As the detectives drove away, Lukasky turned to his partner and asked, "Do you really think this peanut brittle is a viable lead?"
"You're guess is as good as mine," admitted Detective Denny Miles as he drove back into Moon Lake proper. "Yet we both read the case files. There's no record of Alice Decrux sending gifts to any of her other victims."
"So either the others forgot or Harold Jenkins is the first," realized Lukasky.
"Either way, it won't hurt to follow up on this possibility. Besides, we can always come back later and canvas the neighbors," pointed out Miles. "But there's one thing you better do right now."
"What?"
"Get on the radio and request a protection detail for Melissa Jenkins. I know we're spread kind of thin right now with the wedding Saturday*, but considering she's still a normal and Decrux seems like the type to hold a grudge, better safe than sorry."
BACK AT THE JENKINS HOUSE...
"I'm sorry Mister Jenkins," began the voice on the other end of the telephone, "while Dean Myers does plan to come in today, he called and left a message saying he would be late. We're not expecting him here before 11 at the earliest."
The poor guy probably needs at least a nap. No telling how long he was stuck in jail overnight, realized Harold, still sitting in his living room in his new fursona. "I understand. But would you please tell him I called and have a lot of questions that only he can answer in regards to my new status."
"And what is that?" asked the Moon Lake College secretary.
"Are you a...."
"Werelioness," the woman said proudly.
"Well, I just became a weretiger yesterday afternoon and..."
"Oh. Congratulations, and I understand," she replied, not knowing all the details concerning Harold Jenkins joining were society. "I'll be sure to tell him, but I can't guarantee when he'll be calling you back."
"Okay," said Harold, before ending the call. Well, since I can't see Virginia and I can't go outside like this, he realized, looking at his paws, maybe I can get some work done on my course syllabus.
MEANWHILE, at Moon Lake High School...
"So that's the story," said Melissa Jenkins. "Virginia McCoy is facing possible charges for violating Statute 1A**. Decrux might escape justice once more if the police don't find any evidence otherwise, and since my dad's now the family were, I'm no longer under any pressure to become one myself."
"So, what does this mean for us?" asked Trevor Tyson, a werebull who was... highly interested in Melissa.
Melissa moved over to lean against the taller teenager and said, "It means, as my father and my dreams have both suggested, we can take our time and go on a few dates first before..."
"Oh. I'd like that," said Trevor with a smile, looking deep into Melissa's green eyes.
"It's a shame," began Megumi Tachibana. "I have McCoy for history. She's a good teacher."
"Yeah. I remember one time I went into Decrux's candy store to get something for my mother's birthday, and Decrux kept looking at me like I was on the menu instead of the candy," recalled Rob.
Just then the warning bell sounded that students had 10 minutes to get to their first period class to start the school day.
"We can talk about where to go on our first date on the way," suggested Melissa, as she grabbed Trevor's hand and started leading him into the school.
"You coming?" asked Alice, as she started to join the others to head to class.
"In a minute," said Megumi, as she reached into her purse for her cellphone.
A couple of moments later, Megumi said, "Grandmother, I am sorry to disturb you at work, but there is something I feel you must be aware of."
"Oh?" asked Tachibana no Akane on the other end of the conversation.
"I fear that we might have another rogue were about to strike and if I'm right, my friend Melissa Jenkins will become a wereraccoon against her will."
____________________________________________________________________________
*For those who came in late, three threads (Moon Lake-Andersons, Moon Lake-Tad, and this one) are within the same setting and basically share the same continuity.
However, it is the morning of Thursday October 29, 2015 here. Tad is currently experiencing that night, while Andersons is between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with the big Jenny Harper/Harry Jenkins (no relation to the Jenkins here) wedding scheduled for Halloween morning, provided villain Dieter Wilhelm and Jenny's family don't ruin the big moment or discover Moon Lake's secrets and expose weres to the world at large.
**The crime of turning a normal into a were against their will.—tmw.