The Chupacabra Catastrophe

by Amanda M. Lee

  “We have to stay in Hooper’s Mill tonight so we can be on hand to catch the action,” I answered, hoping to take the onus off Chris. “It’s the only answer.”

  Jack extended a warning finger. “We’ve talked about this.”

  “We have,” Chris confirmed. “We need to talk about it again. We have evidence here that suggests we need to take the next step.”

  “What evidence?” I thought there was a very real chance Jack was about to lose his world-class cool, his cheeks red as he sputtered. “We have what may be Chupacabra eyes or what may be fireflies.”

  “You’re a poet and you didn’t even know it,” I commented.

  “Don’t go there again,” Jack hissed, his eyes flashing. “I can take only so much.”

  “It’s not about what you can take, Jack.” Chris drew the security chief’s eyes back to him. “We’re supposed to investigate unexplained phenomena. I understand you have a job to do. I do, too. My job requires that I camp out at Hooper’s Mill tonight. If you have a problem with that … .”

  “I have a huge problem with that!” Jack exploded.

  “Then take it up with Uncle Myron,” Chris suggested. “I’ve already talked to him. He agrees with me and has given his permission to go overrule you on this one. That’s what I’m doing.”

  Jack, eyes wild, turned to Millie. “You can exert control over Myron. Call him. Force him to change his mind.”

  Millie looked caught. “I can’t do that, Jack. You know I respect you – no, I really do – but Chris has a right to see this through. If he wants to go to Hooper’s Mill and watch the town for himself, I don’t see how you can stop him.

  “It’s important to him,” she continued. “It’s important to this group. I think this one has to be Chris’ decision.”

  “I just want to … .” Jack mimed strangling an invisible figure. I had no idea if he was picturing Chris, Millie or me, but it was clear he wasn’t happy.

  “I’m taking volunteers for the overnighter.” Chris raised his voice. “Who wants to be part of this?”

  “I’m definitely in,” Zach enthused.

  Laura shot him a coy look. “I’m in, too.”

  “Me!” I shot my hand into the air. “Please, please, please!”

  Chris smiled at my enthusiasm. “You’re in, Charlie. I don’t think I could do it without you.” He glanced around the table, everyone else remaining silent. “We’ll have our phones and be in constant contact. This will be good. You’ll see.”

  “I can’t wait.” I clapped my hands. “I’m even excited for the barbecue tonight. This is … totally amazing!”

  I risked a look at Jack and found him glowering.

  “It’ll be okay.” I patted his knee, a jolt of hurt going through me when he jerked away. “Jack … .”

  “Don’t talk to me,” Jack barked. “I’ve had my fill of you for one day.”

  The words were painful – as was the overt distaste on his face – but I didn’t back down. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re not,” Jack shot back. “But you will be if something happens, won’t you?”

  “I … .”

  “Shut your mouth,” Jack ordered, his face flushed with anger. “For once, just shut your freaking mouth.”

  Even though I was understandably offended, I did as he asked. He felt betrayed. I couldn’t take it back or make him feel better. I could only do what he asked – so I did.

  20

  Twenty

  I was excited to the point of giddiness when we loaded the vehicle for our overnighter at Hooper’s Mill. Jack refused to talk to me, which was a small tear in the heart department, but I figured I could eventually get him to ease up. After a night left to his own devices, a lot of brooding and pouting on the menu, I figured he’d get over it.

  I realized I was wrong when Jack appeared in the parking lot and threw another bag into the vehicle’s rear.

  “What are you doing?”

  Jack’s eyes, like dark lasers full of disgust, locked with mine. “I’m still head of security.”

  “You’re going with us?”

  “No, you’re coming with me. Now … get in the backseat and fasten your seatbelt.”

  His tone was unbelievably chilly. “Jack … .”

  “Get in the truck, Charlie.”

  The edge to his voice left no room for debate, so I did as instructed.

  The ride to Hooper’s Mill was uncomfortable. Jack took the wheel, and Chris settled in the passenger seat. That left Zach, Laura and me to wedge ourselves in the back. Zach seemed happy with the configuration and purposely selected the middle spot as he split time smiling at both of us. By the third time his hand “accidentally” brushed my thigh I was ready to explode.

  “Do you mind not touching me?” The question was out of my mouth before I thought better about uttering it. “Can you please keep your hands to yourself?”

  Zach wasn’t insulted. “Oh, you know you like it.” He winked as Laura shot me a challenging look.

  “Keep your hands to yourself,” Jack hissed.

  “What if I don’t want him to keep his hands to himself?” Laura challenged. She was clearly spoiling for a fight – with Jack, at least – and her voice was laced with disdain.

  “I don’t care if he touches you,” Jack shot back. “You can do what you want.”

  “So you only care about Charlie, huh?” Laura’s expression was hard to discern, but I was certain there was a mixture of several emotions there … and one of them was hurt. That was weird.

  “I didn’t say that.” Jack adjusted his tone. “She clearly doesn’t want to be touched, and I’m not going to sit back and watch her be sexually harassed.”

  “I’m hardly sexually harassing her,” Zach countered.

  “Keep it that way.” Jack was firm. “Once we get to Hooper’s Mill, we need to set up a base camp. No one – and I mean absolutely no one – is allowed to wander off on his or her own. Do you understand?”

  “That’s a good idea.” Chris was focused on the night vision equipment in his hands, so he didn’t notice the dark look Jack lobbed Zach in the mirror.

  “I don’t think you have to worry about me wandering around alone,” Laura said. “I plan to wander around with Zach.”

  “Oh, you’re so cute.” Zach beamed at her, making my stomach twist.

  “I was talking to Charlie,” Jack said. “No wandering around alone, Charlie.”

  I was fairly certain I should’ve been offended at being singled out. “I know. I’m not stupid.”

  Jack muttered something under his breath, something that sounded suspiciously like, “You’re a freaking idiot,” but otherwise remained silent. Chatter ceased for the remainder of the ride, and by the time we hit Hooper’s Mill the sun was close to setting.

  “Which building should we set up shop in?” Chris asked Jack. Now that he’d gotten his way he was more than willing to be deferential on the small things.

  “We’re not sleeping inside of a building,” Jack replied. “That’s not wise or safe. We can build a fire off to the side of the saloon over there. Everyone has sleeping bags and it’s warm enough to sleep under the stars.”

  Laura was the first to balk. “Why can’t we sleep inside? It seems weird to sleep outside with all the bugs when we don’t have to.”

  Jack shot her a withering look. “There will be more bugs and scavengers inside the buildings than outside. They’ll avoid us outside.”

  Laura didn’t look convinced. “Is he lying to me?” She turned to Zach for an answer.

  “He’s actually right.” Zach beamed at Jack, as if those three little words would be enough to eradicate the rampant dislike continually growing between the two men. “We’ll be better outdoors.”

  “If you say so.” Laura was blasé. “I’ll grab the sleeping bags.”

  “I’ll grab the cooler,” I offered.

  Jack shook his head, refusing to meet my eyes. “Leave the cooler in the back. That will attract
scavengers. We’ll grab water out as we need it. Make sure no garbage is left behind.”

  “I won’t.” I wanted to say more to him, apologize for taking Chris’ side even though I wasn’t exactly sorry for doing it. Jack’s mood had me feeling guilty, and it wasn’t a feeling I liked. “Jack … .”

  “Gather some wood for a fire,” Jack ordered, cutting me off. “There’s some stacked along the side of the hotel. Grab it quickly, because I don’t want you wandering over there by yourself once the sun sets. Get a lot because it’s going to be a long night.”

  I didn’t want to let it go, but he seemed adamant about getting camp set up before doing anything else. “Okay.”

  Jack turned his full attention to the darkening street. “Chris, check the camera and give me that night vision camera and scope. We’re setting both of those up at the campsite perimeter.”

  Chris looked disappointed. “I thought I’d take a look around with the scope and see if I can find anything of interest.”

  Jack forced a smile that was more annoyed than amused. “Not until camp is set up … and then not alone.”

  “But … .”

  “No.”

  “Come on, Chris,” Laura said, appearing at his elbow. “If you help us set up camp for Captain Bad Attitude, we’ll go with you to look around.” She gestured toward Zach. “I think we’ll all want a break from the gloomy wonder here.”

  Chris beamed. “Sounds like a good idea.”

  IT TOOK AN HOUR TO set up the camp and get the fire going. Chris was eager to take off, so Jack ultimately relented as long as Zach and Laura went with him. It was so dark by the time they wandered away that it took only about thirty seconds for them to disappear into the murk.

  That left Jack and me by the fire, which was cozy and yet unbelievably uncomfortable at the same time. I wanted to go with Chris and check the equipment, but that would’ve left Jack alone. It wasn’t that I was worried about his safety as much as I knew that would mean Jack would follow us wherever we moved around the town. I decided to take one for the team and stay with him so everybody’s fun wasn’t ruined.

  Unfortunately for me, the silence was oppressive, but I was determined not to be the one to break it. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Not really. Sure, I felt guilty and didn’t enjoy the way he pouted, but I was not going to break the silence. I was going to force him to do it. I would make him apologize.

  My resolve lasted exactly two minutes.

  “How cold do you think it will get?”

  Jack slid me a sidelong look. “I don’t know. Probably not too cold. You’ll be fine in your sleeping bag.”

  “I’m not worried I’m going to freeze to death or anything. I was just asking.”

  “You were uncomfortable with the silence because you want me to pat you on the head and say ‘all is well,’” Jack countered. “There’s a difference.”

  I scowled. “I don’t want you to pat me on the head.”

  “No?” Jack arched an eyebrow. “You could’ve fooled me.” He dug into the bag at his side and returned with a flask, causing me to widen my eyes.

  “What is that?”

  “Whiskey.”

  “You’re drinking when you’re supposed to be running security?” I wasn’t exactly scandalized, but I’d never seen him carry a flask. The fact that I drove him to drink increased my guilt. It also made me feel a bit puffed out, which was probably the opposite of what he wanted.

  “I’m having some whiskey because I’m annoyed with all of you and I need something to focus on.” Jack made a face as he took a swig and swallowed. “Want some?” He tilted the flask in my direction.

  “Probably not. Thank you.”

  Jack’s eyes were so dark they almost looked demonic thanks to the flickering fire. “You should have a shot and relax. I’m not telling you to get drunk. I’m telling you to relax. You’re too keyed up.”

  “I’m excited.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  For lack of anything better to do, I accepted the flask and took a swallow. “Ugh.” I managed to down the acrid liquid without choking. “That tastes like gasoline or something.”

  Jack snickered as he reclaimed the flask and tucked it into his bag. “You really haven’t done much drinking, have you?”

  “It was never important to me.”

  “It should never be important to you. I always thought of it as a rite of passage, though. Some of my best stories start with, ‘I was drunk with my Marine buddies.’ It’s not that I’m proud of it. It simply is what it is.”

  “I’ve never been one for losing control.” I arranged my backpack so I could lean against it and stare at the sky. “I simply didn’t have time for drunken nights out when I was in college. I needed to pass my classes on the first go-around, and I worked when I wasn’t studying. That didn’t leave time for much else.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “Because you had to grow up much faster than most people, but you still get treated like a kid.”

  Jack’s response caught me off guard. “I’m the new kid on the block,” I clarified. “I think that’s probably normal.”

  “Yes, but you get bossed around by everyone. That probably doesn’t seem fair to you.”

  “I learned long ago that life isn’t fair.” I scratched my anxious fingers against the front of my jeans. “You don’t have to feel guilty. You’ve been nothing but nice to me - even when you’re furious and yelling.”

  “It doesn’t seem that way sometimes.” Jack grabbed my hand and stopped the scratching. “Did something bite you?”

  I shook my head, lifting my eyes to his. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but there seemed to be a soupçon of ten different emotions flitting across his face. “I’m antsy.”

  “I think that should be listed as one of your special skills on your résumé,” Jack said. “It will be fine. Even if the Chupacabra is really out here, he won’t kill you. I promise.”

  “What if he kills you first and you can’t protect me?”

  “Then my ghost will avenge my death and you’ll still be fine.”

  “I see you’ve got this all figured out.”

  “I do indeed.”

  He still had his fingers wrapped around my hand. I couldn’t decide if he knew it or not, but I didn’t move to pull away. I liked his proximity and the way his face looked in the firelight. It was a terrible idea, but Millie’s words kept echoing in the back of my brain. Maybe I really was attracted to him. If so, I should like this. Did I like this? I had no idea. My heart was pounding too hard for debate.

  “It’s a nice night at least.” Jack turned his eyes to the sky and released my fingers. His demeanor was often hard to read, but he seemed relaxed. “I guess things could be worse. Imagine if it was storming when we decided to hunt down the Chupacabra.”

  I exhaled heavily as my heart rate returned to normal and I shifted to get more comfortable. The fact that I was disappointed that Jack released my hand – a move that was friendly rather than romantic from the start – made me feel like an idiot. I tried to hide my internal strife as I followed his gaze. “Yeah. It’s nice.”

  “Sadly, I think we’re going to spend the entire night watching Chris run around with his equipment, while Laura and Zach try to feel each other up behind the buildings.”

  “I doubt they’ll stop at feeling each other up.”

  “True.”

  Something occurred to me and now seemed the best time to bring it up. “Did you and Laura date?”

  “Excuse me?” Jack’s eyebrows flew up his forehead.

  “Did you and Laura date?” I repeated.

  Jack made a tsking sound with his tongue as he shook his head. “You just say whatever comes to your mind, don’t you?”

  “Usually.”

  Jack smirked. “I keep telling myself that’s because you’re young, but I honestly don’t know if it’s true. I think you’re just one of those people who will alwa
ys be effortlessly blunt.”

  “Is there anything wrong with that?”

  “No.”

  “You haven’t answered the question.”

  “What was the question?”

  I let loose a long sigh as Jack smirked.

  “Ah, I remember now,” Jack said. “You want to know if I ever dated Laura. Before I answer that question, can I ask why you want to know?”

  “She’s said a few things to me that seem odd,” I replied. “She also looks at you in a very specific way when she thinks no one is looking.”

  “And what way is that?”

  “As if she’s starving and you’re the only thing on the menu.”

  “You have a way with words.” Jack shrugged his shoulders. “For the record, I have not dated Laura.”

  I was secretly relieved, although admitting it – even to myself – was difficult. Would it have changed anything if he’d said yes? Probably not. That didn’t stop me from internally crowing all the same. “I wonder why she acts the way she does if you’ve never been involved.”

  “Probably because there was an incident about a year ago where she tried to entice me to get involved that ended with her being mortified,” Jack said.

  “Really?” I was intrigued. “Do tell.”

  “Since when are you such a gossip?”

  “I don’t drink. Gossip sustains me.”

  Jack snorted, his earlier anger seemingly forgotten. “I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty, but suffice it to say she got drunk at the company Christmas party and made a move in the laboratory.”

  “Wow!” This was even better than I’d hoped. “What did you do? Wait, let me guess. You crushed her heart in a vise and she’s been mooning after you ever since.”

  “Good grief.” Jack flicked me between the eyebrows. “You have a mind that’s better suited for writing soap operas. You know that, right?”

  I shrugged. “I can’t help it. Laura is nasty.”

  “And she’s decided to focus on you because you’re the newest member of the team,” Jack surmised. “She thinks you’re an easy mark. She hasn’t spent enough time with you to know that’s the exact opposite of the truth.”