Blood Moon: Walking through Darkness

CW: Contains references to stalking and sexual coercion

“I’m not agreeing to anything just yet. Just tell me what the plan is, and maybe I’ll help. No promises.”

Mel Carmody stared down the man sitting across from her. His tie was askew and his salt and pepper hair was a mess from running his fingers through them. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, and he had bags under his soft brown eyes.

William “Bill” Masters, her third husband and second divorce, sighed into his cold mug of coffee before speaking.

“I know it’s been a month since that girl disappeared, but I’m still worried about the boys going to that festival next week. I’ll be out of town for work, so I just need you to make sure nothing happens to them.”

The big fall music festival, with overpriced food and indie bands desperate to land a label. The girl was a college student who was at a campfire with some friends in the nearby woods when she disappeared. Despite the concern from parents, the festival was still happening beside the same woods. They promised fencing around the area and increased security, but that can only go so far.

“So,” Mel began, leaning back in her chair, “you want me to chaperone them. Do they know about this idea of yours?”

“I haven’t told them yet. I wanted to know if they would be ok with the idea first.”

“And if they aren’t, you want me to stalk them.”

“Not in…so many words.”

“And I’m guessing Derek’s mom doesn’t know they’re planning on going.”

“I might have told her they were having a sleepover at Carlos’s house since his parents are still worried about him going out.”

That wasn’t a surprise. His other ex-wife was the reason behind their marriage ending as well as her own. Her son, being his own person and having a close bond with his father, set something off in her even when they were together.

Mel took a sip out of her own mug, not caring how her coffee tasted burnt. Despite no longer being an item, they were still close. Derek still saw her as a second mother despite what his blood mother wanted. But its on days like this one that left her wondering if things were different.

“You’re lucky I have a client whose husband is hunting for a younger model before filing. If he’s going to be there, then so will I.”

Bill’s smile made her heart do flips.

“Thanks Mel.”

“I’ll keep you posted. If I can’t make it, make sure someone watches them.”

“I will.”

It took all her effort to not watch him leave her office, yet her heart still sank to her stomach when she heard the click of the door closing behind him. Without him the beige walls, single painted shut window, and minimal furniture appeared more bleak than usual. She should hang some artwork up; there should be some at the local thrift store for cheap.

She turned her attention to the file on her desk. A married couple, together for thirty years with three kids and now the husband was having a mid-life crisis. The wife gave her screenshots of his messages to twenty-something “models” on social media that revealed more about him than she wanted. Those alone won’t help the wife if and when they split but catching him in the act of searching for a mistress will. The wife was told he would be at the festival with “friends,” but none of them were told of this plan.

She better start preparing before errant thoughts crossed her mind.

###

Mel put her mousy hair in a ponytail, wore torn jeans and a solid black tank top paired with sneakers, and a crossbody bag holding her camera. She never trusted phone cameras when it came to catching targets in the act. At least the security accepted her P.I. license or else she wouldn’t have a choice.

She was surrounded by people of varying ages clamoring around food trucks hired for the event and band tables selling merchandise Each section of the festival was set up based on the genre of music being performed, and every fan was in a similar dress code to said genre. Mel noted teens in the sort of outfits that would have had her grounded for a month at their age. If teens now were anything like she was, they had parent-approved clothes in the back of their friend’s car.

No sign of the husband.

“Hey, Aunt Mel.”

She turned to Derek and Carlos walking towards her with drinks and food. The scent of spiced meat would have tempted her if she hadn’t had a large dinner before she left. Hunting season had given her plenty to sustain her Lycan cravings.

“Any luck, Miss Carmody?” asked Carlos between bites of nachos.

“Not yet. When is your girl going onstage?”

The boys blushed. Their favorite female-led band was performing tonight, hence their desperation to go. Mell listened to a few songs while driving them. Not bad vocals, although the bass could use some work.

“Ten minutes, at least,” replied Derek, sipping his sugary soda.

“Ok, remember where we’re supposed to meet up and at what time?

The boys nodded their heads.

“Good. If you need anything, send a text. Don’t do anything that will get you in trouble with your parents, and stick together.”

“Got it,” they replied in unison before sprinting towards the stage where the punk-rock performers were their talents. Mel scanned the crowd for her target, careful to watch any group of young women for lingering figures. A minute passed before a bespeckled face came into her line of sight. He was smart enough to wear a t-shirt and casual pants, but not practical walking shoes. He had a baseball cap over his balding scalp, as the wife expected. He looked at the part of a supervising parent, not a concertgoer.

Mel ducked behind a booth selling for a folk band, tarnished silver eyes on her prey. He showed no interest in the music filling in from nearby stages or the food trucks and their enticing aromas. However, he stopped just short of running into some college girls in halter tops. How obvious could you get? One of the girls noticed him smiling, her expression one of irritation.

“Can we help you?”

The man tipped his hat in a “gentlemanly” manner. “Having fun, ladies?”

Most rolled their eyes; the others turned their backs to him. He walked away, head down and feet shuffling. Mel wondered how he even married her client. Things must have been different back then, or he was extremely rusty.

She watched him as he approached more women, hiding behind whatever she could and taking a photo here and there. Nothing too incriminating since he kept getting rejected. Luck then rolled her dice in their favor, sending them a girl too young to drink watching as her fake I.D. was cut in half. He took his time, waiting until she left the makeshift bar in tears to approach. He acted like a concerned adult, and she lied about losing track of her friends. Lycan hearing comes in handy.

He told her to wait while he bought himself two bottles of beer. He guided her to a less populated spot at the festival, her eyes on the bottles in his hand. He asked if she could see her friends from there, she said no, he opened the bottles and offered her one, she drinks with a grin. He touched the girl’s back as she began to sway to the music.

Mel’s hair began to stand on end like she was struck by an electric shock. Instincts told her something was off besides the obvious. Getting her alone was risky: she could panic, scream loud enough to draw attention. If he was just flirting, isolation means being able to hear each other and drink without getting caught, but something in his stance told a different story.

She took a final photo before making her way towards them, no longer caring about stealth. This was more than just a husband with a wandering eye.

The three of them meandered further away from the lights and sounds of people into the shadows. The girl was trembling under his guiding hand, stumbling from a mix of alcohol and a growing panic. The fencing should have kept any inebriated fools from entering the forest, but a strategic cut left an opening. Mel followed close behind, letting the darkness hide her form.

He led her through the foliage as if he had been there before. Thoughts of the missing girl settled in with her developing theory. If he was looking for a girlfriend, he’s skipping the courtship and sidestepping the time management.

They began to slow as they grew closer to their destination, stopping when a large makeshift bush came into view. Mel jumped onto a sturdy branch above. The noise was dismissed as an animal.

A single camera click with the flash on interrupted the pair long enough for the girl to run back to civilization. The man raised his head to see Mel, but only for a moment.

Another case, another story she’ll need to explain to the client. At leas she’ll save money on a divorce.