Seeking to Devour

by Kyle Alexander Romines

  As Matt was taking notes, another deputy approached his desk.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “I was just on the phone with Wilma Henderson. She said her son Winston has gone missing. Do you think this is something that might be connected to those missing animals you were looking for?”

  Matt clenched his jaw. Someone else was missing? This was worse than he thought. With Patrick Doyle dead and Jack Taylor a raving lunatic, he was starting to suspect Hazard had a serious problem on its hands.

  “I know Winston,” Ellie interrupted. “He went to school with me and Sarah.”

  “Are he and Sarah close? Is it possible they’re together?”

  Ellie almost looked amused. “No way. Sarah can’t stand Winston.”

  “Where’s my brother?” The loud voice came from Jeremy Doyle, who was shouting at the front desk. His right arm was in a cast.

  “You’ll need to sign in,” said a receptionist behind the desk.

  Jeremy knocked the sign-in sheet from the desk and sent it clattering to the ground. “Tell me what happened to Patrick!”

  Matt struggled to remain calm. He was told the next of kin had been notified, but he hadn’t expected Jeremy Doyle to burst into the station like this. The effect of his brother’s death was obvious. Whatever else they might have been, the Doyle brothers were close.

  Jeremy glared at the receptionist. “You know my name. I’ve been in here more times than I can count.”

  Matt approached, cast a glance back at Sarah’s mother, and lowered his voice. “I have some bad news, Jeremy. Why don’t we go somewhere quieter?”

  “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what happened to my brother.”

  “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Patrick was killed in an animal attack. We’re looking for the thing that did it.”

  Jeremy was clearly in denial. “No animal could’ve killed Patrick. He always kept his shotgun with him.”

  “I’m sorry. We found his license in his pocket. Naturally, we’ll need you to come down to the morgue to identify the body, but it was him.” He looked at Ellie and Mrs. Preston. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

  Ellie tried not to pry into the conversation at the front desk, but she distinctly heard the phrase “identify the body.” Had something happened to Patrick Doyle? Was that why Matt was talking to her father earlier? At least Sarah’s mother hadn’t heard what Jeremy said. Ellie guessed that was for the best; she was already worried enough.

  If Patrick Doyle was dead, the predator was killing people now. The idea that Sarah might be out there somewhere terrified her. Over by the counter, all the fight seemed to have gone out of Jeremy. Ellie thought back to when his brother had barged into the café and threatened Alexander only the previous day.

  I wish Alexander were here right now. He would know what to say. Everything was moving so quickly, and she hardly had time to catch her breath.

  A deputy motioned for Jeremy to follow him, and Jeremy trailed behind with his head bowed. Ellie felt sorry for him. Despite his many failings, with a brother like Patrick, Jeremy never had much of a chance at a normal life. Although Jeremy was frequently in trouble for fighting, it was widely known that he was uncomfortable with Patrick’s means of income. Ellie wondered what kind of person he might have been without an abusive brother.

  “Sorry about that,” Matt said when he returned. “I think I’ve got enough for now, Mrs. Preston. I have your phone number, and I promise someone will be in contact with you as soon as we have new information. I’m sure Sarah will turn up soon.” He handed her a card. “Here is my card. Call me if you hear from Sarah or learn anything else that can help us locate your daughter.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  “Ellie—can I have a word with you?”

  Ellie’s brow furrowed, but she did as he asked.

  “Patrick Doyle is dead. Mauled to death by an animal, most likely the one you’re familiar with.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I trust you, and I would like to make a request.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t tell Mrs. Preston any of this. I don’t want to give her undue cause for concern. It’s entirely possible Sarah’s disappearance has nothing to do with the animal attacks.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it between us. I don’t want to worry her any more than you do.”

  “Thanks, Ellie. And stay safe.”

  Ellie made her way to Mrs. Preston, and together they walked to the parking lot. After exchanging goodbyes, hugs, and a few prayers, they went their separate ways.

  Now comes the hard part. Waiting.

  The smell of fresh cookies waited for her at home.

  “Welcome back.” Her mother wrapped her in a hug. “I hope that wasn’t too terrible. How did things go at the station?”

  “As good as could be expected.” Ellie grabbed a warm cookie straight from the pan. “They promised to do everything they could.”

  “I’m sure you’ll pull through. With any luck, Sarah will be back home before you know it. Hey, how about a movie? Your dad is out, so it’ll just be us girls.”

  Ellie’s expression brightened. “That sounds great.”

  Outside the house, Boomer sat with his face pressed against the living room window. He watched the women in the living room with unblinking eyes. Somewhere in the distance, a howl reverberated across the forest.

  Soon.

  The dog slunk toward the forest, summoned by his new master’s call.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ellie wasn’t sure what it was, but Alexander seemed different. Although he’d been himself when they met at a secluded swimming hole near the lake, she could tell something was bothering him. Maybe it was the prospect of meeting her parents.

  He emerged from under the water’s surface and sucked in a deep breath.

  “Wow. I thought you were never going to come up for air.”

  He seemed to hesitate when he saw her. She’d caught a similar look on his face before. It was as if he recognized something about her—something familiar.

  He quickly recovered and aimed a wink at her. “I hoped you might come in after me.”

  Ellie laughed. “You wish. I’m not ready to get wet just yet.” She sat on an old quilt, reading a book.

  “Too bad.” Alexander swam closer to the shore and splashed her playfully.

  “You’re going to get it now!” Ellie cast the book aside and jumped into the water, producing a splash that rained down on him.

  Alexander dropped under the surface, and Ellie waded in deeper in search of him until she was up to her midriff. Suddenly, he popped up behind her and threw her into the water. Ellie propelled herself upwards with a powerful kick.

  “Come on! I’ll race you to the shore.”

  “You’re on!” Ellie had a head start, and she was a decent swimmer to begin with. She kicked hard, and for a moment it appeared she would win. Just before she reached the shore, Alexander paddled past her with a surprising burst of speed. Ellie collapsed on the shore, panting for air.

  Alexander sat beside her in the shallow water. “Well done.” He wasn’t even breathing heavily.

  “You got lucky.” Ellie noticed a scar close to his neck. “What’s that?” His clothes had always covered it before.

  “A dog bit me when I was a kid.”

  “That’s an awfully big scar for a dog bite.”

  Alexander didn’t answer. They sat in silence, and Ellie’s thoughts turned again to Sarah. There was still no word of her friend. She felt guilty for enjoying herself while Sarah was missing.

  Alexander seemed to read her mind. “She’ll turn up.”

  “I hope so. I just have this feeling.”

  “What kind of feeling?”

  “I don’t know. All of this feels wrong. Everything’s happening all at once. The attacks, Jack Taylor, Patrick Doyle…it’s like there’s something connecting them that everyon
e’s missing.”

  “Sometimes bad things happen, Ellie. There’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to roll with the punches.”

  “I don’t believe that. It’s possible to make a difference. You just have to do the right thing.”

  Alexander laughed.

  Ellie wrinkled her brow. “What did I say?”

  “Nothing. You just reminded me of someone I used to know.”

  She saw the skepticism on his face. “You don’t believe you can make a difference?”

  “Maybe I did once. I was a different person then. It was a long time ago.”

  “What do you mean?” Ellie had a feeling she was close to some important truth about him. Alexander hadn’t revealed this side of himself before.

  He remained quiet for a short interval, as if torn by inner conflict. “I’m not a perfect person, Ellie. There was a time when I tried to be the best person I could be. Then my life came crashing down around me, and I felt like it was all for nothing.”

  Ellie touched his shoulder. “You can’t live your life based on someone else’s expectations, Alexander. You can’t try to be good because someone else wants you to be. You have to do it for yourself.” She made her way to the quilt and reached for her towel. “We should head back. I’m picking up one of Sarah’s shifts.”

  Alexander dried himself beside her. “I have some things to take care of too.” When Ellie started toward her van, he and touched her arm. “Ellie.” His voice was different—softer.

  “What?” She thought he might kiss her, but instead he brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

  “I just want you to know that I never wanted to hurt you.”

  Ellie wasn’t sure why he thought their conversation might upset her. “You haven’t, silly.”

  Alexander opened his mouth, as if he had something else to add, but stopped. “See you tonight?”

  “Of course. I hope you’re not nervous—meeting my parents and all.”

  “Believe me, Ellie, I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”

  A dry wind brushed fallen leaves against the porch steps. Without warning, the temperature dropped sharply. Animals in the barn began making loud noises. Ellie approached her window, drawn by the commotion. For a moment she thought she saw a figure standing near the barn but dismissed it as her eyes playing tricks on her.

  Where is Alexander? He should have been here by now. It wasn’t like him to be late.

  As if in response to her thoughts, the doorbell rang.

  “Coming!” Ellie hurried to the front door.

  Alexander waited on the other side. He wore a black jacket and nice blue jeans. The ring on his finger shimmered in the fading sunlight. “Hello again.”

  Ellie motioned for him to come inside. “Mom’s just finishing up in the kitchen.”

  “Something smells great.” He paused as Ellie’s father drew near.

  “Hello again, Alexander. Welcome to our home.”

  Alexander’s eyes locked on her father. “It’s good to be here, sir.”

  “Call me Michael. How do you want your steak?”

  “Rare.” There was a strange undercurrent to his tone Ellie couldn’t quite place.

  Ellie pointed to a rack beside the door. “You can hang your jacket over there.”

  Alexander removed his jacket and stared in the direction of the kitchen. He hardly seemed to notice her—strange, considering how much attention he had showered on her for the last two weeks.

  Maybe he’s nervous after all. She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t worry. My parents are great. You’ll love them. I hope you’re hungry—my mom’s a wonderful cook.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got quite an appetite tonight.”

  Her father reappeared, carrying a plate of grilled steaks. “Why don’t you two join us in the dining room? Dinner is almost ready.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Alexander followed him, leaving Ellie to trail behind. His features were animated in a way Ellie hadn’t seen before. Was she missing something?

  When they entered the kitchen, Ellie’s mother stood over a pot of boiling corn with her back to them. She slid on a pair of mittens, removed the pot from the stove, and turned to greet them.

  The moment Ellie’s mother saw Alexander, her smile faltered, and she dropped the pot onto the floor.

  “I’ve got it.” Her father grabbed some paper towels from the counter and began cleaning up the mess.

  Ellie’s mother remained where she was, her gaze fixed on Alexander. For a moment, Ellie thought she glimpsed a flicker of recognition in her mother’s face.

  “Sorry about that.” Her mother’s face grew red.

  “There’s no need to apologize. I’m Alexander Thorne.”

  “I’m Samantha.” She looked visibly shaken, a reaction out of proportion to an ordinary kitchen accident.

  “Samantha,” Alexander repeated slowly. “What a lovely name.”

  Ellie looked from Alexander to her mother. “Mom, is something wrong?”

  Her mother shook her head. “I’m fine.” She stared hard at Alexander. “It’s just…you reminded me of someone I used to know.”

  Alexander didn’t seem surprised.

  “We’re all set,” her father interrupted. “I hope you like steak, Alexander.”

  “It’s one of my favorites.”

  “Well, let’s get seated.” They took their places at the table. “Who would like to say the prayer?”

  Ellie volunteered, and the four joined hands. When they closed their eyes, Ellie caught Alexander staring at her mother. “Amen,” she finished.

  Her father slid the steaks onto four plates and handed them around. “So, Ellie—how did you two meet?”

  “We ran into each other in the arcade—literally.” She laughed at the memory. “Alexander saved me from humiliation at the hands of Malory Baker.”

  “I knew Ellie was special from the moment I saw her.” Alexander put his hand on her chair. “There was something about your eyes. They look like your mother’s, now that I think of it.”

  “Ellie tells us you’re in college,” Samantha interrupted. “Do you have a major?”

  “To tell you the truth, I haven’t given it as much thought as I probably should have. I take it you’re both in the medical field?”

  “That’s right. I went into nursing but quit to raise Ellie and help Michael run the clinic.”

  “Are you happy with that decision?”

  At that, both Ellie and her father stopped. Ellie had sensed a strange vibe throughout the evening, but this was the first time she’d felt uncomfortable. Alexander’s overtly personal question came from nowhere.

  “Yes,” her mother answered. “My true vocation was with my family.” She studied Alexander carefully. “Alexander, are you sure we’ve never met before?”

  “I think I would remember that.”

  “Forgive me. Time can play tricks on a person’s memory.”

  “Have you enjoyed your time in Hazard?” Ellie’s father asked as they resumed eating. “I suppose you’ll be headed back to college in the fall.”

  “I have, though I’ve been surprised that such a small town has suffered so much violence. Ellie said you’re working with the police to put an end to these attacks.”

  Her father nodded. “In all my years as a vet, I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m more used to healing animals, not catching predators.”

  “That sounds very wise. You never really know who is hunting whom. When a man with a shotgun can be killed, no one is safe, are they?”

  There was a lull in the conversation as the four finished the meal. Outside, the sun had disappeared from the sky. Ellie noticed Alexander frown after glancing out the window. When she followed his gaze, there was nothing there.

  Alexander cleared his voice. “Thank you for having me here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet you both. Your daughter is very special to me.”

  “Ellie and Samantha
are the most important people in my life,” her father said.

  “You’re a lucky man. I thought I was in love once. When she broke my heart, it was like my life had ended. I still remember it.”

  Ellie looked at him curiously. She’d heard the story before, but it seemed odd he would tell it to her parents.

  Her mother rose suddenly and stacked her father’s plate on top of her own. Alexander joined her on the way to the sink and laid his plate on the counter. As Ellie’s mother reached for the plate, her eyes passed over the black ring he wore.

  “Is everything all right?” Ellie asked. Alexander wasn’t the only one acting strange. Something weird was going on with her mother.

  “That ring…” Samantha’s eyes flickered up to meet Alexander’s, as if posing a silent question.

  “I just remembered,” Alexander said suddenly. “There’s something I have to do. Thank you for dinner.” He backed into the hallway.

  Surprised, Ellie hurried after him and caught up to him by the door. “You just got here. Why are you leaving so soon?” She noticed he was trembling. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  When he turned to face her, his eyes were bloodshot. A vein in his neck stood out. This was not the Alexander she knew.

  His voice came out cold. “You…” Then he looked into her eyes, and his expression softened.

  “My mom noticed something about your ring. I want to know what it was.” It dawned on her just how mysterious Alexander’s past really was, and Winston’s warning came back to her. Winston had been the first to ask about Alexander’s strange ring. Now he was missing.

  Ellie grabbed Alexander’s hand and felt all the resistance drain out of him. In a flash he became the person she’d known for the past two weeks—only he looked tired and sad. “I care about you. But I can’t help you unless you let me.”

  Alexander started to reach for her but stopped, and his face grew hard as stone. “I have to get going.” Then he was gone.

  Her mind racing furiously, Ellie closed the door. What’s going on? She headed to the kitchen, seeking out the one person who might have some answers.

  Her mother wasn’t there.