Down On The Bayou Detective Agencies Case Files
Chapter 2
Case File #16 "Un vampir de energie."
Background for those who aren't familiar with the Down on the Bayou gang:
Before we go further, I'm providing a little background for those who aren't familiar with the Down on the Bayou gang. Edward Cullen was an FBI Special Agent and psychic when he met Isabella Swan, LADP Homicide Detective. While working the case, they fell in love - of course. Bella met close friends of Edward Cullen: Sam Uley, a Hoodoo man, his wife Angela, a psychic, and her sister Lauren, who is a psychic as well (it ran in the family. The case eventually led them to the Atchafalaya swamp and the man who committed the unique murders. After the case was solved, Edward resigned from the FBI and together with Bella, Sam and Angela, and Emmett and Lauren formed The Down On The Bayou Detective Agency. Our current story begins five years after the birth of Bella and Edward's telekinetic and psychic twins, Mason and Elizabeth. ( see: 1) Edward Cullen, FBI Special Agent & Psychic 2) Edward Cullen & Friends - Down On The Bayou )
Definitions: bayou: bay·ou
ˈbīo͞o,ˈbīō/ noun (in the southern US) a marshy outlet of a lake or river.
~o0o~
Previously: The newspapers began to call the murders "The Mummy Killings" because that's exactly what the bodies resembled, mummies.
Some enterprising reporter had done a search to see if these exact conditions had occurred elsewhere in the country. They had.
It was then that the FBI finally got involved. By the end of the year, a body count of thirty five had been amassed by the "Mummy Killer."
That's when Edward Cullen was contacted in Baton Rouge by one of his past associates and quietly hired to investigate in his own special way, as the contact had called it.
~o0o~
Edward was watching the twins playing on the backyard playground. He, Emmett, and Sam had constructed it right after Bella had convinced him that they needed a house instead of the large condo since the children were now five years old and would be starting school next year. Children need to be able to run and play outside.
However, Masen and Lizzy wouldn't be able to go to a public school due to their special gifts. They needed to learn control of those gifts first, or they would probably terrorize the other children. Yes, they'd have to be home schooled. He had no doubt that he and Bella would be able to teach them more than enough to get the children credit in the so-called educational system in this country.
His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Without even looking at the display, he knew who it was. He'd been expecting this call for the last week. He didn't know for sure why, but it was going to be something very important and extremely dangerous.
"Edward Cullen," he answered.
"Hello, Edward, this is Riley Biers. Remember me?"
"Of course I do, Ri. How the hell are you?" Edward paused before he continued "I assume this is not a social call. "What can I do for you?"
"No, I'm sorry to say this is not a social call. I have a case I need your help with. Can you come by the Baton Rouge office? I'm in town and have something I want to get your take on."
"I'm a little tied up at the moment. When did you want me to come?" Edward smiled as he said it and knew the smile was in his voice.
"When would be convenient for you then, Edward?"
"How about in an hour?"
"That would be wonderful, Edward. I really need your special kind of help.
"Is it ok with you if I bring my wife? She works with me now on all the cases I take on."
Riley paused before he answered. "I don't see why not. She was a homicide detective in LA, right?"
"Yes and she has her own special skills." Edward chuckled, thinking about how Bella was always amazed when her intuition was spot on. "We'll need to get a sitter for the twins, but we should be able to make it in an hour."
Edward disconnected the call, walking towards the house.
Bella was standing at the kitchen sink, watching Edward with the twins. It always made her breath catch when she looked at him. She'd never believed it was possible to love anyone as much as she did him, and with the twins, it was instant love even though they were a very large problem. Telekinetic. Just what she needed. She was shaking her head when Edward opened the sliding glass door from the patio.
"What has you so amused, Love?" Edward asked as he joined her by the sink to watch the children.
"Nothing really. Just what a turn my life has taken."
"I know," Edward chuckled.
"So, Edward, who was that on the phone?"
"You don't miss anything, do you?"
"I try not to."
"That was Riley Biers. He has a case for us. You want to come with me?"
Bella looked thoughtful then asked, "So who's going to watch the children?"
~o0o~
"Yes, Mr. Cullen, Agent Biers is expecting you," the no nonsense receptionist said. She pulled two visitor badges from her desk drawer. "Just hang these around your neck and wait over there until someone comes down for you please."
They did as they'd been bid.
It wasn't five minutes later the elevator door slid open and a thirty-something, red-headed man headed toward them.
"That's Riley," Edward whispered to Bella.
Riley reached them and shook hands first with Edward and then Bella as Edward introduced them.
"Sure glad you could make it, Edward. I feel better already! Hello, Bella, so good to finally meet you. I've heard very good things about you." Riley smiled, but then his tone became more serious. "Come on, let's go up to my office, and I will lay it out for you."
Riley's office space appeared more like a board room than an office. There were chalkboards covered with writing and space dividers with pictures pinned to them.
Riley allowed Bella and Edward to look at the photos as well as read the notations on the chalkboards. Edward knew after the first notation what the case was and knew he'd take it, but he had to make sure that Bella would be on board with it.
Bella caught Edward's eye and nodded her assent.
"Ok; Riley, tell us everything," Edward said as both he and Bella sat down at the table strewn with piles of manila folders.
Nodding, Riley stepped between Edward and Bella's chairs and started opening folders containing individuals' information and pictures of crime scenes.
By the time Riley finished, three hours had passed. Both Bella and Edward's minds were working hard.
"So," Bella said. "Are these ours to work with?"
Riley chuckled. "I just need to get a box to put them in."
Edward took Bella's hand into his and kissed each knuckle. "This one's a real doozy. Are you sure?"
"Please! We've dealt with many doozies. We've got some pretty powerful help, and you are I are no slouches!" Bella retorted.
"That we do, Love. That we do!" Edward laughed.
Riley walked back in just then, carrying several collapsed legal-sized cardboard boxes followed by two younger men.
It took the three agents about twenty minutes to pack up the boxes and another twenty to thirty to get them down the elevator and into the back of the SUV.
Before they drove off, Edward rolled down the driver's side window and said, "I know this is a priority case, Ri, and as soon as we have anything for you, I'll call you and update you. You'll do the same I assume?"
"Yes, I will. Thank you again for agreeing to take this case. You know the brass still are dubious about your skills, but your success rate speaks for itself. We've also been following your private cases, and you've done an admirable job there also," Riley said.
Edward smiled at his wife and then replied, "I've had some very good help. Couldn't have done it with them."
"Thanks again. I look forward to hearing from you." Riley patted the top of the car and Edward and Bella drove away.
~o0o~
