need to refresh my memory before I could offer more information.
"Um, I have another question." Patrick stared at the box of sensors. "Lately there have been several suicides. Could those affect the sensors and cause an evil reading?"
"Sure, that's a negative event that affects a lot of people, creating more negative feelings."
He nodded. "I know, that part I get. What I don't understand is why the readings weren't as high near the suicide as they were across town."
"What?"
"That's what I thought when I made the connection, but when there is a suicide there's a spike from the Chatsworth Highway direction. My sensors end at the edge of the city limits, but I'm thinking about moving a few further out there because I've gotten more spikes, and higher spikes from that area than anywhere else."
"Are there any other inconsistencies in the suicides?" Before he could answer my phone rang. "Give me a minute. I have to take this." I answered the phone with my usual greeting.
"Michelle? It's Hal." He was shouting over screams, crashes, and a strange growling sound.
I plugged my other ear, hoping it would help hear him. "It's me. What do you need?"
"Where are you?" Gunfire sounded on his end of the connection.
"I'm at the Gilmer County Sheriff's Office. What do you need?"
"I'm sending a chopper. It'll be there in seven minutes, back parking lot. I need you-" a crash and a boom sounded from his end of the phone. "Syed, that was close. I've got a T-Rex stomping through town. We can't stop it, we can't kill it, and we need magical back up. The pilot will fill you in. I've got to go." He didn't wait for me to agree before he hung up the phone.
If Hal was using Syed's name it was bad. In the legends, Syed was known for eating children and being the mother of evil. I glanced at Patrick. "I guess you heard that?"
"Some of it."
"The Lumpkin County Police are sending a chopper for me. I'm told it will land in the back parking lot." I stopped because his office phone was ringing.
"Westmoreland," he answered. A few grunts and a, "Yes, sir," later he was addressing me. "If you need anything other than your purse we need to run. You've got nine minutes to grab it, and get to the parking lot. They've cleared a space for the chopper to land."
"I've got to get my kit out of the car. What's the fastest way there?"
"This way." He took off, and I followed him.
We dashed down the hall, and I figured this was the best chance I had to finish our conversation. "If you want me to look at the suicides, send me the case files. No charge unless I help you with the cases." I stopped talking to pant.
"Will do." We zipped across a room and out the lobby.
Patrick dodged an officer wrestling a man in handcuffs down the hall.
"Make sure Tiffany takes my car home." I spat out before gasping for breath beside the car. I dug through my purse, grabbing my keys and popping open the trunk with it.
"Which bags do you need?" He gestured to the three duffels in my trunk.
"All of them."
"Breakable?"
"Yup." I grabbed the bag with the most delicate items, and he took the other two. We set off at a fast trot, circling the outside of the building.
We were six feet from the back corner of the building when we heard the chopper. We sped up, rounding the back of the building in time to see the dark green chopper, with an American flag tattooed on the side, land in the parking lot. A guy jumped out and ran over to meet us. "I'm Lieutenant Johnson. You don't have to duck, the blades won't hit you. Let me help you with those bags." He took the bags from Patrick.
"Patrick, thank you. Remember to tell Tiffany to take my car home. The keys are in my purse. Oh, send me those files too." I shoved my purse into his hands. It was safer with Tiffany and I didn't need it to face off with a dinosaur. Patrick waved to me as I ran towards the helicopter.
Lt Johnson stowed the two duffels he was carrying before grabbing mine and adding it
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