Prowlers

Part 2

We talk some more, mostly about dad. Then the someone that he brought in to help walks in. The fact that he had been found on the internet is less than reassuring.

"Hello, my name is Daniel," he shakes my hand, "I'm going to guess that you are the brother that Jerry mentioned would be coming over to help."

"Yes, unless he has any extra siblings that he has failed to mention."

They both laugh, Daniel maybe a bit too hard, then he asks, "Has he told you why I am here?"

"He only said that you was here to help, and that he found you on the net."

"I am, believe it or not, a paranormal investigator."

"Like on those shows?" I say, thoroughly amused, picturing a guy running around screaming about getting his ass pinched by a ghost.

"Something like that, only I try to take things a lot more seriously. I was just walking around the area, getting some readings."

"Readings?"

"Background radiation, magnetic anomalies, those kinds of things. I also set up a few motion activated cameras."

"Like trail cams?" Jerry askes, sometimes he is louder than he realizes. His voice slams into my ear drums.

"The very same."

I try not to chuckle too hard, "Well, you certainly came prepared."

"I've got a whole van full of stuff. Every kind of camera you can think of, IR, thermal. I've got EVP readers. I brought equipment for hiking and camping, rope, paracord, flares, the works."

"Well, at least you are prepared. Sounds like you really know what you are doing."

"I've done investigations for ghosts at over a dozen sites. I've hunted Sasquatch three times, Jersey Devil once, even searched for the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp."

"And let me guess, you didn't find any of those things?" I say before thinking.

To his credit, he doesn't get annoyed at my little jab, "If it was that easy, they wouldn't be the stuff of legends, they would be just another group of animals in a zoo or things that you learn about in science class."

"Okay, fine. I get that you are into this stuff and are a believer. And I get that my brother saw something that he can't explain," I turn to face him, "I do believe that you saw something, or at least think that you did. But for me it just aint that easy."

He grins like the devil, "Well, if there is something going on, we will see tonight. I will set up a camera in the girl's room, aim it at the spot where the creature was sighted. Then, we play the waiting game, as I highly doubt that it will appear in the daytime.

***

We head out to unload the cars. I get my suitcase with changes of clothes and such. More importantly, we bring in the cases that hold my guns and other gear. The paranormal guy goes out to his van to grab a few pieces of equipment.

"You got a gun?" I ask Daniel as he sits a big plastic case on the kitchen table.

"Of course," he lifts his shirt to reveal a little handgun meant for concealed carry, "I also have a pump action that I will bring in."

"Damn, you are ready to kill bigfoot!" Jerry cries.

He smiles evilly, "Not quite, you would need one of the big .50 cal sniper rifles that they use to hunt feral hogs to do that. But I figure that if I am going to go into a situation acting like it is real, I might as well be prepared. And besides, the dark isn't anywhere near as scary when you're packing heat."