Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen - Jessica

Mrs. Jamie met me at the door.

She had a notebook with a pad and pen in her hand. “We’re going to go out and see if we can get any more leads while she finishes the article for today.

I loved the groundwork of journalism. It wasn’t just about the writing but the adventure of finding information. The adventure of finding out things like a detective. The mystery always drew me into my writing. The unfolding excited me more than any of it.

Jamie seemed just as excited as she shut the door and led me toward her car. “You don’t have a car?” she asked me over her shoulder.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. Jacob, my cousin, and his friends have been taking me where I need to go. I have a car back home but I don’t think it’ll make the journey here. Mason mentioned fixing up an old VW Bug that's in my Aunt Tasha's driveway. So, hopefully, I won't be without one for too long."

Jamie unlocked her Honda Civic and I slipped into the hot passenger seat. The air turned on quickly and blew my hair from my shoulders.

She turned down her rock station that briefly blared on the speakers. She chuckled. “I listen to music to wake myself up in the morning.”

I laughed. “No judgment. Sometimes I need a few extra cups of coffee just to get going. So,” I turned to face her. “What do we know about the incident?”

She backed out of the parking lot and onto the pavement of the street. “Rosie Parker originally called the police. She walked outside and said she saw a monster hovering over her current boyfriend, Scott. They change quite often. He was completely drunk and doesn’t remember a thing.”

“Had she been drinking?” I asked.

Jamie gave me a look. “Just a little she said, but I’m not sure what to believe, to be honest. The police arrived and there was no sign of anything out of the sort. Some local boys were trying to figure it out but other than that, nothing.”

“What local boys?” I asked, tearing out a sheet of paper from her notebook and digging a pen out of my purse. “Maybe they found something.”

She turned at the stop light. “Your cousin Jacob was one of them and his friends. They’re pretty well known around town.”

I stalled while writing my questions down on my paper. Jacob and Mason had gone down to Maurice’s? Was that why Liam came to get Mason? Being a reporter, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions but Mason said Liam had a personal issue at home.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “How many of his friends were there?”

“The whole little group of them,” she said. "If I got the information right."

Did Mason lie to me? Why? Did he not want me to know about the monster spotting? He seemed adamant about keeping me from it earlier too.

“Why are they well known around town?” I asked myself.

She pulled into a long building with a half-lit sign MAURICE’S written at the top. It looked like a rundown building that wouldn’t pass a health inspection to me.

Jessica got out, while I scribbled down a few questions and followed her. “Are they open?” I asked.

“No, but the owner Maurice will be here. He’s always here.”

She walked toward the front door, pulled on the handle, and tapped her knuckles against the glass.

“Did it happen here or in the back?” I asked.

“Around back. I want to get permission before we go back there. People will shoot first and ask questions later around here.”

The door opened and an older gentleman with balding hair, tattoos and a cigar hanging out of his mouth stepped out. “Jamie, what do you want this time?”

She grinned and he rolled his eyes playfully at her. “Come on inside, Girl. Who did you bring with you?”

I stepped into the bar and let the door shut behind me. "This is Jessica, she's new to town," Jamie said.

It surprised me at the cleanliness of it, but the atmosphere was stereotypical. Neon lights hung over a long wooden bar with liquor stationed behind it on wooden shelves.

Pool tables sat on the opposite side of the dining area with low-hanging lights over them.

My wedges clicked against the tiled floor as we walked toward the bar and Maurice offered us something to drink.

“No, thank you,” Jamie said. “We’re on the clock, Maurice. We just had a few questions about last night.”

He sighed heavily. “Ah, you know more than I do, Jamie.”

“Had Rosie been drinking?” she asked.

“One or two beers but nothing that would have caused hallucinations. You know she’s always in here, too. Her tolerance is high.”

Jamie nodded while nibbling on her bottom lip.

“Has Slade Springs seen anything like this before?” I asked. "People are talking about it but the surprise level is lower than I would have imagined."

Maurice looked over at me. “Nowadays? Nah. In the past, yeah. Slade Springs has a rich history of paranormal sightings.”

Jamie didn’t seem surprised by that statement but it made my heart flutter. “Yeah? Like what?”

He chuckled. “They’re just stories, Jessica. What brings you here anyway?"

“My grandmother passed away. Dotti. She left me her estate.”

He lifted both brows. “She didn’t come here but I knew Mrs. Dotti. I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t mean to pry but you’re staying in the woods all alone?”

“My cousin Jacob keeps me company.”

He stared at me for several long seconds with a look I couldn’t pinpoint. Until Jamie cleared her throat. “Do you have any cameras outside, Maurice?”

He chuckled. “Does it look like I can afford cameras, Jamie? No. You need to interview her cousin. They ran into the woods looking for whatever it was. I’m guessing they didn’t find anything or we would have heard about it.”

Jamie looked over at me as I watched Maurice begin to clean up some of his shot glasses.

They ran into the woods after a monster. What kind of rinky-dink Scooby-Doo club were they a part of?

“Well, Maurice, you have my number if you think of anything else. I’ll be back I’m sure.”

Maurice smiled at her and then looked over at me. “Nice to meet you, honey. You stay safe out there in those woods.”

I smiled politely and followed Jamie back to the car. My heart pounded and I wasn’t even sure why. Maybe the fact that Mason lied to me? Or that they were chasing monsters through the woods?

“Well, it looks like your cousin may know more than we think he does,” Jamie said.

“Yeah, looks like it,” I mumbled.

“Is he at home today?”

“He’s working,” I said. “Do you think you could drop me off at home? I want to get some questions together before I go ask the boys some questions.”

“Sure, I can. Can I add some questions to your list?”

“Absolutely,” I said, pulling out my pen. “Go for it.”

I spent the drive home writing down questions that Jamie had for the boys. Though, I wasn’t sure when I would see them. I felt torn by the fact that Mason had lied to me about his whereabouts. What did he think I was going to do with the information?

Why was hunting down a potential monster so important to them? When Jamie dropped me off, I high-tailed it inside and was greeted by the tabby cat.

He darted outside as I shut the door behind me.

Pulling out my phone, I texted Jacob.

Can you come over tonight after work? I have something I need to talk to you about.

I knew he wouldn’t get it until later and I was okay with that. I needed time to cool myself down. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions but I felt out of sorts being lied to.

The why lingered in the air as I made myself a sandwich and took a giant bite. I didn’t like the way Maurice looked at me today either. Did he know something about the boys that I didn’t?

Why were they so well-known?

I walked into the living room and pulled up my social media. I started looking up every boy on Jacob’s friend’s list. They looked so normal in their pictures.

Even when I dug deeper into their post, which were few and far between, nothing stood out.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were hiding something from me.

And me being me...I planned to find out.