Chapter 2.
A Hassard County squad car screeched to a stop in the middle of the road. The two deputy’s inside lurched forward against the restraints of their seatbelts as the brakes squealed.

“Jesus something must have gone all kind of wrong if he’s pulling you off dog squad tonight.”

“I hate that shit. I pulled dog squad three cycles in a row, can you believe that? In a row. Damn drawing’s fixed.”

“Probably just want to keep top cop out in the field. Never done it myself.”

“Shitty ass job.” Tomassey squinted through the windshield into the black.

Both officers stepped out of the car. The wind whistled through the air causing crisp fallen leaves to dance whirling sweeping jigs across the road.

“You sure this is the place?” Tomassey looked around wary.

“The directions dispatch gave said it’s gonna be a hundred yards west of here.”

Deputy Tomassey looked to the West, a thick dark tangle of trees met his gaze “That’s just woods. You sure it’s not East?” He spun around, “That’s woods too! He’s sending us into the goddam woods!”

The naked branches of the trees creaked an unwelcoming response.

“Would you cool it?”

“That’s a thick fuckin’ copse of woods my man. I don’t want to end up all lost in a labyrinth of lumber… Yo I ain’t Theseus off to slay a fuckin’ minotaur!”

“It’s a hundred yards. Probably less. We’ll be able to see the car the whole way.”

“I just want to go on record as saying this…equals bad idea. Woods- at night- equals bad idea. If I fuckin’ die you ain’t gonna hear the end of it.” Tomassey popped the trunk and grabbed a long slender tube with straps out of the trunk of the car. He slung it over his back.

“C’mon this way.”

“I’m serious…I’ll haunt your ass. I’ll be like MoooooootherrrrrrFFuuuuuuuckeerrrrrrr let meeee die! And then I’ll make shit move and rattle chains so it’s like tough to sleep and stuff. We don’t even know why we’re out here. What is this guy? He a suspect? Thief? Rapist? Sheriff’s grandma?”

A patch of leaves nearby began to rustle.

“We just ask him to come with us.”

“Sounds like a suspect to me. I’m gonna beat his ass for dragging me out into these woods. Not that there’s anyone out here. Ain’t nothing here but a rock… Yo, Rock! You see a suspect?”