Having heard the news, Elena immediately hops in her car to drive to the scene. This time two women are dead, sisters from their identification; both bodies found several yards from the road's shoulder.
Although there's some mountainous areas near Vegas, the surrounding desert landscape is rugged. To her left are nothing but wind-worn rock formations and an endless ocean of sand, not to mention several cacti and the occasion tumbleweed. The sun beats down harshly, leaving mostly just succulents to thrive under the arid conditions. Ahead of her, a dust devil swirls through the desert like a rattlesnake on the hunt.
Several police cars with flashing lights and the CSI van are still on sight. At this hour, Elena suspects the bodies have already been taken to the morgue. Glancing around, however, she spots Elijah still hard at work, chatting with one of the criminalists.
After making eye contact, she's gratified when he jogs over to her right away.
"When did this happen?" Elena asks, trying to take in the scene over his shoulder.
"Sometime during the night. We received a report for an abandoned vehicle with the windshield crushed. A highway patrolman found the bodies when he came to investigate; they'd been laying in the heat for several hours."
"Do you know the time of death yet?"
"We won't know 'til autopsy," Elijah tells her.
"Who were they?" Elena queries, giving him her full attention.
"Sybil and Seline Cade, dancers at Bally's X-Rock."
"Wow," Elena exclaims, shaking her head when she notices one of the forensic team members carrying a brown paper bag to his van. "Have you found anything?"
"Nothing useful. Same MO, pricked throats and no blood."
"How is that possible, Elijah? I don't understand how this person can kill at random and leave nothing behind, not even blood. It should be impossible, right?"
"I'm as perplexed as you are..." Elijah sighs, perusing the scene. "I need you to go back to the city now. There's nothing for you to snoop through out here."
"Ha- ha," Elena deadpans. "Have you issued a BOLO using my composite?"
"We have. And yes, I have been keeping an eye out. He hasn't been here."
"Unless he's the one who killed them, and it took too long for the bodies to be discovered?" Elena posits.
"Even if your mysterious John Doe is the killer, he's still entitled to due process, and so far, we have nothing to tie him or anyone else to the crimes. No prosecutor worth their salt would present it to the Grand Jury."
"I know," she concedes. "Alright, I'm going to go back to the city."
"Drive carefully," Elijah calls from behind her.
Elena raises a hand to wave without looking back.
As Elena's driving, she recalls her encounter last evening with him. Could he have killed those two women after he left her? Her mind is a blur worthy of the fastest rollercoaster, and her thoughts are tearing her in more directions than ever before. Truthfully, she knows literally nothing about the man, yet she hopes he isn't a murderer.
The images of the victims play themselves over and over in her mind, her imagination supplying pictures when she finds her memory lacking. Interestingly they inspire different reactions each time. Terror, intrigue, revulsion, curiosity, disgust, horror, trepidation, and above all else- fear. But the overall impact is one of complete and utter confusion. Her thoughts drift to him. The things she feels when she thinks about him are so foreign, her intense attraction to name one.
He has the kind of face that stops a person in their tracks. She suspects he's used to the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they look his way followed by overcompensating with a nonchalant gaze and a weak smile. Of course, the accompanying blush would be a dead give-away. And his blue eyes; they'll catch the soul before one's even aware of its falling.
It's overwhelming, and it's clear that an answer to her confusion won't soon be forthcoming, so as hard as it is, she pushes his image out of her mind, turns the radio on loud and rolls down the window, letting 80's music and the hot desert breeze distract her.
Just after turning onto Flamingo Road, Elena hears a commercial about a blood drive. With a niggling idea forming, she drives to Sunrise Hospital, texting Enzo to meet her in the cafeteria. She purchases a cinnamon roll, two glasses of ice tea and settles in to wait for him to arrive.
The corners of mouth lift as she thinks about Enzo. She hadn't even been in the city for a month when she stumbled on some rocks while hiking in Tule Springs Fossil Beds, ending up with a broken arm. The pain and stress spiraled into an asthma attack. He was her respiratory therapist that day. His charismatic and witty personality didn't hurt either. As it turned out, he was dating her new friend, Caroline at the time. Because of that, Elena got to know him on a more personal level and they became fast friends.
"There you are," Enzo exclaims and takes a seat.
He cuts a handsome figure in his scrubs with his rugged good looks and scruffy growth of facial hair. Elena stares for a just a moment before snapping out of it. "Have a bite," she commands, pushing the pastry towards him.
"They make the best ones here, which is strange considering it's hospital food," he chuckles, stuffing a piece in his mouth.
"It's a bit of an oxymoron," Elena quips, winking at her friend.
"What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Enzo asks, shooting her a look.
"The missing blood. Can you tell me anymore about it?" Elena forks a piece of the cinnamon roll for herself.
"It's crazy, Elena. There are security cameras, and the blood bank is locked at all times. Staff has to badge in."
"What about hospital personnel when they need it for a transfusion?"
"Nurses come to a sliding glass window to pick up blood, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma for their patients. The lab door itself was broken into, but there was nothing on the security cameras. I don't know how anyone could break that lock without Superman-like strength? It's nuts!"
"Wow..." Elena's voice trails off. "Was anyone hurt and have you heard of any other places being hit?"
"That's the weird thing, no one in the lab remembers anything."
"How can that be?" Elena ponders, her forehead creasing in consternation.
"No idea," Enzo shrugs. "I'm not aware of any other "stolen blood" he divulges, air quoting the words, "but I doubt the police want something like that to be public knowledge."
"I suppose. I think I'll drive over to UMC and check in with Kol," Elena muses and empties her glass of ice tea.
"I have to get back to work, too. Thanks for the snack," Enzo adds. "I'll see you to the door."
Elena walks beside him til they reach the entrance. "Bye," she calls over her shoulder on her way out.
Damon's covered in bubbles up to his nipple line kissing the older red-headed woman who's sharing the bathtub with him. He'd been playing the slots, pocketing a few winnings, and thinking about that tenacious brunette when Kelly delivered him a bourbon and her phone number. Distractions can be pleasurable, and she did offer herself up on a silver platter after all...
"I can't believe you called me. I thought I was being way too forward when I slipped you my number," Kelly gushes, the corners of her mouth quirking up.
"I like a woman who knows what she wants," Damon purrs, and swallows a mouthful of red wine.
"So, what do you want Mister tall-dark-and-handsome?" she asks, taking a sip of her own.
"I'm not that tall," he admits with a sigh, "and shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"I like you, and, sweetie, you can booty-call me anytime you want," she counters, squeezing his thigh beneath the blanket of bubbles.
Damon rakes his eyes over her breasts. "Just stop talking," he growls and leans forward, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss. After a moment, Damon slides his mouth along her jawline to her neck. Extending his fangs, he pieces her skin and drinks deeply from her jugular vein. He pulls back when she gasps for air and uses his fangs to slice into his own skin.
"Drink," he cajoles, looking deeply into her eyes.
Mindlessly, she grasps his wrist in both hands and pulls it to her mouth.
When they're finished, Damon carries her to her bed and compels her to sleep before heading out into the night.
Damon's minding his own business when he notices a flashing red light in his rearview mirror. Cursing, he pulls into a parking lot and stops his car.
"Did I do something wrong officer?" Damon asks, both hands visible on the steering wheel.
"You were speeding. I need your license and registration," the officer tells him.
"I didn't realize," Damon responds, handing him the documents. He notices the way the cop is scrutinizing him.
"I'll be right back," the officer remarks and walks back to his squad car, leaving the door open.
Damon eyes him briefly through the rearview mirror, raising them when he returns.
"Sir, we'd like you to come down to the station. You're wanted for questioning."
"What?" Damon asks incredulously, looking at the man in shock.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It's your choice," Officer Donovan says matter-of-factly.
"You didn't really say that, did you?" Damon mocks, trying not to laugh.
"Sir, I'm respectfully asking you to come downtown."
"Fine, I don't want any trouble," Damon agrees, willing to play along to satisfy his curiosity. He suspects Miss Elena Gilbert might have something to do with this... "Let's go then," he imparts, and starts his engine, letting Officer Donovan take the lead.
"Mr. Salvatore," Elijah acknowledges Damon as he takes a seat. "I'm Detective Elijah Mikaelson. Can you please state your name for the record.?"
"You obviously know who I am. Now, what is this about?" Damon sits forward, raising an eyebrow in discernment.
"Mr. Salvatore, you're not under arrest. I have a few questions. Before we start, I want you to be aware that what we say is being videotaped."
"I'm aware," Damon replies, looking bored.
"What you say to me today is entirely voluntary. That means if you don't want to talk, you don't have to. We're interviewing you as a potential witness. Do you understand?"
"Yep," Damon acknowledges, popping the P.
"As you're probably aware, we've had 5 girls murdered recently. We received a tip that you've been at the crime scenes, or at least someone who looks very much like you," Elijah explains and slides the composite drawing to him.
"You think this looks like me?" Damon quips, unable to keep a straight face.
"It does bear a certain resemblance," Elijah points out, scrutinizing him.
"Oh, come on! This doesn't look like me at all. Look at the nose, the line of my jaw, and the hair. I'm so much more handsome!" Damon counters with a lopsided grin.
"So, you know nothing about the crimes?"
"I know nothing about the crimes," Damon states with conviction while staring into his eyes, watching as the detective's pupils dilate for a millisecond.
"Alright then, Mr. Salvatore, you're free to leave for now," Elijah stands up and opens the door, allowing Damon to leave.
Before exiting, Damon looks into his eyes again, "Make sure you rescind that BOLO alert."
"I will," Elijah replies robotically.
Damon smirks and saunters out of the building with all the swagger he can muster...
Apologies for the lateness. Work stuff yesterday- ACLS course. (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
Chapter title: 'Paint the Sky With Blood' by Bodom After Midnight.
BOLO: Be on the lookout.
Thank you all very much. Love hearing your thoughts. There will be more DE interaction in chapter 6. This is slow-burning- romance building and it's also unraveling a mystery.
Many, many thanks to Morgan and Eva.
Have a wonderful day. See ya next week.