A Darker Shade of Midnight (19 page)

Headlights swung around the corner from the road. Tires crunched on gravel as the sports car slowed to a stop. The driver’s door swung open and the interior light blinked on then quickly extinguished. The figure stayed outside the ring of illumination cast by the large security light in the yard. The person stood for a few minutes observing LaShaun. Then the car door slammed shut.

LaShaun stopped the motion of the rocking chair. “Hello, Azalei. I see you’ve made a rapid recovery.”

Chapter 13

“Lucky thing you only sliced the side of my tongue when you attacked me. I’m still in shock.” Azalei spoke with a slight lisp. She mimicked the slouched posture and vacant stare she’d worn in court. Seconds later she laughed and straightened up.

“You’ve got that act down pat, huh?” LaShaun stood.

“Hell yeah. Of course, it helps that folks
want
to believe you’re guilty of something. You have a well documented history of violence.” Azalei gave a laughed harder. She remained just outside the wide ring of light cast from the overhead security lamp.

A second set of headlights appeared. Even the nighttime didn’t dim the gleam of the shiny white Lexus SUV. When it came to a stop there was no movement for several minutes. Azalei gazed at it expectantly then looked back at the porch. The window on the driver’s side slide down silently but Quentin didn’t get out. Even in the dark LaShaun could feel his arrogant amusement across the yards separating them.

“Took you long enough to get here,” Azalei called to him. “I don’t have time for games.”

“When do you have time for games, Azalei?” LaShaun stood and walked to the edge of the porch. “Maybe the night you helped that swamp snake torture and kill Rita?”
 

“But everybody knows you killed Rita, LaShaun. The sheriff just spent the last day searching Monmon’s property. I would say your property, but it won’t be once you’re locked up.” Azalei sounded confident, her voice strong.
 

“That right, Quentin? You helped Azalei engineer all this to get your hands on Monmon Odette’s property.” LaShaun looked at her cousin again. “He’ll end up with everything. Then he’ll toss you overboard.”
 

Quentin sat in the Lexus, he seemed content to stay where he was and observe.
 
A flame appeared as he lit a slender cigar. He puffed until the end glowed red, and the flame from the lighter went out again. If he was worried, Quentin didn’t show it. He seemed at ease several miles from the next few houses scattered along Rousselle Lane.

“Stupid bitch. You think it’s just about the money,” Azalei said. She glanced at the Lexus as though looking for some support. When no sign came from Quentin Azalei scowled at him.
 

“That’s the first sign you’re on your own,” LaShaun said.

Azalei turned back toward the porch and walked closer to it. “I don’t need him or anybody else to handle my business. Unlike most of Beau Chene, I’m not scared of you, LaShaun. Not even a little bit.”
 

“Then you’re more of a stupid bitch than I am, because I’m gonna send you to prison. Right after I whip your silly ass.” LaShaun came down the steps at a leisurely pace and closed the distance between them. “Poor Rita underestimated how lowdown and sneaky you can be. She was too trusting.” LaShaun’s voice broke as she spoke of her cousin.
 

“Don’t get too sentimental about ‘poor’ Rita, sugar. She was ready to plant a knife in your back to get Monmon’s estate.” Azalei wore a nasty grin.

“You played on her insecurity and childhood resentment, didn’t you?” LaShaun balled both of her hands into fists. “I’ll bet you were very patient at rubbing her wounds with salt.”

“It wasn’t hard. The old lady made it so obvious you were the golden child in this family. Rita knew that like the rest of us.”

“So you pulled her into your grimy little schemes. Then you played a trump card and got Quentin to romance her. What happened? Did Rita find out that it was all a set up?” LaShaun asked.

“Speaking of stupid, she actually thought Quentin was in love with her. Unfortunately, she got a conscience when we started doing some serious business deals. I just needed the investment capital and –”
 

“Shut the hell up,” Quentin drawled from the Lexus. He finally got out of the SUV. “Your big mouth got us into this mess.”

Azalei spun around. “Correction, your sleazy sexual habits and slimy friends got us into this. I tried to tell you hiring that trailer park trash to deal with LaShaun was a bad idea.”

Quentin surprised both women by laughing.
 
He walked past Azalei toward LaShaun. “I have no idea what she’s talking about, sweetie.”
 

“I hope you don’t think he’s in love with you,” LaShaun retorted.

“Quentin is in love with power and money, in that order. He’ll stay with me as long as I have both,” Azalei replied and tossed her long auburn weave.

“Rita found out Quentin was sleeping with you, too, and that she’d had been used. Once Rita realized what scum you both are she decided not to play your game. So she had to die.”
 

LaShaun forced herself to unclench her hands. The tension and wrath coursing through her would weaken her focus. A flash of light to her left came from deep within the woods. Was the loa here with them? She fingered the gris-gris in her left hand and recited one of the short prayers an ancestor had written in her journal.

“C’mon. Taking you down is turning out to be too easy.” Azalei threw back her head and laughed. “Your poor innocent Rita tried to blackmail Quentin into letting her in on some of his business deals. Being greedy and dumb is a fatal combination.”

“More motive. Just keep talking, cousin. Dig that hole deeper.” LaShaun saw another movement to her left. “But who attacked you? That’s what I don’t understand.”

Azalei lost the look of boldness for the first time. “Something happened that night. Those fools were supposed to go after Rita, mess her up. Not kill her and attack me. They started off following the script, then they snapped.”

“Are you sure your boyfriend didn’t decide to get rid of two problems in one night?” LaShaun felt a familiar tingle. She got flashes of insight. Then she studied the spooked expression Azalei wore. “Those two are sleaze bags, but they’re also cowards. Someone told them they had to do more than rough you and Rita up. Did you even see who knocked you out that night?”

“Cut the bull, LaShaun. Your days of being Miss It are over.” Azalei’s eyes narrowed.

LaShaun gave a short, contemptuous laugh. “That’s what I thought. Jerry and his stupid pal ran off. When you woke up was he there? I’ll bet there was a mist all around and you felt a chill. But he convinced you that he’d come in time to save you, didn’t he? Said he had a feeling Jerry and his friend couldn’t be trusted to do the right thing.”
 

“How’d you know? Wait a minute. Don’t try that voodoo hoodoo ghost story shit on me. You and Monmon Odette might have fooled everybody else, but the family knows it’s all a bunch of fake crap.” Azalei started at a night sound. She looked around her sharply, as though noticing for the first time that she was way out in the country at night.

“He came to make sure you were both dead, but you hid thinking it was Jerry coming back. I’ll bet Quentin was stunned when you got in touch with him.” LaShaun glanced back and forth between them.

“This little play has been almost amusing to watch, but let’s get down to business,” Quentin said. He dropped the cigar and ground it into the gravel with one heel. “Sorry, but there’s too much at stake to let you go running around telling wild stories.”

“You can’t really believe I’d bring you out here and not have back up,” LaShaun said calmly.

“You’re the one left hanging, LaShaun. Your man Broussard is probably somewhere hoping his chances to get elected aren’t completely shot,” Azalei said.

“No, ma’am, actually I’m right here. I arrived just in time to hear every last word.” Chase stepped from the shadows. He’d been hiding on the far side of the porch around the west corner of the house.
 

“Too bad nobody will listen, Deputy Broussard,” Azalei spat. “Your credibility will be zero once everyone knows you’re banging the voodoo queen.”
 

“You could be right.” Chase kept his calm southern gentleman tone. “But even a rural sheriff’s department is high tech these days.”

Azalei looked at Quentin. Her smile froze. “What are you talking about?”
 

“I carry a video camera in my cruiser. These little things fit in the palm of my hand. But I can also mount them anywhere.” Chase swept out one arm. “Try to guess where it is.”

“That’s a pretty pitiful bluff,” Azalei said. Still her gaze darted at the darkness.
 

 
“Smile for the camera, cousin,” LaShaun replied.

A powerful motor rumbled as headlights swung around. The newcomer pulled up beneath a swath of light from the huge lamp behind Monmon Odette’s house. A Vermillion Parish sheriff’s department cruiser parked beside the Lexus. Deputy Gautreau emerged with a nine millimeter Glock in his hand. LaShaun heard Chase let out a soft hiss.

“Glad you got here, buddy. I know who killed Rita. I’ve got it all recorded.” Chase didn’t move toward his colleague despite his words. “So that means everything has changed.

“You’re right, bro. Things have definitely changed. Throw your gun over here, and move slow so I don’t think you’re going to shoot me. Do it now.” Gautreau pointed the gun at LaShaun’s head.

When Chase tossed the gun away, Quentin retrieved it and walked over to stand next to Gautreau. “You didn’t really think I’d come out here with no back-up did you?”

“My cousin lured me out here saying she just wanted to talk, to make peace. Instead she attacked me again forcing Deputy Gautreau to shoot her and her lover,” Azalei said, her voice shaking. Then she smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m going to tell the DA and the media. I might even get a made for TV movie deal out of this, along with Monmon Odette’s estate. I don’t have to share it with anybody now that ‘poor’ Rita is gone.”

“You really think these two will let you leave here still breathing, Azalei? They didn’t want to share the goodies with Rita. What makes you different?” LaShaun nodded toward the two men.

“Nice try, LaShaun. They both know I have the keys to every closet that hides their skeletons,” Azalei tossed back.

“Exactly,” Quentin snapped.
 

He walked over to Azalei and shoved her hard. She went flying, and then stumbled. She found her footing, but also ended up closer to LaShaun and Chase than her conspirators. When she started toward Quentin, he aimed Chase’s gun at her.

“You’re so right, baby. Being greedy and dumb is a lethal combination.” Quentin grinned at her.

“They’re going to toss you into the bayou and let the gators take care of the evidence. Right, Quentin? Of course, you tried that with your grandfather, and they found him too soon. Or maybe even the gators didn’t like the taste of a putrid Trosclair.”
 
LaShaun tried to keep the attention on her as Chase inched to a thick gardenia bush.
 

“I always loved that wicked tongue of yours.” Quentin smacked his lips and winked at her.

LaShaun stared at her former lover with disgust. “What did I ever see in you?”

“The same thing your cousins saw, darlin’. Money, influence, and some of the hottest sex you’ll ever get. You know, I envy you, Chase. LaShaun is one sweet piece.” Quentin looked at Chase steadily as he spoke. “I’d give you x-rated details, Deputy Broussard, but we’ve got more important business right now.”
 

Chase snarled at him. “You’re a high-class of piece of trash.”
 

“Don’t move, man, or I’ll drop you right here and now.” Gautreau pointed the Glock at Chase. The red laser point landed on Chase’s chest. “Clear shot.”

“Don’t be a fool, Brad. These two killed Rita, and I’ve got it on tape,” Chase said. “You could still cut a deal. I think they pulled you into something darker than you knew how to handle.”

“Oh, I know how to handle it all right. We just gotta clean up loose ends. I can have it all.” Gautreau replied with a frown.
 

Quentin shook his head no. “Just shut up, and let’s get on with it. We’ve got to find that dash cam he’s got hidden around here.

“We’ll have time to look when it gets light,” Brad replied without taking his gaze or gun off Chase. “First things we dump the garbage.”
 

“More than one video cam, fellas,” Chase called out. “So, Brad. You’re in this whole dirty deal, huh?”

“Brad is definitely involved up to his thick neck, maybe he planned it all. You’re not as dense as you look. Quentin, you’ll have to watch your back for a long, long time.” LaShaun tried to distract them from Chase again.

“Your concern warms my heart. But don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll be just fine.” Quentin walked around as casually as he spoke, as though he had no care at all.

“Too bad you and your cousins got into it over money. Tragic, all three of you dying because of greed,” Gautreau said.