Missing Person

         “What’s going on?” Becky couldn’t help asking James Clark, the owner of Clark’s General Store.

         “As I can tell, someone was behind the Wolf’s Den and found blood. When they went to inform Rob Northgate, the owner of the bar. No one could find him. When they contacted his brother, John, he said Rob was at the bar as far as he knew. Well, Rob’s not answering his phone. I think the police out back found Rob’s clothes and his phone, and they’re bloody.” Becky stared at James, dumbfounded. But she saw Rob just a few hours ago.

         “Excuse me. Is there a reason for any of you to be here? If you don’t have a reason, then please move along.”

          A police officer came up to the small group, making the hand gesture to move along with his hand.

         “Sir, officer. I know Mr. Northgate was here this morning. I spoke to him when I was loading my truck to do my rounds at various ranches today.”

         “Hold on. Let me get the officer who’s investigating this. No, better yet. Come with me.” The officer took her arm and pulled her toward the bar. Jane Ann followed them, but the officer rounded on her and glared. “Unless you have something to contribute to this investigation. You can stay here.”

         Jane Ann sighed at being stopped from hearing any of the juicy details. “No. Fine, but don’t take too long. She’s got a pair of hamsters coming in at three for their yearly checkup.”

         They continued into the bar, and he sat her at a table. Then he went to speak to another officer. After several minutes, the unknown officer came and sat with her. “I’m Bart Hebbs, the investigating officer. I’m told you might know something.”

         “Not about what happened to Mr. Northgate. I can tell you he was here around seven-thirty this morning and he received a delivery after I left. I spoke to him, and he helped me start my truck when it didn’t start.”

         “Seven-thirty this morning. Okay, and how did you come to be speaking with Mr. Northgate?”

         “Mr. Jacobs parked over the clinic’s lane way again. He does that when he drinks. Anyway, I was forced to park over the Wolf’s Den’s lane way and while I was loading my truck, the delivery driver for the bar arrived and needed to use the lane way. Mr. Northgate came out to talk to me about it. No problems there until my truck wouldn’t start. He helped me get it started. I left after that. Though I saw him lead the delivery truck down the lane way before I left.”

         “You didn’t argue?”

         “It was the first time we ever met. I don’t think he was happy, but it didn’t get heated, if that’s what you mean. Honestly, I was trying to get my stuff packed as quickly as I could. I hate confrontations and it wasn’t my intention to make anyone’s day harder. I was running late for several reasons, but as I said, this was the first time we met. This is my first time at this bar.”

         “So, we can confirm this with the driver?”

         “I guess so. He saw everything from his seat in his truck. He never got out of his truck. But he called Mr. Northgate and yelled a lot from his seat.”

         “Thank you. Do you have anything else to contribute?” He asked as he wrote something down in a small notebook.

         “I think that’s all.” Becky was trying to think of anything else. “I hope this is just a misunderstanding. He appeared quite nice to me, even though our first contact was rather unusual. He said one thing odd now that I think about it.”

         “What was that ma’am?”

         “He called me mate. But this was the first time we’d met. I remember because he said that and then he wasn’t annoyed anymore. His mood completely changed, and he couldn’t be any more helpful.”

         “You’re sure he called you, mate.” Becky noticed the officer’s eyes dart from the page he was writing on to boring holes in her forehead.

         “Yes, it was odd.”

         “Did he explain that to you at any point?”

         “No, I was in a hurry to get the clinic locked up and start my rounds. Then he helped me get my truck started, and I left. Why?”

         “Oh, no reason. It’s just odd that you mention that. Please don’t discuss what we’ve talked about with anyone.” Becky could tell he was lying. She didn’t like the feel of this man. He felt slimy and dishonest, even though she didn’t have any reason to think that way. “Please fill in your name, address, and phone number here. If we have any further questions, we’ll contact you at a later date.”

         “Yeah, sure.” Becky quickly scribbled it down before she got up from the table and all but fled the bar.

         Jane Ann swooped down on her. “Oh, good. You can finish lunch at the clinic. We have maybe twenty minutes before your next appointment. What happened in there?”

         “I’m not supposed to tell you. But I didn’t learn anything. I just went in there, told them about this morning, and then I was all but pushed out the door.”

         “Dang. Well, Rob isn’t the type of person to wander off alone, telling no one. Geez.”

         “Yeah, I kind of liked him. Even though I found him a little intimidating.”

         That peaked Jane Ann’s attention. She knew all about Ivan and that mess. She’d been there while they studied, and Becky struggled to get a divorce. Jane Ann knew Becky was lonely. Becky had never truly lived alone. “You know, I think you need to get a dog. The Northgates are nice enough, but they don’t mix much with townsfolk. Okay, your next appointment is early. You got to wrangle some rodents, and I’ll see if I can’t tackle some more of the accounting.”

         “Your answer is a dog. I guess, maybe. He still didn’t deserve whatever happened to him. Once you have them checked in, send them back.”

         “I agree, and I’m on it.”

         The day stretched on, Becky worked to make ends meet for her business and herself. But she couldn’t stop worrying about Rob. She’d not realized it originally, but when he was upset, he was quick to smile. That told her his temper wasn’t like lightning. His walk, however, was predatory, meaning he was a man of action. Becky didn’t know what actions he’d take because she didn’t know him. She knew Rob wasn’t the type of person one could call prey. No, she was sure he was more of a predator.

         Finally, it came time to close up for the day. “Becky, would you be able to drive me home tonight? Daddy has an emergency lodge meeting to go to and can’t pick me up.” Jane Ann approached Becky at the end of the day, after she got a phone call from her father.

         “You’re in luck. Today is pretty much the same as every day. I have nothing planned but try to figure out what to do with that house without money. Let’s close up and head out. It’s getting dark already and I don’t want to be driving on dark roads if I don’t have to.”

         “Thanks. Daddy, it’s all cool. You go do what you need to do.”

         “What’s going on?”

         “The lodge is getting their members together to see if they can find Rob Northgate.”

         “Well, I hope they find him safe and sound. Okay, let’s get on the road.” Becky drove toward the Parker’s home where Jane Ann lived with her parents. Like Becky, their homes were on the edge of town on the same side road that was little more than a gravel drive.

         Before they hit the entrance to the gravel road, Jane Ann cried out. “Becky! Stop. There is something or someone at the side of the road.” Sure enough, Becky saw it too. A large dark lump lying half on the road. Someone must have hit an animal or a human. Becky’s heart was now in her throat no creature deserved to be injured and abandoned at the side of the road. So she stopped as soon as she could and backed up.

         Both women climbed out of the truck, and, with the light of the setting sun and the truck’s taillights, they discovered the largest wolf Becky had ever seen. “Wow. How could someone hit a wolf that size? The vehicle must be damaged.” A paw suddenly twitched. “It’s alive!” Becky kicked into work mode again and tore open the back of her truck to haul out her medical kit she kept there.

         “Oh, Becky, how are we going to get him back to the clinic?”

         “We’re closer to my place and I have a spare crate here with pretty much everything I need. As long as he doesn’t need surgery. Let me examine him. But at this hour, I think taking him to my place is probably better and then transport him in the morning.” Becky couldn’t understand Jane Ann’s reaction. She wasn’t scared of animals, but the look of horror on her face concerned Becky.

         Becky had a job to do, and this wolf needed her right now. As she examined the wolf, he didn’t look like he’d been hit by a car. No, he looked like he’d been in a fight for his life and collapsed on the side of the road.

         “Any idea of what happened?” Jane Ann still hadn’t come near the wolf. “Maybe we should call the park rangers in on this one.”

         “In the morning maybe. Help me get him home and comfortable.”