Blood and Rain by Glenn Rolfe Page B

while you’re patrolling.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Seth Kimball said it had to be a pretty big animal that did this. Very aggressive, very volatile. Keep your eyes and ears open. Be safe tonight. Call me if you see anything.” He turned back in the direction of his office.
    Deputy Glescoe spoke up, “Sir?”
    Joe stopped and turned back around. “Yes, Glescoe?”
    â€œWhat are you going to be doing? Shouldn’t you go home to Sonya and get some rest?”
    He knew she meant well, and that he must look tired as all hell, but he had research to do and another phone call to make before he could call it a night. “I’ve got a couple of old case files I need to take a peek at. Sonya is at her friend’s for the night. I’ll be sure to stay out of your hair. Go ahead and act like I’m not here.”
    â€œOkay, Boss, but I usually save all my singing for the midnight hour. I hope you don’t mind a little Destiny’s Child.”
    Joe turned back toward his office so as not to let them see him smirk. “I’m okay with them, but I’m not one for bad karaoke.”
    Glescoe made a face of mocked offense.
    Clarke laughed.
    Joe swung the door closed. It felt good to have a minute of frivolity. Both Glescoe and Clarke were in for some confounding discoveries. He wouldn’t wish this knowledge on anyone. It was the sense of burdening these two young officers, and the impending corruption of their innocence, that caused the smile to disappear from his face as he sat down at his desk.
    After making a quick check-in call to Sonya, and urging them all to continue to stay put, he dove head on into a nightmare he had thought was behind him.
    That night, lying passed out in his bed from half a bottle of scotch, Deputy Randy Hines twisted and turned in his sleep. In his dream, he was hunted through the dark woods behind Paulson Park by a massive beast that walked upright like a man, but howled like an animal at the blood-red moon high in the night sky. Randy saw himself running buck naked through trees that looked as though they had been dead for ages. Adorned with cuts and gashes from scraping into branches, his own blood decorated his hands. He had a thought within the dream—something about covering up the truth. A low growl sounded from directly behind him and, then, a monstrous howl.
    Randy Hines woke up screaming, lying in his own piss.

Chapter Twelve
    â€œJoel, wake up, man.” Wes held the cup of Dunkin’ Donuts to Joel’s face.
    â€œHuh, what? Oh, hey.”
    â€œI don’t think Nick’s gonna be much use to us, least not for a couple of days. We gotta strike while the iron’s hot. Here.”
    Joel sat up, rubbed his eyes and accepted the coffee. “What’s the plan?”
    â€œI couldn’t sleep last night…bad dreams…anyway, I’m going to see the good sheriff, and you, my friend, are going to Hollis Oaks General Hospital.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œThat’s where they took the bodies. The guy you’re going to track down is Seth Kimball. Get whatever you can out of him.”
    Joel sipped his drink. “Cool. Meet back here?”
    â€œYep.”
    Joel watched Wes, keys in hand, head for the door. “Hey, if you got the car, how am I getting there?”
    â€œIt’s down off of Main Street. It’s like a twenty-minute walk.”
    â€œSeth Kimball, please.” Joel smirked at the look the receptionist was giving him. It wasn’t every day that a guy with a dayglow-painted Mohawk and wearing a Circle Jerks T-shirt showed up asking for the coroner.
    â€œAnd what is this regarding?”
    â€œOh, sorry. Joel O’ Brien. I work for the Insider . I’m here to do an interview.” He smiled.
    â€œIf you want to just have a seat, I’ll let him know you’re waiting.”
    â€œCool. Thanks.”
    Twenty minutes later a man in