Five minutes after I got home from watching the game over at Hoyt's, I got a call from Sookie to come to Gran's house. It was after dinner time but there was always home cooked food over at Gran's anytime of day so I was happy to go. I didn't even ask myself why she called first before I hopped in my truck. But driving over I started to think, a new pastime of mine, and realized Sook sounded weird on the phone.
It was possible they needed me 'cause something was broke or heavy, as simple as that, but I didn't think so. And when I pulled up to the house and saw the sheriff's cars parked on Gran's grass, I knew my hunch was right. Even worse, Eric was standing on the porch. His stoney face don't give much away when he don't want to but just that, the almost-blank face he was making, said something was real wrong.
I started praying. Gran better be alright. If something happened to her...
"Jason! Calm down. Gran is fine."
Sookie hopped down the steps and wrapped her arms around me for a quick hug.
I let out that breath I'd been holding. If it wasn't Gran, and Sookie was fine too, what was it? Why was the Sheriff here? Was I in trouble again? Sookie wouldn't ask me here for that. She'd been protecting me. Eric too. So...
"Your brain is spinning like a rollercoaster in July! Settle down and we'll tell ya everything, okay?" Sookie said.
If Sookie and Gran were okay, it was gonna be fine. Nothin' could be as bad as them bein' hurt. "Yeah. Okay. Everybody's okay, right?"
"Yeah, Jas. We're all fine. Well, no one is injured or anything like that. We found out who killed Dawn. You are in the clear now. But... I'm so sorry, Jason. It's René."
"René... what?"
She sighed. "He hates vampires. He's disgusted by women who've been with them. When his sister started dating vampires, he got angry and... he killed her."
Killed his own sister? Lookin' right at mine, I couldn't believe it. "Nah. No way."
"I'm sorry but it's true, Jason. It was about a year or so ago. He moved around after that and changed his name, changed the way he talks, learned an accent, all to hide what he did. He ended up here. But when he heard Maudette talking about going to Fangtasia, he started following her, spying on her when he was supposed to be watching the kids. He said he saw you with her. Saw the video with the vampire. He said... I'm so sorry Jason, but he said you deserved to get blamed for it since you..." Sookie got choked up and had to look away for a minute. "... since you slept with a 'Vampire's whore.'"
I was quiet for a long while. Finding out my best friend was a murderer was way beyond the worst thing I could think of but finding out he set me up to get blamed for it... I couldn't really take that in. How could he? How could he kill Maudette? Okay so I know I thought I killed her first but that was an accident. This was pre-medicated and on purpose! And then Dawn... Oh, no!
"Oh Fuck! Oh my God! It's my fault."
"No, Jason-"
"No, Sook! It's my fault! I told him-" It was my turn to get choked up. "I was so jealous because Dawn had a vampire bite mark. I was jealous and I kept thinkin' about the guy on the video and how crazy he was. And how vamps are supposed to be-" I looked over at Eric self-consciously and didn't finish that thought. "I told René. I told him about the bite. See, Dawn had tied me to the bed-"
"Jason, Eww!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know but I mean, I was there all day while she was workin'. When I got myself free I went across the street and had a beer with René. I told him all about it. He got me so wound up. He said he thought I should show her what a real man is like." Whatever that means. "I dressed up all creepy, hid my face, and scared her when she came home. After I scared her, I made her laugh. We forgave each other and that worked okay for a while until we started fightin'. She was real pissed when I brought up the vampire again and fired that gun a couple'a times to make sure I knew it. René must have heard it. He musta saw me leave and then... Shit!"
My sis put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I know you feel guilty, Jason. But René did this. Not you."
This all just sucked but Sookie was still trying to make me feel better. I pulled her into my arms for a proper hug. She really is a great sister. I should tell her that more often.
Sookie made a little giggle sound around her tears, "You too, big brother."
I let her go and wiped my eyes. They were itchy, is all. I cleared my throat and asked the next big question, "So, how did you figure it out? Was he thinkin' about it?"
Sookie looked to Eric before she spoke which put me back on edge. "Um, well, Arlene asked me to babysit tonight. They were gonna have a date over in Ruston. But when they got here, they met Eric and-"
"Did he try to hurt you!?"
"I would never allow that to happen," Eric cut in immediately.
"Thank God, you was here. I mean, if you weren't here, it wouldn't'a happened but still, I'm glad you was."
"It is Sookie who deserves the credit for catching him. His thoughts alone still caused her harm."
Sookie was quick to jump in with a quick wave of her hand to let me know she was fine. "He didn't get a chance to do anything physically, but he was thinking about it really loud. All those horrible things. I wish I could un-see it. Poor Arlene isn't taking things too well. The kids don't know yet. They're upstairs. René is out on the sun porch with Andy. I don't know if they will let you talk to him yet but I just didn't want you to find out from someone else."
"Thanks, Sook. I don't think I'm ready to talk to him, but I'd like to check on Arlene."
I went inside and I did try to talk to Arlene but she didn't do much more than cry a big wet spot onto my shirt. I didn't feel very useful but after a while the downpour seemed to taper off a bit and she thanked me before wanderin' off to blow her nose. I let out a big relieved sigh. There are a few situations with women that I'm not too good at, I'll admit. Crying is one a them. Sometimes sex will work, but that weren't really an option this time. I's just glad I didn't have to say somethin'. I'd offer to kick his ass but I didn't think the cops would let me. And maybe that wouldn't make her feel better anyway.
I hugged my Gran extra tight, still sayin' my thank-you prayers that she was alright. Then I head on home glad that this time I hadn't had to argue with Andy.
Tara was fast asleep in my bed when I got there. I'd have to tell her tomorrow. She'd be free of me for the first time in over a week. This pretend-relationship was one of the nicest I'd ever had. Even without the sex. Never thought I'd say that. It weren't fair to Tara though. I think she and Sam have a thing for each other. Sam was probably pissed at me but I didn't cock-block him on purpose. Maybe she could tell him the truth? Well except the havin' lots of crazy sex on V part. Neither of us were able to talk about that, thanks to Eric.
Crap! Eric's glamour probably saved Sookie's life! If I'd been able to, I would have talked to my best friend, René, about meeting Eric, my sister's new vampire boyfriend. And then René would have tried to kill her, too!
I didn't sleep too good that night. I woke up early and peeled myself away from Tara's peacefully sleeping body. There was time enough later to fill her in on the news.
I didn't even bother with food or coffee. I just head on over to the Sheriff's office first thing. Part of me prayed all the way there that I'd dreamed up the whole nightmare.