Sheep's Clothing

by Gary Lewis

  A sudden movement burst through the overgrown weeds. David jumped back as a raccoon leapt from the foliage and scurried across the field. "It was nothing," he said to himself with relief.

  After a moment to collect himself, he strolled around the house, constantly shining his light side to side. The hard dirt in the front yard didn't hold clear tracks the way the soft soil out back did. He struggled to work out what direction they came in from.

  As he returned to approach the backdoor, he checked the group chat. His message had been seen by Janice and Sarah. That left Tony and Vance. What are the odds that it killed Brad after we were at the cliffs and now it's at Jan's? "What if it's one of us?" He locked his phone and slid it back into his pocket.

  Janice rushed to the backdoor and swung it open for David. "It's okay," he said, gently setting the crowbar on the kitchen counter. "All I saw were its tracks. They headed out toward the field, but I couldn't tell where they came in from. I must've scared it off when I went outside."

  "Thank you so much," she said as she wrapped her arms around him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

  "I don't know what I'd do without you, Jan," he said, sliding his hands up and down her back as he squeezed her tightly.

  A bright flash of light shot across the living room through a gap in the curtains. Tires crackled up the driveway. Her wide, green eyes looked up at his. "Who could it be at this hour?" Janice asked. David noticed the old, wooden clock on the wall. It was past 2:00 AM. It sounded too quiet to be Vance, he thought as he wandered toward the carport side door.

  A slinky, black shadow formed the outline of someone skinny walking away toward the ditch as the moonlight shined across a white, four-door car that David recognized as Sarah's. He watched from the doorway until she came running up the steps. "Come on," David said, hurrying her inside as he opened the door.

  "Did you actually see it?" Sarah asked with wide eyes.

  "No. We heard sounds outside and there's a trail of tracks leading away from the house," he said.

  "Did you call the cops or anything?"

  "No. What the hell would I say? That I think there's a werewolf outside?"

  "Show me the tracks," Sarah said, strolling swiftly across the kitchen to the backdoor, past where Janice stood silently.

  David slowly opened the backdoor, peering his head gradually around as he stood in the doorway. He placed his hand firmly on Sarah's shoulder to escort her onto the deck. A light but swift slap knocked his hand back.

  "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

  "I'm sorry… I just-"

  "Got me mixed up with Janice?" Sarah continued walking without even a glance.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "What are you two doing here tonight, anyway?" she asked.

  He shook his head with a huff. "What's your problem tonight, anyway?"

  Sarah squatted down. "So, these are the tracks?"

  "No,” David said with a lift of his hand. “Those are from some other werewolf."

  "I was just making sure. They definitely look like dog prints, but they're huge," Sarah said. "Look how hard they press in." She placed her hand on the large paw print. Her widespread fingers fit neatly within the deep impression.

  A rustle came from the bushes near the field and both of their heads jumped. "Let's get back inside," David said as she nodded in agreement and started to slowly rise to her feet.

  "David, wait. There's a reason I wanted you outside for a minute," she said while reaching out to his arm as she stared back through the dark. David's thoughts swarmed as he wondered what she was up to next. She appeared to be thinking about what to say as she looked back into his eyes. It was strange for Sarah.

  "I found this note in the garbage earlier." She handed him a bunched-up sheet of paper. "Have you noticed anything strange about Tony?" she asked as he uncrinkled the worn letter and began reading the scribbled pen marks.

  "David, I'm sorry little bro. I did something awf," it read, before abruptly stopping. It was definitely Tony's handwriting. But what could Tony be sorry about? Something awful? David shook his head. Tony? That can't be right.

  He clenched his jaw for a moment before the words forced their way out. "Tony would give a stranger the shirt off his back, below freezing," he said.

  "Don't look at me," she said, spreading her open palms. "I didn't write it."

  David huffed as he turned to face the brightly lit backdoor window that cut through the darkness of Janice's backyard, shining across the wooden steps that led back to safety.

  "Listen," she continued.

  "Look," David said from an anchor of concern that tugged his focus back within the house. "I've got to get back to Janice and make sure she's alright."

  "Who all has seen the message you sent the group?" Sarah asked.

  After pulling out his phone, David scrolled with anticipation. His thumbs rushed to prove that Tony had seen it. Just a shred of evidence that he was still human. A wave of disappointment washed the enthusiasm from his thumbs.

  "Vance and Tony are still out. Neither of them has seen it yet," David said.

  "I just want you to know that whatever it’s about, David..." Sarah began.

  "Are y'all alright out there?" Janice's voice rang from a gleaming gap in the cracked open door.

  "Yeah,” Sarah said. “We're coming.”

  A heavy pack of burden pushed from David's mind to press his shoulders down as he carried the weight of his thoughts back to the steps.

  "Wait, David," Sarah's voice scratched across his back. "There's something else too."

  A well of frustration flooded into his chest as he blew a wave of hot air from his lungs and looked her in the eyes. "What the hell is it now?"

  Sarah's eyebrows lifted as she stopped. "Really?" After a momentary pause, she finally followed up. "I'll just show you when we leave."

  Without a word, David rose one step after another, gripping the smooth, wooden rail as he marched back to the light of the backdoor. Once inside, they went over everything they knew so far. Everything except for the note that Tony wrote. David was relieved that Sarah didn't mention it in front of Janice.

  "Thanks for coming over, you two," Janice said with a yawn. "I'm going to try and sleep now."

  "Make sure you keep your phone charged and the doors locked," David said.

  "I will. I promise."

  "Goodnight, girl," Sarah said as she gave her a brisk half hug on the way out.

  Sarah led with a sweep of her hand. "Over here." Her hushed but sharp tone ushered him to follow. They walked quickly past her car, brushing their shoes through the grass. As they approached the ditch, a pile of broken plastic and metal was tossed just beside the driveway. A familiar green strap stood out in David's view as chunks of camouflage plastic verified exactly what it was.

  "These are my trail cameras." David bent down to sort through the shattered, chewed up debris with his fingers. A twisted piece of broken metal was lined with serrated teeth. "Vance's bear trap?" David asked as he looked up at Sarah standing above him with one hand on her hip. It was all dumped here… And the tracks.

  She folded her arms and tilted her head back as David stood, carrying the pile of garbage in his hands. "I thought so," she said with a shake of her head. “First Brad, when we all met at the cliffs,” Sarah said. “Then Danny right after we ran into him looking for clues.” She stretched her arm out to David. “Behind your place when you caught it on your camera.” Her head swung back toward Janice’s house. “Now at Jan’s.” Sarah’s eyes grew frighteningly wide as she leaned toward him in the dark and spoke in a hushed tone. “Who else knew about the cameras and Vance’s bear traps?”

  Speechless, David waited as he listened for Sarah to say what was too terrifying to hear.

  Her shadowy face remained locked onto his as she spoke again. "Do you know what this means?"

  David’s thoughts rose with his eyes. Someone who was in the room with us earlier.

&nbs
p; He gazed across the stars at the huge, bright orb that shown through the blackened sky. "It means that it's one of us."

  After a moment to think, David began to carry the destroyed equipment back to his car as Sarah followed.

  "I'll deal with Tony,” David told Sarah as he walked her to the car. “You figure out what's going on with Vance."

  "But why Vance?" she asked.

  "Just a hunch," he said, walking away to his car.

  ###

  David returned home, waiting for the sun to rise. He needed to confront Tony in person to figure out what he meant. Surely, it's not as bad as it seems. But why would he be scribbling this while we were at Sarah's, investigating the killings? Why would he be so hesitant as to begin a letter and throw it away?

  The darkness finally gave way to the gleam of dawn and David was filled with resolve as his thoughts turned to the Sunset Diner.

  ###

  Inside, the lobby was filled with the early morning regulars. Senior citizens sipped their coffee with newspapers folded before them as they talked about the temperature and other mundane, everyday things despite all that had recently happened in town.

  When he caught sight of Tony in the back, David shouted him over.

  Tony hesitated. "Just a minute, little bro."

  David waited, pacing around the front counter as seated customers began to watch.

  Finally, Tony stepped around the counter, taking off his gloves. "What's up, little bro?” he asked, grinning at David. “Janice giving you trouble again?"

  "What makes you ask that, Tony?"

  "You were over there last night, right?"

  "How would you know I was at Jan’s last night?" David asked. His suspicion was now growing by the minute.

  Tony waited a few seconds. "Look, I could answer that, but how about you tell me what's really troubling you first?"

  "No,” David said, knowing he had Tony cornered. “I think I'll wait for your answer."

  "Okay then. But after this, you owe me some answers too," Tony said, pulling his phone out and sliding his thumb around the screen.

  Tony turned the screen around to show David the message he sent the night before. Of course. David had forgotten that he told everyone he was there last night.

  "You did something awful?" David asked Tony.

  "Oh. So that's it, little bro?” He lowered his eyes to the floor. “I didn't think anyone would see that."

  "Yeah. That's it alright."

  "All you had to do was ask me," Tony said with a smile, shrugging his arms out. "But not here.” He raised his arm to glance at his shiny, silver wristwatch. “I get out at eight thirty.” Tony’s face turned toward the large windows that covered the front wall where a perfect view of Bluff Mountain stood in the distance. “The cliffs after work."

  David nodded. "The cliffs at nine then."

  Chapter 4

  #Sarah#

  Sarah's comfy couch cushions begged her to fall back into the dead sleep from which she came, but the alarm clock screaming in her ears had other plans. As much as she wished she could wrap herself back into the comfort from which she came, she had things to do today.

  After two groggily failed attempts, she finally unlocked her phone to see the missed texts.

  "What's the word on Vance?" from David.

  "You're late checking on Sheryl's air conditioner. You still want to earn your keep until you go back to college?" from Ms. Perry. Her last foster parent, now landlord, always made sure to rub it in.

  As Sarah glanced over the mess that still took the place of her dining area, it made her cringe almost as much as her past that always threatened to seep from her subconscious each moment that she dropped her guard. A crumpled cigarette pack rested on her table top. It was as empty as her wallet.

  "Guess it's time to quit." She slapped it back onto the table and marched out the backdoor toward her toolshed. "Shower can wait until I'm done." She pushed through the defeat that weighed as heavily on her back as her eyelids.

  Just behind Sarah's house, the small makeshift toolshed bordered the trees that sprawled out, attempting to engulf what she had of a backyard. Gray vinyl siding clung to used sheet metal that held spots of rust along the walls. It wasn't her best project, but it was hers and it served its purpose.

  While flipping through a couple dozen keys on her heavy keyring to open the padlock, she gasped. Four long gashes dug deeply through the wooden door. Sarah's pause was filled with a blank stare as she lightly ran her fingertips along the roughed-out edges, massaging in the tiny shards of splintered wood.

  After entering the shed, Sarah scurried through neatly arranged drawers and toolboxes packed with appliances to grab her drill and multimeter before setting out down her short, secluded gravel road. But as the morning heralded the heat of noon, she carried that haste with her. It hung just over her shoulder and traveled into her feet, pushing them forward across the hot gravel.

  ###

  Even after changing a corroded blower capacitor and returning home for her shower, Sarah couldn't shake the uneasiness that had now invaded her property.

  On her way to the car, she slowed to look at the boot prints scuffed into the dry dirt of her driveway. She stopped at Tony's prints for a prolonged moment that carried her sleep deprived thoughts into distant places. He always seemed nice... Too nice. What is it that he’s hiding? As she climbed into the car, her questions fired the ignition and guided her steering wheel in the opposite direction of Vance's house. "I think it's time I grab a bite to eat."

  ###

  The parking lot at the sunset diner was spacious. Lunch rush had just ended and Sarah knew she would get an opportunity for small talk with Tony. She slowed her pace through the double-doors into the lobby. Her casual expression took over as she scanned the counter indiscriminately, careful not to lock onto anyone's face just yet.

  When she caught sight of Tony's hand waving from the kitchen, she bit down on her chewing gum with a smile and tilted her head up at him from her seat at the bar. Tony's exaggerated smile was carried on his round face by his large gait as he traveled to the counter.

  "How you holding up, sis?"

  She had always been suspicious of Tony's way of pretending that he knew someone all his life. If they just met yesterday, he still would've greeted her just the same. He treated everyone like a long-lost family member.

  "Things are good. I was wondering..." Sarah paused for a moment. "Have you seen my multimeter? I left it in my toolshed." It wasn't the strongest lie she had ever come up with, but she was sure to emphasize the word.

  "Not really. I've never even been behind your place before."

  Sarah could feel her eyes light with the same scrutiny as her smile before she spoke again. "But you somehow knew that my toolshed was behind it?"

  She watched Tony pause with a further stretch of his smile. But he never broke eye contact with her the entire time. He held out his hands in front of him. "Maybe because it's not in the front yard?"

  He did have a point, she thought. It didn't take a rocket scientist to guess that it was around back.

  "You don't trust me?" He took a couple steps back. "I didn't take it, but I'd be happy to buy you a new one if it makes you feel better."

  "I don't trust anyone," Sarah said with a half-smile.

  "You still going back to school for..." Tony began to ask, waving his finger at her.

  "I'm an electrician," Sarah said. "I'm waiting for the next semester to end."

  “I can't wait to start culinary, myself," he said. "Was David the reason you dropped out? I mean, it all kinda ended suddenly." Tony rubbed the back of his head as he shifted back just a bit.

  "No. I didn't drop out because of David." Sarah shook her head with an eye roll. "I just needed some time to myself."

  "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked," he said as Sarah sipped from her straw.

  "What's going on with the monster mystery?" he asked.

  "I have one person in mind," she said, mak
ing sure to finish with a sly grin.

  Tony just nodded with a friendly smile as the chatter of customers started to fill the air between them until he finally rubbed his head and spoke again. “Listen, Sarah…”

  She arched her eyebrows at Tony as she waited for him to continue. “Yes?”

  “I was just thinking… I’d be happy to mow your lawn for you some time if you need any help with it.”

  Sarah clutched the top of her drink glass and looked at it as she gave it a light swirl while she spoke. “Tony, you’re more than welcome to visit when you want.” She lifted her eyes to look straight into his. “But stay the hell out of my yard.”

  Tony seemed to get the hint as he nodded before strolling back to the kitchen.

  When she walked to her car, Sarah halted to take in the scenery. Just beyond the large yellow sign that stood high above the diner, the wooded hills raised just enough to conceal Moss Lake at the base of the Bluff Mountain backdrop. The rock face at the cliffs could be seen, rising from the forests that wrapped around it. As a kid, she never would have thought she'd end up in this place, far from the noisy city streets that stayed alive all through the night. Here where she could be so removed from the outside world, yet so much more connected to the people around her.

  She strolled past the homeless, blind beggar as he sat silently on the concrete walkway, resting against the building. Sarah turned back to see his filthy, unshaven face gaze back with a blank stare. It seemed the outward manifestation of the hollow existence he must have kept. A few pats of her pockets produced not even the jingle of a dime. "Oh well." She frowned before turning back toward her car. "Maybe next time."

  #Vance#

  Vance disregarded the gravel grinding against his back as he laid, tightening the final bolt nice and snug. A new set of brakes for the car he promised Janice. But he’d been so busy working on his own truck that it just sat collecting dust since she got her license. He looked it over as he finished up. She probably wouldn't mind that it was an older model car, he thought, being that it was a red Mustang. It was his favorite car in her favorite color. Vance wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with his blackened hands before heading inside.