Henry insisted they shower and change before heading out. Vicki took a quick one, Henry took a longer one and enjoyed the warmth of the water on his cool body.

Vicki called into the bathroom, "Are you done yet? Come on!" She was impatient and wanted to get busy trying to locate Mike. Rob had agreed to meet them at a local restaurant in thirty minutes. Henry exited the shower in nothing. The water streamed down his body in lines, his wet curls clung to his face and his muscled lines moved with every step he took. Vicki froze in mid-ponytail and closed her eyes when they reached below his waist. Henry smiled. He loved having that effect on her.

"What's wrong Vicki?" he teased.

Keeping her eyes closed, she said, "Not a thing your royal highness. Could you hurry and get dressed?" Vicki felt Henry sidle up beside her and her body reacted accordingly. She pursed her lips as she did her best to ignore him. She felt his manhood erect and proud at her back as he rubbed her arms and sniffed her neck.

"Mmm…you smell so clean and fresh," he whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, and I need to stay that way," her heart was racing and her breathing had become rapid.

"Yes, my dear, I'm just teasing you," he kissed her lightly on the neck. Vicki turned quickly and wrapped her hand around his erection.

"Payback is a bitch, remember that," she whispered before stroking hard and fast a few times. Henry grunted and shuddered when she suddenly released him and went into the outer room as she called, "I'm giving you five minutes and I'm going alone." Henry shook his head and laughed. He was out in four minutes.

As they walked along the streets of New York, Vicki marveled at the sights.

"Wow, it's wall t o wall everything isn't it?" she noted. She had let Henry link his arm in hers. That was a huge step for her, public display of any type of affection.

"It's never dull here," he responded. The walk to the meeting place was less than ten minutes. Henry could hear Vicki's stomach growl and insisted she order something.

"Besides, you need to replenish your iron and vitamins," he grinned wickedly.

"Oh right, so you can snack later huh," she teased. He ordered her a cheeseburger cooked medium and a coke versus liquor. The sugar and carbs would do wonders for her energy.

Halfway through dinner, a man approached them and asked if she was Vicki Nelson.

"Who's askin'?" Vicki replied defensively.

"I'm Rob Jackson, Mike's buddy," the man told them. Pulling out a wallet, he flipped it open to show his id and badge. Vicki stood up and extended her hand.

"I'm sorry, in my line of work caution is a necessary evil," she told him.

"It's a good thing. I find it keeps ya alive," he smiled as Henry offered him a seat.

"Would you like to order something?" Henry asked politely. Rob put a hand up and shook his head.

"No thank you gotta get home to eat with the family, "he told them. Henry nodded in understanding. There were times, many times, he would have traded his immortality and all his money for a family. Being with Vicki brought that to the forefront more than ever.

Vicki listened and sipped her soda as Rob related basically the same story Mike had.

"…and then when he didn't show up," he pulled out a card, "I called you. He said if anything happened, anything at all, I was to call you immediately."

"Thanks so much," Vicki smiled weakly, "but what I can't figure out is why Mike? He didn't know anyone but you did he?"

Rob shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Well.." he cleared his throat, "not really but..some people know him I think."

Vicki was taken aback, "Really. That is…surprising, I wasn't aware Mike knew people in New York." Vicki was hurt too, she thought they shared something special and yet Mike never mentioned he knew anyone in New York or that he'd ever been.

Rob leaned in and whispered, "Can I tell you guys something?" Vicki and Henry looked at each other, back and him and nodded.

"This city has some weird shit happen, weird crazy shit, shit I can't put in reports. I'm sure you're not used to that but…it's weird," Rob shook his head.

"Oh, I think you'd be surprised at what we've seen, what kind of weird shit are you talking about Rob?" Vicki asked. If Rob only knew, she thought to herself.

Rob continued his bizarre story, "There are a group of people that uh..well they are different. We know about them and for the most part, they leave us alone, we leave them alone. One of them came to me inquiring about Mike. I told them I knew him and that he was actually coming to New York but I thought nothing of it. Now," Rob sighed, "I think it might have been them."

"What kind of people?" Vicki asked warily. So much happened to them she was almost afraid to ask.

"I'm not really sure what to call them but they can live f forever, they never age and have magical abilities," he shrugged.

"Sounds familiar," Vicki mumb led, "okay, let's start with where are they?"

Rob shrugged, "I am not privy to that information.

Vicki slammed her hand on the table and the entire restaurant got quiet, "Don't fuck with me! Don't go all cop on me now! This is Mike's life we are talking about!"

Henry reached over and took her hand, trying to soothe her, "Vicki, he is being truthful."

"I am. Hell if I knew, I'd go in there full guns blazing and get him myself, the only thing I do know is that their power is based on the number of members they have, its passed down through families or some shit like that, like I said, they don't bother us, we don't bother them. But..here lately," he trailed off.

"Here lately what?" Vicki demanded.

"Here lately, we've noticed a higher murder rate, strange murders too."

"Strange how?" Henry asked before Vicki could.

Rob toyed with the collar on shirt and loosened his tie, "Like the blood was drained out of a couple, some were missing hearts or eyes."

"Any strange markings?" Vicki asked.

"Well..yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Can you draw them out for us, or let us see photos?"

Rob began to get nervous, "I don't know about that…" Vicki cut him off.

"Look, you could very well be the cause of Mike's problem, so you will help us, got it?" she poked him in the chest hard enough to make him grab it and say 'ow'.

"She always like this?" Rob pointed to her while asking Henry.

"Fraid so," Henry threw up his hands.

Vicki stood her ground, she didn't have a good feeling about this at all…