I eventually did pass out. The next morning, I groggily woke up to the phone blaring. I hopped gran would get it, but she didn't so I got my tail up to answer it.
" Hello?"
"Sissi?" It was Sam.
" Yeah, Sam everything alright?"
" Yes, I'm good. Would you mind swinging by Dawns to check up on her? The delivery guy just got here and I gotta help him move these shipments. She hasn't shown up to work yet, I can't get her to answer the damn phone." I didn't want to have to work her shift and mine, so I said yes and hung up.
I showered, put on my work clothes, I wasn't very hungry, so I skipped breakfast too. My car had gotten fixed since the night Denise Rattray had tried to beat me half dead. I grabbed the keys to my 1970s Volkswagen van and made my way over to Dawns.
Once I pulled into the three-building duplex on berry street, I found her apartment. I knocked once and got no answer. So I knocked again, after a few minutes I was starting to get impatient waiting for her to get up.
"Sissi, you ok? Why are you here?" I turned around to see who it was. It was René Lenier he was by his pickup across the street, I explained to him what Sam asked me to do.
"Sam should do his own dirty work, Cher. "I chuckled. My palm rapped against the door once again but harder this time. I called out her name with each hit. Still no response. I was starting to get worried.
René told me he was going to go around back. I tried to search for her thoughts but nothing came through. Ok, Sissi calm down! She was probably either passed out drunk or just not here. I didn't really like Dawn and she didn't really like me.
Her reasoning was based on the belief that I read her mind and snitched to my brother about something she did and that's why they broke up. Lord knows that If I cared about all the women Jason fucks around with, I'd be busy as a bee.
I followed after him. The side of the apartment held a window. I saw her. She was tossed on the side of her bed, her clothes all wild and her face all swollen, her legs sprawled out. Bugs had already started to swarm her rotten meat. I threw up from the sight.
René come up to see what I saw, he dialed 911 and tried to help me. He held my hair back while I choked up acidic bile. Dawn's neighbor came out and was being nosy, asking bout the goings-on and why we were here. René asked her politely for a glass of water.
When she came back out, she again asked about what happened. This time with more concern in her tone. René told her Dawn was dead. She shook her head in shame and told us about how she worried about Dawn.The lady thought she was gonna get hurt one day. She talked about all the men Dawn would bring in and how she liked it rough.
" I even think she had a vampire over once, "
I got so angry at her, I may not have liked Dawn, but it wasn't her fault she was dead.I just sat there in the grass till the cops showed up. I wanted to leave! Once they pulled up to the duplex. It was Detective Bellefleur that had come and helped me up from the ground before questioning me.
"Ms. Stackhouse are you alright?" I think he was concerned if I'd get sick on him, I'm sure I looked green.
" Yes, I'm okay."
"Now I understand that you work at Merlotte's?"
"You know, I work there and so does, well she did um... I worked with Dawn there too." I was flustered she didn't work with me anymore because she was dead. Shit, her shift!
" Did you know her very well?" Bellefleur asked next. I thought about my answer before speaking. I didn't like how I sounded the first time.
" No not that well", he nodded his head and then asked when I last saw her.
" At work, just about two days ago.". Next he wanted to know why I had been here. So I explained that Sam asked me to come find her ...
" Did Mr. Merlotte tell you why he couldn't see her himself?"
"Yes, he was busy with the delivery man at the bar."
"Do you think Mr. Merlotte had a relationship with Ms. Green?"
"No, absolutely not.! Sam's not the kinda guy she goes for." she's too shallow. I thought but didn't say that last part.
" Why are you so sure? Are you in a relationship with Mr. Merlotte?"
" No, I'm not, I just know that Sam keeps it professional and would never go after a girl like Dawn. "
"A girl like Dawn? What does that mean?" I was starting to get really annoyed with how he was trying to twist my words.
" Well detective, not to be rude but Dawn wasn't a good girl, and let's not pretend she was. I'd heard she liked it rough and even let a vampire smack her around a bit."
I told him what he was looking for. I didn't believe that she deserved this but he wouldn't leave me alone until he heard what he wanted to hear.
Detective Andy Bellefleur had raised his eyebrows and then asked me if I had a personal vendetta or problem with Dawn. I just shook my head and then I decided to delve into his mind.
- Dawn and a vampire? It aught be a sin to waste that body on something dead-*
" No sir, I just heard it in the rumor mill, in fact, the neighbor just told me all that. When she came out to be nosy."
"Didn't Dawn date your brother a while ago?"
"Yes, they dated.But that shouldn't be a shocker as my brother has a reputation for having relations with lots of women." Hmm was all he said and then he told me he would like to see me in the station house.
" Can you come in, let's say in a few hours?"
"Sure, as long as Sam doesn't need me at the bar."
" Ms. Stackhouse, don't you think that this is more important than working at a bar. " I wasn't stupid I caught the prejudice towards the type of work I do.
" You know Andy Bellefleur, you may not think my job is appropriate or amounts to anything but I'm worthy of respect. Just as much as your sister, the lawyer, and don't forget it. Oh, and I'm not stupid or a slut."
My face was red with irritation and anger. His facial expression read with shame, he apologized. He didn't mean it though. His thoughts told me that he believed if he worked in a better town he could treat people the way he thought a cop should.
" Or you could get over that attitude and be a better detective here, but I guess that's lost on you." He looked me in my eyes.
" It's true then?"
I never denied my ability, but I didn't confirm it either. I just walked away from that idiot. The Bellefleur's were old money that ran dry even though they still try to act like they still have it.
I grabbed my things and I left to go to Merlotte's. I'm so damn pissed. I'm sure I'd be stuck working her shift. It's not her fault but damn bitch, you couldn't die on the weekend?
When I got there, the bar had already been buzzing. René had called Sam and warned him before I arrived. As soon as he saw me I was given a bear hug. I squeezed him back. He apologized profusely for sending me over there...
" Last time I went, she yelled at me. I just thought she had a new guy and was forgetting her responsibilities."Jason was at the bar today, I guess he wasn't working till later. He saw me and asked what's wrong, so I told him.
The look on his face read pure fear.
I dipped into his mind, I could see a vision of him and Dawn in a screaming match. They had fought because he couldn't get it up and she sent him running tail. But she was alive when he left. Thank the lord! Once he realized I had been rooting around his noggin he expressed himself.
" Hey! Now you promised you wouldn't do that. Hey, look. I was with her last night, but I swear she was alive when I left!"
" Well, you better hope you can prove it. Andy Bellefleur asked me to come in for more questions. I'm sure he will ask for you too. Since y'all 'dated'." He just shook his head in shock and I could tell he was scared.
As the day went on Merlotte's just kept getting busier and busier. Two women were killed in one month, everyone wanted to talk about it.
Andy came in later to talk to me. I don't know why he kept trying. I didn't even hang with Dawn. He sat down at the bar, ordered a burger and a milkshake. I wrote it down and then gave the order to Terry.
He was the day cook, a sweet ole thing but he was traumatized. He fought in the war and sometimes he just wasn't right. He didn't start asking them right off the bat. I think he was trying to be friendly by asking about my family.
Although I could tell what he was really doing. Trying to butter me up so he could ask me a favor. He wanted me to look into the thoughts of the residents. See if I could help him find Dawn and Maudette's killer.
They couldn't find any significant evidence at either crime scene. His superior thought they might have a serial killer on the loose. Dawn was strangled, the same way Maudette was.
I looked Andy right in his eyes and I just nodded my head. It wasn't for him or the town. Listen, I just know my brother is a sleaze and I couldn't let him get accused of something he didn't do!
Andy looked downright shocked, he just kept his mouth shut the rest of the time he was there. That was perfectly alright with me as I didn't feel like talking much anyhow.
As the day wore on, more and more people were talking about both Dawn and Maudette. Each one gave their two cents, but no one was thinking about how they killed her. I made a ton of tips especially if I made a melancholic smile. They all found out I was the one that found her. It might be wrong, but I didn't feel that bad about it.
On the drive home I let my thoughts drift to nowhere and enjoyed the silence. Although that didn't last long once I pulled into the woods that led to my house.
Bill Compton was standing against a tree waiting for me. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him I drove right on past. I saw in my mirror he wasn't taking that as an answer. He kept on following my car, just walking with great intent, so I stopped and waited for him to catch up. He came around to my side and opened my door.
Good lord, this night will be long, I turned the key and got out. I shut it behind me and I turned to face him as I leaned against the door. My legs were so tired from standing all day but I wasn't gonna let him win this stare down. He eventually spoke first.
" Are you just gonna stand there or will you talk to me " his voice so low I almost hadn't heard it.
" Dawn green was murdered, and I found the body today. The cops think it's the same guy who killed Maudette." He kept quiet for a minute then pulled me in for a hug. That's when I got upset, I pushed him away...
" No, you don't get to just swoop in and pretend like I'm not upset with you."
I was almost to tears and he knew it. He just pulled me in again, held me close, not caring that I was acting tough. After I had calmed down, we were sitting on the grass and he asked me about it again.
"Why did you tell me about that ... "
I could tell he was being vague to not upset me again.
" The cops found fang marks on both of them and I just thought you might have some insight or something."
I decided to not tell him about what Bellefleur wanted or about what Jason was doing the other night and why I felt the need to snoop in others' brains.
"Well did they die from the bites?" I shook my head no and told him about the rough sex and the strangulations.
" Then it's not a vampire, one of us, wouldn't just let them go to waste."
I didn't like the way he said that, but I wasn't in the mood to pick a fight over word choice.
" Well then, if a vampire isn't doing this. Then it's someone that has a vendetta against women who have laid with vampires. Or at least wants to frame one."
I needed to find out. This town isn't full of the smartest people. I highly doubt my brother would… but just the speculation would ruin his reputation. And I'm not having a bunch of no-good dummies doing that to my brother.
"Hey Bill, I remember hearing that Maudette went down to a bar in Shreveport maybe Dawn did too. Will you take me there?"
"I know the one ... why do you want to go there? "I didn't trust Bill enough to tell him about my brother and his personal business. So I lied and said I didn't think Andy would go.
He didn't answer my question. Instead, he asked if I could forgive him again. I took a deep breath and asked him what he meant when he called me his.
"It means if anyone tries to harm you or feed off you, I'll kill them. It means you're my human."
I didn't know if that was good. But it did save my life. So I kept my mouth shut and kissed him. His arms went around me. Lifting me to get a better position. He was much taller than me. When he pulled away his eyes gazed into mine.
" I'm forgiven," he said with a nod and then he sent me on my way. Before he was out of earshot, I asked him about the vampire bar again and he told me that on my next day off he would take me.
