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“I believe your sisters are out in the waiting room,” he said.

“What about Jacque? Jacque LeBlanc. Do you know if he is in the waiting room, too?” she asked.

“Actually, he’s being treated right now by Dr. Berman for a stab wound and a collapsed lung,” Dr. Harmon replied.

“What?” Horror swept through her. Jacque had been hurt? He’d been stabbed and now had a collapsed lung? A sob burst out of her, a sob followed by another and another as she thought of the man who had saved her life so many times before…the man she loved with all her heart.

“Here…here, dear.” Dr. Harmon awkwardly patted her on her back. “From everything I’ve heard, he’s going to be just fine. Although I imagine he’ll be staying here with us for a night or two.”

“Can I see him later?” she asked and swiped away her tears.

“I doubt if he’ll be allowed any visitors this evening. Monique, from what I’ve heard, you’ve just been through quite a traumatic time. What you need to do now is go home and get some rest. I’m sure you’ll be able to visit Mr. LeBlanc sometime tomorrow.”

She nodded, and minutes later she walked out of the emergency room and into the waiting, loving arms of her sisters. Both of them hugged her with tender care, and then Angelique led the way to her car in the parking lot. Dominique got into the back, and Monique got into the passenger seat.

Night had fallen, but the moon was a big round lighted ball in the sky that spilled down beautiful silvery light. Stars shone brilliantly from the dark canvas of the sky.

“Monique, why don’t you come spend the night with me and Daniel?” Angelique suggested as she started up her car. “You know we have a nice guest bedroom.”

“Thanks, sis, but I’d really rather go back to Jacque’s for the night,” Monique replied. “Most of my things are there, and I’ll be more comfortable there for the night.”

She hoped Jacque hadn’t locked up his house when he’d gone to Nola’s. If that was the case, then she’d just head back to her own shanty. She would be safe now to walk around without fear.

The conversation quickly moved on to Nola. “I hope she goes away until hell freezes over,” Dominique said after Monique told them about her final moments with the woman.

“She’ll probably be in jail for the rest of her life,” Angelique replied.

“Not only will she be facing murder charges, but she’ll also face attempted murder charges for trying to kill me,” Monique replied.

Even though the topic of conversation was the killer, Monique was nearly consumed with her worry for Jacque. However, there was nothing she could do about that for the night. At least he was at the hospital where he belonged.

“I never suspected her,” Dominique said. “I would have never believed Nola was the killer.”

“Nobody suspected her,” Angelique replied.

“I always believed it was a man who killed her,” Monique said.

“Yeah, me, too,” Dominique replied.

“I can’t believe how strong and brave you’ve been through all this,” Angelique said with a glance at Monique. “I guess this means the baby of the family has truly grown up.”

Monique released a small laugh. “I have, indeed.”

They continued to talk about the case and their utter sense of betrayal until they reached the swamp. “At least we have the closure that we all needed,” Dominique said as Angelique parked the car.

“While the outcome has been tragic for us, we now have the answers we all needed. We can finally move on with our lives without this shadow hanging over us,” Angelique said.

“And we have each other,” Dominique said.

“And that’s a great thing,” Monique replied, eternally grateful for her older sisters’ love and support.

“Monique, want us to walk you in?” Dominque asked once Angelique pulled up at the swamp entrance.

“No, I’ll be fine,” she assured them as she opened her car door. “The moon is full, the killer is in jail, and I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’ll just talk to you both sometime tomorrow.”

Minutes later Monique followed the trail to Jacque’s place. It was all finally over. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder or clutch a knife or be afraid as she walked the path.

While she was happy Nola was in jail where she belonged, how could she happy with Jacque in the hospital? How could she be thrilled that it would now be time for her to pack up her things and leave his shanty? Yes, her mother’s murder had been solved, but there was still so much worry, so much heartache left.