Chapter 20
-oOo-
Bare footed and still wearing just his sleep joggers, Sam finally made his way down the spiral steps from his sleeping area. He found Dean sat on his bed where he was studiously cleaning, checking and re-sharpening their weaponry in readiness for the coming night's hunt. He glanced up at Sam's arrival.
"Afternoon sunshine. You sleep ok?"
"Um, yeah. You?"
"Like a log. Coffee's fresh in the pot."
Sam headed toward the coffee supply, Dean's voice following him.
"Good news. I've spoken to the Sheriff, she's gonna pass the number I gave her on to her officers an' instruct them to use it...I also got her to agree if her officers come across anythin' freaky they're not sure how to handle, they'll not make a move till we get there."
Sam raised both eyebrows, surprised and impressed by Dean's powers of persuasion.
"Wow! How'd you manage that?"
Dean grinned.
"Made use of your supposed animal expertise. Described freaky as some pumped up exotic animal or anythin' that could be a new species. Figured that pretty much covered our mangy werewolf? Down side, she only agreed to it if there's no threat to her team or any civilians. Had to give her that one."
"Still, good job. It's better than we expected, an' it means her crew's not only gonna be lookin' out for a human maniac."
Her nakedness hidden under a blanket, Hope headed from the lounge back to her room. As always the kitchen door was closed to allow her to pass by unseen. The sound of pots and pans rattling came from within the kitchen and, as she drew level with the door Hope paused, staring at the wooden barrier between herself and her uncle. She was about to move on when there was the brief clatter of a dropped item of cutlery. For a moment or two there was silence, then she heard Joel's voice.
"Hope? Are you ok? What is it? Are you hurt?...Hope?"
Her temptation was to say nothing, carry on to her bedroom, leaving Joel talking to himself. Instead, clearing her throat, she forced herself to answer her uncle through the door.
"No, not hurt...Just lettin' you know, I'm gonna be leavin' right after this full moon period."
Hope's words surprised even herself. Until saying it out loud she'd not had any serious thoughts about leaving the security of her home any time soon but, once voiced, it immediately felt right to her. It was time to look towards moving out and moving on. Time to become a lone wolf. Hope smiled to herself at the analogy and, without waiting for her uncle to recover from his stunned silence, she hurried back to her room, eager to start preparing for a possible new and independent, life.
Shaking with shock, Joel felt his lips curl back and he heard himself snarl. Moving to the kitchen table, he sat down and, for a while, kept his focus on taking deep breaths to calm himself down and to unscramble the tossed salad of thoughts tumbling through his mind; the loudest of which was Nonononono!
Putting down a freshly sharpened silver dagger, Dean stood up from his bed and stretched his back, wincing at the vague popping, clunking sounds the movement caused. Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Kinda sound like you need oiling there dude."
Dean scowled at the younger Hunter.
"My mattress' is too soft is all. I'm gonna go check in on Phil while you try to remember how to dress yourself. See you down there?"
Sam raised his coffee mug in acknowledgement.
"Will do. Hey, Dean? You sure you can manage all those stairs on your own?"
Dean gave his brother the finger as he closed the apartment door behind him.
Instead of the hotel manager there was a young woman who Dean hadn't seen before sat behind the reception desk. Head down, busy on a laptop, she didn't notice Dean approaching.
"Excuse me?"
Startled, the woman's head shot up and she clapped one hand over her heart area.
"Oh f...Flowers! You scared the living sugar out of me!"
Grinning, Dean automatically checked her out. With a glossy dark brunette chin length bob, a heart shaped face and blue eyes that stared up at him from behind black framed glasses she looked to be in her mid to late twenties and, while the rest of her face was definitely pretty to look at, it was her perfect bow shaped lips that captured most of Dean's attention. They were the kind of lips that were made for soft, lingering kisses and Dean could easily envisage himself happily occupied providing them. The woman's voice, calmer now, cut into his daydream.
"Can I help you with something sir?...Sir?"
Dean pulled himself together.
"Um, yeah...I was lookin' for Phil, um...The manager? I was hopin' to have a quick word with him."
"The manager isn't on duty right now sir but, if there's anything you need, I'm sure I can help. Which room are you in? Is there a problem of some kind?"
Dean glanced at the woman's name badge.
"No, no problem...Ava. Me an' my colleague are in suite one in the tower an' everythin's fine. The manager's a friend an' he wasn't feelin' so good early this mornin'. I just wanted to check if he's ok now?"
After a quick glance at the laptop, Ava stood up smiling and held her hand out to Dean.
"Pleased to meet you. Mr Duncan said he had special guests staying, Mr Cooper and Mr Halen?"
Dean shook Ava's hand.
"That's us. I'm Cooper but, please, call me Dean."
"Very well, Dean. Mr Duncan has gone into town, I can tell him you were looking for him when he gets back?"
"He's comin' back? Right, I assumed today must be his day off."
Ava nodded her head yes.
"It is, but I imagine he'll come back to his apartment here once he's done in town."
Dean just managed to cover his surprise at hearing the hotel manager lived on site.
"Oh, sure, course he will. Um, let him know we asked if he was any better?"
Ava's hypnotic lips parted, forming themselves into a bright smile.
"Of course, Dean. Have a nice day."
"Yeah, um, you too Ava."
The door into the small reception area at the sheriff's department opened to allow someone to enter who quietly took a seat in the waiting area. The desk sergeant kept her focus on the elderly woman standing in front of her.
"Ok Mrs Weinstein, I'll tell the officers on duty to keep a look out for Snowy, again. You know, I keep telling you, if you got that cat of yours 'done', he'd stop running all round town chasing after those lady cats. Think about it Mrs Weinstein? Please?"
The desk sergeant watched old Mrs Weinstein leave before turning to her waiting customer.
"Mr Duncan, hi! What can I do for you today?"
Phil stood and approached the reception counter.
"Hello Laura. I'd like to see the Sheriff' if she's not too busy?"
Laura giggled.
"She's always busy, you know that! Is there anything I can help with?"
"I wish you could sweetie, but I really need to talk to the Sheriff. It's about the killings."
Laura lost her smile along with her relaxed attitude, astute eyes stared into the hotel manager's.
"You've got something new! Please, take a seat Mr Duncan. I'll interrupt the Sheriff and let her know you need to speak to her urgently. I believe she'll want to see you straight away.
Suddenly looking nervous, Phil nodded.
"Thank you Laura."
-oOo-
Chick :D xxx
