A Darker Shade of Midnight Read online

  Before LaShaun could speak, Chase replied in a voice cold and hard as steel. “She scratches on her wrists and her clothes were messed up.”

  “Let ‘em go, Deputy Broussard.” LaShaun smiled at the men, causing them to look even more worried.

  “Are you sure?” Chase frowned.

  “I don’t need the hassle of pressing charges. At least not this time.” LaShaun brushed more dirt from her jeans.

  “I wrote down the plate number on that raggedy blue truck of yours. It’ll take me maybe five minutes to find out everything about you two, right down to what you had for breakfast this morning. You get what I’m sayin’?” Chase lowered the shotgun a bit.

  “Yes, sir,” Wally muttered, a sullen expression stamped on his scruffy face.

  He bumped into his friend as they both left quickly, first at a trot that turned into a full run through the thick underbrush. When they disappeared. Chase lowered the shotgun until it pointed at the ground. LaShaun let out the deep breath that she’d been holding.

  “Maybe you should go to the hospital and get checked out.” Chase gave her swift once over like seasoned lawman trained to pick up details.

  “I’m okay. Thanks for coming to the rescue again.” LaShaun started to shiver. She folded her arms in an attempt to regain control.

  Chase looked around quickly then rested the shotgun against a tree trunk nearby. He wrapped one muscular arm around her. “They’re gone. The way they took off outta here, they may be ten miles down the road by now. Between the two of us, we scared the spit outta of ‘em. You’re safe.”

  LaShaun could only shake her head. After about a minute she could feel his solid presence calm the trembling sensation that had taken over her. “Are hugs part of your deputy training?”

  “Right there in section five of the lawman’s handbook.” Chase smiled at her. Then he stepped back and picked up his shotgun again. “At least let me put some antiseptic on those scratches.”

  “I’ll survive.” LaShaun rubbed her arms to get rid of the last bit of tension.

  “Okay you’ve proven to me you’re tough. Now how about showing me you’ve got some sense? Brushing the grass and dirt off those won’t stop infection.”

  LaShaun looked at the smears of dirt on her forearms. “Guess you’ve got a point.”

  Chase nodded for her to follow him. He led the way back through the woods away from the bayou. “Take me to my truck, and you can follow me.”

  LaShaun walked behind him, but she kept looking over her shoulder and around. The encounter with the two men had frightened LaShaun more than she cared to admit. She wanted to tough it out, to tell him she could leave on her own. The truth was she didn’t want to be alone just yet. After a ten minute hike down the path they arrived at LaShaun’s SUV. Chase climbed into the passenger side and gave her directions. His blue and gray Chevy truck was parked in another clearing not far away.

  “I got one stop to make, and then we’ll be on our way.” Chase swung the passenger door open.

  “This is turning into a big mystery, Deputy Broussard,” LaShaun said.

  “I’ve got to pick up a few supplies. Not sure I have everything I need at home,” Chase replied.

  LaShaun’s felt a pleasant flutter when he shut the door firmly. She watched his lanky stride as he went to his truck, wondering if she’d lost her mind consorting with the law. Of course, she could simply drive home and ignore his invitation. Chase put the shotgun in the rack in the truck cab’s back window. He turned, smiled, and waved to her. The pleasant flutter came back, and LaShaun turned the Mariner in his direction.

  Chapter 7

  They pulled up at the Black River Landing ten minutes later. Boaters milled around the parking lot. A few were preparing to launch boats. Others seemed to be coming in for the day. Cavalier’s Country Store, constructed of weathered swamp cypress logs, sat to the left of the pier. The Cavalier family had been operating the store sixty years. Five or six people stood on a long wooden pier spaced out, taking their chances at catching a something tasty. Chase couldn’t have chosen a more public place to be seen with her, outside of in the middle of town.

  LaShaun pulled up beside his truck and let down the window when he walked over to her. “You sure this is a good idea?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be? I’ll be back in a minute.” Chase seemed so intent on his goal that he missed her meaning.

  “If you say so,” LaShaun mumbled as he left. Several people from Beau Chene looked at them and chattered away.

  As he said, Chase came back with a plastic shopping bag. “Got what I need. Now I’m set.”

  “Uh-huh.” LaShaun stared down several women who gawked at her.

  Once again, she thought about turning around for home. At that moment Chase looked at her in his rear view mirror and waved, so she followed him again. Maybe he was the one with psychic powers. They drove down Highway 273, one of the small roads that crisscrossed Vermillion Parish. They were a good ten miles from the eastern boundary of her grandmother’s land. They finally arrived at a gravel driveway that ended under a carport attached to a two-story house. The rest of the driveway curved off into a semi-circle in front of the house. Chase pulled onto it, and gestured for LaShaun to park under the carport.

  “Don’t want your car to get hot sitting out in the sun,” he called. “Stay there and I’ll be back after I put this in the kitchen.”

  “I can come in with you.” LaShaun was talking to the air because Chase was gone. Seconds later he opened the front door and stood aside as she entered.

  The parlor was a mixture of styles. Crocheted lace mats covered two tables. Two lovely antique lamps framed the sofa on end tables. She walked across a pretty rug of deep red, green and blue swirls lay on the floor. But masculine touches told her that he must live alone. Leather work boots sat in a corner next to the fireplace. An oak footstool with a lovely fabric cushioned top sat next to a chair, with a pair of socks draped across it. A wrench sat on the coffee table next to a stack of sports magazines.

  “Nice, homey atmosphere,” LaShaun said.

  “Thanks. Have a seat.” Chase disappeared down a hallway.

  LaShaun took the liberty of following him to the kitchen. “You don’t have to be so formal.”

  “My mama would be put out with me if I didn’t entertain company right,” he said over his shoulder.

  “Your mama would be put out if she knew you had me in your house,” LaShaun wisecracked. She took a few seconds to study several photos on the wall as she went down the hallway.

  An arched doorway led into a wide kitchen with a panoramic view of the countryside. Cabinets of honey brown oak lined the walls. She guessed two doors in a corner opened into a refrigerator. The kitchen also featured a white cook top and a center island with copper pans. A matching oak breakfast table and chairs sat in an alcove to her left. Deep green granite covered the counters.

  “Even doing the dishes must be a joy in here.” LaShaun forgot to be suspicious or cautious as she went to the sink with a bay window, and the view that left her speechless. “You have my dream kitchen. Not that I cook.”

  Chase laughed. “I can’t take credit. My sister and her husband had the old family house before me. They did the upgrades. You should see the master bedroom.”

  “S’cuse me?” LaShaun faced him and crossed her arms.

  “I was just saying.” Chase cleared his throat. “Kasey and Mike did a great job fixing up the place.”

  “Right.” LaShaun pursed her lips.

  “That wasn’t a come on, honest. Not after what you’ve been through today.” Chase wore a slight frown of concern.

  LaShaun relaxed her stony expression. “I know. Being defensive is just a reflex action with me.”

  “I understand why.” Chase grabbed a first aid kit from the kitchen counter. “Come over here and let me look at those.”

  LaShaun followed instructions. His large hands were gentle as he moistened a soft sterile cotton pad and cleaned th
e scratches on her arms with warm water. He moved with practiced care swabbing the cleaned skin with peroxide. When she hissed from the burning , he pursed his lips and blew lightly on her flesh. She gazed at the dark brown hair on his head so close. Without thinking, she lightly combed the fingers of her right hand through the waves. Chase looked into her eyes, and any barrier they might have been between them crumbled. LaShaun need to feel comforted and cared for after being on her own for so long. She kissed him hard. He didn’t hesitate to respond, pressing her body to his strong chest. A very different and pleasurable burning sensation turned up the heat in her.

  “Maybe we…” Chase mumbled between alternate kisses to her mouth and throat.

  She cut off his sentence by covering his mouth with hers, then tugging at the belt around his waist. In seconds, they found themselves wrapped in a tight embrace. Hunger clouded LaShaun’s awareness of her surroundings. When he touched her, she caressed him in turn. The heat between them felt like a separate living being. She could feel how much he wanted to be inside her, to know her completely. And she wanted him just as much. They ended up in the master bedroom, but LaShaun didn’t notice the décor. Not for a long time. For only a few seconds LaShaun tensed. She’d been on her guard for so long that letting go took effort. Chase used his hands and tongue to convince her. She let him take control and pure bliss was her reward. When he was inside her, LaShaun lost all resistance. His moans mixed with hers until they both reached the height of ecstasy. After, they lay in each other’s arms on top of the king-sized bed’s comforter. LaShaun rested against his long, lean body. She finally looked around the bedroom through half-closed eyes.

  “Nice room.”

  “Thanks,” he murmured. “That was out of this world.”

  “Ah, you’re making me blush.” LaShaun poked his chest with a forefinger.

  “Seriously, I had an out of body experience, like you turned into a whirlwind. Don’t laugh but I heard music, like wind chimes. And I swear your eyes even changed color for a minute.” Chase gave a long gasp of satisfaction. “Just… wow.”

  LaShaun sat up. “What else happened?”

  “A lot of really, really good vibrations up and down my…” Chase reached for her, but LaShaun was off the bed. “Hey, come back here.”

  “In a minute.”

  She found her clothes in the hallway and took them back to the bedroom. To her relief the amulet was still in her shirt pocket. She draped her clothes on a chair and climbed next to him on the bed again. Chase opened his eyes, smiled, and pulled her down against his body. Chase rubbed her shoulder then touched the pendant between her breasts.

  “You ever take this off?”

  “It’s my favorite piece of jewelry.” She put the leather cord holding the amulet around his neck. LaShaun forced herself to speak in a light tone “I want you to wear yours all the time as well.”

  “Does this mean I’m your date for the prom?” Chase whispered.

  LaShaun closed her eyes and pressed as close to him as she could. “Something like that.”

  * * *

  One hour later LaShaun got home. Tasha was in the kitchen writing her notes in the folder for the nurse to review. After giving LaShaun a brief review of the day, the home health aide left. LaShaun went to Monmon Odette’s bedroom.

  “My, my, look at the time. You had a nice long ride in the country.” Monmon Odette sat in the chair next to her bed. She peered at LaShaun over her reading glasses.

  LaShaun smiled at her. “I missed the bayou more than I realized.”

  Monmon Odette put down the leather bound book she was reading. “Hmm, you been out communing with nature. No wonder you look so refreshed and relaxed.”

  LaShaun cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Being back home might not be all bad. Not that I’m looking forward to dealing with Rita. I didn’t realize how much she resented me. And since when did she decide to take advice from Azalei is what I want to know.”

  Her grandmother’s amused smile of mischief faded. She sighed and put the book on the nightstand. “I know. Something else I have to blame on myself. Promise me you won’t play favorites with your children, Cher. All kind of evil is set in motion when you do.”

  “You did well by all your children and grandchildren,” LaShaun protested.

  “Non.” Monmon Odette shook her head slowly. “Oh I tried to do for them all, but they knew. From the moment Francine was born. we had this connection different from my other children. I can’t explain why I loved her so. That love did her no good.”

  “You chastise yourself too much, sweet grandmother.” LaShaun pulled up the tapestry-covered footstool and sat near her.

  “Ah well, there is no changing what was set in motion years ago.” Monmon Odette wore a sad expression. She gestured that she wanted to get up and get into bed, and LaShaun helped her. Once tucked in she glanced at LaShaun. “Now what you gonna do about Rita?”

  “I’ll let the lawyers sort it out.”

  Monmon Odette merely nodded. She seemed weaker than usual. “Take care, child. Something wicked stirs.”

  Monmon Odette said so softly that LaShaun leaned down to hear her better. Instead of saying more, Monmon Odette pointed toward the window. LaShaun went to look, but only saw trees and shrubs. When she turned around to question Monmon Odette her eyes were closed. Moments later the soft raspy breathing signaled she had slipped into slumber.

  Moments later LaShaun went to the back porch. She stood gazing across the backyard to the woods just beyond. Notes of her grandmother’s favorite Creole tune carried on the early evening air that brushed LaShaun’s cheek. Wind toyed with the leaves and long blades of palm shrubs. A sudden gust blew the scent of jasmine around her. LaShaun went down the back steps. A gentle force seemed to tug at her inside, moving her feet forward to what she called her “Magic Trees” as a child. In moments twilight shades of green and gray wrapped around her as she walked down a path. After a few yards, a gate seemed to spring right out of the lush foliage. An old wrought iron gate enclosed the Rousselle family cemetery.

  “Welcome home.”

  The sound whisked by LaShaun’s right ear, a soft whisper. A swirl of leaves formed a circle; a smiling face. She closed her eyes and opened them again, wondering if she’d imagined it. . LaShaun stood staring down at the unmistakable shape until it shifted with another push of air. Mist crept along the ground.

  “You’ve been waiting for me,” LaShaun said.

  “Yes,” came the reply in a soft hiss.

  Her heart thumped hard enough to cause pain in her chest. “Have you harmed anyone because of me?”

  “For you.”

  A faint echo floated on the breeze; so slight the sound could have been an illusion. LaShaun felt disoriented as the leaves seemed to shift around her. Was she alone or surround by a crowd of others?

  Then the air went still. Nothing moved, not even the small animals that filled every inch of Louisiana’s verdant sub tropical landscape. Silence stretched until LaShaun thought she would scream. She steadied her breathing to calm down. A prickle started beneath LaShaun’s skin. The sensation grew like fire ants on her arms and legs. Ignoring the trick meant to distract her, she began a prayer in Creole French, her voice low at first, then rising.

  “Oh Holy St. Anthony, I pray to you the Saint of Miracles hear my prayer. Amen.” LaShaun closed her eyes, swaying to the sound of chanting in her head. Then it stopped. Strengthened and resolute LaShaun opened her eyes again. “I want you gone.”

  The air crackled as though static electricity filled the atmosphere. The wind picked up. Leaves and branches swirled around LaShaun, dancing only inches from her body. Yet, none touched her. She tried to scream, but a vacuum sucked up the sound. Despite the riotous movement around her LaShaun heard nothing. Her scalp tingled, and she wanted to move, but her feet seemed rooted as though a magnet held her in place. Maybe it was her own fear at the wild force, and the knowledge that she had a hand in setting it loose. Then a
clear male voice, accented with a strange musical lilt, answered her.

  “I am yours, and you are mine.”

  * * *

  The next day the home health aide arrived at her usual time in the morning. She came in and went into the bedroom. Moments later she called LaShaun to Monmon Odette’s bedroom. Tasha’s serious expression put LaShaun on alert.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Her pulse is a bit erratic and her blood pressure has dropped. I don’t think all this drama is doing her any good.” Tasha frowned at the numbers she written. “Good thing this is the day the nurse will come by.”

  LaShaun sat next to the bed. She kissed Monmon Odette’s hand and watched her drift off to sleep. After a few moments, she gently placed her grandmother’s hand on top of the quilt and patted it. She was tiptoeing toward the bedroom door when Monmon Odette’s voice stopped her. LaShaun turned around. Her grandmother spoke with great effort.

  “You saw, didn’t you? Search the scrolls.” Monmon Odette voice faded.

  “What do you mean? I don’t understand. Tell me, Monmon. Tell me where that spirit, that loa came from.” LaShaun went to the bed and knelt next to it. “And how long has he inhabited our woods?”

  Monmon Odette tried to speak again but let out a wheezing moan instead. A gurgling deep in her chest caused her to gasp, and her eyes grew cloudy. LaShaun grabbed her hand. The tips of her fingers had grown cold.

  Tasha, come quick. Tasha!” LaShaun rubbed her grandmother’s hands trying to push the creep of death from them. “No, no. Please give us more time.”

  Tasha rushed in with a male nurse right behind. “Let us take a look.”

  The nurse lifted Monmon Odette’s eyelids then used the stethoscope around his neck to listen t her heart, then her breathing. He turned to Tasha. “Call 911.”

  Ten minutes felt like ten years to LaShaun. Ken explained in stark detail that Monmon Odette’s blood pressure had risen very high then dropped. He and Tasha continued to monitor her pulse and heart rate. Finally, sirens whined close. LaShaun ran to the front door and let them in. The next two hours blurred from frantic activity to waiting in the uncomfortable hospital chairs. Eventually the doctor came out. Her expression said it all.