LustUndone

by Holt, Desiree

  I’m probably being stupid but what the hell.

  “Unzip your jacket,” he told the guy.

  The man looked at him like he was crazy. “What?”

  “Just unzip your jacket.”

  The guy shrugged and unzipped it. Okay, no visible weapons. Chuck balanced his Glock on his thighs and waved to the guy.

  “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

  The man stared at him. “To Caribou?”

  Chuck nodded. “If that’s where you’re going.”

  The man yanked open the door to the truck and climbed in. His eyes widened when he spotted the Glock. “You planning to shoot me?”

  “Not unless I have to.” He rolled up the window, put the truck in gear and pulled out onto the highway. He slid a glance at the man. “Name’s Chuck. Chuck Whittaker.”

  “I answer to Fred.”

  “Well, Fred, what’s got you heading to Caribou?”

  Fred shrugged. “Looking for work. What else?”

  Chuck thought for a minute. “Not much work in Caribou that I heard of lately.”

  “Well, nothing in Houlton or Presque Isle, either. And the potato farms are all shut down for the winter. Need to get work somewhere. And a place to stay for a while.”

  Chuck was curious. “How did you end up here?”

  “You know. Shit happens. Worked my way up the coast from job to job. This economy jobs peter out fast. Need to earn enough to get back to where it’s warm.”

  “And your last ride?” Chuck asked. “Why’d he toss you out in the snow?”

  “He was drinking. Told him he was about to kill us both.”

  Chuck could hear Loraine’s voice in his brain.

  Charles Whittaker, you old fool. You don’t pick up strangers and hire them to work. Not without knowing something about them.

  But this guy looked harmless. Half-frozen and half-starved was more like it. And the cabins were all empty during these months.

  “Well,” he said, hoping he wouldn’t live to regret his words, “it just so happens that I have some work that needs doing. If you’re handy with your hands, that is.”

  “Yeah? I can do just about anything.”

  “Got a fishing and hunting camp a couple miles from here. Need some repair work. You could stay in one of the cabins.”

  Fred was silent for long moment. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  Chuck shrugged. “You don’t know anything about me, either. I could be a homicidal maniac.”

  He felt Fred’s eyes on him. “Naw, I don’t think so.”

  More silence.

  “So, what do you think? Because I’m about to turn off to my place, but if you’d rather I’ll just take you on to Caribou. Not much farther.”

  “Okay. If you can take a chance on me, I can take a chance on you.”

  Chuck wondered if he should suggest his new temporary handyman ought to take a bath. Hopefully get rid of the faint odor of turpentine clinging to him.

  * * * * *

  At lunchtime Sophia asked Logan if he’d mind a solitary meal while she and Rebecca went to visit her brother and sister-in-law.

  “I haven’t seen Damien and Shelley since…it happened and I left for Texas,” she reminded him. “They just got back from Boston and I’d really like to see them.”

  “No problem.” He smiled. “I’ll call back to the ranch and talk to the team there. See if they have anything new for us.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled back at him. “I won’t be more than an hour and a half.”

  “Take your time.”

  “No. I don’t want to waste daylight.”

  “I’ll see you when you get back to the motel.”

  In his room Logan booted up his laptop and opened the webcam. A few clicks of the keys and he was connected with Desolation Ranch.

  “Any word yet on the search for Melinda?” was his first question.

  “Nada.” Ric looked grim.

  “How’s Chloe holding up?”

  “She’s a trooper but it’s really taking its toll on her. Mark’s got her working on her big coffee table book of photographs but I can tell how much pain she’s in.”

  “Tell her we’re thinking of her.”

  “Will do. Any trace of the beast?” Ric asked.

  Most of the Night Seekers were gathered at the comm center in the big room, crowded together behind him. Watching the screen on their end.

  “Not one single trace,” Logan said, irritated. “I know that damn thing is around here. I can almost feel it. But not one single trace anywhere.”

  “But no more killings,” Ric said.

  “No. Not so far. We’ve been trying to warn people, too. But I’m not sure anyone takes me seriously enough.”

  “The media has gotten the word out about the Franklin killing, though, right?” This was Sam Brody, sitting just to Ric’s right.

  “Yes.” Logan sighed with frustration. “But everyone’s thinking some kind of crazed human killer. We know the devil beast can take more than one form and we aren’t even sure in what form it appears.”

  “It’s got to be something that keeps people off their guard,” Sam pointed out. “Otherwise the folks who’ve been killed that we know about never would have let it get that close.”

  “True. That means we don’t even have a clue what we’re looking for.”

  “What about the state detectives?” Ric wanted to know. “Help? Hindrance? How’s that coming along?”

  “About the same. I think Bobby Lacroix, the lead detective, is willing to entertain other possibilities. The others? Not so much. They listen but I don’t think they believe anything we tell them.”

  “I’d hoped for more,” Ric told him.

  “But at least they aren’t getting in our way,” Logan added.

  “Based on past history,” Sam broke in, “we haven’t got much more time before another body shows up.”

  “We’re doing the best we can.”

  “Hey! I know, I know. I’m not giving you any shit. Just stating as fact.”

  “I think we call know that,” Logan told him. “I’m going for another run tonight. I’ll see if anything turns up in the dark.” He ran his questions around in his mind for a minute. “Listen. There’s something else. We—Sophia and I—think there may be another shifter up here.”

  “Where you guys are?” Ric’s surprise was evident. “We did research and didn’t find evidence of a pack anywhere near where you are.”

  “I think it’s an orphan,” Logan said. An orphan was a shifter who for whatever reason had lost his pack. “It’s a black wolf. I’ve spotted it and Sophia thinks she may have seen it yesterday morning when we were out on the snowmobiles.”

  “All right. We’ll do some more checking and get back to you. Desolation out.”

  The screen went blank.

  * * * * *

  “I’ve missed you guys.”

  Sophia threw an arm around her brother Damien and his wife Shelley, squeezing both of them.

  “Missed you, too, sprite,” Damien told her, using a nickname left over from their childhood. “Never thought we’d lose you to Texas.”

  Sophia stepped back and gave him a rueful look. “You know I would never have done it except for the chance to catch this devil beast. To have unlimited funds and work with experienced people who also believe in its existence.”

  “I know. I know.” He kissed her cheek. “We just wish you weren’t so far away.”

  “Come on into the kitchen.” Shelley tugged on her hand. “I’ve got homemade vegetable soup for lunch and your favorite coffee cake.”

  “I’d say you went to too much trouble, except you know I’d never turn down either of those.”

  Sophia studied her sister-in-law as they walked into the large, airy room filled with wonderful smells. Shelley was a fiery redhead with the requisite green eyes and freckles. The last time Sophia had seen her she had been thin almost to the point of emaciation. Stress and grief over the
deaths of the twins had robbed her of her appetite and for a while Damien had even considered putting her in a private clinic.

  But she had pulled herself out of it, with his love and help, and now she was round with the child they were expecting. Although her face still held a trace of sadness, one Sophia was afraid might always be there, the sparkle was back in her eyes and she was actually smiling.

  “Sit, sit,” she said, indicating the places already set at the table. “You have no idea how much I’ve looked forward to seeing you.” She looked at Rebecca and grinned. “You I get to see all the time.”

  “It’s okay.” Rebecca hugged her. “My nose is only a little out of joint.”

  “Soph, how is the case going?” Damien was always direct and to the point. “Any clues of any kind?”

  “Are the detectives cooperating with you?” Shelley asked, ladling out soup at the stove.

  “As much as you’d expect.”

  “I think Bobby’s doing the best he can,” Rebecca added, “but you know there’s a strong thread of skepticism. He’s trying to be professional and polite, while at the same time telling us he thinks we’re nuts.”

  “Maybe he’d feel differently if it was his wife who had been killed.” Damien couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice.

  “Honey.” Shelley’s voice was soft. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone and neither would you.”

  “I know, I know.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I just wish I could shake a dose of reality into these people.”

  Sophia snorted. “The problem is there’s a big difference between their reality and ours.”

  Shelley served the soup and they ate in silence for a few moments.

  “So,” Sophia said, “you guys look like impending parenthood agrees with you.”

  Damien reached over and rested his hand on Shelley’s tummy. “We’re really looking forward to this. For a lot of reasons.”

  “My overprotective husband wanted to stash me in Boston until this whole episode up here was over and you’d caught and killed the beast. I told him I didn’t think it would attack in the exact same places again.” Shelley looked at her sisters-in-law. “Am I right?”

  Sophia shrugged. “I can’t say that with any certainty but what I can tell you is it’s never happened before.”

  “I’m surprised that it’s back in this area,” Damien remarked. “I’ve been researching the Chupacabra and read about the killings in other states. I’d think it would have had its fill here.”

  “Sophia’s explained that there’s no rhyme or reason to its behavior,” Rebecca answered him. “It hit two counties next to each other in Texas but we think that’s because its kill pattern was interrupted the first time before it could be completed. That wasn’t the case here.”

  “Back at our team headquarters we’re always researching patterns and activities,” Sophia added. “Trying to learn as much about it as we can to help us find it before it kills again.”

  “So how close are you to tracking it?” Damien persisted.

  “We’re doing the best we can, Damien. You have an advantage over nearly everyone else. You know what to expect. I don’t think it will attack here again, but keep your rifle loaded and be careful when you go outside.”

  Shelley put her spoon down and reached over to touch her sister-in-law’s arm. “Find it soon, Soph. Please.”

  Sophia just nodded. She didn’t want to tell either Damien or Shelley about the new theory that there was more than the one creature. Or that it was possible they were breeding somewhere and spreading out across the country. It was bad enough she had to live with that nightmare. She didn’t want them to have to deal with it. Not now.

  * * * * *

  They were back at it after lunch, more time on the snowmobiles, scouring the white wilderness. More fruitless searching in the vast barely populated spaces. More hunting for the Chupacabra with no results. They spoke to people who were at home, mentally taking note of the likeliest spots for attack.

  Sophia’s heart nearly stopped when she came to two tiny carcasses frozen in the snow. Two ravaged animals. Holding back the fear that suddenly rose up within her, she took her rifle and dismounted from the snowmobile to take a closer look. Just like the ones Mark had found in Texas. A snack for the devil beast, not enough to slake the lust but to take the edge off. But if it ran true to form the next kill wasn’t far off.

  “Bobby, I know the signs,” she told him urgently when she, Logan and Sophia returned to the barracks. “And this wasn’t done by any crazed killer.”

  “But it could have been a wild animal foraging for food,” he persisted.

  “Why do you keep fighting us on this? I know the story is farfetched but so were a lot of other things until scientists or investigators proved otherwise.” She bit back her frustration. “Anyway, your detectives haven’t come up with any other answers, right?”

  He didn’t answer her but she knew. So far the detectives hadn’t been able to find anyone who had a reason to kill Darrell. No one had reported a stranger lurking suspiciously in the area so they had redoubled their efforts to find someone with a grudge against the slain man.

  “Never mind.” She blew out a breath. “Can we at least get the sheriff’s deputies to help us by patrolling the outlying areas? If they see anything they can radio it in or shoot first and ask questions later.”

  In Maine all murder cases fell under the jurisdiction of the Maine State Police Criminal Investigation Division. But the various sheriffs’ offices provided support as needed.

  When Bobby hesitated she added, “Tell him you’re still on the lookout for a stranger.” She snorted. “A homicidal maniac who decided to hunt his prey in two thousand frozen square miles where hardly anyone lives.”

  “I still haven’t given up my original theory,” he told her. “We get so many illegals sneaking over here because we’re so close to the border. Who knows what kind of deranged person is wandering around here.”

  “Wouldn’t someone like that have shown up somewhere by now? He’d need shelter. Food. All that good stuff. I’m not saying it’s impossible but it certainly seems to be reaching for it.”

  “Okay, okay.” He threw up his hands. “I’ll call the sheriff and work out a plan with him.”

  “Thank you. And I don’t think we need an end-of-the-day debriefing. Nothing new to report except those frozen carcasses. Everyone’s anxious to get home, I’m sure.”

  “Listen, Sophia—” Bobby began.

  She waved a hand at him. “It’s okay, Bobby. You keep doing your thing and we’ll do ours. I’d hoped we could work together but this will probably shake down just as well. Go on. Tell everyone we’ll see them tomorrow.”

  Logan and Sophia returned to the motel early, telling Rebecca they’d meet her at six at The Crown.

  “I want to grab a bite early,” Logan told Sophia, “and then catch a nap. I’d like to take a longer run tonight.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Looking to see if that black wolf—or whatever it was—will be out there again?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “All right. But whoever or whatever it is we’re seeing, I just hope it’s on our side.”

  “Me, too. Ready in an hour?”

  “You got it.”

  She really wanted to use the time to ease the tension running through her body, maybe do some of the yoga breathing exercises she’d learned. She frowned in annoyance when a knock sounded on the door.

  “Damn it, Logan,” she began, jerking the door open. Her jaw dropped when she saw Clint standing there. “Why aren’t you at the bar?”

  His mouth curved in his crooked grin. “Does that mean you aren’t glad to see me?”

  Sophia stared. “I’m just puzzled as to what you’re doing here during the busiest part of your day.”

  “Frenchy’s at the bar holding court. He was bugging the shit out of me and I think he’s okay for a few hours. Besides, I’ve got the kid from the kitchen helping
him out.” He tilted his head. “Do you think I could come in? I came here to talk to you.”

  “Oh! Um, sure.” She stepped back to let him enter, closing the door after him.

  Did he also want to have sex now? It seemed the two of them couldn’t spend five minutes together without a combustion that rivaled a volcanic eruption. But right now he seemed to be filled with a restless energy. He took off his jacket, tossed it over one of the chairs and began pacing, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans.

  “Clint? Is something the matter?”

  He shook his head. “Yes. No. I mean, I don’t know.”

  “I don’t have anything strong to drink in the room but I’ve got sodas or I could make you some coffee.”

  “No. Jesus. No coffee. That’s all I’d need.”

  “Then will you please tell me what’s wrong? What’s bothering you?”

  He sat down on the bed and motioned to her. “Come sit beside me. I’m not here for sex,” he said hastily, “but I’d like you next to me when we talk.”

  Hesitantly she sat down next to him, let him take one of her hands.

  “First of all I want you to give me every detail about this murder. Every single thing. Don’t leave anything out.”

  Sophia stared at him. “What? Why do you want to know?”

  “Listen.” She saw a muscle twitch in his jaw. “Do you trust me? I know we haven’t known each other long at all but we’ve got a connection here. So I’ll ask you again. Do you trust me?”

  She bit her lip, hesitating. But then she looked hard at him, saw the earnest expression on his face and nodded.

  “I do.”

  “Okay then. Tell me about Darrell Franklin’s murder. Everything, including the condition of the body.”

  “I have no idea why you want to know, but it’s not a big secret. We just didn’t want to traumatize the general population. Okay, here it is.”

  Clint listened very carefully as she spun out everything she knew, even going back two years to when her nephews and two others had been killed. She told him about her research on the internet that led her to the Chupacabra theory and how she’d learned about the killings at other spots in the United States. She watched carefully for his reaction, ready to argue with him if he tried to tell her she was being ridiculous.