Alex stared at him a moment, then blurted out, âSomeone was shooting at us. You got hit by a bullet. Are you even going to mention that?â
Holt frowned. âI wasnât planning on it. At least not until I have an idea on the matter.â
Alex shook her head. âWell, at least let me dress that wound while you try to formulate a good idea about someone trying to kill us. And make sure you change the dressing twice a day. The last thing you want is an infection.â
âGood advice,â he said and stepped closer to her, knowing what he was about to do was a really bad idea, but unable to come up with one good reason not to.
He pulled her close to him in one sudden motion that made her gasp. Before he could change his mind, he lowered his lips to hers.
Immediately she pushed back and stared at him, her eyes wide. âI think Iâll wait in the truck.â
âItâs not safe out there,â he said.
âItâs safer than being in here.â
JANA DELEON grew up among the bayous and small towns of southwest Louisiana. Sheâs never actually found a dead body or seen a ghost, but sheâs still hoping. Jana started writing in 2001 and focuses on murderous plots set deep in the Louisiana bayous. By day, she writes very boring technical manuals for a software company in Dallas. Visit Jana at her website, www.janadeleon.com.
To my friend Leslie Langtry.
Together, we will remain sane with our focus on that private island, cabana boys and the invention of calorie-free beer.
New Orleans Press, October 31, 1976
Three children are missing in Mystere Parish from the tiny bayou town of Vodoun. All three attended first grade at Vodoun Elementary and had been playing in the backyard of one girlâs home before the mother realized they were gone. A search party of the neighboring swamp has yielded only a hair ribbon and a torn piece from one girlâs dress.
According to the sheriffâs department, the investigation is ongoing, and they are looking into several possibilities. Locals have formed their own search parties to continue sweeping the swamp, and some of them have a different take. Some believe that a voodoo priestess who lives on an island in the swamp kidnapped the girls for sacrifice. The island, which is surrounded by thousands of toy dolls in various states of decay, is the sort of things nightmares are made of.
The sheriffâs department states that deputies have searched the island and are satisfied that the girls were never there, but this is hardly the first unusual story to emerge from the swamps of Mystere Parish. If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of the missing girls, please contact the Sheriffâs department in Vodoun, Louisiana.âStaff Reporter
Psychiatrist Alexandria Bastin clutched the cell phone at her cousinâs words. âRepeat that.â She couldnât possibly have heard her correctly.
âThe witch took her! She took my baby!â Sarahâs wailing pierced Alexâs ear, even through the phone.
âCalm down, Sarah,â Alex said and waved off a nurse who had paused during her rotation to see if Alex needed help. âTake a deep breath and tell me everything.â She hurried down the hall and into her office to escape the normal noises of the busy hospital. âHow long has Erika been missing?â
âSince this afternoon. She went down the street to play with her friend.â The hysterical tone in Sarahâs voice continued to rise with each sentence. âShe was supposed to be home at three, but she never came. I waited and waited and she never came.â
âWhat did the friendâs mother say?â
âThat Erika left in time to get home. Sheâs gone, Alex, and no one will believe me. My baby! What happened to my baby?â Sarah began sobbing. âI called and called but you never answered.â
Alex grabbed her purse from her desk drawer and locked her office. âIâm on my way. Sarah, can you hear me?â
The sound of frantic sobbing was all Alex heard as she rushed into the elevator. As soon as the elevator door closed, the call dropped. Alex looked at her display and cursed when she saw the list of missed calls from her cousin. Sheâd been tied up all afternoon giving a videotaped statement for a commitment hearing and had turned off her phone, but now she wished she hadnât.
Mentally, she willed the elevator to move faster and as soon as the door opened to the parking garage, she ran to her car, pressing in Sarahâs number as she ran. The busy signal had her cursing again.
She jumped into her car and tore out of the parking lot toward the highway. Even with a fast car and a lead foot, it would take her at least an hour to get to Sarahâs house. She pressed redial, and the busy signal sounded once again. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she merged onto the highway and immediately moved to the fast lane.
Out of options, she dialed 9-1-1.
âThis is Dr. Alexandria Bastin. Iâm a resident psychiatrist at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans. I have reason to believe that a patient is suffering from a serious mental episode and I cannot get her to answer the phone. Iâm on my way, but I need someone to check on Sarah Rhonaldo at 152 Cypress Lane in Vodoun.â