“Crap!” Lang muttered as she sprinted to the doors.
Lang bolted to her car and adjusted the seat so she could touch the pedals. Elsie’s car leisurely pulled out of the parking lot; almost appearing to be waiting for Lang to catch up.
Lang looked towards the hotel as she drove past-still no sign of Genn. “Damn it, Genn!”
“What the hell are they up to?” Lang felt very uneasy about the situation.
They were easy to follow and Lang began to put together the entire development. Genn’s words from the previous day rang in her head and she shook it in disgust. Her cell phone rang…it was Genn.
“Where the hell are you?”
“I think I’ve been set-up.”
“What…where are you?”
“Following Elsie and Ulah. While you were busy relieving yourself of the tub of coffee Elsie so kindly sent down for you, Ulah and the bitch made a dash for the door, so I felt compelled to follow.”
“Get the hell out of there! Let them go!”
Lang smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t put myself in a vulnerable position. I just want to see what they’re up to.”
Genn sounded exasperated. “They’re trying to set you up, don’t be a fool, get the hell away from them.”
Just then Elsie pulled over and Drake got out of the vehicle.
“She just dropped Ulah off beside a park. Maybe they don’t even know I’m here. Ulah walked into the park but Elsie’s just parked. Maybe we’re just jumping to conclusions.”
Genn rubbed his face in frustration as he frantically scanned the street for a cab. “Where are you? I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
“I think I’m northwest of the hotel, but not sure of the street names.
“Whatever you do, don’t follow Ulah. Do you understand?”
“But I may be able to save a life.”
“Yeah, your own by staying put!”
“I think I’ll just feel out Elsie; she’s still parked on the street and it is broad daylight. I’ll be fine…remember, I’m trained for this. See you soon.” Lang hung up before Genn could voice his frustrations.
Elsie’s head was facing forward, but her gaze was slanted towards her rear-view mirror. A wicked sneer spread across her face when she saw Lang’s door open.
Drake doubled back and stood out of sight. He was pleased but not surprised by Elsie’s choice for his final feed. The sensation of saliva being excreted made Drake wince and he swallowed. His imagination conjured up a vision of Lang’s pretty face and her delicate neck and collar.
Elsie’s peripheral was focused on her side view mirror as Lang walked warily towards the vehicle. Lang’s attention never left the park as she tapped lightly on the window.
“Detective Lang…what a surprise to see you here.” She quickly looked around. “What, no side kick, today?”
“No, he was detained…by a curious ploy that involved a jumbo coffee and some sugary baked goods. Any idea who may have been up to that?”
“Not a clue. I try to stay away from both. Coffee tends to make me run to the washroom,” Elsie finished with a smug smile.
“So, where did your friend run off to? You know, he still hasn’t dropped off his identification and we will be taking him into custody tomorrow.”
“By all means, you’re just doing your job.”
Just then Drake emerged from the park. He walked in a slow relaxed gait and his friendly inviting smile was focused directly at Lang. “Detective Lang, what a pleasant surprise to see you…I’m delighted.”
A jolt of emotions rattled Lang to her core. It was fear, but it was mixed with, almost a relief not to have missed Drake. The blend flooded Lang’s body with a unique jumble of sensations. She knew she should get out of there as quickly as possible but, that something in Drake’s gaze held her to the spot.
In a deep, comfortable, calming voice Drake took the lead, “Detective Lang, I’m so happy to see you again. You are looking as beautiful and smartly dressed as ever.” Drake’s eyes quickly scanned Lang’s attire but quickly returned to her flattered expression. “I always look forward to seeing you. I’m sorry, I left my I.D. behind this morning. I wasn’t expecting to see you or I would have brought it with me.” Drake walked around the front of the car, never breaking eye contact.
Deep in Lang’s thought process was her desire to flee, to break eye contact and just return to her car, but another desire seemed stronger and she just couldn’t make herself do it. Instead she spoke, feeling her voice waver. It shook her even more not to hear her own familiar confident tone, “Don’t worry, you still have time to produce it, but failing to do so will result in your arrest.” She made a feeble attempt at backing away as Drake closed the gap between them.
Drake’s voice felt like a warm blanket, “I was just walking in the park. It’s beautiful: the sweet scent of the flowers, vibrant colors, bordered by lush green, and trees growing tall, all enveloped by the pleasant sound of a coursing brook. You should come and see it. I’m going back to enjoy it, but it would be even better, with someone to share it…please accompany me.”
The extension of Drake’s hand was only slightly perceived through Lang’s peripheral vision, her focus was on his gentle features and soothing brown eyes. The delicate touch on her arm surprised Lang, but the shock was quickly diluted by the dominant, pleasant, tranquil sensation that continued to take over. Drake’s fingers sensually travelled down her arm. The sensation of his fingertips across the soft underbelly of Lang’s hand engulfed her, and her fingers curled into his.
Drake felt the exhilaration of seduction and the anticipation of quenching his appetite. Lang was beautiful; her auburn hair framed her classic features and tumbled in a wave across her shapely nape. Probably my last Vampire kill, Drake realized. Lang moved forward with the slightest of coaxing.
“Bye bye, Detective Lang,” Elsie whispered.
Just then a car wheeled around the corner. The hard charging engine of Genn in his borrowed taxi got louder until he screeched to a halt beside them. Elsie pounded her steering wheel, the spell was broken.
The muffled, angry voice of a yelling Genn was released to its full potency once out of the car.
“You scum of the dome! Get your mangy paws off of her! Lang! Snap out of it!”
Genn walked right up to Drake’s face and unloaded a tirade that had been brewing inside of him for all the months of following a trail of corpses. Drake wiped Genn’s spit from his face and calmly got back into Elsie’s car. Elsie gunned the engine and left Genn and Lang in her exhaust.
Lang was still looking a little lost but quickly getting her wits back.
“How could you put yourself in that situation,” Genn shouted. “Get in the car!”
“I don’t know. Before I knew it he was on me, like a wolf, and I was absolutely under the influence of his force of will. I didn’t think it could happen that quickly, or that I wouldn’t be able to just simply walk away…but I just couldn’t,” Lang defended herself as she ran to the car. “Basically, I screwed up, Genn. There’s something about this guy that is like a magnet.”
Genn shook his head. “Well, this fascination almost made you number 45. We’ve lost her already.” Genn eased upon the accelerator. “Sorry about the coffee…we almost lost you.”
Lang smiled. She could tell Genn was a little choked up. “Thanks, Genn-I owe you my life. That bitch tried to kill me.”
“She definitely has a hate on for you, but I think she likes me,” Genn joked, his relief obvious.
Lang just smiled and rolled her eyes at her blunder. Thank goodness for Genn.
***
Elsie kept checking her rear-view mirror as she twisted and turned around corners.
“Damn, now we have to scramble to find you a final feed, and we’re due at the space center in a few of hours. Our reservation on the express lift is in about 45 minutes but now we’re behind because the big oaf of a detective spoiled our plans.”
“Your plans,” Drake rem
inded. “I’m okay with any feed…and I’m okay hanging around for the next few weeks and taking my lumps just like the rest of the Vampires.”
“The plan is already in motion, and you agreed that it was the best thing all around. Remember, you may be able to come back in a few years after things have cooled off. Things can change dramatically over the course of a decade or two.”
“And things will change dramatically over the next couple of weeks.”
Elsie ignored Drake’s comment. “So how are we going to get you a final feed?”
“You know I can find a victim very quickly.”
Elsie looked over. “It’s amazing how fast you put her under your spell. I know that’s not the proper wording but it seems so appropriate. You absolutely mesmerized her in a matter of seconds.”
“You have the same skill, you just choose not to use it.”
“We all have the same skill, but it’s very hard work. It’s not a natural thing. It’s so much easier just to drug our victims. And no matter how much practice and effort I put into it, I could never do it so effectively and easily as you can-it’s really quite amazing to watch.”
“And that’s it, you and every other Vampire have inherited this ability but you choose not to hone it because it’s too much work and you don’t need to. I, on the other hand, needed this skill to survive and it has served me well and it has become easy for me to brandish it.”
“My father says that studies on the aliens from the planet where you are going are susceptible to this, so feeding there shouldn’t be too much different than here. But, you could just drug them…they are vulnerable to our venom as well.”
Drake smiled. “But it’s not as much fun.”
***
A few miles away Genn and Lang drove around aimlessly, hoping to spot Elsie’s car.
“I have a feeling they won’t be going back to the hotel again,” Lang said. “They’re up to something. I can sense it.”
“Like you sensed the danger back there?”
“This is different. It all makes no logical sense at all. They’re up to something and it’s driving me crazy not being able to figure out what!”
“Maybe we should visit old Fleck again,” Genn suggested. “He indicated that there was some sort of a plan hatched that would stop the murders. Remember when Elsie went missing for a bunch of days down at the base?”
“Yes…I remember. And that was just before Elsie and Drake came back up to the dome. Good idea, Genn,” Lang said, then placed a phone call.
Fleck was in his office at the space station doing his best to try to stay calm when his phone rang. The call display didn’t help him to identify the caller and he felt compelled to pick it up. “Fleck here.”
“Hello, Mr. Fleck, Detective Lang calling.”
Fleck’s gut tightened and his heart felt like it skipped a beat.
“Oh, hello Detective Lang, how are you?” Fleck wished he had never picked up the phone.
“I was wondering if we could come to see you and ask a few questions?”
Fleck’s heart felt like it may burst out of his chest and he did his best to compose himself. “I’m sorry, I’m at work today.”
“We could come during your break. It’s quite important.”
Fleck could feel his body break into a sweat. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t today. Don’t you read the news? Today is launch day. I’m way too busy.”
“Oh, is that today? I’m sorry…there is so much other stuff happening that seems far more important. The space program is the last thing on our minds. How about after work?”
“My work schedule during these times is quite busy. Why don’t you call me at home on the weekend and we can set up a time, but today is definitely out of the question.”
“All right, Mr. Fleck, I’ll try to keep the Empire from tumbling to the ground until you’re ready. Sorry to bother you.”
“Good bye, Detective.”
Lang disconnected. “He’s not available today. Apparently it’s launch day.” Lang rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat.
While she looked up at the ceiling of the car her eyes lit up with a thought. She looked over at Genn who had obviously had something just occur to him.
“That’s it, Genn!”
Genn’s eyes were as wide as Lang’s were.
Lang’s thoughts spilled, “That’s why they didn’t seem at all concerned about us taking Ulah into custody tomorrow…he won’t be here to take into custody! It all makes sense now, Genn. That’s why they left the base. Somehow they talked Ulah into leaving the planet. I wonder if the two women that love him teamed up for the first time in their lives, and convinced him that this was a good idea.”
“But how can they possibly pull something like this off? It’s so risky,” Genn said.
“I don’t know the extent of Fleck’s access to the vessel. But if security at the space station is anything like the security at our base transfer stations, coupled with having an influential contact within…I’d say it is definitely achievable. I’d bet a pint of god’s crimson nectar that Elsie and Ulah are on the way to the space station. Is there an express lift to the top floor of the dome around here?”
“Just over by 33rd and Glenn there’s a transfer station. It’ll go all the way to the top for sure, it’s a main station,” Genn explained as he quickly reversed direction.
The ring of Genn’s phone interrupted the revelation. Genn snatched his phone. “Now what,” he sounded exasperated. “Genn here.”
His face contorted. “What?”
Lang looked over.
Genn disconnected. “The missing male supervisor’s body was just found, right out in the open. You’ll never guess who’s DNA was on the wound.”
“Not Ulah’s, again?”
Genn shook his head. “Elsie Fleck’s.”
Lang quickly rebounded from the shock. “Of course- she was missing for over a week with no opportunity to feed. That bastard left her no choice but to become a murderer, or perish. He instructed his people to hang onto the body until the time was right. Any time prior would have given us the opportunity to arrest Elsie and ruin Ulah’s chance for escape…we would have them both. But he waited until they were just out of reach. He may have cut it too close though Genn…we’ve got to make that lift!”
“We’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
***
Elsie was ushered into the lift and she lined up behind the other vehicles. “Damn that big oaf detective-now I have to figure out a way to get you fed!”
“I’m not too worried about it, I can usually find a victim and bleed them out pretty fast. And if I can’t…I just don’t go. It doesn’t really matter now. The rebellion is in full swing and Megan is safe and my child will grow up to a ripe old age.”
“The rebellion cannot be a success, and the only one who may be still alive when you return is your child. I promise that I’ll watch out for he or she, buy it as blood stock when it reaches maturity, and keep it until you return or it dies of old age. How’s that for a deal.”
“We have strongly differing opinions on the future,” Drake responded.
She and Drake exited the cargo area, emerging into a comfortable lounge and restaurant area. They sat down and Drake immediately started eying up the beautiful Vampire women.
Elsie caught his roving eye and her brow tightened. “Not here, you idiot. The body is sure to be discovered before we get to the top and the entire lift will be under lockdown. You’ll have to wait until we get there.”
Drake nodded but continued to look.
Genn wheeled into the transfer station and he and Lang rushed to administration. They flashed their badges.
“How long until departure?” Genn asked.
The woman behind the counter looked at her watch. “Approximately 2 minutes.”
“Is it possible to hold the lift?”
“This is a police matter, right?” the woman asked.
“Of course it is, and we need to see you
r reservation list.”
“Do you want me to get in touch with my supervisor?”
“Yes, please,” Lang said as she dialed her phone.
“Are you calling the Captain?” Genn asked.
“Yes, he’s got to see the light with this new information on Elsie.”
The woman clerk beckoned the detectives over to a computer screen while she was on the phone to her supervisor. They scrolled through the list of passenger names and stopped at Elsie’s name.
“Elsie Fleck, one vehicle and one passenger. Ulah, I’d wager,” Lang said, her attention suddenly veering to her placed call. “Captain, it’s Lang, we have some new developments that blow the case wide open.”
The woman clerk hung up her phone. “The Operation Supervisor says we can delay for a few minutes and squeeze you onto the lift if it’s an important matter.”
Genn looked relieved. “Oh, it’s of vital importance.”
***
Elsie looked at her watch for the 3rd time in the last minute. “What the bloodless hell is taking so long? Can’t these people ever stick to a schedule? Excuse me!” Elsie spoke sharply to a staff member. “What’s the holdup? Why haven’t we departed, yet?”
“I’m not sure, madam, I just work in the kitchen.”
Drake laughed. “Relax, Elsie.”
“Easy for you to say…your life and career aren’t on the line, mine are.”
“Then drop the whole thing and we can both just go our separate ways. I’m okay with that. I don’t really care if I go or not.”
Elsie rolled her eyes and composed herself. “You have to go. Megan wanted it and you agreed to it. Remember?” It cut Elsie to the heart to have to use Drake’s love for Megan as her most potent argument to keep him to his word. “And although Megan won’t be here any longer when you return, she will be allowed to give birth and you may be able to save your child. Then you can watch it mature, age and die.”
“You’re always filled with so much cheer for the human race, and you seem to be assuming that the rebellion won’t be a success.”
“Oh, it won’t be. Don’t pin your hopes on that one, Drake. Life has been the same here for over one-thousand years and it’ll be the same for the next thousand. And hopefully, god’s lifeblood willing, we can spend the majority of the next one-thousand years together.”