DISCLAIMER: I do not own any original BPRD characters. I just own the plot and the OCs. I do not think I own Ruddy either. He has a kind of life on his own.

Thanks to Keajo for the review. Maybe the lettuce clue was not so big after all.
Keep on trying.
And thanks to Hodoo.

This chapter is a bit short, I know but I had to separate it from a longer one or it would have been too difficult to read. No warnings for this chapter.
There is some BPRD again and a new OC: Dr Daisy Marsh.

Enjoy!


Sheriff Jones had never really thought the guys from Washington would send a squad for the mad coyote who pissed on Jeremy's hat.
Yet they did, and they lost no time.
A truck with "Animal Contention Service" signs plastered to its sides drove into the parking lot two days after the fateful fax.

Shortly after, his office was invaded by four federal dog-catchers, two women and two men.
It was the women who did the talking. The men just fell back and watched, pretty much like bodyguards. The men and the younger woman were armed with automatic guns.

The two women introduced themselves as Dr. Daisy Marsh, zoologist from Miskatonic University, a well dressed woman in her late thirties, and Elizabeth Sherman, federal agent, younger, a pale brunette with chanel haircut.
Both were quite good looking but didn't look like the kind of people who chase after raving mad animals for a living.

After the proper introductions were performed, the feds came quick to the point.
"You were the one that sent us the report about the strange animal sighting two days ago, right?" asked Dr. Marsh dryly, taking notes on a slim notebook.
"Yes ma'am, it was me." he replied, calmly. It was not two female feds who would make him lose his temper. Let them be as bossy as they could, in a few days they would be gone, less if the blasted dog let himself be caught.

"Please, sheriff, tell us what happened." continued agent Sherman.
The sheriff lifted his cowboy hat and scratched his head. "Well, agent, there is not much to say, it is all in the report."
"Pray, tell us anyway. - she insisted – What was the witness behavior? Any detail can help us, sir."
Jones sighed and obeyed. "Well, it was barely eight o'clock in the morning and Jeremy Sherman barrels in my office, ranting about a coyote who killed his cow and waving about his hat, all pissed over.
It stank like hell, let me tell you..."
The two women exchanged a quick look.
"And then I make him calm down – went on the sheriff – and make him tell me the whole story, which in fact is what I faxed you the other day."

"Did you suspect that the witness was drunk or otherwise intoxicated?" asked the zoologist.
"At first yes, – he conceded reluctantly – but then I realized that he was just shocked and upset."
Dr Marsh noted something down on her notebook. "No signs of mental instability? No hallucinations or fixed thoughts?"
Sheriff Jones gave her a puzzled look. "No, ma'am. Why are you asking this, anyway."
"Standard procedure, sheriff. We have to exclude some eventualities when judging a case. There is nothing to be worried about." the zoologist explained, trying to reassure him.
He said nothing but wondered about the amount of weird things these agents had to witness on their workplace. He wondered how many UFO calls they got a year.

"You confirm what you wrote, then?" continued agent Sherman.
"Yes, ma'am. Every single word." the sheriff answered without hesitation.
"And how was the witness' reaction to his,encounter?" the agent inquired.
"Oh, well, Jeremy was very mad, this for sure. - the sheriff commented – He had just lost a very valuable piece of cattle. You know, his ranch breeds Angus, which are very prized and the coyotes managed to take one of his finest.
And then there was his hat... - the sheriff stifled a laugh - All pissed over..."
This time he laughed for real.
The agents gave him wide eyes.
"Excuse me, agents, but it is so funny! - he explained – The poor lad thought that the blasted dog did it on purpose because he had shot him. He was so enraged that he wowed to kill the beast with his own hands."
"I'd be upset too if a dog-thing pissed on my hat." one of the two male agents added sympathetically.

"Is that all, sheriff?" Doctor Marsh asked.
"Yes, that is pretty much all, ma'am." he replied.
She nodded. "It is fundamental that we talk directly with the witness. Could you tell us where we can find him?"
The sheriff nodded. "Sure, ma'am. He is the son of Jordan Sherman of Sherman Ranch, down the highway. Just follow the road and then turn at the sign. It's not far. - he looked happy at the thought of getting already rid of them – Jeremy lives and works there. If he's not at the ranch, he'd be with the cattle or downtown with friends. But his father would be there and he'd tell you."

Satisfied with his answers the guys from Washington bid him farewell and drove away in their weird truck.
They looked pretty hard and professional.

The nasty dog was surely in for some trouble, he thought.


No new clues in this chapter, but the challenge continues.
Please review to make your guess. Or just review because you like/dislike the story or want to give some advice.
Criticism make stories better.