Chapter Eleven

The black SUV parked outside of the Caprice Theatre around noon. Spilling from its doors was a family that was eager to stretch their legs after a long drive. The children whined of hunger while the wife marveled at the quaintness of the town. Exiting the vehicle last was the large and brooding husband who one could tell was battling a four alarm hangover.

“Oh, Bryan, it’s so nice here! Why couldn’t we have moved to this town?”

Bryan adjusted his mirrored sunglasses before slipping on a worn and dated Minnesota North Stars baseball hat to shield his bald head from the radiating sun. He looked to his adoring wife wanting to lash out, but he held himself in reserve. “The job is in Cransen, we’re moving to Cransen.”

“I know, but I just love the feel this of this town,” she implored.

“Daddy I want McDonald’s!” The oldest daughter begged.

“We’re gonna find something really good! Maybe they’ve got a good sushi place…anyone up for some sushi?” Bryan said to his daughters excitedly, attempting to conceal his pulsating temple.

“No sushi in this town; we’re more meat eaters around here,” Terri Bailey offered as she approached the unsuspecting family.

“Oh, darn girls. Could you recommend a place that these little monsters would like?” the wife asked.

“Of course. Me-So-Fatso is down the road, just your typical burger place though. Or you might try Concordia Pizza. They just opened, but I hear they are pretty good,” Terri sold to the family.

“What’ll it be girls…burgers or pizza?” Mom asked.

“Pizza!” the girls shouted in unison.

“Thank you miss…”

“Bailey, Terri Bailey, soon to be Bonner. I own the thrift store here in New Haven. We’ve got the best deals on all the quality pre-owned items you could ever need. Stop by after your lunch!”

“I’m Frankie and this is my husband, Bryan. I wish we had more time. My husband just got a job in Cransen with the Sheriff’s department; he starts tomorrow and we still have a long drive ahead of us,” Frankie said.

“Oh, my, that is a long drive! You folks should stay here in New Haven; we’re always looking for good family types-especially ones with sweet, sweet children.” Terri grinned while running her fingers along the cheek of the youngest.

“Frankie!” Bryan bellowed, already halfway across the street on his way to the pizza place.

“You’ll have to excuse us Terri,” Frankie replied politely.

“I understand, love. You take care of that dear family of yours and maybe one day you can move to New Haven,” Terri again suggested.

“If only!” Frankie said while taking her girls’ hands before dashing across the street to catch up with her husband who had already disappeared into the pizzeria.

Terri stood on the sidewalk waving to the girls who kept looking back at the old woman, as though they could sense something wrong. Terri licked her chops showing a bit of fang, but only for a moment. It was long enough for the youngest to catch a glimpse.

“Mommy, look!” the girl said in shock as her mother dragged her across the street by her arm.

“I know, aren’t the hanging baskets beautiful!” Frankie replied, paying no attention to what her daughter was really pointing to.

“Playing ambassador, are we?” Tim Waters asked, catching Terri slightly off-guard.

“It’s so nice to see the children, the sweet, sweet children.” Terri smirked still looking in the direction of Concordia Pizza.

“The tourist children sure help make the town feel real; it brings back some of our innocence—I think so anyways,” Tim said, making conversation.

Snapped out of her lustful daze Terri shot back, “It’s a fucking tease is what it is!”

Tim bellowed out laughing, having never heard Terri use foul language before. “There is such thing as too much of a good thing. We all love the youthful taste but we can’t have it all the time. It would be like having turkey more than once a year. Sure it’s good and you look forward to it-but you get sick of it if you eat it too often.”

“Waters, you’re so full of shit,” Terri replied, rolling her eyes and continuing her walk up the street.

Tim laughed to himself, remembering the old woman that she had been. Terri was now a killer who could go on a murderous rampage if left to her own devices. Contained in New Haven, Terri would follow the rules, outside of their sanctuary she could be ruthless; her potential was there.

“What’s the name of those hospital guys?” The question was asked from behind Tim.

“What?” Tim asked, swinging around to find Dave Cronin approaching him holding an iced coffee.

“The nut house guys. What were their names?” Dave asked again.

“Riverview? Giddon and Kimbel…why?” Tim asked.

“Doctor Gagnon called me and said one of the Riverview guys wants to meet me. She says he has some questions with one of his old cases and he thought I might be able to help.”

“You? Are you sure?” Tim asked.

“Yeah! They asked specially for me, Dave Cronin.”

“Didn’t they say why?” Tim pressed.

“All they told her was that they had some questions about survivor guilt. I guess they want to know how it feels to be the sole survivor of a werewolf attack!” Dave joked.

“Dave! Too many tourists around, keep it down,” Tim demanded. “I still don’t know why they’d want you. How do they even know about you? We kept the whole thing pretty quiet. Just watch what you say around them, okay?”

“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? I’ll tell them whatever I damn well please!” Dave said.

“I’m the number two man around here and our chief priority is maintaining the secret, so I can and will tell you what to do when it comes to the secret!” Tim answered in authority.

“That reminds me! Why the hell are you number two? I was second made-it should be me,” Dave asked with an emerging vein on his neck.

“You were an accident! I know that’s hard for you to wrap your brain around, but you weren’t meant to be. The fact that Darwin has allowed you to even exist should command your unwavering loyalty and respect,” Tim lectured.

“But I’m number two.”

“Number two! Darwin is likely not the first werewolf, therefore you aren’t the second. You might be his first made, but that’s all. What the hell do you care, you’ve got a good thing going in New Haven. Trust me, being the number two man isn’t all that fun.”

Dave attempted to stir up the hornets’ nest. “You’re not even number two; everyone knows you’re doing most everything now. Aren’t you replacing Darwin?”

Tim answered, “Darwin is still in charge. I am the right hand man and I make decisions based upon our agreed ideology, that’s what the vice does.”

“Darwin is too fucking distracted by that Cardwen bitch,” Dave huffed.

“Is it the fact he found love or that you haven’t that bothers you?” Tim asked, cutting to the heart of the issue.

“She’s human. He hasn’t turned her, he hasn’t killed her and the moon is coming. If we’re so worried about the goddamned secret how come he gets to walk around with his loose end?” Dave asked.

The question was a valid one. Even Tim had noticed Darwin’s distraction since Mary’s arrival in New Haven. The two had been attached at the hips and hands and not a moment went by when the two weren’t together. Tim had not dared ask Darwin his intentions, or even if Mary had been infected yet. He trusted his friend to do the right thing, but Mary was becoming more than just consuming in Darwin’s everyday life –she was even answering the phone in the Mayor’s office in Darwin’s absence.

“Speak of the devil,” Dave uttered under his breath.

“Hey Tim, how’s it going? Dave.” With his anchor in tow Darwin acknowledged Dave in order of rank…last.

Mary stated in pride as she jumped on Darwin’s shoulder, giving him a half hug, “You know Darwin was just showing me the new Hadamar Wellness Retreat. I think it’s simply fantastic that your town can be so progressive in offering a humane center for the mentally deficient. And to think that such progress came from such a young mind!”

“There was more to it than me, Mary.” Darwin chuckled awkwardly. “She’s putting me on a pedestal…it’s embarrassing.”

“You must learn to take credit for your achievements! You’re an amazing thinker, among other things!” Mary replied with a coy expression.

“Oh, Yeah, like what?” Darwin grinned ear to ear and slid his hand onto her ass.

“Like that thing you do with your tongue.” She chuckled devilishly while Darwin’s fingers weaved their way deeper into the crack of her buttocks that was only shielded by a tight pair of denim shorts.

“Okay then.” Dave snorted.

“What’s the matter Dave?” Darwin asked with his perma-grin planted squarely on his face. Receiving no answer, Darwin turned his partial attention to Tim.

“What do you two have planned for the afternoon?” Tim asked politely.

Mary interrupted, “We’re having a picnic. I made some sandwiches and homemade chocolate chip cookies! Darwin wants to show me this hot spring he found in the woods and have lunch there; skinny dipping anyone?”

“What’s a man to do?” Darwin laughed, squeezing her ass tightly causing her to yelp.

“Frankie, let’s go! I want to get back on the road; the kids can eat their pizza slice in the car!” Bryan shouted as he crossed the street towards the lycan leader.

“Bryan, can’t we look around a bit? We just got here!” Frankie pleaded.

“I have to work in the morning and I don’t must be bagged my first day on the job. I promise we can come back here some other time; I agree, pretty town…now in the car!” Bryan corralled.

“Welcome to New Haven, folks enjoying your stay?” Darwin asked like a diligent leader.

“Sure kid. Great time,” Bryan replied.

“Well, you enjoy the rest of your trip! Tim, Dave!” Darwin politely nodded excusing himself from the human who had just offended him in a way that would have meant death if they had been in private.

“See you around Mister Mayor!” Tim hollered as Darwin and Mary walked away.

“Mayor. Huh!” Bryan chuckled, “strange, fucking place.”

The rushed family piled back into the SUV and pulled away seconds later. Frankie looked at all the shops that went by and she commented how it would have been nice to go through some of them. On their way out of downtown the family passed the thrift store where Terri Bonner waved and licked her chops at the passing children.

At the four way stop before turning east to leave town, a young pup on his bike plowed into the side of the SUV. Bryan dashed out of the vehicle and was at the child’s side before Frankie even knew what happened.

“What the fuck?” Bryan shouted as he placed his hand on the shoulder of the child who cowered next to the wheel.

The child snapped at Bryan and quickly grabbed his bike before riding away back down Main Street. The boy looked back in anger at Bryan, but said nothing.

Frankie reassured her husband, “That was strange. I guess he was all right. Anyway he hit us babe, it wasn’t your fault, we were stopped.”

“I know!” he barked. “Little fucker bit me when I tried to help him; drew blood too.” Bryan showed his bleeding finger to his wife as he walked to the driver’s side to depart New Haven.

“Poor baby! You want me to kiss it better?” Frankie mocked lovingly.

“Let’s go, you can do all the kissing you want when we get to Cransen.”