Free A Werewolf Meant to Be Loved by R. T. Ratliff Page A

alcohol, he continues? No sir, she replies; well, some alcohol every now and then but, not today. Ok, mam, David responds; does anyone live here with you? No sir, she responds; just me and my dog Whiskers. Where is Whiskers now Michelle asks? That’s just it she replies frantically, I haven’t seen him since that wolf came around.
    Michelle continues; how long have you been seeing the wolf around your house? Every morning she replies; he is at my door scratching. I get up cause I think it’s Whiskers but, when I open the door, it’s that darn wolf. Okay, mam David interrupts, is there anything else you can tell us or think we should know? No sir, I just want y’all to kill that wolf and bring back my Whiskers, the woman finishes. Okay, thank you mam, we will be in touch when we find out more. David and Michelle proceed out the door and to the car to leave.
    The two sit in the squad car finishing up some reports and notes. David stops for a moment to chat with Michelle about the case; you know Michelle, this is the norm around these parts. People have wolf sightings all the time. Oh yeah, Michelle comments; I suppose with the woods and all, there are plenty of places for them to live. Agreed; David responds; not sure where her dog Whiskers is though. The two laughs then agree to head back to the station. As David is backing the car up, a wolf is standing behind the car about 100 feet back looking at them. Michelle notices there are three others to the right of her car window. David hunks the horn then continues backing up. The wolf walks off to join the other three.
    Later back at the station, Michelle and David finish their reports and decide to go off patrolling the area. They are hoping to spot any dog that might have the name Whiskers. As they patrol the area; slowly riding by the little shops and one or two people standing on corners, an old friend of David’s flags down the car. Hey David he shouts; I got something behind this building here I think you and your partner should see.
    The two pull slowly around to the back of the old hardware building. They get out of their cars with hand on gun unsure what to expect. The man leads them to the side of a large green dumpster and points out what appears to be a body lying there. Both cops step back quickly unsure what to make of it. It looks like a body but some parts are missing. David steps in closer to take a better look. It looks like a male body and David believes he knows the man. John, David calls; that’s this guy’s name. He’s the local drunk. I see him every night stumbling along the road. I tell him to go home before I take him to jail and he always does. I wonder who could have done this to him; David continues. Michelle steps closer to get a better look. This is horrible, she comments; who could do this and why?
    David radios back to the station for them to send the coroner. Michelle begins to question the guy that showed them the body; Sir, how did you find the body? My name is William the man starts; and I was taking out the trash, he responds in a southern accent. I work right here in the hardware store. David begins to question the man as well; William, what time did you start today? At about 7AM I suppose; I came straight here, unlocked the door and started work. I don’t normally take the trash out until 11AM. So, I’d say I found the body about 11AM, the man explains. Michelle pulls out her camera and begins to take pictures of the scene. Just as the coroner arrives, David tells Michelle he needs to make are run alone; would you mine riding back to the station with the coroner, David asks? Michelle looks a little surprised but agrees. David jumps in the car and speeds off.
    A short while later, David returns to the station where Michelle is waiting at her desk. Hey, she greets; where’d you go? I had to take care of something; it wasn’t important, he replies. Michelle looks at David sideways and replies; must have been, you left pretty