DTVS 1:4 Lone Wolves Part 4: Sniffing Around

[subplotkudzu]

The next morning Helena wakes, gathers her pad, collects the morning paper with its dual headline "Police Admit to Wolf Murders" alongside "Wolf Boy on the Run" (with a sketch of the Master. Frost) and raps on the door to the Winterbourne house. Doris answers it, and Helena greets her kindly, asking about last night. Upon word of the beast she approaches Edwin, who is busy copying things out from one of his texts, and slaps the sketches down in front of him. "Is this it?" Doris nods vigorously but Edwin holds up his hand for silence as he finishes his thought.

"A good enough likeness," he replies as he lowers his pen. "Is it a werewolf?" Doris asks excitedly. "I don’t think so. In midsummer 1764 a beast appeared in Gévaudan, France that slaughtered men, women and children and defied all attempts to capture or kill it. It could dematerialize out of traps and leap 30 feet on level ground. The pope proclaimed the Beast to be a deformed wolf granted powers by God to scourge the sins of Gévaudan, the Watcher in the area called it a 'Vampire Wolf'. Similar ones appeared in Limerick in 1874 and in Orel Russia just 10 years ago. It would jump onto its prey and aim for the head and neck."

"Just like last night." Doris exclaims. "It killed a vampire; do you think it's helping us?"

"It also killed two police men and a lone criminal over the last 10 days, according to the paper," Helena interjects, "so I don’t think so."

Edwin nods. "Quite. I think we have to assume it's a threat, though I'm at a loss as to how it got here, or how what steps we should take to track it."

"Ooh! I know someone who could track it." Doris points to the paper. "They say he was raised by wolves!"

Helena scowls. "They also think he's the prime suspect."

Back at the Frost household Roger is awakened from another fitful night's sleep, the covers strewn across the floor and the taste of something dead in his mouth. The knock comes again as Carstairs the family butler calls his name. "Master Roger, there are some gentlemen from the police who are here to see you."

"Police? His voice cracks, "um. Yes, I can see them."

"Are you decent, Master Roger?"

"That means wearing clothes, right? I'll be down soon, can you send them to a room to wait?" A few moments later and he is downstairs, dressed, with his tie more or less done properly. "Yes? How can I help" he asked the two uniformed agents of the local tribal authority. The two men lay out the existence of the recent attacks, including one that killed a second police officer last night and in a roundabout way, using their need to be able to certify Frost's innocence to the press, ask the young millionaire where he and his dog were last night. Frost answers as best he can, turning to Dr. Watkins repeatedly for conformation that he was saying the right things. The police, satisfied, left; as did so Frost asked if there was raw meat for breakfast.

Shortly after breakfast a knock summons Carstars to the door. Outside is Miss Grey (who had taken several minutes to get her hair just so before departing) bearing a letter for Dr. Watkins. Carstairs tips her and closes the door, only to find it blocked by a happy husky - Leet receives head scratches until Roger is summoned to deal with the beast and the two youths have a few moments while Dr. Watkins reads the letter with growing perplexity: visiting Professor Winter-bourne wanted to meet with he and Master Frost concerning the recent wolf matter. "Now why would this be an issue for him?" he questioned. Still, the fellow was likeable, in a British sort of way. He pens a quick assent for an afternoon meeting in his office and sends it along with the girl. If nothing else this might squash any rumors on campus before they start. 

To be continued