The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles by Declan Conner Page B

to do, people
to see, places to go, but before he could decide the order of his journey, he
needed coffee. Strong-black coffee. He knew just the place.
    Shaw picked up Ventura Boulevard, turning left at Staples on
the corner, and parked up outside the diner. Climbing out of the van, he walked
over to the two converted Union Pacific carriages. He stepped inside and took a
seat at a table. Shaw glanced around. He didn’t recognize any of the staff. There
was no welcome for an old regular. The server approached him, notebook in hand.
    “What’ll it be,” she asked.
    “A strong coffee, espresso style, but in a mug, and I’ll
have a chili dog.”
    “Surprised you don’t make your own,” she said, and looked
out of the window toward his van.
    “Oh, that. Long story. It’s not mine. Can you bring the
coffee first, please?”
    “Sure, hon,” she said, and hurried off.
    Shaw took his cell phone from his pocked and switched it on.
His phone buzzed. Ten missed calls from Jim. He called his number and Jim
answered.
    “Where are you, Brett? When are you back? It’s all gone to
crap in a clothes basket up here.”
    “Slow down. Start at the beginning.”
    “You need to cancel the forensics investigation for a start.
There’s nothing left for him to investigate. The surgery’s burned down.”
    Shaw pushed back in his chair.
    “What! When did this happen?”
    “Around five thirty this morning. The forestry fire
investigator is sending you a report. He says its arson.”
    Shaw rolled his eyes and sighed.
    “Who was on watch?”
    “Frank, but don’t blame him. Whoever did it blindsided him
from the direction of the woods.”
    Shaw rested his elbow on the table, and closed his eyes, the
cell phone still to his ear.
    “Your coffee,” the woman said.
    “Thanks,” he said, opening his eyes, and making a feeble
attempt to return the server’s smile. He picked up his mug and took a sip.
    “Did one of you check on Amy?”
    “Amy’s back. That’s one of the other problems.”
    “Problems! What about Amy?”
    “Amy’s fine, she’s with Louise and Tanya upstairs in your apartment.
The problem is Johno. He’s gone missing over at Brakes Lake in the mountains.
Ed Grimes has organized a search party. They’re over there now with Frank. But
that’s not all...”
    “Thank God she’s safe. Go on then, what else?”
    “It’s the television crews. They’re swarming all over town.
I don’t know what to say to them and they’re lined up outside our office. I‘ve
had to lock the door.”
    “Well, you’d expect that. I’m just surprised they got wind
of the vet’s death so quickly. What are they asking?”
    “It’s not as much what they’re asking, as what they’re
saying on camera.”
    “Like what?”
    “I hope you’re ready for this.”
    Shaw took a long swig of his coffee.
    “Fire away.”
    “They’re saying, according to the mayor, a wild animal is on
the loose, and it killed the vet. They say you’ve refused to sanction a hunting
party when the tourist season is in full swing. Then they’re reporting locals
as saying you’ve gone to LA, leaving a rooky deputy to guard the scene of the
vet’s surgery. They’re saying it shows incompetence on your part that the vet’s
house has been destroyed in a fire, along with any clues.”
    “Jesus, is that it all?”
    “Well, no. There’s more. I saw them interviewing Hogan the
butcher. He was blasting you for not telling him that you were using his
refrigerator in the burger van to transport Maria’s body to the morgue. The
reporter was really banging on about that. Hogan was saying he was consulting
attorneys to sue for a new vehicle. They were also saying that many of the
locals they’ve spoken to have said that they hope the mayor calls for a vote to
get you out.”
    “Oh, no, and all that’s on camera?”
    “Yup, afraid so. What do you want me to say to them?”
    “Tell them I’ll be back around four and I’ll make a
statement. Just say no