The Rat’s Maze ~ A Monster Alley Story

FBI Internal Memo:  Welcome to the city of New Amsterdam.  As part of your duties with the FBI, you will probably encounter citizens that come from a small enclave, which is quite hidden.  The enclave is called Happenstance, though you might hear it referred to as ‘Monster Alley’.  That is because the citizens are supernatural in origin.  That is not a typo.  This community has its own police force, but does interact with the local police, and our agency.  In fact, there is one human detective that transferred there.  Her name is...  

***

Sophie Frost reared back.  The detective's flashlight played across the mass of cobwebs.  

At least, she hoped they were cobwebs.  Under here, it looked like something out of an Indiana Jones movie.

“When was the last time anyone was down here?” she asked of no one in particular.  

Steeling herself, she went forward to grab the dangling electrical plug.  Quickly slotting it in, she shot out from underneath the ancient desk.  

Now though, she was surrounded by a rogues gallery.  A mummy with her bandages still on, another one had the head of a bird, and there were even some which defied description.

“Hey guys,” said Frost cheerily.  She did not let even one ounce of uncertainty creep into her voice.

Sitting in her chair, she hit the power button and booted up the first computer in the squad room.  The other detectives and patrol officers watched the laptop apprehensively, including her partner, Rafe Howler.

“What’s goin’ on?” demanded a voice from above.  A crow swooped over their heads and landed neatly onto the desk.  Immediately, the bird looked around and their confusion swiftly turned into annoyance.  “Hey!  Where’s the food?”

Frost looked at the crow, Stuart, with an equal measure of confusion.  “What food?”

“‘What food’ she asks?  I just figured that that’s why these bums were all lollygagging around,” said Stuart.  “To be first in line.”

“No food,” said Frost kindly.  She did not look up at the crowd, but quickly put in her password and logged in.

Stuart hopped closer and gently tapped on the edge of the screen with his beak. 

“Careful,” said Frost gently.

“What’s this for?” asked Stuart.

“It’s for writing up my reports, and to tap into New Amsterdam P.D., outside of here,” said Frost.

“Maaaaan, Officer Disraeli is gonna go ape when he sees this,” said Stuart.

“He doesn’t like computers?” asked Frost, curiously.

“Oh no, just the opposite,” said Stuart.  “He’s been saying that we should’ve been using them for—at least—the past decade.”

“ T’aint natural,” grumbled an unknown voice from the crowd.

“That's why I don’t recommend eating it,” smiled Frost to the crow.

“Hey!  You can’t blame a guy for trying,” shrugged Stuart.

Howler stiffened and looked behind the crowd.  Frost noticed her partner and became instantly alert.

“Trouble?” she asked of him.

“Porter,” he replied simply.

The only Porter she knew was Porter Stein, though that was not his last name anymore.  Then, she saw the top of his head with its luxurious jet black hair.  Standing, she moved around the crowd, which was now gawking at the giant man in the door to the squad room.

“Hey Porter…,” began Frost happily.  But when she saw his right forearm, her voice rose in concern.  “Wait!  What happened?”

Immediately, Frost was at the giant’s side.  A semi-clean towel was wrapped around Porter’s forearm, but the blood was beginning to seep through.

“I...I think I need some help,” said Porter, with a shy smile on his dark lips.

Frost joked with a wry smile.  “Why’d you come to the police station then?”  She realized that Howeler was now by her side.  

“Wait? That’s Frankenstein’s Monster,” said a voice amongst the peace officers.

Frost stiffened and she turned around slowly.

Immediately, Porter murmured to her in a conciliatory way.  “It’s okay.” 

However, the look in Frost’s eyes made several officers cringe, and she spoke with a dark whisper.  “We are here to help.  Do not insult our guests.”

Frost focused on one of the officers, who resembled a large raccoon.

“You,” she said.

“What?” replied the officer worriedly.

“You’re an EMT too, right?  Can you help?” she asked and motioned towards Porter’s makeshift bandage.

The officer— relieved to not be in trouble— shook himself out of his surprise.  “Oh!  Oh Yeah!  Lemme get my bag.”

As the officer sped away, Frost took Porter’s good arm and spoke firmly.  “This way.  You’re starting to drip on the floor.”

“Yes detective,” replied Porter, completely amused.

Leading the Giant man, Frost took him into the Men’s Bathroom.  An officer with the head of an owl was at a urinal, and quickly glanced back.  Then he turned his head around 180 degrees. 

“This is…,” started the officer.

“It’s the guy’s bathroom,” said Frost quickly.  “I can smell—though I may lose that forever if I’m in here too long. Shake it and get moving. “

“But…,” said the officer. 

“Shake,” said Frost.  

The officer quickly finished and headed for the door. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” said Frost.  “Don’t forget to wash your hands.”

Bewildered, the officer quickly, but thoroughly washed his hands and left. 

 Frost took Porter over to one of the sinks.

“I don’t think this place is very antiseptic,” commented Porter good-naturedly.

“Best we can do,” said Frost.  She stepped past Howler, who had followed, and towards the door when the EMT officer burst through.  She looked a little surprised.

The officer grinned nervously.  “Oh!  Um…I followed the blood.”

Slipping past Frost and Howler, the officer immediately went to the Giant.  

“Hello Mister Franken...I mean, Sir,” said the officer.

“Please, call me Porter,” he said goodnaturedly.  

“Oh...okay, Mr. Porter, Sir,” said the officer.

Despite the officer’s unsteady speech, he moved quickly and efficiently.  He cut off the towel duct taped to Porter’s arm and exposed three gashes across the forearm.  

The officer took out a small brown bottle.  “This will clean the wounds, but it’ll probably hurt like fu...I mean, Heck.”

“I’ll be fine,” said Porter.

The officer went to work pouring part of the brown bottle onto the wounds and preparing a green poultice.  

During it, Porter’s face did not change.  He noticed the look of surprise on the Detective’s faces.

“When you are born with lightning, every other pain after that is quite manageable,” he explained with a shy, little smile.

The officer’s eyes widened, but he kept quiet.

“What happened?” asked Frost.

“My father used lightning to animate me,” said Porter.

“No!  Not that,” grumped Frost with a friendly roll of her eyes.

Porter grinned.  “There’s something in the Rat’s Maze.”

“Rat’s Maze?” asked Howler.

“It’s a complex of apartment buildings,” said Frost to her partner.  “It is really not a safe area.”

“Don’t I know it,” chuckled Porter, but his face immediately grew serious.  “But Elsa’s gone missing.”

“Wait!  Elsa?  As in ‘The Elsa’?” asked Frost.

Porter looked down shyly, so Frost kept going.

“Was she last seen in the Maze?” she continued professionally.

“I have one of my shelters there,” nodded Porter.

“Shelter?” asked the officer EMT, while mixing a poultice in a stone bowl.  However ,  he remembered himself.  “Oh, sorry.”

“It’s okay,” said Porter quickly, kindly.  “It’s a homeless shelter and kitchen, because I know what it’s like to be hungry.  But there’s been a drop in people showing up.”

“Your arm?” asked Howler.

“One of my workers, Elsa, was checking on the shelter yesterday.  She called from there,” said Porter.  “When I could not get back through to her, I decided to drive over.”

“You left Monster Alley?” asked Howler with a bit of reproach.

Porter nodded his chin towards his wounds.  “This wasn’t anything normal, like monster hunters.  No, this…was something else.  Fast.  And sharp.”

“What did you do?” asked Frost.

“I was ready to take one,” said Porter.  But then I saw 5 more rounding the corner.”  He suddenly looked very upset.

“So you came here?” asked Frost.  “Good idea.”

“Was it?” murmured Porter.

“Yes,” said Howler with finality.

Porter looked up in surprise at the usually taciturn detective.

“Now you have someone to help,” added Frost with conviction.

“Does he?” asked a voice from the door.

They all turned, except the officer who was working. The Chief stood in the doorway.  Or, more precisely, they saw a large darkness in the doorway.  Two sets of blue eyes—one on top of the other—pierced through the dark at head height.

“Chief, we need to help,” said Frost urgently, but not begging.

“Outside of our jurisdiction,” said the Chief in his faraway voice.

“I don’t think that the regular gardarme will be up for this,” said Porter.

“‘Cops got better things to do than to get killed’,” muttered the officer.  But then he saw everyone look at him.  He quickly mumbled.  “Sorry.  It’s a quote from BigTrouble in Little China.  Sorry.”

“But true,” nodded Frost.

Porter looked at the Chief and spoke with a gentle plead.  “My people don’t just work at the shelter there.  Some live in those buildings as well,” said Porte.

“All done,” said the officer as he wrapped some gauze around the greenish paultice.  “You should take the rest of the day off and see your doctor in the morning,” said the officer.  “But whatever you do, good luck sir.”

“Thank you,” said Porter with a genuine smile.

The Chief stepped into the bathroom to let the officer out, but not before Frost had thanked the EMT.  

“Howler, Frost,” said the Chief after a moment.  “Can you escort Mr. Porter back to his shelter and see what is happening?  If you need backup, call.  Meanwhile, I’ll call New Amsterdam P.D. and ask them to send out two of their slowest officers, who hopefully won’t arrive in time.”

And the Chief left.

They soon followed him out and into the squad room.  

A chair had suddenly appeared by the bathroom and upon it was a big, bulky coat with a sheep’s wool collar.  It was a dubious color between sand, pea and the emptiness of despair.

Frost eyed it warily, as if it might jump, but started to move around it.

“Frost!” called out the Chief, who was already in his office.  “Put on that coat.”

The detective looked at it and then at the Chief.

“Please tell me that you’re joking,” said Frost.

“Do I look like I am smiling?” asked the Chief, though it was impossible to see what facial expression he had on him.

“But Chief…,” started Frost, and even she heard a little bit of a whine.

“It’s not that bad,” suggested Porter, conciliatory.

Frost just gave him a Look that said ‘stay out of this’.

“Never mind,” said Porter with a little smile.

“I don’t see that coat on you,” said the Chief.

“But….”

“What’s really wrong?” asked the Chief.

“It’s...it’s really ugly,” admitted Frost.

“It is,” agreed Howler.  “And I’ve worn a powdered wig, back in the day.”

“Frost,” said the Chief in a voice that allowed for no argument.

Steeling herself, the detective put on the coat.

“And keep it on,” said the Chief.  His door closed, though there did not appear to be anyone there.

Frost sighed.  “Okay, let’s get going, before he breaks out the powdered wigs too.”

“Some things should not come back,” growled Howler.

“I don’t know,” said Porter merrily as they walked towards the car port.  “It meant less time worrying about how my hair looked in the morning.  Of course, people still had to look at this face.”

“Oh!  Don't say that,” said Frost quickly.

“It’s okay,” said Porter gently.  “I’m okay with my ugly mug now.  It’s who I am.”

“Still…,” said Frost.

They found an SUV which was big enough for Porter, and headed onto the streets of New Amsterdam.

“Do you know where it is?” asked Porter.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can forget,” said Frost.  

“I understand your feeling,” said Porter.  “It’s a bleak place.  But Conrad Lapkey’s heart was in the right place.”

“Who?” asked Frost.

“Oh, Conrad Lapkey was the one who designed and built, well, the Ritz Heights back in the day,” said Porter, but then he added quickly.  “But he was not a bad man.”

“Did you know him?” asked Frost.

“I think…we were even friends, as much as you can be friends with someone who is that...well, far gone,” said Porter diplomatically.

“Crazy?” asked Howler.

Porter winced.  “I hate to put it that way, but...well, I wish that he could have gotten the help that he needed.  But this was the Fifties when such things were never, ever talked about.  And his family was rich.”

“Eccentric,” said Howler.

“Yes, too rich to be crazy,” said Porter.  “And he was completely paranoid about the Red Menace.” 

“The...oh wait!” said Frost.  “That’s what they used to call the Soviet Union, right?”

Porter and Howler glanced at each reflexively.  

“What was that?” asked Frost.

“What?” asked Porter from the back.

“You guys just looked at each other about something,” said Frost.

“Um…,” started Porter.

“We forgot how young you are,” said Howler.

“We’ve seen a lot,” admitted Porter.  “Anyhow, Lapkey thought the Russians were going to appear on our shore at any moment.”

“Was there really a chance of that?” asked Frost.

“Not really,” admitted Porter.  “But a lot of people believed it back then.”

“So, this place…,” prompted Howler, but he did not finish.

“Yes.  The Ritz Heights was actually built like a fortress in case of an attack,” said Porter.  “There’s even a fallout shelter in case the Reds nuked us.”

Howler whistled in surprise.

“Exactly,” said Porter.  “Lapkey put a lot of money and planning into it.  He even built a little place for himself in the middle, over what was then a gathering space.  He spent his final years there.  Poor guy.”

“What happened?” asked Frost.

“Nothing special,” said Porter.  “He had a heart attack.  It was after that, that the place really started to go downhill.  I didn’t really notice until the early Eighties that the ‘Rat’s Maze’ that people whispered about, was actually Lapkey’s.”

“Did you buy it or something?” asked Frost.

“I tried,” said Porter.  “But Lapkey’s last relative was really...well, I don’t want to talk ill of the dead, but let’s just say that they liked having non-whites in one place.  And not a nice place either.”

“So, what happened after they died?” asked Frost.

“I bought it through a shell company and started trying to turn it around,” said Porter.  “But this was only a little over a year ago.  Since then, I put in a laundromat and a Soup Kitchen, but we’ve got a lot of work ahead.”

“You said your girlfriend was missing?” asked Howler.

Porter looked at Frost right away and said to her in a hurt tone.  

“I said to keep it under your hat.”

“I didn’t say a thing,” protested Frost quickly with a high, anxious voice.

“And she isn’t my girlfr…,” started Porter, but then he looked at Howler.  “You didn’t know, did you?” 

Howler just gave a tight smile, which was horribly smug.

“Walked right into it,” moaned Porter with a roll of his eyes.  “She’s not...anyway, I got a call from her saying that something was outside the Soup Kitchen.  So, I raced over.  But when I got there, her phone was on the floor of the Soup Kitchen, but no Elsa.  I was going to search more but...one of those things jumped out.”

“We’re here,” said Frost and they quickly got out of the car.  

The air had a slight chill to it, but it was not too cold.  She went to the back of the SUV.

“That’s a castle all right,” whistled Howler, in the dwindling light.

“I wondered if you’d see it,” said Porter.

“Do you have a picture of Elsa?” asked Frost as she took out a shotgun.

“Um…,” started Porter and he looked down.

“I mean, I think I met her for like two seconds when you needed a ride into the city,” said Frost.  “But I don’t quite remember her.”

Porter looked embarrassed, and Frost noticed. 

“It’ll really help us,” she said gently.  “That’s the only reason I ask.”

Letting out a sigh, Porter nodded.

“True,” he agreed.  The giant took out his cell phone and soon opened a picture.  It looked like a candid from a promotional website.  It had been cropped, a little badly, to only show Elsa.

“She’s cute,” commented Frost and Porter blushed.

Howler looked at the picture for a moment, but did not say a word.

“Okay,” said Frost as she looked up at the apartment complex.  Her demeanor immediately went cool and professional.  “If she was last at the Soup Kitchen, then that’s where we should start.  Porter, stay close.”

“Of course detective,” said Porter with an amused smile.

They headed out of the parking lot to one of only two entrances into the apartment complex.  Porter noticed Howler glancing up as they walked through.

“What?” asked the Giant as they spoke softly.

Howler looked at Porter, and then answered after a moment.

“No portcullis?” asked the detective.

“Port...what?” asked Frost.

“The big metal gate that drops down in European castles,” explained Porter to her.  “Your partner was looking surprised that Lapkey didn’t put in one to keep the Red Menace at bay.  And really, I think he started run really low on money by that point, or else there would probably be one.”

Through the slim entryway, it opened up into a large area, like the bailey of a castle.  The rounded apartment complex then circled the bailey.  It was dark now, but despite decent lighting, there was not a soul outside.  

In the center was a two story building which Porter pointed to.

“That’s where the Soup…,” he began.

A scream came from one of the nearby buildings.  They turned around trying to pinpoint it.  

“Over there!” called out Howler.  He took off and Frost ran with Porter.  

Hitting a door, the three ducked into a dingy stairwell.  The cries were now louder and they were punctuated by a door being hit.  Reaching the second floor, Howler went immediately through the fire door.  Frost held out a hand behind her.

“Wait here,” she said to Porter and then swiftly ran after her partner.

Down a long, barely lit corridor, something was throwing itself at a door.  

Hopping over a fallen laundry bag, Frost wasn't sure if the figure at the door was even a person.  It was upright, but it looked painfully thin, with patches of long hair.  

Behind the door, someone was screaming to leave them alone.  

“Police!” called out Frost.  

The thing hitting the door looked up at them.  Howler was bearing down on it.  It screamed in frustration with an almost human voice.  

Then it turned and ran away from them.  It moved fast and soon disappeared through the opposite fire door.  

Frost slowed down and reviewed everything that she had just seen to make sure she remembered it.  Howler went to the fire door, but did not go through.  He glanced through the small window.  After a moment, he opened the door, but he soon walked back over to her.

“Is...is it gone?” asked a voice through the door.  

“Yes ma’am,” said Frost.  “Are you hurt?” 

“No...no,” said the voice.  “I got in before it...it was so fast...an’ I just needed to do my laundry.”

“We have your laundry,” said Porter cheerily as he stepped up with the discarded laundry bag.  

“Oh…,” said the voice.

Frost heard the tone.  “Mr. Porter, could you set the bag in front of the door?  Then he, myself and my partner are going to step down the hall.”

Porter put down the bag and Frost guided him and Howler to wait several doors down.

“Okay,” called out Frost.  “We’re away.”

After a long moment, the door opened and an older white hand grabbed the bag and hauled it back inside quickly.  Then the door shut and locked.

Frost returned to the door.  “We’re looking into this, but you should stay inside for now.”

“No shit!” said the voice.  “I’m never leaving again.”

No more was said from the other side of the door, so Frost went back over to the men. 

“Did you see it?” asked Porter urgently.  “Please tell me that I’m not crazy.”

“Outside,” said Howler.

Porter looked at him in confusion.

“Detective Grunter means, ‘let’s talk outside’,” explained Frost with a roll of her eyes.

After a displeased look, Howler took point and led them back out of the apartment complex.  When they were back in the open air, he turned to Frost.

“Never seen it,” he said.

“Give me a moment,” said Frost.  She took out her IPhone and opened her photos app.

“You got a picture of it?” asked Porter curiously.

“Didn’t get time for that,” said Frost.  “But I’ve been studying mythology because...well…”

“You never know what might actually be real?  Like, ‘Frankenstein’s Monster’,” said Porter with amusement as he gestured dramatically to himself.

“You’re not a monster,” said Frost without looking up.   “And something like that.”  She stopped and then opened Safari for a quick search.  “Okay, see if this sounds right.  A person who has resorted to cannibalism and is now perpetually hungry.”

“Maybe,” said Porter.

“It could be a wendigo,” said Frost.

“Looked hungry,” agreed Howler.

“Then it is a person,” said Frost.  “Or, at least started out that way.”

“But it’s definitely more feral now,” said Porter, and he looked worriedly towards the Soup Kitchen.  

“Okay, we should keep moving,” said Frost. 

“Kitchen?” suggested Howler.

“Best place to start,” agreed Frost, and Howler immediately started across the bailey to the Soup Kitchen.  She turned to Porter and gestured to follow.  

“Please,” replied Porter gallantly, and motioned for her to go first.  “After you.”

Frost shook her head.  “Please follow the detective.”

“Oh, sorry!  You’re doing the ‘keeping the civilian in the middle’ thing,” said Porter as Howler stopped and looked back.  “I thought you were just being polite.”

With a little bounce in his step, Porter went to follow Hower, who started back up again.  Frost brought up the rear keeping a wary eye out.  Thankfully, there were not many places to hide.

Howler slowed as he reached the Soup Kitchen.  He put up a hand and Porter and Frost stopped.  Looking around the Giant, Howler caught Frost’s eyes.  He pointed to himself and then inside.  She nodded in agreement.

“Mr. Porter,” said Frost softly.  “We’re going to wait here for a moment.”

“What?” asked Porter and he looked back at her.  But by the time he glanced forward, Howler was already gone.  The door to the Kitchen closed quietly.  “Shouldn’t we go with him?”

Frost shook her head.  “The detective is more than capable.  And if he’s not, we better run.  Very fast.”

Shortly, Howler came back through the door.  “Noone.”

The three went into the Soup Kitchen and looked around.  

“No blood.  That’s something, right?” commented Porter.  “Can we go to the back office?”

The detectives walked with him and the Giant bent to look in a short row of metal cubbies.

“Looks like everyone’s stuff,” said Porter, worriedly.  “And Elsa’s purse is still here.”

Frost peered through the grate and made a low whistle.  “Ohhhhh.  That’s a Pierre DeCour.  Very expensive.”

“She found it for a bargain at some store,” said Porter.  “Tag still on it.”

“Oh my God, I am so jealous,” said Frost.  “She would not have left that behind.  Besides the fact that you don’t leave your purse behind unless something big is happening.”

“Exactly,” said Porter with concern.

“Then let’s keep looking,” said Frost.

They checked the laundry, but it was empty.  Stepping back into the cool air, they did a short circuit around the two story building.  Back at the front, Howler turned to them.

“Fallout shelter?” he asked of Porter.

The giant man took them back around the building and started to point.

“Don’t,” said Howler.

Porter looked at the detective in confusion, but he did not point it out.

“It’s that dark entryway over there,” said the giant man.  “The one that looks like a hole.”

Now Frost saw it.  It was ten feet tall with some metal beams that ran across, just above head-height.

“What did you see?”asked Frost.

“More,” said Howler.  “At least two.”

“Let’s go back in front,” said Frost.  

The three headed back.

“Two,” said Howler, thoughtfully.  “I can take.”

“But what if it’s more?” asked Frost.

Howler nodded in agreement.

“And that’s if the people, who we assume were taken, are there,” said Frost.

“What’s wrong?” asked Porter.

“We don’t want to start a big fight if it turns out that Elsa and the rest are somewhere else,” explained Frost.  “That could get them hurt?”

 “Oh!  So, you want to sneak down into the shelter?” asked Porter.  “Why didn’t you say so.” 

The Giant led them around to the front of the two story building.  There was a large patch of bricks between the Laundry and the Soup Kitchen.  

“Don’t tell me…,” started Frost.

Porter touched a brick higher up and it slid back into the wall.  The bricks shifted to reveal a metal door, which Porter quickly opened with a key.  

“This way,” said Porter, and he led them up a flight of stairs to another door, which took a different key.

“Seriously?” asked Frost.

“I know,” said Porter.

This new door led into a large studio apartment, which had been decorated in the 1950’s.

“How many people know about this?” asked Frost.

“Probably no one,” said Porter.  “I only knew because Lapkey was so excited that he just had to show someone.  In fact, I’m sure the family didn’t know because they wondered why I thought the keys were that important.”

“You didn’t tell them?” asked Frost.

“I didn’t know what I’d find up here,” said Porter.  “Truthfully.  Lapkey was my friend but he was pretty...out there...and had some strange tastes.”

“Worried you’d find his play dungeon?” asked Frost with a trace of amusement.

Porter shrugged in response.

“It’s okay,” said Frost quickly.  “You don’t want to bad mouth him.”

“I was pretty relieved when I found this,” admitted Porter with a big shrug.  “Now, what we need is over here.”  He led them towards a bookcase.

“Oh no,” said Frost.  “Another secret door?  Please tell me it isn’t behind the bookcase.”

Porter chuckled.  “Oh no.  That would be tacky.”   He went over to a painting by the bookcase.  “Unfortunately, it is this.”  Pulling the bottom of the painting right, they heard a click.  A portion of the wall opened up to reveal a spiral metal staircase that went down.  “He showed me switch to open it while they were still building.”

“Really?” asked Howler.

Porter shrugged with embarrassment.  “The painting seemed too obvious.”

“I can see that,” said Frost gently.  “But it makes sense.  What is a Fallout Shelter, but the Best Panic Room Ever!” 

“Poor Lapkey,” said Porter.  “He really needed help.”

“It might be better if you stayed here,” said Frost to the Giant.

“There’s another door at the bottom of the stairs and I know the layout of the shelter,” said Porter.  “Please.  I can’t wait on the sidelines.”

Frost glanced at Howler, who nodded.

“Okay, but stay with us,” said Frost to Porter.

Frost looked down at the spiral stairs.

“Creepy?” asked Howler of Frost.

Frost tried the top step and shrugged.  “Mildly creepy.  Now, if they had been wooden, and squeaked.”

“Me first?” asked Howler.

“You do have better night vision,” agreed Frost. 

“Do you always defer to him?” asked Porter with a sudden chill in his voice.  “You’re not less than him.”

Howler drew himself up with a dark look in his eyes.

Frost said quickly to her partner.  “Wait.  I got this.”  Then she turned to the Giant.  “I’m not letting him go first because I’m just a helpless girl.  But, I am just a regular detective, while my partner is…”

“Oh!  That’s right,” said Porter with an embarrassed look.  “I forgot that you’re not one of the monsters, and thus more vul...I mean, well…”

“Easily broken?” suggested Frost with cheer.  “It’s okay.”

“You just seemed so capable, I thought…,” started Porter.

“It’s okay,” said Frost with gentle amusement.  “Nothing wrong with putting a tank out in front of me.”

Howler slid past her and took out his red knife.  The weapon gave off a gentle red glow.

Porter went next with Frost following.  The stairs were tight and claustrophobic, but they did not make a sound.

“These were well made,” whispered Porter.

“Shush,” said Frost softly.

“Oh...yep, right,” said Porter as they moved all the way down.

The bottom had a round metal circle.

“Is that…a submarine hatch?” asked Frost softly.

“He got it from an old submarine that limped back to dry dock after the war,” explained Porter.  He took out an old key ring and unlocked the hatch, but did not open it.  He looked up at the detectives.

“This will take us into one of the shelter’s sleeping quarters,” said Porter in a soft voice.  “I don’t know what’s down there though.”

Howler gestured with his red knife to open the hatch.  Despite a bit of rust, Porter’s strength easily opened it.  Pulling up, the hatch lifted and a little light came up.  Down the circular hole was a furnished room, circa 1950’s.  

With a step, Howler dropped down and hit the ground in a crouch, without a sound.  He looked around, but there was nothing, except for an empty bed frame without a mattress.  Gesturing, he stood to help Frost down so that she did not make any noise.

However, Porter let himself down.  The eight foot tall man reached the floor without needing to drop.  He smiled at Frost.

“No one likes a show-off,” she whispered with mock disapproval.

Howler moved over to the open door and peered through.

There was a short corridor with more rooms, sans mattress, but they were empty of people.  The three reached a corner.

Suddenly, Howler stiffened.  He moved to the side of the corridor and peered around.  After a moment, he looked back at the Frost and nodded for her to look.  Moving quietly, she glanced around the corner.

Pulling back, she spoke in a low voice.  “Found the mattresses.”

There was a door on the other side of the room, and in the middle were mattresses with mounds of blankets piled on top.  

“Den,” said Howler and he looked at his partner.

Frost nodded with her chin at one corner of the room where there was a pink frilly queen-sized bed.

“But who’s that?” she wondered aloud.  

The three moved carefully around the corridor and the smell that Frost had started to notice was now in full force.  The stench was like a mouldy gym bag kept in in a tanning bed full of Tapioca.  It made her eyes water and she had to slow to wipe away the tears.

That was why she almost stepped on the police officer.  She hopped to the left.

“Body,” she whispered.

Howler and Porter froze.

By Frost’s feet was a New Amsterdam Police officer of indeterminate race, or even gender.  The badge was still visible though.

“Poor person,” whispered Porter sadly.

“Sorry,” whispered someone and they froze.  “So...hungry.”  The voice sounded like brushed parchment.  

Howler pointed towards the middle of the room.

“I knew it was wrong when they brought it...sorry...so sorry, but I was hungry …so hungry,” continued the voice.

Keeping to the wall, they circled the room until they saw someone in the blankets.  And Frost wondered how they were still alive.  The face looked more canine than anything, and they only had a few patches of hair left on a body that was literally skin and bones.

But the eyes were still human.

“Lost.  She found me...said she’d feed me...an’ the stew was good.  So good,” whispered the creature.

“Who are you?” asked Frost in a hushed voice.

“No one,” said the Windigo sadly.  “No one until I met her.  Mumma Tik said she’d remake me.  But now…so hungry.  I suspected.  Suspected.  Didn’t want to know…”

“Because you were so hungry,” said Frost sympathetically.

“I got sick, then lost my job, then my apartment, an’...,” began the Wendigo.

“Who did this?” asked Porter.

But the light faded from the Windigo’s eyes, and it was staring at nothing.

“Did he say Momma Tik?” asked Porter.

“New player?” suggested Howler.

Frost saw Porter look up and freeze.  She followed his gaze and saw a pile of bones at the far corner.  Oddly, they were nicely set in a stack, despite having human teeth marks in them.  She turned back to the giant man and saw him vibrating.  

“If they hurt her…,” began Porter with a voice that suddenly grew so dark and hollow.  

Frost reminded herself that this was someone who—after they had been made, and abandoned—killed a lot of people.  She forced herself to not take a step back.  But she did not know if her and Howler could even stop him if he went off.  

Howler had seen it too, and one of his hands was near the black knife on his rig.  She had only seen him use it once.

For everyone’s sake, Frost needed to get Porter back, quickly.  

“Prometheus Von Frankenstein,” she whispered urgently.

Porter gave a start and Howler’s hand was now on the black knife. 

“What?” asked the Giant, who still had rage in his eyes.

“You nameed yourself Prometheus, but then you felt that that was...um…,” said Frost, but she stopped at a loss for words.

“ Too big, too flashy,” finished Porter.  He took a deep breath and looked at the detectives.  “I let it out a bit, didn’t I?”

“What?” asked Frost.

“The anger in me,” said Porter.  “My therapist, Judith, and helped me calm it, but every once in a while…”

Frost smiled kindly.  “It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” smiled Porter wryly.  “But I appreciate the lie.”

There was a noise from deeper in the fallout shelter.

“Can we go?” asked Howler.  His voice always sounded like it was coming from a dark place.

“Please,” said Porter gratefully.

They moved out of the foul smelling room and into a corridor that did not smell much better.

“Oh my poor dears,” came a flowery voice with utter cheer.  “It’s almost time for din-din.”

The three stopped because of the chorus of growls from ahead.  Slowly, they started forward again.

“I hope everyone brought their appetite,” continued the flowery voice.

“Hungry,” responded several voices, almost at once.  The voices sounded like they had once been human.

“Of course you are, and I made your favorite,” said the flowery voice.  “Mumma Tik’s hearty stew with its secret ingredient.  Can anyone guess what the secret ingredient is?”

Tentative growls came, but they sounded unsure.

“That’s right!” grinned the flowery voice, Mumma Tik.  “It’s Mailman.  And it’s almost ready.  We should probably get our guests ready.”

Down a long dark corridor, Frost saw a group of the wendigo.  They were crouched down at rest really close to one another.  Like they were attached, but it was more of a communal bond.

Beyond the emancipated wendigo was a large room that had been decorated within an inch of its life in pastels.  Almost out of view was a big electric oven with a huge metal pot on top.  And standing before the oven was a large woman in a bright mu-mu.  She cupped her hand under a wooden spoon as she walked towards the people bound up.

Porter stiffened, but Howler put out a hand to hold him back.

Frost hated to agree, but it sounded like there was a lot more wendigo that they could not see.  

“This is the last dose dear,” said Mumma Tick cheerily.  

An older man, bound to a wooden chair, struggled.  Frost could tell that there might be others tied up past the older man, but he was blocking her view.  Frost did not see anyone who looked like the Elsa in Porter’s picture.  

The Giant was trying to look around the older man, but seemed to be similarly frustrated.  Frost worried that one of the creatures would notice.

Then she saw Mumma Tick catch the eye of the older man, who immediately stilled.

“Open wide,” said Mumma Tick.

The older man complied.  The woman tipped the wooden spoon into the man’s mouth.  

“Swallow,” she said.

The older man did so, and sat still for a moment.  

Suddenly stiffening, the man began to struggle against his chair.  The old man’s face became more canine and he let out a cry, which the other wendigo joined.

The former older man burst upward, splintering the wooden chair.  He started tearing at his clothes and went to join his fellow creatures.  And that revealed that others tied up next to him.

Frost immediately recognized Elsa, though she looked thinner.  

Elsa let out a cry into her cloth gag.

Mumma Tik, as if she had not moved, was suddenly in front of Elsa with her wooden spoon.  Frost could see the steam rising from the scoop of the spoon.

Pulling down Elsa’s gag,  Mumma Tik took her chin in one hand.  Elsa tried to keep her mouth closed, but Mumma Tik pried her jaw open.

“Almost done dearie,” said Mumma Tik cheerily.  “And then you can join your brothers and sisters.

Porter shot forward, utterly silent.  He was down the corridor in an instant and he picked up the first weapon he could.  Easily lifting one of the wendigo with a massive hand, he whipped it.

The creature smacked into Mumma Tik with bone-cracking force.  Though it was uncertain whose bones broke.  The creature and Mumma Tik were thrown across the room.

Porter stopped in front of Elsa and the other woman tied to a chair.

“P...Porter?” asked Elsa.

As Frost and Howler looked at each other in surprise, they saw all of the wendigo look from Porter to them.  

“Happenstance Police!  Don’t Move!” called out Frost automatically.

The nearest wendigo let out an ear-splitting scream.  It scrabbled towards them, starting on all fours, but then getting to its feet, moving so fast.

“Oh damn,” whispered Frost.

Firing her shotgun, she hit it right in the chest, which--because it was so emancipated--blew a giant hole out the back.  But as it collapsed forward, more wendigo were rising.

“Can you get to Porter?” asked Frost.

Howler nodded and shot forward.  He whipped open his coat to reveal the leather rig of four knives, drawing the green and blue.  Coming upon the wendigo, he slashed several as he slid past them.  He made it out of the corridor when a wendigo hit him like a linebacker, knocking him out of sight.  

But Frost did not have time to worry.  She fired on the oncoming wendigo and started to back up.  A deer slug went through the first creature, out its back and into the next one.  But even as they fell, grasping with sharpened claws, more filled up their space.

One creature leapt over the corpses and slashed with its claws.  Reflexively, Frost lifted an arm and she felt the claws rake across her forearm.  Jamming the shotgun under its chin, she pulled the trigger and backed up.  

Frost did not want to look, but she steeled herself.  A quick glance showed that the arm of the ugly coat, and her flesh underneath were still safe.  But there were more wendigo coming.  

The detective backed up and pumped another shell into the chamber.

***

Just as Rafe Howler broke out into the main room, something slammed into his head and shoulders.  Not fighting it, Howler rolled with the creature and hit the ground.  As they tumbled over the floor, he stabbed his blue knife into the creature’s shoulder.  

A thick layer of ice formed over the wound as he pulled the knife out.  The creature was suddenly perplexed because its left arm would not work.

Howler took that moment to put a boot against its chest.  

Kicking it hard into a wall, Rafe saw more wendigo diving for him.  He threw himself to one side, slamming into another creature.  Rolling free of it, he found an open space.

Howler jumped to his feet and saw Porter on the far end of the room, maybe fighting or dying.  But getting there was going to be hard.  Wendigo swarmed on him.

Ducking under some claws, Howler flicked his green knife across its underarm.  A quick nick and he was away.  The wendigo turned to follow when it staggered.  It suddenly looked really ill.  It tried to move forward, but fell down, overcome with sickness.

Howler darted near enough to nick another wendigo, but there were too many.  There were too many to take alive.  Sheathing the green knife, he took out the red and plunged it into a wendigo’s chest.  It stiffened as a fire swiftly took it from within.  

Spinning away, Rafe misjudged and two wendigo grabbed his arms.  Another appeared in front, showing all those teeth.  Howler head-butteding the creature so hard, he heard a crack.  As it collapsed backwards, Howler kicked the knee to his right and the creature let go with a howl.  Before he could stab the one on his other arm, another wendigo slashed at him.  

The Detective went down as more wendigo jumped on top of him.

Back in the corridor, Frost threw her shotgun at the oncoming creatures and drew her sidearm.

***

The wendigo had surged away from Porter and either went down the corridor or went after Howler.  Porter saw Rafe fighting them and looked at Elsa and the other person, Dez.  

“Untie us!” said Elsa with a panicked voice.

A group of wendigo, who had not rushed off, looked at Porter.

“No time,” said the Giant.  Sliding behind Elsa and Dez, he easily picked up their chairs.

“Porter!” called out Elsa in confusion.

The Giant moved to a corner free of monsters and set them down.

“Watch out!” said Elsa.

A lone wendigo leapt at him but he was ready this time.  One massive fist smashed into it and it collapsed into a heap.  But Porter grabbed it and threw it at the closest wendigo.  His eyes took in the room and he went for the one weapon available.

The group of wendigo near him recovered quickly from having one of their own flung at them.  They braced to spring at the giant man.

“Soup’s on!” grinned Porter.  He knocked the large metal pot, set at a slow boil, and it crashed right in front of the group of wendigo.  The creatures quickly scampered back.

In the distance, Porter saw Howler go down.

The detectives that he brought into this.

Leaping forward, the Giant grabbed the metal pot and used his momentum to bring the container up like a mace.  He knocked over two creatures, just in that first blow.  He did not stop and swung the metal pot into three more wendigo.  

Wading forward, Porter grabbed a creature with his free hand and threw it hard into a wall.  With the pot, he bludgeoned another.

Porter could only go after one of the detectives, and he had raised himself in a time of more chivalry.  Then he had an idea.

Smashing his way to the corridor, the Giant started grabbing wendigo and throwing them at high velocity at the pile of creatures on top of Howler.  The first wendigo sheared off several of the monsters.  That was all Porter needed to see.

While holding back a batch of wendigo with the metal pot, Porter reached into the corridor and threw any monster he grabbed at Howler’s pile.  The flung creatures kept knocking off more.  

The wendigo in the corridor retreated away from Porter, so that he ran out of ammo.  He was about to look for more when Howler burst up through the pile of wendigo.  Rafe jumped a little away, to get some clearance.  Surprisingly, his suit was only a little tattered.

Porter turned and dove down the corridor.  He held the metal pot in front of him like a plow and collided into the first wendigo.  That creature hit the next and the Giant drove them down the corridor until he burst out into the monster’s den.

A bullet nearly took off his ear.

“Porter!” cried Frost with alarm and worry.  “What’re you doing?  I almost shot you!”  

The Giant used the pot to tamp down the last creatures.

Frost came over and aimed her handgun down the corridor.  She shot two wendigo who had suddenly gotten too curious.  

“Howler,” said Porter, mostly to himself.  He turned and ran down the corridor.  Frost paced him as they stepped over the dead and battered wendigo.

Several of the creatures were looking away out of the corridor.  Porter plowed his pot into one, and grabbed the other one.  The Giant spotted Howler fighting more of the creatures.

“How many of these damned things are there?” growled Porter.

A wendigo came out of cover and was about to jump at Howler’s back.  The Giant threw the creature in his hand.  

And it crashed right into Detetive Howler.

“Oh, damn,” said Porter as Rafe fell down.  Running over, he started swinging the cooking pot to get to Howler. 

“Sorrysorrysorry,” he called out as he got closer.  “One was trying to sneak up on you.”

 Frost ducked towards Elsa and Dez, who were being eyed by two wendigo.  Sprinting in between the people tied up and the monsters, she fired at the first creature and got a headshot.  It crumpled, but the other shot forward.  Frost had a perfect bead on the wendigo and squeezed her trigger.

Click, said the empty gun.

“Shit,” muttered Frost.

The wendigo slammed into her and she fell back on Elsa and Dez’s laps.  Claws slashed and Frost managed to get her arm in the way.  The hit hurt like hell, but it did not gouge through the ugly coat and into her flesh.  

Frost knew that she needed to get the creature away from the prisoners.  

Grappling with the wendigo, she threw both of them off the laps and on to the floor.  Twisting until it was under her, she tried to hold it down.  Even skin and bones though, the thing was tough.   The creature tried to dig in its claws but the coat protected her for now.

A movement out of the corner of her eye made her rear back reflexively.  Time appeared to slow down as the wendigo’s claws moved past her face.  She felt the wind on her nose.  Frost was out of time to come up with a better plan.

Flipping her handgun, she brought the butt of the gun down like a bludgeon.  The first hit stunned it a little, but the claws trying for her nose were still too close.

The detective slammed down the gun like a hammer again and again until it stopped moving.  She suddenly stopped, blood splattered on her and the surrounding area.  Frost let out a ragged breath, but then he noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

Whipping around, the detective raised her bloody handgun, however her partner did not flinch.  Howler just looked down at her with a bland look on his face.

“Any more?” asked Frost.

Howler shook his head.

“Good,” whispered Frost.  She got up a little shakily.  The adrenaline was leaving quickly and she was not sure if she should cry, throw up or collapse.  

But she was a Detective.  There was work to do.

Straightening, she looked at Howler, and a little smile played across his lips, but then it was gone.

“Elsa,” said Frost suddenly.  She turned and ran back to the prisoners.  After wiping her gun on the ugly coat, she holstered it with one hand and took out her folding knife with the other.  

Kneeling, Frost cut through the ropes holding Elsa and Dez.

“Oh, Thank God!” said Elsa when she was free.  She immediately jumped up and kicked over the chair that she had been tied to.  Once Dez was free, Elsa was there to help them up.  “Are you okay Dez?” 

“I don’t know,” whimpered Dez in a small voice.  “I’m...I’m so hungry.”

“I know what you mean,” said Elsa with a tight smile.  She hugged Dez.  

Frost glanced up and saw Porter moving awkwardly towards them.

“You okay?” she asked of him with concern.

“Oh yeah, just pulled a few muscles,” said Porter quickly.  “At my age, you can’t just jump into a fight without a proper stretch first.”

Elsa looked up and the Giant who had helped beat away a horde of wendigo stopped just a little way.  He was hunched like a kid at his first dance.  He dropped the large metal pot.  It made a huge clang when it hit the floor and he winced.  

“Sorry,” whispered Porter.  

“I...I need to sit,” said Dez.  Elsa made sure that Dez was alright, and then she turned to step closer to Porter.

“You came,” she said.

“I…,” he began,but he could not finish his sentence.

Frost started to feel awkward.  “I’m going over here.”  She started to retreat to make sure that there were not any monsters sneaking about.  Stepping past Porter, she saw that the Giant was not moving.  Stepping behind, Frost put her shoulder into his back, shoving him closer to Elsa.

The Giant took a step forward.

Elsa looked down suddenly.  “She...that woman made us eat...something.”

“I know,” said Porter.

“I…couldn’t stop her,” said Elsa.

“It’s okay,” said Porter.

“Is it?” asked Elsa.  “I feel…” 

Knees buckling, Elsa began to fall forward.  Suddenly, Porter was there, and he guided her to the floor.  She grabbed onto his shirt tightly.

“I feel...so, so hungry,” said Elsa.

“Hun…,” murmured Dez.  She tipped forward out of her chair on her hands and knees, looking past the Giant.

Porter saw the laser-like focus and glanced around.  Dez was staring at the food that Mumma Tik had made.  The stew he had spilled all over the floor.

Elsa began to sniff the air.  “Food?” 

Porter’s stomach clenched.  He didn’t trust any of Mumma Tik’s food.  Then he stiffened.

“Food!” he called out, a little loudly.  “I got food.” 

Elsa and Dez looked at him with a ravenous gaze.  Trying to ignore the looks, like he was steak, he dug into the pocket of his light coat.  Pulling out a bag of bars, he used his teeth to help open up the Zip-Loc.

Two power bars fell right in front of Dez and she pounced on them.  With sharp teeth, she started to eat the first one without even unwrapping it.  Porter opened one bar and put it in front of Elda.  She snapped so hard at it, the giant man double-checked that his fingers were still there.  Satisfied that he was intact, he opened another.  But this time, Elsa took it from his hand, though she still shoved it into her mouth.

After each had gotten four power bars apiece, they looked at him with intelligence in their eyes once again.

“Power bars?” asked Elsa.

“I…,” started Porter.

“You give them out to homeless when you see them on the street,” said Elsa and her voice grew more sure.  “But not with any nuts.”

“Don’t want to put them in anaphylactic shock,” said Porter.  “You remembered.”

“I saw you giving them out in Middle Park,” said Elsa. 

“And we started talking,” said Porter.

“I bet you didn’t think it would lead here,” said Elsa as she grew sad.  “Sorry.” 

Porter chuckled and she looked at him in annoyance.

“I’d have gone through all nine levels of hell,” he said.  “Twice!”

“What?” asked Elsa.

“Oh come on!” cried Dez.  “Will you two start dating and let the rest of us go on with our lives!” 

“Amen!” called out Frost from where she was guarding them.  She did not even turn around.

Porter and Elsa burst out laughing, and she curled deeper into him.  He put his arms around her.

“Anybody dead in there?” called out a voice from the passage to the front door of the shelter.  Frost looked around and saw Stuart the crow wing in.  The bird saw her.  “Hey!  You’re upright!  Unless you’re a zom?  Are you a zombie?”

Frost chuckled.  “I’m not a zombie.”  She held up her arm and the crow landed upon it.

“Sorry I'm late,” said Stu.  “There was this hawk terrorizing a family of squirrels.”

The side of Frost’s mouth crooked up in a smile.  “Hawks need to eat too.”

“That’s fine,” said Stuart.  He shook his feathers, as if to shrug.  “Just don’t do it in my city.”

“So, we’re definitely going to need some cleanup here,” said Frost.

“No kidding,” said Stuart.  “We should just lay down some napalm and call it a day.”

“Tempting,” agreed Frost.

“And we’re going to need a doctor,’ said Porter.  “I can even pay for it.”

“That’s okay,” said Frost to the Giant.  She could see the gaunt faces of Elsa and Dez.  “We take care of our own.” 

Porter suddenly started looking around.  “Wait, is that one lady here?”

“Who?” asked Stuart.

“Some person calling themself Mumma Tik,” explained Frost.

“For that matter, where’s Detective Howler?” asked Porter.

And a little smile played across Frost’s face.

***

Mumma Tik moved along the street as fast as she dared.  She did not run, because that catches people’s attention.  But she needed something to help sell the kindly lady just out for her errands.  Ducking down an alley, she opened the first trash bin and found some plastic grocery bags.  She filled them enough to look like she was out shopping and then turned back to the mouth of the alley and froze.

“Happenstance Police,” said Howler with a low voice.

Straightening up, Mumma Tik looked at the man in surprise.  “You think you can take me in?  Like I’m some kind of criminal?”

Howler opened his coat, revealing the rig with the blue, red, green and black knives.

Suddenly, Mumma Tik was at the detective’s side, even before the bag of fake groceries hit the ground.  She wielded her long wooden spoon like it was a sword and swung.  The spoon hit him and sent him flying hard into the wall of the alley.  He dropped to his rump, sitting against the wall.

Mumma Tik stabbed at the detective’s head.  But Howler moved like liquid.  The scoop of the spoon punched a hole in the brick. 

Green knife in hand, Howler sank the tip of the blade into the back of her calf.  He dove three feet away and waited.  

The woman in the mumu straightened.  

Howler moved another foot back, because if she started throwing up, he did not want it on his suit.

Mumma Tik suddenly gave a smug chuckle.  She momentarily shuddered and then spit out a glob of black and green goo.  The slime hissed when it hit the brick wall.

“That must be for bringing down miscreants,” said Mumma Tik cheerily.  “The person is alive, though they may not wish to be, and you can secure them.  Good try.”

Without another word, the woman slammed the spoon on the ground and that sent a wave of pressure that slammed into the detective.

Howler bounced off a wall, but even before he hit the ground, she was there.  Mumma Tik swung the spoon like a sword.  The detective blocked it and rolled across the ground.  She was chasing after him.

Ducking to one side, Howler pushed her into the metal trash bin.  It bent on impact.  

With light footwork, he moved a little ways away and sheathed the green knife.

Mumma Tik pulled herself out of the large divot in the bin.  She turned to him and spit out some blood.

“Okay dearie,” she grinned with bloody teeth.  “No more Sweet Old Lady.”

Howler gave a little smile, and drew his black knife.

***

The EMT Officer helped Dez on to a stretcher.  

“We’re going to lift you up and take you to our hospital,” explained the EMT Officer.

But Dez was too busy with the whole fried chicken he had bought.  He looked up at Frost.

“It’s okay,” said Frost.  “Just get her there, and if you have to, stop for drive-through.  I’ll make sure you’re reimbursed.” 

“Sure,” nodded the EMT nervously.  He helped lift one end of the stretcher while another EMT took up the other side and they carried her out.

Porter stood up, but he carried Elsa in his arms.  She was eating her own whole chicken, but she looked pretty unhappy about it.  The Giant started to carry her towards the exit, but as he passed Frost reached out.  She gently touched his elbow and he stopped.  Elsa faced away.

“You okay?” asked Frost wordlessly.  

Porter glanced down at Elsa and then back up at the detective.

“She will survive,” he replied without words.

“Are you guys talking about me?” asked Elsa, without looking around.

Frost smiled and moved so both Porter and Elsa could see her.

“I was worried about both of you,” explained Frost.

“I...I just wish I knew what that woman did to me,” said Elsa.  “I...I..feel so…”

“It’s going to be okay,” said Porter, really to both of them.

Elsa looked up at him and she looked a little hopeful.

Frost let them go.  

As they walked out, the Medical Examiner came in.  

The ME was tall and lean with the head of a jackal and in the corner of his mouth, was a joint.  Frost has asked Howler about that when she first saw it.  But her partner said that, in all the years that Arkham Nubis was the Medical Examiner, they have never found one particle of his ash in a crime scene.

“It looks like you two had a bit of excitement,” said Arkham Nubis with a voice that rambled a bit.  “And you didn’t invite me.”

“It was a spur of the moment gathering,” replied Frost.

“Those can be the most fun,” murmured Arkham as he blew out some cannabis smoke.

Two dangerous looking women came in carrying a lot of plastic bags.  They stopped when they saw all the bodies.  Arkham turned, a little unsteadily, back to them.

“My dear Valkyries,” he began.

“Don’t you ‘dear Valkyries’ us,” grumbled one of the woman, Hilda.

“Oh, this is worse than the Madam Candle’s Brothel,” moaned the other, Garde 

“Sorry,” said Frost.  “We were just as surprised.”

Hilda gave a kind smile.  “Not your fault.  Better I find them here than outside my son’s elementary school.”

“Still…,” said Frost.

“Ah, they are not alone,” said Arkham and he tottered over to the Valkyrie.

In each arm, he took part of their piles, and set them down on the ground.  He expertly put one of the wendigo bodies into a bag.  The Valkyrie moved to opposite sides of the room to begin processing.

Arkham looked at Frost again.

“Oh, and where is that errant partner of yours?” he asked.

A dessicated body in a flowery dress, which still holding a wooden spoon, dropped next to Arkham.  The ME looked up at Howler, who had his usual grim look.

“More work, dear boy?  Were you waiting for me to ask about you?” asked Askham.

Howler just rolled his eyes and walked over to his partner.

“And you had to use your black knife,” huffed Arkham unhappily.  “It’ll be like trying to autopsy a piece of overdone jerky.”

Stopping in front of Frost, Howler looked down at the big poffy coat.  She followed his look and saw the claw marks, which had not made it through.

Frost sniffed.  “Still an ugly coat.”

***

Stepping back into the cool night air was exhilarating for Frost.  She and Howler walked to where the doctor and EMTs were processing the wendigo that were still alive.  Now, they were exactly bound though.  

Porter stood just a little ways away with his back to them.  He was still holding Elsa.

Frost stopped, just close to eavesdrop.

“Do you really...like-like me?” asked Elsa.

“Ever since the day we met,” said Porter.  “And I was wondering if you’d like to go out next Friday.”

“Like, on a date,” asked Elsa with interest.

Porter leaned a little towards Frost.  “Yes detective, I asked her on a date.”

Frost grinned, a little embarrassed and stepped a little away.

“Busted,” grinned Howler.

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