Out On a Limb by Luis Paredes

Author:Luis Paredes [Paredes, Luis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy noir novella, female private detective, urban fantasy novella, female occult detective, magical animals, paranormal crimes, paranormal crime novella
Publisher: Platypus Book Press
Published: 2023-03-11T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Stakeout

Rebecca hated stakeouts.

Patrol cars weren’t built with comfort in mind and the passenger seat she’d been squirming on for the past five hours felt as if it was cast from concrete.

The lack of creature comforts, however, hadn’t stopped the captain or Cole from drifting off to sleep.

Peyton sucked in a breath of air through her long teeth. One of her eyes widened while the other squeezed shut. “Can you believe our luck? The cap parks us behind this stinking dumpster so I can set my Gaze on Alma and that crazy kid of hers and what happens?” Peyton’s whiskers spasmed. “They never leave the building!”

Rebecca rolled her eyes and patted Peyton’s head. Peyton had taken to blurting out the same sentiment at least every hour since the sun set over Emerald Tree Care.

“I can see them puttering about on the second floor,” Rebecca said. “I don’t think they’re going anywhere. What do you think they’re doing, and where’s Jacob?”

“Who knows. This stakeout’s turning into a real bummer. I was hoping for a car chase by now.” Peyton wriggled her furry bottom and arched her head back. She looked up at Rebecca.“I need to see a man about a carrot.”

Rebecca chuckled and slowly opened the door.

“Don’t wander off too far, you two. That’s Forest Hills Park across the street. Believe it or not, it’s over 500 acres of woods,” The captain grumbled. “I’ll take the next shift so you two can sleep, ok?”

“Jesus, you’re always listening, aren’t you?” Peyton asked.

Captain Wyatt smiled and closed his eyes.

Rebecca stepped out of the car and closed the door with her hip. She placed Peyton on the grass and let her hop forward to find some privacy.

After a moment, Peyton scampered back, jumped, and twisted her body in the cool night air. “So much better!”

Rebecca smiled, and turned her attention to the line of trees on their side of the street. Faint rays of white light squeezed between the trunks. “Come on, let’s go see what that light’s about. I’m sure Alma’s not leaving anytime soon.”

Peyton eyed the line of crowded trees. “Eh, why not.”

They followed a dirt trail into the woods and emerged a few minutes later onto the outer edge of a little league baseball field. The chalk baselines glowed with an almost blue shimmer under the full moon’s glare while six pole lights stood watch over the empty pitch like solemn sentries.

“It’s beautiful,” Rebecca said.

Peyton’s back feet pounded the short-clipped grass. “Wanna race for home base?”

Rebecca nodded. “On the count of three, ok? One, two—” Rebecca snapped her head around and faced the woods. “Hey, is that a fox?”

Peyton gasped and flattened her body against the grass.

Rebecca laughed and bolted straight down centerfield toward second base. Her long, black hair trailed behind her like a battle pendant. She’d never beaten her partner in a footrace and hoped that this mean, but well-played trick would finally cement a win.

The sound of Peyton’s feet thumping against the ground crushed all hope for a quick victory.

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