2 Sean Hayden

by Hayden, Sean

  "Agents?" The man made our titles a question as we stepped from the vehicle. "If you would, please follow me into the residence."

  "Absolutely," Thompson replied and followed the youngish blond officer toward the door. I followed at a distance and glanced around. The lawn and the flowers were perfectly manicured and gave the impression of a park. I sniffed and abruptly held my breath against the plethora of pollens and scents in the night air. No breeze stirred so it lay thick over the area and reminded me of a cheap smelling perfume.

  I caught up to the other two as they reached the door. The officer opened it and motioned us to go in ahead of him. We did and on the other side of the door a beautiful woman in a grey wool skirt and jacket greeted us. Her hair was pulled up in a professional looking style and ringlets lay on the side of her face by her ears.

  "Hello. I'm Samantha Barnes, the governor's personal assistant. If you would please follow me, the governor is expecting you," she said and turned, expecting us to follow her.

  "If I may ask, Miss Barnes, how did the governor know we would be here this evening?" I couldn't help but ask.

  "Your Deputy Director called about an hour ago confirming your meeting with Governor Greer," she replied over her shoulder while we made our way over the marble floor and to the stairway. Pristine white wooden banners and marble stairs reminded me of the house in The Sound of Music. I refrained from singing. Once at the top of the winding flight, she led us down the hallway to the residential area of the mansion. She stopped in front of the first door on our left and knocked.

  "Come in, Samantha," someone called from the other side of the heavy door.

  She turned the handle and ushered Thompson and me into the room. As we crossed the threshold we stepped back in time. The décor from the wallpaper festooning the walls, the glittering wall sconces, and the ornate wood paneling from the chair rail down to the floor impressed upon the senses that you stood in a parlor somewhere in the late eighteen hundreds. I wondered briefly if the room had always been decorated this way, or if the governor decorated to his tastes. My trips to governor's mansions were been somewhat limited, so I don't know how it works.

  "Good evening, both of you, and welcome to my humble home," the governor said from a leather chair facing the fireplace. I just loved it when vampires said catchy cliché things like, "Good evening."

  Thank you, Mr. Lugosi.

  "Good evening, Governor Greer, I'm Special Agent Thomson and this is Agent Ashlyn. I assume the Deputy Director filled you in on why we're here?"

  He rose and turned to us with a smile, setting down his newspaper on the ornate wooden table at his side. We both took a step toward him, but he closed the distance before we completed it. I guess no one filled in the governor on vampire etiquette. He stood about a foot shorter than Thompson, so I guessed him to be around six feet, still almost a foot taller than me. He'd been older when whoever turned him made him a vampire. Light grey streaks jutted out from the edge of his temples giving him an almost mad scientist look. If he hadn't been so damn handsome I might have giggled a little.

  He reached out and took Thompson's hand without an offer and shook it firmly saying, "Pleased to meet you," before turning to me. I held my hand out for a handshake, but he took it and pulled it to his lips, planting a small kiss on my middle knuckle. He froze at the icy touch of my skin on his lips and I saw his eyes go a little wide. Apparently, Sanders left some information out of his little phone call.

  "A vampire?" At least he managed to pull his lips from my hand before asking.

  "Yes," I answered and caught his scent, carefully avoiding direct eye contact. I knew from past experiences when I got close enough to another vampire I could gaze into his eyes and see his power. If I was stronger I could easily capture his mind and make him obey me. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing, so I tended to keep my gaze firmly planted on the eyebrows of vampires I wasn't trying to interrogate. He smelled of cinnamon and vanilla and I wanted a taste, a big taste. I may not be able to eat normal humans, but vampires were definitely on the menu.

  "Oh, how a vampire ended up in the employ of the FBI is simply a tale you must tell." He motioned for us to sit in the remaining chairs gathered around the massive stone fireplace.

  "Another time perhaps," Thompson interjected, but took a seat anyway. "Instead, could you please tell us what's been happening?" I stifled a giggle. The concept of being polite didn't sit well with Thompson.

  "Where to begin," Greer said to himself. "They elected me in November, but the two recounts the incumbent demanded took almost a month, and that's when I received the first death threat. I laughed it off, but I knew even then whoever sent the letter meant business."

  "Do you still have the letter?" I doubted it, but I wanted to make sure.

  "No, I turned it over to the police and their forensic team looked at it. They came up with nothing, not even a fingerprint. Let's see, after that the former governor filed an injunction and the California courts agreed to it without batting an eyelash. I think all of the politicians in the entire state took my running for governor and my subsequent election as some sort of novelty at first, and then a joke; finally, they started to panic when I won. The death threats became more frequent and not from the same people. Many were clipped from magazines and I even received a few written in crayon." He spoke almost like it was a fond memory.

  "Tell us about the attack," I told him, curious as to how someone would try to kill a vampire.

  "It happened two weeks ago, while I sat waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court. The State of California assigned me an executive services detail of state police officers since I had officially won the election. We were in San Francisco at a fundraiser for a local homeless shelter. Our limousine had been swept for explosive devices and pronounced clean and yet when the event ended and I climbed inside, it exploded."

  The smile on Governor Greer's face vanished. Apparently, he didn't like being caught in explosions. I can't say I blamed him, being blown up would piss me off, too. I looked at the governor closely and didn't see any damage remaining. It surprised me. Not a lot of things could kill a vampire, but explosions and fire made the list.

  "How did you survive?" He gave me a penetrating stare I once again avoided by staring at his well-manicured eyebrows.

  "I am very, very old, child. I'm very hard to kill. I've never shared my true age so I don't think the people who planted the bomb could have known it wouldn't be very effective. Let me rephrase that. I don't think they realized it wouldn't be very effective against me. It killed three state troopers and the limousine driver quite effectively." He gave a little sigh of sadness.

  "How old are you, Governor Greer?" I didn't know if my question would offend him, but curiosity got the better of me.

  "The incumbent governor used the fact that I might have a master and not be 'able to set the goals and prerogatives of the State of California above that of a vampire who might control me'. It seemed to be a major issue the Supreme Court had against me governing. I needed to produce proof of my age and prove that I had no master to them. So to answer your question, child I am very, very old," he said and smiled at me. "What about you Ashlyn. Who is your master and why did he allow you to join the ranks of the FBI?"

  "I have no master, Governor. I was free after my making to choose my own path," I lied.

  "We both know, Agent Ashlyn, that's not how it works. I don't mind you not telling me, in fact I would expect it, but please don't lie to me," he said without anger. "Again, it can be a discussion for a later time. My question for the both of you is what do we do now?"

  "Do you have any public appearances scheduled soon?" Thompson pulled a pad out of his jacket to write the information down.

  "I am governor of the State of California, Agent Thompson. You were lucky to catch me at home tonight."

  Chapter 3

  Thompson drove the limo while I rode in the back of it with the governor. I shifted in my seat, quite uncomfortable under the
gaze of the old vampire sitting across from me. It wasn't the upholstered leather of the seat that made me uncomfortable, Greer's penetrating stare did. I could tell he wanted to ask me a million questions and didn't know where to start. I glanced over at the mini-bar in the wall of the vehicle and wished I could have a drink. I knew last night, after we left the Governor's Mansion, I would be in this situation eventually. I just didn't know it would be so soon.

  "How about those Dodgers?" I tried to break the ice. I probably should have picked a different topic of discussion than baseball, but frankly I couldn't think of anything else to divert his interest in me.

  "Baseball season doesn't start for another few weeks, Ashlyn," he said deadpan. "Would you care to discuss something else?"

  "Um, how did you prove to the Supreme Court that you don't have a master?" I shocked myself with my own cleverness. Go me.

  "The Vampire Council congregated before them and proved it without a shadow of a doubt. Who is your master?" I expected at least a brief pause before we got back onto the subject of me. Apparently, we were playing tit for tat.

  "Marcel Sylvain," popped out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Thompson never put the glass divider up between the front and back and I saw his head snap backward and he gave me a wide-eyed look.

  "That son of a bitch finally broke down and made an offspring. It's about time!" Greer laughed and seemed genuinely happy. I needed to make a phone call. I just hoped Marc would forgive me. "Does it bother him that you're working for the FBI?"

  "No, from the start he encouraged me to be my own vampire."

  "I wish you'd told me last night. I need to call him to congratulate him," he said as I tried not to slink down between the seat cushions.

  "We're here," Thompson called through the divider. Thank the gods.

  I glanced out the window at The Citizen Hotel. The governor planned on giving a dinner to thank all of his supporters. We tried to talk him out of it, but to say a vampire could be stubborn seemed to be a bit of an understatement. The state police swept the building as well as the FBI, but for some reason I didn't think the people who wanted to see him dead would try a bomb again. The last one hadn't worked so well and the outrage people felt at somebody trying to blow up the governor flocked even more supporters to his side.

  Thompson pulled the limo over to the curb in front of the entrance to the hotel. Again we tried to convince Greer to use a back entrance, but we got the standard "I will not give in to these terrorists" speech. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, Greer opened the door and stepped out. A red carpet complete with matching felted ropes to keep the members of the press from rushing the limo had been set up, as well as the customary allotment of police officers to make sure the little fuzzy ropes did their jobs. I expected Greer to wait for me, not reach his hand into the limo and help me exit like I had the honor of being his arm candy for the evening. The press would be sorely disappointment at my wardrobe choice for the evening. My grey pantsuit and jacket looked more severe than the governor's and weren't flashy at all.

  I couldn't have been more wrong. As soon as I stepped out of the vehicle, the camera flashes started. I figured once they saw my outfit they would let out a groan and go, "Who's she?" They didn't. In fact, they recognized me from the start. They hurled questions at the governor one after another, and I hoped he would set the record straight, but he just smiled, held my hand elegantly, and walked down the carpet smiling. A wise man once said, "Any publicity is good publicity." I think the governor held the same opinion.

  By the time we reached the front of the building and a uniformed officer opened the door, I thought if I heard one more person yell the word "Verminator" it would be a bloodbath. Images of shredded reporters filled my head and I won't lie, I started to get a little hungry.

  "Verminator?" Greer apparently hadn't heard the press' nickname for me.

  "Later," I replied. I really didn't want the man I'd been assigned to protect pissed off at me. It would make my job that much harder.

  We wound our way through the hotel lobby and I pulled my hand from Greer's grasp. He seemed to know where we were going, so I let him lead the way, keeping my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. The hotel staff was busy wheeling in carts of what smelled like appetizers and beverages. The tempting scents only added to my hunger. Why did human food have to smell so damn good? I looked at the vampire at my side and felt a little jealous. He, at some point in his life, had actually tasted food. At least he knew what he was missing. On the other hand, maybe I did have it easier. I tried to remember the old axiom about loving and losing, but I couldn't quite recall it. I let it go and focused on my surroundings instead.

  We entered the ballroom and Greer immediately made his way to where we would be sitting. We'd arrived over an hour early, so no guests were seated at the multitude of round tables set up throughout the gigantic room. I didn't have any idea how many people supported the governor, but I'd be surprised if he filled the massive room.

  I stood by his side, constantly watching while a sea of coordinators bombarded him with a never-ending stream of last minute questions. He took it all in stride and I found myself amazed with the ease he handled the situation. I paused a moment to consider how many occupations Greer might have had before he became governor. I made a mental note to ask him about it later, along with the other question that had been nagging me. Why would a vampire want to be governor?

  Time passed quickly and the guests started entering the room, introducing themselves before finding their seats. The man had charisma, I'd give him that. Most of the time he knew the guests before they introduced themselves and he greeted them by name. I watched their faces flush with pride when he did it. No wonder the man found himself elected. What a schmoozer.

  The last guests trickled in and Greer took his seat. I made my way to the top of the stage and stood against the wall behind him. I found a tickling sensation at the base of my skull urging me forward and planting the desire to sit next to the governor. I shook my head from side to side and that helped a little. Greer turned and gave me a wide-eyed look, like something surprised him. He stood up and walked over to me.

  "What are you doing?" He looked confused.

  "I'm sorry, what do you mean?" I tried not to look even more confused than he did.

  "I wanted you to sit by my side so my guests wouldn't worry about their safety. A few of them picked up on who you are and it made them nervous. I could feel their fear. I wanted them to think you came here as my guest and not an agent of the FBI."

  I had a nagging feeling I knew exactly where the tingling sensation in my head had come from and I wasn't happy. "Governor Greer, I am an on duty agent of the FBI, I am not your date," I said through my teeth.

  "You misunderstand me, Ashlyn. I'm just trying to make you less conspicuous," he told me with a smile. I looked across the room at Thomson and he stood watching us. I didn't know if he could hear our conversation, but he nodded and scanned the room with his supernatural eyes. Fine, I could do it too, from a chair.

  I nodded and Greer smiled, motioning me to take the empty seat by his side. If I ended up in the newspapers tomorrow as "The governor's new girl" I'd eat him for breakfast, literally. I sighed and sat. I almost laughed when I saw the fine china setting in front of us. I expected him to sit, but he made his way to the podium set up on the middle of the head table. I didn't recognize anyone at the table with us, but my knowledge of politics involved being able to pick the President of the United States out of a group of people. I knew even less about politics than I did about baseball.

  As soon as Greer took his position behind the wooden pulpit, a man standing by the entrance shouted, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the governor of the great state of California." He impressed me. His voice carried over the noise of the crowd without a microphone and echoed off the walls of the room.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen," Greer began. "Thank you for joining me. This evening is my way of saying thank you to all of my great
est supporters. I plan on taking our great state and healing it, but more so, I plan on ushering in an era of mutual understanding and friendship between the supernatural communities of our state and the communities of my new friends and supporters. I plan on making stricter laws protecting all peoples and meting out harsher punishments for those who think crime is an easier way to make a better life instead of good old-fashioned hard work. So please, my friends, enjoy the bounty before you, and then let us mingle and make merry." He smiled and raised his arms to the people gathered before him. The wait staff must have been waiting for his cue to start bringing out the delicious appetizers we'd smelled on the way in.

  The people seated at the tables rose one by one and applauded the governor's short speech before turning to the company of their own tables. Utensils scraping on dishes, glasses being clinked together, and the cacophony of conversation filled the room, almost hurting my sensitive ears. Greer returned to his seat next to me and sat down effortlessly. Various members seated at the head table walked up to us and congratulated him on his victory once again before resuming their seats and beginning their dinner.

  "So how is Marcel these days? Is he still in Chicago amassing a fortune with his chic clubs?"

  "Yes, sir. I saw him about two weeks ago. Next time I'm in the area I'll give him your best," I told him. I glanced over at Thompson at his post by the entrance and saw him give me a little scowl. I guess he hadn't heard our conversation earlier. "I'll be right back, Governor; I need to talk to Thompson for a moment."

  I made my way through the sea of tables and ignored the curious people casting inquisitive glances my way and walked up to my mountain of a partner.

  "Enjoying yourself, kid?"

  "No, I'm not. Greer insisted I sit with him as his guest. I guess a lot of people are worried about why the "Verminator" was here, so he wanted them to think everything was okay. You see anything suspicious?"

  "No," he said and crossed his arms. "Just watch yourself around the governor; I don't trust him all that much."