4. Misunderstandings

The next day at nine O'clock Robin told everybody what had happened last night.

'He's a spy,' said Cassie. 'Must be that's why he's so weird and why you've never heard of this GHV.'

'At sixteen?' asked Leslie.

'You never know,' grinned Cassie.

'Well let us all just wait until eleven,' said Robin.

And so eleven rolled by and twelve at five most of the others left.

'Are you sure you didn't just dream him?' asked the receptionist who had been on a coffee break at the time.

'No he was real,' Robin said with a feeling that he may have been wrong.

He was sleeping on his desk afraid to go home because his last wife was taking to stalking him. Cassie had suggested a restraining order but Robin couldn't be bothered with the hassle.

'Robin,' Vlad's voice sounded in his dream.

Robin woke with a start.

'VLAD!' Robin was enraged. 'WHERE THE HELL WAS YOU? I HAVE NOW GOT THE WHOLE FORCE THINKING I'M HALLUCINATING! EXCEPT CASSIE WHO BELIEVES IN BLOODY VAMPIRES!' Robin shouted. 'And they are not real,' Robin said monotonously.

Vlad grimaced here, 'sorry,' Robin had a feeling the boy wasn't talking about missing there appointment.

Moira the receptionist had obviously heard shouting and had come to find out what was wrong. It wouldn't be the first time she had walked in on a telephone row with one of his exes. She looked between the teenager and the detective.

'Oh your Vlad Robinson,' she understood, 'sorry, sir.'

'Its fine,' Robin rubbed his eyes tiredly, 'could you bring me a coffee, Moira?'

'Of course sir would Mr Robinson like anything?' asked Moira.

'No I drank before I came,' Vlad smiled sadly.

'So where were you?' Robin asked.

'Sleeping,' Vlad said honestly. 'I came the time I said I would.'

Robin looked at the clock it was just passed eleven at night.

Robin groaned, 'I thought you meant the morning.'

'I have jet lag,' Vlad said.

'Oh where do you come from?' asked Robin.

'Originally Transylvania but I've lived here from the age of twelve,' Vlad shrugged.

'So where were you?' asked Robin.

'New York,' shrugged Vlad, 'meeting with some old friends.'

'Any news on the murders?' asked Robin.

'I've seen this type of murder before,' murmured Vlad looking serious and older than his years once again. 'As for whom I cannot say unless you'd like to tell me of any eccentric people around?'