The noise to her left surprised her. She turned and the flash from a camera blinded her. “I guess this investigation is truly over.”
Brenda Childs was there, with a smirk on her face and a gun in her hand. “I followed you out here. When I went through the licenses, I saw your father had been an avid bow hunter, though he didn’t buy a license this year. All I did was put two and two together.”
Sandy Drake tilted her head and looked at the woman. She was probably in her early forties, a little overweight and definitely out of shape. Howls could be heard in the distance. “They smell the dead wolf’s blood that will have them here soon.” The young woman looked up in the trees and spotted what she was looking for in a group of trees a short distance away. She turned to go in that direction. “Do you know why my father didn’t apply for a bow license this year?”
“You need to stay right where you are,” Brenda said, pointing her gun.
Sandy turned to face Brenda. “Because he was killed by your wolves.” Howls got louder and Sandy started trotting for the group of trees.
Brenda was hot on her heels. “Will they come this way? What are we going to do?” Brenda asked, gasping for air. “Is there a place to hide?”
Sandy stopped at one of the trees and jumped, grabbing a branch. She hauled herself up until she reached a flat piece of board big enough to hold a few people. It was about two-thirds up the tree. She had used it many times. “It’s called a deer stand,” she hollered down. “Hunters use it.”
The howling was louder and sounded like the wolves were attacking the dead one.
“Please, help me!” screamed Brenda. “I can’t reach that branch.”
“No need to worry,” Sandy said, calmly looking down. “They don’t hurt humans.”
They were coming. Sandy could see them. “Help me!” Brenda screamed, turning to run deeper into the woods.
“Show them your card of authority!” Sandy yelled after her. She sat down and listened. Several gunshots were fired and then screams followed by the sounds of dogs tearing something apart.
* * * *
What was left of Brenda’s body was found a few days later. Dental records had to be brought in to identify the body. There were also a number of dead wolves, killed with arrows. A camera was found not too far from the body, but the only pictures were of Brenda, after the attack. They tried for prints, but the camera had been wiped clean.
Police were out combing the entire area. Somebody had seen what had happened. Maybe the person in the red cloak. The folks would just laugh, calling it a ridiculous myth.
The investigation was soon called off and it didn’t take long after that for traps to be set and the wolves to be removed from the area. Sixty wolves had been set free at Hampton’s Meadow, and fourteen were taken away. The red cloak was never seen again!
THE END
Dugan's Creek Page 3