I was thinking about all the terrifying things that had happened when I heard a car pull into the driveway.
I peeked out the window and saw Mr. Parker getting out of his car. He looked grim and exhausted and his hair was sticking up all over his head. He looked around furtively to see if anyone was watching him. Then he opened his trunk and took out a bundle of something.
He scowled and suddenly looked up at my window. I pressed myself against the wall. When I looked out again Mr. Parker was by the trash can. He lifted the lid and hurriedly shoved the bundle inside.
What was it and why was he acting so secretive about it? I had to know.
I heard Mr. Parker come inside and trudge heavily up the stairs. When the house was quiet again I pulled on my school clothes and slipped out of my room. From my years of growing up in the woods I knew how to move around without making a sound. I let myself out the back door and crept along the side of the house to the trash can.
When I reached for the lid my hand was shaking. But I had to see what it was Mr. Parker threw away so secretively. I lifted the lid and looked inside. There was nothing but some rags and old magazines.
I breathed a sigh of relief. It was just my imagination making Mr. Parker look suspicious. I started to replace the lid when something about one of the thrown-away rags caught my eye. It looked familiar.
Yes! It was the suit jacket Mr. Parker had worn to work! My heart sinking, I pulled it out. The jacket was all torn apart at the seams and ripped right down the center of the back. I stared at it in horror, then shoved it back into the trash can.
That jacket was ripped apart exactly like my clothes had been when I had undergone the wereing and turned into a werewolf!
Chapter 22
When I let myself back in, Mrs. Parker was in the kitchen. She jumped in surprise. “Ooh! You scared me, Gruff,” she said, putting her hand over her heart. “What were you doing?”
“I woke up early and went for a walk,” I said, avoiding her eyes. I hated it that I was lying to her. “It’s a nice morning.”
“Yes,” she agreed, sounding distracted.
I wolfed down my cereal and left the table, mumbling something about homework as I headed for the stairs.
Back in my room I was gathering up my schoolbooks when Kim knocked on my door.
“I know you and Paul snuck out last night,” she whispered, looking back over her shoulder as she came in. “Paul won’t tell me anything. But he looks like he saw a ghost. Or something worse. What happened? And don’t say ‘nothing’ or I’ll brain you.”
I sighed, not sure how much I should tell her. “We went to Wolfe Industries. We couldn’t really get near the place but something weird is definitely happening there,” I said. “We heard werewolves. And then some of them chased us.”
Kim’s eyes were wide. “How did you get away?”
I told her about the boat, figuring she might need to know someday that werewolves can’t cross water.
By the time I finished telling her about the red eyes glowing along the edge of the pond, her face was chalk white. For a few minutes she didn’t say anything. Then she cleared her throat and asked, “Did you, ah, see my dad?”
I shook my head. “No.” I decided not to mention finding the ripped up jacket. No way I could tell Kim her father was a monster—at least not until I was absolutely sure. Maybe someone else was wearing his jacket. Maybe it got ripped up in some other weird way. Maybe—
“Kids!” called Mrs. Parker. “You’ll be late for school!”
Kim and I met Paul coming out of his room and all of us headed downstairs. Mr. Parker was waiting by the door, sipping a cup of coffee. He had black circles under his eyes. He forced a smile as Kim and Paul said good-bye and headed out the door. Did he notice that neither of them met his eyes?
“‘Bye, Mr. Parker,” I said. But as I started to step through the doorway a heavy hand came down on my shoulder. I winced and jerked away, imagining claws ripping through the thin cloth of my shirt.
“You all right, Gruff?” asked Mr. Parker.
“Sure,” I said nervously.
“How are you adjusting to life here in Fox Hollow, living among all us humans?” Mr. Parker’s shadowed eyes were boring into me.
My mouth was dry and my heart was beating fast. Did he know I suspected him? “I’m fine, Mr. Parker,” I said, avoiding his stare.
“You’re sure? You don’t find anything, well, strange about living with us?” It seemed like Mr. Parker was probing for something.
“Y-y-yes. Everything is strange,” I stammered. “But I’m getting used to it.” I wanted to bolt out the door but my feet felt glued in place.
Mr. Parker leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “Maybe one of these nights we’ll do something together. Just you and me,” he said. “Know what I mean?”
My throat felt like it was closing. “Yes,” I squeaked.
The scary thing was, I knew exactly what he meant. He and I were the same. We were both monsters.
Chapter 23
The school day seemed to go on forever.
Everything my teachers said turned into a drone that made me want to nod off. Paul would kick me when I fell asleep in class and I did the same for him.
Just before the bell finally rang, Paul said, “I guess I can’t take these late night adventures. I’m going straight home and take a nap.”
“Go ahead,” I said. “I’ve got something to do at the
