Well, many thanks to the response this story is generating. The reviews, alerts and the favorite story clicks are making my day. I'm glad you guys love my Sookie in this story. I want her to be strong, independent and tough, but still keep her original softness that makes her the real Sookie. Just to make sure there isn't any confusion: In my story, the Vamps came out of the coffin two years ago. Sookie has been a Detective for two years now. More information about the Vampires will be answered in this chap and in the ones to come. I don't want to lay a whole detail bomb on you guys, just in short spurts as the issues cross Sookie's mind.
Tons of thanks to my beta, 2Tcup-Humans for her amazing work. Now, on with Interrogation of a Vampire...:P
The house that my Gran lived in was over a hundred and fifty years old, having been built by the original Stackhouses back in the 1850's. It started out as a single story home but as the years passed, the house had expanded to hold the growing family. It has been passed down from one generation to the next. This place has been my home for as long as I can remember, even before my parents died in a flash flood resulting in Jason and me coming to live with Gran. And as much as I wanted her to come live with me, I could understand Gran's reluctance to leave the Stackhouse homestead behind; there was just so much history here, too many memories.
Pulling up now in front of the two story white washed house with the wide front porch, I couldn't help the first real smile of the day that broke out on my face as I saw my Gran knee deep in her garden with her iron trowel in hand. I saw her head peek out of the bushes and as she spied my car, she stood up and waved at me, smiling widely.
Getting out of the car, I practically ran over to my grandmother and welcomed the comfort of her arms as they wrapped around me. Considering what I had seen today, I really did need the hug and felt better for it.
"Landsakes, Sookie, is everything okay? Did something happen?" Gran's voice squeaked as I squeezed her a little too hard.
Pulling away quickly, I looked into the brown eyes I knew so well and blurted, "Maudette Pickens was murdered."
Gran patted my back sympathetically and nodded wisely. "I know, honey. Everlee already called me this morning and told me all about it. How did you find out?"
I laughed sardonically. "I'm working her case."
Gran's eyes widened. Then she cackled with glee. "Dearborn called for help, did he? Why am I not surprised? Bud and Andy couldn't find the light switch in a lit room. I think it's wonderful that you and Alcide are on this case. You're good at your job, Sookie. Hopefully Maudette can find some peace knowing that you will bring her murderer to justice."
"Alcide and I will do our best," I said modestly, blushing slightly from her praise.
"How is Alcide doing? Haven't seen that boy in ages," Gran asked, taking her gardening gloves off.
"He's doing good. He's at the Sheriff's department right now, going over some of the evidence," I said, hooking my arm through Gran's as we walked slowly over to the porch.
Shortly after Alcide and I partnered up, I had introduced him to Gran. She'd been curious about him, and to put it lightly, was sold the instant she met him and became quite determined for Alcide and I to get together as a couple. I found Alcide extremely attractive, but at the time he was still hung up on the ex-girlfriend that he left behind in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi before transferring to Shreveport. I didn't want to play second fiddle to anyone, and besides, it wouldn't do to mix business with pleasure. I was content with the way things were between Alcide and I, the friendship we'd forged overshadowed any regret that I may have had in not pursuing a relationship with him.
I know Gran was worried about my nonexistent love life. She wanted me to find my true love and settle down, to have a family. I yearned for those things as well, so much in fact that the ache I felt at times almost overwhelmed me. But of course, dating was close to impossible for someone like me. I began dating after I turned eighteen, and as much as I wanted to stay out of my date's head, the night always ended in disaster. People say ignorance is bliss, but when you have the ability to read the minds of those around you, being oblivious is just not possible when your date is thinking about giving you a hot beef injection and wondering if your breasts are real. And that wasn't even the worst of it!
I'm not foolish enough to think that men's thoughts are as clean as a priest s sheets, but I can't help but be turned off by some of the things I have heard, and have sworn off dating since then. And since I don't date, that means no sex, and no sex means that I'm still as innocent as some of the local high school girls wish they could be. Instead of looking for love, I looked for a career that would work for me and threw myself in head first and became a workaholic. At twenty six years old, I was successful at work, but not so lucky in finding someone I could love.
"You going to stay, Sookie? I missed you this weekend. You could call Alcide and see if he wants to come over. I made some smothered pork chops and cherry cobbler earlier," Gran said as she led the way into the house.
"Yeah, I missed you, too. But you know that I like to stay close to Shreveport when I'm on call over the weekends, just in case." I inhaled deeply as I followed Gran into the kitchen, my mouth watering from the smell of good old Southern home cooking. "And yes, I'll stay and give Alcide a call and ask if he wants to join us. But my main reason for coming over today is to ask you about your new neighbor."
I noticed Gran paused slightly as she reached over the sink to remove the freshly made cherry cobbler from the windowsill. After placing the cooled dessert on the counter, Gran turned and looked at me, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "You mean the gentleman who purchased the Old Compton Estate?"
"Yes." I almost held my breath.
Gran smiled excitedly. "Oh, Sookie, I know I should have told you this when I talked to you on the phone Friday, but I didn't want you to worry. My new neighbor is a Vampire!"
"I know. Andy told me," I sighed, sitting down at the table as Gran scowled at me.
"Why am I not surprised that that boy can't keep his mouth shut? I know what you're going to say, Sookie, and I already told you, I'm staying here." Gran sat down across from me and folded her arms over her chest, a gesture I repeated quite often.
Standing, I went to the refrigerator and pulled out the pitcher of peach iced tea that was sitting on the top shelf. After pouring us both a glass and taking a sip, I said, "Gran, I know we have already had this discussion countless times, and I respect your wishes. That doesn't mean that I'm not going to worry any less. What can you tell me about him?"
Gran accepted the iced tea from me as I sat down across from her. "Well, I noticed a moving van last week driving toward the Compton house, so I got curious and walked over there. I saw that the "For Sale" sign was taken down, so I brought over some of my snickerdoodle cookies and a note welcoming whoever moved in to Bon Temps. Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang later that night and I found a handsome, young man standing on my porch. Said his name was William Compton and that he wanted to thank me for my gracious welcome to the neighborhood."
"Did you invite him?" I asked.
"Yes, of course I did, Sookie. What kind of hostess would I be if I'd left him standing on the porch? We sat in the living room and when I asked him if he enjoyed the cookies, he told me that he couldn't eat them because he was a Vampire. To be honest I was a bit shocked by his declaration, but he was such a gentleman with impeccable manners. He explained that he was the original owner of the house and decided to come back to his roots since old man Compton died. And guess what? He was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War! I got him to agree to come meet with the D.O.G.D next week."
D.O.G.D was short for Descendants of the Glorious Dead. Gran and several other inhabitants of Bon Temps belonged to this group who met weekly to indulge their love of history and even scheduled field trips to visit historical sites or graveyards. William Compton didn't know it yet, but he'd just made Gran's year by showing up and agreeing to speak with the Descendants to talk about his glory days fighting for the South.
"Why the interest in Mr. Compton, Sookie?" Gran asked curiously, leaning forward on the table.
"Well, suffice it to say that there were some curious markings on Maudette's body and I feel the need to speak with Mr. Compton and get his professional opinion on the matter," I said, not wanting to give away too much information. Gran loved gossip just as much as anyone else and I didn't need the details of the case all over Bon Temps by morning. It's not that I didn't trust Gran; but if she told Everlee, she would tell Mrs. Fortenberry and it would just continue like a wild fire out of control.
"You'll like him, Sookie. He is the epitome of what a Southern man used to be; he's educated, extremely handsome and very attentive." Oh boy. Gran was setting her sights on someone else now to fix me up with. I needed to tread carefully here.
"I'm only interested in what information he may have, Gran. Did you rescind his invitation after he left?"
"Why would I rescind his invitation?" she asked.
"Gran, Vampires need to be invited inside to gain entrance into a private residence. It would make me feel a whole lot better if you rescind his invitation right now," I pleaded.
"But, Sookie-"
"Gran, please," I cut her off, reaching across the table for her hand. "You really don't know what kind of man this Vampire is, and just because he passes himself off as a Southern gentleman doesn't mean that he is one. He can come into this house anytime he pleases, whether you're here or not and I don't think you want to wake up in the middle of the night with Mr. Compton standing over your bed. Please take his invitation back."
Gran stared at me hard, taking in my furrowed brow and hearing the worry in my voice. "I rescind William Compton's invitation into my home."
I closed my eyes gratefully, Gran's wellbeing all that mattered to me. After what I see everyday, protecting my grandmother from the evils of the world was of the utmost importance.
"Thank you," I said softly. "Well, how about I call Alcide and then I'll help you with the rest of dinner?"
"Sure, Honey," Gran said, patting my hand reassuringly.
Standing up, I excused myself and went into the living room to call Alcide. Sitting down on the flowered antique couch, I dialed Alcide's number and glanced around the room as I waited for him to pick up. Pictures of my family looked back at me from the mantle over the fireplace; Gran and Grandpa Mitchell, Mom and Dad, Aunt Linda and my cousin Hadley and my brother Jason. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought that three fourths of my family were dead and gone. Hadley had run away nine years ago to never be heard from again and for all I knew she could be dead as well. I had tried to find her, but her paper trail went cold five years ago and the Private Investigator I'd hired came up with nothing, telling me it was like Hadley had fallen off the face of the earth. Gran and Jason were all I had left.
"Hey, Sookie." Alcide's gravely voice jerked me out of my reverie.
"Hey, any news?"
"Well, the coroner was nice enough to confirm that Maudette died around three thirty this morning and that she was still in possession of all her blood before bolting out the door for a party that was happening later this evening. The guy is weird. I get a bad vibe from him," Alcide replied.
I sank back into the sofa cushions, tucking a piece of stray hair behind my ear. "Yeah, he's always been a bit off. You get anything off the tapes?"
Alcide was quiet for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Um, well, we have gotten through three of them. According to the date and time on the tape that was in the camera, Maudette did have company last night. Only problem is that the guy never showed his face. He knew where the camera was and blocked the lens with a well placed throw of his shirt."
"Was there audio?" I asked.
"Yeah, and as far as I could tell, the sex happened in the living room. Nothing unusual about the noises that would indicate foul play. The guy then took his shirt off the camera after they were finished and left an hour later."
"What time did he leave?"
"Around one o'clock in the morning. Now, here is the interesting part. Maudette turned the camera off and then there was a time jump to two hours later. The footage showed her going to the door and letting someone in, then the tape goes black. Either someone deleted the rest of what was filmed or the battery went dead," Alcide explained, sounding frustrated.
"Hmmm," I murmured. "Well, from the amount of tapes found I would say that Maudette was really into her amateur porn career. I don't think she would ever let that battery run low and miss the chance to film any action that went down in that living room. I think the killer probably erased the footage. You guys dust the camera for prints?"
"Sure did. Diego is here now and found two different types of fingerprints on the camera. He is running one of them through the system now and hoping to find a hit. The other print belonged to Maudette."
"The first guy that was there. Did he have any noticeable markings or tattoos on his body?" I asked, standing up and going over to the window, pulling the sheer curtain away. A vehicle was driving toward the house and I saw a black pickup truck coming down the road. Looks like Jason was coming to dinner, as well.
"You mean, before he suavely covered up the camera to hide his identity? No, none that I could see, and I even slowed it down frame by frame hoping to get a glimpse of his face. Sookie, there is something else you should know."
The intensity in Alcide's voice made my heart beat faster. "What?" I whispered.
"The second tape we viewed, it was dated from last week. Your brother, Jason, he was on it."
My heart actually skipped a beat. At that moment, I could hear the back door to the kitchen opening and Jason's deep baritone greeting Gran.
"Are you sure it was him?" I asked, my voice hushed.
"Yes. I've only met him once, but I'd know him anywhere. Even Detective Bellefleur and Sheriff Dearborn said it was him."
"Oh god. And on the third tape, is he on there too?" I asked, sitting back down on the sofa. My legs felt weak all of a sudden.
"No, in fact, the man on the third tape is a Vampire."
That perked me up. I sat up straight. "Really? What is the date?"
"Four days ago. Interesting looking guy. Bald, quite large and a tattoo that covered the whole back and the lower part of his skull. He knew that he was being filmed. He was smiling real purty for the camera the whole time while him and Maudette were doing some freaky shit. And guess what they used?"
"A rope?" I asked, my gut instinct taking over.
"Bingo. We need to find this Vampire. Describe him to Rasul, hopefully he can peg him and give us a name. I think he is the one responsible for the fang marks on Maudette's inner thigh."
"Yeah," I responded, worry for my brother gnawing at my insides. From the moment my brother hit puberty, he'd been a chick magnet and quite the ladies man. I don't know why I was surprised that Jason had been with Maudette, since judging by the amount of tapes found she must have done half of Bon Temps. But I was surprised; Maudette was not someone Jason would have usually gone after. Jason never had a problem finding someone to spend quality time with, so I found the pairing odd.
"You okay?" Alcide asked, listening to my breathing.
"I'm...worried. If there are more tapes of them together, you know what is going to happen," I said softly.
"I know. And if it comes to that, I'll question him for you. But then, the boss may have you off the case by that point since you are personally invested," Alcide answered just as quietly.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner, but I need you to do me a favor."
"You don't even need to ask, Sookie. I'll stay. And besides, I already ate three greaseburgers and some heart clogging fries. I'm all set."
I smiled gratefully, the appreciation I had for my partner at that moment knowing no bounds. "Thank you, Alcide. I'll save you a piece of cobbler."
"Deal. You be careful when you go see that Vampire, okay. Wait for Rasul. I know how impatient you get and think you can handle it all by your lonesome, but you re not Super Sookie. Promise me you'll wait," Alcide demanded.
"Yes, Dad, I'll wait for Rasul," I sighed.
"That's my good girl."
Hanging up with Alcide, I took a deep breath before entering the kitchen. Jason was sitting at the table with a beer in hand talking to Gran while she stood at the counter smashing boiled potatoes and adding sour cream to the mix. They were talking about Maudette's murder.
"Hey, Sook. Gran told me that you're on Maudette's case. It's weird, ain't it? Investigating the death of the girl that you used to go to High School with," Jason greeted me, taking a swig of beer.
What I found weird was that my brother was completely unaffected by the death of the woman who up to at least a week ago, he was having sex with.
Going over to the counter and joining Gran, I grabbed a spatula and started piling the pork chops onto a serving platter. Over the years I had perfected my poker face, a necessity that was a must upon hearing disturbing thoughts that would otherwise shock people. I never revealed anything upon my countenance, but at the present moment, I found it hard to keep the worry and anger I had at my brother's philandering ways off of my face.
Walking over to the table, I put the pork chops in the middle of the table and looked at my brother. Eyes the same blue as my own stared back at me, not a hint of guilt or remorse reflected in them. "It's a little strange, but I can handle it."
"I don't know how you do it, Sook. I would have nightmares from the stuff you see everyday," Jason said, his face lighting up as Gran put the mashed potatoes and biscuits on the table.
Truth be told, I did have nightmares. There were times where I couldn't even sleep at night. When I came home in the evening, I tried to leave work at the door, so to speak. All the specifics of a case, the things I had seen or heard, I tried to separate it from my home life so I could find a peace of mind and relax. It helped when I could draw a line in the sand, but that didn't always hold true when I went to sleep. On those nights when the victims of my past cases wanted to haunt me, I ended up staying awake half the night baking muffins or cookies to exorcise the ghosts from my mind.
"It's not an easy job," I said solemnly, accepting the biscuit that Gran put on my plate.
"Is it true that Maudette had Vampire bites on her?" Jason asked, and I paused with my arm halfway to my plate, a spoonful of potatoes in my hand.
"Where did you here that?" I asked suspiciously, sincerely hoping that the case secrets weren't already all over Bon Temps.
"Oh, Mike Spencer was picking up a keg at Merlotte's before I came here. I had a feeling that Maudette was a fangbanger," Jason said, shoveling food into his mouth. Great. Someone would need to speak with Mike Spencer about keeping his mouth shut.
"A fang what?" Gran asked, taking a sip of her iced tea.
"A fangbanger is the new term given for males or females who like to hang around Vampires in the hopes of being bitten or turned into a Vampire," I explained, looking at Jason. "And why did you have a feeling Maudette was one?"
Jason paled slightly at the serious expression on my face, and swallowed his food, hard. "I...uh...it's just something I heard, that's all. She went to that new Vampire bar a lot."
"Fangtasia?" I asked. Fangtasia had just opened six months ago on New Year's Eve, calling itself the Premiere Vampire Bar in Shreveport. Thankfully, the Police Department haven't had any problems with the place yet, due to the owner running the place with an iron fist. I had yet to see the place for myself, but I was curious what a Vampire Bar looked like and what it exactly entailed.
"Yeah, that's it. Dawn told me about it," Jason said.
"You're seeing Dawn, again?" Dawn Green was a waitress at Merlotte's and had started around the same time I did when I worked there. Jason and Dawn had a tumultuous on again/off again relationship, both enjoying the art of tormenting one another.
"We just started back up recently," he said, smirking slightly.
Gran asked Jason about his work and he told us about how his road crew was going to start laying down new tar on some of the more beat up streets. Jason was the supervisor for the Renard Parish road crew, a fact he was quite proud of. I only half listened to the conversation, deep in thought about Maudette.
Presuming that she was bitten by the Mystery Vampire on tape three four days ago, that meant the bite marks were not there when Jason was with Maudette. Was the rumor mill really at work here and Jason heard it through the grapevine, or had he seen the markings himself? Was this Maudette's first time with a Vampire, or was she experienced in entertaining them?
After dinner was done, I took my barely touched food and wrapped it in foil to take home with me. I had lost my appetite somewhere between learning Jason starred in Maudette's porn films and that Mike Spencer was leaking confidential information about a murder to the citizens of Bon Temps.
"I'll let you kids clean up. Jeopardy is on," Gran bustled out of the kitchen and headed straight for the living room, never missing her favorite game show.
"You okay, Sook? You were mighty quiet during supper," Jason asked me as I ran a dirty plate under the stream of water from the faucet.
Glancing at my big brother, I was torn between wanting to hug him and/or slapping some sense into him. Jason was almost thirty years old, but still acted like a hormonal teenage boy. Six inches taller than my own five foot four, he looked down at me, the picture of brotherly concern. I told myself what I was about to do was because I loved him just as much as he loved me.
"I'm hanging in there. I'm just worried about you," I replied, putting the plate down and turning the water off.
"You're concerned about me? Why?"
I turned and grasped his hands, so I could hear his thoughts better. "We found the tapes, Jason. You know which ones I'm talking about. Is there something you want to tell me?"
Jason's eyes went wide and I was bombarded with his panicked thoughts. Oh shit! Maudette really did film us. Oh my god, if the police have the tapes, they might think I killed her. I was only with her those few times. I haven't even seen her in over a week. Oh god, Sookie! Sookie, you're reading my mind, aren't you? "Sookie, I didn't do anything, I swear! Please, you gotta believe me!"
Closing my eyes, I blew out a breathe of relief at the honest stream of thoughts I'd heard from Jason. Looking up at him, I reached a hand up and patted his cheek like Gran did when she comforted me. "I believe you. Do you have an alibi for last night?"
He nodded vigorously. "I was with Dawn all night."
"She can confirm this?" I asked.
"She sure can," Jason was already pulling his phone out. I stopped him from dialing Dawn's number. He looked at me, confused.
"I'm just asking for myself. It's not like I'm going to haul you in for questioning, Jason. There are a lot tapes to go through, and God only knows how many men Maudette has slept with and recorded. I just want to prepare you for the likely hood that you are going to be called in either by Andy or Sheriff Dearborn and be questioned about your relationship with Maudette."
"You couldn't do it?" Jason asked, sitting down heavily at the table.
"No, because I'm your sister. I'm surprised my Lieutenant hasn't called me yet to tell me I'm no longer on the case. Since I'm related to you, I might be pulled off of the investigation because I wouldn't be able to work it objectively." I suppose Alcide had yet to tell Whitley that my brother was on one of the tapes.
"What am I gonna do, Sook?" Jason looked so forlorn.
I squatted down in front of him, shaking my head. "You need to stop going down this path you've been on. It's not doing you any good, Jason, can't you see that? These small interludes of pleasure is going to land you in the hot seat one day, either with the cops or at the end of a double barrel shotgun from a jealous husband or boyfriend. It's time to grow up, Jason."
My brother glanced out the window, pursing his lips. No one liked to have their flaws pointed out to them, even when they knew what they were. I took his hand in mine and squeezed. "I know you can change. But the real question is, do you want too?"
"Of course I do. But what if I don't know how?" he asked, looking back at me.
"You know how. Why don't you really try this time to make your relationship with Dawn work? That could be a step in the right direction," I said. While I had been friendly enough to Dawn when I'd worked with her at Merlotte's, she was not really the type of person I would ever call a friend. Dawn was two faced, smiling and sweet in your face, but once the back was turned you would have to watch for the knife that would try to plummet into your back. I had always perceived her as someone who wanted to be taken care of, to find a guy with money that would sweep her off her feet. I don't know if she thought the Stackhouse family had a secret fortune stashed away somewhere, but I was curious why she kept coming back to my brother.
"You're right," Jason said, looking inspired. "I'm gonna do my best to make it with Dawn, just you wait and see, Sookie. You're gonna be so proud of me."
I smiled at him, encouragingly. At times like these, I sometimes felt like our roles were reversed; that I was the big sister and he was the little brother. But in the end, what did it matter? Families should have each others backs since blood was thicker than water.
Sitting on the couch next to Gran, we were watching an antique traveling show rerun when I heard a car coming down the road. Jason had left an hour before, so unless he'd forgotten something, that meant Rasul had finally arrived. Standing, I glimpsed out the window and saw the headlights of a black car coming to a stop next to my Grand Am.
"Rasul's here," I said to Gran, heading toward the door.
"Oh, this is exciting," Gran said breathlessly, following after me. I had explained to her after Jason left that Rasul was my Vampire contact with the Police Department and that he would be escorting me over to speak with Mr. Compton. Gran was beside herself with meeting another Vampire, and I feared she may grill Rasul about coming to a D.O.G.D meeting.
Opening the front door, I smiled when I saw Rasul waiting for me on the porch. Vampires guarded their life secrets viciously, and while I didn't know everything about Rasul, I did know that he was trustworthy and I enjoyed his wit and humor.
"Hello, Sookie. This must be your grandmother, yes? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Rasul said, his words still carrying the hint of an accent from his Middle Eastern upbringing. He bowed his head toward Gran, which was the standard Vampire greeting. I knew from experience that they weren't big on touching anyone, except maybe to feed. And to do other things. Okay, mind out of the gutter, Sookie.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rasul. Sookie told me that you two have some business to attend too. I don't want to keep you. I just really wanted to meet you. You're the second Vampire I've met this week!" Gran said enthusiastically.
Rasul's dark brown eyes moved to me briefly before settling back on Gran. "The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Stackhouse. Sookie and I do have to go meet with your new neighbor, but perhaps we can visit another time, if that pleases you?"
Gran smiled widely, giving a glimpse of the beauty she had once possessed. "That would do me just fine, Mr. Rasul. Now, if you'll excuse this old lady, I think it's time to go to bed. Sookie, you drive home safely. I know you're tired and I worry when you have to drive so far back to Shreveport."
I hugged Gran and kissed her cheek. "I promise to drive safely. Don't worry. I love you."
"Love you too, Honey," Gran said, opening the front door. "Good Evening, Mr. Rasul."
Rasul bowed once again and when Gran was ensconced inside the house, we both began to walk in the direction of the Compton Estate. It was quicker to cut through the cemetery, and I used the time to question Rasul.
"How have you been, Rasul?"
The lamps in the cemetery were solar powered, and the dim glow lit the way as we walked along the path between the tombstones. "I have been well, thank you. Whitley told me that the deceased was bitten by a Vampire, but the marks were several days old. Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"This Vampire we're going to see just moved in at the end of last week. My Gran met him and said that he is quite the gentleman, but I'll reserve judgment until after our meeting with him. Have you ever heard of a William Compton?"
Rasul was quiet for a moment. "No, never heard of him. Anything else?"
"Alcide is viewing the tapes found in Maudette's place. There was a Vampire on the third tape he viewed. Alcide said he was large, bald and had a tattoo that covered his entire back and the bottom half of his neck. Ring any bells?"
Rasul shook his head, his face not giving away a trace of emotion. "This displeases me that there are new Vampires in the area that are not making themselves known to my Master."
I glanced at him furtively as he walked beside me, still unsure of exactly who Rasul answered too. As much as I would like to pull the name of Rasul's Vampire boss from his head, that was something I just couldn't do. Where I had to have shields in place around normal people and even Alcide at times, Vampires were nothing but a large, floating void. I suppose it had something to do with the fact that Vampires were animated corpses and they had no brain activity, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't hear their thoughts and I found solace in the silence it gave me. But as much as I enjoyed the quiet, the information that was withheld and not given, like Rasul's boss's name, drove me nuts.
Having joined the Police Department a year ago, the help Rasul gave us was invaluable. He never gave away too much information about his own kind, just enough to let us know exactly who we might be dealing with. If and when a Vampire was suspected in a case, Rasul led a team of Vampires, almost like a S.W.A.T unit, to detain the guilty party responsible for the crime.
A law had been passed shortly after the Vampires had come out that if any were involved in committing atrocities against humans, justice would be dispensed by the local Vampire authority for their crimes. The Police Department did not know who that authority was, so Rasul was the middle man, transferring the guilty parties into the hands of the Vampire in charge.
People had been afraid at first that the laws were not being upheld, that they were just empty promises. But then a disturbing tape of a Vampire bound and tortured with silver had surfaced on the internet and the public had gotten a taste of what Vampire justice looked like. The only thing they asked was that the Police Department view offences against Vampires just as seriously as they did with crimes committed against human beings. It was agreed upon in no official terms that the Vampires would punish their own as long as the human populace respected the principle to do the same.
Breaking through the tree line that separated the cemetery from the Compton property line, the old plantation house came into view. From what Gran told me, this house had been built around the same time that the farmhouse was. The closer we came, I could see by the spare amount of moonlight that the house was going to need a lot of work. The place hadn't been taken care of by the last owner, and years of negligence would probably cost thousands in renovation costs.
"Remember, if he makes a move, I will claim you." Rasul spoke softly as we walked by a black Buick that was parked in front of the plantation house.
I nodded, having done this with him before. Vampires were extremely possessive, and when I'd first met him Rasul told me that I was quite attractive, more so then he had ever seen in a very long time. While every woman wants to hear a complement like that, Rasul had sounded quite dire and when I asked him what was wrong, he had said in no uncertain terms that I was Vampire Bait. He had gone on to explain that if I caught the eyes of other Vampires, I might find myself in trouble since no one has "claimed" me yet. So, whenever we were around other Vampires, I unofficially became Rasul's property. He did it to keep me safe, and I appreciated that.
Coming to the door, I stood behind Rasul as he used the knocker. A moment later, the door slowly opened and I saw a white face float out of the darkness of the house, almost like a ghost. A man emerged, dressed completely in black. "Can I help you?" The man asked. Gran was right. He had a very strong, Southern accent.
Rasul took a step forward. "I am Rasul. This is Sookie Stackhouse. We are in the employ of the Shreveport Police Department. Are you William Compton? We have a few questions we need to ask you."
The man stood still for a moment, then he stepped to the side, gesturing with his hand. "Yes, I am William Compton. But please, do call me Bill."
Rasul stepped over the threshold and as I followed, I looked up into the face of William "Bill" Compton. From what I could see, the Vampire had dark brown hair and eyes, with sideburns that were definitely outdated. I suppose he was good looking, but his eyes were so cold, not a hint of warmth in them. They scanned my face quickly.
The lighting in the house was quite dim, and what looked to be candle sconces were mounted on the walls. It looked like there was no electricity. Yeah, this place needed massive work.
Closing the door behind us, Bill led us into the living room area where there were two sets of dilapidated couches and a worn throw rug. He sat down on one sofa and motioned for us to sit on the other. I preferred to stand, and so did Rasul.
"So, what can I do for you?" Bill asked politely, staring straight at me.
Time to speak up. "Mr. Compton, a woman was found dead today in her apartment. Do you recognize the name Maudette Pickens?" I asked, sliding my notepad out.
He stared at me blankly. "Why would I know the name? And what does a dead woman being found have to do with me?"
"Well, considering that you just moved to town not even a week ago, it doesn't look too good when a woman is found dead with Vampire bite marks on her thighs," I said evenly, lifting an eyebrow at him.
"Are you insinuating that I had something to do with her death?" he scoffed.
"No, but I would like to know your whereabouts last night at around three thirty in the morning," I asked.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "I was here last night. I have been trying to set up my household and get an electrician out here. As you can see, I don't even have electricity."
"I do see that. And that makes me curious Mr. Compton. Of all the Vampire-centric places in the world, especially here in Louisiana, why come here to lil' old Bon Temps?" I drawled. Rasul took a step closer to me.
"This was my home when I was still a human. I am trying to mainstream now. I would like to be able to return to my roots after having to stay away for so long," he explained. Mainstreaming was the term given to Vampires who wished to live among humans like equals, drinking only bottled synthetic blood that inspired the Vampires to go public with their existence.
As I stared at the Vampire on the couch, I felt a tickle inside my mind. I knew the sensation from when Rasul had tried to glamour me and failed, and I was instantly offended that Mr. Compton was trying to influence me. Rasul sensed this and I felt his arm go around my waist like an iron band, pulling me close to his body.
"She is mine," Rasul hissed over my shoulder, and Bill looked disconcerted that I didn't fall under his control. His expression hardened and he nodded in deference to Rasul's claim on me. Letting out the breath I didn't realize I was holding, I didn't know what to think of Mr. Compton. One thing was for sure though; Vampire or not, he was certainly no gentleman. The arm that held me slowly let go, but Rasul didn't step away from me.
"I apologize, Ms. Stackhouse," Bill murmured, standing up.
"It's Detective Stackhouse. I have no further questions, but if I do, I know where to find you." I stepped away from Rasul, sensing that he wanted to speak with William Compton alone. I was just about to leave the living room when I turned around. "Oh, and one more thing. Stay away from my Grandmother. I know you agreed to speak at her Descendants meeting next week, but I don't think that is a good idea."
With that, I turned and left the house. Taking several steps away from the house, I looked up at the sky and breathed deeply, a bit freaked out. I have only met a handful of Vampires, but none of them had tried to glamour me except Rasul. I found it unsettling that the Vampire my Gran was singing praises for felt the need to try to influence me. What purpose would that serve? Why was he really here? I really didn't buy his "coming back to my roots" story. I thought of myself as a good judge of character, and from the five minutes spent in Mr. Compton's company, his cold eyes, overly played Southern act and the boldness of using his glamour didn't endear him to me at all.
Pulling out my smartphone, I dialed Whitley's home number. He picked up on the third ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Sookie. I've met with the Vampire."
"And?"
"He's creepy, but I don't think he had anything to do with Maudette's murder. Rasul's in there with him now asking his own questions."
"Alcide told me of the Vampire on the tape. We need to try to find him."
"I gave his description to Rasul. I assume that Rasul will take that info to his boss and hopefully it will turn something up." I said, releasing my hair from its clip and sighing in delight as my hair swung down.
"Alcide told me that your brother was on one of the tapes. Sheriff Dearborn has already spoken with him and his alibi checks out. I have to tell you Sookie that if your brother was implicated in this case, I would have taken you off."
"I know. I'm just glad that he wasn't," I said quietly.
"Me too. Now, go home and get some sleep. I won't expect you early tomorrow. You need to take it easy," Whitley ordered.
I smiled. "I will. Sleep well, Boss."
Shutting my phone off, I looked up and saw Rasul coming toward me. I followed after him as he headed toward the path in the cemetery. When we were out of earshot of the house, I asked, "Well, what do you think?"
"I don't think he had anything to do with the murder, but he is hiding something. I have ordered him to check in with my Master. If he does not, he will be thrown out of this area," Rasul said, glancing at me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Just pisses me off that he thinks he can try to glamour me."
"He got a surprise there when he realized he couldn't. You did well," Rasul said.
Arriving back at Gran's house, Rasul waved as he got into his black Sedan and drove off. Going into the house, I grabbed my leftovers and the cherry cobbler I had put to the side for Alcide and turned off all the lights on my way out, making sure to lock the door behind me. Jumping into my car, visions of a hot shower and my soft bed motivated me to stay awake, along with a blaring radio, all the way back to Shreveport.
Well, as you can guys can see, Bill is going to be a douche right from the on set, and ain't Sookie a smart girl to realize that he is not the gentleman that he is pretending to be?
Just a quick note, I have taken liberties with the timeline. The first SSN started in June 2004. Considering its been almost 10 years, I feel its time to bring this story more into our timeline. The start of this story is August 2011. As the story progresses, I will be bringing it more into the present time. I'm not sure how long this story is going to be, but considering how many books there are, it will be quite a few. I will be doing time jumps, I'm not in the mood to get in a rut touching on the boring things in the book, but will bring major plot themes and things I feel are important to my story into the spotlight.
Reviews=Love.