There was no answer, and they moved carefully forward as one. The room was a shambles. The tall metal table that had stood against one wall was overturned, and the floor was littered with paper and boxes and pieces of broken furniture. The body of a rat lay on the front counter, its head gone, chewed off. Next to it, large bones, probably from a dog, had been arranged in precise geometric patterns. The entire countertop was covered with dried blood.

Doug stepped slowly around the counter. The post office seemed empty, felt dead, but he was nervous nonetheless. He tiptoed toward the open door that led to the back room.

From inside the room came a long low sigh.

And a frightened whimper.

Doug stopped in his tracks, heart pounding. Looking behind him, he saw fear on the faces of both the old and young policemen. All of them had heard the noise, and none of them knew what to make of it. Only Mike seemed unaffected. He pushed roughly past Doug, preparing to lead the assault into the rear of the post office, but Doug held him back. He was scared, but he was not about to let Mike do what he knew was his responsibility. “No,” he said.

The policeman looked at him.

“I want to go alone.”

Mike shook his head, pulling out his revolver, snapping off the safety. “It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s not dangerous. Not anymore.” He looked into the policeman’s troubled eyes. “This is between me and him.”

Mike was silent for a moment, his gaze searching, then he nodded, something like agreement or understanding entering his expression. “All right,” he said. “But take this.” He handed Doug the gun. “You know how to use it?”

Doug shook his head. “Not really. But it doesn’t matter. It won’t work on him anyway. You know that.”

“Take it just in case.”

The whimper came again. It sounded like someone in pain.

“That’s it—” Mike began, moving forward.

“No,” Doug said, grabbing his arm, pulling him back. “I’m going in alone.” The policeman stopped, stared at him, but did not move away. Doug held his gaze, hefted the revolver in his hand. “I’ll be okay.”

Mike nodded slowly. “Okay,” he said finally. “But we’ll be right here if you need us.” The policeman’s words were reassuring, his tone anything but. “If I hear anything weird, I’m going in.”

“Got it.”

Doug stepped into the back room.

Into the lair of the mailman.