"Somewhere that's full of people but quiet." I said as I walked back to the patrol car followed closely by York. "Wonder what that means."
"We need to find the red seeds. Try to keep up, Audrey." York answered and I snorted, falling into step beside him.
"Stop doing that." I snapped and he paused, staring at me. "Acting like I'm an idiot or something. I'm having enough trouble controlling my beast side without you making fun of me."
"I was just testing you. Where do you think the red seeds grow in Greenvale?" York asked and I sighed, taking a moment to think. Then it clicked and I hurried towards the car.
"They're in the cemetary, York. It's quiet there but it's also full of people." I told him, not hiding my grin as I opened the passenger side door. "Are you coming or what?"
"Nice work." York replied, joining me in the patrol car. "So next stop Greenvale cemetary."
We arrived there within half an hour and I grinned, looking through the window as York pulled into the parking lot. Without waiting for York I climbed from the car, nearly slamming the door in my hurry to get some fresh air. "Much better." I sighed, stretching as York climbed from the car.
"It is nice to be outside even during a multiple murder case." York said and that put a damper on my mood, my eyes narrowed. "Just being truthful. Anyway let's find those red seeds, Harry's waiting." With that he headed further into the cemetary, leaving me to hurry after him. It wasn't long until we found a grove of trees not too far from the patrol car but before we could reach them I saw someone watching us, a young man standing in the shadows.
"Huh, who's that?" I muttered but York didn't seem to have heard me so I sighed. "Guess I'll check out our mysterious stalker myself."
Moving as quickly and quietly as I could I headed towards the shadowy figure. As soon as I got closer he stepped back, nearly disappearing into the shadows. Using my wolf speed I leapt forward, blocking his path before he could vanish entirely. "Who are you and why are you watching us?" I growled, not expecting a pale young man to stare at me.
"Not...watching you. Watching the...cemetary. Quiet...I like the quiet." He told me and I nodded, a little curious.
Must be the caretaker, I thought as I stared at him. He's so pale, must not spend a lot of time in the sunlight which is weird if he takes care of the cemetary. "I'm Audrey. What's your name?"
"Brian...everyone calls me Brian." He answered, his voice barely a whisper. Giving him a slight nod I turned my attention to York, noting he was now standing beneath the grove of trees.
"Do those trees leave the red seeds?" I asked Brian and he nodded, eyes looking towards the trees. "Do they just grow in Greenvale?"
"Only here...red seeds from the trees." Brian answered, still standing half in the shadows. Standing directly in front of him I noticed the style of his clothes, his outfit looking nothing like the Greenvale townpeople. What really seemed to stand out was his complexion, his face so pale it seemed almost ghostlike. Before I could ask anything else I heard York's voice. I turned to see what he wanted and in a heartbeat Brian had vanished.
"Okay that was weird even for me." I muttered, heading towards York's location with one final glance at the shack. "I'll be right there, York!" I called out, heading towards the grove of trees. As soon as I reached them I saw York grinning, a handful of red seeds sitting in his hand. "So those are the red seeds Mr Stewart wanted us to find in exchange for info on the Raincoat Killer. Seems like a lot of work but if this helps bring a murderer to justice I'm fine with it."
"You're sounding more and more like an FBI agent everyday. Ever thought of trying out?" York suggested as we headed back to the patrol car. I shrugged, not too sure if he was joking or actually being serious for once.
"No idea. Anyway we'd better get back to Mr Stewart with those red seeds. Maybe now he'll tell us a little more about that Raincoat Killer." I replied, stepping closer to the car.
Is he being serious? Me as an FBI agent? Probably just teasing me like he did when I thought he...no, forget it.
York drove the patrol car back to Mr Stewart's mansion, whistling as he drove. Which kind of hurt my ears but I chose to ignore it, focusing instead on finally finding out the truth about the Raincoat killer.
Hopefully we'll learn something new, something that helps bring down the one responsible for Anna, Becky and Diane's murders. There's been enough death already.
"We're here, Audrey." York's voice jarred me from my thoughts and I turned slightly in the passengers seat, one eyebrow raised at him.
"I can see that, York." I replied with my eyes narrowed. "I hope Mr Stewart knows about the Raincoat Killer and he's not just stringing us along."
"I doubt it, Audrey. We didn't come all the way out here for nothing." York answered, climbing from the car. Closing the door he moved to my side, opening the door for me and I nodded a little surprised. Once we stepped into the mansion we headed straight back to Mr Stewart and Michael, the silence that followed giving me a lot to think about.
I wonder why those red seeds are so important. Do they have something to do with the Raincoat Killer?
"Something on your mind, Audrey?" York asked and I rubbed my eyes, not sure how to answer him.
"Just thinking about those red seeds, York. I was just wondering how they're related to the case." I answered, reaching the room with the statues. "I hope that door's not locked again." I muttered, reaching for the doorknob only to find it unlocked.
"It wasn't difficult to unlock the door last time." York said, following me as I walked through the doorway. "I don't know why you're complaining." He added and I turned my head, eyebrows raised at him.
"Maybe because I was the one doing most of the work." I answered, headed directly for the room where we'd left Michael and Mr Stewart. "Just because I'm stronger than a human doesn't mean that I should be made to do everything."
"If you recall I was helping." York said, taking the lead and I rolled my eyes at his back. Once we reached the room again I grinned, hoping this time we'd learn something useful.
"Mr York, you brought back the red seeds with you?" Mr Stewart asked, Michael at his side noticibly silent as I watched. "Then let me tell you a story. Something that happened back in 1956."
As we listened I froze, the image of the Raincoat Killer suddenly clear in my head. Unable to help it I let out a growl, my throat vibrating. If anyone noticed they gave no sign and I relaxed enough for my claws to change back to fingernails.
Within the space for a few minutes I learned that Mr Stewart witnessed the army spreading a strange purple gass throughout the town of Greenvale, a by-product of the red seeds. The same gas causing the townspeople to react violently towards each other, murdering each other without a second thought.
Even Mr Stewart who, as a young man, grabbed a pipe trying to kill a man in a long red coat who he witnessed murdering four people with an axe. Mr Stewart tried to kill him only to catch a glimpse of the man who turned out to be his father, knocking his own son to the ground. If Mr Stewart hadn't been knocked unconscious by the blow, he would have been lying dead like the Raincoat Killer's victims on the pavement.
By the time he woke he found most of the population, including his own mother was dead. That made me feel a little bad for the man even if his constant riddles did get on my nerves. Frankly I just wanted the new Raincoat Killer to be brought to justice so I could move on with my life, even if I was basically stuck with my wolf side forever.
"Audrey? Are you coming or not?" York's voice woke me from my thoughts and I turned my head to see him standing beside the door. When I looked around I noticed that Mr Stewart and Michael were both absent and I frowned, moving towards the doorway. "You blanked out again." York pointed out and my cheeks reddened, not wanting to admit I had.
"Whatever. Are we free to leave or is there something else Mr Stewart wants to spring on us?" I asked, stepping through the doorway and York chuckled. "I missed the joke."
"I was on my way back to the Sherrif's office. You're welcome to tag along if you want to." York answered and I snorted, following him as he headed back towards the front door.
"What files are you talking about?" I asked but he just kept quiet and I growled, more than a little frustrated by this. "Hmph, I guess I'll ask Emily then." I whispered, too quiet for him to hear.
Sadly it wouldn't be that easy...not for us.