Stepping through the unlocked door of Detective Hara’s office, Abraham was surprised to find that the office had nothing but a soft glow coming from the rear of the square room. The soft light illuminated a figure sitting behind a wooden desk, his hands folded in front of him. When Van Helsing entered the office, the man jumped in his seat.
“Mighty late to be wondering these streets, sir.” The detective rose from his seat. “What can I help you with?”
As Abraham stepped further into the room, he could make out the chubby figure of Leroy Hara. Standing no taller than Van Helsing’s chest, the detective seemed to show little threat to any man in New York.
“I’ve traveled overseas from Transylvania,” Abraham stepped further into the light to make himself visible, “My name is Abraham Van Helsing.”
The detective stared at the traveler for a moment, eyeing every inch of him. “D’you say Van Helsing?”
Abraham nodded. “Former professor of Oxford University.”
The detective fell silent, still eyeing up the dark figure.
“The death’s that occurred recently, you say they were animal attacks?” Abraham started the conversation.
Detective Hara’s face stiffened. “I believe they were. No person can bite through bone like that.”
“Are the bodies being preserved?”
“Hell no. We cremated them the night we found ‘em.” The detective sat back down in his chair, offering Van Helsing the seat opposite him.
Van Helsing refused Leroy’s offer. “You didn’t examine the bodies?”
“Truth is, professor, ‘lotta people around here are kinda spooked out.” Leroy paused, pulling a pad of paper from one of the desk drawers. “There hasn’t been a brutal killing like this in years; and the way it was done… just terrible.”
Detective Hara leaned over his desk, as if to tell a secret. “We’ve heard of you, Professor Helsing. We’ve heard some of your dark stories, and honestly you being here gives me the chills. So, if you would please, professor.”
Leroy stood up at his desk and slowly waved his hand in front of him, as if to wave off Van Helsing. Abraham nodded and started to turn in his spot, but stopped himself.
“Has anyone new come into town, to your knowledge?”
“People come in and out of here in swarms, professor. My guess is, though, if you’re lookin’ for a new comer, check out Randy McNaley’s place. He’ll take in the trash everyone else throws out. Two blocks up and make a left. Just keep walkin’ till you see it.” Leroy nodded again, but Van Helsing wasn’t sure whether it was towards him, or the door.
“Thank you detective.” Abraham made his way out of the dark office, feeling unsatisfied with the visit. Detective Hara ended up only retelling what Van Helsing already knew.
Abraham once again started on his journey to track down Mr. Talbot, a man he had left dead in London.
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Since it’s unpublicized opening two months prior, the Duck Bill Inn has become the temporary home of passer-by’s and drunkards. Many of the residents of the inn showed up in shambles, rips and tears in various areas of their clothing. The Duck Bill’s owner, Randy McNaley, didn’t mind the frequent one night rentals. Whoever had the cash to stay was a friend of Randys.
Randy’s place wasn’t anything to brag about, but for anybody looking to rest for the night, it was the perfect place. With beds made only from flat wooden planks and several pillows, Randy didn’t have the heart to charge high prices. With the low cost, Randy was able to bring in more people (especially out of towners) than most inns.
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As the sun started to set behind the clouded sky, a small group (recent patrons of Night Shade) shuffled their way into the inn. Without any hesitation, Randy McNaley greeted them all. He handed each person a key and wrote down their names without having to ask. As the several drunkards cleared the room, the door to the Duck Bill swung open again.
A man who looked to have just come back from a war crept into the inn, his hands fiddling with his fedora. His eyes were bloodshot and looked worn from over exhaustion. He wore a button up shirt that was only halfway clasped and jeans that hadn’t been washed in weeks. The thick black mat of hair was greasy and showed no signs of being recently washed.
“Lookin’ for a room?” Randy pulled out a sign in sheet, sliding it towards the disheveled gentleman.
“Do you have one surrounded by empty rooms?” The man’s voice quivered, his hands spinning the hat faster.
After looking through his wall of keys, Randy pulled down a set and showed the customer the tag. “Room 16C. It’s on the third floor all the way down the hall. There isn’t another person for three rooms.” Randy grew uncomfortable with giving the man a room, but as he usually did, he held no judgment.
“Please, show me up to the room and lock me in it. No matter what do not unlock that door tonight!”
Randy started to pull the key away from the crazed patron but stopped himself. “Okay. Just sign your name on the paper.” Randy watched the stranger scribble down a signature. “Mr. Talbot?”
Lawrence Talbot nodded. “Please, show me to the room.”
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Larry moved quickly into the room, tossing his hat onto the nearby bed. He turned briefly to nod off the inn owner, who slowly shut and locked the door behind him. While unbuttoning his shirt, Larry moved towards the window, his eyes widening as he gazed up at the darkening sky. Larry’s eyes shimmered as a cloud moved in the sky, revealing the full moon that it had hidden.
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A soft howl broke the silence in the air. Abraham froze in his spot and quirked his head to the side in hopes to catch the location of the howl. The noise was too soft, though, and sounded as if it were coming from all around him. Van Helsing sighed to himself and continued his walk down the dark road. Ahead of him, the sign for the tavern glowed softly in the light of a nearby lamp.
