Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

8/6/2019 Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

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Prologue

It was a steamy night, the kind New Orleans isknown or. The heat o the day rose o the pave-

ment, becoming a dense mist as it met the evening

drizzle. Brilliant fashes o lightning strobed across

the still Mississippi, warning o a storm that would

settle in tight and wail through the early morninghours. Low clouds scudded past the pale moon that

hung heavy and ull. It was a miserable night or

T-Bob Gautreaux, who had empty pockets as he

drove his ancient Caddy home along the slick cob-

bles.

Fity bucks. Thats all hed needed. A sweet tyto throw down on a wager that couldnt miss. Hed

told Dolores that, but being a woman and an igno-

rant Cajun to boot, she hadnt understood. Shed

cursed him soundly and swore shed leave him i he

sold o any more o her dishes. They were all she

had let o her mamaas i her mama was the one

paying the bills.

Fity lousy bucks. Shed started crying, saying

hed promised her he wouldnt gamble no more.

Funny how she believed that promise every time;


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2 Nancy Gideon

youd think shed catch on that he never meant it or

more than a day or two. Well, maybe a week that

time hed knocked her down the stairs when shed

tried to stop him rom going to the dog track. Shed

said their baby needed to go to the doctor. Their

baby. He wasnt even sure the brat was his.

Hed stepped over her sprawled body at the bot-

tom o the stairs. How was he to know shed bustedthree ribs? It wasnt like hed meant or it to happen.

Things like that just did, when he was drinking . . .

the way hed been drinking earlier this evening when

shed tried to claw his ace as he shed their last

twenty out o her purse. Hed hit her once, just hard

enough to shut her up. She should have known bet-ter than to go at him like that.

But hed needed more than twenty, and could

come up with only one way to get it i he was to

make post time. What was he supposed to do? Pass

up the chance to get rich? Shed get over it in time

like always.

He rowned slightly, thinking back to the way

hed let her with her ace all swollen up with tears,

her voice hoarse rom pleading with him not to leave

her with his riend Telest. But thirty bucks was thirty

bucks, and Telest, whod always ancied her, wasquick to pull it out o his pocket. She should have

been fattered the man thought she was worth it.

Now that the liquor had mostly worn o, he

elt a twinge o guilt. But it was just this one time,

because hed been so close to hitting on a sure thing.


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Masked by Moonlight 3

It wouldnt happen again. Ater all, it wasnt like he

was selling her o to a strangerTelest was almost

amily. And it was the least she could do, ater all

hed done to take care o her and the kid. It was

probably no more than a couple o minutes, any-

way, considering how drunk Telest was when hed

shown up at their door.

The house was dark when T-Bob cut the engine,leaving the car hal in the drive, hal on the yard.

Shed probably give him the chew rouge about tear-

ing up her ratty fower bed, and his mood blackened.

He slammed the Caddys heavy door and swag-

gered up to the house. I Telest was still in his bed,

he was going to beat the stu out o him, money orno. For principles sake. Mad and eeling that gnaw

o guilt, he needed something to make him eel bet-

ter about what hed done. Especially since his sure

thing had let him dead broke.

The ront door was standing open. He couldnt

hear the baby crying, which was unusual enough

to make him pause. He stepped in and switched on

the light. The rst thing he saw was a big empty

spot on the wall where Dolores had hung pictures o

her olks and the baby. Nothing but aded squares

remained on the fowered wallpaper.The ungrateul little . . . shed let him!

Swearing ercely, he stormed into the bedroom to

see i her clothes were gone, but his gaze never made

it to the closet. It was riveted to the river o blood on

their tattered carpetand to what was let o Telest


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4 Nancy Gideon

on their bed. T-Bobs rst stunned thought was that

Dolores had gone crazy and killed him. One step

closer told the truth o it. Telests mouth was open

in a silent scream; silent because his throat was gone.

A glimpse at the great, gaping hole in his riends

chest made T-Bob drop to his knees and spew up all

his nights celebrations. Dolores couldnt have done

such a thing. Nothing human could have.Then the truth hit hima truth so horriying, he

could scarcely orce his legs to get him up o the foor.

But he did, scrambling, sliding in the blood, choking

on his moans o terror. His gaze fashed about the

room in panic, but all he saw were quiet shadows.

He never believed shed do it, even ater herveiled threats. He thought hed knocked that non-

sense rom her head.

But it wasnt nonsense.

Shed gone back to her own people or help.

The smell o ear rolled o him as he grabbed

rantically or air. Surely Dolores hadnt asked or

his death, too.

For Gods sake, he was the ather o their child!

Her husband! She wouldnt do that or a ew little

slaps, or a measly twenty bucks. And it couldnt

have been Telest. Shed laid down with plenty omen beore him, and hed never believed that thered

been none ater. What had he done, or her to seek

out her clans retribution?

Just wait until he got his hands on her . . . shed

be so damned sorry.


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But rst he had to get out o this place where

death hung thick and sweet in the air.

He made it to the car, the breath tearing rom him

in ragged gasps. In his haste he nearly fooded the

big block engine, but it nally growled to lie. Rub-

ber burned as he backed out o the drive, and he was

going close to ty by the time he reached the end o

the rain-dampened street. Something huge and darksuddenly appeared in the beam o his lights.

What the . . . ?

He slammed down his oot and the brakes

locked, sending the tank o a car into a sideways

shimmy. He ought the wheel or control, but there

was no regaining it on the wet pavement. Thebig sedan smashed into a parked delivery truck.

The impact crushed the passenger side, sending a

shower o glass across the seat. T-Bobs head hit

the side window, making the world go temporarily

black. As soon as he was able, he wobbled out o

the crippled car and began to stagger toward the

closest light.

Something struck him between the shoulder

blades and he went fat out on the wet stones, the

wind knocked out o him. He lay gasping or a long

minute, then was aware o another sound close by.Too close. A low, raspy breathing, seething between

clenched teeth, then a quiet, rattling growl that made

him think o one o those guard dogs that could tear

a man to pieces on command. With a wild sort o

relie, he wondered i that was what had gotten a


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6 Nancy Gideon

hold o Telest. Believing that was better than the

alternative.

Then he noticed a sharp, pungent scent, like the

musty ur collar on his mamas best coat when it got

wet in the rain. Only this was stronger, hotter. Alive.

Panting to get control o his ear, T-Bob fopped

onto his back to ace his attacker, hoping he could

be talked out o setting the dog on him.But there was no manno dog, either. Just a

huge, hulking shape crouched down on all ours and

a horrible gleam o yellow eyes. T-Bob cried out and

started to scramble backward on the cobbles as the

thing began to rise up and up and up, until it tow-

ered over him on hind legs to at least seven eet omassive ur and ury.

You wont ever misuse her again, came the

beasts harsh rumble. Prepare to pay or your sins.

T-Bobs last sight was o jowls rolling back rom

a row o mammoth teeth. Then he was screaming as

the wide, gaping jaws reached down or him.


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One

Glad Idont have to clean up this mess.Detective Charlotte Caissie examined an uniden-

tiable piece o the victim on the bottom o her

stiletto-heeled boot beore scraping it o on the

wet cobblestones. A grimace o distaste shaped her

boldly exotic eatures.Ive never known you to clean up anything, Cee

Cee, darlin, Alain Babineau said rom the other

side o the vehicle. I youd wear practical shoes to

work, you wouldnt be picking up our evidence like

a litter sticker and carrying it all over the place.

She studied her stylish ootgear, then scowled at

her partner. At least my wardrobe doesnt come

straight outta my high school yearbook.

No, you get yours rom the Fredericks o

Hollywood catalog. And you wonder why my wie

thought you were a hooker the rst time you met.Youre just jealous cause your wie preers

to dress like Doris Day. She smoothed the short

leather skirt that was several inches rom a working

girls advertisement. It wasnt her ault she had legs

as long as an NBA stars. Nor would she apologize


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8 Nancy Gideon

or her in-your-ace looks. The exaggerated bristle

o short dark hair, dramatically rimmed kohl-black

eyes, the slash o crimson lips, and model-sharp

angles under ca au lait skin complemented her

aggressive no-nonsense attitude. A wardrobe that

was more Xena the Warrior Princess than Suzie

Homemaker faunted her strong, curvy build and

emphasized what she was inside: tough, condent,and capable. All cop. All the time.

Theres more o him over here. Not exactly sure

what, though. Her partner straightened, observ-

ing the remains o T-Bob Gautreaux with a sigh. A

weary grimness about his eyes toughened the all-

American looks that were more suited to a countryclub than a grisly murder scene. The ole boy sure

did get around. Cant decide whether to call in the

coroner or the city sanitation crew.

What do you make o it, Babs? Cee Cees gaze

tracked the last rantic moments o the Caddys

ride by the devastation let in its wake. Skid marks,

dents, glass, and blood. Lots o blood. He was in a

helluva hurry to get away rom something.

Dont look like the poor bastard had much

luck.

He had luck, all right. All bad. Cee Cee acti-vated her radio. Boucher, whatchu come up with

over there at the house?

More o the same, detective. The youthul

voice thinned with strain. Im almost through tak-

ing pictures here.


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I dont think Ill be needing any wallet-

size prints. She took a bracing breath beore

asking,Any sign o the wie and kid?

No, maam. Quieter. Thank God. Then a

puzzled tone. You making the wie or this?

I dont think so, Joey. A woman on her worst

PMS day couldnt come up with this kind o pissed

o.Ive never seen anything like it. The rookie

ocers whisper was laced with horror.

Cee Cee glanced about the gore-strewn street. I

have.

In all her years on the orce, the last our o them

carrying a shield, Charlotte Caissie had seen all sortso inhumanity dealt out by her ellow man. Shoot-

ings, stabbings, punitive maimingsnothing sur-

prised her any more. But this, this carnage theyd

come across now and again, was dierent in a way

that made her scalp prickle viscerally. This wasnt an

act o anger or revenge or even ritual. The savagery

o it was unthinkable on this side o sanity. The way

the victims were torn apart went beyond mutilation,

requiring a power and single-minded purpose that

was more beast than man. But no animal she knew

possessed the kind o oresight and cunning to kill,then lie in wait to kill again. To stalk and pursue with

intelligent discrimination. It was a thinking beast

who hunted the dark city streets. One with specic

targets. One who let a merciless message underlined

in entrails. A message meant to be taken seriously.


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10 Nancy Gideon

She took it very seriously.

Finish up, Joey, and get on over here beore the

rain washes away whats let o Mr. Gautreaux. She

switched o the radio and returned to the unmarked

car where her partner sat inside to protect his suede

varsity jacket as he ran names through their data-

base. She leaned against the door rame, her relaxed

posture belying the sharp-edged expectation windingthrough her. Find what we both knew wed nd?

Babineau looked up, a eral smile on his ater-

shave-ad-smooth ace. Gautreaux and Surette, both

low-level gamblers in over their heads to guess who?

Anticipation had her teeth grinding. Jimmy

Legere. How come his name pops up every time wend ourselves looking down into an empty chest

cavity?

Nothing says I own you like mortal ear. Shall

we go pay him a visit and see what hes been up to?

Cee Cee checked the crime scene. The tape was

up, holding back the swarm o press who managed

to scent out the dead like fies. Their people were

in control, i any control could be had at the site o

such depravity. The orensic team was busy unload-

ing their high-tech gizmos in a ocused rapture,

making her and Babineaus presence obsolete.Lets go. She dropped behind the wheel with a

erce smile. Lets just stop by uninvited.

There was no way to drop in unexpectedly on

Jimmy Legere. The eight-oot walls surrounding


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his sprawling estate were studded with surveillance

cameras that could summon a crew o armed men

in an instant. But as they approached, the wrought-

iron gates stood open, almost as i to welcome

guests at our in the morning. As i theyd been

expected.

She ollowed the long drive beneath a heavy lace

o live oaks, through the ormal gardens where stat-uary stood like cold, nude ghosts under the wan-

ing moonlight. In the daytime, the place had a aded

elegance to it. At night, it gave her the creeps. She

parked so their vehicle blocked the ront steps and

hesitated within its saety or a minute. There was

enough o the old ways steeped in her heritage toget her nape bristling in uncomortable wariness

a kind o walking-over-graves nervousness, mak-

ing her wonder i there were more ghosts roaming

behind the pale stucco walls. The ghosts o those

Legere had killed.

Shaking o the superstitious shivers, she got out

o the car. The sound o the door slamming echoed

back o the mist. She didnt bother giving the

grand home an admiring glance; shed been there

beore. With Babineau ollowing, she marched up

the marble steps, surprised that no one had arrivedto intercept them. No one ever caught Jimmy nap-

ping, which was why he was still alive. The wide

porch was darkly shadowed, smelling o verbena

and musty wood. She strode across it toward the

massive ront door.


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12 Nancy Gideon

Kinda early to be making house calls, isnt it,

detective?

The low voice came out o the blackness, so

close that she elt warm breath against her cheek. It

took Cee Cee a moment to swallow the heart that

had catapulted into her throat. Shed nearly leapt

out o her ancy new T-Bob Gautreaux-stained

boots.But not too early or you to be up and around,

she countered in a gru tone to cover her start o

alarm. She could sense rather than see him, stand-

ing right at her elbow, a orceul presence cloaked

in stillness. No wonder no alert had been spread

at their arrival. Jimmy had his big dog out on theporch.

Thats a new perume youre wearing. I like it.

Your hairs dierent, too.

All just or you, Max. Now step back or Im

going to have to pat you down.

Would you? A fash o white teeth. Id like

that. But he did glide to a less invasive distance, to

where his eyes gleamed rom the shadows.

She took a breath, letting the jitters settle, then

nodded back toward the road. Expecting com-

pany?I could tell it was you the minute you turned

onto River Road.

Max Savoie had a way o saying strange, impos-

sible things like that as i they were true.

Gonna ask us in, or keep us out here in the rain


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like we were trying to sell you something you didnt

need?

His voice was deep and smooth with just a subtle

ripple, like rich cognac in a warm glass. Where are

my manners? You know its always a pleasure to see

you, no matter what youre selling.

Because she was still simmering over Babineaus

earlier comment, she asked, You ever mistake meor a hooker, Max?

Another glint o strong white teeth. I I had,

Ida been counting out twenties.

When he crossed between her and the ront door,

she got a clear look at Savoie. Dark, tall, and bold.

Jimmy Legeres right hand. His silent enorcer. Analways-rustrating enigma. No one knew anything

about him other than the name he used, a name

that led to nothing but dead ends in any o their

databases. No birth certicate, no Social Security

number, no drivers license, health insurance, tax

recordsnothing. His past was as inaccessible as

the expression on his ace when he turned toward

her with the door held wide.

Aprs vous.

She and Babineau entered the dark, cavernous

oyer, Savoie bringing up the rear. She heard him saysot and low to someone unseen, Wake up, Jimmy.

The police are here. Then he preceded them into

one o the high-ceilinged parlors and turned up the

lights, unmasking himsel rom the shadows with a

dramatic fare.


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14 Nancy Gideon

Cee Cee didnt spend a lot o time admiring men

or their looks, but something about Max Savoies

ace arrested her each time she saw him.

He wasnt handsome, not even attractive in the

traditional sense. He was rugged strength cut into

sharp planes and rough angles. Condent with-

out being cocky, powerul without aggression, he

exuded complete control over what he allowed theworld to see, which was usually damned little.

The act that he could seem so orceul behind

such a calm, immobile ront impressed her. Not

much did. Max was a man who wasted no unnec-

essary words or movements, his unblinking stare

taking in everything without revealing anythingthrough eyes the color o wet verdigris, beneath lids

heavy with guarded disdain.

Or amusement. She oten got the eeling that he

was laughing at her on some private level, which

irritated her. But the odd way he sensed things

not apparent to others made her nervous. Sounds,

smells, movements. He was alert to them like a mas-

ti on a short chain. And he missed nothing when

it came to hernot the slightest nuance, every tiny

alteration, in a way that shed nd alarmingly obses-

sive i he ever acted on it with more than slightlyfirtatious words. Who the hell noticed a new per-

ume applied modestly to pulse points almost a ull

day ago? Wondering made those pulse points futter.

Coee? he asked as they moved toward the

center o the big room.


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That would be nice. Babineau spoke up to

assert his presence, aware o the way his partner and

Legeres bodyguard were atuned to each other, and

not liking it.

A slight smile touched Savoies lips. I was

wondering i you brought any. We werent exactly

expecting company.

This isnt exactly a social call, Cee Cee cor-rected.

That cool stare held hers. Too bad. Without

glancing down, he asked, Whos that on your

shoes? Anyone I know?

She held on to her surprise, drawling, You tell

me.DNA isnt exactly my specialty.

What is, Max?

The smile remained. He didnt answer.

He was probably a killer. He was probably one

o the most dangerous and deadly men she knew,

which was why Jimmy Legere kept him so close at

hand.

Is our unnamed riend the reason or your

visit?

This time she didnt answer. She was noting the

way he was dressed: quite nicely or almost our inthe morning, in a crisp white shirt and black pants.

And his inevitable red Converse gym shoes. All resh

and spotless. Mind telling me what has you up so

early?

Still up. Playing games o chance.


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16 Nancy Gideon

Here in the house?

Upstairs.

Witnesses?

Id rather not give her name, unless you need

to know it. A pause; then he leaned in close. Id

rather it was you.

Her insides tightened up unexpectedly, and she

was about to tell him o when the shock o his near-ness hit home.

Hed intruded into the personal space she held

as strictly o-limits, sometimes even with exces-

sive physical orce. She didnt like being crowded or

handled and wasnt shy about letting that be known.

Most didnt need to be told more than once. But orsome reason, Savoie never seemed to get the mes-

sage. Maybe because she let him get away with it.

He was the only man she allowed to move in on

her without snapping to immediate back-the-uck-

o deensiveness. She didnt know why shed never

elt threatened by him, this big man who was most

likely a ruthless murderer.

She could eel his heat without actual contact, and

though it was unsettling, it didnt set o the expected

alarm bells. Because it wasnt alarm that unsettled

her. It was something elsesomething quiet, some-thing deep, like a secret her soul knew but wouldnt

share with her mind. What was it about him that

tugged a blanket o calm over instinctive agitation?

He never touched her, not even a casual brush o

his hand or unintentional bump o his body. Some-


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times she perversely ound hersel wondering what

it would be like, that contact he withheld so pur-

poseully.

Id rather it was you.

Though her heart slammed against her ribs, her

reply was deensively cold. Thats not going to hap-

pen, Max.

He eased back, moving with startling grace or aman his size. I can dream, cant I?

She doubted that she was the stu o his dreams,

but her pulse didnt slow down until the arrival o

Jimmy Legere. As the crime lords wheelchair rolled

into the room, Max retreated to become a silent,

motionless sentinel at his back.Detectives. To what do I owe this early-morning

wake-up call?

A slight stroke hadnt slowed Jimmy Legere

down or made his stranglehold on the docks o

New Orleans any less powerul. I something even

slightly unsavory was going on, Jimmy had his hand

in it or his hand out to accept a payo rom it. He

was a gregarious old man somewhere between sixty

and dead, ragile and white haired. He had tons o

money but lived in a house as old and broken down

as he was getting to be. He donated generously toa variety o humanitarian causes, including, ironi-

cally, the und or amilies o police ocers slain in

the line o duty. Probably because the stroke got him

thinking about paving his way into Heaven sooner

rather than later. Or as a macabre joke.


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18 Nancy Gideon

As long as his people were loyal, he was generous

to them as well. But cross him and thats when the

legendary Legere suraced, the man who once threw

a lavish wedding or his cousin, then shot him in

the eye during the reception because hed been skim-

ming rom that pot o plenty. It was never proven, o

course. Few unpleasantries ever got close to Jimmy.

One, because he was smart. Two, because MaxSavoie was standing behind him, and everyone with

a lick o sense was scared to the marrow o Max.

T-Bob Gautreaux and Telest Surette. Names

mean anything to you, Jimmy? Babineau jumped

right in.

Thats Mr. Legere to you, Max said in aninfectionless tone that somehow implied a world o

menace.

Mr. Legere, the detective corrected.

Be nice to our guests, Max, the old man chided.

Im sure theyve had a long night and are tired and

wanting to go home to their amilies. Jimmy is ne.

Since when are we guests, Jimmy? Cee Cee

prodded.

Since youre not here to arrest me. Or are you?

She gave the old ellow a once-over, noting the

striped pajamas over pencil-thin legs peeping outrom his silk robe. He wore powder blue terry-cloth

slippers. What kind o mobster wore powder blue

terry cloth? But she wasnt ooled by his apparent

helplessness.

She smiled. You know everything about every-


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thing, Jimmy. What do you know about these two

small-timers? Why would someone want to scram-

ble their insides like an omelet and spill them all

over my district?

There was nothing wrong with Legeres ledger-

like mind. T-Bob was in or twenty large. A crude,

rather stupid man who used to slap his wie around.

Telest, a nobody who bet only when he could paythe interest. Not model citizens, detective, but they

paid on their accountsrom what I understand,

that is. Dead men dont pay markers.

But when they die really ugly, they can be an

inspiration to those who might consider letting a

payment slide.A rusty chuckle. Very true, young lady. But

these days, considering my health, I search or inspi-

ration at St. Phillips.

How . . . admirable.

She let her cool, proessional acade slip just long

enough or him to see what was behind it: ury,

packed in rustration and to-the-ends-o-the-earth

determination. She wouldnt rest until she brought

him down, until her hand slammed the prison door

behind him. He read that promise without taking

oense, but without amusement, either. He took herseriously, which was exactly what she wanted. For

him to know who was going to lock him away or

whatever orever he had let.

Was there anything else, detective? I should like

to get back to my rest.


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20 Nancy Gideon

Im sure youll have no trouble sleeping, Jimmy.

Never do.

Must be all that clean living and prayer. Youll

let us know i you hear anything?

O course. Ill send Max.

Her gaze fickered to the rough-hewn eatures,

meeting his steady stare. A phone call will be ne.

Sorry to have disturbed you.Always a pleasant disruption or an old man

like me. Max, see them out.

When Max Savoie returned rom that duty, he was

met with a no-nonsense stare.

Max, what have you been up to?

What do you think, Ceece?

Cee Cee started the car and pulled away rom the

house. She was always glad to have the spooky old

place in her rearview mirror. I think the old man

has enough skeletons to supply a medical school,

but I dont think our vics are among them.

Though she didnt think Jimmy Legere had any

blood on him this time, she was wondering about

Max Savoie. For a man whod been up all night,

his clothes had just-pulled-o-the-tag creases still inthem. I hed been romping with a woman, why was

he sporting an unwrinkled shirt and smelling o a

really nice soap instead o Eau de Sex? He wasnt

the only one who had a discriminating nose. Why

would he be so well dressed unless what hed been


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wearing earlier was covered in T-Bob and Telest?

But a gut eeling wasnt enough or a warrant, and

she had no desire to be cornered by Legeres slick

lawyer beore she had her morning coee.

She made a call to Devlin Dovion, who by now

was probably at the scene and up to his elbows in

one o the corpses. The medical examiner had been a

riend o her athers and always gave her the insidescoop when he could.

Charlotte, he grumbled, Im trying to work

here. Let me do my job.

I can do my job better i you tell me what

youve discovered so ar. Any idea who killed them,

Dev?Who? No. Whatwould be the better question.

What? She exchanged a puzzled glance with

Babineau. You mean what was used to kill them?

Oh, thats easy. Surette had his throat and heart

torn out by bare hands.

Through the rib cage? Is that possible?

Im not saying how it was done, only that thats

the way it was done.

Cee Cee swallowed. And Gautreaux?

Thats a bit more interesting. To Devlin, every-

thing gruesome was interesting. And he liked talkingto Charlotte because she seemed to think so, too.

They were two o a kind, walking on the dark side

o the night.

Interesting how so?

His body was ripped apart by angs and claws.


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22 Nancy Gideon

Fangs and . . . claws? Are we talking animal,

here? Like some big dog or something?

Ive got a pretty good bite impression, but o

the top o my head, I couldnt tell you what made it.

Something big enough to chase and catch a Cadil-

lac going roughly ty miles an hour, knock down a

man weighing more than two hundred pounds, and

have enough strength let to tear o his arms.Damn.

So were not talking your run-o-the-mill house

pet here.

Not in my house. Then, to her disappointment,

he shut her down. Im not doing any more talking

until I nish running tests. Every time we get one othese the results come back contaminated by some

damn thing or another. This time I want to be extra

careul. And keep this just between the two o us or

now. Stu like this always gets the crazies coming out

o the woodwork to bay at the next ull moon, and

I dont need to be that busy cleaning up ater you.

She signed o and drove in silence or several

blocks.

So, Babineau began casually, watching her

expression as she processed the disturbing inorma-

tion. Where do we look or this animal? At thepound?

Somehow I doubt it.

Well, Im out o ideas or the moment and out

o energy. What say we call it a night and get started

resh in the morning?


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Out o ideas, maybe. But energy? She doubted

it. Her partner had a new bride at home and always

seemed in a hurry to punch out.

Maybe shes waiting up or you wearing some-

thing in basic black rubber.

He didnt comment, but the gleam in his eye said

that kind o surprise wouldnt be unwelcome.

But just because he had something to go home todidnt mean she was ready to trade their hot lead or

her cold sheets.

Her mind was ull o questions that needed to be

askedand she had a pretty good idea o where to

start looking or answers.

Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

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Transcript of Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon