“Where to?” Genn asked.
“Let’s pull away and circle the block. I’d like to follow her if she goes somewhere; we may get lucky.”
Genn glanced over and nodded. “I hate to say it because of the seriousness of the situation but, I’m enjoying this investigation more than any other.”
“I know exactly what you mean; there is a challenge to this one that we’ve never had before. It kind of makes it more exciting. Maybe just because it has broken the monotony of every other case we’ve worked on.”
“And you’re amazing. I don’t know how you come up with these theories. And the way you probe witnesses with questions and read their reactions is quite remarkable. And eventually it starts to paint a picture.”
Genn pulled into a parking spot far enough away to be inconspicuous, but close enough for a good view of Elsie’s house. After only a few minutes they saw Elsie dash out of her home.
“There she goes,” Lang said.
Genn started their vehicle and gunned it to catch up.
“Don’t follow too close, but don’t lose her either.”
Genn’s face was tense with concentration. “I’ll do my best.”
Genn managed to keep visual contact but not be seen. It helped that Elsie’s sole attention was focused on her own plight.
Elsie pulled into the Hotel Balmoral parking lot. Striding into the lobby and directly to the service counter she produced her master credit card, demanding to know what room was being charged to her card. The young woman on the other side of the counter eagerly provided the information to the distraught customer, glad to get her out of her face.
Elsie took the lift to the 95th floor and looked for the room number. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Megan answered. Both stood there, transfixed to see the other woman. They had met before, years ago, when Elsie was interviewing young humans. She had stacked the cards against Megan as soon as she noticed the attraction shared between Drake and her and had not seen her since, even while Megan lived under her own roof. Elsie’s blood boiled at the sight of her.
“Where’s Drake?”
“He’s not here.”
Elsie pushed past her and stalked around the room peeking into all the areas.
“Where is he?”
“Where you put him! You made him what he is.”
“You mean he’s not back yet?”
Megan reined in her hate just a bit. “No.”
“Crap. You know he murdered someone.”
“He murdered a murderer, you mean.”
Elsie spun around, infuriated by the comment. “It’s not the same thing!” she thundered.
“How can you say that! A life is a life. What makes you think your life is more important than anyone else’s.”
“And you, why do you think your life is more important than the cows and pigs and chickens you butcher and devour?”
“It’s totally different and you know it is!”
“It’s exactly the same. Just because you are smarter than those animals, that makes it okay to lead them to slaughter? We all need to kill to survive, accept it.”
Megan bit her lip, and looked down to hide her fury.
Elsie, too, tried to calm herself. “I need your help,” Elsie said in a calmer voice.
Megan recognized the sudden change of mood and gladly went with the flow. She and Elsie had one common thread of interest, and that was their undying dedication to Drake’s well being. “What did you have in mind?”
Elsie took a seat on the couch and Megan followed.
“We need to band together for what’s best for Drake; don’t you agree?”
Megan felt as though she had the advantage. “Yes, as long as it is what’s best for him.”
“We need to convince him to come back-back to my home. It’s safer there. The authorities really have nothing on him until they find him and match his DNA. It’s easier to hide there. As long as he stops his homicidal conduct, I think interest and focus will diminish and eventually go away. And you’ll both be safe for the rest of your lives.”
Megan smiled, with a glimmer of wicked. “The rest of your life being a lot longer than mine.”
“Yes, but let’s not lose focus from the matter at hand. If you’re caught, Drake will be executed.”
Megan stood up and paced. She had so many things to consider. But, as she thought, she knew there was really only one direction to take, and Megan knew that it was the only course of action Drake would even consider.
“Nothing I say will sway him. His mind is set.”
“Set for what? To continuing murdering until he is eventually caught? Think of your child. If you help me convince him to come back home, I promise to provide a safe refuge for you and your child for its entire life.”
“Drake would demand that anyway. And I wouldn’t trust your word if something happened to Drake.”
“Nothing will happen to him if we can get him back home. He is still protected by his anonymity, but two detectives have visited me twice today and they have already pieced things together. But, they have absolutely no evidence, yet. We can still correct this if we act quickly. He committed the murder last night-has he returned from that yet?”
Megan looked down. “No he hasn’t.”
Chapter 12
The Dragnet
Drake left the murder scene feeling energized. He walked instead of taking the bus, and it felt good to burn off some of that nervous energy. The feed was satisfying. More from a revenge angle than sustenance, though. He walked all night, his mind alive with ideas and worries. When the lights brightened in the morning the people came out. With the exercise and the taste of payback still on his lips, Drake craved another kill. It didn’t help that the streets were full of pretty young women dressed in appealing fashions, designed to highlight a woman’s most attractive features. Drake found it interesting that he could be so attracted, yet so repulsed by the same women. Both drove him in different ways. He wished he could feed constantly, and as the centuries marched on, he would single handedly wipe out the entire Vampire race-until it was only he left. The thought of becoming a hero appealed to him, and he would be doing the world of humans a great and necessary service. He warned himself not to look too far ahead and to keep his attention and focus on the tasks at hand, and hopefully his dreams would be fulfilled. But right now, desire was building within him. He stopped at a park bench and pulled out his pocket computer and brought up his Blood Shop file, but it would take time to plan his next kill this way, and there were so many potential victims just walking around. He felt intoxicated by the smorgasbord of sexy revenge that he found around every corner. Drake looked up as a woman jogged by; her long, slender muscles rippling, hi-lighted by darker skin pigmentation. Her bushy black hair bounced in a pony-tail and swung back and forth with each stride. Drake felt his gums swell, and the telltale pin prick on his inner lower lip. He adjusted his jaw to escape further discomfort, watching the jogger until she was too far away to enjoy. Drake stood and continued on his way, on the lookout. He saw a woman standing at a bus stop across the street, talking to a man. She was dressed in form-hugging leggings. Drake watched out of the corner of his eye as he walked by. A woman walking her dog rounded the corner dressed in baggy grey sweats revealing nothing of her figure, but her alluring walk and half hidden pretty face still attracted Drake. He turned his head. Her dark, rich, red hair flowed behind her in a ponytail through the back of her baseball cap. Drake circled the block and slowed his pace when he saw her again. She walked to a park. The large green area was surrounded by housing but quite private once deep into the heavily forested area. Drake averted his gaze as a chatting couple walked towards and past him. He followed the redhead deeper into the park but realized the excitable dog would be a complication. He noticed the girl who had jogged by earlier, stretching by a short length of fencing. She glanced up for a moment noticing Drake’s approach. Drake walked over to her but kept at a comfortable distance.
; “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you. I’m taking a short cut through the park and I’m afraid it hasn’t turned out to be such a short cut. I’ve been wandering around in here for almost an hour. All the trails look the same, and I’m sure I’ve passed by this very rock three times already!” Drake said in a cheerful tune.
The girl smiled. “Where are you trying to get to?”
Drake scanned the girl head to toe. The long tanned and toned body heightened Drake’s desire; her face, glowing with perspiration…lovely.
“Baker St. I was coming off Trinity and thought it was straight through, but I guess I somehow got turned around.”
“It’s easy to do. There are so many intertwining paths in here. I would suggest-because you seem direction challenged,” she smiled. “that you just take this path out of the park, turn right on the street, walk to the second light then make another right. Baker should be the 2nd or 3rd left,” she said with another smile.
“Thanks. And you’re right, I am direction challenged. I once lost my way in a phone booth.”
She laughed.
“This is a nice park to run in. I just moved to the area,” Drake said and inched closer, intent on making eye contact and holding her gaze.
A man walking his dog strolled by momentarily interrupting Drake’s focus. He briefly questioned his choice of location.
“Yes, I love it in here…it’s so peaceful and calm; it’s a good place to unwind.” Her smile remained, then ever so slowly faded as she looked deep into those hypnotic brown eyes. Common sense told her to break eye contact now but she couldn’t…she didn’t want to.
Drake knew he had her, and slowly moved closer, his gaze never wavering. How could this be so easy? The woman’s mouth was slightly open, the smile had drooped away. The touch of Drake’s hands on her shoulders stimulated something deep within her, and she was powerless to resist. She slumped into the arms she longed to encircle her, still acutely aware of every touch, every emotion.
Drake heard voices approaching. He quickly but gently picked the woman up and carried her into the nearby brush. Branches and dry vegetation cracked under his feet and he squatted down as the strollers passed.
Carrying his prey deeper into the bushes, Drake lay her down on the soft forest floor and looked at her beautiful, peaceful face. What’s going through her mind right now? He wondered. And just how long would she remain in this vulnerable position before snapping out of it. Drake found his new talent fascinating, and so useful. The woman was his now, and he allowed himself a few moments of admiration. She was so beautiful. His mind went to Megan, and a feeling of guilt stabbed him in his gut. She’s just another selfish killer, he reminded. But, hate didn’t stimulate desire so Drake allowed himself a few moments of lustful feelings-just to get the job done he told himself. The sleeveless training top exposed her full upper chest area which enhanced the long graceful neck. The simple curves of the woman’s shoulders and collar bone area beckoned to him. Drake brushed his lips across her flesh, it was warm and alluring, from a fresh kill, exertion, or a combination of the two, Drake surmised. His fangs peeked out between his lips and he could sense her pulse through them. Taking it slow and easy, he pierced the flesh and paused at the throbbing rhythm of the artery. With each pulse, Drake’s desire heightened. He lingered as long as he could endure, then penetrated the coursing channel. The woman’s body went tense, then slowly relaxed as she uttered her last tender sounds.
***
Genn parked and watched Elsie walk briskly into the hotel lobby. Leaving their vehicle and walking in cautiously the detectives saw Elsie leave the information counter towards the lifts. They lurked at the entrance until she was gone.
Flashing their credentials Genn asked, “The woman you just served, what room did she go to?”
She looked at her screen. “9521. She asked about her card being used by someone she is sponsoring…a mister Jones.”
The detectives looked at each other.
“We don’t even have to question him or get a DNA sample from him; we can just arrest him because he’s an unregistered Vampire. Right?” Genn said.
“I would think so, but I have just as much experience as you in a matter like this. Actually, no one in the dome would have any experience in a matter like this.”
“Let’s just get authorization for the arrest; then at least our asses are covered.” Lang grabbed her phone, and Genn nodded his approval.
As Lang made the phone call a bus pulled up the curb outside the hotel. Christopher jumped out the back door and ran into the lobby, stopping in his tracks at the sight of Detective Lang talking expressively on her phone, and the unmistakable rear view of the stone block frame of Detective Genn.
Christopher retreated back outside and hid in a corner, his brow knotted in deep thought and uncertainty.
***
Drake felt a bloodlust inside him. It was so easy, and the taste of Vampire blood, so sweet. No hunger for sustenance was required at the moment, really, just the raw satisfaction of killing. His mind went to Megan and his heart softened. He must be careful not to go on an unnecessary rampage and put them at greater risk of capture. There were bigger and better plans for his blood lust to be fulfilled that he must give priority to. He walked the rest of the way back to the hotel; content, like a normal man coming home to his wife after a hard day’s work. His eyes alert, Drake saw a man pacing outside of the hotel…it sure looked like Christopher. Drake’s feeling of content quickly disappeared, and his pace quickened. Christopher saw him approach and waved him over to a secluded spot.
“Drake. I’m so glad you’re here. There’s two detectives in there looking for you. I think they’re still in the lobby. They were just at the house and they followed Ms. Fleck here. I didn’t see Ms. Fleck, though.”
“She’s probably already in the room with Megan. Damn, she’s trapped. Wow those detectives are sharp. I didn’t count on this. I’m so stupid. Do you know if they know what I look like?”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“Hmm. Where are they, exactly?”
“As soon as you enter the lobby-they are standing over to the left, kind of hiding behind a pillar. You can’t miss them; the male detective looks like a walking block of granite. What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet. Go home, my friend. Thanks for the warning.” Drake placed his hand on Christopher’s shoulder then turned and walked towards the lobby entrance.
He saw them right away standing out of the way behind a large polished column. Lang was still on her phone and Genn closely watched the elevator. Drake bought a newspaper and slowly wandered that way taking a roundabout route. He got within earshot, sat on a couch and pretended to look through his paper. Drake’s eye went to a picture of Elizabeth Bower on the front page. The headline read, ‘The Scourge of the Dome, Another Murderer On The Loose.’ Wow. That was fast work, Drake thought to himself. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Genn looked over at him. No recognition, Drake was relieved, crossing one leg over the other and settling into his spot.
“No, we don’t know if he’s up there or not. But what we need to know is if we can just arrest him without positive DNA identification…No, that was an oversight on our part. But, the investigation has advanced so quickly that we didn’t have a chance to ask for a picture, or even a description.” Lang glanced at the handsome man sitting close by, reading the paper.
“Yes, I understand. Well, to be honest with you we’re dealing with a case that no one has any experience with, and considering that, I think we’ve made some good progress.” Lang looked over at Genn and rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir. We’ll do the best we can, just like always.”
Lang disconnected the transmission. “He wants us to wait and watch. He’s afraid of a law suit if we infringe on an innocent citizen’s rights. He says we need a positive DNA match before we make an arrest. We should have asked for a picture of Ulah; I can’t believe we didn’t. I’ll call Kamber and see if he can provide one for us.
”
“The Captain should realize how fast and unconventionally this investigation has gone and cut us some slack. Bloodless hell, we wouldn’t be even close to where we’re at now if it wasn’t for your ingenuity,” Genn said.
Lang just shook her head and made a call. She watched the handsome man get up and walk away. He left his newspaper on the couch, front page exposed, with a picture of Elizabeth Bower smiling.
Drake walked over to the stairway and watched to see if the detective’s eyes followed; just Lang’s did, and he walked up to the first floor and caught the ascending lift. He walked into his room and immediately saw Elsie, grim faced with arms crossed.
“Out committing another murder?” Elsie asked.
“No, just a killing. That’s what you call it.”
“When you kill a Vampire…it’s a murder.”
“Well, I have to survive; you saw to that.”
“But you can’t survive on Vampires!”
“No?”
Elsie shook her head. “Drake. You’ve got to come home. There are detectives snooping around and somehow they got your name. I’ve told them you two are dead already, so if you come home and stop this homicidal madness, I think we may be able to ride things out. Please, Drake; I’m begging you.”
“The detectives are downstairs in the lobby. You led them here.”
“Crap! Why did you come up? Come with me, before you’re caught.”
“Why? Because then you’re caught, too? No, we’ll stay-at least for the time being. But you need to leave.”
“Me? I’m paying for this room. I should just cut you off. I had hoped it would help you blend in so you wouldn’t get discovered as quickly, but that didn’t work out…did it? How could you be so careless? That detective is too sharp. If you don’t stop and come home with me, you will be caught!”
“I’m comfortable here for now, but you’re right, we will have to move soon. Those detectives certainly did get my name quickly; I didn’t count on that.”
“It’s the woman, Detective Lang-she’s the one to watch out for.”