Katie flashed Jeremy a flirtatious smile as she cocked her head to the side. She ran the fingers of her left hand through her long, blonde hair, twisting it around and around. “So what was so important that you couldn’t text or call me about it? What’s with all the secrecy? You know if you just wanted to get me alone, you didn’t have to sound so mysterious or desperate even. I don’t hold out on you. Well, not for long, anyway.”
Jeremy shrugged his shoulders slightly as he momentarily gazed up and off into space. He seemed either bored, or very mentally preoccupied. Either way, Katie was beginning to get very irritated with him. She was almost shocked that her less than subtle attempt at signaling her intentions didn’t have the effect she’d hoped for.
“God, you are in a mood, aren’t you? Anyways, what’s so important that you couldn’t wait to tell me at school tomorrow?” Katie was ready and willing to take matters into her own hands. She rushed up to Jeremy and wrapped her arms and right leg around him as she kissed him passionately.
Jeremy responded with equal enthusiasm. After several long seconds, he gently backed her away from him and sighed. “Listen to me. I may be in trouble! I don’t know for sure.”
Katie could tell by Jeremy’s expression that play time was over, at least for the moment.
“Trouble? What do you mean trouble? What have you gotten yourself into now? You haven’t like fucking stole something, have you?”
“No. Give me a break! If you can shut up long enough, I’ll tell you why I need to talk, needed to see you.”
Katie stepped back and put her hands on her hips, her typical All right, let’s hear it pose.
“Okay, tell me what’s got you so weirded out.”
Jeremy cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Right, uh, where do I start? Just a couple days ago, I was up at the falls. I got this big idea to carve our names into that giant boulder just behind them. This is the only time of year that you can get to it. The water flow over the falls is at its lowest ‘cause all the melt off is pretty much over. Well shit, you know. Anyway …”
Katie interrupted with a playful laugh while batting her eyelids in a semi-mocking fashion. “Oh, how romantic! You know, you’re awful cute when you’re like this.”
“Like what?” Jeremy replied, beginning to get irritated.
“You know, kind of scared, and I don’t know, vulnerable I guess.”
“Yeah right. Whatever. Katie, listen to me. This is important.”
Katie stopped with the kidding and nodded her head. Jeremy could see that she was finally serious about listening
“Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, anyway, I made my way around the lake bank to the back side of the falls then over behind the falls to the huge rock. I got out my knife and began to scratch our names, but then I saw what I couldn’t believe. The giant rock was not where it normally is. I’ve been up there a million times, and right away, I could tell the fucker had moved just enough to allow me to enter a cave that I guess has always been there, hid behind it.”
Katie couldn’t help herself. “What do you mean entrance to a cave? There’s no cave. I‘ve been there before too, you know. Or did you forget skinny dipping last July?”
Jeremy held up his right hand, gesturing Katie to once again stop talking. “Look, you’re not listening. I tell you, there’s a cave entrance. But that’s not even the point. I mean, that’s not what I need to tell you.”
Katie took a deep breath and again rolled her eyes; she was growing more impatient by the moment.
“So what about this cave? It sounds sick. You want to show me, right? That’s what this is all about? I’m in …”
“No, Katie. I mean not now anyway. Look, inside the cave, I found two dead bodies—the bodies of a man and a woman. Probably the missing hikers. You know, the ones that all the hype’s been about.”
“Jeremy, you’re fucking kidding me, right?”
Jeremy looked her dead in the eyes, and with a poker straight, serious as a heart attack expression on his face, shook his head.
“God, Jeremy, did you tell your dad and Sheriff Bud?”
“Sort of. Well, what I did was, I called Dad’s work and left an anonymous tip about them. The bodies.”
Katie looked at Jeremy and shook her head as if to say, “Not a good idea!”
“Don’t worry, I was smart about it. I covered the phone with a towel and talked in a deep voice. Dad can’t ever know I was up there. With all the warning signs and road blocks that say stay out ‘cause of all the investigation and that earthquake thing. Well, I sort of promised my dad I wouldn’t go anywhere near there. But holy shit, Katie, you would not have believed all the blood. I mean those … those hikers were totally fubar. Man, they were torn to fucking shreds!”
The moment he’d uttered those words, Jeremy was instantly seized by a shudder that ran from the middle of his back up his neck. Before he regained his composure, Jeremy trembled for an instant. That was the first time Katie had ever seen Jeremy scared of anything.
“Oh my God, Jeremy. You’re telling me the truth, aren’t you?”
Jeremy mustered a small smile as he raised his right hand. “Yeah, nothing but the truth.”
“Jeremy, take me up there. We can get through all the barricades or roadblocks with your bike. Just like you did …”
“Oh man, Katie, I don’t know. There’s something up there in the woods, and it’s killing people. If something happened to you …”
Katie interrupted, “If something happened to me, my dad would kill you. Ha! Say, you got a smoke?”
“That was my last cigarette. I’m quitting. Got to get in shape for track. I never was much of a dedicated smoker like you anyway.”
They both laughed. Katie nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, I should have never got you started. Cigarettes, that is. But that’s not the only thing I’ve corrupted you with or introduced you to, now is it?” Katie playfully ran her hands across her breasts. As usual, Jeremy was convinced to do what Katie wanted.
As they climbed onto Jeremy’s bike, he handed Katie his spare helmet, one that bore her name in small letters across the back. She strapped it on, and they were off.
Chapter 11
Delilah - Part I
Ian’s tires squelched as his Jeep bounded into the Lakeview Bar and Grill parking lot. He wanted, or rather needed, a drink. After the day he’d had, not many would have blamed him.
Ian had seen enough that day to give a stronger man the willies. As he sat in the parking lot in his parked vehicle, he decided to check his wallet to see if his concealed weapons permit was expired. He sighed with relief when he saw that it was still good for another month. Ian then felt around under his seat for Ole Caretaker. Over the years, his little friend had helped get him out of more than a couple of dicey situations with indigenous wild life both foreign and domestic. But from what he’d seen in the cave, he figured he’d need a hell of a lot more stopping power than afforded by his small caliber pistol. But something is better than nothing, he figured, if the shit was ever to hit the proverbial fan.
Ian strapped his pistol and its ankle holster against his right leg and tugged his jeans back down over it. From that point on, he had no ambitions to go anywhere around those parts not packing heat. He then climbed out of his Jeep to go inside, intent on getting a bite to eat and a whole lot to drink.
He entered the restaurant through the side parking lot entrance, the one that led straight to the bar and immediately sat down at the first empty table. Not thirty seconds passed before Ian was greeted.
“You look like a man who could use a drink. What can I get you?”
Ian looked up at the waitress who was wearing a screen-printed t-shirt that had the name of the establishment artfully done up with a nice picture of Lake Merwin nestled among fir trees in the background. Her name was printed just below the logo. He remembered her from earlier that day. God, had it just been a few hours ago?
“Good evening, Sally. You got that right. I coul
d definitely use a drink!” They smiled respectfully at each other. “Give me a Jack-n-Coke. Light on the Coke and heavy on the Jack. And I’d love a menu. I’m as hungry as I’m thirsty. Well, nearly anyway.”
Sally once again smiled at Ian. “How about I bring you a couple shots of Jack, a Coke, and a third separate glass, one you can use to mix to taste. And I‘ll get you a menu, but if you like prime rib, it’s on special for the evening. Just fourteen ninety-nine for a twelve ounce, mashed potatoes, and veggies.”
“My God, Sally, perfect! You’re an angel. No need for that menu; you had me at prime rib!” Ian thought a moment about the wisdom of his choice to eat red meat, but his hunger outweighed the slight residual stomach squeamishness he was still experiencing.
Sally left to get Ian his drinks. After she dropped them off, the side bar door opened, and in came the one person Ian was hoping not to run into.
She walked into the room like a model on a catwalk. All eyes fixed on her every move. It wasn’t every day that anyone of any amount of celebrity visited their small burg. She glanced airily around and then walked straight up to Ian’s table, almost as if it had been scripted. “Have you room for company?” she asked Ian as if she’d just stepped out of some old black-n-white Bogart movie.
Ian was caught completely off guard. People were watching. Despite all of Sheriff Bud’s warnings, he couldn’t be overtly rude.
“Uh, sure. Please, uh, have a seat.”
Ian stood up and stepped a couple steps over to the opposite side of his table, pulled her chair back, and seated her like a gentlemen. Without hesitation, he returned to his seat and spoke.
“You’re that television reporter, aren’t you?” Ian already knew the answer. He just wanted her to say it.
“Yes, that’s right.” She extended her right arm across the table to shake hands. Ian responded accordingly. “Marsha Steward. And you are …?”
Ian smiled. She had a charm about her. “Ian McDermott. Pleasure to meet you.”
Marsha smiled back. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ian.”
Without as much as a ten-second delay, Marsha began going straight down the path that Ian feared most to travel.
“Say, I could beat around the bush, but I’m a direct person. Tell me, Ian, what’s your connection with the local Sheriff Department? That was you I saw with Harmony Falls’ finest this afternoon, wasn’t it?”
Ian knew lying, at least at this point, would be pointless. “Yeah, I was with the local sheriff today. I’m an independent investigator brought in to lend a hand. Though quite honestly, my services are probably not necessary. The local sheriff and his deputy have matters well at hand.”
Marsha looked suspiciously, directly, into Ian’s eyes. “Do they, now? I wonder … Say, that was pretty cute how you all played me and my cameraman today.”
Ian tried to muster a genuine look of confusion though he knew exactly where she was heading with that statement.
“Played? I don’t understand.”
Marsha smiled a cunning smile. “Oh Ian, I think you do. I mean the misdirection. That was played very well. My cameraman-driver is very good at what he does. You all lost us with apparent ease. Granted, the locals know these hills no doubt like the backs of their hands. I was not offended, mind you. I realize the press isn’t always popular among law enforcement. But understand the people have the right to know that the investigation of those missing tourists is being conducted in the best possible fashion. And it’s my job to report the news. Given the profile of the family of the missing persons, this story is very important to my … It’s important!”
Ian mixed his Jack Daniels and Coke, looked into Marsha’s eyes, and said, “Uh, say, can I buy you a drink or something to eat? I’ve ordered my dinner. It should be coming up in minutes. You hungry? I’ll get Sally over here to take your order.”
Marsha replied with a chuckle in her voice while reflecting a semi-flirtatious grin. “My. Already on a first-name basis with the local gals. I’m impressed!”
Ian continued, attempting to reflect little emotion or expression of any particular interest one way or the other in his voice, “Yeah, well anyway, you hungry?”
“Yes, yes I am. Thank you. And I’d love a glass of chardonnay. What did you order?”
“I ordered their house special: prime rib.”
Marsha smiled a genuine smile. “That sounds lovely. I’ll have the same!”
Chapter 12
The Rock
Jeremy and Katie finally made it to the small dirt parking area at Little Merwin, a small mountain lake not much more than a very large pond, which was known as a picturesque area that boasted the beautiful Harmony Falls. It served as a favored swimming hole for both locals and tourists during hot summer days. Jeremy’s motor-bike’s headlight had been dancing around wildly from the pocked and pitted dirt and gravel road that led to the small lake tributary. From that point, Little Merwin flowed down the mountain to the valley as a creek, eventually emptying into Lake Merwin less than ten miles below.
“God, let me off this thing. My ass is killing me,” Katie said as she nearly sprang off the back end of the motorcycle.
Jeremy laughed at her as she rubbed her backside. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout all the bumps. But hey, if you need me to rub the kinks out of your ass, no problem.”
“Yeah, you wish! Say, that’s not a bad idea!” Katie exclaimed as she began unbuttoning her blouse while walking slowly towards Jeremy. She sashayed her hips to and fro in an exaggerated, cat-in-heat fashion intended to generate maximum effect, and it worked.
After several minutes of intense petting and making out, Jeremy managed to muster up enough self-control to at least temporarily override his glandular-charged passion. He slipped just out of her grasp, took a very deep breath of brisk mountain night air, and said, “Oh my God, Katie, holy shit. Slow down! This is not why we’re here. I mean, this is great, but …”
“What’s wrong, Jeremy? Don’t I do it for ya?”
“Fuck, you kidding? It’s just—it’s just I don’t want us to be up here any longer than necessary. Come on. Let’s go check out the cave.”
That was enough to get Katie to slow down with her immediate agenda. She began buttoning her blouse. “Fine. Your loss! All right, let’s go see your stupid, imaginary cave. You better have not got me all the way up here just to see our initials you carved in some fucking rock!”
Jeremy took the lead with Katie one step behind him as they made their way around the small lake bank over to the falls. Jeremy pointed ahead.
“See Katie, look. Now tell me there’s no cave!”
“Oh my God, Jeremy, you weren’t making this all up. Let’s go inside.”
“Fuck. You’re kidding, right? Shit, there could be a bear or cougar in there! Not a good idea!”
Jeremy saw the begging look in Katie’s eyes, the look he could never say no to. He hated it when she gave that look.
“All right, all right. But stay close and go slow! It’s gonna be pitch dark in there. All we got is this one stupid small LED flashlight. We’re lucky there’s nearly a full moon tonight, or we’d have had trouble just getting up here.”
“Okay, Jeremy, whatever you say. But let’s go in!”
Chapter 13
Delilah - Part II
“Ian, would you excuse me? I need to visit the little girl’s room.”
“Uh yeah, of course.” Ian considered for an instant standing up as she backed herself from the table. But he decided otherwise. There were limits to his practice of table manners, especially formalities geared towards impressing his initially unwanted female companionship. Though, if he was completely honest with himself, it was becoming increasingly easy to endure as the booze began kicking in.
Ian maintained enough presence of mind to remind himself of what Marsha no doubt really wanted from him: the exclusive inside story of the now publicly acknowledged recovery of the missing hiker couple. What he didn’t know is that she didn’t need to use t
he restroom or powder her nose at all. What she did need to do was use her cell phone.
“Hi, hi Tom. Say, I might have the break we’ve been looking for! Let’s just say I’m working on it as we speak. Where am I? I’m at that little dump of a restaurant/bar down the road from our motel.”
“You’re where?” Tom had been napping.
“That’s not important. Just have all the equipment loaded in the van and be available for anything! We’re on stand-by alert. You understand?”
“Yeah, yeah. Stand-by, ready for anything. Got it.”
Marsha continued, “That’s right. You want me to bring you back something to eat later?”
Tom replied, “No, no. I grabbed a couple of hot dogs from the little gas-n-go up the street ‘bout an hour ago.”
Marsha smiled, relieved to hear that she didn’t have to pick any food up for Tom. “Okay then. Bye!”
She checked herself in the bathroom mirror, applied a little lip gloss, and fluffed her thick, apparently natural red hair. She was well aware that she was a stunningly attractive thirty-something woman and used it to her advantage. Once she was done with her self-appraisal, she proceeded to return down the hall to the bar where she smiled flirtatiously across the room at Ian as she strolled towards him. She exuded a nearly palatable aura of sexuality, one that held the attention of every male present. To Ian, her jade green eyes could penetrate hardened steel.
Ian knew being there with her, talking to her, could be real trouble. He’d actually considered leaving while she was in the bathroom, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Their prime ribs and drinks had just been delivered, and he couldn‘t escape the fact that she was beautiful.
Marsha sat down at their table, giving him a seemingly genuine smile as she said, “Now that does look yummy! Who would have thought this place would serve such a beautiful prime rib dinner. Ian, I am impressed!”
Ian seriously doubted that anything shy of a five-star restaurant could possibly impress his guest. Regardless, he couldn’t help but smile back at her. The dinners did look very good, and she looked gorgeous!
Loup-Garou: The Beast of Harmony Falls (The Ian McDermott, Ph.D., Paranormal Investigator Series Book 1) Page 6