Full Moon-Appalachian Shifters

Chapter Eight Jolene

It was time to visit the sheriff’s office. I doubt Larry and his band of merry idiots did anything to actually look into my sister and mother’s disappearance. I sent up a silent prayer that no woodland creatures decided to play suicide kings today.

When I pulled up in front of the sheriff’s office, I saw two of the deputies sitting outside chatting and sipping coffee. Narrowing my eyes at them they were talking about the local football team and the new quarterback.

“Hey Jolene, when are you and I going to go out on that date?” I shuddered and looked at the pimple-faced man. He looked like he was still 12 years old and hadn’t hit puberty yet.

“Come on Jolene, you know you need the loving of a real man.” The other deputy spit a large wet loogy onto the sidewalk and I cringed away. I would never date a towny, I just did not find any of them attractive.

I also decided that following of the advice of don’t s**t where you eat also applies to small-town dating. The two men continued making crude comments and I went about ignoring them.

“Larry you better be here if not I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD!” I was in the reception area and Mariel was behind the desk. She looked at me over her wire-rimmed glasses and shook her head.

Mariel did not approve of me, my sister, or my mother and her choice of business. I stuck my tongue out at the biddy and continued on my way.

“You CAN’T just walk in here Jolene Blackwell.” She huffed and I could sense the bitterness when she mentioned my name. I don’t know what my family did to piss her off in a past life but it had to be something huge.

She will tell the rest of the church ladies how my heathen self, disregarded her authority and I hurt her poor feelings.

I threw open the door to Larry’s office and saw him with his hands down his pants and moaning coming from his laptop. His face turned bright red and I slammed the door and stared at him.

“So instead of actually doing your damn job by finding my sister and mother you’re in here watching porn? Pull your damn pants up, Larry.”

“DO YOU MIND JOJO FOR CRYING OUT LOUD KNOCK!” he was screaming and stuffing his shirt back into his pants. Rolling my eyes, I didn’t know what he was so embarrassed about.

It wasn’t like I wanted to see him fapping at work but it wasn’t like I haven’t seen him doing stuff like this before. We did grow up together and he loved to run through the woods naked.

“Oh please, it isn’t like I haven’t seen your junk before. It has been forty-eight hours Larry. Two freaking days I am making a formal report about my mother and sister.” He ran a hand through his hair and I cringed as it stood up in spikes.

“That is not the point Jolene I am the sheriff of this county.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Then do your damn job and try to find clues as to why my sister and mother are missing? Do I need to join the department myself to actually get things done?” His head shot up and then he started laughing.

He actually had the nerve to start laughing at me. That douchecanoe! “Pray tell Larry what is so funny about joining the department?” He continued laughing and wiped tears from his eyes.

I could feel my anger simmer beneath the surface and I was ready to lodge his laptop where the good Lord split him.

“It has only been forty-eight hours; I am sure they are still shopping. I will make some calls though to see if anyone knows anything.” He sat back at his desk and it was a dismissal that I was to leave.

“You didn’t answer my question, Larry.” I wasn’t going to leave until I knew why being a deputy was so hilarious to him.

“Because you are hardly cop material Jolene. Just let the professionals do their jobs and you manage your mom’s weed shop like a good girl.” I clenched my fists as I stood up.

I slammed the door to his office so hard the glass rattled and I was rewarded with him cursing my name. So he didn’t believe I was able to become a deputy, guess it was time to prove him wrong.

I wasn’t going to be able to go away to college but now I had a clear path in mind regarding where I am going in life. In the end, maybe I can help someone else who was going through the same crap I was going through.

Dialing the number for Bobby Jean, I hated talking to the conspiracy nut. But if I wanted something done about mom and Marie, I would have to spend time with him in his bunker.

“Jo? You know I hate talking on the phone.” I climbed into my car and looked in the rearview mirror, I frowned when I saw three coyotes sitting there watching me. That was unnerving.

“Would you rather I send the message via carrier pigeon.” He sighed and I heard things ticking and rustling on his end.

“You need something don’t you?” That’s what I liked about him; he got right to the point.

“Yes, same place? I need to talk with you tonight.” He grunted and I heard something creak on his end. What the hell was he doing?

“See you in an hour. I have some things to take care of. Let me know when you are leaving so, I can turn the fence off.” Looking in my rearview mirror there were two more coyotes sitting on the road.

“Right see you in an hour and yes I know leave my phone at home.” I hit the end button and got out of the car. It looked like the bigger of the coyotes was wearing a leather collar, maybe he was not a coyote but someone’s dog.

“Why are you guys just sitting here in the middle of town? You do realize that this behavior will get you euthanized by animal control.” Sighing I ran a hand through my hair, I was now talking to wild animals.

The leader tilted his head and I could have sworn the animal smiled at me. It let out a yip and all five of them ran back toward the woods. Shaking my head I looked around to make sure no one saw that.

All I needed was someone reporting a pack of rabid yotes to animal control. Even if they weren’t sick there was something off about them and I did not want to see them euthanized.

I wish I could say that this was the weirdest part of my day, unfortunately, it was going to get much weirder in an hour.