A car pulled up outside and he swiveled his chair. Frank climbed out of his car. Shaw turned to face the door and waited. Drumming his fingers on the desk, the door opened.
“Take a seat, Frank.”
Frank sat, dropping his hat on the desk.
“Got the warrants?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, I got the warrants.”
Shaw passed them over. Frank flipped through them.
“Can’t you get Jim to serve them?” Frank asked. “Hell, I can’t put Evelyn in cuffs, she was my childhood sweetheart. I went to school with most of these.”
“Look, Frank, I need to talk to you about that and other things.”
Frank fidgeted his backside on the chair.
“The call signs?”
“Well, yeah, there is that. I was thinking more about the fines you’re handing out.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“They’re all on-the-spot fines for tourists; that’s what’s wrong. In the four weeks since you started, not one of the locals has had as much as a parking fine. We can’t give them a free pass. It’s what pays your wages.”
Frank ran a finger between his shirt collar and neck.
“Hell, Brett. Cut me some slack. I grew up with them all. It ain’t easy.”
The phone rang and Shaw answered.
“Sheriff Shaw, I need your help with Montague,” said an agitated Mrs. Fisher.
“What kind of help? What’s he done now?”
“I’m back at the vets. Montague slipped out of my hands and he’s sneaked through the grill at the basement window. I can’t reach him to get him out.”
“Is the vet back?”
“Well, if she is back, she isn’t answering. I’ve knocked loud enough to wake the devil. Something’s not right I tell you. I can see through a small window that her van is in the garage.”
“Okay, I’ll have Deputy Morris meet you down there.”
“Do hurry.”
The line went dead. Shaw looked up at Frank. He opened his telephone pad. The number for the vets was listed with the old vet’s name. Shaw tapped the connection for a dial tone and dialed the number.
“What’s the new vet’s name?”
“Maria Hernandez,” Fred replied.
The answer phone picked up the call. He looked across at Frank and closed the call.
“We’ll talk about things later. Go down to the vets. Mrs. Fisher is down there. Her cat’s gotten trapped in the basement. While you’re there, have a look around. The vet’s van is there, but she’s not answering. The vet could be ill. She’s not opened for appointments.”
“Maybe she’s out on a call and she left in a hurry.”
“It’s not likely, not with her van in the garage, unless someone picked her up. She could have returned and walked over to the store.” He looked at the clock on his wall. It was just gone twelve. “She should have opened three hours ago. Better get going, then get back here and we’ll finish our talk.”
Frank stood, put on his hat and tipped an awkward salute on the brim. Shaw studied him as he turned, hutching his belt, loaded with department issue apparatus as if it didn’t belong there. Something else didn’t belong there. He was carrying a hunting knife on his belt next to his cuffs, sheathed in an Indian beaded, leather pouch. Shaw knew that Frank didn’t belong in a uniform. He realized he would have to make a tough decision. There would be no HR team to do the dirty work for him. Shaw shrugged, then he connected to the internet, browsing the pages of the Los Angeles Times. He headed straight for the crime page and lost himself in the stories.
The radio crackled into life.
“Brett, get down to the vets... now. We’ve got a body in the house.”
Shaw juggled with the microphone in his haste to answer.
“Fox Two, is it a code one, eight, seven?”
“Damn the call signs to hell, Brett. There’s blood everywhere and the vet’s dead.”
This wasn’t the time to be calling Frank out for lack of call sign procedure. If it was a homicide, he needed to get there and fast.
“Stay calm. Don’t touch anything. Wait outside.”
Chapter 5
CAMPED at Breakers Lake, near to where Amy lived, and nestled in the Pine Mountain area to the North of Los Angeles, she reflected that Breakers Pass wasn’t the coolest of towns to grow up in California. As picturesque as the images were in every direction, she couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if she still lived in the concrete and neon malaise of central LA.
Amy thought that Ted had chosen the spot well. She looked over her surroundings. The lake, slightly rippled, rolled out before them. Apart from a valley to the entrance at the beach, the lake was cloaked by steep mountains, covered in pine trees. The reflection of the landscape on the lake, sunk into the depths in Monet style. It looked as though nature had used broad-brush strokes to create the blurred effect.
All paired up as boyfriend and girlfriend, Ted and Amy’s usual crew of Oliver, Tania, Johno and Louise, sat on cushions around a small fire on the pebble beach. Amy breathed deeply through her nose and then sighed. The slight breeze brought with it an earthy smell that mingled with the wisps of smoke from the pine logs, burning and crackling in the fire. A makeshift grill stood over the fire, ready for a barbecue.
Amy cupped her hands around her mouth, then called out to her Golden Retriever. “Come here, Gyp.”
Standing at the shoreline, Gyp perked his ears, then bounded toward Amy. His coat glistened as he drew up alongside and proceeded to shower everyone with a shake of his body.
“Awe, Gyp, stop it before you put the fire out.” Amy said, and then laughed.
“Did you have to bring the mutt?” Johno asked, patting down his jeans. “I’m soaking wet.”
“Don’t be a wuss, and less of the mutt,” said Amy, and threw her arms around Gyp’s neck, receiving a rasping tongue across her lips in appreciation of the cuddle.
“That’s disgusting,” said Ted, and glared at Amy “He’s put my fire out alright. Don’t go expecting us making out after seeing that.”
“You should be so lucky. What’s in the garbage bag?”
Amy shot a glance at Ted.
“Tonight’s game.”
“Yeah, but what is it? It’d better not be an Ouija board like last time.”
“No, this is better, you’ll see, but only when it’s dark. Johno, go and haul a six-pack from the lake. We need to get into the mood.”
Johno huffed and shrugged his shoulders.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re already wet, and you’re the only one who needs to lose weight with the exercise. That’s why.”
“You’re not funny.”
Johno sprang to his feet and trundled over to the shore, carrying his two-hundred pound, five-foot-four frame, scrunching pebbles under foot and cursing.
“That wasn’t called for,” Louise said, protecting her boyfriend.
“He calls me a skinny runt. What’s the difference?” said Ted.
Louise prodded Ted on his shoulder with a stick.
“Whatever, forget it. Just cut back on ordering us around. No one voted you gang leader.” She poked the fire with the stick.
“Don’t poke the fire,” said Tanya. “Like, it’s tinder dry out there. D’ya wants us to get hauled in for starting a wildfire?”
“Why d’ya think we are at the edge of the lake, dumb ass? The sparks ’ll die out before they get to the trees,” said Oliver, teasing his girlfriend.
“I wasn’t a dumb ass last night when your hands were all over me.”
Oliver ducked as she gave him a playful slap on the back of his head.
“Come on you guys, why the faces? It’s weekend, lighten up,” said Ted.
Amy looked over at Johno as he returned, then watched as he handed out the cans. Ted wiped the top of his can on his T-shirt, then pulled the ring. A fountain of froth erupted, drenching him. Johno smirked.
“Ya shook the ca
n, moron.”
“Yeah, well next time you go get the cans, ya skinny runt.”
“See, I told ya’ll. Less of the name calling, blubber man.”
Amy sighed. “Oh, for goodness sake, stop measuring your wieners and one of you put the steaks on the grill. I’m going for a walk with Gyp.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Ted.
“No, thanks all the same. I want some time alone.”
“Why? Do I smell?”
Amy shrugged. She wasn’t in the mood for a glib answer.
Louise grabbed Ted’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere. It’s your turn to grill the steaks. Let her go. She doesn’t need her hand holding twenty-four seven, even if you do.”
Ted scrunched his nose, but acceded to her request with outward turned palms. Louise gave an all-knowing wink in Amy’s direction. Amy turned, then walked away over the pebbles toward the fringe of the woods. Gyp ran ahead, his tail wagging, and disappeared through the tree line. She wasn’t sure if coming out there with her friends was a good idea. Least, not on today of all days. Only Louise knew her secret. This was the first time she had shared her dark day with anyone, except with the photographs of her mom, and with her dad. She hoped her mom didn’t think she was disrespectful.
Gyp sat waiting by a pine tree. Amy picked up a twig and threw it past Gyp. He looked over his shoulder and back at her as if saying, ‘You go and fetch.’ She scooped a handful of pebbles, then patted Gyp with her other hand.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go exploring.”
She slipped the pebbles into her pocket. Gyp went ahead, zigzagging and sniffing in the undergrowth. Ten minutes trekking and Amy dropped to her haunches, then hunkered down with her back against a tree trunk. She didn’t need to go further. The nature around her provided her with the solitude she had craved, away from the childish banter. The dry rotted pine needles underfoot gave off their own peculiar smell. She picked up a handful of debris and crumbled them in her hand. What had been alive was now dead, she thought, and let the dust slip through her fingers. She had a flashback of the priest throwing dirt onto her mom’s coffin. Gyp came up beside her and snuggled his nose under her arm as if wanting her to move. She wondered if he had sensed her grief. Taking a handkerchief from her pocket, she dried her eyes. Gyp was persistent, still snuggling for attention.
“What do you want?”
He pulled away, barking and playfully jumping in front of her.
“Ah, now you want to play.” She picked up a twig and threw it.
This time, Gyp played the fetch and carry game. Amy tired of the playing. She hauled herself to her feet and heaved the twig with all the strength she could muster. Gyp ran off in pursuit, disappearing in the undergrowth. She leant against the tree and took a pebble from her pocket, tossing it at a pinecone on the ground. It landed with a thud, nowhere near her target. Her mind drifted. She wondered if Ted was playing her, or maybe she was playing him. He’d promised to keep seeing her when she started her freshman year at university in the fall. But she wasn’t sure about him. It wasn’t Ted really, but reality. It was her chance to strike out with new friends and experiences. Besides, she wondered if the distraction of a distant boyfriend would hold her back. She took another pebble and was about to launch it, when she heard a breaking twig behind her. Amy turned around and looked in the direction where she had heard the noise.
“Gyp, is that you?”
Another twig cracked again off to her left, out front. She snapped her vision to where she had heard the sound. A shiver passed through her body. She froze at rustling coming from the undergrowth to her right. As she threw a glance in that direction, a dark blur darted behind some bushes.
“Gyp, this is not funny, come here.”
No sooner had the words rolled off her tongue, she knew it was too tall a shape for it to be Gyp. At the sound of something kicking up the foliage behind her, she turned. Her heart thumped. Gyp ran toward her and then past her, coming to a sliding halt. He stood rigid, the hairs down his back stood tall, his tail pointed. He sniffed the air and then growled.
“What is it, boy?”
Gyp turned and took hold of her sleeve in his mouth, tugging at her as if telling her the direction to take.
“Okay, okay,” she said.
Gyp’s reaction told her that something was out there. She set off running with Gyp by her side. The scenery passed by in a haze. She imagined that danger lurked behind every passing tree trunk. She remembered her dad’s words. Amy wondered if maybe it was a black bear. She realized that if it was a bear, then running was not the smart thing to have done. With every step, she imagined claws sinking into her back at any moment. Her lungs were at the point of exploding, and her legs sapped of energy. Only fear kept her moving. They were travelling at right angles to the lake, when Gyp veered toward the edge of the wood. She could see the beach, when she stumbled and fell. Gyp whined in front of her, dancing with both front paws as if pleading for her to get to her feet. Then his ears twitched and he held his nose aloft. Once more, he sniffed the air. His lips curled and he growled as he stared behind her.
Amy scrambled to her feet and screamed. “Help, Ted. Help.”
She staggered through the tree line, and onto the pebbles, still calling out for help.
All coordination between mind and body was lost. Her mind was telling her to keep running, but her legs stopped answering. She could hear Gyp barking and growling behind her. She dropped to her knees, and looked toward the campfire. The scene before her shimmered, but she could make out Ted and the others charging toward her. Almost at her side, she could see Ted with his rifle shouldered, when all around her started to spin to a mist of lost consciousness.
Chapter 6
SHAW gave his windshield a blast of water and a quick clean with the wiper blades to remove the dust, then turned right onto the main street. The view through his windshield was akin to taking a step back in time. Breaker’s Pass Main Street was frozen in time from around the era of the settler days. Still it kept the tourist coming, he thought, the lifeblood of the town. The stores framing the high street were constructed with either pine logs or wooden planks. Save for the buildings framing the asphalt road, and the electricity poles, it wouldn’t have looked out of place as a set for a cowboy film. The main street was noticeably quiet for the time of day. Shaw passed the general store and turned left at Bill’s barber shop on the corner. He thought it strange that a closed sign hung in the window. Shaw felt alive for the first time in as long as he could remember. Not that he was pleased at the vet’s demise. He hardly knew her. She was new in town.
It had been some time, but there was always the same deathly silence on the way to a scene of a death. His mind was heading in all directions with anticipation. He’d almost forgotten the feeling of isolation and the apprehension that accompanied such journeys. His heart sank as the vets came into view. It was clear why the main street was deserted as he turned a bend. It looked like half the town had closed shop and were now milling around outside the vet’s property. Shaw pressed the button for his reds and blues and activated his siren with a short blast. The crowd parted to let him through. He pulled up at the gate to the rear of the property. Frank was arguing with some of the townsfolk, his arms outstretched, and holding them back at the gate.
Shaw picked up his radio microphone.
“Blue Leader to, Fox One. Have you finished over there?”
The thirty seconds he had to wait for a reply turned his gut inside out. He could see Frank needed help.
“Just loading the stag on the guys’ pickup now, Fox One, over.”
“Good, I need you over at the vets, ASAP.”
“On my way, Blue Leader, Fox One, out.”
Shaw opened his door and climbed out of his seat onto the sidewalk.
“Please, all a ya, make way. Just go home.”
Faces turned in his direction. He’d seen those looks before. Five and a half years on the job and they still considered him the new
boy in town. This scene was his territory, not theirs. He wasn’t about to let their seniority in town let them stay put. He could see they weren’t for moving.
“For the last time, move on. You could all be trampling over evidence.”
Shaw picked out the face of the local bar owner, Ed Grimes. He doubled up as the town mayor. Grimes stood toe to toe with Frank. Now he understood why Frank had been arguing.
“Mr. Mayor, can you help us to get everyone to go home,” Shaw asked, and pushed through the crowd. He hoped that using his title would muster support.
“We only want to know what’s going on,” Grimes said, and appeared to be looking down at Shaw with those three inches of extra height he had over him. “Frank says we could have a wild animal on the loose by the look of the vet’s body.”
Frank shrugged his shoulders.
“We don’t know anything yet,” said Shaw, and stabbed a look at Frank,
“Well it’s not my Montague,” said Mrs. Fisher, clutching her cat to her chest. “He wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“Listen, Sheriff, if it is a wild animal we all need to know. I could have all the men folk get their hunting rifles and we could go and shoot the son of a bitch,” said the mayor.
Shaw sighed and stood akimbo. Using his title wasn’t working, even if Grimes had reciprocated.
“We don’t know anything. I can’t have you going shooting up all the local wildlife. But when we do find out what’s happened, I’ll let everyone know. If we do find that we need to be culling a wild animal, when we know what it is, the Wildlife and Fisheries Department will take care of what needs to be done. Now if you don’t go about your business, I’m going to start making arrests for interfering with police business, understood.”
The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles Page 4
