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Synopsis: Justin’s mind was made up and he was sick and tired of his father trying to live out his life through him. He’d had it and wanted out! He had his own goals and dreams and only wanted his father’s respect and approval. Justin’s dream was to take over his cousins’ record label, it was what he’d dreamt of since he was a teenager. Dear ole dad had other plans, none of which included music. He never cared that music was Justin’s passion and spent years letting him know as such.
If he couldn’t have the approval of his father he’d out him for the type of man he was; a selfish, uncaring, bastard that wanted things his way or else.
But one look at the gorgeous waitress in a small town in Ohio had derailed those plans. She was none like any other woman he’d ever met and knew that she was special if even in an annoying, pestering kind of way. She wasn’t a socialite and had no idea of his family status or even that he was his own self-made millionaire. She wasn’t looking for the next meal ticket but would his status keep them apart?
Patience was simple small-town girl who wanted three things out of life, to see her mother happy, her brother to get his life together, and her own little piece of happiness. She didn’t ask for much, didn’t believe in fairy-tales and certainly didn’t expect to fall in love with the mysterious gorgeous new guy at work. But she was falling hard and fast. The electric current sweeping through her had her mind short-circuiting whenever they came within ten feet of each other. Would his secrets tear them apart? Or would she be strong and confident enough to live life right by his side.

New Year, New Series. Pre-order your e-copy today. http://a.co/4D72MOp

I haven't posted in a while, things were a bit rough for me over the last few years and I hoping now everything stays on an even keel. Check out my new book and let me know what you think. It's available on smashwords as an ebook or createspace https://www.createspace.com/7000502 as a physical book.

It is finally back to work! Lately all I've been doing is hardly working. But now I'm on a mission. Chocolate Angel is coming soon and I can't wait. I am anxious to see what everyone thinks. I'm hoping for August for the release. Hopely it will be available through Barnes and Nobles, Smashwords and as always Amazon.

I will also be giving away a few copies to some lucky winners. At the Hot and Sexy Book club I will give away a gift basket of the Serenity Series, so stayed glued to the Hot and Sexy Book club to see how you can get involved in that.

"A good book is like eating a steak, so juicy that you hate to eat the last piece."

2

“Good morning Danni,” Ashanti snorted. “So you finally met your new partner?”
“He’s an asshole; do you know he called me a whore.”
“Weren’t you dressed as one when you came in this afternoon?” Ashanti replies laughing. “Hey but you have to admit he is cute right… I ran into him a few times and he was spaced out. So…are you going to try to make this work or will you be running him away in a few weeks like all the others?”
“I didn’t run any of them away, they walked away. But he won’t last long.”
“I don’t know Danni, he seems different, it’s something about him…I don’t think he’s going anywhere fast.” It was just like her when she saw a handsome face. “So why are you up so late? How was your date?”
“Oh it was okay, I got off too late to do much of anything, paper work is piling up; Russell is agitated with all this robbery-prostitution mess going on. I didn’t even have a chance to come home and get dressed. We just went over to Bar Louie’s downtown that was pretty much it. I came back here and watched a little television. I guess I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh.” I can’t believe he thought I was a prostitute! Complete asshole. This should be fun. “Danni?”
“Yeah… what.” I hate when people assume…ugh! “I’m taking a shower; I will see you in the morning.” The little shit…why I even care. For starters, I hate being referred to as a prostitute let alone a whore. My father was a whore it cost him his life and almost my mother’s too. He wasn’t a whore in the literal sense but to me he will always be a whore. He cheated with half a dozen women, due to some type of disorder. I hate to even think about the things I saw the night he died…it cost me part of my sanity. “Danni, you okay in there?”
“I’m fine, I’ll be out shortly.”
“Don’t use all the hot water. I’m brewing some coffee.” She yelled from the living area of our second floor apartment. I lived on Cleveland’s west side, Park Fulton Oval; a quiet reserved neighborhood. Our apartment was a two bedroom, one bath, and cozy home. Most of our apartment was still painted white, just the same as it was when we’ve moved in. Ashanti had given me the master bedroom because I hated small spaces. I had known her since I was twelve years old; we’d lived on the same street and for a while, hung out at Woodland Recreation Center and sometimes the City Mission. But I stayed in too much trouble; her mom thought I was a bad influence. I didn’t play with Barbie dolls and doll houses and seldom wore dresses; however, I would occasionally get into little spats with other girls and even sometimes boys on my street over stupid things such as he said-she said; or a lost flag football game. I also operated on the wrong side of the law at times…I had my days shop lifting, dealing, and boosting cars. My aunt had it up to her neck with the trouble I’d gotten into.

I attended High School at West Tech for two quarters and then my aunt moved and I transferred to Cleveland Heights High a small suburb on the east side of Cleveland; but that was all short-lived. I’d gotten into so much trouble in that small suburb that by the end of my sophomore year I’d been shipped again to live with my cousin in Okinawa Japan. After he graduated from college and done his four years in the military he stayed over in Japan, married; and raised two kids…and then me all by the time he was 26 years old. He tried to send me to college but it didn’t work; he tried boarding school but I broke out and then after being taken back they kicked me out. So by the time I was 18 ½ my cousin Russell forced me to go to a sensei. It turned out to be something that kept my focus. I learned so much in four years and once I returned to the states I got my GED and here I am working as a detective in the city that turned their back on me as a juvenile delinquent; ironic isn’t it.

It was almost six o’clock and I’d done nothing, not even sleep in the last few hours. I worked third shift so I could try to get some sleep, go over to the recreation center, take a jog, or read a book. I decided on neither and was dressed and heading over to Dunkin Donuts instead.

I didn’t know many people in the area; actually, I didn’t know anyone but my roommate, the woman in the leasing office and the clerk at the recreation center. I liked it that way. My cousin and captain did too; I didn’t get along well with others.

“Hello.” I said surprised as my heart dropped when the person on the other end responded. “Good morning detective.” I didn’t understand why I had butterflies fluttering in my stomach I guess I was assuming it was someone else. “Are you up Danni?”
“Yeah if I weren’t I am now; what do you want?”
“Oh Cap needs you in here pronto, new developments. I know this is a long shot but he said he tried calling your partner and he hasn’t responded you wouldn’t happen to have a different number for him would ya?”
“No, I don’t. I’m on my way I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” This must have had something to do with the killings and robberies going on. I got back in my Kia Sorrento and sped off. One great thing about being the police is that you got to run all the lights and dodge all the traffic; occasionally I got the finger but hey it came with the territory.

It was 9:30 by the time I got to the station; everyone was there except my partner. “Captain what’s going on?”
“Where’s your partner?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know I am not his keeper?”
“Danni…make this work, got it.” Captain responded with a final tone. I didn’t argue, actually the lack of sleep was catching up with me. “What you got?”
“Another girl killed, this time raped. She was found this morning over off 79th and Kinsman. Take a look at these and tell me what you think.” I hated looking at crime photos it repelled me, especially when the victims were raped or kids; I hated that most. “She’s about 16 or 17; doesn’t appear to be a working girl. That tat represents something I’ve seen it before; James have Simmons check this out. “We pulled the other victims up on the screen to compare the findings. “Several girls had been found in the past month; but this one is different; none of the other victims were raped, and it’s something else, I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s off. Did we get the autopsy report back yet; does Antoine have anything to say about this?”
“No he’s not done yet, he’s still working on something for the Commissioner that trumps our case.”
“What could trump this…that’s seven victims in the last month, this could be related.”
“How could it though, the others weren’t raped.” I scratched my head trying to rack my brain. “Have they been identified yet?”
“The new victim has but we haven’t been able to contact her parents.”
“And what’s that you got there?”
“16 year old, runaway…photo came up in Missing Persons; she’s been missing for two months as of this morning. Not from the area, she’s from New Orleans.”
“How the hell did she get all the way up here?”
“That there is the question. So what do we know about the other victims?”
“I don’t see how this is linked, it’s near impossible…all of it. First, the other six victims were shot almost execution style; she was raped. The bank robbery surveillance camera…” Maddened tried to explain.
“Hey guys sorry to interrupt but I have something for you.” Thornton almost tore the door handle off. “Check this out.” He stuck the video in the VCR and forwarded it to the picture of the women robbing the bank. “Let me clean this up for you.”
“Hey that’s one of the victims.”
“No that’s the first three victims.” We were all shocked, none of it made any sense. We looked through every photo; pulled everything we could on the victims. “Brown and Moore went back to talk to employees at the bank to find out if they remember anything; had anyone came in days earlier appearing out of place, any distinctive marks, something.” We went on like this for hours. I was a perfectionist and I hated missing clues or leaving anything unturned. “Another problem, Danni.” I got up quick, papers falling from my desk in my haste. I knew it was something wrong, something unexpected I knew it. “One of the girls we brought in with you yesterday is dead; two others are missing.” Could my day get any worse? While I was undercover I’d found out that this wasn’t the life they’d chosen, they felt that had no choice. For most of them it was either; staying at home where they were molested, an abusive parent, or a drug or alcoholic parent. Some tried stripping because it was a quick buck but the one that called herself Cherry had met the wrong man one night at a strip club. He’d promised her the world but made her take to the streets to get it. The life she’d been forced into wasn’t too far from what she’d run from two years earlier. I thought bringing them in would help them and now Cherry was dead and the other two were missing.

“Danni, need you for a moment.”
“What’s up?”
“Have you heard from your partner?”
“No. I told you I am not his keeper.”
“Right now you better act like it.”
“I didn’t want a babysitter, or a partner.”
“Look Danni we don’t have time for this! You will work with him or I will give you a desk in the front lobby or the evidence room. Got it.” I knew what that meant; there was no way I was going to answer phones, and type some mess in the computer. “Okay whatever.”
“That’s better. Speak of the devil…bout time. Do you know we’ve been calling you all morning?”
“No what’s up. I didn’t think I had to be here until 2:00.”
“We work around the clock.” Jerk. I didn’t voice the last part but for some reason the look on his face said I did. “Sorry Cap. I over slept, had a long night last night; it won’t happen again.” He replied looking over at me. A bit arrogant I thought to myself. He sat down in the chair in front of me, already agitating me. It seemed as though he was getting a kick out of. I couldn’t even see over his big ass head. He moved over as if hearing the thought. Creepy. “So what’s up, what’s the urgency?”
“May I be excused?”
“No have a seat.” Damn it. I needed something to keep my thoughts to myself. I wasn’t paranoid or anything but, I’d read enough books and seen enough in my day that something was very odd about my new partner. “Is this going to take long?” He ignored me and explained the situation to Nelson. He listened with so much interest you would have thought this was all-personal to him. I’d heard that he was a rookie and this was his first job. He didn’t know what the hell he was getting into. Not only was working with me going to be a problem but what he would see in the field was going to send him packing. Not that I ever ran anyone away, I just didn’t get along with anyone or worked well with them. But I didn’t need to worry about that now; the job was going to send him on his way. Cap showed him the pictures and pulled other information on the screen. I sat back impatiently waiting for my escape. “Captain that tat, it’s a gang symbol out of Louisiana.” Something else caught him off guard, he tried to mask it but it was something and it wasn’t because she was a dead victim. “Do you know her?”
“No…I don’t.” I wasn’t buying it. Something got him. Cap didn’t notice it but I did. What was he hiding, did I even want to know. Of course, I did if it had something to do with the girl. “Are you from New Orleans?”
“No I’m not, I’ve stayed there before, and I’m from Long Beach.” Why’d you leave I thought. “I came here because I wanted a new start, Long Beach wasn’t that good to me, and after taking the test and the job opened up here I jumped on it.” Okay Danni don’t be paranoid, it’s crazy. He can’t read my mind, people couldn’t do that…but vamp…I won’t think it. “Do you have anymore questions,” he didn’t have to look directly at me for me to know that he was speaking to me. “No just wondering how you know so much and you are not spooked by the pictures…being a rookie and all or are you hiding something. For all we know you could be posing as an officer.”
“Infinity Danielle Green! Will you stop. He’s legit!” I laughed. I was only kidding damn. But he could be IAB or even CIA. Why would they throw a rookie cop…he looks 19 years old, I still smell the milk on his breath. I saw him smirk and try to hide a laugh under a cough. “Is something funny rookie?”
“No not at all.” I roll my eyes. “Captain can I please leave now?”
“Wait… one thing. I need you to go under cover at one of the banks. We’ve come up with something. The other banks were all in the same area, we’re assuming that the one on Superior will be hit next, need you to go there pose as one of the clerks and see what you can come up with. This may be an inside job.”
“What other banks have they hit?” He threw a stack of papers at Nelson who caught it neatly out of the air. Neither one of us commented and Nelson ignored the stares. “Superior won’t be the next bank hit.” Now how did he know that? “The girl here was a part of an uh…something much more sinister than just a gang; it’s a cult. There’s one ruler; after they’re done with her and even the others, they discard them; kill them.” Now he had my attention. “Do you think this is all linked together?”
“Captain yes this is all linked and Danni going undercover isn’t going to work, in fact you will not find answers here.” From his voice I could sense that something else was bothering him; there’s something much more dangerous than what we see. He finally turned to me. “I have a better idea; however we’re going to have to work together on this.”
“Oh she’s in, she has no other choice.” Captain…my cousin, who use to be my favorite until just this moment. “There’s always a choice.” Nelson kept staring at me, I guess waiting for an answer. I couldn’t help it, I wanted in. He turned before I even answered the question. “I’m in.”

“So your names Infinity?” I ignored him just as he did when I asked the question in the office. “Hey I brought you a cup of coffee, hope it has enough cream and sugar. I didn’t know what you liked so I told the lady four cream; four sugar.” It was exactly what I would have gotten, how the hell did he guess right? I didn’t give that away and frankly, I wasn’t going to drink it. Didn’t want to make this so-called partnership easy. He was a prick and I knew it. Probably had all the girls… yep fucked them all. I didn’t take the coffee; instead, I pulled a Pepsi out of my lunch box and took a swig. He just smiled. “Well if you need a cup you can always heat this up; nothing like a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee.
“So what’s this plan you have?” His expression changed; jaws tightened and his knuckles grew white. “So what’s up?”
“You don’t need to go undercover; we need to go to New Orleans to get our answers.”
“So why do I need to go…to go with you?”
“Because you want to.” He replied with a devilish smirk. “I don’t…look you could probably take James; Brown or…”
“I don’t want to take them; I need you…you to go. Where we’re going they hate men, you’d be just the spark to get what I need. The only way we’re getting in is with me getting us in and you at my side.” Was there an underlining current I sensed there? I’d been in enough situations to recognize hidden meanings behind words. But unlike other women he probably had that was definitely not going to work with me. “That’s ridiculous.”
“You’ve never been to New Orleans have you?”
“No can’t say that I have. Captain is not going to let us go, we’re needed here and besides we don’t have the funds for that.”
“Just go along with it. It appears the other choice that you have isn’t to your liking so I think we need to make do with this.” I wasn’t worried, there was no way we were leaving Cleveland; my cousin was not going for that. I pulled my headphones out of my desk and turned up the volume.


******
Two weeks had gone by since my first day on the job. My partner continued to ignore me; never asking if I wanted to ride out with her; so I stayed put researching all I could on the cases at hand and pretending not to pay too much attention to the spoiled rotten detective better known as my partner from hell. Every afternoon she’d come in to work, headphones glued to her ear, still frowning when she sat across the desk from me. She would smile and talk with everyone else but never with me. I was a little annoyed by that; a female has never treated me as such; I will admit it is a first.

Every afternoon I brought her coffee to somewhat call a truce but she never drunk it but she didn’t throw it away, so I kept at it. It annoyed her and I enjoyed that annoyed look on her face. I will eventually break that wall and later break between those legs. But for now, I will be patient and play her little game; with 400 years plus under my belt patience has never been a problem for me.

She knew something was different about me that I could tell without reading her thoughts but what she’d never know is that I wanted one sip of her blood…that blood that smelled so sweet, so innocent. In the centuries I’d spent with the many women I had, I knew the smell of a virgin when I came across one. I could smell how many men a woman had been with. Take for example her friend Ashanti, she wasn’t wild and crazy, though she’d like to think she was she definitely wasn’t; she’d been with six men. I could point them out…as a matter of fact one was in this unit. Their relationship had been over at least a few months.

I fancied virgins, they were hard to come by, especially one as endearing as my partner. Little did she know I was in for the long haul. This was my hideout but to her it was something else. Something hidden behind that mask of fury she wore. I wasn’t going to let myself get wrapped up in that, the last time I fell for a women, she’d all but went loco on me. I sure as hell didn’t need the drama.

Right now, I need to think about how I am going to find out who was behind all of this and why; and how had it spilled into Ohio. The last girl killed had been drained, of course, they couldn’t see that on camera but soon enough they’d find out. This latest girl was from New Orleans the tat on her wrist explained that. It was a vampire tat, one that stated whose coven she belonged too. I didn’t know of whom just yet and I didn’t know rather or not she was killed by a Walker or a Nightstalker. The girl probably had no idea what she had gotten into. Vampires and mythical creatures were most likely the last thing on her mind. For all I knew I was the only Walker alive that could bit and not kill; myself and my trusted friend Akin. I often wondered why I had that ability and most other Walkers didn’t?

I’ve heard that there was a Walker that could change NightStalkers into Hybrids and could even bare children. I didn’t need that power but I was very intrigued by it. I didn’t fret about it too much. I could do things that most couldn’t do. I could walk in the sunlight, though it made me very tired and just out of it sometimes. I could feed without killing, read minds…a little, I had the power of invisibility and I could teleport wherever I wanted to go. I could not eat solid human food; I never understood why because Akin could. Coffee and red wine were my favorite, I was glad I acquired that taste.

I decided to go down to the morgue to see if I could get more answers, the smell was overwhelming; dead bodies I could deal with but embalming fluid was something I hated, it was the equivalent of humans smelling dead and decomposed bodies.
“Hey Nelson, nice to finally meet you; you’re Green’s new partner huh.” He laughed. “Well I hope she’s treating you well. He had a British accent clearly a native. “British aye.”
“Born and raised.”
“What brings you to the states?”
“Job opportunities nothing less. You’re a Native yourself; your features are quite noticeable.” I just nodded; I knew what tribe I was from but I wasn’t going to voice that. To humans Arawaks were extinct. “I never knew my mother and father.” He changed the subject sensing I didn’t want to go any further. Outside the room, I could smell detective Green spying on me. She didn’t come in but I knew she was there. “So where’s our victim mate?”
“Right over here. I hadn’t had a chance to get to the latest one yet but you can take a look.” I pulled open the door and there she was, only 16 years old…poor soul. I pulled out the drawer farther and grabbed a pair of gloves, not that I needed them. She reeked of a Nightstalker, I didn’t know who; I’d never smelled the scent before. However, I did know the difference between the two scents. I turn her neck over and pull the skin back over the bite mark hoping Gaines had missed it. He would not be able to piece together how she lost so much blood.

“It’s a shame isn’t it? There have been six of them you know and twelve altogether. Two of the girls that were brought in with detective Green are dead; I don’t think she knows yet. Russell… Captain didn’t want her to know. She’d never admit to it but this job sometimes has that affect on people.” I hear Green move closer to the door. “Really, I wouldn’t have pegged her as the emotional type. She comes across as the devils daughter.” I knew she heard me. “I mean she’s so compulsive.” He laughed. “No she’s a good kid, been through a lot that’s all.” At that same moment, she came out from behind her hiding place. We both grew quiet as though we weren’t talking about her. She rolls her eyes toward the ceiling. She changed clothes too, must be her work gear; a pair of slacks, heels, and cream blouse. The look wasn’t her. It made her look much more so not her… “We need to go.”
“Well duty calls mate, I guess I’ll talk to you later. Can you buzz me when you finish up? I had a few more questions.”

We got into the unmarked police car, a dodge charger with all the fixing. GPS… all sort of other gadgets I didn’t want to touch scared of breaking something. “I’m driving.” Her scent filled the small-enclosed area; I had to crack the window to focus. “Hey close the damn window!” She did not wait for me to concede. “The car smells…okay, can you let the window down.”
“The car…the car smells like what?” She asked. “Can you just open the damn window?” I practically growled at her. She didn’t stir. Now why had the first time riding together had to be an argument? “Now who’s being…?” Finally, she let the window down. But by that time, we’d arrived at our destination. I had no idea what was going on or why we were even called out. There were no other police cars on sight. “Why are we…?” She bolted out of the car. I couldn’t run or even walk as fast as I wanted to so I just followed her scent.
By the time I made it to her, she had her gun pulled. What the hell was going on, she hadn’t identify herself as an officer. I know enough about the law to know that’s something you’re supposed to do. “Um aren’t you going to…?” She ignored me and pushed the assailant into the corner, her forearm in his back. “What you got for me Dan?” She asked as she checks his pockets and rubs her hands up and down his legs side…front…back. Momentarily I was consumed with her hands on him and wished like hell that at this very moment I was the assailant. He must be her informant. She could have at least told me. “Dan….don’t tell me you got me all the way out here and you’re not gonna spill. What you got?”
“Okay, okay. Do you have to twist my arm off! Damn Green! I think I know where your next robbery is gonna be. I met up with this hoe the other night…sure was a good lay too; believe it or not I knew the bitch from high school. She said if I could bring her some young girls that she would drop me a shit load of cash. Didn’t make sense but hey you know I don’t pass up cash or ass. Now she wasn’t one of my hoes or even a regular so I gave her a few minutes of my time. She bragged about her boss and all the money he was throwing at her. Says he’s into some big shit. She even said…”
“Get to the point, I don’t have all day.”
“Okay…she bragged about the last bank job, says she was one of the robbers. Says it ran like clockwork. They went in dressed all classy as though they were going to get a loan and threaten one of the managers to go and get the cash. As collateral they took her license and told her if she said anything she would be killed.”
“You got a name for me?”
“Yeah but that’s gonna cost ya.”
“How about I not haul your ass in?”
“I haven’t done anything; you don’t have anything on me.”
“I didn’t know prostitution was still legal in the states.”
“Alright, Angela Brown. Now can I go?” She released him. “You haven’t changed have you…and who’s he?”
“Get out of here Dan! Before I change my mind.”

“Green if we’re going to work together you may want to let me in on a few things.” She ignores me and was starting to piss me off. “I don’t know what happened before I got here but this is not how I operate, we’re going to have to trust each other, it’s what partners do. What if I would have walked up on you with my gun already pulled and misjudged your informant thinking he was resisting arrest or something much worse. You need to let me know what the hell is going on!”
“He’s my informant. I knew him from my school days. Look I just need you to follow my lead.”
“You want me to follow your…”
“What do you want from me Taylor?”
“Why are you so angry what did I do to you? I’m sorry I called you a prostitute, whore, or whatever, but you’re going to get somebody killed. You act before you think.”
“You don’t even know me!”
“No I don’t but how can I when you won’t even let me get to know you? You’re hoping that I give up so you don’t have to work with me. Well as I told you before I don’t work like that. The next time you pull that trick, I am going to shoot and say you did it.”
“That’s fine…if you don’t know maybe I should explain some things to you; Captain R. Funches is my cousin, I don’t think he’d be willing to put his best…”
“Guess again, your cousin Captain Funches reads like an open book; he is quite fed up with you and even though he will not say anything I believe someone higher up is too. So your days are numbered. I don’t think the Commissioner or the Mayor is pleased about you running away some of the academy’s finest.” I could see I had her. She knew her cousin was stressed out but she just didn’t know how much. He’d done all he could for her and she’d thrown him under the bus a few times too many. “So do we have a deal or not?” She looks at me with those hazel eyes and I almost lost my focus. I don’t know if it was her scent or something else. I didn’t waste time to decide. I didn’t like playing the fool and I wasn’t about to let a pretty face do that to me. “Well?”
“Whatever.” I took that as a yes. She was pissed, she knew I had her. “You can start by bringing me up to speed with everything, don’t leave anything out. And let me tell you something; I’ll know if you’re lying so don’t even try it. “I worked under cover for a month or so and I ran back into him on the job; I didn’t want him to blow my cover and he sort of helped me out. He pretended to be one of the John’s I frequented. For his services to this great city of ours, I gave him a get out of jail free card. I had to make that look as though I was busting him just in case any of his buddies came down the alley. I’ve been working this case for months and every time I get close, someone ends up dead. The only reason I brought those girls in is because they were terrified and I thought if I brought them in I would get more answers.”
“What happened to the girls you came in with?”
“Cherry…the only…she was killed; they’ve just found her. The other two are missing.” I couldn’t help but ask. “Did you go to school with her?”
“No, I just met her during my time undercover. She didn’t want this life. I didn’t know the other two.” She turned away to stare back out the window as we drove off. At least I got a little bit out of her. She didn’t seem to be the type that let the job get to her and something was bothering her, I didn’t have to read her mind to know that. I didn’t want to press for more information so I let the conversation end. I didn’t pry into her mind either.


Okay the theory…there was a vampire behind all of this using humans. The girls were food, sex slaves, and robbing banks for them. Whoever was behind this was staying out of the way but why? And why Cleveland? I studied the photos of the dead girls found within the past month, something else was eating away at me and it wasn’t blood lost. The girls all looked similar; they were all around the same age; 16 or 17, long dark brown hair…curly, fair skin. I needed more information why is their appearance sticking out….what’s the significance. I sat there for a minute pondering why their appearance…facial features, hair, full lips. Out of habit, I glanced over at the picture sitting on my partner’s desk and I just realized…what the hell; all the girls killed within the last month had the same facial features as Danni. The full lips…I’m assuming her hair is probably curly as well. The times I’d seen her it had been up in a bun or she’s had on a wig. I got up abruptly from my desk and ran down to the morgue. “.”

“Aye, what brings you back…I was just finishing up.” I didn’t let him finish the sentence. “The reports from all the girls killed this month and anything last month can I see them.” It came out in a rush, but he stopped what he was doing and went and got what I’d asked for. “The victim that came in a few days ago, the one with the tat, what’s her real name?”
“Chastity Williams, her parents are flying in to identify the body.”
“Tell me everything you’ve found…everything.”
“She was raped…her fluids were very low rigor…she was dry; no blood. I don’t know rather or not it’s because she was drained before they dropped her here in Cleveland or…I’m still working on her.”
“May I…”
“Go ahead.” I went over to body, which he was still working on; examing for myself I found the same similarities, dark brown hair, not curly but long; skin a little darker than the others. She was about 5’10 ½, same body composition. A chill ran down my spine if that were ever possible. How could they have missed this? I looked at the reports from the other victims and they were all-similar in height, weight, black females; long hair…all dark brown.
“Everything alright mate?”
“Uh yeah, yeah; just familiarizing myself with the case.” I didn’t know rather or not I should bring this up to Danni or keep it to myself. If I told her, how would she react? The type of personality she has tells me that she would recklessly try to find out who was behind it; more so than she was already doing. She wouldn’t want protection but she’s going to get that rather she wants it or not. “Thanks.”

I went back to my desk, Danni hadn’t returned yet. So I had a few minutes to make a few calls. “Akin, I need you to get information pronto for me. Get all the information you can on Infinity Danielle Green…everything, from birth to childhood, pictures, birth certificates, everything.”
“Is everything alright My Lord?”
“No, something’s going on and it may concern my new partner. Hack into the FBI, CIA, whatever just get the information. Also I need an apartment in downtown Cleveland; I will be staying here for a while to keep an eye on things.”
“Is it our kind?”
“Yes, they are behind it. I’m going to send you the information we have so far and anything new that comes in, compare all of it and let me know what you find.”
“As for the apartment, what type of apartment am I to find?”
“Moderate I guess; furnished.”
“Are you expecting company?”
“No, I just want to be near if trouble goes down.” I didn’t want to be too close to Danni, besides I was already freaking her out. “Akin I’ll contact you in a day or so.”
“No problem. I’ll have everything ready for you in the morning. Tonight…”
“Don’t worry I’ll be here for most of the night. Text me when you have something.”

Now is not the time to tell her all of this. I need more information. I need to know why someone is targeting girls that look like her. The only thing that’s off is that they are much younger than she is and that’s probably why no one has noticed the similarities. How is she related to the vampire world? Just when I thought I could get away, start fresh; and live almost humanlike. Never fails. This time hopefully it has nothing to do with me. It couldn’t because this started before I even got here, so Yvonne the girlfriend from hell couldn’t know where I was or target her to get my attention. Why would she? I barely know her.

The following week; I came into work a little groggy from the lack of not feeding. I’d been posted on the roof of Danni’s small apartment building every night. When the sun rose this morning, I hid in the basement of their apartment and waited for Danni to leave. I noticed that she usually got up about 10ish took a jog around the neighborhood, grabbed coffee and two donuts. Then she would come back home take a shower and leave for work. While she showered I took the time to put a bug on her car, just incase I couldn’t be around. The sun was draining me but I endured it. Before I came into work, I stopped off at the same Dunkin Donuts and got her a cup of coffee. Why I don’t know. I sat the coffee on her desk knowing she wouldn’t drink it. I sat down and waited for her to come up from the locker room.
“Good morning detective.” She just nodded still not speaking. She saw the cup of coffee and left it there, already having one in her hand. “You could save it for later, microwave it.” It bothered me a little that she didn’t take my cup of coffee, I was hoping for some very odd reason that it was because she didn’t like microwave coffee and she already had a cup. Still I would stay persistent. That’s what most women liked persistence. Why I cared, I had no idea. I guess I wanted this partnership to work out as well. And I hate to admit it but sometimes I longed for human companionship…the kind that wanted nothing from you but your company.
As usual, she threw her headphones and sat at her desk flipping through the many reports that still needed to be filed.
Because I didn’t want to sit there in odd silence, I went to the coffee room. She should be okay for the moment. I would hear if she left the desk and could follow her if she…damn it; I just realized I hadn’t bugged the police car, just her personal car. I would do that later…she wouldn’t notice because I too had to ride in the same car; hoping she didn’t try to leave without me.
“Good morning detective Nelson.” I barely noticed her come in. “Good morning, and call me Taylor please.”
“No problem,” she smiles. “I didn’t know you were that much of a coffee drinker,” Ashanti implies. “Well I guess this job will do that too ya.” I poured another cup because her scent was hitting me hard. I was thirsty and I didn’t want to make her a victim. At the rate I was going I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. I would just leave and go feed but I had no idea where to go in this city. It was only a little past two very bright out. “So Taylor you’ve lasted almost a month now-good job, it must be going quite well, right?”
“So far so good.” I smile already knowing what she’s getting at. “I know Danni can be a pain in the ass but sometimes, though I’ve never seen it, she may grow on you.”
“I guess we’ll have to see. Speaking of the Grinch.” Ashanti chuckles. My mouth waters with venom, I get up to refill my coffee, Ashanti is starring but…it’s one thing to deal with Ashanti’s scent, hers I didn’t know how much I could take. “What’s up Danni?”
“What’s up. When did you get in last night?”
“I stayed at a friend’s house. I didn’t want to wake you because it was so late.”
“You need to be careful and stay out of the streets so late at night,” she whispers. “I was fine officer,” Ashanti replies. “Just having a little fun, you should try it sometime, does the body good.” She gave me a once over and I knew exactly what that meant. She wasn’t my type; I could make an exception if she weren’t Danni’s best friend. “Pig, look at him starring at her”. I cleared my throat and smiled, she saw me. “Um hey…Ashanti so you’ve been in Cleveland all your life?”
“Pretty much. How are you enjoying it so far? You know Danni he’s from Long Beach.” She ignored her. “I’m getting use to it, nothing like Long Beach but it will do. Hey I was looking for a new place to stay and was wondering how the Collinwood area was, know of any apartments.”
“You don’t have a place?”
“No not yet, I’ve been staying at the Marriott since I got here.” Every city had a Marriot so I couldn’t go wrong there. “Oh yeah which one; the one downtown?”
“Yeap that’s the one.”
“Well if you’re looking for an apartment definitely stay out of the Collinwood area, it’s not the worst but it’s not the best either.”
“What about something further east?”
“East side….um; did you want to be near work?”
“I guess so, depends. A friend of mine was telling me about new town homes over on Euclid. I don’t have much money; you know with just starting out and all…so nothing too expensive.”
“Euclid’s okay but there aren’t many apartments over there.”
“Why don’t you go and stay over in Longwood or King Kennedy?” Danni added. She was trying to be a smart ass but little did she know that is exactly what I was looking for. Akin was taking care of my apartment and she just took care of my meal. “Okay so where’s that at?”
“No! He can’t stay there, that’s a terrible neighborhood…”
“It’s okay Ashanti I’ll check anything out. Where is it Detective Green?” She hadn’t seen that coming.
“Not too far from here, straight over to Woodland and take that up to 93rd and Woodhill you can’t miss it. Cheap apartments, probably just what you’re looking for.”
“Danni that’s low. That neighborhood is terrible and they don’t like new people.”
“I bet the crime rate is high.”
“It sure the hell is!”
“Perfect maybe they could use a detective such as me to help out with the neighborhood watch. I’ll take a break and go check it out. Thanks Detective.” I smiled and left the room.

“You are such an idiot Danni. He’s super hot and you just blew it.”
“Oh fuck off Ashanti!”

***
Prince Charming according to Ashanti... What is he trying to prove anyhow? We had to work together but it didn’t mean we had to be friendly with one another. I didn’t want a partner, my last partner almost cost me my job and my life.

“Aye mate.”
“Oh come on Green…you know he’s cute; even I say so, he’s a bit too young for me.” I couldn’t help but smile, Antoine was gay and very open. He was my best friend; I’d known him half my life. “Just a little bit don’t ya think?”
“No.”
“Yes, you do. Look at me and tell me he isn’t cute.”
“He’s annoying; that’s it.”
“Okay, be that way girl, I know better. I also know that you stood outside the door listening to our conversation. If you ask me I think he thinks you’re cute too.”
“Antoine!”
“Okay, okay enough of that. What brings you down here, more vampire theories?” My theories of vampires went way back…back to my childhood. “Infinity…don’t fret. Actually, I do have something for you. Here…this is something I think you should know.” He handed me the report on one of the missing girls. I looked through it nothing out of the ordinary; I turned a few more pages…”Oh my god, are you serious!”
“Quite my dear.”
“So she didn’t have any fluids?”
“Now before you go overboard…she was dropped here from New Orleans, blood could have drained from her on the ride here or maybe some sick twisted individual thought it best to drain her. It doesn’t mean fangs were involved.”
“Okay tell me what you found so far that’s not in the report?”
“You tell me if you think Nelson is cute and I’ll tell you what I found that’s not in the report?”
“No…I don’t think he’s cute.” Okay maybe a little bit but who cares? I don’t have time to date and even if I did, I wouldn’t date him. “You have got to be kidding me! You can see his pecks through that black sweater.”
“Why don’t you date….you know what just tell me what you found and I’ll be out of your way. You can keep dreaming…maybe he’s gay too.”
“My gay dare didn’t pick him up and besides I think he’s digging someone anyway. So with that being said let me tell you what I’ve found…even in the other bodies. In victim one…look at this; no blood, but shot execution style.”
“I didn’t know….”
“Let me finish…I couldn’t wait to tell you this-you know how I get. All four victims drained. Then I look at last month’s victims and then a few others from the same area with the same MO. Your partner asked me the same thing; at least you too are thinking alike. This could be some type of cult. Last month five victims found but they were found in a different neighborhood, same gunshot wound to the head…but no rape. All five around the Kinsman area. Six months before that; Jennifer Beaver; Tanya Smith; Davania Johnson…gunshot wound to the head…drained, bone dry. Johnson and Smith were reported missing two months before being from New Orleans. The others were from Cleveland.”
“How many so far?”
“Total 12. I think this is all related. How many banks have been robbed over the past 12 months?”
“Four.”
“So that would be the equivalent of four different sets of girls for each robbery. Danni…they’re stealing em’ killing em’ and now raping em’ you two need to find out who’s doing this and fast!”
“Thanks Antoine, I owe you one. Hey…does Russell know any of this?”
“I haven’t brought it to his attention yet. I was going to…”
“You were going to what?”
“You know how your cousin is; a ghost could be starring him right in his face and he would say it wasn’t so.”
“So you think this is supernatural?”
“No…I didn’t say that I think; I think it’s crazy. I think its part of a cult; maybe even one trying to fund whatever it is they’re doing. I wanted to send this to my buddies in England to see what they would come up with; just to be on the safe side you know.”
“Antoine you think this is what I think this is don’t you? If you tell me the truth, I’ll tell you the truth.”
“Okay…you first.”
“Yes, I think he’s a little bit cute, just a little.”
“I knew it! I knew it!” He screamed. “Shush, I don’t want him to hear ya.”
“Why not. You need to date!”
“Hey let’s not go that far.”
“How bout I make another deal with you.”
“Okay, what’s the deal?”
“How bad do you want to know if this is what you’ve been looking for, for most of your life?”
“Really, really bad. What’s the wager?”
“If I find out that it’s true, that it really could be supernatural you go on one date with the hottie detective.”
“Fine!” Because I know it will never happen. But I need to know all he knows so for the time being I’ll agree to just about anything. “Just that simple huh?”
“Yeap, just that simple.”
“Okay.”

1

Raining, cold… ready to go! My first day on the job; I’m a rookie detective, Major Case. This was very new to me. In the past, I’d been a Blacksmith, a Farmer, a Doctor, a Slave, a Goat Herder and a College Student in the 1950s…that was actually one of my favorites, the girls, and the attention. But a rookie cop, never. I was stationed at the 1st District Police Head Quarters, better known as the Justice Center in Downtown Cleveland. Top ranked out of the police academy so I was offered a job as a detective upon graduation. I took it. I wanted a change and needed a quick new start.

After you read my story, you’ll see why. I am often told that I look as though I am a high school senior even though my driver license says I am 24. I was born in 1418 and 19 years after that I was reborn into this creature; a vampire, the walking dead, the boogeyman; a Walker. I was taken from my mother at a very young age; captured by a rival tribe the Caribs and thrown into slavery. My brother Jawea had been killed trying to flee. I never saw my mother again and I don’t remember much about her. Nevertheless, at times I long for her.

Upon my capture I’d been taken to West Africa, France and then to somewhere in Massachusetts. I thought I’d escaped and in many ways, I did. Just a few days shy of what would have become known as the Pequot War two vampires fought for a night’s meal. At that time, of course, I had no idea what they were but I’d already been bitten and I was left struggling for survival.

Within our species there are several ways (from what I’ve learned) for one to become a vampire; a bite, transference of blood, or by birth. It all depends on what type of vampire you are. I was bitten on the neck by one and the other vampire smelled the blood and tried to pry me from the other’s arms; I was bitten by him as well. Within the mass hysteria, I smelled the blood coming from one …I was drawn to it. Not realizing what I was doing I tasted it and instead of dying as a human I was reborn into a vampire. Before I knew it a group of men came thrashing through the wilderness where I lay with stakes and axes. The area was surrounded with fire but the two vampires escaped. I was left for dead. Three nights later, I woke. I do not regret what happened to me it could have been much worst. The powers from being a vampire allowed me to make amends with those responsible for my capture, killing my brother, and taking my mother.

I’d been here almost four hours today and I hadn’t met my new partner. All I knew was that his name was I. Green; I’d noticed it from the nameplate sitting a few feet from me on the other desk. For the past four hours all I’d done was answer various phone calls; you’ve heard of the type-the not so emergency calls, my cats stuck in a tree, the neighbor won’t turn his music down…that type. I guess being a rookie detective…I was suppose to take it easy; wouldn’t want me killed on the first day. Little did they know I could slaughter every criminal they had locked up in that little jail downstairs and then some in one minute, tops. I was going to be good though, I didn’t enjoy killing no more than I had too; unlike others I knew who didn’t care. I enjoyed meeting new people…women that is and I enjoyed living amongst humans. I’d chosen the detective role because no other Vampire would ever think I take on such a profession; well maybe a Walker, but I wasn’t running from one of them. They were the least of my worries.
“Detective Nelson, how’s your first day going?”
“Pretty good Captain.” I’d chosen the name Taylor Nelson; whenever I’d chosen a new identity, I always stuck close to my birth name, Tanaka Nirobee, Prince Tanaka Nirobee to be exact. I’d changed my names countless times but I will never forget my birth name it reminds me that I was once human.

Captain Funches hadn’t had a chance to introduce me to many of my co-workers in fact I’d only met the woman at the front; Officer Ashanti Bryant. Cute she was in her own little way. Officer Bryant wasn’t my type …but I could always make an exception. I wasn’t sex crazed… maybe a bit; but this was my first day.

I had an ex-girlfriend a while back (that’s the term I’d heard humans use Girlfriend’) and she was much more trouble than I could handle. She couldn’t quite understand that no meant no and that we had no ties to each other anymore. I’d once loved her, even wanted to take her as my vampire bride and would have had it not been for her infidelity, the sucking of every human in sight-no point intended. Some would say I was running but I wasn’t, I was just getting a way for about 50 years in hopes that she would forget about me. Fat chance I know but it would take her at least 10 years to find me, who’d ever think I come to Cleveland, Ohio; the small big city, the so called mistake on the lake.

“Detective can I see you in my office.”
“Captain?”
“Nelson, your partner is a little…well… Detective Green has gone through six partners in three years; two of those years, Green was solo. Green is a good cop, just doesn’t get along with everyone; let me break the news because Green doesn’t know you’re here or that you’re the new partner.”
“Why so many partners? Is Green that hard to work with?” I asked a little bothered with the entire ‘I gotta break the news bit’. I didn’t want any trouble; I was working on my temper as well. “Uh no…just a loaner but I had a spot in my unit and I wanted it filled. But that’s not what I called you in here for. I called you in here because I wanted to bring you up to speed with the type of caseload we have right now. Commiss has been on my ass for the past year. We have six murdered women, all appear to have been prostitutes; some of them we can’t identify. That’s why I have one undercover now…we’re hoping to get answers. This may be hard for you jumping right in and I wish I had time to train you but in reality, there’s really no training on this job. I hear you’re the best out of the academy and you came from a rough area yourself right? So none of this should be a surprise to you.” He threw some case files out on his desk. I hesitated before picking them up afraid of what I’d fine. “Most of them are from the general torn down areas…”
“What area is that exactly?” I asked intrigued and hoping this has nothing to do with vampires, witches and warlocks. Kinsman; W. 25th and Upper St. Clair. Detective Green is heading the investigation, but so far we’ve come up with nothing.”
“Are there any specific age ranges? Were any of these girls reported missing?”
“The girls that were reported missing were reported at least two years ago; one of them was from New Orleans.”
“So how did we get the case?” I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t running into another vamps territory. Many vamps used girls…young girls, for sex and as blood donors. I was trying to stay as far away from that as possible. “Usually shot in the back of the head and discarded in an alley. We can’t say rather or not they were raped because as I stated they were prostitutes. Also many of the prostitutes found had been linked to bank robberies in the Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Lyndhurst area; those are small suburbs east of here.”
“So when can I get out there?”
“Slow down Detective, first things first, you need to meet your partner”, Captain Funches said with a smirk. He must be a real asshole. No worries there for me I’d just scare his ass one night half to death and that would solve all of my problems …easy street from here on out.

I walk back to my desk to think about what could be going on. I hadn’t noticed before my partner whom I’d yet to meet had a picture of a very pretty girl and a little boy on his desk, I’m assuming it’s his girlfriend, sister or wife. His desk smelled of her…or a scent of a woman, whom had been all over it. The smell was intoxicating and clogging my senses.

The unit appeared to be returning now, bringing in four girls…all prostitutes. “Wahoo!” One of the detectives shouted. The one prostitute twirled around showing all to the admirers. Still in handcuffs. The detectives lead them downstairs for booking; one of them must have been a regular, she seemed comfortable. I didn’t get a good look at her as she twirled showing off, following the herd toward booking. I sat the picture back on my partner’s desk and look around.

“How do you take yours?” I wasn’t paying much attention to the person inside the coffee room I was still stuck on the beautiful girl on the picture and the scent around my partner’s desk. It wasn’t perfume it was something else, something sweet and enticing. I had to focus to get it out of my mind. “Detective…Nelson right?”
“Oh sorry yes, hi.” What did she just ask me? I couldn’t even remember her name the girl from the front desk. “It’s Officer Bryant but you can call me Ashanti.” I wasn’t thinking coherently. “How do you take your coffee? You were about to get a cup right?”
“Straight up, I mean black.” Pull it together. “So you’re Green’s new partner?”
“Yeah I guess I am the new partner.”
“You two should get along great, that’s if I have anything to say about it. So where’re you from?”
“I’m from um; I’m from Long Beach, California.”
“That would probably explain the tan, and the baby face, huh. You know…take this as a complement…you don’t even look old enough to drink.” I laugh. I was way over the legal drinking age. “And you wanted to start out as a Detective, must be pretty tough to get in that fast.”
“Guess so.” The scent had lifted from my psyche so I took a seat and let the girl chat at me for a few moments. “You haven’t met your partner yet have you?”
“Nope not yet, guess he’s out bringing someone in.” She threw me a surprised smile. She was wondering why I hadn’t gone out with him. It was my first day; I got in a few minutes late. “I uh haven’t had the pleasure yet.” She was still smiling. Was it that bad working with Green? I wanted to peak into her mind but thought otherwise. She’d noticed enough about me, I didn’t need her to notice even more and if someone walked in, I would be interrupted. Mind reading wasn’t as easy for me as it was to others. I’d only noticed it 50 years or so ago, hearing someone’s thoughts as they tried to rob me of my belongings. Lucky for me, I got a free meal out of the whole robbery. “So could you offer me any advice as to how to get along with my new partner?”
“I guess…I sometimes ignore Detective Green; Green can be a real asshole. I guess you’ve probably already heard about that though... very cranky in the morning and even crankier when the bad guys get off easy or off period,” she says while smiling. “So how long have you been working here?”
“I’ve been here five years; I came in right before my best friend Danni.” I had to take a peak in her mind, she was hiding something, and apparently, it seemed to be funny. I wanted in on the joke and I was hoping it wasn’t at my expense. What was so hard about working with my new partner, he must be gay, or maybe bitter about not getting a position, or maybe even some old man that should have retired years ago. Is that what’s so funny? I took a peak. “Danni is going to love him. He’s gorgeous. I would call dibs but he’s…I don’t know I just think… well Danni is for him. She definitely can’t refuse this time, she’d be crazy. If she doesn’t want him then I’ll take him. Look at those biceps, oh my god; maybe I’m wrong maybe it won’t work out and maybe he’ll transfer, that way I can be with him; well at least up underneath him.” Danni, the best friend. I wasn’t interested. If I was shagging any girl here it was going to be the girl on the picture rather or not she was my partner’s sister, wife or girlfriend. Typical thoughts most women had. I wasn’t surprised. All girls thought my kind were gorgeous and irresistible…even if I weren’t inhuman I’d still be irresistible-arrogant most women thought, but that’s what lured them to me; my confidence, arrogance, and sex appeal.

“So your best friend works here too?”
“Yep sure does. Oh, she’ll be around soon. You’ll meet her soon enough.”
“How did you two decide on becoming police officers? I don’t mean to sound as though only guys are police officers but you seem pretty young yourself.”
“Well for me it was a job, as you can see I’m only a paper pusher. I don’t work in the field. Danni was thrown in here as an alternative, she well she…you’ll see.” I had to smile with her. “Come on just say it.”
“Well Danni’s a little hard around the edges, she lives for the job. If it weren’t for the job she’d be locked up downstairs with the criminals.”
“Well hello, you must be Detective Nelson.” A light brown woman said. “Yes that I am and you are?”
“I’m Assistant District Attorney Howard, but you can call me Anita.”
“He hasn’t met his new partner yet,” Ashanti says smiling. “Oh is that right?”
“Nope not yet.”
“Well good luck with that.”
“Is Detective Green really that bad?”
“Yes she is,” they both replied. Well if that’s so then it won’t be any hard feelings when I take his girlfriend; maybe, a transfer would be in order but not before, I get that girl first.

I continued my tour of Head Quarters to pass time away. It had been over six hours and I had two more to go. Being located in downtown Cleveland wasn’t that bad, not like I’d heard. Head Quarters was pretty neat actually. Some of the offices had a view of the lake, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, City Hall, and the Football stadium. I didn’t have an office; I had a cubicle facing a partner that I had yet to meet; one that everyone was dreading for me to meet. Flowers and plants were centered in the middle of the corridor and a water fountain sat in the center.

About 45 minutes passed so I decided to go back over to my division. I only had a few hours left before the end of my shift but I hadn’t seen the locker room and I being nosey was passing the time away.

The locker room was just like any other locker room but a little older, it seemed to be the oldest part of the building. I hadn’t expected that because the rest of the building was newly remodeled; thank my lucky stars I didn’t have to spend much time in here. Though I am a vampire I still don’t fancy the smell of mildew and musk. The lockers were green and some had a little rust on them. Almost every locker was taken except for one; I guess I’d take that one. Officer Ashanti had given me a lock earlier today so hopefully this locker wasn’t taken. I opened the locker and it didn’t appear to be in use. I took off my jacket and…someone was coming in maybe my new partner. He had on headphones so I guess he was getting ready to shower. I hadn’t met a man that listened to girlie music so maybe my guess was right…maybe he was gay. I couldn’t penetrate through the music to hear his thoughts before he branded the corner. So I braced myself to meet my partn…that scent...he must of…
“Hey what the hell are you doing down here!” It was the prostitute that had been arrested and brought in by my colleagues. She couldn’t hear a word I was saying with the music blasting in her ears. Did they let them shower down here? Why? “Hey!” I rushed over at human speed, grabbed her by the arm, and pushed her against the wall. My partner must have had some type of relationship with her because that intoxicating scent was all over her. “What the fuck!” I rammed my four arm into her back as she snatched the earpieces out of her ears. “Get the hell off me, what the hell is this! You must be new!”
“Prostitutes are not supposed to be down here, shouldn’t you be locked up?”
“You must be new…I need to explain something, if you’ll just let me go we can settle this misunderstanding.”
“I’m not letting you go! I don’t know what the others do down here but I’m not going for that. Whores have no business, you have…”
“A whore…what the… That’s so low…a whore that’s worst than being called a prostitute.”
“Oh so there’s a difference!”
“What are you trying to do get a freebee? Get the fuck off me.”
“Detective! What are you…?”
“I was down here and then I look around and saw this whore down here getting ready to take a shower.”
“Uh oh!”
“What…did I catch you guys red handed? Do you allow this here?”
“Detective!” The prostitute managed somehow to loosen my grip on her arm and she spent around and kicked me….kicked me right in the nuts. Normally that wouldn’t hurt but damn it she caught me off guard. She threw me to the floor… she was strong. On top of me she sat, one hand holding her towel; her knee pushed against my nuts the other hand around my throat. Ironic! “Detective let him go!”
“I don’t have her she’s on top of me can’t you see that!” I could barely pull myself together, my new partner must have slept with her a few times, and the same scent from around my partner’s desk was swirling around her. I couldn’t think straight. “Apologize!”
“Apologize for what! You’re in the men’s locker room.”
“Hand me my gu…”
“Captain!”
“Hey Detective let him go!” Oh, shit this was another detective, oh…this is bad. Bad because apparently, she had a relationship with my partner and I wanted her, well at least I did. Now I just….damn. “Let him go!”
“Okay, okay.” She released my neck but not before pushing harder on my nuts before getting up. She still had on her disguise, blond wig and contacts... How the hell was I suppose to know. I heard the other guys laughing. And one said, “I give him two weeks before he bails.”
“Detective you have ten minutes, I need everyone upstairs. Nelson upstairs; guys you too, nothing to see here.” I got up holding my crushed nuts, whizzed my way back up the stairs, and then smothered in the elevator with laughing bobble heads. “I didn’t know.” Neither said anything but apparently, it was very funny. “Hot isn’t she.”

“Guys in my office now!” What the hell was I thinking that scent distracted me, no use now? “Detective let me introduce you to all the guys while we’re waiting.” Waiting for what? We couldn’t be waiting for the woman taking a shower, could we? I hope not because that would be very awkward. “That there is Michaels; to your left is James; Brown; and on your right Moore and right on time as always…” I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was, that sweet scent said it all, now all I had to do was control myself for the last hour of work. “And this here is Detective Danni Green.” I kept my head down; I felt her anger as she entered the room. “That’s Detective not prostitute…Nelson right. Well don’t be embarrassed now, look at me!” I…damn it. I look up and I couldn’t believe what I saw; a 5’10” fair skin woman, dark brown hair, hazel eyes; dressed in fitted black pants and a ribbed shirt that showed a small…hint of her cleavage. As the scent lingered I began to realize….to realize that she was the girl on the picture on my partner’s desk. In the flesh. Her lips were full and luscious. “I told you she was hot didn’t I, quit drooling,” Detective James whispered. And that she was, just one taste was all I wanted. My mind was swirling…I fought to keep control. Those light eyes looked dead into mine. “Detective!”
“Oh…wait a minute, this is Detective Green?”
“Yes I am or did you still assume I was a prostitute or a whore getting ready to bone the entire precinct.” I wasn’t thinking that I was just hoping you were getting ready to bone me. The things I would do to you. Wait…wait. “Hold up is this my partner!”
“Partner! Russell what the hell is he talking about. Partner!” No this couldn’t be my partner it says on his desk I Green, she must either be a relative or wife, hope not but no this couldn’t be. “Captain Russell Funches! What the hell is going on?”
“Sit down Infinity. Let me explain.” Yeap it was as bad as it could get, she was the same I. Green that would be sitting across from me. I ran my hand over my face; disgusted that I’d even let my thoughts run that wild. I would definitely have to get that scent out of my system. She was cute, a little beautiful even but her attitude was, oh hell no. Not in all my 500 years had I ever come across a woman that appeared to be too hot tempered for me to want to handle. “Captain he called me a whore, not a hoe but a whore; a prostitute. He rammed me against the wall and damn near pulled a gun on me. I’m not working with him. I smell rookie all over him. Is this what Ashanti paged me about…oh hell no.”
“You two will be working together or you can sit downstairs in the evidence room, is that clear! That goes for you too Nelson. Make it work!”
“On one condition, he apologizes.”
“Danni…why should he apologize when you came in dressed in your hoochie gear, it’s his first day cut him some slack,” shouted Captain Funches. “Captain why would a prostitute be in the men’s locker room,” asked my new partner? “Why would a female be in the men’s locker room,” he countered. “I was taking a shower our water is cold, it’s been that way for quite some time; the other guys don’t mind, they don’t rammed me against a wall.” I’m sure many of them would definitely like too. Wait a minute was this the Danni…Ashanti’s best friend. This is why everyone was laughing. “I give him two weeks.” Danni, detective, or Infinity whatever her name was stormed out. I was lost for words. How the hell was this suppose to work? I guess this was the big joke. “Look guys everyone’s been out all day so we’ll take this up in the morning.” I look over at the Captain and read right into his mind…she was his cousin, and he was worried about her for some reason. Protective he was. “Captain can I have a word with you please?” It had just occurred to me that no one referred to her as woman or man. It was always your partner or Detective. “Not right now okay.” He didn’t feel like being bothered and I didn’t want to press the issue. I’d just have to wait until later.

I went back to my desk and to my surprise she hadn’t been there; her scent wasn’t as strong as it was in the office so she must have gone a different direction. I knew just the person to talk to, Ashanti. I walk around looking for her hoping to catch her before she left for the night. The Captain really wants this to work; it was as if this was his last draw. I definitely wasn’t going to be a pussy and give up that easy. She just met her match! I’d probably have her in my bed in a week’s tops. There wasn’t a woman alive that could resist me! Damn girl.
“Good evening Ashanti.”
“Hey,” she smiles. “I guess you’ve met Danni.” I smile back. “Yeah I did.”
“So is this your last day?”
“Nope, I’m not going to chicken out like the others.” In her mind, she was putting a time on my tenure here as well, had it really been that bad. Who would let a woman run them out of a job? “I was just hoping that maybe you could give me some type of advice…I think I’ve already made her mad enough at me.”
“What happened?”
“Well I kind of thought she was a prostitute…I was a bit confused.”
“You didn’t call her a whore did you? She hates that, her last partner did that and she left him with a broken arm and a broken collarbone.” If I had been human she would have broken my bones too. “Yeah I did. That’s bad isn’t it?”
“Afraid so but apparently she likes you because you’re still standing.”
“We got off on the wrong foot. I was trying to find her to apologize; I didn’t know she was working undercover.” I wasn’t thinking is more like it. “Before she goes home she’s usually working out or sparring with one of the guys.”
“I guess I can have him after all.” She thought as I walk away toward the training room. She was sweet and flirtatious but I wasn’t interested in her that way. I was more focused on making a mends with my partner. It was important to Captain that I make this work, I saw that in his eyes. More so, I didn’t want to be known as a pussy for giving up early. I was going to prove them all wrong even Danni for that matter.

TRAINING ROOM THIS WAY. The smell of sweat and mildew crowded the hallways. She definitely wasn’t down here. “Michaels have you seen Detective Green?”
“Not giving up so easy huh, you know I got $100 that you’ll last 30 days top.” I’ve endured more; more than what he’s seen in a lifetime; 30 days is a walk in the park. “Have you seen her?”
“Oh yeah she’s in the ring sparring.”
“Where’s that?”
“Roof top, six flights up or you could take the elevator. If you take the elevator, go back through the staircase and take the door labeled roof. We turned it into a ring and low and behold Danni wanted in, good luck Detective.” Okay six flights up. I welcomed the challenge. I would take my time with her just to make it look like I worked hard. All she had to do was look at me, as I said no woman especially a mere mortal could resist.

I took the stairs instead of the elevator. She would probably want me in her bed before I even asked; I would have to encourage her to slow down. I’d tell her something like; I don’t mix business with pleasure while she dreamt about me every night. Seconds later, I was at the rooftop. She didn’t notice me come in she had that stupid MP3 player plugged in her ear. So I stood against the door and followed her every move. She was precise, gorgeous…sweat poured from her brow and her body was cut to perfection. She wore short shorts, very short as a matter of fact and a sports bra that showed her defined abs. I’d seen many women in my day alive, dead, skinny and skinnier but never in all my 500 years had I seen a woman that was damn near perfect. She pounded into Detective James with ease. It actually looked as though it hurt, she continued as if he was just a ragged doll. I was intrigued…she was hot and fierce. The music she pounded her brain with though, goodness gratuitous what was it? I didn’t listen to too much of today’s music, I enjoyed the old, old, old stuff actually. What difference did it make if she could relate? Well I guess we had to relate some type of way, we were partners. Why was she so damn angry? James saw me standing there and unlucky for him she took that as being unfocused and punched him so hard his mouthpiece flew off. I smiled. “Danni I think you have a visitor… damn.” He moved his jaw around purely in pain. “What do you want?” She actually scared me with that fierce look of hers. “Hey I just wanted to apologize, I was out of line and I just wanted to say sorry.” She didn’t take the head phones off so I couldn’t hear what she was thinking. Instead of responding, she turned back to the ring. “Danni he’s trying to apologize he didn’t know…give him a chance.” I take it that she reads lips well…her lips were luscious…focus…we’re partners.
“A chance to what, think that all women are only good for laying on their backs?” She shouted, still apparently pissed at me. “No I didn’t mean…”
“Well what did you mean? I guess I couldn’t actually be a detective now could I. You must be one of those sexist bastards that think all women are only good for sex and cooking meals. Well let me tell you buddy I am none of the sort! I work hard and no I didn’t sleep my way to the top! I risk my life just like every other cop in this precinct! And I go toe to toe with the best of them. So don’t you think for one minute that I’m just a pretty face behind a gun that slept her way to the top. I may be stuck with you for a couple of weeks and we may have to work together but I don’t have to make small talk with you or be nice or whatever.”
“Danni…”
“What? Isn’t that what he thought?”
“I’m going to go shower and leave you two to get acquainted.” Detective Jason James walks out and I were left there to try to work this partner arrangement out. “Look I said I’m sorry; can I have just a few minutes of your time, please. Can you take the headphones out?” She hadn’t thrown a punch so maybe this will work eventually. “Just one minute I just want you to hear me out.” To my surprise, she took the headphones out. Hopefully I could get a quick peak in her mind. I looked into her eyes for a moment. She stood still and started tapping her foot against the mat. I looked deeper but all I got was a morbid song playing repeatedly in her head. Then after that passed I saw that she was worried about one of the women she brought in today. Damn this was going to be as hard as it could get maybe she was gay. “Well? I thought you were ready to grovel at my feet.” She had the most beautiful eyes… “Well?”
“Oh…look I’m sorry I offended you. It was not my intention to get under your skin. I am sorry but to my defense you did come in with a group of prostitutes, you were even dressed as one; but…”
“So tell me Detective how does a prostitute look?”
“Oh come on, you had a small sparkly mini skirt; fish net stockings, a wig that was very unbecoming by the way; high heels; blue contacts; and fake eye lashes. What was I suppose to assume. With that being said you were also in hand cuffs.”
“So you saw all that. Maybe you were hoping I was a prostitute so you could get me in some corner to ram me up against the wall with your big gun…huh detective?”
“Hey wait let’s not go there okay. We need to work together and we need to get along. I will stay out of your way as long as you stay out of mine; agreed?” Or did she really want me to ram her against the wall. I could definitely oblige that. “Whatever…can I finish my workout now?”
“Sure, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”

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Taking a small break and rereading a few books; (From my all time favorites list)

A Little Dare (Brenda Jackson)
Irresistible Forces (Brenda Jackson)
King's Passion (Adrianne Byrd)