“Do you know anyone who says they saw anything?” Jack asked. “You know, you’re a sharp guy, maybe you overheard people talking, or someone told you something?”
The man glanced around nervously and shook his head. “Nope.”
Jack stood straighter. He was sure that Murray knew more than he was letting on. Despite the odor, he moved closer. “You can tell me,” Jack said. “Somebody else saw something. It’s worth another buck.”
Murray cast a nervous glance over at Chandler. Jack held his hand low and motioned for Chandler to move back. Chandler huffed but he walked a few feet away.
Murray held out his hand and waited until Jack gave him the dollar. Then, like a kid sharing a secret, Murray leaned in close, his eyes darting around. He put his face next to Jack’s and whispered, “Lonny said Vlad was really mad. He thinks Vlad saw something.”
“Vlad?” Jack kept his voice down.
“Yeah, Vlad. He’s scary. Lonny said he got even scarier.”
“Who’s Lonny?”
“My friend. He’s at the shelter tonight.”
“Does Lonny know that Vlad saw something?”
Murray shrugged. “That’s all Lonny said. He said, ‘I think Vlad saw the guy.’”
“Where do we find Vlad?”
Murray’s eyes bulged. “Don’t talk to Vlad! No one does. Only Lonny, but even he…” He backed away. “Don’t say I said nothin’!”
Jack held up his hand. “I won’t say anything.”
“You can’t. Snitches get stitches. I didn’t tell you nothin’.”
“You didn’t say a word.” Jack slowly shook his head.
Murray exhaled. “I don’t want Vlad mad at me.”
“I won’t say anything,” Jack assured him. “Can you just tell me what Vlad looks like?”
Murray shook his head. His whole body trembled. He stepped back again.
“I need to know what he looks like,” said Jack, “so… I can avoid him.”
“Oh.” Murray seemed to relax. “Why didn’t you say so? He’s my size but he has big shoulders.” Murray held his hands out wide. “He wears an old camouflage jacket. He’s Spanish or some kind of Native American. Long black hair. Real long, like down to the middle of his back. But don’t say I said nothin’.” Murray’s eyes scanned the darkness.
“I won’t. Where does Vlad normally hang out? So I don’t go there accidentally,” Jack added quickly.
“Do you know the old maintenance building on the east side?”
“With a big chain-link fence around it?”
“That’s the one. It’s all closed up. Vlad’s around there at night.”
“What about during the day?”
Murray’s voice rose. “Vlad only comes out at night. That’s why we call him Vlad.”
Chandler walked over. “Are you saying Vlad? Like Vlad the Impaler? Like Dracula the vampire type Vlad?”
Murray nodded nervously. “Be sure you stay away from him. Everyone does.”
“We will,” Jack said. “Thanks.”
Murray clutched his bags to his chest and sat down on his bench.
Jack handed Chandler the flashlight. “Come on.” He hurried off to the east.
“The car’s back that way,” Chandler said, jogging to catch up.
“I know,” Jack said. “I want to make one more quick stop before we head back.”
Chandler stopped abruptly. “Don’t even say it. You’re out of your mind if you think I’m hunting Dracula with you.”
18
Dracula
“I’m out of my mind for letting you talk me into coming here,” Chandler muttered.
They watched the old maintenance building silhouetted against the night sky. The one-story brick building had seen better days; the roof sagged and weeds grew everywhere. It was surrounded by a rusted chain-link fence. The gate was closed with a chain wrapped around a thick metal pole.
Jack counted as he inhaled. “One. Two. Three. Four.” He counted again as he exhaled.
“What are you doing?” Chandler asked.
“Breath control. Navy SEALs do it before a mission. It calms them down.”
“What—are you freaked out?”
“Kinda.” Jack pulled the gate open as far as the chain would allow. The creaking metal sounded loud in the stillness of the night. Undeterred, he started to squeeze through.
“Hold on there, Captain Crazy.” Chandler’s hand formed a vise-grip on Jack’s arm. “I’m nervous enough being in Hamilton Park at night and talking to scary homeless people. There’s no way I’m going into a building straight out of a horror movie to try to find a guy they call Vlad.”