Midnight Shadows
Chapter Fifteen: Tensions Rising
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.

We arrived at Washington University just before 7 o’clock. A quick call this afternoon to Ronnie’s boyfriend Louie had told me where and when Tan Alfaim would be speaking. It was doubtful that this man was the missing elf Cara was searching for, but she was insistent that she meet him. So here we were: myself, Cara, Jason, and Nathaniel.

Larry had agreed to take my first two risings tonight, even though it was his night off, so I could bring Cara to the lecture. Larry’s a good kid, now I’ll owe him one. However, this shindig better be over in time for that third rising or Bert was going to hit the roof.

The lecture was scheduled to begin at seven, so we hustled into the auditorium and found seats near the back. The place was packed with students, professors, and a few media personalities. I guess Mr. Alfaim must be some kind of celebrity. Odd that I’d never heard of him. I usually try to keep up on other preternatural experts. That’s how I stay an expert myself.

Cara was tense in her seat next to me. Her undivided attention was on the stage before us even though there was no one on it yet. I knew she was convinced tonight’s speaker was Tanon, but I was skeptical. It seemed entirely too easy for her to see just who she’s looking for on TV and for him to be in town. In my experience, coincidences are rarely good things.

The lights dimmed and two men walked out onto the stage. One was a middle-aged man in a blue suit jacket who stepped up to the podium. The other looked to be about thirty with reddish-blond hair. As he took a seat Cara sat up straighter in her chair. She stared at him so hard I was surprised he didn’t notice it. That must be Alfaim. The suit began a long winded introduction which I tuned out as I observed the room. As he began to wind down my pager went off. Dolph always has perfect timing. I went out into the lobby to call him back.

“Anita, we need you down at the Riverfront,” he said.

“Another vampire victim? In the District?”

“Looks that way.”

“I’m on my way. Where exactly are you?”

He gave me the location and hung up. I ducked back into the auditorium and motioned for Jason. He scooted out of his seat and followed me back out to the lobby.

“I have to go to a crime scene,” I said. “I shouldn’t be more than an hour or so. Hopefully I’ll be back before he’s done speaking. Keep an eye on things and try to stall Cara if I’m not back on time. I don’t want her approaching a stranger without protection.”

Jason gave a mock injured grin and said, “Hey, what am I? Chopped liver? Besides, after what she did to Jean-Claude and Richard yesterday, I think she can protect herself.”

“Jason, just do what I asked,” I said tiredly. There are days when dealing with Jason will just give you a headache. Today was beginning to look like one of them.

“Okay, I’ll do my best,” he said, still grinning like an idiot.

“You do that,” I shot over my shoulder as I headed out to the Jeep. Jason was probably right about Cara taking care of herself, but I still felt like I needed to protect her. Or maybe I just had to be in charge.

There were all the usual spectators at the crime scene, especially in the District. People can’t help but wonder if the vampires had gotten out of control and were on the rampage. The crime tape kept them from getting too close, but it couldn’t stop them from gaping like fish at the corpse as it moved in and out of view as the police did their job.

After putting on my crime scene gear, I flagged down a young uniform to lead me through the chaos to Dolph.

“So what do you have?” I asked after he acknowledged me.

“Take a look,” he replied unhelpfully.

I squelched my feeling of annoyance and turned my attention to the body at Dolph’s feet. It was covered by a canvas tarp, but I could see the blood seeping through it and trickling out from under one edge. This was going to be messy. Thank goodness for coveralls.

I carefully lifted the tarp’s corner. Zerbrowski walked up and grabbed the other corner. We pulled the tarp back and I got my first glimpse of the victim. She was painfully thin, looked to be in her early twenties, and sprawled on her back with her arms close to her sides. She had blond hair and blue eyes that were half closed in death, like she was just drifting off to sleep.

Like yesterday’s victim, there were fang marks at the neck, but her throat wasn’t crushed. So where had all the blood come from? I continued my examination, looking for more fang marks in the usual places and wounds that would bleed enough to account for what was on the ground and absorbed into the tarp. When I got to the wrists, I had my answer.

Both wrists had been sliced vertically along the veins. The cuts were clean with smooth edges that spoke of a very sharp knife, not claws. However, there was no knife anywhere near the body. If this had been a suicide the knife would be nearby, or there would be a trail of blood leading back to where she cut herself. No trail, no weapon. She had been murdered.

I went back to the neck and measured the fang marks. The same measurement as yesterday’s victim and the ones on Cara’s neck. I stood up and walked a few feet away. Dolph and Zerbrowski followed me.

“So what do you think?” Dolph asked.

“She was murdered. I’m betting by the same vampire as yesterday’s victim. The fang mark’s measurements match his and Cara’s too. This vamp is taking the blood he wants and then is killing them. Though I don’t understand why the different methods or why he didn’t kill Cara. Maybe he’s trying to confuse us.”

“Why are you sure she was murdered. Her wrists were slit,” Dolph said.

“You know why. No trail of blood and no knife nearby. I hate when you ask me questions you already have answers to,” I said with irritation back in my voice. “Do you have any other information?”

As I asked that question I suddenly felt Jean-Claude’s presence behind me. Dolph tensed his shoulders and his face turned to ice as he caught sight of Jean-Claude. I turned to watch the vampire glide up to us with that graceful and sinfully sensual walk of his. I didn’t even bother to ask how he’d gotten past at least a dozen officers.

“What are you doing here?” Dolph said in a cold, challenging tone.

Jean-Claude didn’t reply, just moseyed up and studied the victim for a moment. “This is a direct challenge to my authority, Sergeant,” Jean-Claude said calmly. “This vampire is making a challenge. I shall accept it.” Jean-Claude grinned, surprisingly showing his fangs. He was more agitated than he was letting on.

“How do you know this is a challenge?” I asked.

“The location, so close to my home. The wanton killing. This master didn’t need to kill the victim, but chose to do so to show me he could, and would, flaunt human and council law. It is my place as Master of the City to deal with him.”

Those were fighting words. Dolph has been looking for quite some time for a reason to haul Jean-Claude in and this just might be it. I stepped between them as Dolph stepped up and said, “This is a police matter, vampire.”

“No, Sergeant, this is a vampire matter.” And with that Jean-Claude pulled one of his vanishing acts.

Dolph rounded on me. “Where did he go?”

“I don’t know, Dolph,” I tried to say calmly. I was just as angry with Jean-Claude and his magician act as Dolph, but kept it to myself. The Master and I would have it out later. Right now Dolph needed to calm down and do his job. I had a hard time believing he could let his personal feelings interfere with his job, but I had the evidence staring me in the eye.

“I want him hauled in for questioning,” Dolph said.

“Why? On what charge?” I asked. Zerbrowski moved next to me and nodded his head.

“Interfering with a police investigation,” Dolph said with venom.

“Dolph, you know that’s not true,” I said. “All he did was show up and make some general statements.”

Dolph didn’t answer me. He just stared at me like he couldn’t believe I wasn’t taking his side. What did he expect me to do? Stand by and let him haul my boyfriend in on trumped up charges just because he was pissed.

Zerbrowski jumped in then. “She’s right, Dolph. He didn’t do anything illegal and you know it.”

Dolph whirled and stalked away. The crowd parted before him like the Red Sea for Moses. Anyone with any sense was going to avoid him for a while.

“He’ll calm down in a bit and see we’re right,” Zerbrowski said. “But you better keep Count Dracula away from him.”

“Oh, I’ll take care of Jean-Claude,” I said. I stalked off toward my Jeep. Just as many people got out of my way as had for Dolph. I can’t imagine why.

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