What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."

Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…

Part XXI…

Zeller Properties…Second morning after…

"Gwen?" Ginny in pink business suit, crucifix chain barely visible above white blouse. "This is Colin Robinson…" indicates Colin in his beige suit who nods with smile. "He'll be temping a few days to help with the Fieldersen estate sale."

"Hey, Gwen…I understand you handle the earnest money and cash transfer paperwork here and most of the mortgage work…? I specialize in international and high-end mortgage work. Are you familiar with the actuarial code on French mortgages? I gather Mr. Cravensworth has some of his money there and will be using it in the purchase…" pleasant smile.

Gwen eyeing Colin carefully…

"We suddenly need extra help? And yeah, I either know it by heart or know where to get it, buddy."

"Great, then we should really enjoy working together…" smile.

Especially after you've been drained a few pints…He does not say.

"It's a big deal, Gwen and I don't want things tied up unnecessarily. The Cravensworths are hot on this and we want to please them." Ginny, a bit anxious.

"Don't we work for the seller here?" Gwen, a tad sarcastic.

I know we work for whomever forks over but…

"Well, of course…But they're already pleased with the deal and we want to make sure everyone's happy and things move along."

"I get that…This was quite a white elephant." Gwen, a bit less annoyed now…Colin's feeding having a tranquillizing effect.

And Colin's not unattractive in his creepy and quietly strange way…To the middle-aged Gwen…

"I'm sure we'll enjoy our time together. I know I will." Colin beams. "Just show me where I sit and where the files are…"

"Sure…Fine…" Gwen shrugs at Ginny's look. Leading Colin off, he greeting several agents in their cubicles cheerily.

"Who's the dick in beige?" Phyllis hisses to Ginny as she passes by her cubicle.

"An accounts temp I hired to help with the Fieldersen deal and the Cravensworth sale. Try to be polite Phyl, he's a financial wiz." Ginny frowns. "Oh and can you tell everyone the Cravensworths are coming in today?…Just slip the word around to be on toes, in case people fail to see my emails, we want them to trust us. It's a big deal on both ends."

"Is it that far along? So fast?" Phyllis stares. "I never thought that place would move quick."

"That's why we want them to be happy, Phyl. Just pass the word along, ok? Best foot forward and all that. They should be in at eleven."

"Sure. Congrats. Jen does it again, eh?"

"Well, I hope I helped here." Ginny notes, wan smile. "But yeah, she did a terrific job. Don't be catty, Phyl, it's good for all of us and I'm the one who has to split."

"No…" hand up. "I'm still recovering from Jen offering Erika thirty percent on the Meisner. Sincere congrats all around." Wry smile. Hmmn…She stares at the front door as documentary crew enters.

"What the…? Are they back again?" she eyes Ginny. Susan, another agent, fairly new, in her twenties but quite the eager beaver, ambitious type in dark blue suit, pale yellow blouse, coming over, anxious to learn the latest…

"Is that the film crew from the other day? The ones who work for Cravensworth, you said, Ginny?" Susan, staring over.

Phyl sardonically waving, "Hey fellas. Welcome back."

"What is this, Ginny?" she turns to Ginny who shrugs.

"Mr. Cravensworth is doing a documentary on his daily life, something to do with his writing or political stuff, I think. It's no problem, you signed their release, right? Both of you?" she eyes the two.

Definitely these two are meeting our clients…She thinks.

"Yeah…But this is weird." Phyllis frowns. "Are you sure this isn't an investigation? It's no skin off my nose, but I want to watch what I say."

"Always the best policy anyway, right Ginny?" Susan notes, shrewd beaming smile to the boss.

Phyllis rolling eyes…Lord, another Jen-in-training…

"Yeah, but as I said, no need not to be truthful with them. Ma…Mr. Cravensworth and his wife…" fond smile… "Are very insistent on getting the truth. So, don't hand these guys a lot of bullshit. Just answer their questions and if they ask anything you think is too sensitive, refer 'em to me." Ginny pats Susan.

Should ask the Mistress to ask her, once she has to answer truthfully, if the little shit-eater did leak on the Foster deal to Bill Maxwell. I just know we had a mole on that one.

Not that I want to lose a young new go-getter who goes the distance without any pressure…Though of course I must insist she never whore with clients, as the Mistress commanded, sighing audibly.

"Susie, walk over to my office, will ya? I just had a couple of things to go over." She tells Susan who nods and follows her, the two headed for Ginny's office in back. Phyllis eyeing them, then the camera crew setting up, shaking head.

Something's not right here…

"Are those guys back to film again?" Billie, another agent, red-haired, thirtish, in tan skirt, green suit, just arrived, stops by Phyllis' desk.

"Yeah…Looks like it." Nod.

"Jesus…It must be feds. What are they after?"

Phyllis shrugging, "Your guess' as good as mine, girl."

"Is Ginny up to something? I don't like this." Billie, nervously.

"She says it's just the guy buying Fieldersen and selling his own place, Cravensworth…We're just to put up with it."

"Ginny said that?" stare. "The Ginny who wouldn't let me show phone pics of my kid's birthday party for fear I was takin' pictures."

"It's a big deal, she's keepin' him happy. Or so she says. She also says the family's coming in today."

"Really? It's moving that fast? No way?"

"The temp with Gwen, Colin, is here to help push it along. But at ten million or so it's worth it, plus the buyers' own place is worth a couple million or so Jen says." Phyllis shrugged.

"The guy in the suit? Geesh, but I guess it would be worth it. She's really got her hooks in if Ginny is going partners on Fieldersen…" Billie shakes head. "Did Jen really give Erika thirty on Meisner?"

"She did…Hell, she offered forty and I woulda taken it. But Erika's not as greedy as I am." Smile. "Jen says it was worth it to her to focus on these two…After all, Troy's barely a million-five deal."

"Not even that would get me over there with that pig." Billie grinned lewdly. "But Jen sees it differently, I guess. Erika too?"

"Erika can handle them better…Or at least is less willing to go the distance if she don't have to." Wry smile.

….

"Hello, Colin Robinson…" Colin leans over cubicle.

"Yeah, hi. Eloise Knieve." The young black woman in black suit, red blouse looks up from her computer.

Ooops…Colin is saved by his general dull ability to fade in the memory and the brief nature of their encounter…

Thought I sensed a strange fluctuating energy…And smelled wearwolf sweat…

Though her deodorant is good…Unless it's her perfume.

Gwen appearing looking wan…As if something had drained some of the life out of her…

"Colin…I have those photostats and the files up. I'll be in my cubicle."

"Got my coffee, coming right along, Gwen. Nice to meet you, Eloise."

"Colin…" sudden grab of his hand. "You feed on me and…" narrow, angry look.

"I never feed on your kind…" he hisses.

"You're from their place, the Cravensworths…Those sob vamps…I knew there was something about that address. And those camera guys were there, I never forget a scent." She glares. "What the f- are you mother-fing bloodsuckees pulling?!" intense hiss. "The copy room, now."

Colin, nervous glance to camera…

"Not them." Cold hiss, almost a snarl.

"Can you believe that Ginny just told me she hoped I'd never gotten the wrong impression about going the distance with clients?" Susan, just out of Ginny's office to Phyllis.

….

Eloise, in copy room, ten minutes later, facing camera crew just let in to see…Ummn…The copy room…She'd brightly told an inquisitive Susan who'd come to the door.

"They wanted to see it and I have to copy the Williams stuff…" she closes door. Susan blinking…

"Ok…" Eloise frowns to camera. "So yeah, I'm the werewolf you guys filmed who was pissing on and pissed off by those sob vamp friends of yours a couple of weeks ago. This Robinson guy's a daywalker, eh? Good thing it's not possible to feed off us without a big effort. He's lucky I didn't transform, moron. It's happened a few times when those bastards try us, we instinctively ratchet up our energy level, adrenalin rush, Roy our pack leader says." Shaking head.

"He…Colin…Says this is just business but his pals are coming, the Cravensworths and that dude who nearly killed Toby in that rumble. I mean, fair is fair, it was cool but really, throwin' a bone? Low. But are they really just trying to buy a new place? I mean, I work here, this is my career. And I have two kids at home, fully human who need their momma working steady." She regards camera.

"Yeah, I was only taken about five years ago, after my Stevie was born…Just some lone wolf asshole who was out hunting when I was coming home from my college class at night. Business math. It's cool. I mean it's a little hard to conceal it from my girl and boy but they're young and I'm careful. Hey, I keep my room secure…Bars, chains. I never take chances with my kids. No, I killed their dad…He was an sob anyway, I'd kicked him out and he came round, looking for money then thought he could beat it outta me. Not that time…" smile.

"But that was strictly self defense." Solemn look. "I'm not violent by nature, you know. I go vegetarian when human and I try to keep it strictly animals when I transform. I'm a good mother and I have never let my nature touch my kids, family, friends. That's why I don't want any trouble here. Some of these girls are friends of mine and the rest, well…Colleagues. So I need to know what's going down when those Cravensworths show, ok? Cause if they're planning some kind of blood orgy in my office, on my human colleagues and pals…" stern forefinger raised.

"They'll be asking for some serious shit."

….

"Very nice…I like your organization of files, Gwen." Colin notes to the ever-wanner Gwen, seated at her computer, he observing from seat next to her.

"Thanks…" Gwen, vaguely. "You seem to know your stuff, too. Sorry if I was a little…" Yawn… "Rude earlier. I think I really do need some help today…"

"You look a little drawn, how about I get us more coffee?" Colin rises.

"Sure…Thanks." Wan smile. She takes buzzing phone.

"Hey. Gwen here. Sorry, I'm a little zonked this morning…Could you repeat that?" she tells phone as Colin steps out to the corridor between cubicle rows, heading for coffee machine.

"Don't want to suck too much from her. We promised not to kill anyone. Though Gwen is very appealing to me, tastewise. Just the right sauce of slightly bitter frustration with a surprisingly active libido and overall personality."

"Mr. Robinson…" warm smile from Eloise now suddenly before him. "I have those papers you wanted, can you come into the copy room a minute?"

"Uh…Sure, Eloise. Ok." Nod

….

"Ok, your friends told me your friends are coming to seal the deal by enthralling a couple of us, and that Ms. Zeller and Jennifer Steinecke are already groveling puppies." Glare.

"Oh, I don't think they're puppies…" Colin begins. "More like servants, familiars…You know."

"I don't like seeing women enthralled, Colin. How come your boys don't take a guy's office?" stern look. "Are they fucking them? I don't let rape slide by." Cold tone.

"I don't think so. Laszlo hasn't raped his, that I know of…If you could call it…"

"It's rape." Firm stance, icy look. "Don't give me bullshit about how much the thrallee wants it. That's just drug rape."

"Well, so far as I know, they were taken as enthralled familiars, and to help with purchasing the new place and selling our old home. No sexual intercourse that I know of and I doubt Laszlo's wife would allow it. Plus she took Ms. Zeller, not one of the boys. And you ought to know I can't." he notes.

"Strictly business? So if you tell their guy, f-ing Master, or the lady mistress to make them tell truth over a speaker or video phone, they'll say there's been nothing sexual?" hard stare.

"So far as I know…" nod.

I hope, he thinks.

"All right. You stay where I can see you and no calls to your friends. If this story checks out, ok. But who else were you guys planning to enthrall?"

"Just the ladies who might handle some of the transactions that could be suspicious. Gwen, maybe Phyllis…You'd have to check with Ginny."

"We're gonna do that in five if she's free."

"And the guys might feed a bit round the office…No fatalities, just keeping them calm and not asking too many questions."

"No killing? No turning?" hard stare.

"Not that they told me…And Ginny and Jen specifically…"

Knock at copy room door…

"Occupied!" Eloise calls. "Just a sec…!"

"El, I gotta make some copies, here, come on!" A voice calls back through door.

"We'd best be…" Colin begins.

"Leaving, good idea. Ok, lets go see Ginny. If she backs up your story after an order from her…Guy…We could have a deal." Shrewd smile.

"That sounds like…"

"I'm not greedy…" Eloise shrugs. "But I'm a single working mom and I'm just getting started here in this office. I don't steal from my colleagues but I can offer you a unique service." Rather coy smile…

Uh…Colin blinks…

"Ten percent on the Fieldersen place, from Jen's commission, and I'll survey it by night for any trouble. You know…" shrug… "Homeless, a rogue pack, zombies, anyone hiding out in those woods. I'll earn it, don't worry. Any potential trouble, I'll drive them off, no killing, just get a few friends to help me shove them out." Smile.

"Hey! What's up?! Other people need to do copies." pound on door.

"I SAID OCCUPIED!" Eloise cries in deep, menacing growl tone, eyes briefly red, nostrils flaring.

"Jesus, Elly…" Susan's voice. "Just get a room will ya." Chuckle. "Hurry it up, ok?"

"Sure…" Eloise calls. Frowning…

"That bitch will have it all over the place that we're fooling around in here. Strictly a colleague and I might let you guys eat that one." Sigh.

"Come on…" she urges, opening door.

"Sorry, Sue." She smiles at the still waiting if now somewhat more cautious, Susan. "All yours. Mr. Robinson? Lets see what Ginny has to say on this."

….

Laszlo, peering into the garage of the manor…Nadja nervously beside him…

"Preparing for DPT…'Daylight Protective Transport'…Is quite an elaborate procedure. First of course you must determine the best means of transport, in our case, a car, which has been specially prepared this morning by our familiars, Gizmo and my own dear Jennifer…" smile to Jen, currently in rough blouse and jeans, surveying the blacked out rear and passenger windows…Only the windshield left largely open and a rectangular tube running back from the rear-view mirror to a carefully sealed open spot on the rear window.

Guillermo using arc lamp to spot any light leakage…

"Then of course, as extra protection, a large tarpaulin wrapped about our bodies…Cozy, eh my dear?" smile to Nadja as he indicates large tarp on garage floor.

"Joke about this later Laszlo." She notes nervously. "Guillermo? Jennifer? Be sure all is secure!"

"Yes, Mistress Nadja…" Jen calls. "We're on it, Mistress Nadja." Guillermo calls.

"Of course it's wise to layer up a bit, a good coat, gloves, perhaps a face shield or bandages…" Laszlo notes as Nandor comes in from main house, encased in armor, including helmet.

"Nandor, you look ridiculous." Nadja frowns.

Cut to Nandor, helmet off, seated in living room…

"This is my old war armor…As a Christian general working for the Ottomans I preferred full armor to the leather stuff some of the Turkish generals wore. Much more sword and arrow-proof, even if heavier. Padded too, it is surprisingly comfortable and excellent sunlight protection since I had all cracks and openings sealed." He moved slightly.

"It can be a bit difficult to get into but happily I have gained no weight since my transformation. Guillermo, a bit of help here?! It's hard to stand up with this armor, you know!"