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.”