The Werewolf Factor

Chapter One

It was five o’clock in the morning, and it was raining again. I looked up at the grey skies, and cursed, then gripping my coffee cup, stepped out into the drizzle. I placed my cup on the roof of the car and fetched my umbrella, unfurling it above me as I reached for my cup, and pushed on the door with my hip. Nothing was going to prevent me from enjoying my morning coffee. Not this rain, not the early hour, and certainly not the poor fellow who was lying under a sheet in the middle of the park, for he was well past caring if I kept him waiting. I had forsaken my early morning jog once again, due to this rain, and grabbing a quick coffee at the all-night service station was my way of cheering myself up. I juggled my cup, umbrella, and keys, as I locked the car, and walked towards the huddled group of reporters, detectives, and police officers, who stood at the far end of the park.

As I approached a male reporter, he looked over at me, but remained silent as he watched me walk confidently towards the group, flashing me an easy smile as I drew closer. He was good-looking, I mused. With his dark hair, brown eyes, and obviously natural charisma, he was the kind of good-looking guy I would have fallen for, in a heartbeat. He was totally pulling that stubble off too. That such an attraction represented a long line of disastrous dates and failed relationships, more than the fact that we were standing at the edge of a crime scene, was the reason I did not  return the smile. Instead, I nodded once in his direction, before leaning under the police tape, and walking over to stand beside the tall, blonde detective, who had been the disastrous culmination of aforesaid failed liaisons.

“Sarah! Hey. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.” He said, his eyes meeting mine uneasily.“You didn’t answer your phone.”

“Yeah, sorry Rick, I was right in the middle of a relaxing bath, when you rang.”

“At four o’clock in the morning? How early do you get up these days?”

“Get up? I haven’t even been to bed yet.”

“You stayed up all night? That isn’t a new habit of yours, I hope?”

“Yes. I’ve been having weird dreams lately, but it’s okay, Rick, I’ll deal with it. Besides, we are not all morning people, you know.” I looked over at the sheet, ignoring the probing look he gave me. “Do you know who he is?”

“Benjamin Walters, twenty-eight. He is known to the police as a small-time criminal. Drug crimes mostly, assault, burglary. He bought himself time in prison at eighteen, and has been in and out, ever since.”

“Family?”

“None to speak of. He was raised in the foster system. Never stayed very long in any one place. He showed violent tendencies at a young age, and no one wanted to keep him. Ran away when he was twelve, and has lived on the streets since then.”

“What was he doing all the way out here? I mean, it isn’t the kind of place you would expect to find someone like him.” I looked up at the Hollywood sign on the hill above us.

“Casing houses for his next break-in, maybe. Who knows.”

“I take it he was attacked by some kind of animal, or I wouldn’t be here.”

“Yeah.” Rick nodded to the woman standing next to him, and she leaned down and drew back the tarp covering the body.

“Lacerations to the arms, face, and neck.” She said. “Major tears to the wind-pipe and jugular, plus his scalp. I’m thinking a large predator, possibly a dog, or a wolf. He likely died of blood loss, as a result of the neck trauma.”

I looked at the body, my mind ticking off boxes. “Definitely not a mountain lion.” I agreed. “Are there any tracks?”

“Yeah, over here.” The woman gestured towards an area of ground that was also covered with a tarp. “We just managed to conserve it, before it started to rain again.”

I nodded, and followed her over to the tarpaulin, which was several feet away from the body, near a low wall of bushes.

“My name is Kate, by the way, Doctor Kate Ferguson.” She smiled at me, and extended her hand.

Her friendliness took me unawares, and I baulked at her over-exuberant manner. “Sarah Quinlan.” I replied shaking her hand. “I haven’t seen you before.”

“I transferred from New York, three weeks ago.”

“Has Doctor Kimmel finally retired then?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear? Doctor Kimmel passed away, a month ago.”

My eyes widened. “Oh.”

This news wasn’t surprising to me, not really. I mean, the old goat must have been over ninety, so I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me, was  the fact that Rick hadn’t told me. He would usually ring if anyone I even remotely knew, had passed on, and I began to realise that maybe Rick and I weren’t as close as we used to be. I looked over at Rick, and sighed. “I’m surprised that Rick didn’t tell me.”

“You and Rick Preston know each other pretty well, right?” She asked, lowering her tone. “I thought you two looked pretty chummy. He seemed a bit nervous about seeing you though, and I noticed that a few of the guys were ribbing him about the fact that he had to call you this morning.”

“He’s my ex.” I said abruptly. “We split up a couple of months ago.”

“Oh. Was it serious?”

“If you mean, was it two-and-a-half years about to marry him, until he cheated on me, serious? Then yes, it was serious.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” She said, looking away from me.

“If you are thinking of making a move on him, be my guest.”

I heard her gasp, and she looked at me in surprise, her eyes betraying the accuracy of my assumption. “Oh. I wouldn’t …”

“Sure you would. Let me warn you though, Rick was, and always will be, a player. A relationship with him may seem like a good idea, but if he does to you what he did to me, you’re the one who has to work with him afterwards.”

“Oh.” Kate said, looking more than a little disappointed. “Yeah, you’re right. You’re not the first one to warn me against him.”

The rain had eased up, and she lifted the tarp, so I could peek underneath it. I unclipped a torch from my belt, and shone it upon the ground beneath the tarp. The size of the tracks made me gasp, and my stomach sank.

No ordinary dog could have made those tracks. I thought. They looked like wolf tracks, but they were larger than any I had ever seen. I took out a ruler and measured them. Close to six inches. That was some big wolf.

“It’s a wolf, right?” Kate said, looking down at me. “Nothing else could get that big.”

I sighed. “They sure look like wolf tracks, but there is a chance it could be a hybrid. Did you find any hairs on the body?”

“Yes.” Kate took an evidence bag out from beneath her coat.

“Send me photos of the tracks, and a copy of the lab results.” I said, looking up at the lightening sky. “Well, at least it’s stopped raining.”

“Sure.” Kate said with a nod.

I thanked her and began to move away. Rick looked over at me as I approached him. I looked up at the ring of gathering reporters and gawkers behind the police tape, and my eyes fell again upon the young man I had first noticed. He was looking directly at me, and I noticed that he did not appear to have a camera crew in tow. He wasn’t wearing a media tag, either. Maybe I was wrong about him being a reporter.

“Hey Rick.” I said, as I reached him. “Who is that young dark-haired guy standing with the journalists?”

Rick looked up at the man, then back at me. “Beats me. He was here not long after the police got here, that’s all I know.”

“Who found the body?”

“An anonymous caller.”

“That’s a bit strange, isn’t it? An anonymous caller? For an animal attack?”

“Yeah. It happens. Sometimes people find a body and just don't won't to hang around, answering questions.”

“Yeah, okay. Looks like either a wolf or wolf hybrid.”

“You think someone’s wolf-dog got out and killed him?”

“Would make more sense than a wolf attack. Firstly, there would have to be wolves here, which would be news to me, and I’m the expert. There are a few in the north of the state, but it’s unlikely they would travel this far, without being noticed.”

“Yes, but they could survive here right? I mean that mountain lion does.”

“P-22? Yes, he is an outlier though. I mean, he is alone, and boxed in by the city. He didn’t have far to travel compared to a wolf, either. There are cougars all around us, on top of the middle-aged, human, female variety. There are plenty of those as well.”

Rick laughed. “Good god, don’t I know it.”

“A little too well.” I said blithely, and his expression fell.

“Sarah, look. I’m sorry, okay. I made a mistake —”

“It would be more probable to see another cougar here than a wolf.” I continued, ignoring his attempt to reconcile. “My bet is on it being a hybrid.” I looked up at the sky again. “The sun is up, and I’m going home now. I need to get some sleep.”

Rick looked as if he had been about to say something, then thought better of it. He nodded, and turned away from me, going over to where an ambulance was waiting to receive the body.

I passed through the police tape, and began to walk back to my car, dodging journalists as I went. I stopped, and they gathered around me.

“The deceased appears to have been attacked by a large canine.” I said in response to their questions. “I suggest people don’t wander around alone, especially at night, until it is identified and dealt with. That is all I can say right now.”

“Who are you?” One of the reporters asked.

“Sarah Quinlan, zoologist, and specialist in wild canine morphology and behaviour.”

“Are you with the parks, or the zoo?”

“Neither. I’m a researcher, and writer.”

“Are you the woman who said there were wolves in Big Sur?” One reporter asked, and I felt a tug of unease.

“Yes, but it turned out I was mistaken.”

“Do you think they could have come down this far without us knowing?”

“No.” I said, putting my hand up. “I have nothing further to say.”

I left the reporters behind, and was surprised when a figure drew up beside me, making me jump. I spun quickly towards him.

“What do you want?!” I asked, with a touch of hostility in my voice.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” It was the young man I had asked Rick about, and he was staring at me with a strange look in his eyes.

I stood still and met his gaze, and he smiled at me.

“You are a carnivore specialist?”

“That’s what I said.” I waited for him to continue, but he remained silent. He seemed to be on the verge of telling me something, but deciding against it, and it reminded me of a wild animal that was hesitant to approach someone holding out food to it.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

“Oh.” He looked over at the police, the reporters, then back at me. “Can we maybe get a coffee? I mean, if you don’t have anything better to do?”

I looked at him incredulously, and he appeared to immediately regret his question. “I’m sorry, I … its bad timing. I’ll just go.”

“No, you just surprised me, that’s all.” I said. “Not now. Maybe later though, I’ve been up all night, and I really need to get some sleep, before I fall down.”

“Oh. Yeah, sure. Tomorrow?”

“How about a drink tonight instead? I’ve always been more of a night-owl in any case.”

“That makes sense.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, most carnivores hunt at night, right?”

I smiled. “Yes. I suppose.”

“I’m more of a night-owl as well.”

“Well, if you are a carnivore, I hope you aren’t a wolf.” I quipped.

He gave me a questioning look, and I felt the need to elaborate.

“I mean, that’s what they call men who prey on women, right? You won’t bite me, will you?”

Another questioning look, and an awkward silence ensued.

“It was a joke.” I said.

He smiled. “Not unless you want me to. I mean, after our date …”

“Okay, hang back. I was assuming you wanted to talk to me about the attack, not —”

“Oh. No, I didn’t mean…” He laughed self-consciously. “I’m sorry, I was trying to play along with your joke. I guess it backfired. I do want to talk to you about the attack.” He reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a notebook, scribbled something onto it, then ripped the page out, and handed it to me. “I know you’re not the type of woman to accept a date from a random stranger. Especially one turning up at a crime scene. Call me when you wake up, and we can arrange a place to meet?”

I looked at the piece of paper in my hand. His name was written there, with a phone number beneath it.

“Kai Wright.” I read aloud. “Well, now that I know what your name is, I can ask Rick to do a background check. Just in case you do happen to bite.” I gestured over at the tall detective. “I hope you have nothing to hide.”

He gave me a confused look, then looked over at Rick, who was staring at us intently.

“Oh, Rick is the detective. He looks worried, don’t you think? I’m not a suspect, am I?” He said with a grin.

“For an animal attack? Not unless you own a wolf-dog. That look has nothing to do with the case.”

“Is he your husband?”

“Husband?”

“Yes. Most women’s husbands only look at me like that, when I talk to their wives in a bar.”

“No, Rick’s my ex-boyfriend. He is probably just wondering why I’m talking to you for so long. He has always been a little overprotective, but don’t worry, he’s not the jealous type.”

“That’s hard to believe.”

“What is? That he is my ex-boyfriend, or that he isn’t the jealous type?”

“That you aren’t married.”

“Oh.” I met Kai’s eyes, trying to gauge the intention behind his words, but his eyes were unreadable.

“I don’t have a dog.” He looked as if he was about to say something else of importance, but paused. “I’ll see you tonight, then?”

“Sure, I’ll call you around five.”

“Okay, I look forward to it.”

“Catch you then.”

I watched him walk over and get into a faded blue pickup, which seemed as much out of place here, as I had felt after moving back to L.A. From Saint Helena five years ago.

I had moved here after my mother had fallen ill, and the fact that I had stayed on after she died, was due more to meeting Rick, than anything else. I had met Rick when he was still a uniformed officer, and he had set me up as an adviser to the police department. My help had proven to be invaluable in tracking and relocating a coyote that had been responsible for attacks on small dogs in the area, and they had called on me for anything predator-related since then.

“Sarah? Is everything alright?”

I snapped out of my reverie, to find Rick standing beside me. The blue pick-up was gone, and I ``1-looked up at him.

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t see you come over.”

“What did he want?” Rick asked.

“He wanted to talk to me about the attack.” I replied. “I’m sorry, Rick, but I’m really tired. If I don’t get myself home soon, I’ll fall asleep on the spot.”

“Let me drive you.” Rick looked at me with concern. “I’ll get an Uber back to the station.”

“What about your car?”

“Cathy can drive it back for me.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I watched Rick walk over to speak with Cathy, then come back over to me. I really did not feel like spending more time with him, so soon after our break-up, but tiredness was sweeping over me like a wave, and I knew that taking up his offer was the safest option I had. He drove me home, and parked in the garage, and I told him I was going up to bed, while he waited for his Uber. There was an easy familiarity between us now, and I instantly regretted inviting him in when he followed me up the stairs, into my bedroom.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and began to take my shoes off, having shed my coat downstairs. Rick watched me with his cool blue eyes, and I stretched, then lay back on the pillow.

“Sarah …” He began, sitting down on the bed. “I’m sorry. I was a fool to risk losing you. I—”

“You better call your Uber.” I said abruptly, reaching behind my back to unfasten my bra. I took it off without removing my shirt, and threw it onto a nearby armchair. “Goodbye, Rick.”

Rick sighed, then stood up. “I’ll talk to you later. If you aren’t doing anything this afternoon, you know where to find me.”

“You won’t see me this afternoon, Rick, I’m too tired. I am meeting Kai for a drink tonight, however.” I said, not sure why I was even bothering to divulge the information, except to make him a little jealous.

“Park guy?”

“Yes. Kai Wright.”

“Where are you meeting him?”

“We haven’t decided yet.”

“Arrange to meet him at Georgie’s then. I can look out for you, and you can have a drink with me afterwards.”

“You assume I need looking out for, Rick.”

“I’ll always look out for you, Sarah.”

“Yeah, well now you can look out for me, by letting me get some sleep.”

“Sure thing. Sweet dreams, Sarah.” He patted my arm, then rose from the bed and walked downstairs.

A few minutes later, I heard him leave, and I abandoned myself to sleep.