The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles (5 page)

“I’m so sorry, Brett.”

6 years later to the day. Breakers Pass sheriff’s office.
North of Los Angeles.

SHERIFF
Shaw chewed on his Biro top, staring blankly at
the framed photograph of his late wife and his daughter. It sat proudly, center
stage on his desk. A memory of happier times. He sighed, then with a flourish,
he signed off ‘With love, Dad xxxx’ on his daughter’s birthday card. Shaw
placed the card in its envelope. Opening his desk draw, he pulled out an old
tin box, removed the lid, and placed the card with five other unopened cards
from years past. The bittersweet taste of the plastic lingered, just as his thoughts
did on events of that day back in 2008. That day, he had handed in his badge,
albeit over the telephone. That day, he was late for his daughter’s birthday,
and his wife’s last breath. Forty-five minutes earlier that day and he might
have managed to say his goodbyes, before the aneurism took her life.

The temptation was there to pull out his bottle of JD,
hidden in his filing cabinet, but he knew he had to fight his addiction. His
fingers trembled. The cure would have to wait until bedtime, when he could
drink himself to oblivion to erase the pain and ease the shakes. For now, he
would have to share his loss with the families of the young women who
disappeared on that day. His telephone rang and he answered to a familiar
screeching voice and he frowned.

“Sheriff Shaw, Mrs. Fisher here. I’m at the vets and she’s
closed.”

His shoulders sagged. He heard a car pull up outside.
Swiveling his chair, he watched Amy climb out of Ted Carter’s SUV. His Golden
Retriever, Gyp, woke instantly from his slumber and jumped up, landing with his
paws on the windowsill, his tail wagging.

“Sheriff Shaw, Mrs. Fisher here, are you listening?”

Shaw sighed. From what she had said, at least he wouldn’t
have to drag the ladder out of the garage to rescue Mrs. Fisher’s cat, a weekly
occurrence.

“Sorry, yes, I’m listening. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.
Maybe she’s been called out on an emergency.”

“Well, it’s most inconsiderate. I have an appointment at
nine a.m.”

“Doesn’t she have an assistant yet?”

“No, I keep telling her she needs one, but she says money is
tight.”

Shaw could empathize with the vet’s sentiment. No matter how
much he argued with the town council, the budget wasn’t there for an office
secretary and it kept him shackled to his desk most days. The door to his
office opened. Gyp bounded across the office and greeted Amy. She fussed over
the dog, then walked over to the desk.

“Sorry, there’s nothing I can do, try calling back at the
vets later,” Shaw said.

“Who is it?” Amy asked.

Shaw covered the mouthpiece.

“Old Mrs. Fletcher.”

Amy wrinkled her nose.

“Well, I just think she should phone her customers if she
has other business,” said Mrs. Fletcher

“Maybe you can suggest that to her when she arrives.”

Shaw heard a grunt and the line cut. He shook his head and
replaced the handset.

“What’s her problem this time?” Amy asked.

“The vet hasn’t opened up and she has an appointment with
her cat, Montague.”

“Look on the bright side, at least you won’t be climbing
ladders,” she said, and then laughed.

“You can laugh. Anyway, how did your sleepover at Louise’s
house go?”

Amy’s cheeks flamed, and she shuffled on her seat.

“I... I passed the vets earlier and her bedroom curtains
were closed. Maybe she’s overslept. Anyway, got to rush, I’m going camping over
the weekend with the gang.”

Her avoidance of his question didn’t go unnoticed, nor the
fact that Ted Carter had driven her home and was waiting outside. He found it
hard to remember she wasn’t a little girl anymore. Perhaps she detected a look
of hurt that he felt, he couldn’t be sure, but Amy walked around the desk,
threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” she asked. “I’ll
be taking Gyp with me.”

He knew what she meant, but they never talked about it, just
as she never talked about her not wanting to celebrate her birthday again.

“I’ll be fine, you enjoy yourself, sweetheart.”

She released her hold, then walked out of the office with Gyp
in tow. He heard them running up the stairway to their apartment. The pull of
the JD beckoned, but a more powerful urge rolled over him. He took the
opportunity of Amy collecting her camping gear to head outside to Ted Carter’s
SUV.

“Mr. Shaw.”

“Ted. Where is it you’re going camping?”

“Breakers Lake area, sir.”

“I take it you have your own tent?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be collecting it on the way past my cabin.”

“I don’t have to remind you that that’s my daughter you’re
dating?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Just think on, you’ll have me to answer to if... you
know... anything should happen.”

Shaw rested his hand on his pistol handle and sent Ted a
stare.

“I’ll make sure she comes to no harm, sir. I promise.”

Shaw wasn’t happy that she was running with someone three
years her senior, but he hoped that he got the message.

“What are you two talking about?” Amy asked, as she opened
the back door of the SUV and threw in her tent and backpack. Gyp jumped on the
back seat and Amy closed the door.

“Just saying, black bears are around this time of year, so
don’t leave food scattered about. Have you got your cell phone?”

“Don’t worry, Dad, yes, I have my cell phone and it’s fully
charged. There are six of us and Gyp. We all know to be careful. Besides, Ted
has his rifle.”

He followed her around to the passenger door and opened it
for her. Amy gave him a cuddle.

“I’ll be fine, Dad. It’s you I worry about.”

“Don’t worry about me, I’m sure I’ll find plenty to keep me
occupied.”

Amy climbed onto the passenger seat and he closed the door
for her. Shaw tapped the roof of the car and stood back. She blew him a kiss as
they set off. His eyes moistened as they drove away. He stood watching them until
the SUV was out of sight. Shaw walked back to the office entrance, where he
stopped. He slapped his thigh.

“Damn, Ted doesn’t live in that direction.”

He wished Cath’s sister were around as he entered his office.
He wondered if maybe should give Mary a call for advice. Ted was Amy’s first
serious boyfriend, and he was finding it hard to let go. Ted had lied to him
about the tent. More to the point, Amy had lied to him about the sleepover.
Maybe they were white lies to save everyone’s embarrassment, but a lie was a
lie in his mind. Passing the filing cabinet, he felt the pull of the JD. A
voice crackling over the radio distracted his urge.

“Fox One to, Blue Leader.”

Shaw pressed the microphone button and replied.

“Blue Leader, go ahead.”

“I’ve got a mutilated stag over at Claymore, at the
intersection with Pine Ridge. I need help getting it moved. It’s partially
blocking the road. My winch isn’t working.”

“Okay, I’ll get Fox Two to give you a hand.”

“I heard that, Brett, I’m on my way,” said Fox Two.

Shaw sighed.

“Fox Two, call signs only.”

“Sorry, Bre... Blue Leader.”

“Fox One, Any sign of a vehicle hitting the stag?”

“No debris that I can see. It looks like critters have been
chewing on its neck, Fox One, over.”

“Okay, report back when it’s clear, Blue Leader, out.”

Shaw accessed his unpaid fines ledger on the computer and
pulled up a report for the overdue accounts. He clicked on ‘Print Warrants’ and
then poured a strong black coffee from the jug. The radio crackled.

“Fox One to, Fox Two. Cancel that request. Someone passing
has stopped to help. Said they could use the road kill, over.”

“Got it, Jim, check that, out.”

Shaw grabbed the microphone.

“Fox Two, use call signs. How many times do I have to say?
Make your way back to the office. I’ll have some warrants for you.”

“Sure, boss. I mean, Blue Leader. Frank, out.”

Shaw shook his head, then sipped his coffee. He held out a
hand. The tremors had subsided, the caffeine acting as a substitute for the
lack of alcohol in his veins. Frank, his deputy, was new on the job. If it
wasn’t for his tracking skills and knowledge of the mountain trails, he’d let
him go. There again, he thought that potential deputies from the townsfolk
weren’t exactly knocking on his door for a badge. He picked up the warrants
from the tray, walked over and sat at his desk. Spreading the warrants over the
surface, he picked at them and placed them in route order. With nothing else to
do, but to wait for Frank, he pushed his chair back and rested his boots on the
desk.

He realized the boredom and his solitary existence was
getting to him. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he would be free of his
promise. The promise he had made to himself and to Cath at her graveside, never
to be late for Amy ever again. Amy was growing up, the image of her mom. She was
no longer his little girl. Strong willed like Cath, with a mind of her own.
Worse, she was never around, just like he was never around when she was a
child. It hurt. He couldn’t prevent her seeing Ted even if he wanted to stop
her. He’d lose her, he was sure. But then he was losing anyway in the fall when
she started at university. What then? It was a question he kept asking, but one
he couldn’t answer.

A car pulled up outside and he swiveled his chair. Frank
climbed out of his car. Shaw turned to face the door and waited. Drumming his
fingers on the desk, the door opened.

“Take a seat, Frank.”

Frank sat, dropping his hat on the desk.

“Got the warrants?” Frank asked.

“Yeah, I got the warrants.”

Shaw passed them over. Frank flipped through them.

“Can’t you get Jim to serve them?” Frank asked. “Hell, I
can’t put Evelyn in cuffs, she was my childhood sweetheart. I went to school
with most of these.”

“Look, Frank, I need to talk to you about that and other
things.”

Frank fidgeted his backside on the chair.

“The call signs?”

“Well, yeah, there is that. I was thinking more about the
fines you’re handing out.”

“What’s wrong with them?”

“They’re all on-the-spot fines for tourists; that’s what’s
wrong. In the four weeks since you started, not one of the locals has had as
much as a parking fine. We can’t give them a free pass. It’s what pays your
wages.”

Frank ran a finger between his shirt collar and neck.

“Hell, Brett. Cut me some slack. I grew up with them all. It
ain’t easy.”

The phone rang and Shaw answered.

“Sheriff Shaw, I need your help with Montague,” said an
agitated Mrs. Fisher.

“What kind of help? What’s he done now?”

“I’m back at the vets. Montague slipped out of my hands and
he’s sneaked through the grill at the basement window. I can’t reach him to get
him out.”

“Is the vet back?”

“Well, if she is back, she isn’t answering. I’ve knocked
loud enough to wake the devil. Something’s not right I tell you. I can see
through a small window that her van is in the garage.”

“Okay, I’ll have Deputy Morris meet you down there.”

“Do hurry.”

The line went dead. Shaw looked up at Frank. He opened his
telephone pad. The number for the vets was listed with the old vet’s name. Shaw
tapped the connection for a dial tone and dialed the number.

“What’s the new vet’s name?”

“Maria Hernandez,” Fred replied.

The answer phone picked up the call. He looked across at
Frank and closed the call.

“We’ll talk about things later. Go down to the vets. Mrs.
Fisher is down there. Her cat’s gotten trapped in the basement. While you’re
there, have a look around. The vet’s van is there, but she’s not answering. The
vet could be ill. She’s not opened for appointments.”

“Maybe she’s out on a call and she left in a hurry.”

“It’s not likely, not with her van in the garage, unless
someone picked her up. She could have returned and walked over to the store.”
He looked at the clock on his wall. It was just gone twelve. “She should have
opened three hours ago. Better get going, then get back here and we’ll finish
our talk.”

Frank stood, put on his hat and tipped an awkward salute on
the brim. Shaw studied him as he turned, hutching his belt, loaded with
department issue apparatus as if it didn’t belong there. Something else didn’t
belong there. He was carrying a hunting knife on his belt next to his cuffs,
sheathed in an Indian beaded, leather pouch. Shaw knew that Frank didn’t belong
in a uniform. He realized he would have to make a tough decision. There would
be no HR team to do the dirty work for him. Shaw shrugged, then he connected to
the internet, browsing the pages of the
Los Angeles Times
. He headed
straight for the crime page and lost himself in the stories.

The radio crackled into life.

“Brett, get down to the vets... now. We’ve got a body in the
house.”

Shaw juggled with the microphone in his haste to answer.

“Fox Two, is it a code one, eight, seven?”

“Damn the call signs to hell, Brett. There’s blood
everywhere and the vet’s dead.”

This wasn’t the time to be calling Frank out for lack of
call sign procedure. If it was a homicide, he needed to get there and fast.

“Stay calm. Don’t touch anything. Wait outside.”

CAMPED
at Breakers Lake, near to where Amy lived, and
nestled in the Pine Mountain area to the North of Los Angeles, she reflected
that Breakers Pass wasn’t the coolest of towns to grow up in California. As
picturesque as the images were in every direction, she couldn’t help but wonder
what life would be like if she still lived in the concrete and neon malaise of central
LA.

Amy thought that Ted had chosen the spot well. She looked
over her surroundings. The lake, slightly rippled, rolled out before them.
Apart from a valley to the entrance at the beach, the lake was cloaked by steep
mountains, covered in pine trees. The reflection of the landscape on the lake,
sunk into the depths in Monet style. It looked as though nature had used
broad-brush strokes to create the blurred effect.

All paired up as boyfriend and girlfriend, Ted and Amy’s
usual crew of Oliver, Tania, Johno and Louise, sat on cushions around a small fire
on the pebble beach. Amy breathed deeply through her nose and then sighed. The
slight breeze brought with it an earthy smell that mingled with the wisps of
smoke from the pine logs, burning and crackling in the fire. A makeshift grill
stood over the fire, ready for a barbecue.

Amy cupped her hands around her mouth, then called out to
her Golden Retriever. “Come here, Gyp.”

Standing at the shoreline, Gyp perked his ears, then bounded
toward Amy. His coat glistened as he drew up alongside and proceeded to shower
everyone with a shake of his body.

“Awe, Gyp, stop it before you put the fire out.” Amy said,
and then laughed.

“Did you have to bring the mutt?” Johno asked, patting down
his jeans. “I’m soaking wet.”

“Don’t be a wuss, and less of the mutt,” said Amy, and threw
her arms around Gyp’s neck, receiving a rasping tongue across her lips in
appreciation of the cuddle.

“That’s disgusting,” said Ted, and glared at Amy “He’s put
my fire out alright. Don’t go expecting us making out after seeing that.”

“You should be so lucky. What’s in the garbage bag?”

Amy shot a glance at Ted.

“Tonight’s game.”

“Yeah, but what is it? It’d better not be an Ouija board
like last time.”

“No, this is better, you’ll see, but only when it’s dark.
Johno, go and haul a six-pack from the lake. We need to get into the mood.”

Johno huffed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Why me?”

“Because you’re already wet, and you’re the only one who
needs to lose weight with the exercise. That’s why.”

“You’re not funny.”

Johno sprang to his feet and trundled over to the shore,
carrying his two-hundred pound, five-foot-four frame, scrunching pebbles under
foot and cursing.

“That wasn’t called for,” Louise said, protecting her
boyfriend.

“He calls me a skinny runt. What’s the difference?” said Ted.

Louise prodded Ted on his shoulder with a stick.

“Whatever, forget it. Just cut back on ordering us around.
No one voted you gang leader.” She poked the fire with the stick.

“Don’t poke the fire,” said Tanya. “Like, it’s tinder dry
out there. D’ya wants us to get hauled in for starting a wildfire?”

“Why d’ya think we are at the edge of the lake, dumb ass?
The sparks ’ll die out before they get to the trees,” said Oliver, teasing his
girlfriend.

“I wasn’t a dumb ass last night when your hands were all
over me.”

Oliver ducked as she gave him a playful slap on the back of
his head.

“Come on you guys, why the faces? It’s weekend, lighten up,”
said Ted.

Amy looked over at Johno as he returned, then watched as he
handed out the cans. Ted wiped the top of his can on his T-shirt, then pulled
the ring. A fountain of froth erupted, drenching him. Johno smirked.

“Ya shook the can, moron.”

“Yeah, well next time you go get the cans, ya skinny runt.”

“See, I told ya’ll. Less of the name calling, blubber man.”

Amy sighed. “Oh, for goodness sake, stop measuring your
wieners and one of you put the steaks on the grill. I’m going for a walk with
Gyp.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Ted.

“No, thanks all the same. I want some time alone.”

“Why? Do I smell?”

Amy shrugged. She wasn’t in the mood for a glib answer.

Louise grabbed Ted’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere. It’s
your turn to grill the steaks. Let her go. She doesn’t need her hand holding
twenty-four seven, even if you do.”

Ted scrunched his nose, but acceded to her request with
outward turned palms. Louise gave an all-knowing wink in Amy’s direction. Amy
turned, then walked away over the pebbles toward the fringe of the woods. Gyp
ran ahead, his tail wagging, and disappeared through the tree line. She wasn’t
sure if coming out there with her friends was a good idea. Least, not on today
of all days. Only Louise knew her secret. This was the first time she had
shared her dark day with anyone, except with the photographs of her mom, and
with her dad. She hoped her mom didn’t think she was disrespectful.

Gyp sat waiting by a pine tree. Amy picked up a twig and
threw it past Gyp. He looked over his shoulder and back at her as if saying,
‘You go and fetch.’ She scooped a handful of pebbles, then patted Gyp with her
other hand.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go exploring.”

She slipped the pebbles into her pocket. Gyp went ahead,
zigzagging and sniffing in the undergrowth. Ten minutes trekking and Amy dropped
to her haunches, then hunkered down with her back against a tree trunk. She didn’t
need to go further. The nature around her provided her with the solitude she
had craved, away from the childish banter. The dry rotted pine needles
underfoot gave off their own peculiar smell. She picked up a handful of debris
and crumbled them in her hand. What had been alive was now dead, she thought,
and let the dust slip through her fingers. She had a flashback of the priest
throwing dirt onto her mom’s coffin. Gyp came up beside her and snuggled his
nose under her arm as if wanting her to move. She wondered if he had sensed her
grief. Taking a handkerchief from her pocket, she dried her eyes. Gyp was
persistent, still snuggling for attention.

“What do you want?”

He pulled away, barking and playfully jumping in front of
her.

“Ah, now you want to play.” She picked up a twig and threw
it.

This time, Gyp played the fetch and carry game. Amy tired of
the playing. She hauled herself to her feet and heaved the twig with all the
strength she could muster. Gyp ran off in pursuit, disappearing in the undergrowth.
She leant against the tree and took a pebble from her pocket, tossing it at a
pinecone on the ground. It landed with a thud, nowhere near her target. Her
mind drifted. She wondered if Ted was playing her, or maybe she was playing
him. He’d promised to keep seeing her when she started her freshman year at university
in the fall. But she wasn’t sure about him. It wasn’t Ted really, but reality.
It was her chance to strike out with new friends and experiences. Besides, she
wondered if the distraction of a distant boyfriend would hold her back. She
took another pebble and was about to launch it, when she heard a breaking twig
behind her. Amy turned around and looked in the direction where she had heard
the noise.

“Gyp, is that you?”

Another twig cracked again off to her left, out front. She
snapped her vision to where she had heard the sound. A shiver passed through
her body. She froze at rustling coming from the undergrowth to her right. As
she threw a glance in that direction, a dark blur darted behind some bushes.

“Gyp, this is not funny, come here.”

No sooner had the words rolled off her tongue, she knew it
was too tall a shape for it to be Gyp. At the sound of something kicking up the
foliage behind her, she turned. Her heart thumped. Gyp ran toward her and then
past her, coming to a sliding halt. He stood rigid, the hairs down his back
stood tall, his tail pointed. He sniffed the air and then growled.

“What is it, boy?”

Gyp turned and took hold of her sleeve in his mouth, tugging
at her as if telling her the direction to take.

“Okay, okay,” she said.

Gyp’s reaction told her that something was out there. She
set off running with Gyp by her side. The scenery passed by in a haze. She
imagined that danger lurked behind every passing tree trunk. She remembered her
dad’s words. Amy wondered if maybe it was a black bear. She realized that if it
was a bear, then running was not the smart thing to have done. With every step,
she imagined claws sinking into her back at any moment. Her lungs were at the
point of exploding, and her legs sapped of energy. Only fear kept her moving.
They were travelling at right angles to the lake, when Gyp veered toward the
edge of the wood. She could see the beach, when she stumbled and fell. Gyp
whined in front of her, dancing with both front paws as if pleading for her to
get to her feet. Then his ears twitched and he held his nose aloft. Once more,
he sniffed the air. His lips curled and he growled as he stared behind her.

Amy scrambled to her feet and screamed. “Help, Ted. Help.”

She staggered through the tree line, and onto the pebbles,
still calling out for help.

All coordination between mind and body was lost. Her mind
was telling her to keep running, but her legs stopped answering. She could hear
Gyp barking and growling behind her. She dropped to her knees, and looked
toward the campfire. The scene before her shimmered, but she could make out Ted
and the others charging toward her. Almost at her side, she could see Ted with
his rifle shouldered, when all around her started to spin to a mist of lost
consciousness.