“So, we got the killer?” Victoria asked as she bonded the teeth, and fangs in her hand. “And how can there be loot from these things I thought they dissipated?” She said accusingly to Osgood.

The older man nodded. “It’s likely that was the culprit.” Then he equivocated. “Try your spell once more?” He asked.

The teenager complied and shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Another cold case then, there was no body and a widower.” Agent Kerr replied. “We should still check out the rest of the house.”

“Are monster attacks random,” Victoria asked the two men.

“Honestly we never know how monsters find their victims. Some seem targeted, others random.” Osgood stated as they went back into the home and looked around. The main living area seemed to be a hunter's paradise with various trophies on the wall of past kills. As they delved deeper into the home, they found one bedroom set up as a small armory. Ammunition sorted neatly on the shelves a gun safe behind a false panel.

Agent Kerr whistled. “Now this is a rec-room.” He laughed as he started examining the ammunition.

Victoria found herself drawn to the workbench and examining the various pieces on it. “Can I pick these up?” She asked the agent as she remembered the police procedural her father watched and thought about the chain of custody for evidence.

“What do you have there?” Osgood asked from the doorway.

“I don’t know honestly they just don’t look right.” She said gesturing at the frame of a handgun and various pieces that were laid out on the top of a rubberized diagram. “The top says nineteen eleven. But most of the pieces are a brownish metallic. Shouldn’t they be a blue-black?” She said pointing to the frame. “My grandfather’s pistol was that color.”

Both of the older men moved over to get a better look. “She’s right,” Kerr said as he picked up the frame and examined it. “It’s heavier than it should be.”

“What did the owner do?” Osgood asked the agent.

“The file doesn’t say.” The agent replied as he started examining the various pieces on the workbench. “The spring is steel.” He stated “These too,” he said as he put other thinner pieces to the side.

Osgood picked up the barrel and examined it. “This appears to be bronze.” He said with a thoughtful look.

“Are we even sure he’s dead?” Victoria asked. “I know that was a lot of blood but… could someone have faked it?”

The two older men did a double-take. “Out of the mouth of babes,” Osgood said.

“Leave the mimic as a distraction and culprit,” Kerr said with a nod and his thoughtful expression on his face. “That leaves us with a why?”

“What time is it?” Victoria asked in concern as she looked outside at the long shadows.

Osgood took out a pocket watch. “It’s nearly seven .”

“I need to get home” the teenager replied. “My mom will wonder what happened to me.”

“That is a capital idea,” Osgood said with a sigh. “I have more than a few questions for your mother.”

“What?” Victoria said in surprise.

“If you have not guessed the order is very interested in you and where you came from.” He looked around. “Kerr, if you get any more information please forward it to us. Ms. Leighton and I have things we need to discuss. Young lady?” he said gesturing for the door.

X X X

He led the way to his battered old chevy pick up the rounded hood placed it somewhere in the mid to late nineteen fifties. “Nice truck.” She said as she rubbed a palm along the hood.

“Thank you.” The older man said. Victoria heard the lock pop open. “Get in.”

“Cool, you had it retrofitted with electronic locks?”

“What no, it just likes you. Can you tell me your address?” He replied. The teenager replied somewhat reluctantly.

“What are we going to tell my mother?” She asked a little guilty.

“Usually the truth is best.” The huge man said as the car settled under his weight. Victoria nodded and climbed in.

“In this case that my family heritage stretches back over elven thousand years to lost Atlantis and oh yeah, I now have magic powers after I talked to the great Akashic library. Oh, and who are my real parents because it also said my bio mom and dad were great hunters of monsters. You mean that?” She said with a small smirk on her face.

Osgood looked at her, then nodded. “Well, perhaps not all the truth.” He shook his head. “Perhaps there is some trick of genetics involved.” He sighed. “Tell me about your parents if you would.” She closed her eyes, and when she opened them she was calm and began to speak. The car ride was less than ten minutes, but the young girl had exhausted all of her factual information about her parents after five of them. They spent the remainder of the time in fretful silence by the young woman.

All too soon they pulled up in front of her home. She noted the absence of police cars and police tape. She also noted the bright lights on around the home. She felt a hand on her shoulder, looking over she saw Osgood a knowing look on his face. “Victoria, know that they love you all things else are just temporary. Parents love is forever.” He said sadly.

“You have children?” She asked.

“I had a son. He and his wife were great hunters. Their son, my grandson Victor is a hunter.”

“Were…?” she turned to him and asked.

“They died when Victor was a baby long before you were born.” He sighed. “I miss them still.”

With the somber mood brought on by the older man’s words, they both left the ancient truck and walked to the front door. Even before they reached the stoop, the front door was thrown open and Victoria’s mother rushed out, taking the young woman in a hug and sweeping her off her feet. “I was so worried the police wouldn’t say anything.” She said as she took her daughter’s head in both hands and gazed into her eyes then checked her visible tor any evident damage. “Are you okay?” She then asked.

“I’m fine mom. The FBI cleared me.” She looked down in embarrassment. How many other seventeen-year-olds she mused ever could say those words, she wondered. “Mom, this is Mr. Osgood he’s …my attorney?” She said looking at the older man.

“Yes, in this matter I am your daughter’s attorney.”

“We really can’t afford an attorney.” Her mother said looking shamefaced.

“Ah, my representation is pro bono. However, there are aspects of this case I require more information on.” The woman looked confused.

“Pro bono?” She asked, then looked at her daughter.

“He means it's free,” Victoria said.

“We may be able to afford free.” She looked up to the man. “Please come inside for dinner, I will try to answer all of your questions. Do you like spaghetti?” Lost on the family, was the dark form hiding among the trees at the edge of their lot, a form that faded into darkness as the door to their home closed.