Between Dusk and Dawn (21 page)

“
She’s a pretty little
bundle of trouble. Probably realized men were easy targets while
she was still in kindergarten,” LaShaun said and
laughed.

“
Takes one to know one,
huh?” Savannah tilted her head to one side

Instead of being offended LaShaun
laughed harder. “I plead the fifth. I recognized her the minute she
popped up at my house that night.”

“
Yeah, Vince is totally on
her side and saying she’s being falsely accused. He even asked me
to be her lawyer. After I got over the shock at how gullible he is,
I explained to him that I didn’t feel comfortable with that. I
mean, I was ready to represent him in divorcing her. That lasted
all of one week.” Savannah sat back and stared out the window. The
narrow alley between her shop and the antique store next door had a
few small trees and plant boxes.

“
Patsy knew all she had to
do was spend a few minutes with him,” LaShaun said.

“
You’re right. He couldn’t
stay away from her for long. Now he’s determined to defend her and
protect his family,” Savannah said with a sigh. “I never had a guy
get that goo-goo crazy over me.”

“
Paul was and still is, so
don’t even start,” LaShaun retorted. She nodded toward the photo of
Savannah with her husband and twin girls on an antique side
table.

“
Paul wouldn’t be dumb
enough to overlook porn pictures and hot text messages,” Savannah
retorted.

“
Okay, maybe Vince isn’t
the brightest bulb on the tree. Still love can make you do crazy
things.”

“
Speaking of love and
crazy, that is one fabulous engagement ring. Your fiancé is so
romantic.” Savannah leaned forward and grabbed LaShaun’s hand.
“Damn, girl. I need my sunglasses.”

“
I hope he doesn’t suffer
because of me,” LaShaun said softly.

Savannah let go of her hand
and sat back again. “Don’t
you
be silly now. Obviously Chase knows a once in a
lifetime love is worth the risk.”

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 will 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.