Inanimate (33 page)

MacNamee omitted the fact he had just went
to Hallcombes.

“
Besides
…” he continued “I would be locked up
in my own hospital if I told too many people, even these guys are
looking at me as if I’m nuts.”

MacNamee
gestured towards the two detectives
who then deliberately changed their expressions to look less
judgmental.

“
Sorry Doctor”
said Graham “It’s
just a lot to digest”

“
Yeah”
agreed Murdoch “We feel terrible for
your loss and it’s not that we don’t believe you it’s just that
it’s...”

Murdoch
couldn’t find the words so Jacobs
intervened.

“
It’s hard to believe
is what he’s trying
to say, but I’m sure once we get to Staunton, they’ll come round.
I’m pretty sure we’ll all get to see some shit there. Ok guys,
thanks, go home and get some sleep; I’ll see you back here at seven
thirty sharp alright.”

The two detectives
acknowledge
d
Jacobs and got up, offering condolences to MacNamee as they
left.

“
I’m going to head out too Doc,
I
can offer
you a couch at my place if you like.”

“
If it’s all the same to you
Sergeant I’d like to sleep on the couch here
.”

Jacobs
nodded, he understood MacNamee’s wish
to feel safe, and what better way to feel safe than in a closed
room at a police station.

“
Ok well I’ll be back early in
the morning to get you then. Don’t worry about Greta, I’ll call
from the car
tomorrow, have her picked up when we’re on our way to
Staunton, It’ll be easier to answer questions when we get back with
more information.”

“
Won’t people be looking for
us?”

“
Don’t worry, the Captain owes me
one, I’ll get him to keep a lid on it until we get
back
.”

“
What if the media get a
hold of it?”

“
I’ll make sure they
don’t.”

MacNamee
was eased by Jacobs’ confidence in
the matter.

“
Thanks Sergeant, I appreciate
what you’re doing.”

Jacobs
looked at MacNamee
sympathetically.

“
You’re welcome, now get
some sleep, I’ll collect you in the morning.”

Jacobs
turned and headed out as MacNamee lay
down on the couch. Tonight, the fetal was his position of
choice.

Jacob’s office, tucked half way
down a narrow corridor
was the perfect place for an attack. The entire
floor was deserted and dark. No cops could be seen at reception or
on the stairs, in the break room or in the bathrooms. There were no
cops in the station at all. The door to the office was open a
crack. Respectful as Jacobs was, he left it open a little so
MacNamee could heard the officers just outside the door, so he
would know he was safe in there. The door opened slowly, whoever
was pushing it was careful, not to wake up the sleeping doctor.
Then, equally quiet feet made their way across the carpet, slowly,
steadily. Moonlight slinked in through the blinds, forming a large
square, striped with shadow on the carpet. As Bear stepped into the
moonlight, claws started to protrude, showing four inches of
gleaming steel. Using the claws to effortlessly climb the couch he
stood over MacNamee who, at some point in sleep decided to turned
over onto his back for more comfort. Bear stood on the arm of the
chair and flexed his claws; tilting his head, he looked for the
quickest spot to achieve a kill. MacNamee’s throat was exposed; the
doctor had no chance here.

Subconsciously MacNamee
could feel eyes on
him so he slowly woke, but this would not save him; Bear had the
upper hand already. Fixing a gaze on the scowling Bear just moments
before it lunged at him, claws primed for the strike; he knew he
was done for. As the first four claws sunk deep into his jugular he
tried to cry out but no-one heard him, the station was empty. The
second set of claws plunged deep into his ribcage causing an
involuntary muscle contraction. The poor doctor jolted up on the
couch, sitting up straight, soaked in blood. His brain was running
furiously as he sat up. Breathing heavily he forced oxygen into his
body at an impressive rate. As his brain calmed, logic crept in, it
wasn’t blood, it was sweat. The police station wasn’t empty, it was
bustling. Looking around quickly, his eyes fixed on the
clock
“6:66?”
MacNamee closed his eyes tight then wiped the saline water
away.
“6:16:
That’s better”
he thought to himself. MacNamee patted himself where he
thought he had been stabbed to double check that he hadn’t been.
His breathing was still heavier than normal. There was no Bear, but
the dream was vivid, more so than dreams were supposed to be.
Connor must have been behind this, the boy was toying with them and
he was he wasn’t the only one going through this. As he lay awake
for the next hour or so, afraid to go to sleep, he wondered which
of the others pawns in this tale were getting the same torturous
treatment. He knew that the ones who were not getting it, soon
would be.

Jacobs
filled up the tank and got in the
car. MacNamee had been dozing off while they were getting gas
despite the fact he was trying hard not to. He did get a few hours’
sleep in before his nightmare woke him up but the trauma he
experienced the night before had taken a huge toll on his mental
state, causing him to feel more tired than normal. Jacobs handed
the doctor a coffee.

“
Here doc, this
will
help.”

But the thankless
MacNamee
was
grouchy through fatigue.

“
You actually like gas
station coffee?”

“
No
” Jacobs retorted “but it’s better than
the muck at the precinct.”

Jacobs
pulled out the forecourt, straight
onto the highway on route to Staunton.

“
Did you get a car outside
Crass’s house like we agreed?”

“
I did, yeah
.”

“
Did you also get the list
of toys from him?”

“
Yeah. I sent Murdoch and Graham
round to get it this morning.”

MacNamee took a deep breath.

“
Did you send a car round to my
house, to take care of Greta?”

“
It’s all taken care of Doc,
let’s just worry about what’s ahead of us.”

MacNamee did worry about what was ahead of
them. As they passed the sign letting them know they were leaving
the city, he tried his best not to fall asleep, but it was a losing
battle.

CHAPTER 32

Sheriff Oates was a lot more optimistic
when he woke up this morning. He still looked over at his wife, but
today she didn’t bother him as much as usual. There were no murders
in Staunton last night so his whole office breathed a little
easier. Oates came down the stairs after his morning routine, well
aware he would be having visitors today. As he organized breakfast
for himself he decided he wanted something a little special. The
cold realization had already hit him that any one of these mornings
could be his last so he knew should be making the most of them.
Into the fridge he went, taking out some eggs and milk. A creature
of habit for the most part, French toast wasn’t too far a stretch
from his regular normal toast, but then it was just fancy enough to
convince him he was spoiling himself. He made the coffee as the egg
soaked bread in the pan crackled, cooking slowly. His
breakfast-for-one was topped off with some sliced strawberries and
a dusting of icing sugar. Eating in the quiet kitchen, the
sweetness of the ripe farmers’ market strawberries brought his
taste buds to life. The flavor reminded him how much he enjoyed
living in Staunton but he wondered how long this feeling would
last. With each bite he pictured how the plan to catch these killer
dolls would play out. He knew it would not be easy. He knew the
peace of mind he had already lost was trivial compared to the peace
of mind he was going to lose. But still, he did enjoy those sweet
strawberries.

“
You
have reached your
destination!”

The satellite navigation system
in Jacobs’ car was a godsend. As if he had used all his memory
pathways to remember every road, street and landmark in the big
city, he was pretty much useless
when it came to directions anywhere else.
But in this modern day, he didn’t have to worry; technology could
guide him wherever he wanted to go. Pulling up in the parking lot
of the Sheriff’s office the two men looked at the building through
the window. They noticed that for a town that wasn’t very big, the
Sheriff station was unusually so. Both men thought this strange
but, at the same time they were pleased they weren’t going to be
working out of some little country shack.

“
Let’s do this
.”

Jacobs
said as he exited the vehicle,
followed closely by MacNamee who was quietly annoyed at Jacobs’
action-movie clichéd statement. The southern air was warm with a
slight breeze, it was clear that a cool morning was trying to make
way for a better afternoon. Dora looked up from her horned-rim
glasses at the two strangers approaching her desk.

“
Can I help you?”

“
We’re here to see Sheriff
Oates”
said
MacNamee.

“
One moment please.”

Dora
picked up a phone and dialed Oates.
After a moment of conversation she looked back at the men before
her.

“
Go on through, his office
is in the main hall
on the left hand side.”

The two men
walk
ed
through a door into a small hallway. Then, they opened another door
into the main room. The first thing MacNamee noticed was there were
only eight desks in this room despite its size. The first thing
Jacobs noticed was the lack of security features here; it would be
so easy for anyone or anything to get in. Not one security camera
was visible and (if he was being honest) he didn’t imagine Dora the
receptionist would be able to stop anyone from forcing their way
in. In the main room Oates stuck his head out his
office.

“
I’m in here gents.”

Both lost in their own thoughts while
sizing up their soon-to-be fortress they were startled by Oates’
interruption.

“
Is it just you two? Where’s the
other doctor?”

Oates knew
Crass’s name full well, but he
was still sore over their earlier run in and tried to act like he
didn’t mean much to him.

“
We had an incident last
night Sheriff”

Jacobs
said, answering for
MacNamee.

“
Doctor MacNamee lost someone
very close to him in the city; we believe it was one of those dolls
that did it. Doctor Crass has stayed behind to protect his
family.”

Oates
was visibly taken aback.

“
I’m sorry Doctor. Who did you
lose?”

“
My wife
.”

“
Jesus Christ!”

Jacobs quickly changed the subject back
to the backup.

“
But I
have two other officers coming down,
they should be here momentarily.”

“
Can you trust them?”

“
Yes
. Implicitly.”

Something out the window
caught Oates’ eye.
He spotted two strangers in an unmarked car pulling up
outside.

“
I believe that’s them
now.”

Silence
passed between the three men for a
few moments. Oates studied MacNamee, he felt terribly sorry for him
even though they didn’t know each other that well. Like a chainsaw
in the forest, the Sheriff’s desk phone cut the silence. He didn’t
have to ask who was calling, it was almost always Dora.

“
Send them in
.”

Dora acknowledged and a few more silent
moments later Graham and Murdoch were approaching the office. In
the silence, Jacobs’ eyes rolled around the office, he could not
believe how big it was, and, just like everything about the
building he had seen so far he could not believe there were no
security cameras.

“
Quite an office you
have
here.”

Jacobs
said, unsubtly masking his
disapproval of it. Oates rolled his eyes.

“
Don’t even get me started!
Poor planning since the beginning, such wasted space!”

His door
knocked; apparently the two
detectives had an easier time finding the office than the previous
two visitors did. Jacobs opened the door which quietly irked Oates.
This was his office and although they knew who it was, it was the
principle of the matter that bothered him.

“
Morning fellas”
said Jacobs.
“Sheriff Oates, this is detective Graham and detective
Murdoch.”

Oates
came round from his desk and shook
both their hands.