Werewolf Of FeverPeak

Chapter 9 - Casket Made for Two

Detective Summers was halfway through her third cup of coffee, her mind still buzzing from the tension of the interrogation with Clara Bucker. She couldn't shake the frustration gnawing at her. Everything about Clara screamed guilty, but Aiden had been holding back, defending her like he knew something she didn't. Scrolling through reports on her computer, trying to distract herself, her phone rang. The screen lit up with the name of Detective Harris from the neighboring district. A knot formed in her stomach as she answered.

"Harris, just because we had a few drinks at the police ball doesn't mean I'm on your speed dial," she quipped, leaning back in her chair.

Harris's voice came through, tense and urgent. "This isn't a social call, Summers. We've got a situation. Two bodies found in the woods, off the hiking trail near Owl Creek. Hikers stumbled across them this morning. I'm sending you the details now, but from the IDs, it's Sam Whitman and Jenna Adams-the teens reported missing two days ago."

Summers swore under her breath. Sam and Jenna had been on her radar, but the chaos of the Bucker case had taken priority. The news hit her hard. They were just kids. "I'll head down right away," she said, grabbing her jacket. "You think it's connected to the Buckers?"

"I wouldn't rule it out," Harris replied, his tone grave. "Just get here. You need to see this. It's bad."

"I'm on my way," she said, ending the call. She hurried over to Aiden's desk, hoping to pull him in, but his chair was empty. Frustrated, she dialed his number, letting it ring out. No answer. "Damn it, Aiden," she muttered as she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat of her car.

Reluctantly, she headed to the crime scene alone. The hike to the site wasn't long, but the woods around Owl Creek had always unnerved Summers. The trees, old and gnarled, loomed overhead, their shadows swallowing the trail. Everything was eerily quiet. Too quiet. When Summers reached the clearing, officers had already taped off the area. Harris was there, speaking with the coroner, while two bodies lay on the ground, half-covered by tarps. Even from a distance, she could see how mangled they were, like something had torn through them with a disturbing amount of force.

She approached slowly, pulling on her gloves. "Alright, Harris, let's get to it. What do we know?" Harris glanced up, his face pale and drawn. "No Aiden with you? Loose cannon, that one," he muttered. Then he shook his head and got back to business. "Hikers found them about two hours ago. We were on-site quickly, but there's no sign of anyone else. No footprints, no tire tracks, nothing. Just the bodies. And... well, they were mauled."

Summers crouched next to the bodies, pulling back the tarp just enough to see Sam Whitman's face-what was left of it. His features were torn apart, skin shredded like paper. Jenna's body was no better, limbs bent unnaturally, her chest ripped open. "Jesus," she whispered, swallowing back the bile. "It looks like an animal attack. Any idea what could've done this?"

The coroner, Dr. Connors, a wiry man who had seen his fair share of grisly scenes, stepped in. "It's not typical wildlife behavior around here. Claw marks, sure, but the sheer brutality? This wasn't a kill for food-it was a massacre."

Summers stood, running a hand through her hair, trying to process. "Time of death?" Dr. Connors flipped through his notes. "Based on body temperature and the state of rigor, I'd say they were killed sometime between 9 PM and midnight last night." The words hit her hard. Clara had been in custody since the afternoon before. There was no way she could've done this.

Summers stepped back, her mind racing. This changed everything. She fumbled for her phone and quickly texted Aiden: "Two more bodies. Sam and Jenna. Killed last night. Clara didn't do this." She pocketed the phone, the frustration gnawing at her. Where the hell was Aiden? She needed him on this. The Bucker case had just taken a darker, more complex turn.

"Summers," Harris called out, snapping her back to the present. "Do you want to notify the families, or should I handle it?" She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple. "I'll do it. Thanks, Harris." She glanced back at the bodies, the gruesome scene etched into her mind. First the Buckers, now these kids-there was a pattern forming, but it was just out of reach. And while Aiden played his own game, she couldn't afford to let this spiral any further. Not while more bodies piled up.