Read Online Only By Moonlight by Lynn Emery - Free Book Online Page A

“So why am I here
gentlemen?”
    “Right to the point, eh? I like it,” Labadie
said, the good-humor radiating from him.
    “Emanuel Young’s new lawyers intend to argue
that his grandfather or someone in his grandfather’s gang did the
killings,” Hazelton said, just as direct.
    “They haven’t come out and said as much, but
based on comments they’ve made so far…” Josh added and looked to
his boss.
    “That’s where they’re headed. Neal Montgomery
is one of the top defense attorneys in this state, in the country
even. He teaches part-time at Tulane Law School and started the
True Justice Project. He selects six students from the top two
percent of the class.” Hazelton’s dark eyebrows went up. “And
that’s saying something, because all the students at Tulane are top
notch.”
    “Full disclosure, sir. You’re a Tulane alum,”
Josh quipped. “I’m from LSU. We hold our own.”
    Hazelton’s grave expression cracked for a
second when one corner of his mouth lifted. Then he grew serious
again. “Back to the reason you’re here, Ms. Rousselle. Montgomery
has you on a list of potential witnesses. I know you visited Young
at the forensic facility twice. Tell me what you discussed.”
    LaShaun glanced at Chase. His dark Cajun eyes
gave no clue as he sat across from her. Still, she felt a wave of
protectiveness from him. The DA and his assistant glanced between
them as though trying to read body language.
    “Your exchange isn’t covered by any kind of
professional privilege,” Josh said quietly. When Chase shot a sharp
look at him, the young attorney cleared his throat. “In case you’re
wondering.”
    “I know that, and I want to help. I sure
don’t think Manny should be out, or even in a minimum security
setting,” LaShaun replied with a frown.
    “How did you know that he’s...” Josh’s voice
trailed off. He turned to his boss.
    Hazelton continued to gaze steadily at
LaShaun. “Ms. Rousselle?”
    “We didn’t talk about his conviction. Mostly
we talked about his family, a little about his childhood. I’m
surprised he would go for an appeal. He mentioned that he knew the
evidence against him was solid. He even implied that he needed to
be locked up.” LaShaun shook her head. “Then there’s the other side
of him.”
    Hazelton sat forward on the edge of his
chair. “Tell me more.”
    LaShaun thought back to the lightening quick
change Manny could make. She switched off from her surroundings as
she relived sitting across from the serial killer. “Manny can be
charming, even look totally harmless. But he’s a cunning, ruthless
predator. He enjoys the physical sensation of overpowering his
victim. Emotionally he feeds off their struggle to survive, like a
psychic vampire. Manny even likes the taste of his victims.”
    “He’s a cannibal?” Josh asked, eyes wide with
repulsion.
    “No, not eating their raw flesh, though I
suspect he bit several of them. He likes licking their sweat. The
flavor excites him sexually.” LaShaun’s stomach lurched as she
pushed against making a telepathic connection to the monster. Her
skin tingled and itched so intensely that she rubbed her arms hard.
“I don’t think bringing Manny outside for court is a good idea. At
all. He’s a master manipulator.”
    “Baby, calm down. Manny ain’t even in the
parish. I promise you,” Chase said quickly and put an arm around
the back of her chair as he moved closer.
    “He’s at Feliciana Forensic Hospital, ma’am,”
Hazelton said.
    “But he’s been watching the hearing using
video conference equipment we set up,” Josh added. “His attorney
insisted. Look, is it true he’s got some kind of paranormal
abilities?”
    “We’re not going down that mumbo jumbo path,”
Hazelton clipped back before LaShaun could react. “I don’t give a
damn what some crew of boogey-man chasers say. Manny is a sadistic
killer. Human evil exists. I’ve seen enough of it to know.”
    “We don’t want to