Page 4 of Beast of the Bayou

Again.

"I don’t want that damn girl!" he yells.

"So why you keep looking at her ass!" she hollers.

Shaking my head, I stand up and look around at my cozy room. I've been holed up in here since the hotel fired me a week ago trying to avoid them both. I'm not on the lease. A former eviction is sitting pretty on my rental history; my roommate was gracious enough to let me stay with her on a month-to-month basis. However, I'm already anticipating her asking me to leave. I refuse to be left hanging when that day comes.

Grabbing my keys and purse, I leave. I start walking. No destination in mind, but I stop at every available business asking if they're hiring. In a town this small, no one is. I was lucky to get the job I had.

In need of a cold drink, I stop in a convenience store. Grabbing my drink, I take it to the cashier and fish in my purse for the five dollar bill I know I have inside. Pulling it out, I hand it to the cashier when a flash of cream on the wall catches my eye. It looks like an ad.

The cashier hands me my change and I drop it in my purse. Twisting off the cap of my drink, I meander over to the bulletin board. It's printed on thick material, same as a greeting card. It stands out from the handwritten flyers surrounding it.

LIVE-IN HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED

Private estate seeking a live-in female housekeeper for immediate placement.

Spacious room and board provided. All incidentals and meals covered.

Excellent weekly salary

Previous housekeeping experience preferred.

Must be trustworthy and discreet

Please contact Lenora Landry for inquiry at (504) 000-0000

"Excellent weekly salary," I murmur. My eyes scan the board again before I take the ad off. Room and board provided. My fingers tighten around the paper. "Damn. This sounds too good to be true."

"Find something interesting, darling?"

I turn towards the cashier, who's watching me from behind the counter.

"Maybe." I hold up the paper. "You know anything about this?"

His expression darkens for a moment. "That's the Mount Mourne place."

"The Mount Mourne place?" I had heard a few rumors of Mount Mourne but didn't take enough interest in it to seek clarification.

He nods slowly. "You must not be from 'round here if you don't know it."

I shake my head. "No. I'm not from here, but I've heard a few things. What do you know about it?"

He leans forward, resting his forearms on the counter. "Descendants of the founders of this town. Well…the last one. Big mansion out by the bayou."

I glance back at the ad. "So…what's wrong with it then? This sounds like a good job. Nobody's interested?"

"Ain't nothing wrong with it," he says quickly, his eyes shifting away.

I narrow my eyes in suspicion.

He shrugs. "It's just… a big house. Lot of work for most folk."

"Well, I'm no stranger to hard work." I smile. "Especially for an excellent salary." I laugh lightly.

He doesn't. His mouth twitches.

I look back down at the paper already settling into the idea. I could save a lot of money. Maybe even enough to leave and go wherever I want afterwards. This was looking like the perfect opportunity from where I was standing.