The Accused by Jana DeLeon

I’m not much of a cook. I bet working with food, you’ve seen more than your share.”
    Connie nodded. “A basic hazard of the job. I’ve gotten good at avoiding most problems, but then, I’ve been at this since I was a teen.”
    She stopped speaking for a couple of seconds and Alaina could see the indecision in her expression. Finally, she spoke again. “Do you want to talk about it? I mean, whatever spooked you? I know I’m basically a stranger, but I was new in town not long ago. I know how your mind can work against you in a new place.”
    Alaina gave her a rueful smile. “I can’t imagine you nervous anywhere. You seem so collected.”
    “I have my moments. Had one my first night in Calais. I rent a cabin from your mother’s estate. I think a groundskeeper lived there years ago. If you take a left at that last split in the road on the way to the big house, the cabin I’m renting is another two miles down a dirt road into the middle of the swamp.”
    “Oh, I didn’t realize there were other structures beyond the main house and the caretaker’s cabin, but then, I was very young when I left. I suppose the living situation of staff wouldn’t have been on a seven-year-old’s mind.”
    “I’m sure it wouldn’t.”
    “So I take it your cabin is as remote as the main house. Is it as run-down?”
    “The first time I drove out there, I was convinced it was at least a mile past the end of the earth, but everything was in working order. It took me several days to get it cleaned to my liking, but at least no critters had moved in while it was vacant.”
    Connie hesitated a moment, then said, “I guess you weren’t as lucky.”
    “So far, everything seems to be working, but I didn’t have time to test it all before the storm blew in and knocked out the power. It definitely hasn’t seen the backside of a dusting cloth in ages. And so far, I haven’t seen any critters.”
    “But?”
    Alaina sighed. In the bright lights of the café, she felt a little silly about her fear. “I overthought everything and spooked myself.”
    “That’s what you think now, but when you walked in here, you were debating driving straight out of town after breakfast.”
    “How...how did you know that?”
    Connie shrugged. “I’ve gotten good at reading people.” She gave her a sheepish smile. “Besides, I have some experience in that area. Let’s just say I’m not exactly used to the night sounds of the swamp. I spent my first two nights sleeping in my car behind the café.”
    Alaina felt some of the tension leave her back. “I spent last night in my SUV in the driveway. If it hadn’t been storming so hard, I might have driven away then.”
    “It took some getting used to for me, and I have only eight hundred square feet to be comfortable in. It’s no wonder you got spooked in that big old house. I think I saw the place on a late-night horror movie.”
    Alaina laughed. “That’s exactly as I’d describe it. It really works the imagination. When you combine that with the drive, the storm and the fact that I’m still trying to absorb the oddity of the entire situation, I guess it did a number on me.”
    Connie nodded. “I can imagine.” She pulled a pad of paper from her apron and jotted a phone number on it.
    “Here’s my cell number,” she said and handed Alaina the piece of paper. “It’s probably useless in a storm, but if you need anything, I’m probably closest.”
    “Thank you.” Alaina took the paper and stuck it in her wallet, a bit overwhelmed by the compassion of this woman who was essentially a stranger. “That’s very nice of you.”
    “I know what it’s like to be the new girl in town.”
    Alaina smiled. “If you don’t mind my asking, how in the world did you end up here?”
    “I’d been working at a restaurant on Bourbon Street and it was my day off. I wanted to get out of the city—away from all the crowds of people—so I just started driving. I ended up here around lunchtime and