Moonlight Prowl

Chapter Seven: A Solitary Evening

After a long and exhausting day of poring over files and investigating with Alex, Lena finally made her way back to her apartment. The case they were working on weighed heavily on her mind, and the haunting images of the latest victim refused to leave her thoughts. As she unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar yet empty silence of her home greeted her.

Lena tossed her keys on the counter and noticed a note propped up against a fruit bowl. Picking it up, she recognized Evelyn’s neat handwriting:

Hey, met a handsome human on my walk home from work. He asked me out to dinner. Sorry for the short notice, but I’ll catch up with you and tell you all about it when I get back!

-Ev

A small smile tugged at Lena’s lips. Evelyn’s spontaneous spirit was one of the many reasons they had been best friends for over fifteen years. They balanced each other out well. Despite the happiness she felt for her friend, a sense of worry gnawed at her. It was dangerous for shifters these days, even the ones in hiding, like themselves. Lena quickly pulled out her phone and texted Evelyn:

Got your note. Have fun, but stay safe! It’s dangerous out there, even for us. Talk to you later.

She hit send and sighed, placing the phone on the counter. The case and the latest developments still bothered her. Sitting alone with her thoughts at home was the last thing she wanted to do. Instead, Lena decided to geo out and distract herself. She and her wercat, Beira, agreed that investigating together further and talking over the details at their favorite local restaurant would be a good way to stay distracted.

With a quick touch-up of her makeup and a slight adjustment to her outfit, by taking off her blazer, Lena let her silky, almost-white hair down from her ponytail. It fell gracefully around her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her charcoal grey suit and icy blue eyes. She grabbed her keys and headed to the parking garage to retrieve her motorcycle.

The garage was dimly lit, but she wasn’t worried, she had impeccable night vision. The echo of her footsteps bounced off the concrete walls. Lena’s motorcycle, a sleek black machine, sat waiting for her. She swung her leg over the bike, revved the engine, and felt the familiar thrill as it roared to life. The ride through the large city was just what she needed. The cool evening breeze, the purr of the engine beneath her, and the lights of the city passing by were all soothing in their own way.

As she rode over the main city bridge, the sky was ablaze with the colors of the setting sun. It painted the horizon in shades of orange, pink, and purple. Lena couldn’t help but think about how beautiful yet terrifying life could be. From the bridge, she could see the mountains and forests in the distance, a stark contrast to the bustling city around her. The bridge connected the poorer side of town to the wealthier side, a physical and symbolic divide.

As she approached the alley where her favorite restaurant lived, she looked for a side street to park her motorcycle. The Velvet Claw, a quaint, cozy place that offered sophisticated dishes, was tucked away in a side alley. The aroma of delicious food wafted out as she opened the front door, and the familiar buzz of conversation greeted her. Lena had been a regular here for years, and the waitress, a human girl named Poppy, always welcomed her by name.

“Lena, good to see you!” Poppy greeted her with a warm smile.

“Good to see you too, Poppy,” Lena replied, smiling back. “The usual table, please.”

“Of course,” Poppy said, leading her to a table near a window in the back corner. Lena loved this seat because she could watch the world go by while she pondered the details of the cases she worked on.

As she sat down, she ordered her usual: braised lamb paired with a glass of crisp white wine. The warmth of the restaurant and the comfort of the food helped ease the tension in her shoulders. She pulled out her notebook and began jotting down her thoughts and questions about the case, trying to piece together the puzzle.

The latest victim had been found in the lion cage at the city zoo, a place that should have been safe and secure. The media had been quick to blame the lions, but Lena knew better. The puncture wounds on the victim’s neck were too precise, too deliberate to be the work of an animal. They matched the scars on her own neck, faded but still visible. What was the real culprit trying to hide and why were they going through all the trouble to stage the situation?

She took a sip of her wine, feeling the cool liquid soothe her throat. The case hit close to home, and not just because of the scars. It reminded her of her childhood, the dangers her family had faced, and the loss of her father. The wounds were eerily similar, and that connection gnawed at her. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

Beira, her internal wercat, stirred restlessly. “We need to find out who’s behind this, Lena. We can’t let them hurt anyone else.”

“I know, Beira,” Lena replied internally, feeling the bond between them strengthen with their shared determination. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. I won’t let them win.”

She continued to write down her thoughts, analyzing every detail, every clue they had so far. The investigation was progressing, but there were still too many unanswered questions. Lena’s mind kept drifting back to the puncture wounds, the similarities to her own scars, and the possibility that the perpetrator was targeting shifters specifically. She didn’t want to go back to that world, but this case was connecting her with a life she left behind.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Poppy brought her food. The braised lamb smelled heavenly, and Lena realized just how hungry she was. She thanked Poppy and took a bite, savoring the rich flavors. As she ate, she kept an eye on the people around her, observing their interactions. It was a habit she had developed over the years, a way to understand human behavior and pick up on subtle cues.

A group of friends at a nearby table laughed and chatted, their camaraderie evident in their easy banter. A couple near the window held hands, lost in their own world. Lena envied them, their normalcy, their blissful ignorance of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

She checked her phone for any messages from Evelyn, but there were none. Worried, she decided to check Evelyn’s location. The GPS showed that Evelyn was still out to dinner. Lena sighed in relief, hoping her friend was having a good time and staying safe.

Her attention shifted to a young family sitting a few tables away. The parents were trying to wrangle their energetic children while maintaining a conversation. The mother’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she scolded her son for trying to sneak a piece of bread before finishing his meal. The father joined in, laughing and lifting their little girl onto his knee. It was a scene of pure, chaotic joy that contrasted sharply with Lena’s solitary existence.

After finishing her meal, Lena leaned back in her chair, feeling more relaxed. The restaurant was a refuge, a place where she could gather her thoughts and prepare for the challenges ahead. She paid her bill and left a generous tip before stepping out into the cool night air. The city was alive with activity, and the alley was bustling. She felt a renewed sense of purpose as she started walking back to her motorcycle. Suddenly, her phone began to buzz.