Not me, TPTB.

CHAPTER 16

"You run VIN?" Nick's jaw dropped almost to the floor.

"It was my idea. I thought vampires needed help and decided to use the new 900 numbers to give it to them, at a price of course."

"Five dollars a minute is quite a price," Nick murmured. "And then ten dollars a minute after two hours." A thought hit him. "Wait a minute. You banned me from VIN."

"Not from the automated part, Nick. Just the Assistance."

"Is that how you knew all about me?" He thought of Esme and her comments on Nat.

"Partly. If we have a problem, I do listen to the tapes. But basically Larry and Aristotle told me—also Colin ran a check with your local Toronto Enforcers."

"So I take it VIN makes you quite a bit of cash," Nick said, cautiously.

"It does. We require now that every master gives every fledgling a VIN card, so everyone eventually calls in."

"But how—"

"My late partner Hasani came up with the technology. He was a whiz, a real Philadelphia lawyer, to be sure. Do tell, he actually had the nerve to patent it, imagine that?"

"Remarkable. So you have Melissa still here?"

"No. She's one of the ones who walked into the sun over you. You had half my counselors really depressed. I was of a mind to come to Canada to see you in person, give you a good talking to."

Nick shook his head once more. He had rung up huge phone bills calling VIN—the Vampire Information Network with its myriad of options. You could get automated advice on everything from transition assistance to suicide to reporting a sighting. Or you could talk to a volunteer who would listen to one pour out their heart—or what was left of it. In fact, Nick had used VIN more than once while waiting on Cary to return from South America when he first got to town.

"So you sign regular paychecks?"

"I do, through First Bank of Nevada. The bank's actually a front for Paul," Cary laughed again. "But the money and checks are real. So are the bills. The humans don't have an idea as there are many shift workers in this town. We open at 7pm and close at 7am. Of course, the immortals get off early, but that is a privilege the humans don't know about."

"I didn't think there were that many vampires in town to operate this business."

"There aren't. They fly in from all over to come to work—mainly from the western states—a lot of Californian's and Washingtonian's. Oregon is well represented as well, Idaho not so much."

"Well," was all Nick could think of saying, knocked back. He looked thoughtful for a moment an then—"You said your 'late' partner. Was he a human?"

"No, he was a vampire. He came from Africa—very well off family, very educated. I met him in the 1950's, when I was over there. I was visiting on a safari, got lost and almost starved to death. I came upon a small village and was the kiss of death to the population. Then Hasani came by, quite by chance and we clicked. In fact, Gwen was his girl before she became my office assistant."

"So, what happened?"

"It was during the troubles a while back and he walked into the sun—so they say. I still don't believe it for a moment, but the Council ruled it a suicide."

"He's the G in your company, isn't he?" Nick commented, as the fact dawned on him. He did a classic double take then. "Hold it. You said you ate a whole village?"

"I was hungry and the bloodlust just came over me. I couldn't help it and they were so malnourished I was lucky to actually get a full meal."

Now that was just cold. It was also against his rules and Nick told him so.

"I know," Cary sighed. "I was called on the carpet for it. Hasani and Paul vouched for me. As did Andy, who I had met around the same time. I made Paul my CFO and Andy my XO."

Cary shook himself as if from a bad memory.

"Enough of this melancholy. Do you want a tour of the place?"

Nick agreed to this and Gwen came in at Cary's call over the phone and Nick was led around the facility. It was modern and it seemed full of oblivious humans. He was then shown the drink machines. There was the standard Coke, Pepsi, and an automated food vending contraption. But there was also a juice machine that operated on tokens. Gwen informed him that it was a blood machine—in bottles. She proved it by inserting a huge coin and pressing a button that said spicy tomato juice. Out came a bottle that looked for all the world like a V-8, except for the dark black label that showed it was from Sanger. Opening it, Nick discovered it was human blood.

"We also have bovine blood for those so inclined. It's marked low fat spicy juice."

"Don't the humans try to get it?"

"They do, but they don't have the tokens. No one really likes spicy juice anyway. The vampires tell them it's like drinking Tabasco."

Nick wrinkled up his nose. This took gall, gumption—call it what you would. A company listed on the NYSE (this was told to him by the blonde), having regular paychecks (direct deposited all), AP, AR, and even PR and Sales. Fantastic.

The tour ended after about two hours and Nick even got to take a few calls. He had never done this kind of work before so it was sort of exotic, in a strange way. Then back up to Cary's office, where he was done with the free cell and was playing tri-peaks solitaire.

"You're back! Did you enjoy your tour?"

A nod from the other male vampire in the room. "I see you're still busy," he remarked.

"Bored. Unfortunately we can get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. It works alright sometimes, but at others…"

"Trust me, I understand completely." Nick sat back down in the chair he had occupied previously. "So you heard my calls. Then you know about Natalie Lambert."

"We do. There was quite a fuss kicked up over that. Some wanted her killed."

Nick swallowed as Cary continued.

"But she was considered an asset to the Community and we figured we could use her. We need more doctors and scientists brought across, you know. And she has knowledge of the vampire that few living humans have. Then came that plague and she was given a pass—for now. Naturally, if you had continued on your course of action, plans would have been made but things happened and here you are, away from the bad influences those mortals had on you."

"I had those thoughts before I had met Dr. Lambert," Nick protested.

"I realize that, but you didn't succeed and your master, LaCroix or Miss Ducharme managed to circumvent you from a course of action considered traitorous."

Eyebrows rose at that. He hadn't realized that he had been in danger of elimination.

"How do you know all of this, by the way, Cary?"

"Council meeting twice a year. Talk about boring. This year it's to be held in Vegas and London." Cary closed his game, which he had been playing during the whole conversation and stood up. "Well, I think we should go."

"Can you just do that?"

"I own the place, Nick. I can do what the hell I please. Who's to stop me?"

"Me," said a new voice.

Both immortals looked up to see the new vampire standing in the doorway.

"Nick, you remember Andy, don't you?"

Londoner Andrew Neal held his hand out. "Good to see you again, Nick. Trying to get our Cary to play hooky, eh?" He shook his head at his boss. "For shame Carrick Patrick Seamus O'Shellington."

"That's quite a handle," the French vampire commented, without any real expression.

"Yes," Cary said irritated. "Andrew, you know I don't like that name."

A grin from the other, who was taller than both Cary and Nick with light brown hair and blue eyes. He also had the prominent teeth particular to English vampires and British royalty. They were straight, but huge. His fangs were probably enormous, thought the blond to himself.

"So what work have you brought me to do?"

"Paperwork—just a few signatures needed, Cary. That's all."

"Fine," said the other sounding exasperated, even though it was only about two in the morning. He took the sheaf of papers from Andrew's hand and read through them with inhuman speed. He signed them, making notations in the margins on some. Then he gave them back, bid his vice president goodbye and left, Nick in tow.

"Freedom! Did you bring your car?" Cary asked Nick.

"Of course."

"Good, I feel like a drive. We'll take yours."

They walked to the Caddy and got in.

"Put the top down," suggested the passenger. Nick was thoroughly confused. Cary was acting as if this was a date. Then Nick realized that it was just immortal seduction coming through—something the Victorian vampire excelled at. He knew he was handsome and used it to the nth degree. He was a metro sexual before the word was even coined. The dark vampire was also a bit of a flirt. A real tease, witness his attitude toward Alex.

Nick started the car and Cary directed him to drive to the Atlantis. Once at the tropical themed casino, Nick gave valet his keys at Cary's insistence and they walked into the casino through the newly renovated lobby.

His companion led the way to the escalator by the waterfall and up to the second floor. They found themselves in the arcade.

"More games?" Nick laughed.

"In a way," said Cary absently as he led past the Steakhouse and to the nightclub. They paid and entered the flashing lights and loud music of the club. Cary made his way to the bar and ordered a merlot. Nick declined as people of both sexes walked by, checking out the two good-looking men standing there, obviously well off. A redhead and a brunette walked up to them. They stood at the bar and Cary smiled.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he offered.

The brunette batted her eyelashes, in love at first sight. Nick was disgusted. What was happening here? The redhead glanced at him, cocking her head and Nick bought her a beer. She began flirting with him and he was making polite conversation when he noticed Cary and the other woman on the dance floor, moving together very suggestively.

After a couple of dances, they returned, and proceeded to "spoon", as Cary might say. Nick could smell the blood as the endorphins started to kick in on the girl. The kiss was getting more passionate, with the woman's whole body pressed against the sanguinary vampire.

"You want to get out of here?" Cary asked, nonchalantly.

Nick was aghast. He tapped the other on the shoulder and they excused themselves to ostensibly go to the restroom. In reality they stood in a corner of the hallway leading to some mysterious inner part of the hotel.

"Are you insane? What the hell are you doing?"

"Getting ready to have dinner," Cary answered, nonplussed.

"Dinner?"

"I'm just going to drain a few pints, not kill her."

"Cary," Nick was firm on this, "what about those rules. You drain her in front of a nightclub full of people and they are bound to notice when she passes out from blood loss."

"For one, she's a tourist and has a room in the hotel. I'll drink, erase the memory but leave the pleasurable part. She'll just think she had great sex and got a nice hickey. Trust me, I've done this before."

Nick let out a long breath and sighed. He supposed he couldn't stop him.

They walked back into the club and Cary's meal, Diana by name, asked him back to the room. Naturally the dark haired vampire agreed and left the club with her to a lot of envious stares. If they only knew, Nick thought.

His 'date', Noreen was turning out to be a bright and bubbly girl with a great sense of fun. They got into an air hockey match in the arcade. She probably thought he was gay; Nick smiled to himself as he had not made even a hint of a pass. Well, sometimes it was better that way.

In a couple of hours, Cary returned sans Diana, naturally. Nick could just catch the fangs and slight glow to the eyes. They bid Noreen adieu, after she gave Nick her number and told him to call.

"I'll be in town for another few days. We'll get together."

Then the two vampires left.

"What about your car?" asked Nick. In actuality he was pissed off, to use a rather vulgar term.

"Drop me at the office and I'll go get it," Cary said dreamily. The blood was hitting his system and he leaned back with a smile on his face.

"You won't kill anyone tonight, will you?" inquired Nick, anxious.

"No, I'm full. I'm just going to get the car and drive home. It'll be sun up soon."

So that is what happened and the week proceeded with Nick overseeing his almost completed Center. That Friday, Cary told him to dress sharp for they were going out—and no, not to a club to feast on humans. Somewhere special, a treat for the French vampire before he left and moved into his own place.