Chapter Nine

 

 

Peter watched from the parking lot as a Mercedes pulled up to the office. Seeing a luxury car at Covington Properties wasn’t unheard of. There was something different about this visit, though.

The men who got out looked to be in their fifties. Definitely businessmen and not the average people looking for a home. He tried to place where he’d seen them but drew a blank.

With no other means of finding out what was going on in the office, Peter resorted to the old-fashioned method of detective work. Peeking through a window.

The two men were drinking coffee, smiling and nodding as Jane showed them reports of some kind.

He’d tried his best to stay hidden. Still, his efforts failed. One of the men noticed him crouching behind a bush and stormed outside to confront him.

“Who are you? What are you doing?” he demanded.

Jane hurried to run outside. “Mr. Covington, this is Peter Alden. He’s one of your lead tradesmen.”

“Oh?” The man adjusted his tie. “Well, what is one of our lead men doing lurking in bushes?”

“Mr. Covington, if you’ll come back inside I’m sure that I can –.”

“No.” Peter held up his hand to silence Jane. “Mr. Covington, if you’ll come inside with me I’ll be happy to explain.”

“Alright then.” The man ushered them all inside and sat down, crossing his arms. “Well, let’s hear it.”

“I have only worked for you a few months, sir. But, I do enjoy and value my job. It’s important to me. Just as it’s important to Jane.”

The man cocked a brow. “Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?”

“But…” Peter offered with hesitance. “There are some strange things going on here. Some potentially dangerous things.”

“Dangerous? How so?” Mr. Covington’s colleague asked.

“Mr. Alden, this is my son. Geraldo Covington, the third.”

“Good to meet you,” Peter replied.

“Enough with the formalities.” Covington interrupted. “What sort of dangerous things?”

“Last night, Jane was attacked.”

“Oh my God. Are you okay?”

Both Covington and his son seemed to be genuinely concerned for Jane, something that Peter was grateful for.

“I’m fine. But, there are some strange things that aren’t quite adding up.”

“Such as?”

“Well, to be honest, sir. I shouldn’t have this job. I mean… I love this job. And I’ve been working very hard at it. But, experience wise, I was not your best option.”

“Okay,” Covington steepled his fingers together before continuing, “So, how did you get the job then?”

“Jerry. Jerry Larsen.”

“Larsen. I know that name.” he turned toward his son. “Where do I know that name?”

“He disappeared. About six months ago. He was supposed to meet us here for the ground-breaking ceremony and he never showed. We’ve tried several ways to get a hold of him, but we weren’t successful.”

“I see. And you say you know this Jerry Larsen?”

“Yes.” Peter replied. “He’s far from missing. He’s been here for months.”

“And this man, Larsen. He’s the one who attacked you?”

“Well…” Jane looked over at Peter. “Not exactly. I mean, maybe?”

“Mr. Alden, would you mind explaining to me what is going on here?” Mr. Covington asked, his obvious annoyance growing.

“You see yesterday Jerry sort of vanished. Couldn’t find him anywhere. And then last night, Jane was attacked.”

“Right. You already said that. But, if it wasn’t this Jerry fellow, what was it? A mountain lion? A –.”

“I think it was Bigfoot.” Jane blurted her response, shocking their two visitors.

Covington turned to her, his expression curious. “Bigfoot you say?”

“Well, yes. I think it was a Bigfoot. Or a Sasquatch. I don’t know.”

“Look,” Peter answered, “all we know for sure is that a big hairy ape-like man tried to grab her and take her. It wasn’t until last night that we realized some things about Jerry just didn’t make much sense.”

“Here.” Geraldo held up his phone, showing a picture to Jane and Peter. “Is this Jerry?”

Shocked by the image of an older African-American male, Peter shook his head. “No. Not at all.”

“You’re sure?”

“He’s sure.” Jane replied. “The Jerry Larsen that I have known for weeks is a middle-aged Caucasian.”

“Then where pray tell is Jerry Larsen?” Peter posed the question, though it was more rhetorical than anything. He didn’t suspect anyone had the answer. Nor did he expect what Mr. Covington was about to tell them.

“Listen, have a seat. I think there’s something you should know.” Mr. Covington took a breath and began to explain. “A long time ago, my family had some allies. Barbara and Tristan Wolfe. They were shifters, wolf shifters coincidentally enough. Their safety and family didn’t come easily to them. They fought many battles. They suffered before they were blessed. The Wolfe’s are… good people. Good shifters. But, their happiness came at a price. Someone else’s price. There was a long stretch of land that was untouched, at least as far as anyone knew. Barbara and Tristan had gone there, hoping to find serenity for their children. What they didn’t realize was that the land had already been claimed. Not by man, or even a shifter. But, by a mythical creature that some to this day don’t even believe actually exists. They weren’t bad creatures. They just never evolved like us shifters did. Humans have a place in this world. Shifters have a place in this world. But, Bigfoot, and others like them, they have no place. And occasionally, whenever we build in new areas, we come across some. They are either fighting for their land. Fighting for their families. Sometimes even fighting for their lives. They’re dying off. Slowly, but gradually their numbers are diminishing. No longer able to mate with their kind due to their decreased population, it has been rumored that they would take captives. Kidnap women for mating and other purposes.”

“But, wait.” Peter cut in. “If they aren’t shifters, and if Jerry is one of these Bigfoot creatures, I mean… that is what you’re saying, right?”

Mr. Covington nodded.

“Okay, so if that were true, then how could he recruit potential mates? If he has a human form and saw Jane as some sort of a mate for himself, how could he appear as human and Bigfoot?”

“Just like I said. They’re dying off. They are no longer mating with their own kind. They’re mixing between humans and shifters. Anyway, they can find to stay alive they have taken it. And so –.”

“They’re not just Bigfoot anymore.” Jane finished Mr. Covington’s thoughts. “They’re becoming shifters now.”

“That is what I believe.” Mr. Covington answered. “The only question is, how many more are out there? And what are they capable of?”