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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