by S. L. Gavyn
“What, no laser eye scan?”
“I prefer more traditional methods.”
“I’m sure you do.”
He raised a brow as he opened the door and motioned me inside. I walked into the room and found it was set up as more of a sitting room than a standard business office. There was a desk at one end of the room with a couple of chairs in front of it but the majority of the room was filled with a couple of couches facing each other with a large ottoman in between and tables on each end. There was even a fireplace along one wall that was obviously gas. Apparently he liked to mix business with pleasure. This was probably where he brought his nightly conquest to feed from and fuck. Not my business. I would find out what information he could give me then I would take my leave. I did decide to stand instead of sit. Who knows what’s on those couches.
“Would you like something to drink?” He walked over to a small bar in the corner.
“No thanks.”
“Don’t trust me?”
“Should I?”
“Probably not.”
“That’s what I thought.”
He came over and handed me a drink. “But I assure you I’m finished adding things to your drinks.”
“Technically it was K that added it at your request.”
He smiled. “I’m the only one here now.”
He took a step closer. I stepped back and took a small sip of my drink. He sat on one of the couches and patted the seat next to it.
“Have a seat, Sunshine. We’ll discuss this nasty business that brought you back into my life.”
“I’ll just stand thanks. Why don’t you tell me what you know about the disappearances and don’t try to convince me that you know nothing. Augustus and I already played that game. It ended with neither of us happy.”
“Games with Augustus seldom do.”
It didn’t surprise me that they weren’t BFF’s. They both liked to be in charge too much.
I just stood there looking at him to let him know I wasn’t going to ask about what he knew again. He would either tell me or I would leave and try to force it out of someone else. I knew Roman too well to think I could force anything out of him that he didn’t want me to know. He sat there looking back at me for a minute before patting the couch again.
“Come. Sit and I will tell you all that I know in regards to these missing Vampere.”
I raised a brow but walked around and had a seat on the couch facing the one he was sitting on. I wasn’t stupid after all and there was always a pull toward Roman in which he played to his benefit perfectly. I certainly don’t want to fall into that pit again.
Once I was seated he huffed out air and again just looked at me. “Do you love him?”
I didn’t bother to ask who he was talking about. There was only one man he could be talking about. So he had guessed Tristan was my lover. I’m sure the thought that he was my son never crossed his mind. I could set him straight on the issue but it seems it might play more to my advantage if he continues believing I’m taken. Maybe then I can get through this investigation without having my heart mutilated.
“Yes, I love him.” He would be able to tell that I wasn’t lying so I left it at that.
He nodded slowly. “I see.” He was silent for a couple of seconds before he seemed to shake his thoughts off. “I’m happy for you then. Now, on to this business of missing Vampere. I don’t really know what information I have that might help you. Of course I heard about them right after their confirmed disappearance. I also looked into it and found that each of them had been at the club before going missing. In two of the cases it was determined that the club was the last place they were seen. I have hired extra security to canvas the exterior of the club and a two block radius around it. No one has noted anything unusual though.”
“Did you hire the detail after,” I looked at my notes on my phone. “Craig Henderson disappeared five days ago?”
“Yes, I believe no one else has went missing since. I don’t know if that is because of my added security or because of other factors.”
“You haven’t heard anything through your other connections about who could be doing this?”
“My other connections?”
“You know, your ‘business partners’.”
He knew I was referring to the Vamp he was speaking to when I got here.
“I have not heard anything from them either. It is likely that whoever is doing this has picked my establishment simply because it is a popular hangout for our species.”
“Possibly. Or it’s also possible that you’ve pissed of the wrong person and they’re picking off your customers because of it.”
He laughed. “I don’t believe that is the case.”
I rolled my eyes. “Either way the council would like to know any information you might learn in regards to these disappearances as soon as you hear it.”
I stood up and sat my drink on the coffee table.
“How will I contact you?”
“I’m sure you know the number to the local council office. You can leave a message and it will get to me or one of my colleagues.”
“You mean your partner.”
“Yes, he is working this case with me so the information will go to him too.”
Roman nodded. “I will be sure to contact you if I receive any new information.”
“See that you do. Also, warn your Djinn that there will likely be agents from the council watching the club until this is solved. I wouldn’t want her giving them as hard of a time as she did Tristan.”
“No, we certainly wouldn’t want that.”
I ignored his sarcasm and walked toward the door. He was there opening it before me and I continued to ignore him as I walked through.
Once on the main floor I made a B line for Tristan who was talking with the bartender.
“You ready?” I asked him.
I could see that Roman was talking with the Djinn but watching us.
“Yeah, no one gave me anything other than they knew the victims as regulars.”
“That’s about what I got too. Fortunately, Mr. Alexander has decided to be fully cooperative with the council’s investigation from now on.”
“That’s something I guess.”
“Yep. Let’s go.”
“I’m right behind you.” Tristan turned to look at Roman and Carly before he left. The look on his face said he still didn’t care for the Vamp. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
Chapter Nine
“Boys will be boys”
I was so warm and comfortable wrapped in my blanket but there was an insistent ringing sound. I came awake and listened. It was my cell ringing. I looked at the bedside table and the alarm clock there as I reached for my phone. Who would be calling me at three-thirty in the morning? It wasn’t Lucian because he has his own ringtone set. I swear if this is someone drunk calling the wrong number their night just went downhill. The phone stopped ringing before I could answer but immediately started ringing again.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“There has been another Vampere taken.”
“Who is…Roman? How did you get my personal number? You know what, never mind. How do you know one was taken?”
“One of my security details spotted a Vamp being stuffed into the back of a van.”
“How did they know it was a Vamp?”
He sighed. “He saw the same guy leave the club just minutes earlier.”
“And he didn’t think to stop them or at the least to follow them?”
“He was too far away to stop them. He tried to follow but he said they disappeared.”
“They disappeared? Wow that sounds plausible.”
“I wouldn’t know because I wasn’t there, Sunshine. I’ve closed the club early and made sure everyone left in groups.”
“How far from the club was the Vamp taken?”
“Six blocks.”
“Alright. I need to meet with your security and scan the area. Text me the approximate
address and I’ll meet them there in twenty.”
“Very well.” He hung up.
Great. Now, not only is there another missing Vamp and a definite link to Roman’s club, he thought he could just call me whenever he felt like it.
Tristan met me at the park with the portal we would use. He got into my car and I could instantly tell he was ticked.
“Don’t tell me I made you kick another woman out of your bed.”
“No mother. Nothing like that. Surprisingly enough I was alone.”
“What has got you so pissy then?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s just focus on the case.”
“Alright. What are your thoughts?”
He shrugged. “It’s possible the Vamp pissed someone off so their picking off his patrons as retaliation.”
“So you think it’s possible these disappearances aren’t related to the frozen Vamps we found?”
“It’s possible. I’ll admit the timing is really close but just because Vamp bodies are showing up in Dallas and Vamps are going missing in Fort Worth it doesn’t mean they are related.”
“That’s true.” I thought about it for a minute. “My gut tells me the two are connected but we’ll keep open the possibility that these could be two separate cases. If that is the case, then you are right. It’s most likely someone Roman pissed off is getting back at him any way they can.”
“Roman? I didn’t realize you were so friendly with the Vamp.”
“Would you prefer I refer to him as Mr. Alexander? I don’t think a club owner that most likely deals in the unsavory side of Forth Worth deserves to be called by his surname. I guess I could always call him Dr. Alexander.”
“Why would you call him that?”
“Oh, uh, he has a medical degree.” Several actually.
“Did you look him up because of this case?”
“Didn’t you?” When too much information is on the line turn the question around. Works every time.
“Yeah.”
“Then you know why I said I could call him doctor.”
“What else do you know about him? I mean the stuff that isn’t public knowledge.”
“Not much. I know he’s owned Eternal Darkness for about eight years and it’s been the hottest nightclub in FW since it opened. It mostly caters to the Fabled but allows Humans to keep things interesting. The ironic thing is I’ve checked all police records associated with the club and none of them have involved any Fabled and Human indiscretions.”
“So you think Alexander is running a tight ship?”
I shrugged. “It’s probably the Djinn.”
“Djinn?!”
“Cute little Carly. You said she was strong and you were right.”
“Wow. A Djinn. I wasn’t thinking that. I mean, I did know she was strong but I wasn’t expecting that. I figured she got the security job because she was hot but now I know it’s because she’s hot and a badass.”
I didn’t say anything in response. It was obvious from our brief encounter that Carly had a thing for Roman. That he has one for her too is not something I want to think about.
We arrived at the address Roman had given me about twenty minutes later. There were several Fabled standing around including Roman and his Djinn. We got out of the car and I took in my surroundings as I approached them. They were standing at a relatively busy intersection. Or, it will be a busy intersection in a few hours. There were several businesses at all four corners with a large apartment complex next to the business on this side of the street. Behind where the Fabled stood was a larger sized alley that appeared to run for several blocks behind the businesses.
All eyes were on us as we approached and I could tell some of them wanted to step back as I got closer.
“Aw, waiting on us. How sweet. Please tell me this isn’t where the Vampere was actually taken.”
“No, he was cutting through the alley when he was abducted. He lives in the complex next door,” Roman told me.
“Who saw him taken?”
“Charles.” He motioned to the man and he stepped forward but still kept his distance. He was a black man about six-three with thick shoulders and corded arms.
“I need to know exactly where he was taken. You could allow me to take it.” I pointed toward my head. “Or you can show me.”
His eyes were big. “He was taken down there.” He pointed down the alleyway before starting forward.
“Make sure you take me to the exact spot. I don’t want to have to use my magic on the whole alleyway. Then I’ll need to refill.” I waved my hand toward him.
His eyes widened slightly and I motioned for him to lead on. The group parted like the red sea for us as I followed Charles and Roman and Tristan followed. I noticed the Djinn followed behind Tristan. I really didn’t want an audience but didn’t say anything.
We were about thirty feet into the alley when Charles stopped and turned back to me.
“That’s where he was taken.” He pointed toward the middle of the alley beside a dumpster.
I nodded. “If you will step back, I’ll try to see what happened.”
Everyone took several steps back except for Roman. I looked at him and raised my brows and he just looked back at me deadpanned.
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all. Proceed.”
I narrowed my eyes before turning away. Okay, I’m going back to my plan from last night. Ignore him and if I happen to suck some of his energy out, so be it. Not that I can without skin-to-skin contact but who knows what I could do if he pisses me off enough.
“Roman.” I heard the Djinn behind me. I didn’t bother to turn around and see their exchange but it sounded like she was trying to convince him to move away from me. He didn’t say anything aloud in response but I didn’t hear him move either.
So my ignoring technique needs some work. I tried to shut them out as I knelt down and touched my hand to the asphalt. I sent my magic out into my surroundings then pulled it back to me. As typical of my magic all of the energy in my surroundings clung to it so when I pulled it back into me I got it too. From there I could sort through depending on what I wanted. In this instance I wanted to know what happened to the Vamp so I focused on him. His energy was one of the strongest residual energies in this spot so it wasn’t hard. I could see the Vamp walking through the alley. He has taken this same route a thousand times. The club was his favorite in town but there was nothing special tonight so he decided to head home early. He didn’t even bother to pay attention to his surroundings. He was on the top of the food chain after all. If he had been paying the least bit of attention he would have sensed the Human hiding behind the dumpster or maybe the two standing on the roofs of the opposing buildings. As it was by the time he saw them it was already too late. He was hit by what looked like a tranquilizer dart and the effects were instantaneous. The Vamp stumbled three steps before falling against the wall and sliding down to pass out in an almost seated position. The Humans didn’t waste any time. Within a few seconds a black van similar to the one used in the first body dump in Dallas pulled into the alley and the Humans quickly loaded the body.
I couldn’t get a good look at the two Humans on the rooftop but the one on the ground looked to be in his mid-forties with a crew cut and no nonsense look about him. He was wearing a black t-shirt with black fatigues and boots. His physique showed he was in good shape plus he single handedly picked up the Vamp into a fireman’s carry and placed him in the van before climbing in behind him. As he got in I managed to catch part of a tattoo on the back of his neck. The Caduceus.
The van took off and there was no more information I could gather from here so I stood up and turned to Charles.
“I need you to take me to where you lost the van.”
“I didn’t just lose it. It turned a corner and I followed. I was no more than four car lengths behind it and by the time I turned it was gone.”
“That’s why I need you to show me where it was. I might be able to figure out ho
w they did it.”
He turned to Roman who nodded slightly then he looked back at me. “Alright. You can follow us.”
“Lead the way.”
We started back down the alley together and Roman moved to walk beside me.
“I’m eager to know what you learned, Sunshine.”
“That is council business,” Tristan said as he squeezed in between us.
“I was under the impression we were working together in this case,” Roman said.
“We appreciate your cooperation but that doesn’t make you privy to all information.”
“If it was not for my security detail, you wouldn’t be learning about this disappearance for days. You should appreciate my assistance.”
“I said we do but we’re not going to tell you everything.”
“Without the proper information my people will not know what to look out for.”
“We don’t need you to act on this case. Just report what information you find and we can handle it from there. I don’t even understand why you’re here.” Tristan was getting progressively more aggressive.
“I wanted to help Sunshine in this investigation. It is my club that is being targeted after all.”
“Her name is Sunny and she doesn’t need your help. She has a partner.”
“A boy.”
“A man.”
Oh my dear lords above. What the hell has gotten into Tristan and why the freak is Roman being such a Nosy Nancy.
“That is enough gentlemen. I appreciate your assistance Roman but I will need to gather more information before I can give you anything. As of right now I can’t tell you any more than Charles has already told you. So if you would both put your dicks away, perhaps we could continue this investigation.”
“I’m sorry m…uh, Sunny,” Tristan said.
“As am I. It seems this investigation is trying my patience.”
“You could always leave. I’m sure I could stop by later today to tell you about what we found,” Tristan replied.
“I would prefer to hear the information from Sunshine. We have known each other for quite a while and I respect her opinion.”
“You think you know her better than me? I’ll have you know I’m her…”
