Read Online The Banshee by Henry P. Gravelle - Free Book Online

shaking his head as he did.
    â€œWhat was in the barrel?” asked Nancy.
    â€œThe missing girl. Something terrible happened to her and that cop. They weren’t just murdered, they were torn apart.”
    David looked around at the fire-destroyed building, an uneasy sensation churning in his stomach. “Did you ever have the feeling you were being watched?”
    Nancy shrugged and walked toward the car. David scanned the yard once again then joined her, never noticing the large cloven prints embedded into the earth along the fence.

Chapter Eleven

    The doctor approached Andy’s remains on the stainless steel examination table and began to remove the tattered pieces of uniform that clung to the wounds. He looked briefly at the torn chest cavity and wondered who or what could have done that, or why?
    Carl remembered back when Calvin Peters was torn open by a bear he surprised going through the garbage. His wounds were not as ferocious. Calvin lived to tell about it. The doorbell interrupted his thoughts. Murphy was holding another black bag.
    â€œI just started the exam, come on in.” Carl motioned with a wave of his hand for Murphy to enter.
    Murphy carried the bag to the oversize sink and placed it in. “When you’re finished with Andy you can start on the Collins girl.”
    â€œIs that her?
    Murphy nodded.
    â€œWhere did you find her?”
    â€œYour nephew did, in a rain barrel inside the barn; a fly-infested goddamn barrel.”
    â€œSame condition as Andy, I suppose,” Carl assumed.
    â€œWorse.”
    â€œI’ll do my best and as quickly as possible. I have a pot of coffee in the kitchen if you want to wait?”
    â€œThanks, I could use a cup right about now,” Murphy said walking from the examination room in the rear of the house to the adjoining kitchen. He poured himself a large mug of black and hot coffee. He sipped it, allowing the liquid melt away the tension in almost every muscle of his body.
    It seemed as though he had just sat down when he realized he had poured his third cup and the afternoon quickly became evening. He went back to the exam room and found Carl by the sink washing his hands. On the examination table laid two forms covered by a single white sheet with growing red stains at different places.
    â€œI’ll write up your reports as soon as I can,” Carl said, wiping his hands on a towel. His voice was tired.
    â€œI’ll read the report later. I need answers and I need them now. What killed them?”
    Carl sighed and tossed the towel into a laundry bin, “My opinion…some kind of animal. Claw and teeth marks, almost every bone broken, a few even gnawed on.”
    â€œAn animal, what kind of animal…?” Murphy asked, watching the red stain spreading along the white sheet covering Andy.
    â€œCan’t rightly say, think we need an expert to take a look. The teeth marks are characteristic of a bear but the claw damage is different, never seen it before. Big animal though”
    â€œHow big?”
    â€œBallpark estimate I’d have to say ‘round six, seven hundred pounds.”
    â€œJesus, that shoots my wild dog theory to hell.” Murphy wiped his brow.
    â€œI’m sorry, that’s all I have for now.”
    â€œThanks,” Murphy shook Carl’s hand, “I appreciate your effort. I just don’t know how I am going to break the news to the Collins family.”
    â€œA terrible business, perhaps you should ask Father Ahern to assist?”
    Charles Murphy considered his advice then thought against it. “By the time I get Father Ahern over to the Collins home, they may have already heard the news from the neighborhood grapevine. I’m sure the rumors are already spreading. I think I better tell them and soon.”
    â€œI wish you luck. If I can be of any assistance…”
    â€œThanks, I’ll be in touch.”

    * * * *

    Murphy climbed the stairs of the