Body Bags & Blarney

by Shaw, J. D.

  “That’s what really worries me.” Vivienne stifled a yawn. “That and the lack of sleep I’ve been getting.”

  “Why don’t we go see if Joshua is ready to go home?” Kathy asked. “I can’t afford to burn the midnight oil anymore.”

  “Good idea.” They stepped out of the waiting room and headed for the nurse’s station that was in the center of the hall. “I’m really not liking the fact that some of the staff here are getting to know me on a first name basis.”

  One of the nurses passed by and smiled at them both. “Hello Vivienne.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears.” Kathy replied and then put her hand over her mouth. “I know. Bad choice of words.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sunday afternoon was usually spent relaxing on the sofa, clipping coupons out of the newspaper while Joshua watched a game on the television. Having been given the okay that Hunter was going to be fine, Joshua agreed to leave the hospital shortly after one in the morning. Which meant that they both slept in well past their usual wake up time, until both cats created such a ruckus about not being fed breakfast that they had no other choice but to toss back the covers and face the day.

  Vivienne skipped making breakfast and instead decided to use up some of the luncheon meat in her fridge to make club sandwiches for lunch. She pulled out her trusty non-stick skillet and plopped half a package of bacon strips in to fry up. As the meat sizzled and popped, she was thankful that the automatic timer on the coffee maker had brewed a pot without her having to do anything but find some mugs to pour it into. It also happened to be one of the rare Christmas gifts from Nora that she didn’t have to exchange or return after the holidays. After all, who really needed a miniature donut maker that could turn into a pancake griddle with the simple twist of a knob?

  “Morning.” Joshua padded into the kitchen wearing a pair of football-patterned sleep pants, which also happened to be a holiday gift from Nora, and a simple white tee shirt.

  “You mean afternoon.” Vivienne corrected him. “It’s twelve-thirty.”

  He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, sniffing the air. “What are you making?”

  “Turkey and bacon club sandwiches on sourdough.” Vivienne walked over to the toaster and plopped four pieces of bread in. “You want them lightly toasted, right?”

  “Yes.” Joshua picked the newspaper off the table and pulled the sections apart until he found the sports pages. “Thank you.”

  Vivienne moved back over the stove and gave the strips of bacon a poke with her cooking tongs. “There isn’t anything mentioned about Father William in the paper today.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Joshua scratched at his full head of hair that wasn’t all that terribly messy for having been tossed and turned on with a fitful sleep. “It probably means that their still investigating.”

  “Good.” Vivienne added as she turned the bacon pieces over in the pan. “Because I have some things to tell you, but I thought it best to wait until we both had a clear head before doing so.”

  “I had a feeling you would.” He smiled at her. “But before we go into that, can we eat first? I’m actually quite hungry.”

  “Sure.” She could smell the bread toasting away. “I could use something in my stomach besides coffee anyway.” She poured a mug for Joshua and walked it over to the table where he was reading an article under a picture of a player making a jump shot in a local basketball game.

  “Thanks, honey.” He smiled back.

  She leaned down so he could give her a kiss. “Is there ever a month when there isn’t some sports game going on?”

  Joshua pointed to the article. “Listen to this.” He pulled the paper up closer to his face. “Cayuga Cove High School basketball team pulls miracle shot in last five seconds to win game.”

  “How big of a miracle are we talking?” Vivienne asked, suddenly interested in a sports story for possibly the first time in her life. But it wasn’t the game-winning strategy that had her attention. It was the supposed miracle shot.

  Joshua continued to read the article in the local sports section. “Cayuga Cove senior, Heath Ganton, pulled off an amazing full court shot after a heated home game with rival, Ithaca High School, in the dazzling final seconds of the game. Winning 66-63, Cayuga Cove advances into the final tournament with high hopes for the first victory in over a decade.”

  Vivienne hurried over to the toaster and popped the bread out, lightly-browned just as she had hoped for. “So tell me, how hard is that shot to make?”

  Joshua paused for a moment. “Well, I don’t know the exact odds, but if I had to guess I’d say probably one in a hundred.”

  “How often does something like that happen in high school basketball?”

  “It doesn’t even happen that often in the NBA.” Joshua perked up, finally having a chance to talk sports at the kitchen table. “So, you can see why it made the front page of the sports section today.”

  As she returned to the pan to check on the bacon, she nearly tripped over Tommy who was curling around her ankles begging for a taste. “Tommy, go into the living room and find something to do.”

  Joshua lowered the paper and raised an eyebrow at her. “You don’t really expect him to follow your orders, do you?”

  Vivienne carefully scooted around him and pulled the bacon onto a paper towel lined plate to cool off. “No, but it makes me feel better to say it.”

  Joshua laughed. “Tommy, leave your mother alone.”

  Vivienne placed some more bread in the toaster and opened the plastic container that contained the sliced deli turkey she had purchased a few days ago at the Monarch Grocery. “Here, take this and go in peace.” She lowered a slice to his face.

  Tommy Cat snagged the turkey with his front paw and knocked it to the floor. With a sudden swoop, he gobbled it into his mouth and pranced away with his hard-won prize.

  As if on cue, Sammy Cat sauntered up from the basement and immediately let out a loud meow that he knew he had missed something special.

  “Here, take this and join your brother.” Vivienne dangled a slice of turkey down in front of him which he snagged into his mouth and darted away before she could change her mind and try and get it back.

  “You’re setting something in motion here that isn’t good.” Joshua warned her as he sipped some of his coffee. “I mean, how many people buy fresh deli meat for their pets?”

  “I can’t help it.” Vivienne opened the refrigerator and pulled out a container of butter lettuce. “I’m just a softie when it comes to furry things.”

  Joshua paused for a moment and smiled. “Does that include me?”

  She closed the refrigerator door and pointed to the calendar on the freezer section. Her finger stopped on Sunday, March 16th where she had penciled in ‘full moon’. “Only on special occasions.”

  He laughed and went back to his newspaper. Putting the sports pages away, he opened the local news section and whistled. “I’ll be damned.”

  Vivienne stacked the first sandwich together and swabbed the top slice of bread with some mayonnaise. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you found.”

  “Meteorologists warn that a weather system could set up for a Nor’easter to strike the New England coast next week. Potential for heavy snow in local area prompts town services to prepare ahead for the worst case scenario.” Joshua finished reading.

  “How much could we get from that?”

  Joshua shrugged. “I have no idea, but I’m pretty sure that means we’re going to have a snow emergency familiarization meeting in the near future. Mayor Pembroke hates the snow and she always wants to plan ahead if there is even a slim chance of us getting hit.”

  “She’s had a ton of experience planning high society events in New York. She knows it’s best to prepare for the worst.” Vivienne acknowledged. “I can’t say that I disagree with her logic.”

  “Would you like to sit in on some of the meetings at the station?” Joshua groaned. “The highlight is the Po
werPoint presentations on proper snow removal techniques to reduce workplace fatigue and accidents. Need I say more?”

  “No, thank you.” Vivienne replied as she brought a platter with two triple-decker club sandwiches over to the table and sat down. “But if we have the misfortune of getting hit with a ton of snow, I’d rather the town have a good plan in place to deal with it.”

  Joshua grumbled as he took his sandwich off the platter and took a hearty bite out of the corner. After chewing for a few moments, he nodded back happily. “Tasty.”

  After eating their lunch, they each grabbed a hot shower and slipped into their comfortable weekend clothing which consisted of well-worn denim jeans and sweatshirts. Vivienne followed Joshua into the living room where he glanced one last time at the game scores on television before turning it off to give her his full attention.

  “I’m ready to hear what it is you want to talk about.” Joshua eased into the loveseat in the living room.

  Vivienne sat down next to him. “I don’t think that all these random acts of luck are all that random.”

  “Are we dealing with witchcraft?” Joshua’s posture stiffened lightly.

  “I don’t really know for sure.” Vivienne wished she had some sort of proof to show him, but deep down all she really had was a gut instinct. “I don’t think this is the work of another witch in town. The Council would be involved if that were the case.”

  Joshua shifted uncomfortably in the loveseat. “So, what exactly can we do to investigate?”

  “I’m glad you asked because I think the place we should start would be with your brother.”

  “Hunter? Why?”

  Vivienne was pleased to see that her suggestion hadn’t shut him down emotionally. His eyes hadn’t narrowed, nor did he fidget with his thumbs. She had learned his subconscious tell signs over their nearly six months together. “He’s one of the wild cards in play with all this.”

  “That’s true.” Joshua nodded back. “Doctor Abrams is going to discharge him at three o’clock today. You can come with me to the hospital.”

  “That’s perfect.” Vivienne let out a sigh of relief. “Is he staying at the Brass Cricket Inn?”

  “I don’t know.” Joshua shrugged. “Given the high prices for a room, I doubt it.”

  “Then where?” Vivienne wondered.

  “He probably just camped out in the woods somewhere.”

  “In this weather?” Vivienne shuddered. “Is he crazy?”

  “He has wolf blood running through his veins.” Joshua reminded her. “He’s very comfortable and quite capable of staying deep in the woods for a long period of time. If it gets too cold, he’ll just shift into wolf form.”

  Vivienne chose that moment to probe just a tad deeper into the mystery of his lineage. She knew virtually nothing about werewolf family or societal structure. Now seemed as good as time as any to get some long burning questions answered. “Is everyone in your family a werewolf?”

  There was a pause before he answered. He began to fiddle with his thumbs. “Yes, but it’s rather complicated to explain to someone who isn’t.”

  “I’m sure it is.” Vivienne kept her voice soft. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but you know quite a bit about witchcraft and my lineage. I was hoping to know a little bit about yours before meeting Hunter.”

  “I can understand that.” Joshua inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We’re just not used to talking about ourselves to others. Staying in the shadows is what we do best.”

  “But you’re not like that.” Vivienne countered. “You are very outgoing, friendly, and make friends quite easily in town.”

  “It’s part of my job.” Joshua replied. “But, you are right in that sense that I never quite fit in with my own kind growing up. I was told that being too curious led to people finding out about us, which in in turn could be dangerous for everyone in the pack.”

  Vivienne reached out and grabbed his hands. “That’s one of the things that I love about you.”

  “Where you see something good, the werewolves see weakness.” He spoke softly. “It’s partly the reason why I haven’t had much contact with my family.”

  “Well, that’s their loss if you ask me.” Vivienne almost felt a bit sorry for bringing the entire subject up. “I can’t imagine what it’s like not having a close relationship with your family members.”

  He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “That’s what I love about you. Even though you and Nora have your differences, there is this bond between you that I never felt with my own family. Being close to you, helps to fill that void.”

  “You don’t have to spill everything to me at once.” Vivienne smiled. “I’ll keep the questions brief.”

  He smiled back. “Ask away.”

  Vivienne felt it best to start with general questions that avoided direct info about specific family members. “What exactly is a pack family?”

  “That’s our group in the area where we live.” Joshua answered quite easily. “Each pack is composed of families. There can be as few as a dozen to several hundred pack members that each stay within their claimed territory.”

  “Your pack has claimed Indian Lake?”

  Joshua’s posture began to relax a bit more as he talked about his home. “It’s a very rural place. Lots of woodlands and open spaces to run about in. It’s a small town where people can leave each other alone and in peace.”

  “It sounds lovely.” Vivienne replied.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I love living in Cayuga Cove.” Joshua continued. “But there are times when things get so hectic here, I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the tranquility that I grew up with.”

  “So when it’s a full moon, do you all turn into wolves and run together in the woods?”

  “The two-natured gene is only present in males.” Joshua did his best to explain. “The women of the species are the protectors of hearth and home. They cannot shift, but they have the unique ability to communicate with us while we are in full wolf form.”

  “I never would have guessed that.” Vivienne was fascinated. “I mean, it makes sense from an evolutionary point of view. They literally keep the home fire burning when the moon is full and the men run wild.”

  “When it comes to werefoxes, it’s the females of the species who are the two-natured and the males who are the caretakers. It’s generally a taboo subject to question the structure of societal roles.”

  “That’s good to know.” Vivienne filed the information away in her memory. Should the time ever come when she would meet Joshua’s family, she would save herself from offending them with taboo subjects. She was about to ask another question when her cell phone went off. Vivienne glanced at the coffee table and saw Kathy’s name on the caller display screen. “Leave a voice mail.” She muttered.

  “You can take the call.” Joshua added. “I don’t mind.”

  “No.” Vivienne shook her head. “She can leave a message.” The phone went silent and then her house phone rang. “I don’t believe this.”

  Joshua let out a little laugh. “So much for a quiet Sunday.”

  Vivienne rolled her eyes. “This is our time right now. I’m going to be selfish and keep it that way.”

  Joshua pulled her close to him in an embrace. “Whatever you say.” He began to nuzzle her neck.

  The answering machine went off and then Kathy’s voice blasted from the speaker. “Vivienne, pick up the phone. You’re not going to believe this but I’ve been robbed.”

  Joshua looked up in alarm. “What did she just say?”

  Kathy’s message went on. “Someone broke into the store and stole the demonstration jewelry from the display case. I called the police and they’re on the way.”

  Vivienne jumped off the loveseat and hurried over to the telephone on the other side of the living room. She picked up the handset. “Kathy, I’m here.”

  Joshua’s cell phone suddenly chimed with a text message. He read it and looked at Vivienne. “Hu
nter checked himself out of the hospital. He told me not to worry, but he has something important to do.”

  Vivienne nodded. “Just a minute, Kathy.” She turned to Joshua. “Is that wise given the injuries he had?”

  Joshua typed a short message on his phone and sent it to Hunter. “I told him that he’s in no condition to go chasing criminals alone.”

  Vivienne listened as Kathy described the damage inflicted to her store by the robbers. She was about to ask for more details when Joshua tapped her on the shoulder. “What is it?”

  Joshua’s phone beeped again as another text message came through. ”I just got a message from another number.” He raised an eyebrow as he stared at the screen. “Mind your own business, Deputy. This doesn’t concern you.”

  “Is the number local?” Vivienne asked.

  “It’s area code 305.” Joshua shrugged and opened the browsing software in his phone. He searched for the answer and found it within seconds. “It’s from Miami.”

  “How did they get your personal cell number?” Vivienne anxiously asked.

  “I don’t know, but they’re messing with the wrong guy.” Joshua furiously typed a text message back to Hunter. “I’m telling him to wait for me and not do anything foolish.”

  “Good.” Vivienne replied.

  Hunter texted his reply a few seconds later. Joshua took a deep breath before reading it. The urgent tone in his voice relaxed. “He said he’ll meet me down at Clara’s in fifteen minutes.”

  Vivienne wanted to go with him, but she couldn’t leave Kathy at a time like this. “You go and find out what Hunter’s up to. I’m going to head down to Kathy’s store and see what I can do.”

  “I’ll call you as soon as I find out what’s going on.” Joshua dashed off toward the front entry where they kept their car keys. “After I meet Hunter, we’ll stop over at my office and run that Miami phone number.”

  Vivienne turned her attention back to the telephone. “Kathy, I’m going to come right over. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She hung up the phone and raced over to Joshua as he was stuffing his feet into a pair of tan work boots. “This is what I was talking about earlier. There is something very strange going on.”