Wolf Asylum (9 page)

The doctor became excited as he found a hole in Nancy's story. “I thought Darwin was already a werewolf when he was chasing you in the woods?”

“He was! When he was with the woman it was hours later…I guess he changed back into a human! How the fuck should I know. I heard them change!” Nancy barked.

“So, you never actually saw a werewolf?”

“I killed one. Darwin sent one to find me. He was some young guy named Robbie. I saw him begin to change in front of me.”

“What did you see?”

“I knew he was following me for a day or so, it was as though he didn't want it to be a secret. He cornered me in a barn just before the highway. I quickly looked around for something I could fight him with but there wasn't much. I decided to tip over a jerry-can of gasoline. I hoped the puddle would be enough to catch Robbie standing in. I made a quick Molotov cocktail with a jar that was on the work bench and I soaked a rag in contact cement. Robbie entered the barn all smug like he had found his prize. I lit the rag and told him to back off. He just laughed at me and said he was immortal and that he couldn't die. He approached me and I saw his nails grow into claws. He growled under his breath and his eyes changed-they were so colorful. He smiled and his teeth grew. His body began to expand; I could see he was getting bigger. I smashed the jar in the gas puddle and the barn went up. Robbie ran around howling and changing but he was caught in the flames and was burning quickly. I ran out of the barn and saw his flaming body running towards a pond. He collapsed near it.”

“How do you know he was dead?”

“His body exploded and the fire turned blue. When I went to check, he was gone and there was nothing but a pile of ash left.”

“What about silver?”

“Doctor, I'm not an expert in werewolves. I'm just telling you what I did, what I saw, and what worked.”

“I understand, Nancy,” Doctor Giddon replied continuing to sense the sincerity in his patient's story. “I was only curious.”

“Do you believe me?” Nancy asked, now calmer and beginning to relax in her jacket.

“I want to believe you. It's a fantastic story, but even you must realize that it's a hard one to swallow. How could thousands of people disappear, and no one noticed?” Doctor Giddon posed further, testing her rational thinking.

“We thought about that a lot in the mines. Why didn't anybody come looking for us? It seemed to us that it was a well thought out plan. Whole families were taken. The occasional visitor from out of town was taken and put into the mine too. I think the werewolves controlled the government and emergency services. No investigations were done because they controlled the investigations. I agree with you, how did thousands just disappear? How did those thousands just hand themselves over when they evacuated the town. I was one of them.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was in December, before Christmas. It was a strange day. Something was wrong with our water and the town officials told people to go get a free vaccine. I didn't, but that's when they got the first batch of people. Later that day there was some kind of toxic explosion, or so they said, and the town had to be evacuated. We all just mindlessly went to the train station and boarded box cars. No one questioned why there was a train at an abandoned railway line. Someone said that the nursery at the old mine site owned the train, but the story didn't make much sense. It didn't matter; we followed the herd like cattle. When we arrived at the mine armed guards were waiting, and it was too late. Our cell phones hadn't worked most of the day, and there was no way to call for help. They got us. It was too easy for them. You ask how thousands disappear, my answer is, I don't know-we just did!” Nancy concluded.

“I want you to think back to December. Was there anything else unusual happening in the town during the month?”

“I think the first werewolves were in town at the beginning of the month. Our search and rescue team was attacked by an animal. It was a full moon. Then there were a few animal-like attacks the next night, some kids were mauled in town. It was more or less quiet after that-until the day they took us away.”

“What happened to the search and rescue?”

“They were looking for Darwin. Some rancher found his clothes in the woods and they thought he was out there lost. It was early in the night and this animal massacred a lot of the team within minutes. I know one survived, Dave Cronin, I think he's a werewolf now.”

“What about Darwin?”

“Darwin was found at home. I heard a rumor that he claimed he had been mugged and that's why his clothes were out in the woods. Knowing what I know now, he's one of the first. I think he killed the search team and I think he's involved heavily in Special Handling.”

“Would you like to go back to New Haven?” Doctor Giddon asked.

“I can't go back there, they'll lock me up!”

“I thought you said you would show me where this Special Handling is?” Giddon attempted to confuse.

“I'll show you on a map! I'm not going anywhere near that town!”

Director Kimbel asked through the intercom, “Doctor, could I see you please?”

“Would you excuse me, Nancy? I'll be back in a while,” Giddon said as he stood up and made his way to the door.

“I might not be around later Doc; I thought I'd check out the pool,” Nancy joked.

“That's good Nancy; I like to see a sense of humor in my patients,” Giddon laughed as he exited the padded cell.

“Eddie, have you had enough of her story telling?” Sam Kimbel asked sitting alone in the one way glass booth.

Doctor Giddon summarized, “Does she sound crazy to you? Well spoken, but agitated…her rational thinking seems to be fully functional; if she was raped it could explain the delusional story. Other than the werewolves she seems more than normal to me.”

“Other than the werewolves. Too bad that's a big part of the story! Listen, I called you back in because I thought you might find this interesting. I met this character named Darwin, his name is Darwin Foster. This guy works for the city of New Haven and I also met Tara Bollen, the mayor. Not that I'm playing into your fantasies!”

“Foster,” Giddon said while scanning his memory. “Any relation to Marta Foster?”

Director Kimbel stopped in his tracks realizing he had overlooked a very important piece of the story. “I'll have to check the file, but he might very well be.”

“Perhaps you and I should take a drive up to New Haven and pay this Darwin fellow a visit,” Edward Giddon suggested.

“Why?”

“The hospital is moving to New Haven within weeks. Don't we have a duty to ensure that our patients will be looked after? It could give us a chance to snoop around, maybe get a glimpse of this old coal mine.”

“You
do
believe her!” Kimbel accused.

“Her answers are coherent. Her rationale seems intact. You have to admit there are some strange things going on here. New Haven offers to take the new Riverview with little concern at the lack of doctors in their town, the Marta connection, the Darwin connection…could be interesting to get their side of things,” Edward offered to his friend.

“Look, I have an appointment in New Haven tomorrow to review the new facility. Why don't you come along and check out the town. Maybe we can do a bit of digging around and find out more about Nancy. Covertly, no direct questioning. Maybe that will help you with another one on one session with Nancy,” Kimbel suggested.

“Good idea. Maybe we can arrange to meet Dave Cronin. He's not directly related to Foster and Nancy named him as having been attacked in December. That would be a matter of public record. We could question him on that basis…survivor's guilt might work.”

“Just don't embarrass us,” Kimbel pleaded.

The black SUV parked outside of the Caprice Theatre around noon. Spilling from its doors was a family that was eager to stretch their legs after a long drive. The children whined of hunger while the wife marveled at the quaintness of the town. Exiting the vehicle last was the large and brooding husband who one could tell was battling a four alarm hangover.

“Oh, Bryan, it's so nice here! Why couldn't we have moved to this town?”

Bryan adjusted his mirrored sunglasses before slipping on a worn and dated Minnesota North Stars baseball hat to shield his bald head from the radiating sun. He looked to his adoring wife wanting to lash out, but he held himself in reserve. “The job is in Cransen, we're moving to Cransen.”

“I know, but I just love the feel this of this town,” she implored.

“Daddy I want McDonald's!” The oldest daughter begged.

“We're gonna find something really good! Maybe they've got a good sushi place…anyone up for some sushi?” Bryan said to his daughters excitedly, attempting to conceal his pulsating temple.

“No sushi in this town; we're more meat eaters around here,” Terri Bailey offered as she approached the unsuspecting family.

“Oh, darn girls. Could you recommend a place that these little monsters would like?” the wife asked.

“Of course. Me-So-Fatso is down the road, just your typical burger place though. Or you might try Concordia Pizza. They just opened, but I hear they are pretty good,” Terri sold to the family.

“What'll it be girls…burgers or pizza?” Mom asked.

“Pizza!” the girls shouted in unison.

“Thank you miss…”

“Bailey, Terri Bailey, soon to be Bonner. I own the thrift store here in New Haven. We've got the best deals on all the quality pre-owned items you could ever need. Stop by after your lunch!”

“I'm Frankie and this is my husband, Bryan. I wish we had more time. My husband just got a job in Cransen with the Sheriff's department; he starts tomorrow and we still have a long drive ahead of us,” Frankie said.

“Oh, my, that is a long drive! You folks should stay here in New Haven; we're always looking for good family types-especially ones with sweet, sweet children.” Terri grinned while running her fingers along the cheek of the youngest.

“Frankie!” Bryan bellowed, already halfway across the street on his way to the pizza place.

“You'll have to excuse us Terri,” Frankie replied politely.

“I understand, love. You take care of that dear family of yours and maybe one day you can move to New Haven,” Terri again suggested.

“If only!” Frankie said while taking her girls' hands before dashing across the street to catch up with her husband who had already disappeared into the pizzeria.

Terri stood on the sidewalk waving to the girls who kept looking back at the old woman, as though they could sense something wrong. Terri licked her chops showing a bit of fang, but only for a moment. It was long enough for the youngest to catch a glimpse.

“Mommy, look!” the girl said in shock as her mother dragged her across the street by her arm.

“I know, aren't the hanging baskets beautiful!” Frankie replied, paying no attention to what her daughter was really pointing to.

“Playing ambassador, are we?” Tim Waters asked, catching Terri slightly off-guard.

“It's so nice to see the children, the sweet, sweet children.” Terri smirked still looking in the direction of Concordia Pizza.

“The tourist children sure help make the town feel real; it brings back some of our innocence—I think so anyways,” Tim said, making conversation.

Snapped out of her lustful daze Terri shot back, “It's a fucking tease is what it is!”

Tim bellowed out laughing, having never heard Terri use foul language before. “There is such thing as too much of a good thing. We all love the youthful taste but we can't have it all the time. It would be like having turkey more than once a year. Sure it's good and you look forward to it-but you get sick of it if you eat it too often.”

“Waters, you're so full of shit,” Terri replied, rolling her eyes and continuing her walk up the street.

Tim laughed to himself, remembering the old woman that she had been. Terri was now a killer who could go on a murderous rampage if left to her own devices. Contained in New Haven, Terri would follow the rules, outside of their sanctuary she could be ruthless; her potential was there.

“What's the name of those hospital guys?” The question was asked from behind Tim.

“What?” Tim asked, swinging around to find Dave Cronin approaching him holding an iced coffee.

“The nut house guys. What were their names?” Dave asked again.

“Riverview? Giddon and Kimbel…why?” Tim asked.

“Doctor Gagnon called me and said one of the Riverview guys wants to meet me. She says he has some questions with one of his old cases and he thought I might be able to help.”

“You? Are you sure?” Tim asked.

“Yeah! They asked specially for me, Dave Cronin.”

“Didn't they say why?” Tim pressed.

“All they told her was that they had some questions about survivor guilt. I guess they want to know how it feels to be the sole survivor of a werewolf attack!” Dave joked.

“Dave! Too many tourists around, keep it down,” Tim demanded. “I still don't know why they'd want you. How do they even know about you? We kept the whole thing pretty quiet. Just watch what you say around them, okay?”

“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? I'll tell them whatever I damn well please!” Dave said.

“I'm the number two man around here and our chief priority is maintaining the secret, so I can and
will
tell you what to do when it comes to the secret!” Tim answered in authority.

“That reminds me! Why the hell are you number two? I was second made-it should be me,” Dave asked with an emerging vein on his neck.

“You were an accident! I know that's hard for you to wrap your brain around, but you weren't meant to be. The fact that Darwin has allowed you to even
exist
should command your unwavering loyalty and respect,” Tim lectured.

“But I'm number two.”

“Number two! Darwin is likely not the first werewolf, therefore you aren't the second. You might be his first made, but that's all. What the hell do you care, you've got a good thing going in New Haven. Trust me, being the number two man isn't all that fun.”

Dave attempted to stir up the hornets' nest. “You're not even number two; everyone knows you're doing most everything now. Aren't you replacing Darwin?”

Tim answered, “Darwin is still in charge. I am the right hand man and I make decisions based upon our agreed ideology, that's what the vice does.”

“Darwin is too fucking distracted by that Cardwen bitch,” Dave huffed.

“Is it the fact he found love or that you haven't that bothers you?” Tim asked, cutting to the heart of the issue.

“She's human. He hasn't turned her, he hasn't killed her and the moon is coming. If we're so worried about the goddamned secret how come he gets to walk around with his loose end?” Dave asked.

The question was a valid one. Even Tim had noticed Darwin's distraction since Mary's arrival in New Haven. The two had been attached at the hips and hands and not a moment went by when the two weren't together. Tim had not dared ask Darwin his intentions, or even if Mary had been infected yet. He trusted his friend to do the right thing, but Mary was becoming more than just consuming in Darwin's everyday life –she was even answering the phone in the Mayor's office in Darwin's absence.

“Speak of the devil,” Dave uttered under his breath.

“Hey Tim, how's it going? Dave.” With his anchor in tow Darwin acknowledged Dave in order of rank…last.

Mary stated in pride as she jumped on Darwin's shoulder, giving him a half hug, “You know Darwin was just showing me the new Hadamar Wellness Retreat. I think it's simply fantastic that your town can be so progressive in offering a humane center for the mentally deficient. And to think that such progress came from such a young mind!”

“There was more to it than me, Mary.” Darwin chuckled awkwardly. “She's putting me on a pedestal…it's embarrassing.”

“You must learn to take credit for your achievements! You're an amazing thinker, among other things!” Mary replied with a coy expression.

“Oh, Yeah, like what?” Darwin grinned ear to ear and slid his hand onto her ass.

“Like that thing you do with your tongue.” She chuckled devilishly while Darwin's fingers weaved their way deeper into the crack of her buttocks that was only shielded by a tight pair of denim shorts.

“Okay then.” Dave snorted.

“What's the matter Dave?” Darwin asked with his perma-grin planted squarely on his face. Receiving no answer, Darwin turned his partial attention to Tim.

“What do you two have planned for the afternoon?” Tim asked politely.

Mary interrupted, “We're having a picnic. I made some sandwiches and homemade chocolate chip cookies! Darwin wants to show me this hot spring he found in the woods and have lunch there; skinny dipping anyone?”

“What's a man to do?” Darwin laughed, squeezing her ass tightly causing her to yelp.

“Frankie, let's go! I want to get back on the road; the kids can eat their pizza slice in the car!” Bryan shouted as he crossed the street towards the lycan leader.

“Bryan, can't we look around a bit? We just got here!” Frankie pleaded.

“I have to work in the morning and I don't must be bagged my first day on the job. I promise we can come back here some other time; I agree, pretty town…now in the car!” Bryan corralled.

“Welcome to New Haven, folks enjoying your stay?” Darwin asked like a diligent leader.

“Sure kid. Great time,” Bryan replied.

“Well, you enjoy the rest of your trip! Tim, Dave!” Darwin politely nodded excusing himself from the human who had just offended him in a way that would have meant death if they had been in private.

“See you around
Mister
Mayor!” Tim hollered as Darwin and Mary walked away.

“Mayor. Huh!” Bryan chuckled, “strange, fucking place.”

The rushed family piled back into the SUV and pulled away seconds later. Frankie looked at all the shops that went by and she commented how it would have been nice to go through some of them. On their way out of downtown the family passed the thrift store where Terri Bonner waved and licked her chops at the passing children.

At the four way stop before turning east to leave town, a young pup on his bike plowed into the side of the SUV. Bryan dashed out of the vehicle and was at the child's side before Frankie even knew what happened.

“
What the fuck?
” Bryan shouted as he placed his hand on the shoulder of the child who cowered next to the wheel.

The child snapped at Bryan and quickly grabbed his bike before riding away back down Main Street. The boy looked back in anger at Bryan, but said nothing.

Frankie reassured her husband, “That was strange. I guess he was all right. Anyway he hit us babe, it wasn't your fault, we were stopped.”

“I know!” he barked. “Little fucker bit me when I tried to help him; drew blood too.” Bryan showed his bleeding finger to his wife as he walked to the driver's side to depart New Haven.

“Poor baby! You want me to kiss it better?” Frankie mocked lovingly.

“Let's go, you can do all the kissing you want when we get to Cransen.”