Missed Call (David)

[blackbetty]

In Josh and David's rising anger and worry, David might have overlooked his cell phone and the missed call and voice message that had been waiting.

According to the voicemail prompt the message was left around 6:30 that morning. He wouldn't recognize the number, nor the female voice with a touch of Irish brogue that would come over the ear piece.

One thing was for sure, she sounded distressed; worried.

"Bollocks! The one time I've a valid reason ta ask fer yer number and ye're not there." There was the sound of ringing phone's and other such office noises in the background. Sounded like she might be calling from the police station. There was the sound of a door shutting and the background noise died out.

The voice sighed heavily into the phone before continuing, "Sorry, I'm bein' rude. Ye don't know me. My name's Mel O'Connell. I'm an R.P.I.T. detective from Seattle in town on N.P.C. business... I' been tryin' ta get a hold o' ya since I got here... for personal reasons, but tha's not why I'm callin' now."

There was a pause as the woman took a deep breath, "I'm afraid I've received some very distressing news... George Norman, otherwise known as Nightmare, has come to Dallas searching for one o' yer wolves. I 'aven't yet been able to surmise where exactly the contract came from but I'm workin' on it."

There was another slight pause where her tone turned serious, "Look, Norman is Evil the likes o' which very few've ever come across. He murders and tortures Were's and people for sport, and does so by hiding behind a license and a charming facade. If he's after one o' yer wolves, I fear yer entire pack may be in danger, and not just from him..."

Another sigh, "I know it's not in wolf or pack nature to trust the police, especially not a stranger... If ya take a chance though, ya may find we have a lot more in common than ye'd think..." That last part sounded almost ominous. "Please call me back... I can help!"

She then went on to leave her cell number, wherafter the call abruptly ended, leaving him to ponder on the message, the woman, and her warning.

[David Meeks]

David really didn't see the voice message until he was already in the woods following Mia's trail. He stopped and called her right then because the wolves needed all the help they could get. He let it ring until she answered.
"This is David...Norman has a human who's close with our pack. He's already hurt her...we need to get her before he does anything else to her. Can you help?"

[blackbetty]

Mel had been at the police station for the better part of the morning, hoping David would call her back. She couldn't start an official investigation unless she had more information to go off of. She'd already gotten the clearance from brass a long time ago to act as a sort of detective on loan.

She had a lecture to teach at 10 o’clock, so when 9am came and went with still no word, her nerves began getting the better of her. What if Norman had already struck?



Mel had just parked her car outside the Dallas Police Academy when her cell phone rang, startling her some. She turned off the ignition as she looked at the caller display. Thank the moons! she thought to herself.

She hit the send button and put the phone to her ear, “O’Connell speaking.” Melanie’s face fell, and some of the color drained from her cheeks at David’s news. fuck! The swear was meant to have been a mental curse, but she didn’t realize she’d shouted it out loud. "Sorry..."

“I’m assumin’ ya already have the pack together, then? And let me guess ya’ve already picked up his scent and are tracking him right now?” She paused a moment but didn’t really wait for a response. She knew how her pack would have responded in the situation. “I prob’ly don’ have ta tell ya then, that it’s a trap. If I know Norman, he’s prepared for you and your pack to retaliate. Ye’d be playing right into his hands.”

“If you go in there with claws and teeth blazing, kidnap or no, he’d have every liberty to take you all out. In the end, ya might take his life as well, but knowing Norman, he probably has some back-up scenario prepared just for the occasion. He may just turn your entire pack into fugitives in the process.

I know it bites the big one, but unfortunately that’s how the law stands at present. Look, I’m not sayin’ don’t do anythin’, I’m just sayin’ let me start a case, make some calls. I’m sorry he has your friend, but there is something good to come from it. At least now we have a reason to start an investigation and bring him in. If you work with us, we can save your friend, and put Norman away.” She worried her bottom lip.

“I need to make a few phone calls, but I can do that on the way... Where are you?” Looks like the lecture would be off for today... Shucks...

[David Meeks]

David listened, nodded, realized she couldn't see him and cursed himself. He might could keep most of the pack from going after Mia but Josh wasn't going to sit back and wait. He gave her directions to where they were, not far from the safe house.
"Her boyfriend is one of my alpha wolves... I can't be sure he'll listen to me and wait." David paused and took a deep breath. "In fact, he'd let Norman torture him if it would get her out."

[blackbetty]

Mel wrote the directions down on a small notebook she pulled from her pocket, she didn't carry a purse.

When she heard about Josh she sighed softly and rubbed her forehead. She wouldn't blame him. Any shapeshifter in the situation would probably be crazy with rage. Herself included. "There's always gotta be a wild card." She whispered partly under her breath.

"Try ta hold him off if ye can, not sayin' you'll be able to, but try... I'm serious about Norman. He may be a sick motherfucker, but more than that he's smart. Devious. He'll anticipate an attack, fact he prob'ly counts on one. I'd really hate ta see him end up with two victims to torture instead o' the one."

She cradled her phone between her ear and shoulder as she moved her hand to turn the key in the ignition and she slowly backed out of the parking lot and onto the road. "I can converge on ya in twenty... You're in the woods just outside the house, aye?... I'll find ya."

With no more adieu she hung up the phone, only to dial another number. She had a few calls to make before she got to the pack house. One to her coordinator to apologize for canceling the lecture for today, and another to the police station, to inform other members of RPIT what was going on, that she was starting an official investigation. Hayden would probably want to meet up to help, Mel just hoped she could get the "hairy" part of introductions with David and Co. out of the way first.

Most organized packs appreciated the need for secrecy and would keep a Were's status in confidance if they so wished. She hoped the Dallas Star pack would do the same.