Code 61 - Donald Harstad [42]
I looked at Hester, and she avoided my gaze, obviously enjoying my plight. There's something about being public servants that makes us relish coworkers having to deal with loonies.
“No, we haven't,” I said firmly.
“According to the local paper … ”
I cut him off. “It's a window peeker. That's all there is to it. Nothing more.”
“I see.” He looked at Hester and Dr. Peters for any sign of support. Two more deadpan expressions were never seen. “Your sheriff said that … ”
Right. Lamar. “That's okay, he might have been a little unclear. He, oh, lost a relative today.” I didn't want to be rude; I just wanted to be rid of him. “Sorry I couldn't be more help.”
“I hunt them, you know,” he said, looking at me. “I've been hunting one in particular for a very long time. I think this could be that one.”
“Hold it right there,” I said. “I'll say this one time. Just one. Do not hunt anything in this county that does not require a hunting license. Am I clear? If you interfere in any way with any investigation you'll be wearing orange and eating shitty food for several months.” I stared at him. “I promise.”
“Oh, I believe you,” he said with a slight smile. “Completely. But being so sensitive sort of gives the game away, doesn't it? Now I'm even more inclined to believe that you do have a vampire incident here.”
People can be pretty exasperating sometimes. It did occur to me, rather belatedly, that he might have something that Harry could use regarding the death of Randy Baumhagen. Might. It was connected to our case, after all, and that was what had brought our vampire hunter to us in the first place. All the way from Milwaukee, for God's sake.
“Well, just a second,” I said. “I know vampires don't exist, but we might have somebody who dresses up like one. Thing is, he might be involved in a case back on the Wisconsin side. Do you have a name to go with whoever you're hunting?”
“No. No, I don't. Just methods, habits. No name. Not yet.”
“What methods?”
“Well, he appears at a door or window. Asks to come in. If he's invited, he enters, and begins the seduction of his victim.”
“And, then, if he's not invited in? What, does he just stay out?”
“Oh, yes. Vampires can't come in unless they're invited.” He was serious.
Hester just couldn't resist. “What does he do to them?”
“He eventually consumes some of their blood.”
“Well, of course.” I kept a straight face. It was a vampire, after all. What did I expect?
“He experiences what they experience, when he does that. He shares with them. They tell me it's very intimate.” William Chester looked at us each in turn. “It's the pheromones. He ingests their pheromones and experiences what they feel.”
Dr. Peters snorted. “No. No, I'm afraid that doesn't work.”
“You laymen must understand … ” began William Chester.
“I'm a forensic pathologist,” said Dr. Peters.
Silence. Then the vampire hunter fished in his breast pocket and handed Dr. Peters his card. “Then you may well need this,” he said, with remarkable aplomb.
Dr. Peters, to his credit, accepted it with good grace, and put it in his pocket.
“Look,” I said, “they have a case back across the river in Conception County. You might be able to give them a hand with that. Not that it's a vampire,” I said quickly. “But check in with Investigator Harry Ullman. Tell him Deputy Houseman sent you. Tell him I think you might have something he could be interested in.” I didn't tell him to have Harry call me. Harry was going to do that, without a doubt.
“Excellent. I do have quite a depth of knowledge on the subject, by the way. I know how to … well, track them. Follow, if that's a better word.”
“Stalking is a crime,” I said. “People are pretty sensitive about that.”
“Thank you.” He stood. “If I develop anything, I'll be in touch.”
“Anytime.”
I watched him leave. Hester kicked me under the table. “Way to go, Houseman.”
“What?”
“Harry's gonna kill you.”
“Not if I can point him at Lamar first,” I said.
“Aren't you going to call him?”
I chuckled