Midnight Shadows
Chapter Eleven: Murder Scenes and Mayhem
BY: Tammy

Disclaimer: Anita, Dolph, Jean-Claude, Jason, Asher, Zerbrowski, and any other recognizable characters belong to Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m borrowing them. This was written purely for entertainment and not monetary gain. Cara, Calin, Tanon, the Queen, and Dr. Zimmerman belong to me.

Author’s Note: This story is told from Anita’s and Cara’s view points. They alternate back and forth from chapter to chapter.

Anita's P.O.V.

I made good time to the murder scene. It was in an alley downtown. I had no trouble finding it. Just follow the trail of fascinated observers. As usual there were more police officers there than could possibly be needed. I parked as close as I could to the alley and put on my crime scene gear. I also remembered to tuck a pair of latex gloves into an extra pocket before I headed toward the milling officers and detectives.

I elbowed my way up to the yellow police tape. I flashed my executioner's license at a nearby uniform and waited while he cleared it with whoever was in charge. In a few minutes Zerbrowski returned with the uniform to escort me in.

"So what have we got?" I asked.

"You'll see."

"Have you been taking lessons from Dolph?" This cryptic shit really got on my nerves.

"No, just getting even for the lack of information at the hospital. Fair's fair."

"Screw you," I said as we marched toward Dolph and the victim.

"I knew you were after my body."

"I really am going to tell Katie on you." He gave me a leering grin and laughed.

Dolph nodded at me and gestured to the victim. "Take a look and tell me what you think."

The victim was a man with short brown hair. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He could have been anyone walking down the street. In a glance I knew a vampire had done the damage. There were the tell-tale fang marks on the neck, but the unusual thing was that the victim had been strangled. Not just bruising, but the whole neck had been crushed like a pop can. Only something with preternatural strength could do that kind of damage. I checked the wrists, bends of the elbows, and groin for other bites. There weren't any. I rolled the body to its side to check if blood had pooled in the back. There was some, he hadn't been completely drained. I measured the fang marks. When I got to the Circus I would measure Cara's marks and compare them. I stood up and turned to Dolph.

"Well?" he said as he got out his trusty notebook and pen.

"It's a vampire kill. One bite. I'd say he gorged himself and then killed the victim by crushing the neck. I think the ME will find strangulation the cause of death, not blood loss. A vamp can't drain a victim in one sitting. Dolph, this is pretty straight forward. Is there anything else here?"

"No, nothing else to see. Could this be related to Cara's attack?"

"Wouldn't surprise me. There just can't be that many rogue vampires running around. One could hide from Jean-Claude, but more than that would have a hard time staying under wraps."

"Why would he strangle the victim?"

"Who knows? This vampire has gone rogue, so he's not dealing with a full deck. He probably got a rush from the killing. I think he's going to keep killing until we catch him."

"I assume Jean-Claude will also be hunting for him?" Dolph said.

"It is his territory to police. I can't stop him from looking. Hell, he might not even tell me if he finds him. I'm his girlfriend, not his boss."

"This is police business, Anita."

"Yeah, I know. I'll explain it to him."

"You do that. If the local vampires find the S.O.B., I want to know about it before they cut him into tiny little pieces. Could he tell if Cara was contaminated?"

"She's not." I didn't lie. I just didn't share all the information. I try not to lie to friends unless it's absolutely necessary.

"Good. What hotel is she staying at?"

That blindsided me. With everything going on I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to find Cara a hotel. I thought fast. I'm getting better at that.

"This vamp may come back after her. I'm going to let her stay with me for a few days. Besides she doesn't have any money."

Dolph gave me a look, but couldn't argue with my logic. It was have her stay with me or a shelter. We both knew she'd be safer with me.

"Alright, as long as I can find her if I need her." He said that like I needed his permission, but I let it go. It wasn't worth the argument. Maturity strikes again.

With that I left. I needed to get back to the Circus. I didn't think there would be any trouble, but you just never know. I once again parked in the employee lot. As I got out, I felt a tingle of power on my skin. It made the hairs on my arms stand up. The power felt hot, not like the electric feel of lycanthrope energy. It was more like the feel of bathwater just shy of burning. I broke into a run for the door.

When I saw the door hanging open I pulled the Browning and peered in cautiously. I couldn't see anything menacing. I listened and all I heard was silence. I headed for the stairs. With the Browning pointed down, I crept down them. The door at the bottom was gaping on its hinges. Being a blind corner, I only had a few options for finding out what was going on in the room. I chose to go down on one knee and carefully peeked around. What I saw what unbelievable.

Jean-Claude's living room was in shambles. It looked like a hurricane had gone through. The drapes were torn down and you could see the stone walls they usually hid. The couches and tables were tipped over and shoved against the walls. The portrait of Jean- Claude, Asher, and Julianna had fallen to the floor. The sense of power was stronger. I was beginning to feel like I was in a boiling cauldron.

Cara was standing in the middle of the room with her hands out in front of her like she was pushing something. I could only see her face in profile, but she looked furious. Jean-Claude and Richard were up against the wall across from her, about six feet apart. They were getting the brunt of her angry expression. They both looked shocked. Jason and Asher were behind Cara, also against a wall. I had a feeling I knew where all the power I felt was coming from.

I stood up slowly. I tried to step into the room, but the metaphysical heat stopped me. If I took one more step I was going to fry. I put the Browning up and decided to try and talk the situation down. I didn't know what the situation was, but these people were friends and loved ones. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Besides, if talking didn't work I could still always shoot her from the doorway.

"Cara?" I asked cautiously. The power had to be coming from her. I would recognize Jean-Claude's or Richard's. Given what was going on I was surprised I hadn't felt the upheaval through the marks we share.

She looked at me. When she saw that it was me she seemed to relax. Her hands came down. At the same time the four men against the walls slid down. The heat pulled back and I could enter the room.

"What's going on?" I asked as I walked to Jean-Claude. I gave him a hand up and he gave me a weak grin.

"I'm afraid Richard and I were having a small disagreement and we frightened our guest," he explained.

Richard was getting to his feet. He didn't look worse for wear. Matter of fact, he looked absolutely scrumptious in his tight jeans and gold shirt. There were good reasons we weren't together, but chemistry wasn't one of them. Asher and Jason were also back on their feet looking cautiously at Cara, not quite fearful, but with respect for her power.

Cara stood up a fallen chair and sat down. She looked tired. If the amount of energy I had felt was any indication, she should be absolutely exhausted. The boys began righting the furniture, and then Jason and Asher made themselves scarce. I wanted some explanations.

I looked at the two of them and gave them a hard look. "Alright, spill it."

They looked sheepishly at each other.

Richard spoke up first. "I came in here in a rage. I was angry because Jean-Claude demanded more personal wolves. I didn't even realize there was anyone else here. While we were arguing I let my beast begin to bleed out and he let his power begin to leak at me. That's when she shouted `stop' and we ended up pinned to the wall."

Jean-Claude nodded his corroboration. "It is how he said, ma petite. I'm afraid neither one of us were thinking. She also was able to cut us off from our power. I could feel it, but not draw on it."

Richard nodded in agreement. "It was like there was a glass wall between me and my beast."

Cara spoke up then. "I didn't know what was going on, but I felt the power building. It almost made me pass out. I had to stop them." Her voice faded to a whisper. She began swaying in the chair and her eyes glazed over.

"Shit! Catch her! She's gonna pass out," I exclaimed.

Richard moved with that preternatural speed of his and caught her as she slid off the chair. He stood easily holding someone as tall as he was. Must be nice to be that strong.

"Now what?" he asked.

Good question. To bad I didn't really have any answers to give him.

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