“I’ll be back,” I pat him on his scarred cheek and turn to sprint up the steep hill while my adrenaline is still pumping through my veins. I turn at the top to make sure he’s okay but he isn’t there.
Stranger Danger has scarpered quietly into the bush.
I can’t comprehend that kind of behavior but I don’t stick around to think about it too much. I run back home, rats and all, to lock the doors and dive under the covers where it’s safe.
Chapter Six
Interrogation
Diesel knocked on the scarred wooden door. David Meyer’s cabin was small; one roomed and quaint. There was a rusty water can out front with a pair of galoshes which gave the impression that David was a gardener but there were no flowers nearby, no vegetable patch, nothing. There were weeds creeping up the trees closest to the house.
David Meyer was the resident bad boy. He had given Diesel some trouble with stolen goods and unnecessary rough housing during Shits in the full moon. But he was a petty criminal, and Diesel didn’t think he’d go so far as to facilitate hunting of his own kind for money. But then again, David had a chip on his shoulder against Shifter’s no one else had.
Diesel knocked again and was satisfied when he heard a shuffling from inside the house. David opened the door a second later. He was wearing a raggedy bathrobe that was worn down in places. He looked beleaguered and had bags under his puffy eyes.
“Long night?” Diesel asked casually.
“Yeah, so?” David asked. Diesel wanted to smack the hostility out of him.
“Where were you yesterday afternoon?” David asked.
“How is that any of your business?” David asked folding his arms. Diesel noticed that he kept his right leg slightly elevated from the floor, a hairs breadth.
“You were seen in Waterville Hotel with some unsavory people, David,” Diesel said noting the dull hooded eyes.
“Yeah, so?” David said again.
“What were you doing there David? What did they want?” Diesel asked.
“Is this about some crime that happened?” David asked. “Were those people robbed?”
“No,” Diesel had to admit.
“Well then what are you coming to me for? I was sleeping!”
“What happened to your leg?” Diesel asked. David hesitated. Diesel saw him coloring up and with his red hair it did not look cute.
“I fell down the ravine during a Shift last night,” he mumbled. “I must have sprained my ankle.”
“You should have that looked at,” Diesel said lightly.
“You think?” David sneered.
“What do you know about a hunt during the Blood Moon?” Diesel asked.
“That we all Shift and hunt as a pack, or try to at least,” David shrugged, “the young ones don’t have much control at this stage do they?”
“No,” Diesel said his patience fraying by the minute. “I meant a hunt where Shifters are prey.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” David said and he looked like he honestly meant it. Diesel wanted to believe he was innocent. After what his father had done it was impossible not to feel David’s contempt for the community he lived in but Diesel hoped it didn’t extend to wanting to see them all dead.
“Just a rumor going around that there are hunters in Waterville who want to hunt Shifter’s during the Blood Moon,” Diesel said casually, “Ramsey saw a man named Grim who’s famous for hunting indigenous people around the world. And the waitress, Courtney, from Pig Out saw you there.”
“Yeah well they wanted to know if they could rent my cabin for a few days of corporate retreat,” David said. “I told them it’s a pig sty and not big enough for their party so they can shove it.”
“Are you sure?” Diesel asked relived.
“What the hell, man!” David swore. “You think I would take money from some psycho who wants to kill people?”
“No I don’t which is why I came to see you,” Diesel said changing tack. “I wanted to know what you thought about Ramsey’s claim. Do you think the men in the Waterville Hotel are capable of what he thinks they’re capable of?”
David seemed to consider. He made a great act of it, squinting, his eyes taking on a faraway look, his finger taping his chin. He shook his head.