Mike yawned and poured himself another cup of coffee and grabbed the paper. He groaned as he read that property taxes were going to be going up next year, that meant that their rent was going to be going up next year as well, and what was going to be on TV for the night. He paused as another headline caught his eye. 18-year-old man mauled by wolf. Mike brought the paper closer to him and read.
In the early hours of the morning on August 10th, eighteen-year-old Dusten Denke was mauled by what the LA police department decided was a wolf. Dusten was on his way home from a party at one of the University of California dorms when he was attacked from the side by what could be described as a wolf. The Los Angeles police and Animal Control have asked people to please be vigilant and not to go out at night unless they have to. If anyone has information or has seen the wolf please call the police at their non-emergency number 877-555-7328.
Mike sighed. What to police didn't say was that this was the second victim of this supposed 'wolf attack' he took another sip of coffee and debated on what he should do. He was still debating when Davy came in.
"Davy," he said, setting the cup of coffee down on the table and turning around to face him. "Where were you?"
Davy shrugged slightly as he leaned against the doorway. Mike frowned, noticing how weak he seemed on his feet.
"Are you alright?" He asked, slowly approaching him. Davy nodded.
"Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just tired…"
After a moment, he let out a heavy sigh and stumbled in, Mike instinctively holding onto his shoulders to keep him standing as he led the Brit over to the table, helping him sit.
"Thanks," Davy said, rubbing his eyes. Mike nodded in response, going to grab his friend a cup of water.
"Sorry I didn't call…" Davy said, looking down at trembling hands. Mike frowned and looked at him, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't, Mike let out a sigh and placed the cup on the table, setting it down in front of Davy.
"Where were you?" He asked and Davy paused for a long moment before letting out a sigh.
"Just went out with a friend," he said. "That's all, lost track of time. Sorry…"
Mike frowned but nodded, returning to his seat.
"It's fine," he said, taking a sip from his coffee. "Next time, just tell us where you're heading before you go out, okay?"
Davy nodded, looking up at Mike as he returned to reading the paper. Davy could feel all the blood drain from his face and his stomach begin to turn when he caught a glimpse of the story Mike was reading.
"What are you reading?" Davy asked casually.
"Another wolf attack," Mike said, "animal control and the police want people to stay inside at night." Davy nodded.
"Did the person die?"
"It didn't say," Mike answered taking another sip of coffee. Davy nodded again. The bedroom door opening made them both look up as Peter came out in his pajamas.
"Good Morning Peter," Mike said glancing at the blond still reading the newspaper article.
"Morning Mike," Peter said happily as he made his way into the kitchen and filled the kettle up for his tea "Morning Davy, where were you last night?" Davy didn't answer right away. He took another gulp of water and looked around the pad before answering.
"I was out with a friend." He finally said.
"Oh," Peter answered as he put the kettle on the stove and turned it on "did she not have a phone?" It was an innocent question but Mike snorted behind the paper as Peter looked at him puzzled.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing," Mike said "don't mind me." He got up and finished his coffee and headed over to the coat closet.
"I'll be back in a little bit," He said as he pulled out his denim jacket and shoved something into his pocket "Davy drink the rest of the water then go upstairs and try to get some sleep alright?"
"Okay," Davy said "bye."
"I'll make sure that he does." Peter said "bye." Mike gave them a quick wave and was gone.
"Where do you think Mike went?" Peter asked Davy. Davy shrugged and closed his eyes the events of the night catching up to him.
"You alright?" Peter asked, noticing Davy, holding his head in his hands.
"Yeah," Davy sighed, taking a glimpse at the paper. "Sorry, I just have a headache."
Peter frowned but nodded in understanding.
"Maybe you should get some aspirin and then go to bed?" He suggested and Davy shrugged.
"Maybe," Davy agreed, keeping his eyes on the paper as Peter went to the medicine cabinet to grab aspirin.
"What's the news today?" He asked, noticing Davy reading it.
"Nothing much," Davy sighed. "There was a wolf attack not far from here but…that's about it."
"Oh…" Peter frowned and brought the aspirin bottle back to the kitchen table. "What happened?"
Davy shrugged, pushing the paper for Peter to see, continuing to rub his forehead.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked again, pouring two pills into his hand and giving them to Davy. "You look pale."
"Yeah," Davy said, taking the pills and taking them down with a sip of water. "I think I just need to rest."
"Oh, okay," Peter said softly with a nod. "I hope you feel better."
Davy smiled slightly and nodded, making it to his feet and holding onto the stair railing tightly he made his way up the stairs, Peter watching him worriedly. Once he got to the second-floor landing he made to go into the bedroom but it opened before he could even touch the doorknob as Micky came out.
"Hey Davy," He said happily smiling, but the smile slid off his face as he looked at his friend.
"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Hmm, I'm fine," Davy answered "just tired. I'm gonna go to bed."
"Alright," Micky said "Good night." Davy didn't answer him as he dragged himself into the bedroom and shut the door. Micky looked at the closed bedroom door and shrugged as he made his way down the stairs.
"Is Davy okay?" Micky asked.
"I hope so." Peter answered, "he didn't come home last night."
"Yeah, I saw." Micky said pouring himself a cup of coffee "Where's Mike?" Peter shrugged as he drank some of his tea.
"I don't know, he just said he was going out," Peter said.
"Oh," Micky said as he picked up the newspaper to read it.
"There was a wolf attack," Micky said reading it.
"Yeah, Mike read it and then left," Peter said.
"That's odd."
"Yeah, well Mike's odd." Micky looked at Peter.
"No, not that, I mean it's odd that there was a wolf attack, wolfs don't attack humans," Micky said.
"Oh," Peter answered, "yeah, maybe it was scared?"
"Maybe," Micky agreed "It's still odd, Did Mike say where he was going?" Peter shook his head no.
"He just left and said he'd be back in a little bit," he explained with a slight shrug. Micky looked at him for a moment before nodding.
"Huh," he said, furrowing his brow. "That is odd."
Peter nods and Micky sighs and sits down.
"Did Davy say anything about last night?"
"He said he was out with a friend," Peter shrugged with a slight frown.
"Anything else?" Micky inquired. Peter shook his head.
"Want something to eat?' He asked.
"No, how can you eat right away in the morning?" Micky asked as he got up and went over to turn the TV on. Peter didn't answer. On the tv, the news was talking about the wolf attack from the night before. Neither was really listening to it and Micky was about to change the channel to something else, but stopped himself, choosing to keep it on.
"Guess it's a pretty big deal then," he said under his breath, propping his feet up onto the coffee table.
"What?" Peter asked, turning around.
"They're talking about the wolf attack on the local news."
Peter frowned and grabbed his cup of tea, going to sit beside Micky.
"Wow." He said, "this is pretty big news." Micky nodded.
"Like I said," Micky said, "wolves don't attack humans normally."
"I wonder what set this one off?" Peter muttered as it went to a commercial.
"Any number of reasons I'm thinking." Micky said, "it could have rabies." Peter shuttered at that.
"We once had a bat get into our pantry at home," Peter said "Mom knocked it down with a broom and dad carried it outside to let it go and it bit him, he had to go in for a rabies shot."
"Oh," Micky said unsure of what else to say.
"Yeah," Peter said, "Mom was freaked out." Micky nodded and went back to watching TV keeping an eye on the closed bedroom door.
Mike meanwhile was walking downtown past the closed clubs and stores, down an alleyway and up a sidestreet to a dilapidated bar. Ignoring the closed sign Mike knocked on the glass. There was no answer and Mike knocked again. A moment later a muffled 'we're closed' came from inside as a figure made their way to the front. Coming closer Mike saw the figure of a woman catching sight of who was at the door the woman quickened her pace and unlocked it and stepped aside to let Mike in.
"Well, Mike Nesmith as I live and breath." She said smiling pushing her red bangs off her forehead. Mike smiled.
"Hey, Maeve," Mike answered.
"What are you doing around here?" Maeve asked walking back through the bar "bit late to be drinking. Or early."
"I'm not here to drink," Mike said, "you know me better than that."
"Aye," Maeve said "So if it's not for a pint, then what is it?" Mike sighed.
"You hear about the wolf attacks?" He asked. Maeve nodded.
"It's a shame." She said. Mike nodded.
"It's the second one in a month," Mike said "This first one was July 10th. Now August 10th."
"What are you saying, Mike?" Maeve asked.
"I'm saying I'm seeing a pattern," Mike answered "I need to see the newspapers from July 10th and June 10th. Kelly still work in the newspaper office?" Maeve nodded.
"Think she can get me the other newspapers?" Mike asked, "I need to make sure my hunch is right." Maeve sighed.
"What is your hunch, Michael?" She asked, pronouncing his name in her native tongue 'Me haul.'
"Los Angeles has a werewolf."
Not too long after, Davy stumbled down the stairs, still leaning most of his weight on the stair railing.
"You alright?" Micky asked, going to the bottom of the stairs. Davy hummed and nodded, rubbing his eyes.
"S-sorry…" he whispered through a yawn, rubbing his eyes. It was then that Micky noticed the dark bags under Davy's eyes that weren't there before.
"You really should rest," Micky said quietly, wrapping an arm around him to keep him standing. Davy let out a sigh but leaned into the touch.
"I'm sorry…" he said softly as Micky led him to the couch.
"For what?" Peter asked, looking at him.
"Couldn't sleep," Davy yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Too much on my mind."
Micky nodded and as he went to grab a cup of water for Davy, something from the tv caused him to stop in his tracks.
"It is now confirmed," the news anchor started. "That Dusten Denke, the 18-year-old college student involved in this attack, has just been declared dead."
That line caused all of them to stop and look up at the screen as the news anchor spoke.
"Oh…" Peter said, eyes wide. "Oh no…"
Micky nodded as he came back into the living room, handing a cup of water to Davy, who was completely glued to the screen with a look of horror on his face.
