The Dark Thing

Travis folded his phone and pocketed it, the police had just left with the bag of bloody clothes something dark threatened to take him and he shook it off turning to Kyle he said, "Jimmy’s found where Sweeny’s been staying."

Kyle nodded and followed Travis down to the big farm garage. Travis backed out his Harley and Kyle settled on the seat behind him. Kyle kidded him about the weight on the bike but Travis was not talking. Soon they reached the herder’s hut and Jimmy stood up walking over to meet them.

"I didn’t go any further after I saw the cigars," Jimmy said glancing at Travis.

Travis walked around the doorway and poked his head in the hut he took in the trash and empty liquor bottle on the floor.

"Whatcha reckon Travis?" Jimmy asked tilting his hat back.

"I see he’s been here," he said and looked down at the tracks his eyes following them down the hillside. He looked over the tree tops and saw the roof of the squatters cabin something tightened in his chest. He walked away from the hut down the hillside toward the stream.

"Travis, hold up a minute," Kyle said starting out behind him.

"Just…give me some fucking space…okay mate?"

Jimmy looked over at Kyle and suppressed a grin, Kyle was damn serious about Travis. He didn’t envy him his job. He noticed the bulge under Kyle’s tee shirt and narrowed his eyes, the man was packing. Kyle stepped back, his eyes scanning. Jimmy looked around too after all there was a murderer out there somewhere.

Travis followed the tracks down to the stream and sat down removing his hat and running his hand through his hair. The dark thing hovered around him threatening to settle, he stared into the water trickling over the rocks…he’d had a bad feeling about Sweeny from the first time he met him, something about him…but he’d allowed him to come out here…stay in his house…ate dinner at his table with his mother and father…bloody clothes…dead girl…he’d brought him here.

Travis closed his eyes and took deep breaths letting them out slowly. He sat quietly for a moment and dipped his hands in the stream splashing water onto his face. He wiped his face with his hands set his hat and got up slowly walking back up to where Kyle and Jimmy waited.