Elena's lying-in bed, procrastinating. Although she should be getting up, she can't get her mind off that man. All of her thoughts coalesced around him, making for a pretty much sleepless night. What, if any, connection does he have to the murders? Or does he simply have a morbid fascination with death? Like herself...
She wants to speak with him but how will she find him unless, God forbid, there's another murder...
After her alarm rings for the second time, she dismisses the distressing thoughts with an aggravated roll of her eyes and gets herself out of bed.
"On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children and drove them in a blood-spattered car to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. Upon arrival, Cheryl was already dead, 3 year old Danny was paralyzed from the waist down and Christie-age 8 - had suffered a disabling stroke. Diane had been shot in the left forearm. She claimed she was carjacked on a rural road near Springfield, Oregon, but a strange man who shot her and her kids; however, investigators and hospital workers became suspicious; her manner was too calm for a person who had experienced such trauma. She also made a number of statements that police and hospital staff considered highly inappropriate.
The forensic evidence did not match her story; there was no blood spatter on the driver's side of the car nor was there any gunpowder residue on it or on the interior of the door panel. Investigators later discovered Downs bought a handgun in Arizona. While they were unable to find the actual weapon, they found unfired casings in her home with extractor markings from the murder weapon.
Most damaging, witnesses saw her car being driven very slowly toward the hospital at an estimated speed of 5-7 mph, contradicting her claim that she drove at a high speed after the shootings. Based on this and addition evidence, Diane was arrested on February 28, 1984, nine months after the incident and charged with one count of murder and two counts each of attempted murder and criminal assault.
Prosecutors argued that Downs shot her children to be free of them so she could continue her love affair with a man who didn't want children in his life. Much of the case against her rested on the testimony of her surviving daughter, Christie, who, once she recovered her ability to speak described how her mother shot all three children parked at the side of the road then shot herself- all while 'Hungry Like the Wolf'- Diane's favorite song- was blaring on the radio.
Diane Downs was convicted on all charges on June 17, 1984, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. She was required to serve 25 years before ever being considered for parole. The judge made it clear that he did not intend for her to ever be free again.
I'm Elena Gilbert and this is 'Someone Knows Something'."
Elena removes her headphones with a satisfied sigh. She turns off her recording equipment and empties a water bottle in one pull- she's always parched after a recording session. Hearing a rap on the door frame, she spins in her chair and finds Ric standing in the threshold.
"What's up?" she asks.
"If it wasn't for your father wanting you to work here, I would have let you go in a heartbeat."
"What are you talking about?" Elena gets up and closes the door, her nostrils flaring.
"I heard your podcast about the lack of blood. You're making implications that don't exist."
"Now, you listen to me," she pokes his chest with her index finger. "Have you checked around the State, the hospitals, police precincts to see if they've had any murders like ours, you know, all with exsanguination? There's mental health facilities, prisons, see if they've released anyone with delusions of vampirism?"
Ric laughs at her. "Do you believe in vampires, Elena? Christ, you're reading too much into this," he scoffs.
"Funny, Ric. If you're going to guzzle cheap bourbon instead of doing a job, I'm going to check them out myself," she snaps at him.
"Have at it," he smirks at her, then backs out of the room, leaving Elena fuming behind him.
After leaving the newspaper office, Elena drives downtown to see Rebekah, finding her typing furiously on her office computer.
"What do you want?" Rebekah asks without looking up.
"You know, anything new on the bloodless murders?"
"Well," she pauses and turns her chair to look at Elena. "At this moment, we're waiting for a special report from a pathology expert at the FBI."
"Really?"
"Yes, if you want to hear about it, they're having a press conference at the Sheriff's office at 4:30."
"Thanks, Rebekah, you're the best," Elena grins and walks out of her office.
"You owe me lunch," the blonde calls after.
Elena nods and waves to her just as the elevator door slides shut.
Everywhere Elena looks there are flashing fluorescent lights, buildings that seem to touch the sky, people walking the entire length of the Strip, taxis and buses speeding, and so much more. "Tourists," she mutters under her breath as she waits for the stop light to change.
Hearing her phone, she turns it on speaker just as the signal turns green.
"Elena?"
"Enzo, hi? What's going on?"
"I've been listening to your podcast. You mentioned those three women. I just thought you'd be interested in knowing that Sunrise Hospital was knocked over."
"Knocked over for what? Cash? Drugs? Equipment? What?" Elena scrunches her nose in confusion.
"No, Elena. Blood."
"Blood!?"
"Yes, blood. Whoever the culprit or culprits are, they cleaned us out. They're having an emergency blood drive right now," Enzo explains.
"Woah! What about type, Rh factor, any of that taken into consideration?" Her interest is most assuredly piqued.
"It didn't much matter, they took it all..." his voice trails off.
"Enzo?"
"I have to run. See ya," Enzo adds and clicks off.
Elena's tempted to pull a U-turn at the next intersection and goes straight to the hospital, but then she'd miss the news conference. She growls in frustration but continues her route to City Hall, deciding she'll just have to head over to the hospital afterwards.
One thing at a time, Elena. One thing at a time.
"Elijah," Elena catches up to him as he's making his way to the conference room.
"Why am I not surprised that you're here?" he remarks, looking at her dubiously.
"Ric sent me. We've had three murders in town. And possibly one tremendously strong guy-maybe more, who goes around killing young girls...all of whom lost nearly their entire blood volume!"
Elijah glares at her. "I'm going to have to talk with Rebekah again."
"And I just heard that Sunrise Hospital's blood supply was cleaned out? Is some psycho with a Dracula complex terrorizing Las Vegas?"
"How did you find out about the hospital?" Elijah asks, and opens the door for her when they reach the building.
"I have my sources," she shrugs.
Together, they hurry down the hall and slip into the assigned conference room just as it's coming to order. Elena notices Andie Starr of KNTV and a couple other local reporters.
"I'm Chief Liz Forbes, also with me are Connor Jordan from the District Attorney's office, Deputy Bonnie Bennett from the Sheriff's office and the state's chief pathologist, Dr. Harper James. Now Dr. James is going to make a statement and then we'll take a few questions," she announces, stepping back to give Harper access to the microphone.
"We found the death in each case was extremely swift...coming in something less than a minute. After the initial wounds were inflicted, their blood was drained very quickly. We believe some kind of a device was used. Now, this would explain why no blood was found in the victims, or in the areas they were discovered..."
Elena's hand shoots into the air. When the doctor points at her, she stands up and quickly identifies herself, adding, "I have a true crime podcast under the auspices of The Sun. Do you have any idea what could have made these wounds you mentioned?"
"They're not unlike the bite of a medium sized dog," Harper offers.
"You think a dog did this?" Elena queries, nearly dumbfounded at the absurdity.
"I didn't mean to indicate that the wounds were actually inflicted by a dog; only that they are similar to those which might be caused by a dog. A rather interesting point is that we found another substance mixed in with the traces of blood in the throat wounds..."
"Which is?" Elena prods him for more.
He ignores Elena, then points at another reporter.
"Can you expand on that?" Mary Louise Bonner from KLAS TV asks.
"No, that's a hold back." Doctor James explains.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Elena calls out, wondering what the substance might be.
"I'm not at liberty to say anymore but what I can only say with certainty is that the women died from shock induced by massive blood loss."
"Uh, Dr. James, is it possible that a man killed these women by biting them in the throat; and – I can't believe I'm asking this – for the expressed purpose of drinking their blood?"
"Elena!" Elijah grits his teeth at her.
"I research all sorts of crimes, it's my job. There have been cases of people who - through some sort of mental illness - have come to believe they are vampires. Is that a possibility?" Elena probes, adamant to know more.
"I don't want that supposition to be tomorrow's headline, Miss Gilbert. The last thing this city needs is a mass panic. Do you understand?" Chief Forbes says tersely to Elena.
Elena glances up at Elijah before nodding.
"This press conference is over," Chief Forbes announces abruptly before leading the other officials out of the conference room.
"This is nuts," Elena says, shaking her head.
"And unless you want to earn yourself a spot-on Chief Forbes shit list, I'd be careful about the loose lips," Elijah cautions her.
"I have to go. See ya around," she mutters and gives a half-hearted wave on her way out the door.
"Olivia Parker had gotten home around 2:15 am...poured herself a glass of milk, opened the back door of the kitchen...and died...like the others. Abruptly, quietly. Something of pattern has started to form...and it's ugly. In any town the size of Las Vegas, the murder of one young woman hardly causes a ripple...but two and now three? That's when the ripples start..."
Elena continues talking for about a half hour about the murders; going into some detail about each crime scene and victim. Since the blood theft at Sunrise Hospital made the local news, she talks about it, too.
"Remember to subscribe to my podcast. I'll be doing a giveaway when the new merchandise arrives. We have hoodies, tee shirts, and hats to name a few."
I'm Elena Gilbert and this is 'Someone Knows Something'."
"Another one," Damon drawls, motioning to his empty glass.
The bartender working the night shift rolls his eyes, before pouring him a refill. Damon grabs the tumbler and takes a gulp, relishing the way the liquid burns his insides. He's a little disgruntled when the man turns on the TV. He'd been enjoying the quiet, using the time to ruminate and reflect. He's just about to not so politely ask the man to turn it off when he notices her face on the screen.
"Can you turn that up?" Damon requests, gesturing at the TV.
The bartender complies, and Damon watches, rapt. His hand wraps tighter around his tumbler, unaware of how hard he's squeezing it. If not for a pink-haired woman brushing against his back, it would have shattered. She grabs his shoulder then throws back her head, letting her hair drape on his arm. Fighting an eyeroll, he lifts her arm off him, silently telling her to get lost.
His attention goes to the woman on TV again; she's talking about how she became interested in true crime. Then, the conversation progresses to the recent spate of murders, and the woman, Elena Gilbert, talks about her podcast and that she's hoping to help the police find the fiend.
"She's playing with fire," his lips move but no sound comes out, and his grip tightens again. Catching himself, he empties half the pour. When he sets it down, one of the barmaid's flicks off the TV, earning his ire.
He sits at the bar nursing his drink, his mind on that bulldog of a brunette. From observing her, Damon knows she's curious, wants to know how things work. She'll stop at nothing in pursuit of a story. He admires her stamina, her innate drive to succeed, her tenacity, and her damn the torpedoes attitude in search of the truth. And she's certainly not hard on the eyes.
Elena Gilbert is the type of woman who wants a love that consumes her, passion, adventure and even a little danger.
When the crowd starts to grow and get louder, he leaves. Stepping outside, he catches a glimpse of the waitress who'd just left the bar. He hesitates for only a moment before following her, keeping to the shadows.
How are you all today? Work has been hectic, my floor was full the last couple nights. Thank you so much, you're all amazing. There will be more DE interaction in 4.
Again massive thanks to jmfangs and siberia21. Check out their amazing stories.
The crimes Elena will be showcasing in her podcast are all real. There's a movie about Diane Downs starring Farrah Fawcett called "Small Sacrifices" based on the book of the same name by Ann Rule.
Have a lovely day, we'll see you all soon.