Fire at Dusk: Part 39 (Finale)

During the two days following the monster's attack, a torrent of grief and gossip flooded the the small town, fed by the steady stream of federal agents who came to investigate. Before Deputy Smith had even gotten a chance to call out to the state authorities, a pair of agents arrived in the town to investigate the flash of bright light that had emanated from the woods. The pair of agents, upon hearing the deputy's story, called in backup.

Shirley Sue sat in a rolling chair in a conference room in the town hall. It was the fourth time she had been interviewed over the last two days. She looked up at the wall in front of her. In between two windows sat an analog clock with arms pointing to 3:15. She had been out of the interrogation room for the last twenty minutes or so.

After a couple of minutes, she heard a door open and the clack of shoes against tile. She glanced out the conference room's open door and saw a federal agent walk by the door. He nodded at her and she waved back. She promptly looked away and shuddered upon seeing the zipped up body bag being carted in on a stretcher which he pulled behind himself. She watched the clock as five more uneventful minutes passed. She felt a slight buzz in her head as the warm room invited her to shut her eyes. She fought against the sensation, but her eyelids drew closed on their own accord.

She started awake at the sound of a door squeaking shut. Disoriented, she looked around and realized she was still in the town hall. She glanced at the clock, which now read 3:47. The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. She stood up and peered through the door. She saw a couple of agents, Deputy Smith, and Buck walking down the hall toward her. They crowded into the conference room.

“I know it's been hard, but we appreciate your cooperation with this investigation,” said the agent with the nametag that read Holder. “We've reported everything you've told us so far to the higher ups, and they have thoroughly analyzed the data. They believe what you encountered was a mountain lion. Should you be inclined to discuss this matter with anyone, that is the answer which you will give. We should have the disclosure statements ready for you to sign later today. We'll drop them by your houses. You can bring them back here sometime tomorrow.”

The agents turned around and walked through the door. Agent Holder paused and turned to face them, “Got it,” he said into a microphone clipped to his chest. “Smith, it looks like they found the body of Bradford. Guess that makes you the sheriff now. Congratulations, although I wish it were under better circumstances.” With that the agent turned back around and disappeared through the doorway.

The trio found Jessie and Roger waiting on a bench outside of the building. The party headed to Smitty's, the local diner which was down the road from the town hall. They spent the next five or six hours sharing fond memories of their friends and decompressing from that fateful night. There were tears and laughter, and for a moment here or there they felt some semblance of normalcy.

Some time, long after the sun had set they stood around the diner and said their goodbyes to each other.

“Can I walk you home?” Buck asked Shirley Sue.

“That would be nice,” she said, smiling at him.

Buck took a hold of her hand and the pair walked away together into the night. After the fifteen minute long walk, the duo arrived at her house. Shirley Sue turned to face Buck, her fingers intertwined with his.

“Thank you for walking me back. It was really sweet,” she said.

“You're welcome,” he replied.

The pair stood silently for a moment, looking each other in the eyes.

“Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then,” said Buck.

He drew her in close and hugged her. He smiled as he looked down at her. She had never realized before how much taller he was then her. Her heart fluttered as she became lost his eyes. His head tilted toward her and she closed her eyes. She felt the warm, electric buzz of his lips on hers. She opened her eyes and they smiled at each other.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” she said. She turned the cool doorknob and walked into her home. She closed the door and looked out the window and watched as Buck waved at her before disappearing into the night.