“He died about fifteen minutes ago. Might have made it long enough to call his family if these two shits hadn’t harassed him,” said Doc. He scowled at the two paramedics.
“Hey man, we were just doing our job,” said Dave.
“No, you were interfering with a man’s right to die peacefully,” said Sam. Now get out of my place!”
The two paramedics grabbed the last of their gear and headed for the door. Matt turned around. “What about Betty Jane?” he asked.
“I’ve already called her. She’ll bring the morgue wagon and we’ll deal with him,” said Doc.
Matt nodded and walked out.
“I still need to see the body,” said the Sheriff.
“Come on in,” said Sam. She wasn’t happy and felt no problem in letting everyone know it.
Sheriff Dobbs walked over to the bed. He pulled down just enough of the sheet to see Brian’s face and then let the sheet fall. “Sure hairy enough. Musta been a shave twice a day kinda guy,” was all he said. He tipped his hat to Sam and Doc. “My condolences.”
The Sheriff left the room and soon it was just Sam and Doc. Sam looked around. “How long till Betty Jane gets here?” she asked.
Probably two hours. She’s gotta put on that fright face she calls makeup and then wake up Teddy to drive the hearse. Why?” he asked.
“I’ve got a phone call to make,” said Sam.
“Can’t it wait? It’s 3am,” said Doc.
“No, not with those two idjets spreading rumors and such. Plus, maybe they know a place to take Brian so there aren’t no photos or autopsies,” said Sam.
“Then what you waiting for?” asked Doc.
Sam went and got the phone and brought it back to her room. She dialed Ginny and Patrick’s number.
*
Patrick heard the phone and tried to ignore it. Ginny woke up and got the phone. “Better be important if you’re calling at 3:05am!” she thought. “Hello? Oh Sam!” she said.
Patrick woke and sat straight up when she heard Ginny say Sam. He listened as Ginny talked. He nodded and went to get his own cell phone. He took it out to the living room and called Dr. Jeff. He explained what he’d heard from Ginny and then rang off. When he got to the bedroom, he found Ginny crying. Patrick took her in his arms and just held her. He knew he’d get the whole story when she stopped crying.
Dr. Jeff called a friend of his who ran a family mortuary less than ten miles from the B&B. He arranged for them to pick up Brian from the B&B. Then he called Doc Rogers and let them know what was going on. Then he went back to sleep.
“So, she got him back in bed, and he told her that he loved her. That she reminded him of his daughter. Then he died,” said Ginny still crying. By this time, Patrick, George, Angie and Ginny were sitting in the kitchen. “Oh, and he said we were to have all of his stuff.”
Angie wrapped her arms around Ginny and the two of them cried. Patrick motioned to George. The two men walked over to the far side of the kitchen.
“Are you thinking there is going to be trouble?” asked George.
“Depends if those two paramedics decide to make trouble,” said Patrick. “We just need to be ready. It’s happened before, and with all the books out about shifters and vampires, who knows what will happen.”
“Yeah. My Gran said there was a horrid time when she was a child. Whole families moved in the middle of the night just so that people would leave them alone,” said George.
“Well, I just hope no one gets any pictures,” said Patrick. “From what Ginny said, he partially shifted to protect Sam.”
“Shit,” was all that George said.
*
Doc found Sam in the kitchen of the B&B. She had locked the room where Brian was and had come to make coffee. “Sam, Dr. Jeff sent a funeral home that deals with good people,” he said not wanting to be overheard saying the word ‘shifter’ as the paramedics were running their mouths about wolfmen and werewolves.
“When will they be here? Betty Jane is due any time.
“They called and said they’d be here in about five minutes,” said Doc.
“Good. Patrick and Ginny will be up in the morning. Said they were coming up with friends,” said Sam.
“Okay. Here’s hoping that Matt and Dave don’t turn this into a circus,” said Doc.
“They better not. Else, I’ll let Patrick eat them,” said Sam.
Doc nodded in agreement.
*
“Sam!” called Betty Jane. She was looking around the lobby and didn’t see anyone. “Sam?”
“Back here dear!” called Sam. She had just taken the coffee cups back to the kitchen. She walked up to Betty Jane and then they headed to Sam’s bedroom.
Doc was sitting in front of the bedroom door. The two men, Donald and James, from the funeral home were there too.
“Howdy Doc,” said Betty Jane. She nodded towards the two morticians. “Shall we get this show on the road?”
Doc stood up and unlocked the door. They all walked into the room and Betty Jane did what was required under the law. “What time did he pass?” she asked.
“About 3am,” said Sam.
“Okay,” she said and walked over to the table to fill out the death certificate. “I take it you’ll hold on to this?” she asked Sam.
“Yeah, at least until we go through his papers and see if there is any next of kin,” said Sam. “You two ready to take care of him?” she asked the morticians.
“Yes ma’am,” said Donald, the taller of the two.
“Then get going. It’s been a long night for all of us,” said Betty Jane. “I’ll send Steve over to steam clean the mattress if you want or haul it off.”
“Thanks Betty Jane. I’ll walk you to the door,” said Sam.
“Good. You can tell me why those two idiots were talking about werewolves,” said Betty Jane as they walked towards the front door.