DISCALIMER: I do not own Blood Ties.

Ghost5: Hi everyone this is my first Blood Ties fic so I hope you enjoy, please be aware that my grammar is seriously bad.

LAST CHANCES

CHAPTER1

"So," Mike Celluci sighed "Tell me again what happened tonight,"

The homeless man shifted uncomfortably in his seat before leaning forward and gesturing the detective to do so, Mike obliged the man and leant forward trying not to think embarrassingly cruel thoughts about the way the man dressed and smelt.

"It's like this," the man said gruffly "I was just shutting my eyes when I heard the sound of someone running and I mean really running,"

"Go on," Celluci pressed

"Next thing I knew I saw this tall skinny guy running for his life down my alley,"

The homeless man stopped speaking as if horrified by his own thoughts.

"Then what?" Celluci asked urgently

"I heard the sound of a gun or something and before my eyes the guy burst into flames," he finished

"Okay," Celluci said patiently as he escorted the man out of the interview room

"Thanks for your help,"

"I'm not kidding officer the guy did burst into flames," the homeless man said firmly

Another officer came and took the man off Celluci's hands while Celluci awaited the report from Dave.

"So what have we got?" he asked

"It's the sixth one this week," Dave said in amazement

"There's seems to be a spread of spontaneous human combustion cases breaking out across the city,"

Mike sighed deeply and had an inkling that Vicki might know something about these strange occurrences.

Another Part of Town

Henry Fitzroy had slipped into his usual coma like sleep blissfully unaware of the daytime and of the tall statuesque woman that was stood below his apartment block looking up at his window, her sleek black hair was tied back into a stylish ponytail and her green eyes were screened by a pair of expensive sunglasses. She let her sunglasses slip down the bridge of her nose as she stared more intently at the heavily screened window, she batted a thick black mascaraed eyelash and watched as the blackout blinds of Henry's apartment slowly but gradually begin to open and steadily allow rays of sunshine into his apartment. Once her work was done the woman slipped into the river of people and disappeared.

Henry took a deep breath and smelt something burning at first he thought of his next door neighbour and her bad cooking, but within seconds he quickly realised that the burning smell was in fact coming from him. Henry woke up with a start and saw his blood red silk sheets and duvet smouldering before his eyes, he exclaimed in fear rather than surprised pain before leaping out of his bed and hiding in a dark corner of his apartment clutching at the remote for his blinds. He pressed the button to close them minutes before his apartment was filled with sunshine and he was burnt to a crisp, Henry slid down the wall breathing heavily and looking at his singed pyjamas and his bare legs which were stinging from the heat.

Vicki Nelson's Office

"Vicki Nelson's Office," Vicki said hurriedly

"It's me," Celluci said worriedly

"Hi Mike," she replied venomously

"I don't know if you and you're friend have noticed but strange things are beginning to happen here in this city,"

Vicki noted the hateful tone which had become all to apparent as of late when it came to her relationship with Henry Fitzroy.

"Strange things?" she said curiously

"Care to give me an example here?"

"I mean like people bursting into flames," Celluci said annoyed

"You mean spontaneous human combustion!" Vicki exclaimed

"Jesus Mike I'm supposed to be the crazy one here,"

"I just want to know what's going on," Celluci said calmly

"And all I can say is I don't know what's going on Mike," Vicki said forcefully and the hung up

"You know you and that man seriously need to talk," Corrine said thoughtfully

"Not now ok?" Vicki said exhausted

"Sounds like a good case though," Corrine pressed

"I mean there have been hundreds of spontaneous human combustion cases across the world,"

"I'm not a scientist Corrine I'm an investigator," Vicki argued

Corrine dropped the subject and went about her business, while Vicki concentrated on her business accounts. Her peace and quiet was quickly destroyed by the sound of her mobile phone, she checked the caller's name and was overcome with surprise.

"A little early for you to be up isn't it?" Vicki asked

"Something is very badly wrong here," Henry said urgently

Vicki could sense that the vampire was frightened.

"What's happened?" she asked quickly

"I was nearly cremated in my bed twenty minutes ago," he replied

"Oh Jesus!" Vicki exclaimed

"Are you ok? How badly were you burnt?"

"I managed to escape in time, but my bed sheets are pretty much ruined," Henry said silkily

"I'm coming over," Vicki said shooting up out of her chair and grabbing her jacket.

"I need you to check and see if anyone was hanging around outside the building for me," Henry asked

"Sure," she replied and then hung up

Corrine had eavesdropped on the conversation and ran into the room.

"What's happened?" she asked concerned

"Henry came close to going up in flames," Vicki explained

"I'm going over to keep an eye on him so I need you to look after everything here alright?"

Corrine nodded her response and watched Vicki race out of the door as fast as she could.