Free Hair in All The Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley

smelled like. He just knew there was something unnatural about Gareth. As if there was something lurking under the surface.
    What if he’s the killer? What if he’s the animal that killed Sam Bale?
    â€œDid you kill Sam, Gareth?” blurted Colin.
    â€œColin!” said Becca.
    â€œIt’s not completely outside the realm of possibility, Becca.”
    Gareth looked sad. “Don’t be an idiot, Colin. Sam was my friend.”
    â€œThen what are you doing out here?”
    Gareth bristled at Colin’s question. “What am Idoing out here? What are you two doing out here?”
    â€œBecca wanted to look around.”
    â€œSo you just followed her like a lovesick puppy. Ha!”
    â€œWell, it wasn’t exactly like that.”
    â€œIt was kind of like that.” Becca shrugged.
    â€œOh, this is great. Becca and Colin. I’m going to throw up.”
    Something about the crime scene continued to nag at Colin.
    Why floodlights?
    Sam’s body had been discovered during the day. What are the lights for? Suddenly, he caught it, just the lightest whiff on the breeze, the smell of other people. Several other people. The distant sound of a helicopter.
    Colin heard the whir of a generator as it powered up. The floodlights burst to life illuminating the crime scene and three startled teenagers.
    â€œRun!” yelled Becca.
    Colin didn’t know what to do. He froze as his migraine came back full force. The smells, the sounds, the light, and then the helicopter coming closer all blinded his senses. He tried to stagger in the general direction Becca was running.
    â€œCome on, Colin!” she shouted.
    He mind recalled the explosion, a helicopter, and running through the forest, but most of all, he remembered the wolf creature. He heard it growl inside his head.
    In an eerie human voice, it said, “I’ll take it from here.”
    Colin blacked out.

    As his vision returned, Colin realized he was standing next to the wooden fence at the southern edge of town where he and Becca had first crossed into the field. There was a commotion far behind him somewhere.
    â€œColin, put me down!” said Becca
    Colin realized he had Becca slung over his shoulder. He put her down. “What? How …?” said Colin.
    â€œThat’s what I’d like to know,” demanded Becca. “Come on. We need to hide for a while.”
    â€œMy grandfather’s garage is only a couple of blocks away.”
    â€œLet’s go. Then you can explain to me exactly what just happened.”
    What did just happen?

Chapter Eight
Recollections
    C olin found it unusual that he was in the same back alley, breaking into his grandfather’s garage again, two nights in a row. He didn’t have the key for the back door this time, but Becca found a window that was unlocked. Colin helped her through the window, and she unlocked the door from the inside.
    The garage was exactly as it had been the night before, minus one car. That must mean he definitely did steal it last night. He just wished he could fully remember what had happened.
    Colin’s grandfather had kept an old oil-stained couch in the back of the shop. Becca flopped down and patted the couch playfully. “Here, boy!” she said.
    Colin hesitated.
    â€œI don’t bite, Colin. And you can’t tell me that you’re not tired after what just happened.”
    Colin sat down carefully beside her. “Yeah, about that. I can’t really remember—”
    â€œOh, come on, Colin! It just happened! How can you not remember?”
    â€œWell, my memory … it’s been a little, well, off lately.”
    â€œYou’re telling me that you can’t remember what just happened out in the field?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œYou’re full of crap.”
    â€œDo you interrogate often? Isn’t there supposed to be a
good
cop to balance out your surly no-nonsense attitude?”
    Becca smiled,