The Cactus Killer (The Inglewood Chronicles) (2 page)

We entered The Fox and
Hound to a lot of strange looks. Vampires weren’t frowned upon, but
we don’t see them often, especially one in the company of the
sheriff. Jocelyn, the young Black wolf who worked the front showed
us to a booth in the back. She gave me an uneasy smile and handed
us the menus.

“
If it is okay with you
Vic, I will just order us a few drinks. What would you
like?”

“
I’d appreciate that. Since
I’m on the clock, I’ll take a cherry soda.”

She once again disarmed me
with her smile and got up and headed over to the bar. Something
about her told me I might be in over my mind. Jocelyn came back
over and took my order for a burger and order of fries. She asked
if everything was okay and I told her I had no idea. Elizabeth came
back over with my cherry soda and what looked like a martini for
her. After taking a long draft, it was time for
business.

“
So, what can I do for you
ma’am? Is everything alright or is there a problem?”

“
Come now; stop it with the
ma’am nonsense. You make me feel old and I do not need any help
with that.”

“
Okay, I will do my best. I
was just raised with manners, that’s all.”

She rolled her eyes at me
and went on. “Let us get right to the heart of the matter, I am not
just any vampire, but someone of importance. The United States is
divided up into territories for the vampire community much like
yours is broken up into states. I am the ambassador for the
southwest. I report directly to the head of the entire U.S.
coven.”

I didn’t know how to
proceed. “With all due respect, I am just a sheriff, just how in
the hell could I help out someone as powerful as you?”

“
If you bear with me for
just a bit longer, I will get to that.” I nodded and she continued.
“Vampires do not live in communities like werewolves. We integrate
ourselves into major cities and blend in. We have our issues, but
for the most part we live in harmony with humans. However, as of
late, a number of vampires have been turning up dead, staked or
decapitated with their blood drained. It has been happening with
more frequency, and every single one of them has happened here in
the southwest.”

“
Could this all just be
some awful coincidence? Or maybe even a feud between vampire
families that has escalated to a boiling point?”

“
That was our first
thought, Vic, but as the murders continue and each being committed
in the same fashion, all points to one thing. I believe we have a
vampire serial killer on our hands, one I think maybe
human.”

A serial killer? That would
not be good for anyone. If it was a human who discovered that the
things that go bump in the night exist, it would only be a matter
of time before they came after our communities. “Serial killers
tend to be vain. Is there anything, like a sign or a signature at
the murder scene to point in that direction?”

“
Yes, imbedded into each
victims face was a piece of cactus. It is most disturbing to
see.”

That jogged something in my
memory. I’d heard on the news a few weekends ago that up in Truth
or Consequences a body had been found with a face full of cactus.
This was getting a little too close to home. “That certainly adds
up in my book.”

“
I have done my research
and I know about your condition. I know you cannot transform into a
werewolf like the others but your senses are the best. Vic, I am
offering you a job with us, the vampire coven, to track this serial
killer down and put an end to this madness.”

“
I am flattered you would
come to me for help, but this is a lot bigger than just me. Can I
have some time to make this decision?”

“
Of course, why do we not
implore some of the southwest culture and say high noon
tomorrow?”

I laughed at her terrible
joke and agreed to that time frame. For the rest of our lunch, she
went over what the job would entail. She was hoping to get a
satellite office set up in Truth or Consequences that would serve
as a base of communications. I would have access to all of their
intelligence of this care and any other cases that were similar in
nature and, if needed, I could even bring on a team. Basically, I
would have free rein to get this guy as I saw fit. The vampire
communities were in an uproar and this guy needed to be brought
down.

After lunch, I escorted her
back to the station where her car (a Jaguar) was parked and we bid
our farewells. I made a call to both Chaz Freely and Archibald
Argent and both said they would be in my office within fifteen
minutes. I also got Billy and told him when the mayor and DA got
there to join the meeting.

Sure enough in no time
flat, all three men were in my office and the door was closed. I
told them exactly what went down with Elizabeth and gave them the
run down on her proposal. Once I finished, Mayor Argent took
over.

“
She came to me this
morning when she first got to town and asked for my permission to
talk to you. At least she follows protocol and didn’t go straight
to you. I also called your father to let him know. He will be
coming by later to get a report as well.”

“
Mayor, what do you think
about this? I feel it might be prudent to let Vic take the job. Who
knows how long before this psycho changes his target to wolves.”
Chaz had the same fears that I had. This was something that needed
taken care of immediately.

“
If we do allow Sheriff
Inglewood to assist the vampires, we need to consider who will be
acting in his place until he returns.”

“
Mayor Argent, I feel
Deputy Westchester and Detective Jacobs can run this department
just fine. Both are skilled in their own ways and together they
would do the badge justice. Besides, I don’t plan on leaving the
area during this investigation.”

Argent seemed to think this
over for a second. “Alright, we all agree this problem could
eventually turn into ours as well. Inglewood, get this bastard, and
in the meantime, learn from the vampires. This could potentially be
beneficial for us.”

And just like that, the
meeting was adjourned. Mayor Argent left right away, but Chaz stuck
around for a few moments to give me some encouragement. When he
left and it was just Billy and me in my office, I could see the
young deputy was nervous.

“
Listen Billy, I would not
have appointed you to the job if I didn’t think you could do it.
You’ll have Talia as well and between you two, there will be no
issues.”

“
If you say so Vic, but
people here respect you. I don’t feel like they really respect
me.”

“
You think they respected
me when I first started? You have an advantage over me, you are a
true wolf. Make them respect you, like I did.”

That seemed to cheer him up
and he went back to his desk. After the way this afternoon had
shaped up, I was looking forward to a few minutes of peace.
However, that didn’t last long. Without even knocking, a very short
and stocky man (almost like a bowling ball) covered in red hair,
including a full beard that could rival any rock and roller’s, came
barreling into my office.

“
We need to talk
now.”

I sighed. “Sit down dad, I
can explain everything.” 

My dad had given me quite
the headache. After hours of questions and his own personal
opinions, he finally signed off on the idea. It was important
because he was the leader of the Red wolves and, if he didn’t, and
I went against him, it would mean banishment. Dad was hardheaded
but he saw the reasoning to stop this guy now before our community
was affected.

In our culture, the
community was the most important thing. No wolf, not even the
Alpha, was bigger than the community as a whole. With all three
packs taking up residence here, and the fact that both Chaz and
Archibald were on the same page, showed that importance.

To give it some
perspective, when the town was first established many years ago, it
was just a small Red wolf colony. It didn’t take long for the
Blacks and Silvers to find us and want to settle away from humans
as well. The Reds agreed and soon a pact was made between all three
as a way to keep the peace. Each clan would get a vote on matters
that affected the community and if it wasn’t a full agreement, then
nothing was to be done. It wasn’t often that all three ever agreed
on anything.

I was out on my back deck
grilling up a steak and drinking a beer. Sunday was my day off
anyway, so even without the added stress of the vampire’s proposal;
I’d have had a longneck or two. The steak was sizzling nice, so I
took an opportunity to sit down and let the evening breeze calm
me.

I live in one of the
smaller subdivisions only minutes from the town center. I
originally picked this house due to the low HOA fees. After a few
years of living here, this place turned into home. I just finished
building the deck and was contemplating adding a pool.

“
Would you like some
company?”

My eyes snapped open and
standing on my deck was Elizabeth. Not only did she not register on
the old nose, but she had made no sound either. “I’d ask how you
snuck up on me, but I feel it has something to do with being older
than dirt.”

“
Not many would say such
things, but coming from you, one might think that was flirting.
Yes, I can mask myself well; even you would not be able to detect
me if I did not want you to.”

It looked like she had been
out for a run, wearing workout clothes and sneakers. With her five
inch heels gone, she was now a more appropriate height. Werewolves
tend to be on the shorter, stockier side, so just like everything
else, I was a bit different there too. At five-eleven and more lean
than muscular, I was one of the taller people in Full Moon. “I
never say no to good company, so pull up a seat. Just one rule
though…”

“
And what might that be,
sheriff?”

“
No shop talk here. I’m not
the sheriff back here, just Vic Inglewood.”

She was good company. We
didn’t talk about anything other than ourselves. I got the
impression from her that she was very lonely. That was something I
could understand. Most in Full Moon were pleasant to me if not
downright nice. The problem is I’m the sheriff and I’m not your
standard wolf. Most of the girls in the Red pack were worried if
they tried to start a family with me that any kids would end up
with my condition. It was a legitimate fear and one I respected.
When I told Elizabeth that, she didn’t seem to
understand.

“
Why would you stay here,
Vic if you do not have a chance for your own happiness?”

“
Well, my family lives here
and if I wasn’t here to keep this town in line, who
would?”

“
You should not sacrifice
your own happiness for the sake of the others.”

I got what she said, but I
called her crap on it. “Aren’t you just as lonely as I am? I might
be from a little town, but I know how the world works.”

“
Most vampires stay away
from me. Certain reputations come with my title and my age. Unlike
you, I am much too entrenched to change my path. Do not make the
same mistakes I have.”

After that, we switched
over to more pleasant conversations like baseball. I was surprised
by how much she knew about the sport. Living in the southwest, it
turned out we shared a love of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“
After this is all over,
you should come with me to a game. Being the head of a territory
comes with certain perks, like box seats to any sporting event I
want.”

“
Shut the front door! You
could get me into the luxury boxes for a game?”

“
Of course, it would be
nothing for me to call in a favor. My main office is only fifteen
minutes from the stadium. I know plenty of people in town who owe
me and could make it happen.”

“
In that case lady, you got
yourself a deal. I accept this case and after we put this scumbag
away, me and you are going to a baseball game!”

“
You drive a hard bargain.
If I would have known it was this easy, I would have said something
much sooner. As you said, let us put this scumbag away and then we
will have a date at the ballpark!”

It didn’t escape me that
she called it a date. Just how lonely was this woman? Anyway, the
rest of the evening kept the pleasant touch and by eleven pm, I was
ready to call it a night. I didn’t know if and when Elizabeth
slept, but I offered her a spot on the pull-out couch in the living
room. She politely declined and said she had some other things to
do before she left tomorrow afternoon.

“
Meet me at that lovely
little diner you took me to tomorrow at noon. We will go over more
there, once you are back on the clock.” She winked at me and waved
farewell.

I went back in my house and
hit the sack. It didn’t take long for me to fall right to sleep. I
was in the middle of a very pleasant dream, involving Elizabeth and
I attending game seven of the World Series, when I was rudely
interrupted by my phone.

“
Sheriff Inglewood here.” I
wasn’t sure if that came out coherent, but at one thirty in the
morning it was the best I could do.