The Dance Of Blood

 Two hours pass by before I get to realize the police trying to talk to me from the trail. I know that the first on these scenes is usually Mr. Hart, the local deputy to the chief. We only know he makes a lot of the first response calls when the chief, Wiltson, can't in a reasonable time.

"You say you don't know what happened?" Officer Hart asks.

"That's right officer. I didn't touch anything either. I just saw the broken branches and thought maybe some one fell." I say as I grab the hand he apparently has had extender for some time.

"Son, I think you're in shock, let's get you out of here and have a coffee." He offers.

"I won't go without Jim!" I exclaim.

We got into this mess together, we can stick through this. He's always been there for me regardless of the outcomes. We never get into this sort of stuff though. North Bay is always such a quiet place.

"Son, I will gladly get him to come with us, he is still on the trail waiting for you." He explains to me.

"But, what about the blood?" I ask.

"We'll retrieve and identify the body soon. It looks like it may have been a late night jogger that just happened upon a bear." He sighs.

He is right to think this. I never heard of anything else taking someones life around here. I can't think that someone would have intentionally hurt them. It brings some peace to my emotions for a moment, as I get back onto the trail with officer Hart walking me through carefully.

"HODGE!" I hear Jim exclaim as he tackles me with a blue blur.

"Easy Jim, I'm alright." I chuckle. "Oh, and how many times do i gotta tell ya that blue dont work on you man." I crack a joke.

"Good to see you two bring light spirits to one another. I want to talk about what you guys encountered today. Coffee is on me boys." Officer Hart says.

He makes it seem like its a treat offer. However, I always wonder if thats just how a police officer gets their information from people. I remember reading something about interrogations starting like this, especially with kids who dont know about the law. What poor officer Hart doesn't know, is I don't play these games. Jim also knows about this kind of thing. Hell, we only studied the case of Jack The Ripper for our whole junior year in high school and we even got extra credit for submitting the most well researched history report of the year. Me and Jim, we know what we are doing. These police, haven't seen a murder in years and something tells me hes only calling it a bear attack. Why would he be trying to hide the potential of another threat to this quiet community?

"So, Let's go kids." Officer Hart offers us into the back of his car.

"Not without a lawyer." Jim says flatly.

"Why would you need a lawyer? You both just been through something rather hard to deal with, I am only offering an ear, and resources for how to cope, if that's something you would be interested in." He says calmly.

"Look, officer, I appreciate the offer, but Jim said no. So it is a no. Take the answer. I don't care if your a cop. If I need to I will speak to another officer about the harassment potential you shown just now." I scoff.

Office Hart seems to be at a loss for words. He stands and has his mouth partially agape. We caught him like a deer in headlights.

"Well, have a nice day, Officer Hart. Call me if there is anything else." I say as I turn to continue along the trail.

"Oh, You can't leave." Officer Hart places a hand over my shoulder as cold steel hits my wrist.

"You can't arrest me!" I shout.

"He didn't do anything!" Jim says as another officer comes from behind him.

"You both have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against in the court of law. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the courts shall appoint one for you." Officer Hart starts reading out of this little black book.

"What am I under arrest for?" I ask.

"Suspicion of third degree murder." He replies.

"And me?" Jim pipes up.

"Co-operating with a murderer, impeding an ongoing investigation." Officer Hart explains in a cold tone.

"What?! Why would we-" Jim goes to start talking to him and I can't help but interrupt.

"Shut up. Say nothing without a lawyer Jim." I command.

The officers escort to the back of officer Hart's Deputy cruiser. The idea they still are allowing the old crown victoria's to be used for cars around here is absolutely absurd. Other cities are already considering updating to the 1997 honda civic to try to keep up with the times and speeds of more modern vehicles. However, this world is coming to be something of a toxic place. I now begin to think about why they would suspect a murder for this time.

Jim and I are shoved into the old leather lined vehicle. There are holes from knives and nail marks. I can't stop thinking about the possibility we have something genuinely dark coming forth in North Bay. However, I can't figure out what. Who in this area would dare to go and kill someone? We almost all know one another in this town.

With most of this cities residence being of the elderly, it will likely make headlines if this comes to be a murder, but if Officer Hart keeps this a secret, like he tried with me, calling it a bear attack, nobody would be able to even try to defend themselves. I need to tell someone when they let me go. I know they wont be able to hold me for longer than two days, I only hope I am able to warn the papers before there is the possibility of another death.

I always was paranoid when animal attack happened around here. Now with this one, something feels wrong because of how easily Officer Hart is trying to make this seem to even us. The charges arent making sense if they believe what he told us. I find myself dwelling on this inconsistency.

I look over to Jim who is quietly stirring in his thoughts. I can tell he is probably wondering the same things as me. Why are they going to press charges and apprehend us when they thought this to be a bear. Something feels wrong and I think my cousin Jim is on the same page.

"Look kids, its nothing personal, but, the way you are acting, until we get the autopsy is rather suspicious." He says as the car comes to a red light.

"Well, it's suspicious you have us here for a murder that you said was an animal attack." I huff.

Officer Hart goes quiet again. The idea that he has to carry us around in his cruiser until we get to princess street again, feels unnecessary. I know something is wrong with this, but I can't place what could be the cause of this all.

"One of you two is guilty if he was murdered." Officer Hart says.

"If you believe you've lived your life the right way, then you do not live in fear." Jim says with a sarcastic grin.

I try my best not to laugh. I know he is quoting John Wayne Gacy. I know me and my cousin have a bad sense of humor, but i really think his timing couldn't be worse. Officer Hart glares through the rear view mirror at him. I wonder if he is considering making changes to his charges before going to the station. We haven't been put into the paperwork yet, so, he may use that to his advantage, thought I can't be sure. The expression changes on Officer Hart's face.

"Look down on me, you see a fool. Look up at me, you see a god. Look straight at me, you see yourself." Officer Hart throws his remark in.

I honestly want to high five this guy. He just followed up a world known serial killer with another. Hell, Manson himself is still dealing with a lot of the consequences. It's surprising to see a fan of him. It hits me, why would he be wanting to quotes famous killers? Is this a sign he thinks like one? I can't begin to imagine.

The car comes to a stop. I look up, as I have been buried in my mind. The officer gets out to get another officer. Me and Jim look to one another. We know this is the chance to talk quickly.

"Don't be a smartass Jim, it may work against you." I say.

"We did nothing though." He says back.

"Yeah, I know, but making us look even weirder isn't helping." I say.

Jim nods towards the station. The orange brick makes it easy to see the two blue uniforms coming from the building. I suppose we are going into the holding cells, until he begins to interrogate us. Typical everyday police show stuff, it seems.

Jim's door opens by the second officer, as I feel myself be dragged to my feet by Officer Hart. They arent needing to be this rough. We aren't actual criminals.

"You want to ease up a bit? I am not resisting." I say calmly.

"Shut up." He replies.

Jim simply nods to me. It seems we are to be treated like dogs, until a lawyer or our parents come. Jim's dad won't come. My mom, she may, but I know my dad wouldn't. He always ran on a principle of if you made your bed, you lay in it. In other-words, if you do something wrong, you deal with the consequences.

"Barry, easy on them, they are kids." The other officer says.

Jim looks to her and smiles. I know that look. She must be Rosa. Rosa is a newly graduated and accepted officer. She must be wanting to keep it by the books.

"You are still green, trust me, if these kids are killers, you'll be thankful I didn't let my guard down." Officer Hart says.