Night Magic

NIGHT MAGIC

BY

LYNN EMERY

Copyright 1995 Margaret Emery Hubbard

Smashwords Edition

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The characters, places and situations
depicted in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to persons
living or dead is coincidental.

Visit Beau Chene, Louisiana for more drama
and mystery,

And see what became of bad girl LaShaun
Rousselle!

~~~~~

A Darker Shade of Midnight

LaShaun Rousselle has changed her life, and
her wicked ways. When she returns to Beau Chene, the past seems to
catch up with her. Old family feuds and a spirit LaShaun stirred up
in her wild days threaten her, and those she loves. With the help
of handsome Deputy Chase Broussard LaShaun catches a killer and
fights off a demon.

~~~~~

Between Dusk and Dawn

LaShaun Rousselle is trying to live quietly.
Little chance of that! Two sweet middle-aged ladies show up asking
her to solve a mystery. In short order LaShaun and her handsome
Deputy, Chase Broussard, are chasing a serial killer. Are the Cajun
and Creole legends true about werewolves roaming the bayous?
LaShaun and Chase are about to find out.

Chapter 1

Savannah strode into the large,
professionally decorated office. Without a word she stood in front
of the large oak desk.

"Did you finish that report?" Bill Clayton
did not look up from the file he was reading.

"Yes sir. Now I'm through with everything."
Savannah slapped down the report and in rapid succession another
single sheet of paper with only one short typewritten
paragraph.

"Resign? I don't think you really want to do
this." Clayton held up the single sheet of paper to someone who was
behind her.

"That is exactly what I want." Startled to
find Devin suddenly at her shoulder, Savannah tried to maintain her
firm, calm exterior. She had thought Clayton was alone in his
office.

"This is an overreaction. You should give
yourself a chance to cool off before doing something so rash."
Devin spoke in his celebrated measured tone. Handing the
resignation back to Clayton, he stood beside the senior partner's
large leather chair.

"He’s right, St. Julien. I know things have
been tough since that foul up on the McNealy case, but--"

"The McNealy file was altered after I had
completed and analyzed that research." Savannah could feel her
self-control slipping.

"Stop and think, Savannah. Until now you've
been doing some of the best work of all six associates. Why would
you give up this kind of position in a firm where international
reputations are made? It simply makes no sense." Clayton shook his
head.

"Mr. Clayton, maybe a vacation would be an
alternative. A break from the stress of keeping up here at the
office." Devin was the picture of solicitude.

His dark handsome face wore the appropriate
worried look of a concerned friend. Savannah could not help
noticing, as she had the first day they met, his impeccable taste
in clothes. The pinstripe blue suit, light blue shirt, red and blue
silk tie with matching handkerchief tucked just so in his coat
pocket, all said here was a young man who was on his way to the
top. What she had first found so appealing she now found appalling.
He had pretended to be her friend and even wooed her. Savannah let
down her guard, telling him about her deepest feelings.
Tentatively, she shared her childhood hurt at losing her mother and
feeling shut out by her father. She had begun to trust him and
believe they could be more than friends. That he would not hurt
her. But seeing him playfully pat Karen on her behind when they
thought they were alone had proven his betrayal. Karen was blonde
with the shape and walk of a model rather than an ambitious young
attorney. She had been cold and condescending to Savannah as
frequently as possible, openly fuming when she was praised for good
work. Karen, who lately had known as much about Savannah's
assignments as Savannah did. Karen, who tried to convince the
partners whenever they reviewed cases that Savannah wasn't quite up
to the big ones.

"When I finished that report it was perfect.
You remember, Devin. I left the office at about seven that night.
You and Karen were still here." She stared at him hard.

"That was weeks ago. Besides, all the nights
we've worked late how would I recall--" His voice trailed off
lamely before he shrugged.

"Yes, all those nights
working late.
With
Karen
."

"Never mind that now." Clayton glanced
between them speculatively for a few seconds. "Listen, we have
several important clients in the southern part of the state. In
fact, one in your hometown, or near there, is having some trouble.
You could go down. As Devin said, less pressure, a slower pace. A
nice visit with the family."

"I don't know." Savannah felt a sudden pang
at the mention of going home.

"You people are too emotional, impulsive.
Take my advice, give yourself time to cool off." Clayton wore a
look of indulgence as he spoke in a placating tone.

"You people, just what the hell does that
mean?" His words cut through the pang of remembering causing her to
place both hands on her hips.

"Hold on, I meant you young people. Devin."
Clayton nodded toward the door, a signal that he should go.

"Of course." He was obviously reluctant to
leave them alone but had no choice."Listen to me, Savannah,"
Clayton started as the door clicked shut. "Don't junk a promising
career. Take some time for yourself. Say three weeks."

"Don't think I'm not grateful for what you've
done; I am. But this isn't just a whim. I've been thinking about
going into practice on my own for while now. This is just the kick
in the butt I needed to really do something about it."

"Take as long as you need a month, two."

"Come on, there are dozens lined up to take
my place."

"In this game, nothing is done out of pure
altruism. You brought big money into this firm from some of the
most successful minority and women owned businesses in this region.
Frankly, why should I gamble on an unknown when we already have a
winner? Those two are amateur sharks, you can learn to deal with
that and more. We both know it."

"That's just what I'm afraid of, learning to
deal with them then becoming one of them. No, it's better this
way." Savannah shook hands with him.

"Some of our best clients may jump ship when
they hear you're gone." Clayton's eyebrows came together.

"I haven't discussed this with anyone, but
naturally I won't turn down business." Savannah lifted a
shoulder.

"I understand. Good luck, St. Julien."
Clayton rose to shake her hand."Don't burn this old soldier too
badly when you set the world on fire."

"No promises, Mr. Clayton." Savannah called
over her shoulder as she left his office. Devin appeared from
nowhere, blocking her exit.

"So that's it. You're leaving behind an ugly
accusation that may affect my future with this firm. After what
I've done for you?" Devin spoke in an undertone, aware they were
the center of attention.

"Not quite."

A loud crack rang out as her palm connected
solidly with his face. With one motion, she scooped up her leather
portfolio and pushed her way through the glass door toward the
elevator. The sound of applause from the secretaries and legal
assistants followed her. Before the doors whisked shut, the last
thing she saw was the stunned, then enraged expression on his
face.

*****

Savannah pressed the button causing the car
window to slide down smoothly. Glancing up, she frowned at her
reflection in the rear view mirror. With one quick tug, the
tortoise shell barrette that held her thick mane of black hair in
check opened with a snap. The feel of it tumbling about her
shoulders brought a smile.

"Humm, better. Much better." She winked at
her reflection.

Savannah felt released. Not just from the
conservative hairstyle she'd adopted that blended so well with the
decor of the prestigious law firm she'd left behind, but released
from an invisible bond that held her to a world far removed from
her childhood in the Creole culture of south Louisiana.

The first two weeks after leaving the firm
had been a vacation. Savannah had taken time to regroup and say
goodbye to all of her friends. The last week had been a blur of
tying up loose ends. Packing several years of her life proved
harder emotionally than physically. Even though over a month had
passed since her abrupt departure from Clayton, Briggs, and
Schuster, she was still angry. Angry at the way she had been
treated. Angry at Devin's betrayal. Sure, cutthroat competition was
to be expected between associates, but what he and Karen had done
went far beyond that. They used dirty tricks. She could still
Devin's voice making excuses.

"Lying, two-faced dog." Savannah
muttered.

Yes, leaving was the right
thing to do. It's over. Now relax
. She
flexed her fingers to relieve the stiffness in her hands. Loosening
her tense grip on the steering wheel, she sank back into the bucket
seat

The warm, humid breeze across her face felt
so good. The September sun beat down on the countryside. Slowing
down just a little, her eyes swept the scene surrounding her. The
two lane highway snaked through lush growth of palmetto and swamp
willow. Mixed in with the shadows cast by trees, sunlight dappled
bayous could be seen on either side at intervals. The sky was
cloudless, a brilliant blue framing the bright green foliage
stretching up to it. A profusion of brown-eyed susans swayed in the
wind. They crowded right up to the paved road, their yellow heads
bobbing. She breathed deeply, taking in the rich scent filling the
car. How she had missed this vibrant growth, the kind that seemed
to explode over night. This was the enchanted forest of her
childhood. During the summer months there had been long, blissful
hours spent roaming the countryside. With her playmates,
occasionally with her father, but mostly with Tante Marie. How
wonderful it had been learning the names of all the wild flowers
and herbs from Tante Marie. She could even see the affectionate,
slightly sad smile papa gave her when she would hand him a bouquet
she'd picked just for him.

A flash of white in the corner of her eye
drew her attention back to the present. A snowy egret began a
graceful descent, large wings flapping slowly as it settled beside
several others amongst the tall reeds. Stinging tears blurred her
vision. Convinced now more than ever that this was where she needed
to be, Savannah pressed the accelerator. She felt an almost
desperate to get home.

Suddenly a large four wheel drive vehicle
pulled from a small dirt road leading out of the woods. Though she
saw it coming, she had gathered so much speed she was sure they
would slam together. Jamming her brakes, she jerked the wheel
sharply missing the front of the other vehicle by inches. She
jumped out of her car, anxious to see if the other driver was all
right. A dark haired man wearing sunglasses leaned out of his
window.

"What's your problem lady, you haven't gotten
your quota of road kill today?" With an angry blast of his horn he
began to drive off.

"No, you idiot. I've got a few notches left
for stupid country boys who can't read stop signs!" Savannah gave
him a three fingered salute. "Stupid jerk. Well, welcome home."

She continued the ride home now as tense as
before. The town looked pretty much the same. Except more
prosperous now that tourism had taken off due to the interest in
the French speaking bayou country. Savannah turned the car down
Rougon Street, cutting away from the center of town toward her old
neighborhood. Approaching the large house, a lump rose in her
throat. Sitting well back from the black top street, the spacious
wood frame house looked as inviting as ever. The white paint
gleamed in the sunshine, set off dramatically by the dark green
trim of the windows. Climbing the porch steps, Savannah took time
to get reacquainted with the beloved window boxes of bright
flowers, the cypress swing that she had shared with Tante Marie on
summer evenings after supper. Lost in memories, it took a while for
her to realize that the Creole tune she heard came from inside the
house, not her head.