The Chronicles of Beast and Man (16 page)

Rod was feeling the pressure of these strange little verbal attacks. He was then beginning to feel as if he were set up to fail from the start.

"Well, you showed me. I guess I’ll start the process tomorrow." Rod said reluctantly. The crowd began to applaud.

What in the hell is going on here?
Rod asked himself. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he did not have control. Somehow everything had been turned around to make him out to be the bad guy. Rod supposed that everyone was looking for someone to blame in this whole deal, and because no killer could be found; he himself was getting all the blame. Trent Green then stood up and asked Rod about the need of a man hunt across the entire area during the next full moon. Fortunately for Rod this was a question he actually had an answer to. He told the crowd that he fully intended to have a wide man hunt and anyone who wanted to volunteer should sign up at the police station.

One more question was posed by a local resident, it was a question about the new curfew, and if Rod would be willing to change it. They wanted to change the start time of the curfew from nine o’clock (for all minors) to eight o’clock. Rod told them that he would rather take a vote on that issue because some people might disagree with that decision. Bobby Preston made a note about the curfew issue and planned to bring it up at the next city council meeting.

Finally, when it looked like every question had been asked, and Rod Truex had taken enough of a beating, the press conference was over. Rod hurried out of the room and went out a back door of the building. Rod quickly got in his truck and drove away. He felt that he was falling into a downward spiral. This was one of the few times in his life that he felt that he needed help. Perhaps that was exactly what he needed. It was getting very late but he began driving. At first he was not sure where he was going, but oddly enough it seemed to be in the direction of Hank and Anna Murray’s country house.

-

Matthew was satisfied with the way his small confrontation with Rod Truex had gone. Rod had looked like a joke. Now Matthew felt more prepared to handle Rod in another form. On his way home, his thoughts of how he would deal with Rod became increasingly stronger. Matthew wanted their next confrontation to be a surprise. It wouldn’t be like the surprise that Matthew got when he discovered the relationship Rod was having with his wife. This surprise was going to have to be much more shocking and physically painful. It was then that Matthew thought of a possible opportunity to rid himself of Rod Truex.

During the next full moon, as the man hunt was in full swing, he might be able to find a chance. If it were just he and Rod he could aim his rifle at Rod’s head and take him out with ease. It would have to be precise and exact, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to do so. There could be some sort of legal punishment to deal with afterward, but he more than likely could get out of it. He would just say that he thought something in the darkness was about to attack him. He would say he was afraid for his life and shot without thinking. It might not have been the greatest plan ever hatched, but Matthew had not been thinking very clearly as of late. His mind was completely consumed with thoughts of revenge.
 

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”

-- Edgar Allan Poe

PART THREE

R
od glanced inside through a window and could see that a reading lamp was still on. Either someone was still awake or they had fallen asleep sitting up. He did not want to wake anyone at this late hour. He had no interest in bothering them. On the other hand, he had driven all the way there, and still felt the need for support.

Rod made a fist and knocked on the door loudly.

It wasn’t long before Anne Murray answered the door. She had to adjust her large glasses a little bit before she realized who he was.

“Rodney? Rodney Truex?”

“Yeah Anne, it is me.”

Anne was thrilled to see him; she hadn’t in such a long time. She began to ask him how his family was, and if he was dating anyone now. When he told her no she said that she didn’t understand how a handsome young man like himself could be single. She continued to ramble for a long drawn out moment, until she stopped herself, and rushed away to go and get Hank. She told him that she knew better than to think he had come over just to see her.

It took a little bit of time but finally Hank walked in stiff-legged, bobbing his head with each stride. He was dressed in bib overalls and a blue flannel shirt tucked underneath.

“Oh my, Anne told me we had a late-night surprise guest but I never expected to see you!”

“It has been a long time.” Rod said as they vigorously shook hands

“Too long.”

The two men spoke as if they hadn’t seen one another in what felt like forever. Rod told him the little ways the police department and the town had changed. Hank told Rod about how much he had enjoyed retirement and about his daughter Eve getting married; she had recently given birth to Hank and Anne’s first grandchild. At one point Hank signaled to walk out back to the patio behind the house.

“Okay Rod why don’t we stop fooling around here. Why the late night visit?” Hank asked even though Rod was sure that Hank could probably guess.

“I know you already know what is going on.”

“Yes, I do.” Hank answered quickly.

“Hank, tell me what happened before… Why did you retire?”

“I retired because it was my time to do it.”

“Seriously, Hank I know better than that.” Rod said sternly.

Rod continued on to explain that he had his doubts about the answer. He had respected Hank as a mentor and as an officer of the law. He went on to tell him that he himself felt that there was something more, something that Hank was not telling him.

Hank looked out across the darkness which consumed the fields that lay behind his home. He rubbed his forehead intensely and groaned slightly. His silence was a clue to just how personal and serious this all was.

“Hank, I know there is something that you are holding back.”

“Rodney, if I tell you this you have to promise never to repeat it ever again.” Hank’s words were bold and unforgiving.

“You know…”

Hank stopped Rod off before he could finish his sentence. “Listen to me; I know I can trust you. I know what you are up against, but I need you to listen to me and promise me that you will never repeat a word I am about to say.”

Rod then swore on the life of his own mother that he would never share a single detail with anyone else. With great confidence he spoke each word which meant more than any other word he had ever spoken. Rod understand that what was to come would be gut wrenching and painful. It was important that Hank valued him as a trustworthy friend.

“Okay Rodney, I want to start by telling you about a night that I have lived to regret. You might not think much of me after I tell you it either…”

As Hank spoke he told a story of lies and deceit. He explained that on the night of July 16
th
2000, he found a dead body beside the highway just outside of town. The sight of the body frightened him so much that he lost control of the situation. What followed afterwords he only explain as panic. Carefully he loaded the body up into the trunk of his car and drove out into the country. He drove out of McDonough County and into Hancock County. He found a dark quiet dirt road and dumped the body. It took everything for Hank to admit this to his friend, he choked back tears of shame and explained that he simply hadn’t been prepared for the situation.

Rod could not believe what he was hearing, he could feel the respect that he felt for this man slowly depleting. This had all started earlier than anyone in the department realized. The investigations could have started much sooner. He could not help but blame some of this on the man standing in front of him. Yes, there was no guarantee that this would have changed things all that much, but what if it had been? What if this were the thing that changed everything? No one would ever no now. 

Hank paused and exhaled a breath of relief and continued speaking

“After that boy was found, I felt terrible. I wanted to make it stop, I was willing to do anything. I investigated all sorts of crazy leads, if someone heard a twig snap I would have investigated it. I don’t know if you remember, but I was obsessed. I lived and breathed that goddamn case. One night I was walking along 1800
th
road beside the timber with a flash light; a flash light that I didn’t even need because of the bright full moon that was out. I was looking for any sort of clue anything that might even give me a hint to solving the Hester murder. I can’t tell you how far I had walked when suddenly I felt a presence. I looked all around but at first I saw nothing. I was sure that something was there. I lowered down and continued to look. It was then that I saw a deer running through a clearing. It couldn’t have been more than twenty feet away from me. It was a splendid sight, I did not want to make a sound; afraid I might scare it off. I moved down into the brush and continued to watch. Suddenly a huge wolf the size of a bear ran after the deer. It was unbelievably fast and it ran on two legs. The massive
thing
tackled the deer and took it down fast. I watched it move furiously as it ripped and tore at the deer’s flesh. It was a bloody mess, but then all of a sudden it stopped. It began sniffing the air, then it turned and it looked at me. With its evil blood thirsty red eyes, I swear it looked at me. It had a half-human, half-wolf face covered in hair. I will never forget the look that was in its eyes. Those eyes were so deep and full of anger and rage. I sat as still as I could, I was afraid that if I might move, it would attack. I stayed completely still and watched it, I watched as it dug its snout into the belly of the deer and began to feast. Then it lifted itself up and howled into the night opening its jaws wide revealing its bloody wolf fangs, I turned away and ran off into the darkness.”

Rod did not know how to respond to Hank’s words, but Rod then knew that his instincts were correct. Hank had confirmed to him that there was something beyond human committing the terrible murders in and around Medusa.

“Werewolf?”

“Call it what you want Rodney, all I know is, it is an unstoppable killing machine.”

“But why did it stop?”

“For five years? I have no idea, I didn’t question that after I retired, I was just happy that it had stopped. Once I laid eyes on it I was scared, I couldn’t get the image of that thing out of my mind. Even today I see it in my nightmares, even more now that it has started killing again.”

There was a long moment of silence, while Rod tried to take everything in. Rod was going to have to find a way to destroy this thing. He was going to have to take on the unknown. He was also going to need help, that is, unless he could figure out who this werewolf was. That is, if the mythology of the werewolf were true.

“I can’t help you kill this thing, I am too old and I know I wouldn’t be of any use. I can tell you what I think though… If I were in your shoes I would try and take this thing head on. I would enlist as many men as possible and make sure each one of them has a shot gun in hand. I would not take this thing on with anything less.”

Hank then began to tell Rod exactly who he would enlist and methods he would use to track this thing. Rod was listening and making mental notes, but Rod slipped away from the conversation fairly easily. He wondered how in the world things had turned out this way. Werewolves aren’t real… It felt as if fiction and reality had weaved themselves together. If something this sinister could exist what other creatures in folk lore and myth could be real as well? The very fabric of his world felt as if it had been ripped in two. Rod was not about to give this too much thought. He usually would not take the time to question such things, but he usually did not have to prepare for battle with a fabled beast either.

-

After Rod finished talking with Hank he drove back to the police station. It was a very long ride; his thoughts had become a large cloud of complexity. Before the murders began things made sense. Police work was simple, and the answers were always simple. You had a hunch about something, you were usually right. Yes, he had a feeling that this was something more, something supernatural. But he hadn’t actually wanted that to be true. He assumed that it was more than he could handle, but he was going to have to do everything he could to make it stop. He could not hang up his badge, the same way his predecessor had. He was much younger than Hank was when he retired, and he was better prepared (or at least he thought he was).

When he arrived, he glanced down at his watch to see that it was then twelve minutes after midnight. He knew that he should be at home in bed, but after speaking with Hank he knew he would not be able to sleep. Rod walked into the station to see Officer Clancy manning the phones and radio.

Clancy was of course surprised to see Rod at that late hour, and greeted him nervously. He became slightly calmer when Rod told him that he was only stopping by for a minute and would be back out the door. Clancy told him that he didn’t care, and that Rod could be there as long as he wanted to be. Clancy then informed Rod of a piece of mail that had arrived earlier in the day and no one had remembered to give it to him.