![]() Thomas P. ScottA Chapter by Laura Lin![]() Introducing the detective of the story.![]() “It’s
vampires alright.” Nodded the retired
officer, as his bushy gray eyebrows furrowed while the almost white blue eyes
reread the paper clippings that Scott had brought to his house. “I can’t figure out why they’re doing this
though. Usually they keep a low profile,
but this one, well he seems to be going out of his way to make the paper.” Scott
leaned in on his knees from where he sat in the leather armchair in the older
man’s study. “They’ve all been minor
things, purse snatchers, robberies, a few women harassed. They weren’t violent. But this one,” he tapped the article that had
been taken from today’s paper. “It was
brutal to say the least. I just don’t
get it.” Malarm
reread the article and the report that had been brought along with it. “Might not be the same one.” This
was not what the detective wanted to hear.
He was anxious enough about possibly dealing with one of these
creatures, but two, maybe more, well that was more than what he had bargained
for. “What do you suggest? I can’t just let this go, especially this
last one.” The
gray haired man furrowed his brow, accentuating the deep creases found there
and around his eyes that were now covered by his bifocals. “You need to talk to Chris. He’s the one who helped me.” He pulled open one of the side drawers on his
mahogany desk and rifled through the contents until he found what he was
searching for. “He’s the man you need to
talk to.” He slid a napkin across to the
detective, a stamped silhouette of a busty woman on the front. “Do
you think he’s up to this kind of work still?”
Asked Scott doubtfully as he picked up the folded napkin and flipped it
over, looking at the numbers scrawled across it in blue ink. Malarm
laughed at the question, his smile showing off slightly yellowed teeth that
came from too many years of drinking coffee and smoking cigars. “Let’s just say Chris is ageless.” The
detective arched an eyebrow in question but took the old man at his word. “Thank you for your help, captain.” He said respectfully as he began to gather up
the clippings and reports he had brought with him. “You
just take care of yourself, son. Don’t
take these folks for granted.” He
warned, watching as his desk quickly became cleared of papers. Detective Scott nodded his head and after a farewell, left the moderate sized house and the neatly manicured lawn behind. No sooner was he out of the drive did he have his cell phone in hand, punching in the digits that were scrawled across the napkin.
* * * * *
Detective
Thomas P. Scott sat in a booth inside a nearly empty diner, watching through
the window as a young couple laughed and joked while walking arm in arm. Sipping at the cup of black coffee that the
waitress had brought to him a few minutes earlier Scott wondered about the
unusual hour to which this meeting was taking place. Glancing up at the large white clock above
the kitchen he noted that the man should be arriving just anytime now, the
black hands reading two minutes before one a.m.
At
precisely one o’clock a young man standing 5 foot 8 inches with jet black hair
slicked back into a stylish ponytail stepped into the diner. His faded blue jeans and art deco t-shirt
that was viewable from the open brown leather jacket lead the detective to
believe he had just left one of the local clubs that spotted the area. What he was not prepared to see was the young
man coming towards him and sliding into the bench seat in front of him. “Detective Scott.” He said extending a hand for the detective to
shake.
The
balding man crinkled his brow in question, wondering how this punk knew his
name or even that he’d be here. Not
taking the offered hand he fired his first question. “Who are you?”
The
young man smiled, revealing a set of pearly white teeth that were perfectly
aligned. “So like an officer to be
distrusting.” He chuckled with
amusement. “You called me and yet you
have to ask my name. How amusing.”
“Chris?” The detective asked looking even more
confused if that were possible. He was certain that this couldn’t be the same
man who the captain had referred him to; he had said that this fellow helped
him back when he was on the force. This
man looked barely old enough to legally drink.
“Correct. Now when you are through questioning my
identity, please fill free to inform me of the situation.” He leaned back against the seat, laying his
hands flat upon the table, revealing well manicured nails and a black onyx ring
in the shape of a square that was offset by two tiny diamonds.
Scott
sat still for a moment, trying to push aside logic for the time being, after
all there was nothing logical about this case.
“I have a situation. Captain Malarm said you might be able to help me.” He slipped a manila folder onto the table
between them, the contents nearly pushing it open.
The
young man pulled the offered pack towards him, opening it with slow precise
movements as his dark eyes scanned the information within, no emotion
flickering over his perfect features.
“Vampires.” He said when he had
read the last scrap of paper within the folder.
The
detective nodded his head. “Captain
Malarm said you had helped him some years ago with a similar situation. I was hoping you could do the same for me.”
The
man glanced up, his ivory complexion competing with the darkness of his
clothing as his nearly black eyes studied him.
“Like the captain, detective, you must be sworn to silence about
everything that is seen, said, and heard.
Do you understand?”
Scott
frowned, unsure of what he was about to get into but trusting his old captain
enough to agree. “You have my word.”
“I
assure you, detective, I will know if you break it.” Something in the man’s eyes told the
detective that he meant this. A cold
shiver shot up his spine as he had the feeling that he had just made a deal
with the devil as he nodded his head to signal that he understood the unspoken
warning. The corners of Chris’ mouth twisted up in a satisfied smile.
“Very
well. Let us get down to business then.”
He announced, spreading some of the newspaper clippings out in front of
him. “From what I am reading, it looks
like you have at least one vampire on your hands, maybe two, but I don’t think
more than that. They seldom travel in
packs anymore for it brings too much unwanted attention. The one thing vampires try to avoid is
attention. What I can’t figure out is
why he, we’ll call him he for now though it could just as easily be a she, is
doing this.” He paused and shook his
head, reading through the articles here and there, talking through his thought
process as the detective attempted to follow.
“I’d have to see your actual reports to determine if they are feeding
off these criminals or, if it is truly what it appears to be, a vampire with a do-good
spirit.” He shook his head again,
rifling through the clippings and laying the most recent report on top. “This one here shows me that despite his best
efforts, he still suffers from primal instincts. Though again I’d have to read your report to
see if what occurred here was blood lust or something else.” He neatly stacked the clippings back inside
the folder and pushed it towards the detective. “I need to see the police reports, coroner
reports, and if possible the bodies, including those who are now serving prison
time. There are signs from a vampire
attack that a human would not pick up on.”
“There
weren’t any puncture wounds on the necks.”
Interrupted the detective, his remark eliciting an amused laugh from
Chris.
“There
are other things to look for, detective.
I will show you everything I find, talk you through my process, and
answer your questions, but I must have your trust in my tactics. I assure you everything I do is for a
purpose.” Again he leveled his dark eyes
upon the detective as if measuring to see if he was man enough for the job.
“Long
as it’s not illegal.” Stated Scott, this
time he received a genuine smile and nod of approval.
“Fair
enough.” The man stood up, and turned to
face the detective. “We will meet here
tomorrow night precisely an hour past sunset.
Have the reports when you come.”
Not waiting for a word of argument or confirmation he turned and left.
Detective
Scott sat in baffled silence watching the man through the window as he worked
his way down the now empty sidewalk. He
couldn’t help but wonder what kind of a person he was dealing with. Was he an ex-con, a psycho, or something much
worse? Something told him he would find
out soon enough, but he wasn’t so sure he really wanted to know. Finishing off his coffee, he left a dollar on
the table for a tip and then stood up, taking care to gather up his file before
heading to the counter to settle his bill for the coffee and going home.
© 2012 Laura Lin |
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Added on May 18, 2012 Last Updated on May 18, 2012 Tags: laura lin, In Death There Is Life, lulu, vampires, young adult, Alex Smith, New York, Detective P. Scott Author![]() Laura LinPrinceton , WVAboutI am a mother of three, Wal~Mart employee, and new indie author. Other than writing, I enjoy photography, geocaching, and spending time with my kids. more..Writing
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