Ghost Luna

5. New Friends

They headed to a near by bar that was full of gorgeous people. The men seemed rugged and part of the same gym or something while the women were leggy.

Lane smiled amused. It was interesting watching everyone interact and flirt about. She was never that brave but appreciated the light and playful atmosphere.

"Are these all locals?" She mused aloud.

"Pretty much," Chuckled Chloe, "Hey, bar keep, get us a round!"

"Sure thing Chloe." He gruffly replied, tipping his hat at Toby in respect.

Odd. Almost possessive. The need to respect Toby and Chloe as his woman. Chloe didn't dwell long as a pint of cider was placed in front of her. Toby had a larger, Chloe a red wine and Damien had some kind of spirit with ice in.

Lane wondered how the bar keep knew what they wanted but thought it may ruin the mood in some way. She began to focus and observe. The people were gorgeous and muscular but that wasn't really what they had in common. they were giving her quite a few corner glances when possible and all seamed to move with purpose, almost preditory defensive. Though the atmosphere appeared light, conversations had awkward pages with words not said. The decor was natural and rustic but weirdly hunter focused on boar and antelope but none of the tell take furs hunters have. Fishing was not featured either. There were small references to the moon and the Luna movement carved into the clock and details in the tables. Their table number was resting in a crescent moon. Lane ran her fingers over it. A frown had started to knit across her face and he fingers itched for her camera, so she took a picture of the carving with her phone, she had completely zoned out.

"Lane, earth to Lane?" Toby was waving his hand in her face.

Lane looked up and out of the corner of her eye she saw a disfigured man outside in a tree. His eyes bore into hers and she snapped hers closed and snapped a picture of that direction and looked quickly.

Nothing.

But in her head she heard the name.

Tyler.

"Lane you're bleeding..." She felt an electric zap run down her spine as Damien rubbed her back. This brought her fully back to reality. Blood was dripping from her nose.

"Oh jeez, not this again." Toby handed her the tissue and told her to pinch her nose. Dutifully she did so.

"I though I saw you concentrating too hard." Toby huffed.

"What does that mean?" Damien growled.

"It's nothing. Just when I really concentrate I can get nosebleeds. Toby has had to come to my rescue a few times. Spilling your own blood on a crime scene can be problematic." Lane didn't really know why she jumped to Toby's defense or why Damien had seemed so betrayed. She could just sense unnecessary tension.

"Are you sure that is all it was?" Chloe asked kindly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I've worked this place out though. " They all eyed her, " Well it is a bit wolf isn't it? I love the Luna details too. It's a cool....style..." She finished lamley as they all seemed to have gone very still and white.

"Erm...what is wrong?"

"Nothing," Toby was the first to exhale, "You are just really observant. It is the owners favourite animal." Toby said factually.

"Oh. Good." Lane awkwardly replied, "I think wolves are cool. That whole pack teamwork and a majestic and proud animal. What is not to like? But I think I'll stick to dogs as pets." Lane giggled nervously.

Toby burst into a fit of laughter taking Lane by suprise.

"You like Wolves, huh?" He laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair, "Hope is out there then!"

Damien removed himself from the table to Lane's suprise. He stood up and walked straight out the door.

"Don't mind him," said Chloe. She smilled a small smile and squeezed Tobys hand.

Why should I mind him? Lane thought. Though, deep down, she was getting that itchy feeling, something about him was bothering her. She just wasn't sure if she itched it it would be pleasurable or painful. She was never good with relationships. She had long ago learnt it was better to be single than deal with others insecurities and Damien, although hot as hell- definitely not interested in her, was obviously high strung.

"So, when can we get you to move in?" Chloe asked.

"I think I'll know very soon. Like I said, Friday, but I'd give it a week just incase." Lane replied. She felt it in her bones that her time was up. She was very rarely wrong.

"That will be great. The sooner the better! Less rent for me to pay!" Chloe smiled wide and it was infectious. Holding up their glasses they clicked and celebrated a new start.

They chatted for a while and Damien never returned. Toby dropped Lane back home and Lane curled up in her bed exhausted.

Tyler.

Who the hell was Tyler?

A sudden buzzing startled Lane. 3am. Ugh. Lanes phone was ringing and she could see Toby's number flashing.

"Hello..?" Lane grunted.

"Pick you up in ten. There is another one by Greyson Street." Toby commanded.

pick up? Since when? Lane had always gone to crime scenes on her own. Toby had never bothered this much. Maybe this was the benefits of soon to be housemates status?

True to his word he was there in ten. Tje suprise was that Damien was riding shot gun.

"Nice to see you've decided to grace us with your presence." The words fell out of Lanes mouth and she was immediately horrified. Her eyes widened in panic as she was caught in a staring match with Damien. He seemed equally shocked but somehow shocked.

"Is that the thanks I get for picking you up in time?" Toby broke the tension and took the insult for himself.

"Well it is pretty annoying to be called on my day off." Lane grumbled and ducked into the car at the back.

"They think it's a similar incident. They want the analysis and investigation done by the best." Toby grimaced. He was well known for how meticulous he was and unfortunately for Lane it was who she usually worked under. It made sense.

Damien didn't say a word the whole way there or at the scene. He left immediately to talk to other officers. He was a Chief after all.

"Come on, we have work to do." Toby beconed Lane to the white tent set up.

They put on their overall and gathered their equipment. Lane took her trusty camera and headed to the cordoned off area.

Lane closer her eyes and then only opened them through the lense of the camera.

Snap.

A large tree with a body in.

Snap.Snap. Snap.

Zoomed up images of the pool of blood, scratch marks, and surrounding pavement.

Snap.

Tyler.

She knew it was him as her camera focused on his face and the disfiguring gash across the face. He had similar tattos to the previous man.

Lane took a deep breath and went back to the safety of the white tent.

Toby was setting up the table ready for examination of personal affects when it was deemed agreeable to remove the corpse from the tree.

Just then Damien entered.

"Noticed anything?" His presence calmed Lane.

"Same tatoos." Lane moved close to Damien to show him her photos. Damiens breath fanned her neck as he towered over her. Being this close felt good. Right.

It was Damien who cleared him throat and stepped away. Lane felt it almost like a physical pain in her chest.

"We need to run it against known gangs in the area. They all have there own signs. This one seems relatively new though. I don't recognise it."

Lane nodded.

"Ah, here come the personal affects." Toby announced as a tray was delivered by a forensic officer.

He had little on him to identify. Not even a wallet.

"I wonder, what is your name?" Toby mused.

"Tyler," Lane replied unthinking. " He just looks like one," she awkwardly clarified.

"Hm? Well, let's get this over with than I'll take you home." Toby replied, unconvinced.

Damien left.