faced Savannah.
“Look, I’m not an expert on that kind of thing. But I think your grandmother would say that you’re wrong. Besides, she saw children in your future. Monmon Odette would have told you if she saw danger threatening them.” Savannah used logic as usual.
“This gift we have is limited. We can’t always know everything that is going to happen. I just wish I could be sure. Chase can make a choice, he knows about my past. But bringing a baby into my world is different.” LaShaun crossed her arms tightly. The pain of that admission stung. “Chase wants children, a normal family.”
Savannah stood in front of LaShaun. “So that’s what keeps you awake at night.”
“I have a responsibility to do the right thing, for the future. My ancestors called up that spirit over one hundred years ago. It lay dormant, waiting for another call; and I was arrogant enough to call it back again. Maybe I need to be the one to end it, once and for all.” LaShaun spoke words to her friend that she had confided to no one else, except speaking aloud to the spirit of Monmon Odette when she was alone.
“You nudged ‘it’ awake, but your ancestors laid out the welcome mat long before you were born. He, she, it is gone. You destroyed it, remember?” Savannah sighed. “Stop rolling along in the guilt wagon.”
“Thanks for the motivational speech. Hey, watch it!” LaShaun caught the white paper bag Savannah threw at her head.
“You’re going to be happy with Chase. If you don’t believe me, consult a psychic,” Savannah quipped with an impish grin.
“How clever,” LaShaun shot back with a glare.
“Have a butter cream cookie or two, and I’ll fix us some coffee.” Savannah went back to the kitchenette.
Seconds later, Kris, one of the gift shop employees came in. She glanced over her shoulder and whispered, “Uh, somebody here wants to talk to you.”
“Who is it?” LaShaun blinked at her odd behavior.
“Sorry to bust in on y’all having lunch, but this is kind of urgent.” Patsy brushed past the young woman.
“I asked you wait a minute, ma’am.” Kris put a hand on one hip.
“It’s okay,” LaShaun said.
“Let me know if y’all need anything,” Kris said with dubious glance at Patsy before she stomped out.
Patsy’s pert nose wrinkled with ire, and her eyes glittered. Quick as lightening her expression changed to an apologetic smile. LaShaun sized her up in ten seconds. Patsy had an agenda.
“I don’t mean to trouble you again, Miz LaShaun, honestly I don’t. But as you know I could be in a heap of trouble. I think maybe you’re the only one who could help me.” Patsy sat down in a chair without invitation.
“You take cream with your... what the hell?” Savannah stood in the door holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a tiny cream pitcher in another.
“Hello, Mrs. Honoré. I hope you don’t mind, but I just have to get some advice.” Patsy looked at her only briefly before turning back to LaShaun.
“I can’t be your lawyer. I thought we’d settled that,” Savannah said.
“She’s here to see me,” LaShaun replied with a sideways glance at her friend.
“I just know you’ll understand that none of this is my fault. If we could speak privately...” Patsy’s voice trailed off as she looked at Savannah. “Please. I only have a few minutes. I’m supposed to be shopping with my sister. When I saw your vehicle I told Betty, that’s my other older sister, that I would meet her at the dollar store in an hour.”
“LaShaun, can I talk to you?” Savannah nodded for her to her follow out of the office.
“I’ll be right back.”
Savannah led the way through the kitchenette to a storage room that also had a desk. She shut the door firmly. “I’m about to shove her butt out the front door.”
“I want to hear what she has to say.” LaShaun grinned at the hissing sound that Savannah made.
“How can you tell Patsy is lying? Her lips are moving, that’s how,” Savannah said. “I sat with her for two hours, and she’s a manipulative little...”
“But it’s interesting she made it a point to track me down a second time.” LaShaun raised an eyebrow at her friend.
“She wants you to convince her gullible husband that Tommy put her under some kind of spell. Either way I don’t like it.”
Savannah started to go on but stopped when LaShaun lifted a hand. LaShaun moved quickly to the closed door and pulled it open. The narrow hallway was empty. She closed the door again. “I’d swear she was creeping up to listen.”
“Not possible, that wood floor would have creaked and given her away.” Savannah waved away LaShaun’s suspicion. “I’m going to tell her to leave and don’t slam the door on her way out.”
“Let me handle Patsy.” LaShaun tilted her head to one side. “She’s used to using whatever it takes to get what she wants. Now she’s here to figure out what it wil
l take to bend me to her will.”
Savannah started to laugh but covered her mouth quickly. “Oh this is going to be good. This girl has not been paying attention to the local legends about LaShaun Rousselle.”
LaShaun squinted at the reference to her infamous past. “Gee thanks. Stay cool and let me find out more about what makes our girl tick.”
“Check. Work it,” Savannah whispered.
She nodded for LaShaun to lead the way back to the office. Once they arrived, Patsy sat as if she hadn’t moved an inch. She nibbled on a cookie. “I hope you don’t mind. Betty and I haven’t had lunch yet.”
“Help yourself,” Savannah said, and gave her a tight smile. “Just so you know I advised LaShaun not to talk to you. I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Is there a side or back door? I’m pretty sure no one saw me come in, and that way I won’t cause either you any embarrassment.” Patsy hung her head. She looked friendless and vulnerable.
“Off the kitchen,” Savannah clipped. She turned away from Patsy and rolled her eyes at Savannah. “See you later.”
“Bye.” LaShaun pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the way Savannah mouthed insults about their visitor. She sat across from Patsy. “So, you said it was urgent that you talk to me.”
“Miz Joyelle told you about me, how she was so worried and everything.” Patsy looked to the side.
“She mentioned you would leave the house at night but said you couldn’t remember anything about it.”
LaShaun felt a shield come up between them. Patsy had indeed been listening to local stories about LaShaun. They were separated in age. By the time Patsy hit high school LaShaun and her contemporaries were long gone. The younger set would be too busy with their social scene to care about old stories long before their time. But Patsy knew enough to be wary. Someone had coached her how to resist being read by a sensitive. Despite Patsy’s efforts, LaShaun could feel it. The traces appeared like invisible bread crumbs. She wore a black leather cord around her neck with an amulet with the letter “A” in a circle. LaShaun recognized the symbol of anarchy, of doing whatever one wanted.
“Most of the time I didn’t. But I’m going to tell you something I haven’t told anyone.” Patsy paused as though gathering her courage. She still held the cookie in her hand. As though deep in thought, she broke off a small piece and chewed for a few seconds. She swallowed and sighed.
“I know this is hard for you.” LaShaun knew exactly the opposite. Patsy relished the process of deception as much as getting what she wanted as a result. LaShaun watched Patsy’s rosebud lips twitch in amusement briefly before she sighed again.
“I did remember sometimes.” Patsy daintily used a napkin to brush crumbs from her lap and into one hand. She finished the cookie off and glanced around.
“I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” LaShaun said and stood.
“Water would be just fine. Y’all had lunch I see. You got any meat?” Patsy wiped her mouth with the back of one hand. Her purse slipped from her lap to the floor.
“No meat.” LaShaun went very still as she observed her.
“Wow, I must really be hungry.” Patsy blinked at her and let out a musical laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll bet your feeling ravenous,” LaShaun replied and smiled when Patsy glanced at her sharply.
Instinct made LaShaun keep an eye on her even as she left the room. She went to the refrigerator and got a bottle of water from a six pack. When she returned Patsy stood at the window looking toward the street. She turned when she heard LaShaun return and took the offered bottled water.
“Thank you.” With one quick motion Patsy opened it and drank deeply. She started to wipe her mouth again, but stopped when she saw her pink gloss smeared on her hand. “My manners have gotten terrible.”
“So you remember those nights when you snuck out of the house.” LaShaun stood with her arms folded.
Patsy nodded and then sat again. She waited for LaShaun to sit across from her. “Tommy is so sexy, was so sexy. I resisted him for a long time,” she added quickly. “But he had some kind of hold on me. I know you’ve heard about me.”
“Not all gossip is accurate,” LaShaun said.
“You do understand,” Patsy said and leaned forward. “I’m not denying how much I enjoy sex with cute guys. Vince is nice, but...”
“Predictable,” LaShaun filled in for her.
“Exactly. I thought being with him would settle me down, and it did. But Tommy set his sights on me, and I gave in to temptation. Then Tommy blackmailed me, and threatened to hurt Vince. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“Besides, the sex with Tommy was exciting. Part of you wanted to break away, and part of you looked forward to being with him.” LaShaun nodded. “Yes, I can see how you felt trapped.”
“At first, but I finally told Tommy it was over. That’s when he got really pissed off.” Patsy clutched the bottle of water with both hands.
“Why didn’t you just remind him that his wife would find out, too?” LaShaun tilted her head to one side.
Pasty laughed and put a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, this is serious. Tommy didn’t care about his wife finding out. He’s cheated on her since they were high school sweethearts. She wouldn’t leave him, not for good anyway. Guess she was under his spell, too.”
“People do stupid things when they’re in love, or lust,” LaShaun said.
“You’re right about that,” Patsy said, her lips curving up for a second before she assumed her sober account. “Anyway, I think Tommy was in a cult. Once or twice we partied with his friends. At first I thought they were just regular old party folks. We’d go out to this camp way out on the bayou. I’m ashamed to say this next part.”
LaShaun fought off the impulse to laugh out loud at that so-called admission. Patsy loved every minute of her confessional. “Go on, I won’t judge you.”
“Sometimes we swapped partners; me and Tommy would swing with his friend Jason and his girlfriend from New Orleans. That was wild even for me.” Patsy twisted the cap from the bottle and drank again. She stared at the floor as if too ashamed to lift her head.
LaShaun felt light-headed for a few moments. She closed her eyes. Flashes of people partying in an old house filled her mind. Patsy’s musical laugh echoed. LaShaun sensed no regret, only the heat of excitement. Suddenly the scene switched to the woods and a camp fire. Liquor flowed freely, and drugs were passed around. When LaShaun opened her eyes again Patsy looked up and frowned at her.
“Have I shocked you?”
“No, go on.” LaShaun’s head cleared and everything around appeared in focus as though she was in a high definition.
“I hear you left your mark with men and partying back in the day.” Patsy said, her arched eyebrows going up.
“So these friends of Tommy’s were rude, crude and lewd. Y’all had some good times until you started feeling guilty.” LaShaun directed Patsy back to her story.
“When I tried to pull away Tommy grew angry. Then I started blacking out and not remembering. I was too embarrassed to tell Miz Joyelle the whole truth. But I didn’t lie completely. When she told me that maybe I was under some kind of evil influence it all made sense.” Patsy bit her lower lip. “I could feel something wasn’t right about the whole thing.”
Yeah, you jumped on the chance to use Joyelle like a bird on a juicy bug. LaShaun pursed her lips and frowned. “I can imagine that upset you.”
“I was horrified. I’ve never messed with voodoo or witchcraft stuff. When I was in high school some of my friends got into Goth. Who wants to dress in black all the time?” Patsy tossed her glossy reddish blonde hair back over one shoulder.
“Good point,” LaShaun said dryly.
“Anyway, I told all of this to that hot chief investigator everybody says is your boyfriend.” Patsy shot a questioning gaze at LaShaun.
“Chief Detective Broussard,” LaShaun replied matter-of-factly, not rising to the bait.
“Yes, he was more polite than
his boss.” Patsy grimaced as though she tasted something sour. “Acting Sheriff Arceneaux treated me like I was dirt under her saintly feet.”
LaShaun figured that meant M.J. didn’t pretend to be taken in by her stories. No doubt Chase didn’t fall for her pert Cajun girl charm either, but didn’t show it. “Sheriff Arceneaux has to be impartial, that sometimes comes across as being accusatory.”
“She all but called me a bald-face liar. I’d call that accusatory,” Patsy snapped. A spark of her temper flared up quickly then died down just as fast. “Anyway, maybe you’re right. Accusing people is part of her job I guess.”
“Hmm. By the way you didn’t say what kind of cult,” LaShaun replied.
“They didn’t stand around chanting or cut the heads off of chickens or anything. But they were real secretive. They’d talk about dark stuff, like murders and groups that were into rituals. A couple of the girls said they didn’t trust me with the ‘mysteries’. That’s what they called it. Like there was some level to their group that not everybody was allowed to join. One night Tommy and I got high... I’m not proud of it, but it’s not like marijuana is a hard drug or anything.”
“So you and Tommy were high,” LaShaun prompted.
“I got him to talk about his pals that acted so guarded around me and some of the others. He said he’d show me some really hot times if I proved to him I was woman enough.” Patsy squirmed in her chair as though imagining the carnal delights in store.
“And did he?”
“We went away together. He forced me,” Patsy added almost as though it were an afterthought to keep her story consistent.
“When you disappeared you mean,” LaShaun said and sat forward.
“I did enjoy sneaking off at first. Vince kept at me all the time about the house and cooking. The kids were screaming and needed constant attention. Tommy played on me being a little unhappy. When I tried to go home, he pretty much held me hostage. We was holdup at this old motel on Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette. Some of his creepy friends came by one night, but they didn’t come in our room though. Tommy stood outside talking to them. Then he came in and said he had some people to see and for me to stay put.”