A Grimm Life

Chapter Four: Grimm research

I sat on my bed, unable to sit still. I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. I was too scared that someone was going to break into the house and behead me in my sleep. I decided to change and go for a run, my cell phone tucked in my bra. I pushed hard, running down the street and past the park to the supermarket; I ran past a little girl in a red coat, probably walking to school, she smiled at me as I ran past. I reached the petrol station and turned back, thinking that it was far enough. I expected to see the little girl again, to return her smile, but I didn't see her. I got home and had a hot shower, thinking about the huge secret my parents had kept from me, or was it only my dad? Maybe my mum didn't know. I sat in my dad's study, wanting to read more the book I had found, but it scared me too much. I was interrupted by loud sirens racing down the street, past my house, that wasn't a good sign. I ran out in my socks, seeing Shaw hopping out of a car, talking to Sergeant Chase. I ran up to him, "Detective Shaw! What's going on?"

He turned around, shocked to see me, "Miss Berkley? I didn't expect to see you here."

"I live just around the corner, remember?"

"That's right!" he said, still not answering my question.

"Detective, what's going on?"

He bit his lip, unsure whether to tell me, "A young girl went missing this morning. She was walking to school but never made it."

An image of the little girl in the red jacket flashed trough my mind, "She wouldn't have been wearing a red jacket was she?"

His eyebrows creased together, "Yeah. How'd you know that?"

"I ran past her this morning heading to the petrol station. When I ran back, I didn't see her... I didn't think anything had happen to her..."

He placed a hand on his shoulder, "You didn't know. But thank you this helps a lot. Where about did you past her?"

"Umm... just after I passed the supermarket. She was heading back this way."

"What route did you take?"

"I ran up this road, past the park, the supermarket and straight to the petrol station then I went the same way back."

"Are you sure you didn't see her?"

"Positive. Her jacket made her very noticeable."

He nodded, "Thank you Miss Berkley."

A young couple came running towards us, the detective greeted them as calmly as he could, "Mr and Mrs Blake."

"Have you found her? Have you found Lilly?" was the first thing that left Mrs Blake's mouth.

"Ma'am we are doing everything we can."

"Have you found anything?" Mr Blake asked as he held his crying wife in his arms.

"Actually, we know that she at least got as far as the supermarket."

"How do you know that?"

"I ran past her this morning." I chimed in. Mrs Blake looked me, "Did you see anything else? A van? Anything?"

I shook my head, "I'm so sorry. No."

She went back to crying into her husband's shirt. I couldn't hold my tongue, "What school does your daughter go to?"

"St Mary's Primary. Why?"

I turned to the detective, "There's a bush trail from the park that leads straight to the street the school's on. It makes one hell of a short cut."

The detective nodded in understanding and signalled officers to head to the park, Mr Blake stopped him before he got into his car, "I'm coming with you. You need someone who knows this place."

Shaw shook his head, "No way. You could compromise the search."

I stepped in, "Take me. I know the trail like the back of my hand."

Shaw was about to say no when Mrs Blake chimed in, "Why do you want to help?"

"Because I can't help any other way. Your daughter smiled at me when I went past. I wish I had looked back to make sure she was ok. I didn't...and I regret it. I want to make it up to you."

Another tear escaped her eye, "Take her, please."

Shaw huffed and told me to get in the car.

I stood in the park, Shaw standing behind talking to Sergeant Chase.

"Ok, Miss Berkley. Lead the way."

The path looked like it had recently been used, small footprints patterned the dirt. I followed them to a small group of bushes, where they just stop.

"What's wrong?" Shaw asked.

"She stopped."

I walked over to the bushes and gently pushed them aside, two large footprints were heavily imprinted into the dirt.

"Someone definitely took her. Worst still, they were waiting."

Shaw took a look and spoke to the other officers, telling them to gather whatever evidence they could find. I left the trail and sat in the park, something didn't feel right. I thought back to my run, I saw the girl...did I see anyone else? I thought really hard, I imagined the street as I ran past, looking around absent minded. Quiet houses, people already left for work, their mail boxes full...Their mail boxes! A light lit up above my head, the mail man! I saw him rush past me, I thought he was late doing his rounds, but maybe he was trying to hide to nab the girl. I tried to focus on his face, trying to remember his feature but all I could see was blood red eyes.

"Oh shit."

"What's wrong?" Chase appeared in front of me, making me jump. I shook my head, "I think I have an idea of who took her... But there might be a problem."

She raised an eyebrow, "What's the problem?"

"He may be wesen."

"What did he look like?"

"I can't remember exactly...His face didn't change...But I saw red eyes. I don't think that classifies as normal."

Worry clouded her face, "The girl was wearing red, wasn't she?"

I nodded slowly, "Why? Do you know what he is?"

"Sounds a Blutbod."

"Blutbod?"

"They're like the big bad wolf. The colour red drives them nuts and they like meat. Especially human meat."

That last part sent a shiver up my spine, "He's gonna eat her?"

"Eventually. Judging by what you said, he already fed. We found a body outside town, a man in a red singlet, looked like he had been torn to shreds by a pack of wolves."

I rubbed my arms, "Looks like I've got some research to do."

She shrugged, "Can if you want. Just to warn you, Shaw isn't gonna let you help anymore. After all, you had an attempt on your life, you don't need anymore attention."

"I guess you're right...But if I happen to find anything, maybe I could leave an anonymous tip for you to find?"

I caught a hint of smile, "I like your thinking, even if you are a Grimm."

I walked home, avoiding walking into the Blake's. It was time to do a little research.