Chapter Thirty-nine
1627 Words
Suddenly, little sobs could be heard coming from Hanna. Thank the Moon! Both George and I let go of the breaths we were holding. I instinctively pulled Hanna closer to me into a brotherly embrace. George braced himself to catch her in case she slipped from fainting.
“Delayed reaction,” I asked as a whisper into her hair. She nodded. Her tears started to flow freely now.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled into my chest. Her shoulders began to heave up and down with each sob. I held her tighter. George even placed his hand in a caring way on her. Maybe Cass’ influence is starting to rub off on us? If she could see us now, ha.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” I reassured her. “I’d be more concerned if you didn’t react after seeing what you saw.”
“That was Kimmy,” she whispered. George and I exchanged puzzled looks.
“Kimmy?” George questioned her. “Kimmy who?”
“Kimberly Barton. She’s an art major,” Hanna explained who she was talking about. “She went missing a few weeks ago.”
“Barton,” I let out gruffly. “Of course, she would use the name, Barton.” Lieutenant Isaiah Barton needed to be questioned again. Damn him. “What did the Chief say?” I suddenly remembered.
“Tiffeny is on her way here to sit with Miss Grimm,” George answered.
“Good. We’re not leaving until she gets here,” I firmly stated. “I don’t trust that Professor or that Mitch guy.”
“What the hell? Just who exactly do you think you are?” Hanna suddenly began to get defensive. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Sergeant.”
“Hanna,” I began to explain to her.
“Miss Grimm to you Sergeant Black,” she firmly retorted back. Her eyes now held anger behind them. “Butt out of my personal life, and mind your own business!” Tears of anger replaced the ones of sadness.
“Fine. Miss Grimm,” I corrected myself, gritting my jaw. Why does she have to be so stubborn?
“Hanna! Sergeant, what’s going on here?” Tiffeny spoke out, notifying us of her arrival.
“Miss Lowell, Miss Grimm has had a delayed reaction and briefly showed signs of shock,” George informed her.
“Hanna,” Tiffeny then addressed her cousin. “What’s with the attitude?”
“Sergeant made a remark about my boss and...”
“And?” Tiffeny tried to coax her for more info.
“Mitch,” she flatly said.
“Hanna, you even know that I don’t like the guy,” Tiffeny said. And on that note, Tiffeny nodded to dismiss us.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to her as George and I took our leave.
“Miss Grimm, don’t forget to call your Aunt Lila!” George hollered out the reminder.
Wolfdale City Police Department...
George and I finally made our way back to homicide. Cass, Roger, and the Captain are still combing through all the evidence between Avery and Ellie's cases.
“Any new leads?” I inquired.
“Taking another look over both autopsy reports, I’ve noticed something of interest at least,” Roger answered.
“Shoot,” I absentmindedly stated. It’s been another long hard day.
“Don’t tempt me,” Cass teased. I just shook my head. Yeah, I set myself up for that one. Cass and Roger gave each other a fist bump. I’m so loved by my co-workers.
“Well, they both seemed to have been murdered on a full moon,” Roger stated. “And some of the markings on their bodies appear to be claw marks. I visited the local library and found books on animal prints. I’d figure they could help with identifying what they are.”
“So they have claw scratches too,” I muttered to no one in particular, plopping down on my chair.
“Too? Who else has them?” Captain Winston asked, surprised.
“Rhonda,” I whispered. “Hanna, ahem, Miss Grimm,” I emphasized the latter with a bad attitude. “When she was here earlier, she got a look at them. She’s pretty sure they belong to a Canis lupus.”
“A wolf,” George and Roger stated in unison. I guess they would do something like that after working together for many years. It’s still weird.
“Okay, so let me get this straight. Avery and Ellie were both killed on a full moon and both bodies show claw marks from a “supposed” wolf. There’s an alleged “werewolf” caught on the IR security cameras from the construction site where Rhonda was found,” the Captain thought out loud, trying to put the dots together.
“Are we looking for a werewolf for our Person of Interest/ suspect?” Roger asked. “That’s gonna be fun.” Here we go again. I rubbed my face in frustration and tiredness. Somebody help me.
“Um, Miss Grimm apparently knew our Rhonda. Only she knew her as Kimberly “Kimmy” Barton.” George also informed everyone, changing the subject.
“So, Hanna knows Rhonda,” Cass shrugged anything nefarious off. “She’s a grad student and on staff at the university. That shouldn’t mean anything, seeing how she would actually know other students.”
“True, but we shouldn’t rule it out either,” the Captain suggested.
“Do you think Hanna, ahem, Miss Grimm...” George began to ask me, but before we could divulge any further, a uniformed officer showed up.
“Sergeant Black,” she addressed me with confidence. “The Chief would like to see you in his office, like now.”
“Great, now what,” I muttered silently to myself. “Alright, tell him I’m on my way.”
Chief Fenton Edwards office...
Upon reaching the Chief’s office, I could hear loud exasperated voices coming from within. Neither one is willing to hear the other one. The voices belonged to Tiffeny Lowell and Hanna Grimm. I’ve been pulled from my job just for a family squabble? I’m quickly debating whether to feign another dizzy spell.
“Tiffeny, stop treating me like a child,” Hanna insisted. “You know that I don’t handle stress well. I’m sorry that you saw Sergeant Black hold me. I know you like him.”
“Hanna, no one is treating you like a child. You just scare us from time to time when you zone out like that,” Uncle Fenton kindly stated, concern lacing his voice. “I don’t want you to get hurt during those moments.”
“I’m not mad at you for that. I’m mad at you for not being willing to listen,” Tiffeny answered in a huff. “I wish you would stop being so stubborn for once in your life.” I took this opportunity to knock on the door.
“Come in,” the Chief huffed out.
“Chief, you called for me,” I questioned him. “What’s this about?”
“My daughter tells me that you and Miss Grimm had a bit of a stand-off earlier,” the Chief said, quickly getting to the point. “This needs to be resolved now. From what Doc Jacobson tells me, Hanna has been helpful. I don’t know whatever the specific issue is between you two. But, I do know that I don’t want this to cause a hindrance to where a future of working together would be needed.”
“I won’t deny that she has,” I confessed. “Her knowledge is tremendously helpful. In fact, if she is willing, perhaps she can help Roger identify some claw marks?” I sense there is more to this meeting than just a family squabble, so I put forth the question.
However, Hanna is being stubborn over this simple inquiry. She just sits there, arms crossed, and glares angrily at me. On the other side of me sits Tiffeny mimicking the same stance. I somehow sense that her glare is more directed at Hanna than at me. I hope.
“Does this concern the current active case?” the Chief inquired. I nodded. “Hanna, would you please help us out one more time?”
“Fine,” she huffed out. “Only because you asked me, Uncle, not because of Sergeant Black.” Chief Edwards made a quick phone call and within minutes Cassidy arrived to escort Hanna up to homicide.
“Okay, Micah,” the Chief addressed me. “What really happened between the two of you?”
“I may have mentioned the fact that I don’t trust Professor Bryant and her boyfriend, Mitchell Owens,” I casually answered back.
“I can’t say anything about that Bryant guy. I’ve never met him,” Tiffeny suddenly spoke up. “But, I do agree with Sergeant Black about Mitch.”
“Huh, I see,” Fenton Edwards said, rubbing his chin as if in thought. He leaned back in his chair and said, “ What do you suggest then?”
“A background check on him,” Tiffeny surprisingly suggested. I nodded in agreement.
“Consider it done, but know this, it’s going to take time getting the information,” he reminded us. “And try having some faith in Hanna. She needs to learn how to trust people. So help her.”
“But he’s too clingy. I know Hanna doesn’t like to feel smothered,” Tiffeny whined, concerned for her cousin. I can relate. It feels like you’re a caged animal being held against your will.
- Writer
