Claws in the Dark | ✔

IV (Part II)

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He pulled into the parking lot of the precinct, parked between two other cars, and then got out. He took the case files out of his passenger seat, then locked the car.

He was about to move off, towards the elevator a few cars down his left, but then he heard something - growling. He started looking around. Upon seeing nothing, he ducked to check beneath the cars for a vicious dog or something.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" A voice shouted from behind him. He sprang up and turned around. "What? You plan on stealing my car?" The man standing in front of him wore black pants and a white shirt with a suit over it.

"Uh...sorry, I was just-"

"Just what? Plotting how to sabotage it?"

"What? No! I was saying-"

"I don't really care. Just...get out of my way." The man pushed past him and got into his black Chevy, backed out of his spot and drove away.

"Hmph. Why are people so rude?" he asked himself.

He just shrugged and proceeded to the elevator. When it opened, he stepped in and pushed the button for the floor where the Chief would be. The elevator door closed and began to ascend slowly.

He heard growls as the elevator moved, and looked up. His reflection stared back at him in the mirror overhead. Hmph. Maybe it was nothing. It was probably just the humming. This place was pretty old.

Ding! The sound startled him as the door opened. He had reached the fifth floor. Stepping out, people rushed past him, some almost knocking him over. Some were moving around from desk to desk with documents in their hands. For a Sunday the office was very busy. He didn't want to know what it was like during the week.

"Um...excuse me," he signalled for a young woman to stop. "Where can I find the Chief's office?" he asked her.

"Over there, "the girl pointed. He looked in the direction her pointing finger and saw an office at the far end of the open space.

"Thank y-" He turned to thank the girl, but she was already more than 10 feet away from him. Fixing his tie, he advanced in the direction of the Chief's office.

"Come in," the female voice said when he approached the door; he didn't even knock!

Letting out a breath, he entered.

At Grandville PD, Miles sat in a chair across from Police Chief, Kelly Summers. She was a beautiful woman with her blond hair rolled into a high bun, glasses covering her blue eyes, and pale red lipstick. She also wore a black pants-suit.

They were going through the case files.

"So, Mr. Trenton," she said, intertwining her fingers in a clasp on the table as she leaned forward. "What have you got to lead the investigation, so far?"

"Well, Miss Summers-"

"Chief Summers," she corrected him.

She wasn't calling him 'detective' but he kept his mouth closed and didn't complain.

"I'm sorry, Chief Summers, but I think these claw marks on the victims are from some vicious animal," he answered, looking over the photos that were taken of the couple's bodies.

"Really, you're suggesting that an animal did this?" she frowned.

"Well, what else could have ripped a human's head off like this?" He tapped the photograph taken by the examiners. "It couldn't possibly be another human, and according to background information, Grandville isn't popular for wolves or bears."

"But what if it were a bear or wolf?"

"I just know it isn't." He paused for a while, then, "Were there any reports before on attacks like this?" he asked the Chief.

"There have been, but not for a long time - about 30 years now. Check in the archives; it's on the first floor." He nodded. "And talk to the Forensic Anthropologist. He's on the second floor. I'm sure he'll have more information for you, concerning your animal theory."

"Alright," he said, standing as she did. "I'll keep you posted."

"Please do," she said. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Trenton. I hope you enjoy your stay in this town."

"Thank you." Then he left for the Anthropologist.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶