Skinless

Chapter 7

"None of this makes any sense," Chris said. He pulled on his lips as he laid his yellow tackle box down. I could almost see his brain churning as his eyes darted around the area where the last of the bodies was found. All the scenes were the same, light woods, new overgrowth from when the area used to be mowed many years ago. "The locations are too far apart from each other, and it's too damn cold."

"Maybe these things fly," I offered. Then I quickly looked around, verifying there were no swarms flying about.

"In the heat of the day with the sun blazing, maybe you'll get an errant bug or two," Chris said. "But this is colony behavior. The Adam's attack made more sense than these out here. At least their house was heated." He paced in a circle, examining the area again. "The nights have been dipping below 40. Do see any insect around here?"

"No."

"Exactly, so you'd figure it would be some burrowing insect. Maybe the warmth of the body on the ground woke up the colony." Chris stopped and stroked his chin, examining the ground at his feet. "But why would anyone lie down here when there're vacant buildings a hundred feet away? And how could a colony stretch across the city? Some termite and ant colonies have large ranges, but this would be singularly unique."

"You mean like eating only the skin?"

"That too." Chris scratched the top of his head. "There might be multiple colonies, but there was no progression. We go from zero bodies to seven. It takes time for a new colony to form and it doesn't happen in the fall. I can't believe that multiple colonies suddenly got the taste for human skin all at the same time. I can't even find anything to sample. It's like it never happened."

"Flying makes sense to me," I said, though Chris ignored me, again scraping at the ground with his shoe. The larger trees were a good distance away but seemed an adequate hiding place for a swarm of killer bugs. Maybe the things called one of the old factories home.

"Would you have dinner with me?" Chris asked.

"Sure, but I usually do lunch first. There're a few small places near here. Sandwich shops that survived the.."

"No, I mean let me take you out to dinner."

"A date?" I asked. Chris smiled at my surprise, pleased that he caught me off-guard again.

"Yes. Unless you're seeing someone, I'd like to take you out."

"While we're looking for killer bugs?"

"We still have to eat."

"Is this how you move on those college hotties?" I asked, trying to buy time to think about the unexpected offer.

"I'm not interested in girls, and I'm tired of cerebral sparring with the few other single professors," Chris said, "I'd like to take you out. I find a woman who carries a badge and a gun enticing." I don't know what made me do it, but I opened my jacket and exposed my holstered Smith & Wesson. Chris laughed, "okay, more like exciting."

"Dutch," I agreed, "and after this job is over."

"Fair enough. Then let's see if we can find this Willy character. I suddenly have a desire to speed this process up." The idea of a date was pleasing, though I did my best to hide it from my face. I ignored the chill in the air and left my jacket open, my weapon flashing into view as I walked. It was nice to feel desirable in Chris' eyes, even if I was on the job.