A Vampire Killing (4 of ?)

By Kayla Gayle

Sorry so long between posts. And no, you didn't miss anything. I'm just sloooow and busy.

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It didn't take long to get to the flat of Dan Touchof. They pulled up and walked up the steps to the second story of the building. It was a typical building in a nice residential neighborhood--and not too far from the actual crime scene.

Nick knocked on the door.

"Dan? Metro police, open up."

No answer and Nick's supernatural hearing could not detect any movement in the flat. He motioned to the super, who had come up with them to open the door and he did.

The first thing that assaulted Nick's nostrils was blood. The smell was strong--a mix of animal and human. Nick turned away as he tried to control the vampire. Schanke gave him a glance.

"Hey, partner, you really need to get over this fear of blood." A silence and then, "Christ, look at this."

Nick took a couple of deep cleansing breaths and turned to look at the flat. He blinked once or twice. The living room was piled high with papers and trash. Bugs were crawling over the mess as if they owned the place and flies were everywhere.

He walked into the kitchen and stopped short, for the scent was strong here and no wonder. The dishes and pots were covered with the stuff. Several glasses showed congealing blood. Nick felt an awful urge to lap up some of the red elixir and took a few seconds to compose himself.

"Hey, Nick, look at this."

Nick turned and looked at Schanke, who was holding up a small object with some tweezers. It turned out to be the fingers of an infant. The rest of the arm was found under the sofa.

"Call headquarters," he told Schanke, who was as stunned as he was.

Sunrise was coming and Nick had to book off his shift. Schanke had also booked off; he needed to see Myra and Jenny to reaffirm some things in his life and soul. They agreed to meet at Mr. Touchof's home the next day.

Natalie came in just as he was leaving.

"Nick? Are you alright?" she asked, concern showing in her eyes.

"Let's see. We just found a vicious killer and all I wanted to do was drink the evidence."

"Nick..."

"Look, Nat, I just want to get some rest, ok?"

And he left as she watched him.

Nick parked the Caddy in the garage and took the elevator up. He was so concentrated on the case; he didn't notice the other person in his loft. After a few moments, he looked up and into the blue eyes of Janette.

"Why are you here?" he asked her.

"I heard through the grapevine about the case, mon amour."

"Yeah, well I'm just fine," said he, as he headed for the kitchen. He took a bottle out of the refrigerator and took the cork out and then guzzled it straight.

Janette shook her head and sat next to him on the couch, where he had landed.

"Nicola," she said, her voice a caress and working her hand through his hair, "you're all in knots." Moving closer she began to massage his shoulders. He leaned into her touch--perfected during the years they were together. Janette stopped her massage and began to kiss all over his neck, taking little nips every now and then. Nick didn't respond one way or the other. "Let's spend the day together," she whispered into his ear.

Nick turned to her. It would be so easy to give in and just forget about everything. So easy, he thought as she moved to his earlobe. Then he made his decision and pulled her up from the sofa and arm in arm they made their way to the bedroom.

The alarm rang and Nick turned over to shut it off. He then noticed the dark hair and smiled. This was quite the way to release tension. He stretched and kissed Janette on her hair and then rolled out of bed and into the shower.

Once dressed, he made his way downstairs for some breakfast. Janette must be exhausted, he thought, to sleep this late. He wrote a note telling the darker vampress that he left for work and exited down the elevator and into the Caddy.

"Welcome partner," greeted Schanke. "While you were getting your beauty rest, ole Donny here managed to pick up our perp."

This was good news to Nick.

"Where was he?"

Schanke laughed. "Trying to break into the Raven. He said that vampires were there and he needed more blood. Can you imagine?"

Nick gave a small, nervous kind of laugh.

"So he's put away, huh?"

"In the cage right now. Bail was denied and psyche will be in later on today to do an evaluation. Man, that is one weird dude."

"Well, all I can say is that I'm glad it's over and done with."

Out of the office just then came the Captain.

"Not quite yet. He confessed to three other killings and we need to sort those out," she told the two detectives.

Schanke groaned as Nick sat at his desk and powered up his computer to check past cases. It was then that Natalie came in, narrowed her eyes, and strode up to the blond.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"I am."

"Good. I have something down in the lab I want you to see."

"Do I have to go also? This paperwork is going to take forever," Schanke whined.

"No, no. Nick can fill you in."

So saying, the coroner turned on her heels and strode off, with a rather sheepish detective behind her.