Run Run as Fast as You Can by Willow Rose Page B

animal are we talking about? Do they even know at this point?" I asked.
    Officer Morten leaned over and swallowed before he spoke. "That's the strange thing. It seems it’s bats. Bites from a bat all over her arm and back."
    I almost spurted out my coffee. "Bats?" I asked, thinking about Victor who had been awake the other night because he claimed to have heard bats screaming.
    "Yes, bats."
    "But they eat insects, don't they?"
    "Well yes, but apparently there are different kinds of bats. This type is called the vampire bat because it feeds on blood from mammals. They bite down through the skin and drink the blood that runs from the wound."
    I suddenly lost my appetite and put the bun down. "Are you kidding me? Like real vampires?"
    "That's where the myth started, I guess. Anyway, as you might understand, we are looking for anyone who might have bats as pets."
    "Hm," I said.
    "What?"
    "Well my son Victor was awake the other night. He told me he had heard bats screaming. Maybe you're looking for someone not so far away from here?"
    Officer Morten ate and nodded. "That sounds like something we might have to look into."
    I nodded, thinking it freaked me out a little to think that this bat-loving killer could be anywhere close to us. But wouldn't we have heard the shots if he was anywhere close? I shook my head. "But again, it's Victor. It might have been a very vivid dream or one of his strange visions. As I've told you before, sometimes he sees and hears things the rest of us don't. Do you have any idea why the killer chose this girl?"
    "No. It might be random. We believe she was taken at the parking lot where we found the car and the child. Tim told us she had felt like she had been watched for a couple of days before she disappeared, so the killer might have observed her for some time before taking her. There is a team from Copenhagen who has joined us in the investigation. They will be going over Simone's whereabouts for the past few days to see if the killer shows up on any surveillance cameras or if anyone has seen him."
    "Sounds like the killer planned this," I said, finishing my bun after all. I sipped my coffee and looked at officer Morten. He looked exhausted. He wasn't the most handsome man, but there was something about him I really liked: A gentleness, a sweetness. And he was so simple. Divorced with a teenage daughter. That was all. We had grown very close on our trips to Eastern Europe together the past many months and I truly enjoyed his company. We never got around to having the date we discussed, there simply hadn't been time for it.
    "But there is more," Officer Morten said.
    "I had a feeling there would be," I said and finished my cup. I offered him more, but he refused.
    "Have to get back soon," he said. Then he exhaled. "There has been another disappearance on the island."
    I looked at him. "What?"
    "We don't know if it is related, but this morning we were contacted by Nordby VVS, you know the plumbing company. They told us one of their young plumbers had vanished. They had sent him on the road to a couple of assignments yesterday but he never showed up. The truck was found parked downtown at a parking place behind the old movie theater, but there was no sign of the plumber. We have no idea if it is related; he might have just gone on a bender. He was known to be a drunk, but we have to treat it as though it is related."
    "Of course you do."
    Officer Morten got up from his chair with a sigh. "Well I'd better get going. I have to finish my report before I can finally go home and have a few hours of sleep."
    I escorted him out. I opened the door and held it for him while he put on his jacket. He was about to walk out, when he suddenly hesitated. I looked at him. He looked up and our eyes locked for a few seconds. Then he leaned forward and grabbed me in his arms and hugged me. I was taken completely by surprise by this gesture, but enjoyed it. He held me tight for a few seconds more, then whispered in my ear,