"I'm tired of these lame reports. I need something better. And, I need more on routine. This is too back and forth, I can't formulate a plan with it being all over the place," his employer informed him.

"Look, I don't know what you want from me. I watch them, that's it. Unless you want to set a trap or somethin' I don't know what to tell ya," the man shrugged. The figure stopped pacing the warehouse.

"A trap, yes but...we have to be careful and it has to be believable. I've had things go wrong before..." The man nodded, asked what night was best and said he would work on it. After shooing him away, the figure stared out into the night.

"You won't be happy at all Henry. Vicki must die, there's no way around it, I cannot let this happen.." the dark figure left the warehouse hoping the stupid man could do his job or he would need to die sooner than anticipated.

The only drawback to Vicki and Henry's relationship was Henry's issues with being alive during the day. Vicki missed him but then again, there was the added benefit of being able to still do whatever the hell she wanted without worrying he was going to call constantly wanting to know where she was or what she was doing. The morning after their strawberry and chocolate session, Vicki had an appointment with a scientist. She was still secretly working on getting the formula for the synthetic blood for Dr. Rajani. With her niece was getting sicker and no cure in sight, Vicki was trying to help out anyway she could. The scientist had been given a bag of the blood to see if she could break the formula. Vicki's appointment was at noon and she had slept until ten.

"Damn! It's ten.." Vicki picked up her phone and dialed Coreen,"Yeah, it's me. Look, I overlsept..why thanks, hadn't realized I'd been doing that ALOT lately..anyway..Coreen just LISTEN please.." she waited, "thanks. I need to push my morning appointment with Ms. Lowery to afternoon, I've got an appointment with someone in two hours, yeah..thanks." she rolled her eyes as she clicked the phone shut. Coreen would not let up on trying to butt into her life but damned if she didn't love the little goth anyway. Heading to the shower, she realized suddenly she didn't feel well. Her head was spinning and she was nauseous. She had not been sick since recovering from the reaction and she was hoping this wasn't something realted to that incident.

"I didn't eat last night! " she suddenly remembered aloud, but then again, she sure wasn't hungry right now. Their lovemaking session had left her satiated and she had not been hungry for the food Henry had ordered for her. After showering, she hastily dressed, kissed Henry goodbye and carefully exited his room. She still felt nauesous but decided she'd grab something on the way to her meeting. The dizziness had faded but was still there underneath the nausea. Shaking her head, she mumbled how she was stupid for not eating. When Henry fed from her, it weakend her a little even though her chemistry was changed somewhat. Skipping meals was now not an option with Henry's feedings becoming more often. She was willing to change her diet in order to maintain that part of their relationship. Vicki would never admit out loud it wasn't just the sexual satisfaction from him feeding from her but the feeling of unity and closeness, that would admit needing Henry and she wasn't quite ready for that.

As Vicki pulled into the unversity parking lot, she caught a glimpse of a man that had been following her in an old truck. Eyeing him, she ingrained his face into her mind. After meeting with the scientist, she made a mental note to confront him if he was still there.

"You're not a very good PI if I can see you, dumbass," she muttered as she exited her mustang. Vicki went to the office of Dr. Veronica Riser. Vicki knocked first and was answered with a bubbly 'come on in' from the other side. Dr. Riser was a tall, very buxom blonde. Vicki was tempted to ask if she'd worked her way through school at Hooters but thought better of the comment. Who was she to judge? Obviously, she was a very intelligent woman. She was head of the science department and came highly recommended.

"You must be Vicki Nelson, nice to meet you," Dr. Riser got up, extended her hand and smiled warmly. She was a beautiful woman, perfect teeth and eyes so blue they were almost transluscent.

"Hi, you must be Dr. Riser, thanks so much for agreeing to meet with me," Vicki gave her a hearty shake back and took the seat across from her that was offered.

"No problem," she shooed her hand,"and call me Ronnie. Dr. Riser is so formal and just for the record, I actually did work at Hooters my first two years of college." she smiled broadly and pointed to a picture on her wall. Vicki's mouth came open then closed when she saw the photo. About ten women stood together with Ronnie in the center, towering above them all and holding her diploma.

"Wow, sorry, was I that obvious?" Vicki asked with a sheepish grin.

"Nah, I'm just used to it and proud really, I've got nothing to be ashamed of. Gotta do what you gotta do, besides, all the customers assumed I was a dumb blonde and felt sorry for me, great tips that way," she winked. Both women laughed at the one track, simple mindedness of most men.

"Now, to your problem at hand, I think I can help you. I've been looking at this and really, it isn't difficult but the properties are a fine tuned mixture, that's what took me so long to break it." she handed Vicki a piece of paper with all kinds of strange looking numbers, drawings and letters.

"Uh...I don't read scientific," Vicki shook her head and handed it back.

"Oh no," she put her hand up to Vicki,"this is for you to give to your doctor friend. I broke the code, she just has to tweak it."

"Really? Wow, you are good," Vicki said. She visited with the scientist a little longer and then boldy asked her a question, surprising herself in the process.

"I have a strange question. Have you ever come across anyone that thinks they are a vampire, you know, the whole drinking blood, sunlight thing," Vicki tried to act as if it were just a normal, but strange question. Ronnie stilled and sat back in her chair. After studying Vicki for a moment, she cleared her throat and became very serious.

"Vicki, if I told you there really were vampires, would you believe me?"

"I might, why?"

"Because there are, they exist. I've seen one, knew one for awhile, he wanted me to make him mortal again. He missed having a family and he felt he had lived too long but I as much as I tried, I couldn't help him," her voice held that sound of lost love kind of sadness. Vicki felt her heart tighten.

"May I ask his name?" she said. DON'T BE HENRY, DON'T BE HENRY..kept running through Vicki's mind.

"Yeah, his name was Jagger," she laughed as her eyes misted somewhat.

"As in..Mick?" Vicki asked tentatively.

"Yep. His original name was Lawrence, you know Larry... he hated it so he changed it to Jagger, it fit him too. Didn't really think Larry the vampire was too sexy. At any rate, no one has ever believed me yet, you do. Why is that?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

"I'm more open-minded you could say," Vicki got up to leave. Vicki thanked her once more telling her this might save a little girl's life.

"One more thing, Vicki," Ronnie said. Vicki stopped and turned back toward the other woman.

"Yes?"

"The rejuvinating herb was strong even in that sample you gave me. It can't be too strong or the recipient will bleed to death," she warned.

"No pressure," Vicki sighed.

"Good luck," Ronnie said with a warm smile.

"Thanks.."

Vicki knew it would take more than luck. She also intended on finding a little more about this Jagger person. Well aware there were other vampires in the area, she never thought anyone would mention one in the same city. Vicki noticed the man was gone or at least he appeared to be. She was deep in thought and didn't see that he was still there, just hiding a little better.

"She went to see the scientist," the man reported over the phone.

"No, I don't know what for..yes, I will watch...yes, I will get it done," then the phone went dead. The man decided he needed to double his fee, this shit wasn't worth what he was being paid.