Saturday, December 14, 2019
Night Creature Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 15 Free Essays
Before she could dial, the door crashed open. Jessie and I pointed our weapons toward the sound. Will stopped dead. We will write a custom essay sample on Night Creature: Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 15 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"I have to go.â⬠Jessie waved her .44 toward the sign that read: rest-room. ââ¬Å"Go.â⬠He shook his head. His earring waggled, catching the light and throwing speckles of gold across his jaw. ââ¬Å"I found something.â⬠In the act of putting away our guns, Jessie and I tensed. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not sure.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s a lot of that going around,â⬠I muttered. ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠Cadotteââ¬â¢s eyes were unfocused behind his glasses. He stared at me as if he couldnââ¬â¢t remember who I was. Then understanding dawned. ââ¬Å"Oh, hi, Leigh. What are you doing here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Never mind her, Slick. What did you find?â⬠ââ¬Å"I did an Internet search on Weendigo, and I came up with the Legend of the Power Eater.â⬠Jessie and I exchanged glances. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve never heard of it. But thereââ¬â¢s a book ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Jessie groaned. ââ¬Å"Not another book. Havenââ¬â¢t we been through this?â⬠Confused, I looked back and forth between them. Jessie explained. ââ¬Å"Will had a book on raising the wolf god. Sadly, a page was missing. A very important page.â⬠ââ¬Å"I ordered another one,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Which the werewolves conveniently intercepted.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s why this time Iââ¬â¢m going to the book.â⬠ââ¬Å"Pardon me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s a copy in Madison. Iââ¬â¢m leaving now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Now?â⬠Jessie sounded forlorn. I stifled a smirk. ââ¬Å"I should be able to see it first thing in the morning. If thereââ¬â¢s anything useful Iââ¬â¢ll bring the book back or make a copy.â⬠His gaze softened. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be home by tomorrow afternoon, Jess.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fine. Whatever. Iââ¬â¢ve got plenty to do here.â⬠ââ¬Å"Uh-huh.â⬠Cadotte wasnââ¬â¢t buying it. He crossed the room and scooped her into his arms. Jessie was a big girl, but he was an even bigger man. He held her as if she were a child. Her usually stern face went all dopey with love. I turned away. But I could still hear every word. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be back before you even miss me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Too late.â⬠Smoochy sounds followed. I tapped my foot, stared at the ceiling, considered leaving the room. ââ¬Å"Take this.â⬠I spun around. Jessie was holding out her service revolver. Will stared at it with obvious distaste. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t like guns.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t like dead boyfriends. Iââ¬â¢m silly that way.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t want a gun.â⬠ââ¬Å"Last time, Will, they needed you for the ceremony.â⬠ââ¬Å"You, too.â⬠ââ¬Å"But I can take care of myself.â⬠ââ¬Å"And I canââ¬â¢t?â⬠She sighed. ââ¬Å"For me? Please?â⬠He took the gun, holding it between two fingers, as if the thing might go off at any moment. Jessie glanced at me and together we rolled our eyes. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s going to shoot off his toe,â⬠I commented. ââ¬Å"Oh well, heââ¬â¢s got nine more. Just donââ¬â¢t shoot off something Iââ¬â¢ll need later. Especially something youââ¬â¢ve got only one of.â⬠I blushed. I might be a big, bad werewolf hunter, but bawdy sexual innuendos flustered me. ââ¬Å"I think I embarrassed the duchess.â⬠ââ¬Å"Leave her be, Jess.â⬠They were both staring at me. Jessieââ¬â¢s gaze was contemplative. She saw more than I wanted her to. Willââ¬â¢s was sympathetic. I didnââ¬â¢t like his any better. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll leave you two alone to say good-bye.â⬠I practically ran outside. The half-moon slid toward the horizon. Soon the sun would come up and I could sleep. Here I was a werewolf hunter living like a vampire. That might even be funny, if I did much laughing anymore. I took a minute to observe the clear navy blue sky. Living in Topeka for most of my life, I hadnââ¬â¢t known how brightly stars could shine away from the glare of city lights. A flash at the corner of my vision drew my gaze, and I watched a star flare, then drop. City dwellers rarely caught a glimpse of a falling star. Every time I saw one, I was amazed and humbled. There was so much out there we didnââ¬â¢t understand. ââ¬Å"I wish Iâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ My words trailed off into the chill of the autumn night. What did I wish? That I could catch the Weendigo ââ¬â kill a killer at any cost? Or that I could have back the life Iââ¬â¢d lost? Did I want death or to start anew? I had no idea anymore, and that scared me. Until Iââ¬â¢d come to Crow Valley Iââ¬â¢d only wanted to kill them, not caring if I died, too. But suddenly there were people I liked all around me, not friends exactly but no longer strangers, either. There was sexual attraction, something I hadnââ¬â¢t experienced in years. Lust had made me want to live. At least until I tasted it again. That wasnââ¬â¢t good. The not caring had made me damn near invincible. I took chances no one else dared to. The monsters sensed Iââ¬â¢d die before I let them live, which gave me an edge. Suddenly the edge was lost. What if in the middle of a death battle I started remembering Damien and his kiss? Longing for it, for him? Iââ¬â¢d sneered at Jessie because of her attachment to Will. Was I any better? I couldnââ¬â¢t afford to be distracted. So what was I going to do about it? I had a pretty good idea. The door opened and Jessie, then Will, stepped out. Her uniform was untucked, her shirt buttoned wrong. His pants were unzipped; his glasses had fingerprints all over them. Talk about a quickie. I wanted one. ââ¬Å"Take care of her, OK?â⬠Will asked. Jessie snorted. ââ¬Å"Right.â⬠Will ignored her, focusing instead on me. ââ¬Å"Please?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠Then he was gone. Jessie made an impatient sound. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s get one thing straight, Duchess. I can take care of myself. I donââ¬â¢t need you or anyone else to help me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Me, either. But we can humor Edward. And the boyfriend.â⬠She scowled at my term for Will and I almost laughed. It was so easy to yank her chain. ââ¬Å"Come on. You can call Mandenauer this time.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d forgotten that weââ¬â¢d been about to call him when Will showed up. I went into the station and sat at Jessieââ¬â¢s desk. ââ¬Å"Make yourself right at home,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Thanks.â⬠I picked up her phone. Edward answered his direct line on the second ring. ââ¬Å"Jawohl? Was ist es?â⬠I frowned. It wasnââ¬â¢t like him to speak in German. Heââ¬â¢d been in this country for longer than Iââ¬â¢d been alive. Iââ¬â¢d only heard him revert to his native tongue when he was very, very tired, sick, or hurt ââ¬â which had happened maybe twice since Iââ¬â¢d known him. ââ¬Å"Are you all right?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Leigh? Yes. Of course. I was sleeping.â⬠Something he rarely did. But when he slept, heââ¬â¢d always awoken completely alert and ready to deal with anything at a momentââ¬â¢s notice. Military training did that to a guy, or so he said. His behavior concerned me. ââ¬Å"Is Elise there?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠he said shortly. ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠Elise watched over Edward like a mother hen. Drove him nuts, but she wouldnââ¬â¢t stop. ââ¬Å"Because I am in my room and she isâ⬠¦ I donââ¬â¢t know where. Now what do you want atâ⬠¦ four a.m.?â⬠Quickly I filled him in on what he didnââ¬â¢t know. ââ¬Å"Can you contact someone in the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program?â⬠ââ¬Å"Certainly, You will have your data by midday.â⬠Edward the efficient. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s one more thing.â⬠I glanced at Jessie. She made a whirling motion with her hand. Get on with it. ââ¬Å"Have you ever had an agent named Damien Fitzgerald?â⬠Edward thought for an instant. ââ¬Å"No. The name is not familiar. Why?â⬠I filled him in on a little bit more. ââ¬Å"He could have changed his name,â⬠Edward murmured. ââ¬Å"I will send you photos of the rogue agents I am aware of.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks.â⬠ââ¬Å"So why did Elise need you back there pronto?â⬠I asked. Silence settled over the line. I wondered if heââ¬â¢d hung up. ââ¬Å"Edward?â⬠ââ¬Å"I am here.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well? Whatââ¬â¢s up?â⬠Elise had been working on a cure for lycanthropy. So far sheââ¬â¢d come up with zilch. The only reason I could think of for Edward to rush to 7-5 headquarters in remote Montana was that sheââ¬â¢d had a breakthrough. The idea made me nervous. If Elise found a way to cure them, what would I do with the rest of my life? ââ¬Å"Nothing is up,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Elise thought she might have discovered something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Did she?â⬠ââ¬Å"That remains to be seen.â⬠He sighed. ââ¬Å"But I do not think so.â⬠I let out the breath I hadnââ¬â¢t even known I was holding. ââ¬Å"Will you be back soon?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. You and Jessie can handle things in Crow Valley.â⬠ââ¬Å"But ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I am tired, Leigh. I need a rest.â⬠My heart started thudding faster and harder with dread. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re sick.â⬠ââ¬Å"Perhaps. Sick and tired of the blood, the death, the killing. And for what? There are always more.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d never heard him so down. Usually Edward was the one buoying everyone elseââ¬â¢s spirits. I glanced at Jessie, frowned. Heââ¬â¢d never been like this before heââ¬â¢d met her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll make sure there arenââ¬â¢t any more here,â⬠I promised, and hung up. ââ¬Å"What exactly happened in Miniwa?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"You know.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wolf god, totem. Been there, heard that. I meant to Edward.â⬠Her gaze slid away from mine. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"He made a few mistakes. Nothing major. Everything worked out for the best.â⬠Mistakes? That didnââ¬â¢t sound like Edward. ââ¬Å"What kind of mistakes?â⬠ââ¬Å"He got distracted. We got captured.â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"It happens.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not to him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Never?â⬠Not that I knew of. Iââ¬â¢d considered telling Edward I thought Hector might be here. Until heââ¬â¢d answered the phone speaking German. Until heââ¬â¢d gone all Eeyore on me. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s acting so weird,â⬠I murmured. ââ¬Å"He didnââ¬â¢t want to come back.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can you blame him? The guyââ¬â¢s been hunting werewolves, and Lord knows what else, for sixty years. Iââ¬â¢d be ready for a break.â⬠I suspected she was right, but I didnââ¬â¢t like it. I decided to keep my suspicions about Hector between myself and Jessie until I was sure I wasnââ¬â¢t seeing things again. Why upset Edward if I didnââ¬â¢t have to? ââ¬Å"What about the information from Quantico?â⬠Jessie asked. ââ¬Å"By noon.â⬠ââ¬Å"And Fitzgerald?â⬠ââ¬Å"He doesnââ¬â¢t recognize the name, but heââ¬â¢s sending rogue agent pictures.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good. Thereââ¬â¢s not much else we can do until then. Iââ¬â¢d better make my rounds. Not that Iââ¬â¢ll see anything, but I try to at least pretend to earn my second paycheck.â⬠ââ¬Å"This place is awful quiet after the sun goes down.â⬠ââ¬Å"Creepy, isnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠Crow Valley after sunset was as quiet as the proverbial tomb. No lights in any of the windows. Not even a cat trolling the streets. The entire town had a deserted air. As if too many of the citizens had disappeared. We just didnââ¬â¢t know how many. Where there were werewolves, people went missing. Which was usually how the Juger-Suchers ended up being called to the scene. Then we made sure the missing were explained. Our favorite excuse was that theyââ¬â¢d walked into the woods and never come back out. It happens more than youââ¬â¢d think. How to cite Night Creature: Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 15, Essay examples
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