Between Dusk and Dawn (20 page)

“
Most folks wouldn’t think
that this house would be so warm and welcoming. Just goes to show
you can’t listen to silly old gossip.” Miss Clo smiled and sat on
another stool. “Why, you could have a wonderful holiday
get-together in here.”

“
That’s a great idea we can
talk about later,” Chase said promptly with a raised eyebrow at
LaShaun. “But I’m thinking y’all didn’t drive over here to discuss
ideas for entertaining.”

“
No, not even close,” M.J.
said. “We need to discuss the visit we had the other
night.”

“
Okay.” LaShaun sat down in
the over-sized chair that matched the two small sofas. Chase pulled
up the large ottoman and sat next to her.

“
Orin Young wanted you to
go visit Manny. Joyelle and I thought it might be a good idea,
too,” Miss Clo said. She looked at M.J. pointedly. “Turns out we
were on the right track after all. So much for my granddaughter’s
theory that we were just two old ladies butting in.”

M.J. squinted at her. “No, you
weren’t. At the time there were no crimes committed, just a
cheating wife and a lot of intuition based on old
stories.”

“
She struggles with having
to hear ‘I told you so’, from me and her mother,” Miss Clo said,
and pressed her lips shut when M.J. glared at her.

“
Monmon...”

“
She’s just trying to
help,” LaShaun broke in, amused at the intergenerational battle of
the wills. She looked at M.J. “She’s right about what?”

“
Willie Dupuis was in jail
with Manny Young back in 2002, that’s a fact. Now we have more
murders that are similar to crimes Manny committed between 2002 and
2005.”

“
And at the time we weren’t
sure we’d found all of the bodies,” Chase put in. When Miss Clo
gasped and put a hand over her mouth he winced. “Sorry.”

“
The typical profile of the
victims were women and men who had high risk lifestyles,” M.J.
added. “Folks who had lost ties with family.”

“
Or the families and
friends were used to them disappearing for days, even months, at a
time.”

“
So they might not be
missed for a long while, if at all,” LaShaun said.

“
Exactly,” Chase
replied.

“
Okay, but what does this
have to do with Manny Young? He’s been locked up since 2006, so he
can’t be suspect. And I know you enjoy being right, Miss Clo, but
he can’t know anything about folks roaming at night around here
now.” LaShaun suppressed a smile when the older woman pursed her
lips in response to logic.

“
Thank you,” M.J. said
firmly and shot a glance at her grandmother. “But based on what
Willie said, Manny could give us more information.”

“
Either about Willie’s
movements, which means we could see if he’s connected to more
missing people or unsolved homicides,” Chase said.

“
Or maybe Manny will
finally fill in some of the details about other murders he
committed. It’s not like he has anything to lose.” M.J. stood up
and walked around as though sitting still was too much.

“
Or to gain,” LaShaun
replied gazing at Chase and then M.J.

“
Good point. But Willie
talked about how they hung out for a while after they were both out
of jail. Manny got out first. Willie looked him up when Manny was
hanging out in a rough part of town in Lafayette.” M.J. nodded when
LaShaun’s eyes went wide.

“
They traveled together,”
LaShaun said softly.

“
Yeah, around south
Louisiana and east Texas. But how did you... Never mind.” M.J.
sighed. “We’re waiting to hear back from law enforcement in Sabine
and Newton counties.”

“
Great, but I still don’t
see what this has to do with
me
.” LaShaun looked at from Chase to
M.J. and at Miss Clo.

“
We have solid connections
to real crimes and Manny Young based on
facts
,” M.J. said emphatically,
looking at her grandmother. “We think visiting him for an interview
might actually have some value. Willie implied toward the end that
Manny got him into some stuff that even he’s ashamed
about.”

“
Okay, so one or both of
you plan to interview Manny.” LaShaun stared at her.
“Right?”

“
That’s what I’d prefer,
but...” M.J. tapped a fist on the duty belt around her trim waist
she worked hard to maintain.

“
He’ll only talk to you.
Seems his granddaddy has been talking to him about getting help.
Mr. Young is still angry about us helping him get convicted, and
he’s convinced that you’ll do Manny more good than any
psychiatrist,” Chase said wearing a stony expression.

“
Manny hasn’t been too
cooperative or chatty with the therapists at the forensic hospital,
including this psychologist who is eager to pick his brain,” M.J.
said. Then she looked at her grandmother. “Don’t you repeat any of
this to a single soul, Monmon. I brought you because Mr. Young has
been confiding in you and isn’t all that happy about dealing with
me.”

“
Of course, Myrtle Jean!”
Miss Clo snapped back. “You should know better. I won’t even tell
Joyelle, especially after that incident with her blabbing to her
big mouth cousin. I got on her about it, too.”

“
In her defense, I hear she
didn’t mean to spread the story as though it was true.” LaShaun
gave Miss Clo a pat on the arm.

“
Doesn’t matter. We agreed
not to discuss it with
anyone for any
reason
. She wasn’t thinking. But don’t
worry, dear. We’ve been friends longer than you been on this earth.
We’ve had our little spats before. We’ve already made up. And she’s
very sorry about how the tale has grown and spread.”

“
I’ll say it’s grown and
spread,” M.J. put in. “All of the parish must be talking about the
rougarou prowling the swamps around Beau Chene. The mayor has had
more calls from Reverend Fletcher and his flock than you can
believe.”

“
Oh I definitely believe,”
LaShaun said.

“
More than a few are having
fun with the story, too. With Halloween coming up, guess what will
be the most popular costume this year?” Chase gave a grunt. “Even
my sister and her kids are getting in on the act. They are so
looking forward to their annual party.”

“
Back to Manny Young, his
grandfather wants you to visit him. He’s told the social worker
that you’re a distant cousin he grew up with, just in case. Manny
is willing to talk to you.” M.J. shook her head. “I’d prefer having
one of my guys interview him, but Mr. Young made it clear that
wasn’t going to happen. And if we can solve some crimes or at least
get more information...” She shrugged.

“
We can’t force Manny to
talk to us, or even let us visit. He’s been convicted.” Chase let
out a noisy breath and looked at LaShaun. “That place is supposed
to be safe.”

“
Supposed to be?” Miss
Clo’s eyes went wide.

“
Anything can happen with
dangerous guys like him. They can be unpredictable. So if you don’t
want to go just say so. It’s not like we’re sure he’ll even give us
anything that will help.” Chase spoke to LaShaun as if they were
alone. He walked close to her and put a protective arm around her
waist.

“
They have plenty of
security, LaShaun. Trained correctional officers staff the place.
If he’s been agitated or anyway showing signs he could cause
problems they’ll call off the visit. I don’t think danger is a real
issue,” M.J. said squinting at Chase as though chastising him for
trying to dissuade LaShaun.

LaShaun had no fear about her safety,
or even coming face to face with a notorious serial killer. The
others mistook her silence for indecision. In truth, she’d known
all along that she would end up visiting Manny Young. She only
waited for the inner sense and a sign that the time was right. Miss
Clo chattered on about the Young family, Reverend Fletcher and town
gossip. Chase glanced at LaShaun every few seconds. LaShaun gazed
past Miss Clo and M.J. to the window beyond. A trio of moths
fluttered against the window. The voices of the humans around her
became background noise, muted almost to silence. Instead the
LaShaun heard the fluttering of wings against glass. Monmon Odette
always said seeing three moths meant there were secrets about to be
revealed.

“
LaShaun, did you hear
M.J.?” Chase spoke close to her ear and gave her a gentle shake.
“You look like you’re in another world.”

She blinked out of her reverie. She
looked at him and smiled. Then she pulled free of his embrace and
faced M.J. “I’ll go. Set it up.”

Chapter 12

The following day LaShaun worked on
being patient with Savannah. They sat in the small office behind
the gift shop Savannah’s father owned a block from her law office.
They had met for lunch provided by Savannah’s aunt, known for being
one of the best Creole cooks in several surrounding parishes. Two
bowls of steaming shrimp and corn soup gave the room a wonderful
fragrance.

“
Just one more question.
Have you lost your mind?” Savannah asked, dipping her soup spoon
into the bowl, and then paused to wait for an answer.

LaShaun sighed. “You’re starting to
repeat yourself.”

“
Okay, let me list just a
few reasons visiting a man with the nickname Blood River Ripper is
a very bad idea.”

Before Savannah could start, LaShaun
broke in. “No, I don’t believe law enforcement or the district
attorney is trying to trap me into revealing that I’m somehow
involved in these crimes. Yes, I do remember that Willie and the
dead woman were found near my woods. Of course it’s possible that
Orin Young is using my involvement as a ploy to help get Manny off
death row. And no, I don’t think folks will get stirred up against
me and my family again.” LaShaun ate more of the delicious brew in
her bowl and let the warm goodness slid down her throat. “No way
could I have even gotten this in L.A.”

Savannah’s shapely dark eyebrows
pulled together. “The DA still thinks you got away with something
last year. << In A Darker Shade of Midnight LaShaun was
accused of murdering her cousin>>

“
He’s not sure what it is,
but he thinks you’re guilty.”

“
Silly rabbit, wasting his
time stewing about a case that’s been stamped ‘closed’ for months.”
LaShaun fished out a succulent shrimp and enjoyed it.

“
The man hates to lose. He
sincerely thinks of himself as upholding right and protecting the
citizens. That’s a direct quote from his campaign talking points.”
Savannah grinned at the funny face LaShaun made. “I know, but it
gets votes.”

“
What-ev. Guess a little
thing like me being
innocent
doesn’t matter around here,” LaShaun said as she
worked on making her bowl of soup empty.

“
Visiting a psychotic
serial killer in a place full of crazy criminals isn’t affecting
your appetite,” Savannah said dryly.

“
Hmm.” LaShaun finished off
one last piece of French bread and patted her mouth with a napkin.
“M.J. assured me that the place is well run with lots of big, burly
correctional officers.”

“
Oh well, then you should
have a fine old time chatting with the grim reaper,” Savannah
retorted.

“
You mean the Blood River
Ripper,” LaShaun corrected.

“
Thanks for mentioning that
while I’m still eating. Ugh.” Savannah gave an exaggerated
shiver.

“
Okay, change of subject.
What’s up with Patsy and her husband? I heard that the guy’s
actually considering taking her back.”

“
Vince has completely
forgotten his urge to strangle her. He looked into her big green
eyes and believed her story,” said Savannah as she walked to the
small kitchenette area down the hall. One of the gift shop
employees stopped her to ask questions. Moments later Savannah came
back and closed the office door.

“
Just what is the
story?”LaShaun asked and sat back in her chair.

“
You’ll love this one.
Patsy says Tommy chased after her until she was too afraid to
resist his advances. He even implied he would hurt Vince and the
kids if she didn’t meet him for sex.” Savannah rolled her
eyes.

“
So she was protecting her
family. It could be true,” LaShaun replied. She shrugged at the
look Savannah gave her.

“
That doesn’t quite explain
three trips to Victoria’s Secret to buy sexy lingerie, or the hot
love notes she slipped him every chance she got. And don’t get me
started on the sex-ting.” Savannah waved a hand.

“
The what?"

“
Smokin’ hot text messages.
Not to mention the cell phone photos she sent. One had her wearing
crotch-less panties, legs spread and blowing him a
kiss.”

“
Grown folks stupid enough
to do that stuff? Damn.” LaShaun shook her head in
wonder.

“
Tommy’s wife got her hands
on his cell phone, and was kind enough to show them to Vince,”
Savannah continued. “I think she hoped Vince would do her the favor
of bumping off the rival for her hubby’s affections. Once Patsy
gets her hooks in a guy she hangs on.”