Chapter Eight: Spooky Car Thief
Present day…
Main POV
Dean was filling up the Impala, letting me wander into the attached convenience store and seek out breakfast as was customary during our shift changes. He'd been a trooper, letting me drive through the night, sitting with an arm draped over my shoulder and listening to his tapes. Sam had been exiled to the backseat, not that he seemed to mind much. Although he had seemed surprised that I was awarded the great honour of driving Dean's baby. Dean simply shrugged it off, saying it was different when there was someone who knew cars driving.
Stopping by the cooler, I scanned the cold options. There were only so many greasy burgers one could eat before the thought of them turned you green to the stomach, and I'd say even less about everything I had to microwave in store. Raising an eyebrow, I looked at the nori wrapped rice in the cooler, reaching out for a closer inspection. There were footsteps just behind me, but I ignored them. I didn't sense any malevolence in the approaching figure, so I let them be.
''Woah,'' Dean said just by my ear, hand grabbing the one of mine that was hovering over the rolls. ''Gas station sushi, think again.''
''You think this is my first rodeo? Dean, I grew up on gas station food, I'm built different,'' I said and then shrugged, pulling a face. ''Anyway, I wasn't going to eat it, I was just curious.''
''Sure, you're just saying that because I stopped you. You were going to eat that one way express to the ER,'' he said and I rolled my eyes. Then he smirked a little. ''And I really don't think constitution has anything to do with it.''
''Dean, I'm a grown woman, you can't goad me into eating something potentially dangerous just by telling me not to,'' I told him, knowing fine he was letting his mischievous side fly. ''I really was just looking. I think that's shrimp,'' I explained, pointing to the filling. ''But last I checked, cooked shrimp is pink, not green.''
''Yeah, you're right on that one,'' he said, screwing up his face in distaste at the cooler. ''Come on, the warmer has those cheap taquitos you like.''
''They got anything with that fake cheese?'' I asked, a grin spreading up my face. He glanced down at me, smiling triumphantly.
''You know it, iron stomach,'' he said, putting a hand behind me and steering me by my waist towards the bain marie.
The heat of the warmer wafted out a few feet away, so at least we knew the food would be at a decent temperature. While we could still die of some germ or bacteria, the chances were significantly smaller. Dean watched me load up on crappy tex mex, a personal favourite of mine, and then started fishing through for something that piqued his interest. After paying in cash, Dean walked me back to the impala, where Sam was sitting in the passenger side with the door open. He was rifling through Dean's tape box, which was a recipe for disaster, unless of course you were Lex. Dean seemed to have just as much of a soft spot for Lex as he did him, and lit up whenever the latter would ask questions about his bands. Maybe that was why. At least he finally had some appreciation for some good music, rather than that new age trash.
''Hey!'' Dean called as we got closer. Sam jerked up and looked over at us, eyeing Dean's hand around my waist. In his other, he held a soda can, and a bag of chips. ''You want breakfast?''
''No thanks,'' Sam replied, and then narrowed his eyes. ''So, how'd you pay for that stuff? You and Dad still running credit card scams?''
''Yeah, well, hunting ain't exactly a pro ball career,'' Dean said, shrugging it off. Separating from me, I slid into the backseat, intent on taking a nap after breakfast, as previously discussed when we pulled up.
''Yeah? And what names did you write on the application paper this time?'' Sam asked, swinging his legs back into the car as Dean circled and headed for his rightful place behind the wheel.
''Uh, Burt Aframian,'' he said, trying to recall. Dumping the soda and chips down in the cupholder, he closed his door, and settled into his seat properly. ''And his son Hector, scored two cards out of the deal.''
''That sounds about right,'' Sam huffed and I ignored their petty family squabbles in favour of my large plastic bag of possibly noxious food. With all doors closed, Dean twisted the key in the ignition and revved the engine a few times before putting the car into gear. ''I swear, man, you've gotta update your cassette tape collection.''
''Why?'' Dean asked, stuffing a few chips into his mouth as he peeled out of the gas station.
''Well, for one, they're cassette tapes, and two,'' Sam listed, and then started picking through the tapes. He held a few of them up to Dean, who glanced his way while driving. ''Black Sabbath? Motorhead? Metallica?'' Dean snatched the tape box off of Sam. ''It's the greatest hits of mullet rock.''
''Well, house rules, Sammy,'' Dean said, popping the tape out of the box and into the player. ''Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole. And I don't see Katie complaining.''
''That's because Katie has been bribed with food and beverages,'' I said, joking lightly. Rifling through the bag some more, I pulled out the closed box of nachos. ''Actually, I grew up on this stuff, snuck into a concert once. I like this music Sam. Just because things are new, doesn't make them better.''
''See, Sammy, a woman of taste, you know, you could learn a thing or two,'' Dean said, looking smug.
''You know, Sammy is a chubby twelve year old,'' Sam said indignantly. Was there a single thing he wouldn't get upset about? ''It's Sam, okay?''
''Sorry, I can't hear you, the music's too loud,'' Dean said, reaching for the volume dial. The music went up so loud you could hear it from outside the car, and I finished up my food as we reached the highway. Feeling the night catch up with me, I slid down on the bench seat, ready to sleep.
''Shouldn't you turn it down a little? Isn't she trying to sleep?'' Sam asked, jerking his thumb back towards me.
''Nah, Katie hates the quiet. Spooks her. She sleeps better with noise or music,'' he explained and I felt a small smile creep up my face. He'd remembered from all those years ago. So that was why he kept the fan and the TV on all those nights in cheap motel rooms.
It didn't take long for sleep to take me, the comfort of the moving vehicle and the music blaring soothed me to the point I was drifting off. There was a little more bickering with the brothers, but I barely heard it. In fact, I wasn't sure I could recall anything they said. Next I came to I was under the scratchy blanket Dean had once stolen from a motel we'd stayed at, with my shoes off. Moaning softly, I rolled over to see Dean, once again, eating. Sam was nowhere in sight, but I could hear the car refilling again.
''Well, look who's awake. We already talked to the locals, got the jump on the most recent vic. We're going to go talk to his girlfriend, you in? We could use a chick on this, talk girl to girl maybe,'' he suggested and I screwed up my face. Girl to girl? Nodding softly, I pushed up out of the backseat and found my boots in the footwell.
Slipping them back on, I stumbled out of the back and to Dean's open door. Presumptuously taking the seat on his lap and stole some fries. He didn't seem bothered by this, simply slipped a hand between my thighs, rubbing up and down gently. When Sam came out of the bathroom, it was all business, despite a small glare at me, and then an eyebrow raised at his brother. But it did also explain to me why 'girl to girl' was needed.
Dean POV
Sam kept checking the backseat, glancing over his shoulder every so often, as if he didn't believe Katie was actually asleep. It had been near an hour right now of her gentle snoring, barely audible over the music, but still audible. He turned back, making a small noise and a face, he looked on the road ahead. He pursed his lips as he watched the ground where the headlights hit, before he turned back to me, something else clearly annoying him.
''So how long has this been going on?'' he asked and nodded back to Katie. Looking her way, I watched her relaxed face for a moment, before I turned my eyes back to the road.
''Two years ago, she called Pastor Jim for help on a job gone wrong, I was the closest hunter,'' I explained. ''Turned out to be more than one spirit haunting the place. She put down the poltergeist screwing around, and accidentally let the angry spirit have free reign over its territory. She broke her leg, bone all poking out, couldn't finish the job. So I came, pulled out the body she'd uncovered, and burned it.''
''And so what,'' he asked and I shrugged. ''She grateful enough for a return favour?''
''Year later I needed a hand on a job, called her for some assistance,'' I told him and he stared at me with scrutiny, suspicion writing all over his face, like he was trying to find fault in my story. It's not like he could, I'd told him the truth. ''Thought it was a Wendigo, or Black Dog, turned out to be neither. Something called Goatman. Dad didn't even think it was real until Katie and I killed one.''
''Dad knows about her?'' Sam asked, scoffing. I nodded. ''I don't believe it.''
''Hell, he likes her. Her folks were hunters back in the day, he's done jobs with them,'' I said, remembering what I knew about Abigail. ''I doubt you remember them, but the Shepherds were staying with Bobby when we were kids once. Katie was a few years older than me, our parents went out on a job, Abigail didn't come back from that one.''
''She… she had a little brother, right? She said as much, but I had to share a room with a three year old because you and her took the queen in the guest bedroom,'' he said, nodding in realisation. ''So what, you're rekindling an old flame? Is that what this is?''
''No,'' I snapped, shaking my head at him. He wasn't the first to think something was going on between us, but that wasn't the case. We were hunters, this was the job. Sometimes we had an itch to scratch, but we were nothing more than friends. Friends, not lovers. ''Look, Katie's a good hunter, she lives four hours from you, that's all. I stopped by because I thought we could use all hands. If something has dad, then it's bad news. He's never not come back from a job before, if something got him maybe the two of us aren't enough, and I can trust Katie.''
''So you're really not dating?'' Sam asked, looking a little disappointed. Although it was likely just disappointment from being wrong, not over the fact I didn't have a girlfriend. I nodded. ''Really? She's your type. Blonde, boobs, butt, the three Bs. She likes your music, hell, does whatever you say. You even let her drive the Impala. I mean, Dean, you know how she likes to get to sleep.''
''Yeah, because we've worked the same jobs, Sammy, we're close, but we're friends, that's it. Hell, we only see each other once a year,'' I said and glared at the road ahead. ''And the three Bs are blonde, bisexual, bridesmaid; the unicorn of girls.''
He looked like he didn't believe me, but we drove the rest of the way to Jericho in silence. By the time we got there, he had something else to be mad at me about anyway. So what if I was rude to cops? It's not like they knew what they were doing anyway. All they did was get in our way, while we were trying to save lives.
Pulling into a gas station to refill on someone else's dime again, I noticed Katie was still sound, despite us having pulled up to the bridge already. Sam got out, his turn to fill, and I went to go grab lunch. There wasn't much in the way of food, but I made sure to grab something I knew Katie would like, in case she woke up before we got into the main stretch of town. Which was exactly what she did. She climbed off the backseat, looking just as irritated as she normally did first thing after she'd woken up, and sat on my lap like old times. It wouldn't do much for the whole 'we're not dating' front, but I didn't care. Having her sit with me was a comfort, and I was close to murdering Sam already. She was here, and serving her purpose, the whole reason I brought her along was to ease all this tension Sammy created. I mean, where did he get off running away to go and live some normal, boring, apple pie life. Katie was only doing it to keep Lex safe, and I had no doubts she'd be back on the job as soon as he left for College. Plus, it wasn't unusual for hunters to own property, have a home base. It was just dad who liked to live guerilla warfare.
She stayed on my lap as we pulled into the main drag of town, agreeing to head down one end of the street looking for the girlfriend, while Sam and I took the other. And if he annoyed me too much, I'd do the next half on my own, leaving the two of them to do it. It's not like I needed a second person, I was perfectly capable of working a job on my own. It was just better with company.
Just outside the local movie theatre a teenager was putting up pissing posters, a young man's face clearly printed along with the text 'MISSING TROY SQUIRE'. Glancing at Sam, I nodded to the kid taking up the flyers.
''I'll bet you that's her,'' I said and Sam agreed. Approaching, this was a good time to see if Sam and I's improv was just as good as it used to be, or if we no longer went along the same vibe. Although I'd say that being a lawyer was already a lot about improv and spitballing.
''You must be Amy,'' I said, putting my hands in my pockets as Sam leaned up against the tiled column. We both went for a look of empathy, some compassion thrown the way of the teen. Law enforcement wouldn't work, not with her Dad being a cop.
''Yeah,'' she confirmed, nodding slightly as she kept working away at tacking up her fliers. She seemed a little uncomfortable, we had to convince her with a connection, family perhaps.
''Yeah, Troy told us about you. We're his uncles, I'm Dean and this is Sammy,'' I introduced. If Sam was annoyed about the continued use of his nickname, he didn't show it. Good.
''He never mentioned you to me,'' she replied, looking distrustfully at us, turning on her heel and walking away from the theatre. Damn it, where was Katie? Where's that 'girl to girl' I'd put her in for.
''Yeah, well, that's Troy, I guess,'' I shrugged off. ''We're not around much, we're up in Modesto.''
''So, we're looking for him too, and we're kinda asking around,'' Sam said, trying to push things along before she got in the opportunity to ask too many questions. Just as he said that another teen, looking equally as gothic walked up to us. Man, if only Lex were here, I'm sure these would be the babes he usually went for. Especially that Carmen chick.
''Hey, you okay?'' she asked, putting her hand on Amy's arm, probably assuming we were some creepy lowlifes up to no good. Just as she appeared, Katie spawned from behind her, letting out a large breath like she'd been running. She wore a disappointed expression and put her own hand on my arm.
''Sorry baby, no luck at the pharmacy. Any ideas from Amy?'' she asked and the two girls looked at her, and then over between the three of us. ''Sorry girls, I'm Katie, Troy's aunt through marriage.''
''Oh, right, so you're Dean's wife?'' Amy asked and she nodded without skipping a beat. Oh, Sammy would have a field day with that one.
''You mind if we ask you a couple questions?'' Sam asked, once again steering everyone back on topic.
''Come on,'' Katie said, nodding to the girls. ''It's freezing out, let us pick your mind over some coffee, you can refuel for putting up those fliers,'' and then paused, putting a hand on Amy's shoulder. ''Thank you for that, by the way, we really appreciate it.'' Amy smiled, looking proud of herself.
''No problem, I'll do just about anything to find Troy,'' Amy said and Katie matched her energy, practically towing her to the nearby diner, leaving the other girl to hurry after her. Damn, I always knew Katie was good at the job, but I'd forgotten how amazing it was watching her manipulate people into helping her with ease. All she had to do was ask, and somebody ran to do what she wanted. Every time, all the time whatever she wanted. It was almost creepy how much people seemed to like helping her. Damn impressive.
The five of us entered the diner, and we headed for a booth. A waitress offered us another chair, and I pulled it to the head of the table, in between Amy and Katie. Katie, following the act, sat down looking anxious, putting a hand on top of my thigh, while Sam wore a look of concern opposite Amy and her friend. I put my hand on top of Katies, pretending to be comforting, and squeezed her fingers.
''Can I get you guys any drinks to start?'' the waitress asked.
''Coffee, all round, and anything the girls want,'' Katie said smoothly, with a gentle smile. The waitress nodded, looking expectantly at the girls who had also perked up.
''Actually, can we get soda?'' Amy said and Katie nodded. ''Coke.''
''Both of you?'' The waitress asked and they agreed. ''That all?''
''Can we split a cinnabon?'' the friend asked, looking between the waitress and Amy. The two of them looked at Katie who gave them a single nod. It was a good idea, of hers, to tell the girls they could have whatever they wanted, on us. It forged a better relationship. I was just happy they settled for two sodas and a pastry, instead of footing us with the bill for the whole menu.
''Three coffees, two cokes, and a cinnabon with two plates, coming up,'' the waitress said, walking away. Katie pulled her hand away in favour of bringing her knee up to her chest, heel of her boot resting on the booth seat. She wrapped her arm around her leg, hand and head resting on her knee.
''So, let's start at the beginning,'' Sam said and the two girls nodded.
''I was on the phone with Troy,'' Amy explained, distress sounding in her voice. ''He was driving home, he said he would call me right back, and uh…'' she paused, voice breaking a little more. ''He never did.''
''He didn't say anything strange, or out of the ordinary?'' Sam asked and Amy shook her head. The waitress returned, balancing three mugs on the fingers of one hand, the other holding the coffee pot, pouring us each a cup before retreating to the counter again.
''No, nothing I can remember,'' she answered honestly. Sighing in frustration, I realised we were getting nowhere with this. Katie's presence had been enough to earn their trust, but all that had done was get them comfortable. We needed to press more if we were going to get anything useful out of them.
''Here's the deal, ladies. The way Troy disappeared, something's not right,'' I said, moving my hands out in a 'come on' gesture. ''So if you've heard anything…'' The two of them exchanged another look. ''What is it?''
''Well, it's just… I mean with all these guys going missing, people talk,'' Amy's friend said, and Katie glanced their way. She picked up the sugar shaker, and tipped in a long slug. How she still had all her teeth with the sweet tooth she had, I had no idea, if not for the obsessive teeth brushing she did thrice daily.
''What do they talk about?'' Sam and I said in unison, echoing each other.
''It's kind of this local legend. This one girl? She got murdered out on Centennial, like decades ago,'' the friend explained. I glanced at Sam, who was listening to her speak attentively and nodding. ''Well, supposedly, she's still out there. She hitchhikes, and whoever picked her up? Well, they disappear forever.''
''Spooky,'' Katie said, releasing the tension and making the girl laugh. She picked up her mug, sculling the piping hot contents. ''Well, hopefully this ghost hasn't snatched up our boy, but thank you for your time. We gotta get back out there looking. You two warm up,'' she said, and slapped a few bills down on the table, leaving enough there to cover everything, plus tip. I stood, picking up my own coffee and drinking it, since she'd gone to the trouble of paying for it.
Sam waved to them awkwardly, with a close to the chest hand and abandoned his cup, following the two of our leads and heading out with us, bell to the door ringing overhead as we stepped out. We walked a little ways down the street, back in the direction of the car before any of us spoke again.
''So, you think the hitchhiking ghost has some merit?'' Katie asked, glancing at Sam, who tilted his head from side to side, and then shrugged.
''Best lead we got,'' he replied. ''Plus, we know it's something on that patch of highway, might as well be a hitchhiker.''
''Men,'' Katie said, tutting. ''This is why women live longer, we don't pick up hitchhikers.''
''Seriously?'' I scoffed, glancing at her.
''Have you never seen a single true crime show? It's always a hitchhiker, and we always get murdered,'' she replied, making Sam laugh and shake his head. ''So, library?''
''You got it,'' Sam agreed, taking the lead ahead of the two of us.
Between the three of us, we scored two computers. Katie took one, logging in and typing away, although I checked and saw she was IMing her son. I took the other, and started a google search for the local paper. Scrolling through the Jericho Herald, I found their search bar and looked up potential headlines. 'Female Murder Hitchhiking' zero results. 'Female Murder Centennial Highway' zero results.
''Let me try,'' Sam said, trying to take over and I smacked his hand away. I could handle a simple computer search.
''I got it,'' I said indignantly, making Katie glance over. Sam shoved my chair, sending me over into hers and she snorted. ''Dude!'' reaching over, I smacked his shoulder. ''You're such a control freak.''
''So angry spirits are born out of violent death, right?'' Sam said, bringing his hands up to the keyboard, before he looked at me. I nodded.
''Yeah,'' I said, waiting for him to get to the point.
''Well, maybe it's not murder,'' Sam replied, beginning to type. 'Female Suicide Centenial Highway' one result. He opened the article, dated April twenty fifth, nineteen eighty one.
''This was nineteen eighty one, Constance Welch, 24, of 4636 Breckenridge Road, leapt off Sylvania Bridge, drowns in river,'' Sam read, skipping the unnecessary details.
''Does it say why she did it?'' I asked and he nodded.
''Yeah,'' he said, not instantly responding with the information.
''What?'' I asked, prompting him to continue as he skim read the article.
''An hour before they found her, she calls 911. Apparently her two little kids are in the bathtub. She leaves them alone for a minute, and when she comes back, they aren't breathing,'' he said and I raised both my eyebrows, nodding.
''Hmm,'' I said, considering.
''Both die. "Our babies were gone, and Constance just couldn't bear it," 'said husband Joseph Welch'.''
''The bridge look familiar to you?'' I said, pointing at the very bridge we'd been at this morning while Katie had been snoozing away in the backseat. Glancing over at her, I could see her signing out, having gotten no response from Lex. ''You ready to ship out?''
''Yeah, let's go,'' she said, climbing out of her seat and kicking it back under the desk. She seemed pissed, although I couldn't blame her. I'd heard her say she wanted Alex to check in once a day, and she hadn't had a single text since she went on the road with me yesterday. It was nearing the end of today, almost going to be dark soon, and nothing. Boy was in for an ass whooping as soon as she got home, I almost felt sorry for the guy.
Main POV
It was much later in the day when we headed out of the library, and the sun was half done setting. Dean slid into the driver's seat of the Impala and I went into the back. It didn't matter I'd slept most of the way to Jericho, and through the initial conversation with the cops, I was tired, and felt myself drifting in the backseat. But Dean's music didn't exactly help. Not that he seemed to mind, since a quick glance into the backseat made him turn the volume up more. The music stopped eventually, suddenly too, but by the time I had the thought to notice, I was already asleep. Briefly, I was aware of the doors opening and closing, and I knew Sam and Dean must be getting out to inspect the bridge. I should join them, I should, but I couldn't rouse myself.
Unable to move, I slept away the investigation on the backseat, boots kicked off yet I didn't remember doing so, yet again. The engine roared to life again, which meant they were back, and we were probably headed to the closest motel. Sitting upright with my eyes still closed, I wiped my face, annoyed at how useless I'd been during this hunt. Perhaps I was just rusty, hopefully I could do more tomorrow. Opening my eyes, I glanced around, no one was in the car besides me. So either I imagined the engine, and Dean had simultaneously left the handbrake off, or I was in real trouble. Either way really, I was in trouble.
''Shit!'' I yelled, throwing myself over the bench seat in the front to slam my foot on the break. Which, as expected, did nothing. I tried for the wheel, at least to avoid hitting both Sam and Dean head on.
''Dean? Go! Go!'' Sam yelled and the two of them were booking it away from me.
''I can't stop her!'' I yelled out the window, slamming my foot on the break and using the parking break at the same time. Going for the window crank, I started frantically winding it down, lest I want to be inside the Impala for the impending crash.
With the car moving faster than the two of them, they had to make a dive out of the way. Finally able to get out, I scrambled out the driver's side window, hitting the ground awkwardly and with a groan. Shooting pains shot up my shoulder and I pushed myself across the bridge to the railing, gasping as I tried to get the wind back into my lungs. The two of them leapt over the railing and the car finally came to a halt, slowly rolling a few feet as if it had been off the whole time. Getting to my feet, I looked over the edge finding Sam hanging on the other side. No Dean. Offering him a hand, I helped him pull himself back up to my side, the safe side, of the bridge.
''Where's…'' I said just as Sam leaned over the edge again. Clutching my shoulder I shuffled closer to the edge, craning my neck to try and get a glimpse of Dean.
''Dean!'' he called. Looking down with him, I saw what looked like a giant, mud covered caterpillar on the ground, crawling out of the river and across the muddy banks. ''Hey, are you alright?'' He held up the 'A-Okay' sign with his hand as he lay, angry and annoyed in the filth.
''I'm super,'' he replied and I breathed a sigh of relief. Sam, also relieved, laughed a little and walked away from the edge towards the car. Poor Dean.
Hurriedly, I jogged down to the end of the bridge and started climbing down the hill towards the banks. Finding Dead still regaining his breath, I dropped to my knees in the mud and helped him up off the ground. It was a bit of a struggle, but we got back up the edge, Dean taking a bit of convincing since he was still sore from walking a while in Constance's swan diving shoes. Once up the hill, Dean unlocked the car and I pulled the lever to pop the hood, leaving the two of us to inspect the engine, making sure nothing was amiss.
''Tell you one thing, I'm never falling asleep in the car again,'' I said, making him laugh.
''I'd take the car over the bridge, that's for sure,'' he replied, tightening his distributor cap for good measure. Sam, who was a little ways off, waiting while the two with car experience were working, wandered over. Dean shut the hood, and the two of us leaned against it while his brother approached.
''Car alright?'' he asked.
''Yeah, whatever she did to it, seems all right now,'' Dean brushed off before turning to the open air. ''That Constance chick, what a bitch!'' he yelled, screaming angrily into the night. He always seemed to want to fight with the ghosts, and while I understood his anger, I never saw the point.
''Well, she doesn't want us digging around, that's for sure,'' Sam said, and Dean let out a huff of annoyance. ''So where's the job go from here, genius?'' Dean threw his arms out, a frustrated shrug his only reply. Sniffing, Sam looked at us, though mostly at Dean.
''You smell like a toilet,'' he said and I bit the inside of my cheek to conceal a smile while Dean looked down at himself, again, in frustration. Headed for the backseat, I grabbed the stolen motel blanket and arranged it on the driver's seat for Dean, so at least we wouldn't have to shampoo the leather again.
''Come on, let's rinse you off at the carwash I saw in town before we try and get a motel room,'' I suggested and he agreed, looking forlorn as he stepped inside. ''Then we can gank this spooky car thief.''