Chapter 12 The Beasts

Creek Dams law enforcement station was surprisingly warm for the nighttime Spring season.  And quiet except for the typewriters banging against the red and black ribbon.  Some of them in singularity, hushed by key strokes over correction fluid. 

Those on duty inside were working.  Hard.

Florescent bulbs lit the station with one set, blinking gray to purplish moving circles that ran along the busted bulb, requiring a change.  But the officers had other ideas in mind and changing a blown light bulb was not one of them.

Members of the criminal society sat without making too much noise or movement, eager to get some rest in the early morning hours caused them to look almost at home.  They've done this before.

The double doors to the building shut with a bell attached to the top of the doors that beat angrily yet shortly, letting the officer at the information desk know to greet any late night entries with a late night smile that was out of place for the industry that the frantic Rival family had just entered.

"First," the smiling officer said, "Let me stop you right there." He held up a palm, clearly in his traffic directing state of mind.  And the Rival family stopped on command, shocked by the smiling man.

"Two," the officer counted, "This is a business and we expect you to treat it that way.  That means with respect."  He said, lowering his palm.

"And three," he continued, "Do you see the latest catch squirming over there?" He asked, pointing to the restrained persons who were in various stages of unrest and accompanied by destiny's one fingered touch of the typewriter keys that banged out their arrangements for the hours to come.

"We have more seats in the back," the information desk officer informed them diligently, "Now. It's late." He said with a continuous smile of courtesy, welcoming the Rivals to the Creek Dams law enforcement agency.

The Rivals went to the information desk. 

"Uh," Lucky began.  "You've got a few werewolves on the road to Creek Dams River." He said, his siblings by his side.

"What are you?  Drunk?" The officer asked, grinning unbelievably at Lucky.  "There go your werewolves." The officer said, pointing nonchalantly to the captives.

Lucky looked around the room.  "Creek Dams is infested too." He said, noticing that the typing, talking, and any belligerent activity had stopped.

"Who are you?" The officer asked, "Another tourist?"

"No." Shouted someone.  "He's a beast hunter." A handcuffed man said, having gotten the rooms attention.

"Be quiet over there and wait your turn." The officer at the information desk shouted.

"But he is." The handcuffed man said. "From Darteret. I've seen him before." The cuffed man said, looking at Lucky and serious about his own conversation.  "Them too." The handcuffed man said, using his head to aim at people.

Lucky nodded.  The talkative captive acknowledged him with shifting eyes left to right and then back again to Lucky, who subtly followed the man's gaze, noticing the differences.

The quietness of Creek Dams law enforcement station was stranger now.  Everybody seemed to know everybody except for a few.  And what few captives were there had lowered their heads, trying to keep their faces hidden.  The officers kept a keen eye on Lucky.

"I've been here too long beast hunter." The officer at the information desk said, laughing at the  circumstances of the office all of a sudden.  "Go back to Darteret.  All of that sand and sun will make anybody haywire." The officer grinned.

Candace grasped Lucky's elbow, breaking his silence.  She tugged on her big brother who stood there glaring at the cop behind the information desk.

"Call me." Lucky said, dropping a card onto the information desk.  "I'm already ahead of you." Lucky said, stepping away from the desk.

"Hey beast hunter." The handcuffed man yelled.  Lucky looked back at the detained individual recognizing who was being called.  "I've seen them." The apprehended man said, nodding to the room.

Officer and captive alike kept faces hidden, portrayed busy, or was focused on Lucky.

"Come on." An officer said to the man.  "You'll be out before the sun comes up." The officer said, smiling while giving Lucky a sinister stare.

"I told you." The handcuffed man mouthed silently and sat down.

"Let's go, Lucky." Max said, leaving the station.

"I'll call you for sure.  Mr. Lucky Rival."  The officer at the information desk said, tearing the card to pieces as the bell at the top of the door quit ringing.

"We should have just gone to the house." Max said, buckling the seatbelt.

The vehicle roared as Lucky cranked the engine.

"After tonight, we should have stayed there." Lucky said, putting the car in gear and exiting the parking area.

"Let's talk about it later." Candace said, resting on the headrest and shutting her eyes.

"I guess you're right, Candace." Lucky said.  "We can start with my phone line.  Darteret should know something by now."

"Yeah." Candace moaned, settling into a more restful position.  "Me and Max will go to the station with you." She said, falling asleep.

"Max?  Are you up for the phone lines later today?" Lucky asked.

"Of course." Max answered, shutting his eyes and laying back as far as he could go.

"Good.  Now let's go home.  I hate Creek Dams too." Lucky said holding the steering wheel tight and getting his sister and his brother out of there.