Devil's Swamp by Lynn Emery

Author:Lynn Emery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: female amatuer sleuth, female detectives, female sleuth, women detectives, woman detective, murder mystery, mystery, supernatural, suspense
Publisher: Lazy River Publishing
Published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

LaShaun muttered a few cuss words when she passed Ellie’s school bus on Highway 14. The driver waved with a smile, which meant she didn’t know Ellie was home alone. Maybe a miracle happened and Chase was home early. Though with two unsolved murders, LaShaun doubted it. Even more worrying was the news report on the radio about a home invasion in the small community of Gueydan. She didn’t have to call Chase to know he had his hands full. Plus, no need to get him freaked. Telling him she’d missed getting Ellie off the bus would not go well.

“For once let Mrs. Busybody Marchand be at my house,” LaShaun said as she pulled onto Rougon Road. She glanced at the digital clock on her dashboard. Fifteen minutes late.

When she finally reached their driveway, LaShaun’s heart thumped faster. No sign of Ellie. She wasn’t on the porch of their Creole cottage style house. The SUV tires spit out gravel as she braked hard. LaShaun put the car in park, engine still running, and jumped out.

“Ellie! Mama’s home. Sorry I’m late, baby. Where—”

LaShaun stopped at the sound of Beau’s barking. Tingling along her arms and up her back announced serious trouble. LaShaun tried to slow her breathing. Her hand went to her jacket pocket. She suppressed a cry of dismay. On her way home, she’d locked her pistol securely in the console to keep it safe from curious little hands.

“Damn it, please. Open. Open.”

LaShaun whispered a prayer as she fumbled with the keys, first pulling them from the ignition. Then she had to find the small one to the console. Moments later, the derringer in one hand, she jumped off the rocky driveway onto the grass to avoid crunching footsteps. Beau barked, then growled, then barked furiously. The sound moved in a circle. When LaShaun reached the back of their home, she froze in terror. Ellie stood looking up at a tall figure shrouded in black. A blue, hazy mist ringed their property, obscuring the view across a pasture. Their nearest neighbor, the Marchand family, would not see anything happening. When the figure reached out an arm, LaShaun raised the gun.

“Ellie, step away,” she yelled.

“She just wants to play,” Ellie replied in a small voice, her gaze still on the figure.

A woman? LaShaun became even more horrified. “We talked about strangers trying to be friends, remember? Now trust Mama and back up.”

“Look at the smoke she made. People can’t see through it. I could win at hide and seek all the time.” Ellie’s delighted giggle floated out, making the scene even more bizarre. She didn’t seem to realize the danger.

“What are you?” LaShaun addressed the figure.

“Your child is extraordinary. Those bunglers at TEA have no idea how to maximize her potential. Soon she’ll realize her superiority to them all.” The figure turned from LaShaun to look at Ellie. “Then, my dear, you can make your own choices. I’ve shown her what the future could be like.”

“Mama doesn’t approve.” Ellie looked from the figure to her mother and back again.

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