The Sheriff's office was watching the Big Rock murders closely. Every town nearby was. Something was off about this. Every two or three days someone would go missing and they would find a body with no blood.
Sheriff Bear Hornsby was getting worried. The police were no closer to figuring this mystery out. What was someone doing with all of the blood? What could a person do with blood? None of the victims was even the same blood type. Sheriff Hornsby wasn't sleeping very well.
Over the next month, there were fifteen more bodies, people just missing with no leads or bodies and they were no closer to getting this figured out or stopping it. They were getting closer to Red River too. He wasn't sure what to do.
Bear Hornsby was a firm believer in the Bible and God. He said his prayers every day. Twice. He never understood people that killed other people and satanic rituals were worse.
He was suspicious of everyone. The murderers are always mild-mannered people that no one would suspect. His mind went to Creed Moonridge. He was new and no one really knew him. No one would think it was him but Bear thought about him. Creed Moonridge.
Creed was elbow deep in paint when he heard the car. Police car. Great. He wiped his hands and was at the door when the sheriff rang. He took a breath and opened the door. "Sheriff."
"Mr. Moonridge. May I come in?" Bear stood in the doorway. He was going to come inside without permission.
"Sure." Creed stepped back and Bear walked in. He was a large man. Creed knew the Sheriff wasn't weak and he could handle himself in a fight. "How can I help you?"
"I am covering all of my bases. Where were you on the nights that people went missing in Big Rock?" Bear watched Creed for signs of guilt. He was good at reading people and judging them. He knew what guilty people acted like.
"Uh, I'm not sure what the dates were." Creed sighed. He knew that he was being questioned about the disappearances.
Bear rattled off the dates for the last six weeks.
"I know I was here when the first man was found. I was here when the last two went missing. Sir." Creed sighed. "Killian and Haven were here with me. And Lois."
"All day?"
"No. I spend most of my days alone, during the week. I manage to get to the hardware twice a week if I need to. I have been working on this house. It's a full-time job but I don't have an alibi, Sir." Creed sighed. He knew that Sheriff Hornsby was looking at him for the murders. He couldn't go to jail.
"I figured as much. Just don't leave town." Bear glared at him.
"It's not me," Creed promised.
Sheriff Hornsby was in his face. "I know something is up with you but I don't know what it is yet. I know you are different and if I find out that you are responsible for the murders of innocent people, I will bury you alive, under that jail! Understand."
Creed nodded. "Yes, Sir. I will help any way I can. But it's not me, Sir. You have my word."
Bear turned to the door. "Better watch yourself." He was out the door and peeled out in the driveway. It was gravel.
Creed sighed. He had looked for the vampire but he wasn't a tracker. He wasn't sure he could find it. He couldn't stop it but he was monitoring it closely. He had only met the one vampire so he didn't know if all vampires were like Megan or him. Clearly, this vampire was a fan of Megans.
Creed laid in bed wondering if he was weird and then pondered why. Why was he like this? He wasn't wild or crazy. He never wanted to kill his brother.
Well, just the once before he realized who Killian was but he was counting that as some kind of shock. Maybe all vampires were like him and Megan was rare and that was why no one really knew they existed. He had no answers and he wasn't looking for them.
Creed made a horrible decision and he knew it was bad before he left. He left for Big Rock in the middle of the night. He was trying to help. He should have stayed home. He found a body. It was fresh but Creed missed the vampire, barely. He was gone.
Creed tried to stop the bleeding. He tried CPR but it was too late. He carried the body three miles to town. He knew this was going to be bad. He was alone out in the middle of the night and happened to find a body? This sucked. Now, he was covered in this person's blood.
Of course, Sheriff Bear Hornsby was happy to lock him up. Creed got one phone call twelve hours later. He called Killian.
"Man! I was so worried. You're in jail!" Killian was beside himself. Creed was gone for a whole day.
"Yip. Jail." Creed sighed. "I'm going to have a problem in a couple of days, Killian." Creed would get hungry.
"What happened?" Killian had to ask.
"This is your fault. I went looking for that damn vampire. I found a body. It was fresh. He didn't finish it, Killian. I took the man to town for help and I'm in jail."
"Sheriff Hornsby thinks I'm the killer but he thinks it's a cult thing. They have no idea what they're up against and more people are going to die! I'm worried about them, Killian." Creed whispered this because he would sound crazy. "Let Haven and Lois know that I'm fine. My time is up." The line was dead.
Haven signed into the jail and walked to the visitor's section with a thermos. They allowed some things and a thermos was harmless but he would have to leave with it. He sat in front of Creed. "Hey. I was so scared when you didn't come home!"
"I'm so sorry. I thought I would check out the murders and well, Hornsby hates me!" Creed smiled. "Is that for me?" He looked at the Thermos.
"Yes. Drink it before someone searches it." Haven smiled.
Creed closed his eyes and drank the contents. He felt better. "Thanks." His eyes were glowing. He looked at the table. "What was that?"
"Rabbit. Killian caught it." Haven smiled and Creed laughed. He wanted to see that. "I missed a good show!" He cleared his throat.
Hornsby was coming. "I said to tell me when he had visitors!" He was marching toward Creed. "Mr. Duncan?" He was surprised that Haven was here.
"Sir. How are you?" Haven smiled and shook his hand.
"How do you know Mr. Moonridge?" Hornsby wasn't being nice today. He glared at Haven.
"He's my fiance." Haven glared back. "I know you don't trust Creed but you don't know him. He isn't the person you're looking for. Creed protects people."
"How long have you known Creed?" Hornsby glared at Creed.
"Since Halloween." Haven glared back.
"Anything odd?" Hornsby was curious about Creed. Now he was engaged to Haven? When did that even happen?
"Of course!" Haven chuckled and leaned into Creed. This jail was lenient. It wasn't a maximum security place and Creed wasn't a murderer. "He is odd but he isn't a murderer!" Haven smiled at Creed. "Who isn't odd but he doesn't hide his oddities like everyone else! He is the most honest man I have ever met. The bravest too! You know he isn't guilty."
Hornsby grunted. "I have no proof that he is innocent, Haven." He stormed off. He was sure that Creed was guilty. He wanted him to be guilty so that they stopped the murders. He was wrong.
Creed was in his cell, day three, reading a book when a guard walked up. "It's your lucky day, Moonridge." He smiled. He opened the cell door. "Creed, come on."
Creed stood up. "What's happening, Dave?"
"Well, they found two more bodies and they were killed within twenty-four hours and three more are missing. You couldn't have done it. You are free by default!" The officer smiled. His name was Dave Flante. He was a very cool guy and a good cop.
"Thanks, Dave." Creed smiled. He wasn't handcuffed.
"Sure. I didn't do anything, just gave you books. I talked to Jack and knew you weren't the killer, Creed. Jack trusts you." Dave smiled. "I trust you." He thought it was that simple.
"Thanks." Creed was moved. "I mean that. Let's not tell anyone about this conversation!"
Dave chuckled. "What conversation!"
Creed nodded and smiled. He was grateful for decent people. He had to hunt later. He needed to get out and run.
Hornsby stopped him at the door. "Moonridge."
Creed turned. "Sir."
"If I find out that you are part of this, I will shoot you!" The sheriff was serious.
"Understood. I'm not. I was just trying to help, Sir. There are things you should know about the killer." Creed needed to say something.
"What's that?"
"Wear crosses or crucifixes. Please? I know it's weird. Trust me. Please. Wear a cross and it will protect you." Creed wanted to beg. He knew this was weird and Hornsby wouldn't listen.
"What in the hell?" Hornsby stared at Creed. "I always wear a cross. Now, get out of here before I put you back in just because you creep me out!"
Creed nodded and left the Sheriff's station. He walked directly to Haven's shop. Haven turned the open sign to close. "Creed!" He rushed to Creed's arms and kissed him harshly. "I was so worried and I missed you!"
Creed moaned as Haven removed his shirt. "I missed you too, Haven!" He pulled Haven into his arms as Haven wrapped his legs around Creed's waist. Creed's hands were on his butt and legs. Haven shared moans with Creed as Creed loved him for an hour.