Blood and Rain by Glenn Rolfe Page A

the package against his palm. “Care if I light up?”
    â€œIt’s your house.”
    â€œYou want something to drink? I have beer or water.”
    â€œI’m good.”
    Ted unwrapped the cellophane from the cigarette box, opened the lid and drew one from the pack. He placed it between his lips and raised the lighter to it. “What do you need from me?”
    Joe picked at a banana sticker clinging to the bare counter next to the sink. He saw the empty grave. He saw the ravaged bodies. Despite his friendship with Ted’s brother, Jack, Joe had never really been close with Ted. He wasn’t sure which side of the debate Ted’s feelings on the supernatural lay—the sane wild-animal types or the crazy werewolf zealots.
    â€œYou didn’t happen to see anyone or anything else at the park while you were there this morning, did you?”
    â€œYou mean like a psycho killer or a black bear?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œOr something else?”
    Joe stroked his fresh whiskers. He wasn’t going to feed it to the man.
    â€œNo. I didn’t see anyone or anything there. I just saw…what was left.”
    Joe nodded. “And you were there because…”
    â€œI don’t know. I wish I hadn’t been. It’s just these killings…I sometimes cruise by the park and think, ya know?”
    Ted took a long drag, exhaled and continued, “All this shit and the storm and the moon last night…damn, I don’t know. It just made me think of what happened to Michele and Jack and Kelly.”
    â€œMe too.”
    Ted looked up at him. “You really think this was just some wild animal passing through town or coming down from the hills?”
    Joe stood up straight and fixed his Stetson. “Thanks, Ted.” He tapped the counter and started for the door.
    â€œSheriff.”
    Joe waited at the door.
    â€œIs that really what you think?”
    Joe saw the empty grave. “Ted, I don’t know what to think. Just stay in tonight, okay?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œG’night.”
    Joe closed the door behind him. He stared up at the darkening sky. The moon was still round and bright. He hoped the legends were right. He needed some quiet tonight.
    At the station, Joe found his deputies standing a little closer to each other than he’d like to see.
    â€œClarke! Glescoe!”
    They both jumped like a couple of teenagers caught sitting too close in a room alone. He wasn’t sure how serious their relationship was, but he knew they were screwing. Although that violated his personal policy for workplace etiquette, there was nothing on the books that prevented it. Besides, Shelly Glescoe was a looker, and the pickings around this town were slim for both the men and women. Regardless, he didn’t want them fucking in his station.
    â€œHow did things go with Ted?” Dwayne said.
    Shelly’s face was flushed. “I can’t believe he found a dead body. Is he okay?” she said.
    Joe walked up to the reception desk across from his two frisky deputies and leaned his elbows upon the solid, worn wood. He stood there looking down at the dispatch radio, trying to swim through all the drama flowing through his head. After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he looked up at the two of them.
    â€œNah, but he will be. Ain’t easy seeing someone the way he did. Where’s Earl?”
    â€œIn the bathroom. Maria made her meat loaf again.”
    â€œHmm.” Joe almost smiled. He made his way to the right of the reception desk, toward his office, before pausing. “Glescoe.”
    â€œYeah, Boss?”
    â€œI want you guys being extra cautious out there tonight.”
    â€œYeah, Dwayne already told me. We’ll be armed and ready for…whatever.”
    Joe was happy to see Deputy Clarke had some of his priorities in order. “Exactly, keep your shotgun loaded and in the front seat of your cruiser at all times