Cypress nights

the long version

Roche Savage is a dedicated, talented psychiatrist with a life-shattering secret: his sexuality isn't just vibrant, it's over-the-top. He's always avoided gentle, reserved women because he knows that if he lets himself get out of control he could frighten them--or worse. Unfortunately, he can't seem to stop thinking about Bleu Labeau, a reticent teacher who has come to Toussaint to start a new school in St. Cecil's parish. Bleu suffers the psychological consequences of being the widow of a man who taught her that sex was dirty, wrong and best performed in the dark.Father Cyrus Payne, the priest at St. Cecil's, is busy with his new school project, but still can't keep his assistant Madge Pollard off his mind. He has decided to push her into dating other men. The results only deepen Father Cyrus's struggle to choose between the church and the woman he loves.The new school project has also brought to Toussaint an evil, violent presence. When a man is killed in St. Cecil's church, panic spreads. More murders follow, and the victims are all significant contributors to the church's new school. With little help from the FBI, the local sheriff and the townspeople are left to fend for themselves.Taking the lead, Roche Savage and Bleu Labeau race to unravel the mystery before another person is forced to have the school pamphlet as their last meal. But when it is revealed that all the victims are former patients of Roche, Bleu and the rest of the town realize that they may not be looking for a stranger...but one of their very own.