“Go ahead.” I stepped aside and joined Sally who held several bags of evidence, rocks that she thought might have blood on them. Of note, she hadn’t found any shell casings. That didn’t mean the sheriff hadn’t been shot somewhere I couldn’t see. If the killer used a revolver there wouldn’t be shell casings. He might have policed his own brass if he’d used a different gun, removing telltale evidence himself, if he was well-trained. There hadn’t been any noticeable footprints on the hard-packed ground of the cavern so there were no plaster molds to take. I touched her sleeve and drew her several feet away from the body to let the doctor and her assistant work. “There isn’t much here,” I said quietly.
Sally shook her head. “Nothing. If this murder was committed by werewolves, there would be evidence of it on the body. They don’t kill without marks, even though I haven’t seen the body naked.”
“But you’re sure you smell them?” I asked, studying her.
“I’m sure. The scent is faint, but they were here even though there are no visible signs.”
“Maybe they were in here before or afterward,” I offered as an explanation.
Sally shrugged. “Who knows. Scent can tell you if they’ve been here but not when. Especially if it’s something that happened a while ago.”
I shone my flashlight at the ground before looking back at Sally. “Is it weird that I see no footprints? Definitely no paw prints.”
Sally nodded. “Very weird. I looked for them too. If humans left him in here, you’d think there’d be boot prints. If it were werewolves, there’d be paw prints.” She shone her flashlight around the crime scene. “There’s no drag marks and absolutely nothing else here…not even Sheriff Willis’ footprints.”
“Exactly,” I said. “What the hell is that about?” Something occurred to me and I narrowed my eyes at Sally. “What if something…I don’t know…floated him in?” I snorted but sobered when she didn’t laugh. In fact, Sally frowned.
“Let’s talk about this in the truck,” she said, quietly.
I watched her lean over to look past my shoulder and turned to find Stuart, the assistant ME staring at us. When our eyes met, he turned away quickly, pretending to ignore the fact that he’d just been caught eavesdropping.
“Yeah, okay.”
We waited several minutes for Stuart and Doc Willoughby to finish up what they were doing and helped them carry the body bag out as we exited the mine with Sheriff Willis’ remains.
Nameless
I watched as the living carried Sheriff Willis’ body out of the mine in a black body bag. I hated the way the living treated us, closing us up in a bag, then a coffin. Us—the dead. At least someone—maybe a dad or a mom—would mourn the sheriff. For those like me who remained unclaimed—unfound—well, we floated through worlds endlessly. No one seemed to notice when we were no more. I bit my lip, sighing as I realized these things still bothered me. I should have left all the old feelings behind when I died but when no one knew I’d even left the world or that I’d ever existed at all, how could I? I remained trapped between worlds.
The living loaded the sheriff’s body into their fancy coroner’s van. I watched a young man reach up and lay his hand on the door after he’d closed and locked it. He bowed his head for just a second, and I could hear the prayer he said for the dead man everyone had respected. None of the living had ever done that for me. Then again, I’d been no one. The new sheriff spoke to the hedgehog for a minute before they climbed into their truck and drove away with the coroner’s van following.
Alone again.
I was alone again.
Chapter Four
Prosper Woods Chronicle. Letters to the editor:
“The new bed-and-breakfast is hosting a wax and peel retreat this weekend and I’m writing to complain. If you’re thinking of making a reservation, forget it. Those people have no class. I even offered to supply my own 50-gallon drum of solvent and industrial duct tape.” Signed, “Endlessly Exfoliating.”
Vincent
I waited for Romeo to darken my door and his delay felt endless. After the evening I’d had, I paced the floor of my home, drinking ketchup like a man possessed. I hadn’t expected three unwelcome vampires to show up in Prosper Woods, but when Scott had unpacked my personal belongings at the store, all bets were off. Show up they did…in force. If they hadn’t already known where I’d relocated, they wouldn’t have been able to pick up on the vibrations of Robert’s books when Scott broke the box’s seal. Nothing explained their sudden arrival other than that they must have followed me from South Carolina. Didn’t they have anything better to do? Humans to kill? Havoc to wreak elsewhere…?
Goddamn it!
I’d been foolishly lax in security in the handling of belongings that had been so precious to my maker. I just wanted to kick myself. At least I’d been of sound mind to put up wards to guard against the vamps locating Robert’s old bones. If they’d found my maker, all would have been lost. I still didn’t know why the books were so important to Sergio. All I knew was that they were trouble, and that I was now trapped in Prosper Woods and its surroundings. If I left…even if I wanted to drive to Stockton…I would not only put my life in danger but anyone else I cared about.
The situation I was in now meant I couldn’t leave Romeo’s side, even for a little while. I had to resolve this issue and at the same time, figure out how to keep the books and my mate safe. I knew I had to
