Chapter Nine : Another day, another body...

Mrs. Furlong watched as Wynter entered the apartment building across the street from her kitchen window. Disgusted with society these days where it was perfectly acceptable for a young woman to climb in and out of bed with any man who caught her fancy, she decided to compose a letter to the editor of the Down Homer expressing her concern for the very state of morality on the island.
Grabbing a glass of water she spent an hour or so finding just the right words to convey her disgust and shame. Finishing her drink and carefully placing the empty glass in the sink she returned to her bed. Pulling the covers up to her chin she shut her eyes and tried not to ignore the memories of the days when she would sneak over to her late husband’s home to do what most people her age would consider un-lady like behaviour.
As the clock rolled over to three am she woke. Terror filled her as she realized that she couldn’t move nor breathe. Suddenly her perspective changed and she could see herself laying on the bed below. A creature sat upon her chest...its hair was long and matted with tangles, tree branches stuck out; some with leaves still attached to them while others were rotted and crumbling.
Praying that it was a horrible dream she tried to wake herself. When she remained where she was she tried to scream. No sound came out. Heart pounding she watched as the creature leaned forward to peer at her face. She tried to say the Lord’s Prayer but the words failed her as the creature whipped its head around to look up at her.
The decrepit thing hissed at her showing blackened teeth and gaping holes where others had fallen out. The paper thin skin was stretched across the skull so tightly that it was a wonder that the bones didn’t break through, but it was the eyes that made Mrs. Furlong bite her tongue. They were doe shaped with large yellow irises rimmed in red and they were full of hunger.
If she could have Mrs. Furlong would have bolted and never come back....
Unfortunately for Mrs. Furlong she could do nothing but watch as the creature turned back to her prostrated form and lean over her face once more; uttering unintelligible words as it rocked back and forth. Something like a golden mist started to rise up and the creature was quick to snap it up with its mouth opening wide much like a snake devouring its prey....
Pain prickled at her and to her horror Mrs. Furlong saw that even her invisible form was starting to disappear like the mist....first her feet, then her legs...and then with sudden comprehension she understood that she wouldn’t be mailing her letter in the morning.....
* ********************************************
Wynter stood at the edge of the crowd; unlike those around her she wasn’t there to watch as they removed the body from the tiny house but to visit a certain Mountie with a killer smile and gentle hands. She clutched the coffee cup in one hand and the paper bag in the other wishing that she could wrap her arms around herself instead. All around her people speculated on whether or not Mrs. Furlong had met her end by natural means or if she was murdered.
Wynter could have told them but she preferred to keep that kind of information to herself...it was bad enough that she had to tell Tanner when she woke for the second time that night with a start.... She watched as he exited the house, he looked a little rough around the edges but not too bad considering the three hours of sleep he had... She waved to get his attention and was pleased when he smiled at her as he signalled that he needed a minute. Nodding her head that she understood she continued to watch him as he spoke to Constable Marche who looked equally rough for wear.
Marche glanced her way and Wynter shifted uncomfortably...she never did take a liking to the man. He always seemed so unapproachable and unfriendly. Perhaps it was unfair of her but she wouldn’t mind at all if he were to be transferred to another town...or off the island all together. He gave her the creeps and she knew of very few people who actually took claim of his friendship.
“Hey” said Tanner walking over to her.
“Hey” said Wynter giving him a wan smile “I got this for you...didn’t know what you took in your coffee so there’s sugar and cream in the bag with a breakfast sandwich. Hope sausage is ok.....” She felt oddly nervous all of a sudden around him and put her hands in her jean pockets so that he wouldn’t see them shake. “Oh and some packets of ketchup...”she added.
“Thank you, sausage is my all time favourite...” he peered into her eyes as he spoke. “You ok?” he asked.
“Yeah...fine” she said jerking her shoulder and looking over as the ambulance attendants came out with the body on the stretcher.
“I better get back to work...Thanks for breakfast...See you later?” he asked still looking at her with concern.
“You’re welcome and yeah...that would be great” she said nodding her head.
“All right then...bye” he said still looking at her in puzzlement.
“Bye” said Wynter. This time she didn’t wait to watch him go back. Striding to her car she mentally slapped herself on the forehead...Why was she so weird around him? There was no real reason for it...no reason at all. Chalking it up to lack of sleep she started the ignition and pulled out onto the road.
Driving back to her place to get ready for her shift at The Souwester, Wynter replayed her dream over and over again. She felt guilty...like somehow she could have prevented it from happening.....Which was ridiculous as she couldn’t be at fault for what the fey did...Or could she? Was the figure in the woods a warning of sorts? Then again she could just be grasping at straws.....or going crazy.....
The day seemed to fly by as she was wrapped up in her circular thoughts and several crates of stock waiting to be opened and dealt with. The logging and tagging of items kept her busy and in the back of the store so that she didn’t have to deal with the customers who came in hoping for a piece of gossip. Word had already spread about Wynter and her new inside track to the police department and they were hoping to pump her for information...So she left it up to Shannon to cover the front of the store as she refused to be used in such a way or subjected to the mental anguish that came with living in a small town where everybody knew your name.
When her stomach started to growl she looked up at the clock and was surprised to see that it was just after five pm....She had worked straight through dinner. A few seconds later Shannon appeared in the doorway.
“Whew, what a friggin’ day....Never thought old missus Roberts was ever gonna leave. She was waiting for you to come out I think....nosey ol’ biddy” she said leaning against the door jab. “I’m done and ready to lock up back here; you staying late?”
“No...Just lost track of time is all” said Wynter as she stiffly got up off the floor where she had created a small fort of empty boxes and items ready for the shelf. “How come you never got me for dinner?”
“I thought you had one back here with ya....”said Shannon with a shrug. “Sorry”
Wynter neither accepted nor rejected the offered apology as her mind had been elsewhere. “S’ok....We should get going.”
“Yeah...Are you all right? You seem a little off today....” said Shannon staring at her with concern.
“I’m fine! Just tired is all....” said Wynter feeling annoyed. “Are we going?” she added after Shannon just kept frowning at her.
“No one’s stopping you are they?” snapped Shannon. Apparently a case of the grumps was going around. Not in the mood for an argument Wynter didn’t respond but just stepped past Shannon into the little hallway that lead to the employee coat slash lunch room. As she reached for her jacket she heard the front door slam open and the bells crash to the floor. “I thought you locked up” she said to Shannon who had followed her into the tiny room.
“I...thought I had too” she stammered, her blue eyes going wide with fear. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded as Wynter moved towards the door.
“I’m going to go see what the hell happened” she answered but stopped when Shannon grabbed her arm.
“What if it’s the killer?” she whispered.
“Don’t be retarded...it was probably the wind” said Wynter and she shook Shannon’s hand off before striding out to the front of the store. There on the floor between the tables of a pyramid of partridgeberry jam and the Republic of Newfoundland t-shirts was a mini tornado or at least that’s what it looked like to her....it whirled leaves and shells around and around till she felt dizzy from watching it. Behind her she could hear Shannon’s exclamation of wtf and mentally agreed to her assessment of the situation.
Something glimmered in its centre and Wynter couldn’t help but move towards it. Hand stretched out before her she trembled slightly as she moved closer.....
“Don’t touch it!” exclaimed Tanner from the open front door. Reaching into his pocket he took something out and threw it at the centre of the whirling mass....Shells, leaves and pebbles flew in every direction knocking stock off shelves and breaking some of the more delicate pieces. Wynter who had been transfixed by it had received the brunt of the explosion and suffered from numerous gashes several of which oozed blood.
Shocked by the whole thing neither woman moved as Tanner walked in and retrieved his knife from the floor boards. Placing it back in his pocket he turned to Wynter and inquired if she was ok but she took too long to answer him. Seeing her bleeding he cursed and barked an order at Shannon to get the first aid kit. As she scrambled to obey he placed his attention back on Wynter. “Wynter? Wynter, I need you to talk to me...Are you ok?”he asked gently holding her face in his hands so that she had to look up at him.
She blinked as if he was just coming into focus and then she looked confused. “What...What happened?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Should I?” she said with anxiety.
“Here you go” said Shannon running over to them and dumping the white metal box on the table behind the couple. “Maybe you can tell us what the fuck that was now dat you got rid of it” she said to Tanner “My heart is just a doing triple time here and I thinks that I could be having a heart attack!” she said while fanning herself with her both her hands.
“Shannon” said Tanner.
“Yes?” she answered.
“Go away. I need to talk to Wynter alone” he said without taking his eyes off of Wynter.
“I’ve been hurt too y’know!” she exclaimed angrily while placing her hands on her hips. “’sides Wynter’s just gonna tell me what you says anyways so just go on and say it.”
“Go away Shan” said Wynter who was still caught in Tanner’s gaze.
“Fine den but I ain’t coming back to help clean up!” she huffed and then stomped out when neither of them argued with her.
“I shouldn’t have said that” said Wynter in dismay.
“She’ll get over it” said Tanner unsympathetically. They continued to stare at one another in complete silence. Time lapsed and still they stood in the same spot until a group of kids passed by on their bikes and jeered and made kissy noises at them. Breaking apart they gave each other shy glances and smiles as Tanner cleaned and bandaged her wounds; after the last band- aid was in place Wynter began to clean up the mess.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” she asked after a few minutes. Tanner, who had been in the middle of sweeping up the remains of a porcelain moose snow globe stopped and stared at her, his grip on the broom tightened so that his knuckles turned white.
“After we finish getting this cleaned up” he said avoiding her gaze by crouching down to sweep the shards onto the dust pan.
Wynter frowned but didn’t push the point. From his demeanour she was certain that it was bad news and she really didn’t feel up to listening to anything negative at the moment. When they were finished Wynter estimated at least nine hundred dollars in damages. “I have no clue what I’m gonna tell my boss...Sorry but we got hit by the fairies, hope you got the supernatural disasters coverage in the insurance...”
Tanner snorted at her joke “Yeah” he agreed and shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. “Well...I’m sorry but I’ve got nothing....” he said shrugging his shoulders and scratching his head. “Wait....I’ll take care of it don’t worry” his words were encouraging but his face appeared grim.
“What are you going to say?” asked Wynter warily.
“I’ll take care of it. Let’s lock up and get out of here” he said while walking away from her.
Annoyed by his constant avoidance Wynter did as he asked while allowing her temper to simmer. Once outside though she needed to walk briskly away from him before she belted him one in the jaw or better yet between the eyes. Without a word she veered away from the parking lot and headed to the beach. A few minutes later Tanner was by her side. The fact that he took note of her mood and had yet to ask why she was upset only served to make her temper worse.
“I need to be alone right now” she said wrapping her arms around herself as much for the comfort as it was for the warmth against the cool breeze coming off the ocean.
“Wynter...” he began and she stopped to stare up at him. “This is difficult but I have to ask you to trust me. I can’t explain everything to you right now but I will. I promise.”
“Eventually” she added with scepticism and started to walk away from him.
He reached out and grabbed her by the elbow “That’s not fair” he said.
“Not fair? Are you seriously telling me that I’m the one not being fair? “she rounded on him her eyes blazing as her temper flared. “I don’t know what just happened in there and you’re asking me to take your word that you’ll tell me about it when you’re good and ready! Well fuck you! Let me go or I swear to God that you’ll regret it”
“First of all you need to calm down...” he began but paused as she made a fist with her free hand. “Look I’m not trying to be an asshole but I really can’t tell you...”he explained through gritted teeth as his own temper began to rise.
“Then this conversation is over until you can” said Wynter tilting her chin up stubbornly.
“Damn it Wynter! Why do you have to have such a hard head? I’m just asking for a bit of time...” he exclaimed in frustration.
“Youse can have all the time you wants for all I care! Just don’t expect me to be around when you’re ready to share” she said and tried once more to pull away. Tanner held on for a moment but let her go in disgust.
“I’m trying to help you!” he shouted as she walked away from him. She didn’t look back nor did she respond to him.