Bark (The Werewolf Journal's Book 1) (4 page)

“One was found on the sidewalk twenty meters that way,” the officer said, pointing to the right of Rodriguez.  “The other body was found a mile and a half toward the end of the trail.”

“Where are the bodies now?”

“In the ambulance,” the officer replied.

“Let’s go see them,” Rodriguez said in a sturdy tone.

“You’re new to the force, aren’t you, Officer Talley?” Rodriguez asked, looking at his badge, not recognizing his name.

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“Well, Officer Talley, I’m Inspector Rodriguez, and you’ve come at a good time ’cause were up to our necks in shit.  And if you have any opinions, I’m all ears.”

“Sorry, sir, I’m as lost as the rest of us about all this.”

“Doesn’t hurt to ask,” Rodriguez said with a smirk that looked like he had to grind it through his skin to show it.  “Officer Talley, open up the bags.”

Talley unzipped the bags.  Rodriguez nearly swallowed his cigar when the bags were opened, revealing the bodies.  “Where the hell are their heads?” Rodriguez asked in disgust. 

A white-complected officer ran over to them, saying, “Rodriguez, you better take a look at this!”

Rodriguez and Talley followed the officer over to the park’s feature attraction.  It was a beautiful fountain.  It was big enough to swim in, and at the top was a statue of the little Angel Cupid shooting its arrow of love, and at the very bottom of the angel’s feet laid two people’s heads, which the angel of love had one time shot with his arrow.  But now all you could see in their faces was death.

“This is the sickest shit!” Rodriguez said in anger.

“That’s not all; we just got a call in from the other side of town.  Two of our officers are down.”

“Son of a bitch, it’s always sad to hear that,” Rodriguez’s said with a sigh.

“Apparently, the officers responded to a call in Vermont Alley, but unfortunately, so did the killer.  Judging by the number of shells found, our men must have shot at the killer at least a dozen times at point-blank range,” the white-complected man answered.

“Damn shame when our men get shot down on the line of duty,” Rodriguez told the officer.

“That’s the thing, Rodriguez.  They weren’t shot down.  Hell, they weren’t even stabbed.  One of them was ripped to pieces, with the exception of the shotgun, which was driven through Officer Rollins’s chest.  The other officer was crushed by the squad car.  Other than that, and maybe the fact that the officers’ heads were intact, sounds a lot like the bodies here and that other one we found a couple of days ago.”

“Around what time did the officers respond to the call?” Rodriguez asked.

“Well, the men reported the body around 12:25,” the white-complected officer replied.

“How long ago do you think these bodies have been here?” Rodriguez asked curiously.

“An hour, two at the most,” officer answered.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” Rodriguez said aggressively. “We’re obviously dealing with some wild animal.  The signs of it being an animal are all over the damn bodies, except

now we have this shit!” Rodriguez added, pointing at the fountain, referring to the decapitated heads.

“One, what kind of animal would stick around one area just to place two heads by a statue just for a sick crack?  Two, what other animals would even bother climbing up something like that?” Talley asked Rodriguez.

“I can’t seem to shake this feeling like something really bad is about to happen,” Rodriguez told Talley.

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Talley replied.

CHAPTER 8

Arnie’s Journal, February 9, 1993:

It’s me again, and man, oh man, things around Banester County sure seem to be getting worse.  Well, at least in school anyway.  Right now I’m in fourth period English.  I just found out that this senior guy named PJ and his girlfriend, Tabitha, were killed last night.  Police seem to think that whatever did it was the same thing that killed Danny.  It might seem kind of mean but I’m kind of relieved that what happened last night didn’t involve me or anyone I know.  I was beginning to think everything that’s been happening was because of me.  Still the thought of Danny and two other kids added to the death toll and the thought I was almost one of them gives me the chills.  As for Sarah, I talked to her today in lunch.  She told me how worried she had been about me and how pissed she was because I wasn’t accepting her calls.  I told her why I didn’t want to talk to her or how I didn’t want to drag her down with my problems.  Sarah just smiled, proving me wrong as usual, saying that any problem one of us has should be worked out together and if there was something I wasn’t sure of or someone I needed to talk to that I could always go to her.  ‘After all,’ she said, ‘that’s what a boyfriend and girlfriend should do.  Be truthful and open up to each other.’  She’s right.  She’s always trusted me.  I guess it’s time I start trusting her.  Well, ‘til next time.  Gotta go.

CHAPTER 9

Sunday

Arnie’s mom looked at Arnie curiously as he ate.  “What, Mom?” Arnie asked as he felt his mother’s eyes watching him, as if wanting to say something.

“I know I shouldn’t bring this up, but if you need to talk – you know, about everything that’s happened – you can talk to me.  You don’t have to hide your feelings.”

Arnie looked at his mom uneasily.  “I’m not hiding my feelings.  I mean, what’s to be sad about, everybody dying?  Death isn’t anything to be sad about,” Arnie said, pushing his plate away.

“Look at you, Arnie, so cold and heartless.  What happened to Danny was not your fault.  You’ll never get anywhere like that, Arnie.  Your father’s really worried about you, and so am I.  I wish you would talk to me.  I’m so worried about you.  You’re my only son, Arnie.  I couldn’t imagine ever losing you.”

“You’re not going to lose me.  I just need to get through this on my own.  I just want to deal with this on my own, can’t you understand that?” Arnie said angrily, walking out of the kitchen and into his room, slamming his door.

His mom was just trying to help and he knew it.  She didn’t deserve having him to talk to her like that.  He could still see the sadness and disbelief in his mother’s eyes.  Never in his life had he ever raised his voice to his mother.  He didn’t know what came over him.  For some reason it was as if a burst of anger rushed through his body and he needed someone to release it upon.  Arnie was beginning to feel like his mom was right about him changing.  He could feel that he was changing and something deep within him told him that nothing he did would prevent that change.  Arnie’s thoughts were interrupted as his mother knocked on the door.

“What?” Arnie answered.

“It’s Sarah,” his mom replied.

“Just wanted to see if you wanted to go for a walk,” Sarah said, letting herself into Arnie’s room.

“I’m really not feeling up to it,” he told Sarah.

“All right then, I guess I’ll just hang out here then.  So what’s bothering you Arnie?”

Sarah asked as she sat on his bed.

“Nothing.”

“C’mon, Arnie, I know you a whole lot better than that.”

“Nothing, Sarah, I’m just trying to forget everything that’s happened, and every time, I try that’s when somebody has to remind me on how fucked up everything is.  It would help a lot if you and everybody else would just leave me alone,” Arnie said, turning away.

“I’m sorry you see it that way, mister.  Give a fuck about yourself!  Maybe if you would stop thinking about yourself and look around, you’d see other people have problems too! When you got attacked that night and your mom called so sad and worried about you, how do you think that made me feel?  I was scared for you, Arnie, and so was everybody else who loves you.  Not because we’re there to remind you on how bad everything is.  Just open your eyes, Arnie, and you’ll see that it’s because we love you.  Whatever it is, you can tell me.  Trust me, Arnie; there’s nothing you can’t tell me that I won’t understand.”

“Believe me, Sarah, when I tell you it’s better you don’t know,” Arnie said, taking her hand.

“You’ll never know if you don’t tell me,” Sarah said, then leaned over, kissed him, and walked out, leaving Arnie lying there speechless because he knew she was right.

CHAPTER 10

“The telephone!” Sarah’s mom yelled.

“I got it, Mother.  Hello?” Sarah answered.

“Is this Sarah?”

“Yes, this is she.  Who’s this?”

“It’s Elena.  Listen to me, Sarah.  Don’t ask me why, but you must stay away from Arnie.  You have to trust me, no matter how much you care for him.  You must stay away.”

“C’mon, Elena.  Is this a joke?”

“Listen to what I am saying.  I’m not joking.  He is dangerous.  What I say is true.  So believe me and stay away.”

“No, you listen to me, Elena.  I think that mumbo jumbo stuff has really got to your head.  Arnie’s had a lot of problems lately.  That doesn’t mean he’s dangerous.”

“If you stay with him, you will die.”

“Goodbye, Elena!” Sarah said, hanging up the phone, nearly breaking it.

Elena pressed the numbers on her phone, waiting nervously.

“Yes, is Arnie there?”

“This is him.”

“It’s me, Elena.  Listen to me.  I need to speak with you in private.  How soon will it take for you to come to my house?”

“Give me an hour.  What’s this about?” Arnie asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you when you get here.  Just hurry,” Elena said over the phone, trying to control the fear inside.

Arnie tied his shoelaces and went scampering out of his house.  He wondered what could possibly be so important that Elena would actually want to talk to him.  He had a hunch that it had something to do with the way she reacted the day before.  After a light jog, Arnie arrived at Elena’s.  Arnie knocked on her door several times, but there was no answer.  Arnie turned the doorknob, and to his surprise, it was open.  He walked in, calling out Elena’s name, but still no answer.  He then walked over to Elena’s den, and there sat Elena in her recliner, looking out her window with her back turned to Arnie.