Free Between Dusk and Dawn by Lynn Emery

back. And no,
I’m going home after working almost twelve hours straight.” Chase
went to the kitchen and straight for the coffee maker. He sighed
when he saw it was cold. “Okay, I’ll make the first pot. You’re up
pretty early.”
    “ Not exactly. I barely went
to bed,” LaShaun said.
    “ You didn’t even drink this
batch you made last night. Why couldn’t you sleep?” Chase emptied
the left over coffee and wet grounds to make a fresh
pot.
    LaShaun remembered her family journal
and retrieved the book. Chase had his back to her as he measured
coffee grounds into the filter and then filled the water well. She
slipped volume seven of the Histoire de la LeGrange Famille into
the book shelf below the television, not ready to share the
remarkable Rousselle and LeGrange chronicles with him
yet.
    “ Just restless I suppose,”
LaShaun replied and found the television remote. She turned up the
sound a little.
    “ I see. Wouldn’t have
anything to do with Orin Young stopping by last night for a chat,
would it?”
    LaShaun spun around to find Chase
gazing at her with both hands resting on his wide leather police
belt. He still wore his handgun, safely holstered. He also had a
set of handcuffs and various other tools of the trade. His marine
blue knit shirt had the department insignia on the right shoulder
in gold. Chase looked very official.
    “ I didn’t think Xavier
Marchand was one to gossip.”
    LaShaun gave him a brief smile as she
went past him to the cabinets. She took out two coffee mugs and set
them on the granite counter top. Moving fast she grabbed a small
cast iron skillet, got eggs from the fridge and started
breakfast.
    “ The Blood River Ripper’s
grandfather visits Monmon Odette’s granddaughter, and you’re
surprised word got out fast?” Chase leaned against the long counter
and watched her.
    “ I’m surprised you’ve been
tied up with a murder and missing person, people. I guess Patsy and
her lover are still gone without a trace.” LaShaun figured her
attempt to steer the subject in a new direction wouldn’t work. She
was right.
    “ What am I gonna do with
you?” Chase shook his head.
    She wrapped her arms around his waist
and pressed against him. “I’ve got some real good suggestions if
you want to take off that uniform.”
    “ I’m serious.” Chase pulled
free of her embrace and crossed his arms. “First of all you
shouldn’t have let the man in here at night when you were alone.
His grandson is a serial killer.”
    “ Right, but he’s not. He
was a member of the Catholic Men’s Fellowship ministry at St.
Anthony’s. His wife grew up with my grandmother.” LaShaun spoke in
a measured tone to sooth his irritated nerves.
    “ Oh, well that cancels out
the fact that he raised a murderer who butchered people.” Chase’s
hard expression didn’t soften even a little.
    “ If it helps, Xavier, Sr.
and his son came over to check on me. I’ll bet they kept an eye out
until he left. His wife called later to make sure I didn’t need
anything.”
    Chase gave a grunt. “Betty Marchand
wanted more information she could add to the gossip that I’m sure
is making the rounds right now.”
    LaShaun was more than a little annoyed
with him for seeing through what she didn’t say. “Maybe so, but
what does it matter? I baked some tea cakes. I’ll give you a bag to
take home.”
    “ What does it matter? Oh I
don’t know, LaShaun. Maybe you might consider that folks will think
I can’t be trusted to protect them. I have to be seen as objective,
willing to follow the facts and not be influenced.” Chase followed
her.
    “ So this is about you
running for office, huh? What about the fact that Orin Young wasn’t
convicted of any kind of crime. Unless loving his grandson despite
what he is or what he’s done breaks some law.” LaShaun faced him
with her arms crossed and her own scowl.
    “ All I’m saying
is...”
    Chase broke off and walked away to
stare out of the bay window. He