Spliced

Kass wound her way through the busy hallway, sidestepping past people too busy or wrapped up in other things to watch where they were going.

“You hear about those missing kids?”

Kass caught snippets of conversation as she breezed past.

“The ones who disappeared a few nights ago?”

And just as she caught them they faded into the background replaced by other notes.

“Boss is hounding me up about denting the squad again. I told him, ain’t gonna catch those speed freaks if you can’t chase after them, sometimes that means a few dents in the paint work.”

“You catch the new film, the one about the chef?”

“And I told him, they’re like cats and dogs, they don’t mix, it’s much better to just keep them apart if you ask me.”

“I’ve got so much paperwork you could build a small shed out of it.”

She pressed herself tight against the wall as a couple of cops hauled a perp down the hall. More snippets of conversation floated her way.

“This place is so busy today. What happened, somebody start a riot?”

“Those protests, out front of the blood bank, some idiot threw a car over the fence and it went south from there, the cells are full.”

Kass slipped forward again, following a pair of police in tan and brown uniform.

“Do you think we have a kidnapper in town?”

“I hope not, there’s enough going on around here as it is and no leads, it’ll probably stay open awhile but I doubt it’ll go anywhere. They probably went camping and got lost in the woods. Let Search and Rescue deal with it.”

“Search and Rescue? I thought it was just us cops dealing with issues like that.”

“Mostly it is but there are a couple of volunteer organisations, not to mention private trackers if the parents are willing to pay for it.”

“Private trackers? Like tracers?”

“And werewolves”

“Werewolves!?”

The way he said it grabbed Kass’s attention like a snare and she thoughtfully eyed the cop. He was the younger of the two, and from the little Kass could see from behind, he looked barely in his 20s. The response and it’s fearful tone suggested he wasn’t from around here. Possibly he was from city, although urban werewolves weren’t that uncommon. More than likely he was just from a sheltered family given the way he spoke as if he’d never seen one. Kass herself hadn’t met her first werewolf until she’d been in her 20s. He’d soon find there was nothing to be afraid of, at least no more than you would fear any other person in Little Rock, which if she was being honest now that she was thinking about it was probably not entirely nothing. Still she’d lived in more exciting places.

The other cop was a much older heavy set woman. She gave a sideways glance at her partner, a mix of knowing brought about by experience and a touch of exasperation. “They’re not like what you’d expect, mostly all just normal folks like the rest of us, just a bit more reclusive,” was all she said in a kind tone.

They all arrived at the end of the hall. The cops turned left and Kass went right.

Eventually she reached a counter where a sleepy-eyed sergent was staring off into space.

“I’m here to see a client, Morgan...” she flipped through her notes “Morgan Reech.”

The sergent yawned and leaned forward ever so slightly so he could check his computer.

“He’s been released.”

“Released?”

“Charges were dropped, we needed the space.”

“Nobody told me this.”

The man shrugged as if it was his problem. “Probably happened recently.”

Kass was about to press him for more information when her cellphone rang. Deciding she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the sergent and she could follow up back at the office she turned away and answered the call.

“Hey Kass,” Cat spoke on the other end of the line. “Amanda called a meeting for tonight about you know what. 7pm at Indi’s place.”

“Not at hers or Coals?” Kass asked.

“She doesn’t want the kid to overhear, or Coal to interfere, got it?”

“Sure, I’ll be there,” Kass replied and hung up before Cat could beat her to it.

Kass returned to her office, leaving the police station through what now appeared to be an almost deserted hallway.

When she entered through the main doorway of her office she was hastily pulled aside by Benji. Forever fresh-faced and friendly Benji was one of the juniors. He was called Ben by most, mainly out of professional respect, but Kass still preferred to use his given name. The way he always lit up when she did told her he preferred it too.

“If I was you I’d make yourself scarce for the rest of the day.”

“What?” Kass started as he pushed her towards the door she’d just come through.

“He’s in one of his moods.” Benji jerked a head toward the offices further in and Kass knew immediately that he was talking about their immediate boss. “Not your fault, it’s the riots, he just got a whole load of cases dumped on his desk, probably be on your desk tomorrow, but given the state he’s in right now I’d find something else to work on for the afternoon. Maybe check up on that Milton place you’re supposed to be sorting out the inheritance for. The one Tony was in charge of before he disappeared.”

Kass rolled her eyes, nodded and mumbled, “Thanks Benji,” before heading back out the door.

Kass pulled up outside the gates of the house about 20 minutes later. She got out to open them so she could drive through. Instead of returning to her car straight away she paused at the gate not quite believing what she saw. A car was already parked in the driveway. One she recognised, her coworker, Tony’s.

It wasn’t just parked in any place either. It was parked exactly where she’d last seen it parked about a week ago. She looked up at the house. It loomed above her, all it’s dozens of windows looked down at her, reflecting an overcast sky. Somewhere across town thunder rolled. She looked up and could see rain falling in the distance. She hoped it wasn’t headed this way. Kass shivered as a cool wind blew through her thin blouse. Something wasn’t right.

She left her car parked in the entrance and walked over to investigate Tony’s car. She walked around. It looked exactly as it had a week ago when they’d last visited this house. She could even see the jacket he’d left in the back seat.

She turned back to retrieve her car. She drove it forward and then around so it was facing the gate. She left the gate open and then walked determinedly up to the front door. She took out her key and then paused. She tried the handle. It opened inward.

Kass took a deep breath. She should call out but she felt as if something had stolen her voice, not literally, just as if to make a sound now might call unwelcome attention.

She shook her head. She was being silly. She lifted one heeled foot about to step forward across the entrance-way when her phone ran.

The sound made her nearly jump out of her skin.

“Hello?” she breathed into the receiver, stepping back away from the door.

“Kaaass,” a familiar voice spoke excitedly on the other end. Indi. Indi paused a moment as if distracted by something. “Why do you sound so out of breath?” she asked.

Kass rubbed the other side of her face with one hand. “No reason,” she replied.

“Anyway I was wondering if you weren’t too busy this afternoon if you wanted to come hang out? I’m making cookies.”

Kass smiled briefly. “I’m working Indi.”

“Well maybe you could call in sick or bring your work over here. I could help? Please, the others all said they were busy.”

Some part of Kass felt hurt that Indi had called the others first but she supposed it was to be expected. She was the quiet one, always just along for the ride. She’d never been much good at making friends or providing entertainment. Indi certainly didn’t mean anything by it. Still, just once she’d have liked it if she could be someone’s first call.

Kass glanced back up at the house. She wasn’t keen to head into the office and the idea of stepping into the house again made her pause. “How much do you know about Little Rock’s old buildings?” she asked Indi.

“Not much but I’m a great researcher and I’ve got the best internet connection in town.”

Kass sighed. It was possible Indi might actually be some help after all, and the woman was great at multi-tasking. Cookies and research were right up Indi’s alley. “Alright I’ll be over soon, you get started on those cookies.”

“Yaaay!” Indi squealed.