Chapter 33
Sheriff Sutherland didn’t say a word as he drove through the winding country roads that led to the heart of Sanctuary, West Virginia.
According to the clock on the dashboard, it was just after 2:00 a.m. Colt sat in the back of the squad car with Danielle while a trail of sheriff ‘s deputies followed with the rest of Phantom Squad, including Jonas, who had transformed back into his human form. He’d wanted to drive into town with his dad, but the sheriff wouldn’t allow it.
Danielle’s eyes were dilated, her breathing shallow, and she was biting her fingernails.
“It’s going to be okay,” Colt said as he reached over and took her hand, but when he saw the sheriff staring back at them in the rearview mirror, he wasn’t sure.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
They drove over a bridge that spanned a wide river where the water rushed over rocks before it disappeared around the bend. Trees with naked branches sprouted from the banks, and in the distance they could see a church steeple silhouetted against the half moon. They passed an elementary school and then a park. Joe’s Bait Shop. Dairy Queen. A water tower. Everything seemed so normal.
Main Street boasted a barbershop and a diner, Sears Roebuck Co., a bank, and a Sinclair station on the corner. Sheriff Sutherland parked in front of the courthouse, where a stout man in a black overcoat and matching fedora stood at the base of the steps. His cheeks were round and red, and if he’d had a white beard and mustache, he would have been the perfect Santa Claus.
“How do you do?” he said after Sheriff Sutherland opened the back door. “I hear that you’re the young man in charge of this operation. Cadet McAlister, is it?”
Colt nodded.
“Excellent. I’m Martin Luther Cross, mayor of Sanctuary, and I believe you’ve met our fine sheriff, Orville Sutherland.”
“Yes, sir.” Colt accepted his hand, but he was confused by the reception. If the people of Sanctuary didn’t like visitors, why was he being so kind? Was he trying to keep Colt off guard, or had Jonas overreacted?
The mayor shook his hand vigorously. “I don’t mind telling you that Sanctuary doesn’t get too many visitors, particularly at this time of day. But I’ve asked Ethel to open up the diner and make us a pot of coffee and warm up some of that homemade apple cobbler. My wife has me on a bit of a diet,” he said, patting his ample belly, “but I think it might help calm our nerves. What do you say?”
“I appreciate the offer, but we need to get back,” Colt said.
“Well, here’s the thing about that,” Mayor Cross said. He placed his arm around Colt’s shoulder as though the two had known each other for years. “I’m afraid folks around here are a bit worked up. Now typically when someone stumbles upon our little town, we’re able to point him in the right direction before any harm is done. But I’m afraid you and your friends have learned a bit more than what makes us comfortable, if you catch my meaning.”
He started to guide Colt toward the Blue Moon Diner across the street, but when Oz tried to follow, the sheriff blocked his path.
“You don’t want to do that,” Oz said. “Two arms or six, I’ll break ’em all just the same.”
“Is that so?” Sheriff Sutherland smiled in a way that made it look like he hoped Oz would try.
“I’ll be fine,” Colt said to Oz. “Just make sure Pierce doesn’t do anything stupid.”