Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (dark books to read TXT) 📗

seem a ways off." Vance tossed the crowbar onto the side of the road and paced in their direction.

As he got closer, the form of Moss Lake Bridge took shape through the fog. The police car, along with those standing around it, became visible. Voices could be heard as they raised in argument where the bridge began.

"I told you to sit tight. Search and rescue are en route and we don't know what we're dealing with yet."

Vance could hear David and Sarah's voices among others arguing with Officer Benning as he got close enough to make everything out.

Vance cuffed his hands with a deep breath and raised them to his face. "Tony ever catch up to y'all?" Startled glances jumped in his direction from each of them.

"Jesus, son." Officer Benning said. "Don't sneak up like that." After tapping his boots a few times, he walked in Vance's direction.

"You're Vincent Miller's boy aren't ya?" he asked Vance with a deep, challenging stare.

"What's it to you?" Vance replied, forcing his stare right back at him.

"Damn shame about that old barn that burned down the other day," Benning said. "Good thing your father had that property insured, being it wasn't selling." He touched his badge before turning his head back toward the others and returning his stare back at Vance. "Maybe now he can afford the fines from his last DUI," the inquisitive officer continued.

Vance's face got hot as he caught a glimpse of David's smile from the corner of his eye. "You got nothing on me and you know it."

Sarah's voice spoke up from the commotion of the group. "Tony is still missing up there. Can't we worry about him?"

Vance shouted to the others, disregarding Officer Benning's presence. "What about Jake? Has anyone seen Jake Carson, tonight?"

"Last night," David corrected him.

"Run your smart mouth while this guy's here," Vance said tilting his head to the side at Benning who was now marching back to his patrol car.

Sarah's voice cut in. "We thought he went back to you, Vance."

"Update that, dispatch,” Benning said on the radio, leaning casually against the open door of his police cruiser. “We have two missing teenagers up Cliff Mine Road."

While Benning repeated their names on the radio, Vance walked over to the others. Terry spoke up before he had a chance to get a word in with David. "We decided to meet at the church tonight after everyone gets some rest. Is midnight good for you?"

"Sure." Vance nodded as he turned to look across flat blankets of thick fog that concealed the lake. "Don't have practice until next week. Got nothing better to do."

Terry leaned closer to speak quietly. "We all agreed not to talk to the cops about the..." He paused for a moment and whispered, "Werewolf stuff."

Vance couldn't hold back the grin that pulled hard across his face as he turned to glance at Officer Benning. He looked back to Terry with a nod. "Probably for the best."

###

Finally, daybreak dissipated the fog, but it was a long day that Pine Bluff would endure as the sound of helicopters echoed down through the valley. Two more of their own had gone missing. This time it was in the wooded hills just outside of town. A strict curfew went into effect and Moss Lake closed for the week. Rumors spread throughout town that a rabid bear was terrorizing the backcountry and wandering into the streets. For the first time, people were afraid to venture near the wilderness or even walk alone within the city.

#Sarah#

Sarah's eyes blurred into focus on the bright red digits of her alarm clock. It was 8:36 PM. She squirmed around her sofa, realizing she was sprawled haphazardly on top of a snoring David. She jumped to sit up. Memories of him falling asleep as they sat together talking flooded back into her recollection.

The flickering porchlight projected shadows from the blinds across the clean, white walls that wrapped around Sarah's neatly arranged furniture, resting upon the well vacuumed, deep red carpet. The pristine interior converged to the dining area, still littered with empty cans, maps and papers. The one mess she kept inside still stood out. It was enough to make her entire place a disaster.

As she rose to her aching feet, she noticed how stiff her legs were. Last night was a hell of a hike. 

"Sleeping beauty!" she shouted, kicking at David's shoulder as he mumbled curses at her in his sleep. "Wake up."

David's head sprung from the armrest as he mumbled. "When did I fall asleep?"

The tension in Sarah's chest loosened when she realized that he never woke up and noticed. "We're going to be late for that meeting with the others and we still have to see if they cleared the road to get your car."

"Alright. I'm up already," David said as he slowly arose from the dead.

"Any word on Tony yet?" she asked while David searched on his phone.

"Latest updates say they're both still missing," David said after sliding his thumb down his screen to refresh an article.

Memories of her morning conversation with David flooded Sarah's thoughts. His voice replayed in her mind. It's a good thing we didn't run into Tony out there. I still have a few words for him. She looked over at him for a moment while he scrolled on his phone for answers. His heated words might turn out to be another thing for him to regret. But I know if it turns out that way, it’ll be a valuable life lesson for him. Her eyes lowered heavily to the crimson carpet.

"Jan says her mom is dropping her off here on her way to work," David said as he looked up from his phone.

"Seriously?" Sarah said. "With all this going on, that's what you’re busy doing on your phone?" It seemed David still had a one-track mind.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" His voice snapped her from her thoughts.

"Why at my place?" Sarah narrowed her eyes at him. "Couldn't Vance go pick her up on the way?"

"I think they broke up," David said. "Besides, it's