Hey guys! :) Yes, I'm back, full explanation is on my profile page. This chapter is not beta'd, and though I went through and fixed as many mistakes as I could, I'm sure they are still there. Sorry, but my old beta is just seriously busy now and has no time. I was just so excited about this chapter and wanted to get it out to you. So let's jump to it...
Three days later found me sitting at my desk with a café latte in my left hand and a folder with Diego's forensic findings in my right. With a sigh of frustration, I tossed the file on to my desk and took a swig of my drink, relishing the taste.
The rope fibers that were found on Maudette's body were nylon, and much to my disappointment, it was a common rope found in any store with a sporting goods department. I wouldn't be surprised if all the residents in Northern Louisiana had nylon ropes in their garage for some purpose or another, and not being a specialty rope, there was no way to track it back to its owner.
All of the fingerprints that Diego had lifted from the scene were Maudette's, except for one, and the fingerprint database had come up empty on finding a match. It was a surprise that Diego hadn't found more fingerprints, considering the number of men Maudette had coming and going from her place.
Diego had a good amount of skin samples from under Maudette's fingernails, but like with the semen and the pubic hair found on her body, we had nothing to run them against. Our investigation was at a standstill and it frustrated me to no end when that happened. The only thing we could run with at the moment was that the killer was a necrophiliac, as Diego had suspected, but there had never been a case of necrophilia in Bon Temps history. Pulling up all the files for the past forty years, I found that the last reported case of necrophilia had been seven years ago, and the suspect had ended up jumping to his death from a twenty story building.
It chilled my blood to think since Maudette let half the county into her bedroom, the killer might not be found.
"You are thinking way too hard for it being barely eight in the mornin'."
Glancing up, I gave a tired smile to Alcide. "Yeah, well, I've been up since before five, so it ain't so early to me."
Alcide just stared at me, shaking his head. "Why in the hell you getting up before the sun?"
"A/C is on the fritz. My apartment is like an oven," I explained, taking a careful sip of my latte.
"But that doesn't stop you from swinging by Starbucks, right?" Alcide chuckled, holding out his hand for my drink. I surrendered my caffeine with raised eyebrows.
"Never." I don't care how hot it is outside, I need my coffee.
"Good Lord, Sookie," Alcide grimaced, handing me the latte back. "Try adding a bit of milk next time."
Rolling my eyes, I watched as my partner sat down at his desk that was next to mine. We stared at each other for a long moment, our eyes slowly drawn to the file folder laying on top of my desktop calendar.
"What were you thinking about?"
Raking my fingers through my hair, I leaned back in my chair. "I just hate it when we have cases like this. What is the motive? Was she killed by a jealous lover who didn't like her promiscuous ways, or by a smart Vampire who didn't drain her to throw us off? Perhaps it was erotic asphyxiation and the guy killed her on accident during sex, only realizing what he did after he finished and fled in fear. She had to have known the guy or at least consented to his being in her apartment. So many suspects, but you know as well as I do that no judge is going to grant us a subpoena to have all those men on her videos brought in for crossmatching. The ones Sheriff Dearborn recognized had alibis and there is no real possibility of finding the others that didn't come up when we ran the mug shots. Is this a one-off or do we have to wait for another murder to pop up?"
Running out of steam and tired from a lack of sleep, I wilted in my chair. Alcide came over and knelt next to me.
"You're taking it too personally. You need to stop worrying yourself about this."
I felt the biting sting of tears behind my eyes. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "I know I am. From all the victims we've dealt with in our time together, this is the first time its someone I know. I don't know how to deal with that. It's easy to distance yourself and stay cool with strangers, but when I close my eyes at night, I remember Maudette's smile from when we were in High School together."
"It's gonna be okay, Sook. Do you want me to talk to the boss, ask if it's okay if you're taken off the case?" Alcide asked, laying his large hand over mine that clenched around the paper cup in my lap.
My head jerked up and I straightened my spine. I did not like to be perceived as weak and emotional, and that's just what I'd shown my partner.
"No, that won't be necessary. I'm sorry I went off on a tangent like that," I answered, looking into his green eyes.
Alcide's soft smile put me at ease. "Don't you ever apologize for having a heart, Sookie. This job turns too many into unemotional zombies who have been jaded by the things they have seen and done. I feel honored to be working with the one detective who still feels things so strongly. That's one of the things I really like about you."
Feeling awkward all of a sudden, I cleared my throat and gave Alcide a watery smile. "Thanks, partner." The sound of voices coming down the hall heralded our fellow detectives arriving to start the day. Pulling my hands free from Alcide's grasp, I glanced at the file folder again.
"Any word from Rasul on the Vampire with the tattoo?" I asked, smiling at a passing colleague.
"Yeah, says his boss doesn't have any Vampires in his zone fitting that description. Says that there's been an influx lately of new Vampires in this area, that many of them are not checking in with his boss and making their presence known. His boss is none too pleased about it," Alcide stood back up, his knees cracking in protest.
Furtively looking up at him, my curiosity got the better of me. "Do you know who Rasul's boss is? He never lets a name slip. Why is it such a big secret? Aren't we all on the same team?"
Alcide's eyes sharpened, his nostrils flaring slightly. "You know why, Sookie. Our secrets, Vampires," his eyes scanned the room quickly, his voice lowering, "and other supernaturals, our secrets guard themselves. And like any supernatural, a Vampire guards those secrets viciously, and doesn't like any outsiders to know more than they should. It's enough for them that they came out of the coffin with their existence, what the public makes of their presence is no skin off their back."
Nodding, I placed my latte on the desk. I could understand the need to guard a secret. I would rather have everyone think of me as "Crazy Sookie" than to know the truth that I hid behind. People would take advantage of that gift, and the importance to keep it hidden was vital.
Inspiration struck me in that moment. "I think after work today, I'll go fishing."
"Oh?" Alcide asked, leaning against my desk and crossing his arms. "Where you going to go?"
"I was thinking the local watering hole in Bon Temps might be a good place to go."
With a wolfish grin, Alcide eyed me appreciatively. "Need any back up?"
Standing, I patted his shoulder. "Nah, I think I can handle this one on my own."
With a new sense of optimism that I hoped would pan out later, I began my work day feeling a little less troubled.
When I went fishing, it wasn't me going to the nearest reservoir with a fishing pole and tackle box, though I had been known to do a bit of that when I was younger, with Jason. Now, when I went fishing, it was throwing my mental hook out into a sea of thoughts and seeing if I could snag a lead or a clue when a case was going nowhere fast. With the gossip mill in Bon Temps going crazy for the last several days since Maudette's death, going to my former workplace seemed like a good idea to glean any relevant information. I could even get lucky and catch the killer reminiscing about his handy work.
A detective commonly worked several cases at once, the severity of the crime dictating the priority level of each one. A murderer loose in a local community became priority level number one, and I always seemed to go fishing when murder cases came across my desk. My passionate nature always came to the surface when it came to bringing fugitives to justice, but nothing got my passion burning quicker than a senseless killing.
After work came to a close, I bid Alcide farewell with a promise to call him if I hit gold and headed directly home to change my clothes, not wanting to draw attention to myself by looking like Detective Sookie Stackhouse. It was a Friday night, and heading into the weekend, I wanted to be like everyone else and assume the look of someone trying to wind down after the work week.
Changing into a pair of jean shorts and a pink cotton T-shirt, I pulled my hair up into a simple ponytail and scrubbed my face clean of the make-up I had worn during the day. Grabbing my purse, I tossed my badge, a pair of handcuffs and my holstered gun inside, making sure the safety was on. Since becoming a cop, it had become simple habit of carrying a gun and my badge everywhere, even on my off time. Whether I left my piece in the glove compartment of my car or strapped on my ankle and hidden by a pair of pants, I was always ready.
Arriving in Bon Temps forty minutes later, the drive to Merlotte's Bar and Grill was one I could do in my sleep. The bar was owned by a dear friend who gave me a job when one wasn't to be found, encouraging me to better myself when the idea of taking the entrance exam to the police academy took hold.
Pulling into the parking lot, I drove around to the back and pulled into one of the spaces reserved for staff, half out of habit of when I used to work as a waitress and partly because there was nothing free in the front. Scanning the wooded area that surrounded the bar as I stepped out of my car, I used the employee entrance, pausing when a familiar male voice carried down the hall.
Smiling, I followed the sound, stopping in the open doorway and leaning against the door jamb.
"...I understand Phil, I would appreciate it if you could get an extra case of scotch and tequila to me by tomorrow. Thanks a million." The man hung up the phone on a desk pushed up against a wall cluttered with papers and receipts, his back facing the door. I watched as he ran a hand through his red-gold hair, the strands sticking straight up.
"I think it's time to get a haircut, Sam," I commented, laughing as he spun around, his eyes bulging in surprise at the sight of me standing there.
"Sookie," he lunged forward, pulling me into a bear hug. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming by?"
Wrapping my arms around Sam's solid back, I took a moment to enjoy the feeling of having a man hold me. There were times when I got really lonely, especially when I saw other couples canoodling around with each other. I was holding myself back, but if I let myself be with a normal man, the relationship would be over before it began. Holding my shields up took a bit of effort, and keeping them in place the entire time for the sanctity of a relationship would drain me beyond my mental reserves.
Pulling back, I stared into Sam's eyes.
Sam Merlotte was a handsome man, his voice tinged with his Texas upbringing. He was as tall as my brother and had a fit figure that caught many female's eyes when he walked on by. He had a great smile and his green eyes glowed with warmth and kindness. He was the perfect guy and there had always been a spark of attraction between us, but fear of ruining our friendship stopped me from pursuing something more.
The hand on my waist pulled me closer as Sam's question went unanswered. "What's wrong, Sookie?"
My gaze drifted down to his lips that were inches from mine. It would be so easy...
"SAM!"
Blushing furiously, I jumped away from Sam as though burned.
"Sam, you back here? Oh, why Sookie, I didn't see you come in," Arlene, one of Sam's long time waitresses came into the office, her red hair teased to within an inch of its life.
"Hi Arlene, how you been?" I asked politely, rubbing my wet palms on the seat of my shorts. Arlene and I had worked together shortly before I had left for the police academy, and while I loved her children to pieces, Arlene's nature always gave me pause in thinking that the friendship we shared was genuine.
"What do you want, Arlene?" Sam asked, his voice annoyed. Obviously I wasn't the only one affected by our embrace.
"Huh? Oh, the Guinness tap is about to run dry."
Raking his fingers through his hair again, Sam grunted. "I'll be right up to change the keg. Give us a moment, will ya?"
Like a hawk spotting a mouse, Arlene's blue eyes flicked between the two of us. The sick feeling in my gut told me that she was going to start spreading rumors the moment she cleared the swinging doors to the bar area.
Once she was gone, I cleared my throat and fidgeted with my purse. Trying to clear the awkwardness of the situation, I thought back to the last thing Sam said before Arlene's timely arrival. "Everything is fine, Sam. Just decided that I wanted some place familiar to unwind, that's all. Sorry I took you by surprise."
Sam stared for a moment. "How you holding up? Word is that you're working Maudette's murder. How is that going?"
"You know I can't talk about that, Sam. Suffice it to say that a murder case is never nice. I'll be glad once we catch the guy."
Sam nodded his head and together we left his office, coming up front.
Twenty minutes later, after saying hello to old co-workers and avoiding everyone's questions about the case, I sat at the bar and watched as Sam changed the beer tap. The jukebox in the corner played an old Creedence Clearwater Revival song and the sound of cue sticks hitting pool balls brought a measured calm to my overwrought mind.
"You want a gin and tonic? My treat." I smiled at Sam's offer and leaned my elbows against the walnut colored bar.
"No thanks, but I'll take an iced tea if you have one."
As dusk turned into night, Merlotte's became louder and busier. I sat at the bar and randomly dropped my shields from time to time, trying to catch any thought that could help with the investigation. The most that I gathered was that no one had any knowledge about Maudette's murder, but had plenty of opinions on how she lived her life. It was disheartening to know that the people around me didn't care one lick that she was dead, that they only enjoyed the speculation it caused to help pass the time. Like these people had any right to judge the way someone lived their life. Hypocrites, the lot of them.
I was slightly cheered from my melancholy thoughts when Jason came in with his road crew to have a round of beers. Bestowing a hug on my big brother, we chatted a bit until he became distracted when he saw Dawn flirting with some biker's that she was serving. I cringed as they entertained most of the bar after Jason confronted her and it became a shouting match with every other word said rhyming with the word suck. Sam broke it up amid catcalls and wolf whistles and told them to take their lover's quarrel outside. Some things never changed.
Shortly after ten, the bane of my days as a waitress came in with his wife, and after spotting me at the bar, I turned my back on him to save myself from any suggestive looks he might send my way.
Mack and Denise Rattray, in my humble opinion, were scum of the earth. If someone were to look up the definition of trailer park trash, a picture of the two of them would be there for all to see. Both had the look of long-term drug use, which was no surprise. Mack was missing several teeth and his skin was pockmarked and mottled. Denise's skin fared no better, her frizzy hair similar to a rat's nest and her tight dress showing off too much flesh.
Drinking the rest of my iced tea, I decided it was time to call it a night. I was beginning to get a headache from listening to everyone's thoughts and I wasn't in the mood to catch anything of what the Rattray's were thinking.
Reaching for my purse to leave a nice tip for Sam, I paused when the bar went eerily quiet. Instantly on guard, I let my shields drop as I looked around the crowded bar to find what had enthralled everyone into silence.
Is that a...a Vampire?
No good bloodsuckers, they need to stay away from us decent folks...
Are they even allowed in here?
I'll take that as my cue to go home...
My telepathy encountered a black void by the entrance of the bar, and following its presence, I was surprised and a little unnerved to see William Compton standing there.
Dressed in a blue button down and gray trousers, his otherworldly nature stood out like a wolf in sheep's clothing. The people nearest him moved away, obviously fearful that he would attack them. I glanced at Sam and saw he was gripping the edge of the bar, his knuckles white against the dark wood. Though I couldn't read his thoughts, his brain pattern was throbbing with a green aura I'd never felt before.
Turning my attention back to Compton, I watched his progress as he slowly entered the bar proper, nodding at people as he passed by, trying to put them at ease. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as he sat at a free booth, folding his hands on top of the table. The tide of people around me shifted uncomfortably, trying to reestablish the mood before the surprise appearance of a Vampire in our midst.
Minutes later, I watched as Arlene hesitantly spoke with Compton before she came scuttling toward the bar, shaking her head.
Turning my head, I met Sam's eyes before he turned his attention to the red-head. "What does he want, Arlene?"
Opening the fridge under the bar, Arlene tilted her head to the right to read the labels. "He wants one of those True Bloods, but I don't think we have anymore."
"No, the ones I ordered expired and had to be thrown out. That's all he said?" Sam asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Glancing back into the crowd, I met Compton's brown eyes from across the room. He stared at me long and hard, and I wondered if he was entertaining the idea of trying to glamour me again since Rasul was not here to protect me from his advances. My eyes narrowed, the very thought sending anger pulsing through my body.
Deciding body language sometimes spoke louder than words, I turned back to Sam and Arlene, sure to keep the Vampire within view of the mirror that hung behind the bar, just in case.
"Well, what should I tell him, Sam? This isn't in my job description, having to serve Vampers. What if he flys into a rage because we don't have what he wants? I have kids, I can't be put in mortal danger like this!" Arlene griped, clutching her serving tablet before her like a shield.
While Compton was no doubt a jerk, the thought of him causing a blood bath due to True Blood being out of stock caused a laugh to slip from my mouth. Arlene looked at me angrily, her face slowly matching the color of her hair. "Think you can do a better job, Sookie? Why don't you go serve him, you don't really have anyone that you have to worry about if something happened to you."
The smile flirting around the edge of my mouth fell away with her unwarranted attack. Arlene had become bitter when she found out that I was leaving for the academy, her thoughts broadcasting her jealousy loud and clear that I wasn't deserving of such a chance. Years later, her view on the topic was still the same.
"Don't worry Arlene, you just keep on doing what you're doing. I'll serve and protect while you serve the beers," I replied coldly, hitting her where it hurt.
Sam interrupted Arlene's indignant gasp by shoving a glass of red Merlot into her hand. "Arlene, stop. Give this to him and explain that we are out but I will order some True Blood tomorrow. I can't very well ask the guy to leave, he isn't doing anything wrong."
"But, but its wine, he can't drink this," Arlene sputtered.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Sam sighed in irritation. "Please, just bring it to him. Trust me. It looks better if he's served something than sitting there empty-handed. I just wanna put everyone at ease." Accepting his explanation with a huff, Arlene shot me one last glare before weaving through the crowd, the glass of wine balanced on the tray above her head.
Sam and I watched as she placed the glass of wine in front of her unwanted patron who listened to her explanation with cool acceptance as he bowed his head in thanks. As Sam predicted, the uncomfortable tension that filled the room slowly receded with the affable illusion the Vampire presented.
"I'm sorry about Arlene, Sookie. You okay?"
Glancing down at my empty tea glass, I pushed away the feelings of aloneness that flared up with Arlene's cruel words. "It's what I've come to expect from her. Don't worry about me, Sam. I'm wearing my big girl pants tonight."
As Sam tried to play catch up with all the orders that poured in during Arlene's tantrum, I decided to stay since Compton's appearance in Merlotte's added fuel to everyone's fears and suspicions, and in my case, a small glimmer of hope for Maudette.
Glancing at Compton's reflection in the mirror over the bar, I studied him at length. What was he doing here? Was it simple coincidence that he came here tonight or was he following me? It was obvious that this was his first time to Merlotte's. After my visit with the Vampire the other night, I would always be wary of him. Vampires hid their emotions well, their very existence before the Great Revelation had depended on it. From the Vampires I've met, they have all shown some degree of emotion. William Compton's emotionless eyes chilled my soul. In my line of work, people with dead eyes committed unspeakable crimes. Crimes that gave one nightmares.
Closing my eyes and breathing deeply, I concentrated wholly on limiting everyone's thoughts, pushing useless gossip and speculation to the sidelines. I winced as my headache intensified, the chatter of a hundred thoughts combined with the din of the bar pushing against my focus. Determined, I pushed through and bit my lip, following a thought that came to my attention.
...wonder if a Vampire really did kill Maudette. I cannot believe the audacity of that fanger, sitting there bold as brass. Maybe the Reverend was right and I should join the Fellowship...
Curious, I opened my eyes and craned my neck so I could see the pool table. Four men that I wasn't familiar with played a round, two of the four chatting amiably while the other two watched. Eyeing the quiet ones, I found myself surprised that neither Alcide or myself had considered the Fellowship of the Sun. The Fellowship, or FOTS, was a church that opposed the Vampires. They hated everything about them and weren't afraid to let it show. I would have to look into the possibility of someone killing Maudette because they hated Vampires and in turn killed anyone who associated with them.
That one is nowhere near as good-looking as the one I had the other night. Wonder if I can make it to Fangtasia tomorrow since I have the night off, maybe give that hunk another go if he's interested. Just have to figure out a way to ditch Jason, he is so clingy lately and getting on my nerves...
I glanced at Dawn as she walked through the crowd, her brain broadcasting her thoughts loud and clear. I wasn't surprised to hear that her interest in my brother was waning, though it looked like he was fighting valiantly for their relationship. The two of them always strayed apart after a few weeks, than months later it started all over again.
Shaking my head sadly, I stopped short as I saw the Rattrays heading for the exit with Compton following close behind. Alarmed, I sat up straighter and tried to hear what they were planning and judging from the evil smirk on Mack's face, it was nothing good.
This is gonna make us some damn good money. I just hope this one goes down easier than the Vamp from last week, I need to pay Herald back, that no good sumbitch...
No matter how much I disliked William Compton, I could not allow him to be drained, especially by the Rattrays. My sense of honor demanded it of me. It wasn't something I could ignore, a crime was a crime, and upon my oath as an officer of the law, I would hold true to my word and protect those who cannot protect themselves, be it human or Vampire.
Hopping down from my stool, I turned too quickly and suddenly felt the front of my shirt plaster itself to my skin with someone's cold drink.
"Oh shit, oh man, Sookie, I'm so sorry! Here, let me get you some napkins," My brother's best friend, Hoyt Fortenberry, stood before me red-faced and apologetic as he tried to grab some paper tissues from the bars napkin dispenser.
Batting his hands away as he tried to embarrassingly dab at the whiskey sour he spilled all over my chest, I pushed by him in my rush to get outside and stop the Rattrays. Time was of the essence and my patience was being tested as I battled my way through the sea of bodies that got in my way.
Breaking though the crowd surrounding the bar, I spotted Sam as he carried a case of bottles from the storeroom to the front.
"Sam!" I called urgently, my voice stopping him immediately.
Placing the case of bottles down behind the bar, he turned to me. "What's wrong?"
"I need you to call Dearborn and tell him to get over here, immediately," I said, knowing that I would need the back up.
"What's going on, are you okay?" Sam asked, his eyes intense.
I shook my head. "Please, Sam, I don't have time to explain. Just call him."
Before he could say another word, I pushed past the swinging doors that led into the hall for Sam's office, the storeroom and the employee entrance. Squatting down, I tried to get my adrenaline under control as I opened my purse and pulled my gun out. The unexpected outcome of interrupting a crime in progress was always a different mindset than dealing with the aftermath. In the end, all you could do was hope that you came out of the ordeal unscathed and the criminal behind bars.
Shoving the handcuffs and my gun into the waistband of my shorts, I tossed my purse into Sam's office as I walked by. Easing the back door open, I slipped out into the humid August night. Dropping my shields completely, I reached out in search of the black void that represented Compton, hoping that he hadn't gone too far with the Rattrays. My telepathy brushed against the group, the buzz of excitement and anticipation from Mack and Denise guiding me to the far corner of Merlotte's parking where the lighting was dim and the woods provided ample cover.
Crouching low, I sidled up to the side of the Rattrays car. Peeking over the hood to get a better look at what I was up against, I grimaced at the scene before me; Mack and Denise stood in the shelter of trees with the headlights from their car brightening the area with Compton laying on the ground in front of them, his neck, hands and feet covered in silver chains. From what I could see, gallon sized milk jugs sat next to the silvered Vampire, slowly filling with blood that came from an IV line shoved haphazardly into his wrist.
"Hurry up, babe. This is taking too long. Someone could come along and see us." Mack muttered, glancing nervously into the woods.
"Shut up, Mack. No one ever comes over to this part of the parking lot. He's almost done, anyway. You wanna stake him or leave him for the sun?" Denise asked, her high-pitched voice grating on my ears.
Reaching for my gun, I held the weapon at the ready under my chin. Compton was running out of time and who knew how long it would take for Dearborn and Company to arrive. I would have to take this on alone until they got here and get it under control.
Caressing the cool metal of my gun and flicking the safety off, I slowly stood and backed away from the car. Concealing my gun hand in the shadows, I steeled myself for the confrontation.
"Mack and Denise Rattray, you need to step away from the Vampire, NOW," I said loudly, my voice booking no argument.
Startled, Mack and Denise whipped around, their eyes wild with shock at being caught. I knew the glare from the headlights hid my identity, only providing a silhouette of my person. Slowly stepping to the right, I revealed myself to them.
Denise scoffed. "Get the fuck out of here, you cunt! This is none of your business!"
Mack chuckled, the sound sinister, disturbing. "Aw, calm down, baby. Little Sookie Stackhouse has always held a special place in my heart. I say we take her home and play with her." He obscenely rubbed his crotch and smiled.
Breathing deeply and pushing my revulsion aside, I stood taller and reiterated. "Step away from the Vampire. You both are under arrest for violation of the laws put in place for Human/Vampire relations. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, it's up to you."
Mack's smile fell away, his thumb flicking the switch blade open which he'd hidden in his hand. "You think you can take us both on, Sookie? I'd like to see ya try."
Denise cackled in glee as Mack took a threatening step towards me. Gripping my gun, I brought my arm up and pointed the weapon at Mack. He stopped midstep, eyeing me warily.
"You sure you want to ride this train, Mack?" I asked quietly, tensing. "Drop the knife, now. We can add threatening an officer to your list of felonies for this evening."
I watched Mack closely as he slowly dropped the knife to the tarmac. "Kick it to me," I ordered, not trusting him one bit. He hesitated before aggressively kicking the switch blade in my direction, the metal scraping along the ground as it came to a rest a little ways behind me.
"Now back up, over towards those trees." I said, gesturing with my gun, following their movements cautiously as I stepped closer to Compton. Keeping my eyes on the Rattrays, I addressed the wounded Vampire. "Mr. Compton, I'm going to remove the needle from your arm, okay? But I must insist that the silver stays on, at least until the Sheriff arrives. Do you understand?" I didn't need a vengeful Vampire on the loose wanting to impart his special brand of justice on the two who had wronged him. The Rattray's needed to be in the custody of the Sheriff's department before he was released from his bonds.
"Yes." His voice was raspy, weak.
Kneeling down and keeping my gun pointed at Mack and Denise, I quickly glanced down as I pulled the needle out of Compton's arm. For the second it took me to look away, Mack tried to rush at me but stopped short when a vicious growl came from behind me. The sound made me stop as well, and with a quick look to my right, I was surprised to see a collie standing right beside me, hackles raised and teeth bared as it growled viciously at the couple across the way.
I didn't need to use my telepathy to know that Sam was standing next to me in his animal form. My heart surged with a swell of gratitude for my friend, watching my back during this ridiculous situation.
"Yer gonna regret this, Sookie. Mark my words." Mack seethed, his eyes flicking back and forth to my gun and the snarling collie.
Reaching for the handcuffs, I tossed them over to the couple. "I assume you are familiar with these, considering your track record. Denise, be a dear and cuff your hubbie for me since my hands full."
"You bitch!" Denise glowered as she knelt and snatched the restraints from the ground.
Denise awkwardly brought one of Mack's hands behind his back, the snap of the silver cuffs clicking into place. Slowly reaching for his other hand, Denise lingered too long by her husband's back pocket, and just as the warning bells went off in my head and I opened to mouth to tell her to keep her hands where I could see them, she turned around and threw something sharp in my direction. Reflex had me diving quickly to the side as the metal object sailed over my head and landed with a clatter on the pavement.
Several things happened at once; Denise turned and hightailed it into the trees as I landed roughly on my left side. Sam launched himself forward at Mack, who cursed loudly when his attempt to get at me was thwarted by the collie's teeth as they sank into the arm that didn't have the handcuff dangling from the wrist.
Having faith in Sam that he would be able to subdue Mack, I jumped to my feet and ran into the woods after Denise. Shoving my gun back into the waistband of my shorts, I dodged around trees that seemed to jump out at me from nowhere in the near black forest. The sound of my panting breath and pounding heart filled my ears as I followed Denise's panicked brain signal.
Breaking into a clearing, I saw my quarry tottering ahead of me in the moonlight as she tried to out run me in the wedges on her feet. Gaining an extra burst of speed, Denise screamed as I tackled her to the ground, soft dirt and leaves exploding up into the air from the impact of our bodies.
"I'm gonna kill you, you fucking bitch! Get off me, you whore!" Denise struggled heroically against me, trying to headbutt me as we rolled around. We were evenly matched, being around the same size, but I had several years worth of training under my belt and I used them to my advantage.
Gripping her shoulder, I slammed her front side into the ground and held her there by straddling her backside. Grabbing both of her arms, I pulled them roughly behind her and brought the forearm of the right arm high up on her back. I stretched the arm as far as it would go, causing Denise to whimper in agony and stop thrashing beneath me.
Both of us stopped moving for a moment, trying to catch our breath. My ponytail was slowly starting to come out and blonde strands hung in my face, clinging to the sweat on my forehead. I would definitely need a shower when I got home tonight.
Taking a deep breath and slowly easing off Denise, I stood up and brought her with me. She was crying piteously, her makeup running down her face. Looking behind me, I squinted into the darkness and saw the blessed lights of Merlotte's on the other side of the trees. I worried about Sam, but having made my decision when I took off after Denise, I would just have to hope that he had gotten Mack under control and was okay.
With Denise's arm still high on her back, I led her into the trees and began to talk. "Denise Rattray, you have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you understand these questions that I have asked you?"
"Yes." Denise replied after a moment. I was surprised to hear her sound so docile.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw two Sheriff cars pulling up as I walked out of the woods with Denise. Glancing quickly around, I bit back my smile of relief when I saw Sam sitting in front of Mack, who was leaning against his car holding his arm, looking catatonic. Compton still laid off to the side, untouched.
Sheriff Bud Dearborn exited the first patrol car, with Kenya Jones getting out of the one behind him. Both stopped short at the sight before them.
Bud found his voice first. "What in Sam Hill is going on here, Sookie?"
Kenya moved forward and relieved me of Denise, of which I shot her a grateful smile. My arms were beginning to tingle from holding Denise's arm in place for so long. Glancing behind me, I felt a stab of surprise when I saw that Sam was gone. Mack was muttering to himself, eyeing the spot where Sam had been.
Tugging at my shirt and grimacing at the whiskey and dirt plastered to the front, I gave Dearborn the short and sweet version of what happened. He stared at me in disbelief, almost as if I had set the whole thing up to ruin his Friday night. While I spoke, Kenya deposited Denise into the backseat of her cruiser.
"You mean to tell me that you risked your life just to save a Vampire?" Bud asked, looking over at Compton's prone form.
I gazed up at the Sheriff, frowning. "I would like to think that if we take a Vampire's well-being seriously, they might pay it forward by returning that favor when a human is in danger."
Bud opened his mouth to respond with what was no doubt a witty redneck retort, but our attention was drawn over to Mack as he began screaming when Kenya approached him. "Th-that dog, he turned into a b-bear! A bear! I could've been m-mauled!"
"Goddamn junkies," Dearborn muttered as Kenya literally lifted Mack to his feet, which was easy for the female officer considering she was built like an Amazon. Kenya sneered in disgust as the headlights from the cars revealed that Mack had pissed himself.
"Where is the dog?" she asked, grunting as she tossed Mack over the hood of his car and finished cuffing him.
Gazing off toward Merlotte's, I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess he was a stray." I didn't know that Were's could turn into more than one animal, but perhaps I was wrong. Was Sam a Werecollie? The moniker sounded strange. I would have to ask Alcide about it.
Once Mack was safely ensconced in Dearborn's car, I slowly approached Compton, only to be pulled back by Kenya. "What're you doing? Have you finally lost it, Sookie?"
Pulling my arm free, I shot her a dirty look over my shoulder. "I gave him my word that he would be released once you arrived. He is the one that was wronged here."
Kenya slowly released my arm, her brown eyes filled with concern for me. I was oddly touched that she cared so much, since she was oddly aloof with most people. I gave her a reassuring smile, understanding that both Kenya and Bud had no experience dealing with Vampires. It was only natural for them to be scared.
Crouching next to Compton, I met his dark eyes, half of his face hidden in the shadows. He returned my look emotionlessly, not even the pain from being silvered and nearly drained showing on his countenance.
"You need to keep better company, Mr. Compton." I said softly, reaching my hand out and pulling the silver chains off his ankles. "I don't think I need to remind you that if the Rattrays hadn't attacked you, the reason you followed them out here is as equally unlawful as their attempt at draining you is. Biting people is not something many want to see and it's best if it is kept behind closed doors in the privacy of your home." Vampires biting humans had become a form of public indecency, and when caught, both parties were brought up on misdemeanor charges.
Compton kept quiet as I quietly reprimanded him for his near fatal mistake. It made me curious how Mack and Denise got the drop on him in the first place. Vampires were remarkably fast and strong. It just didn't add up.
Pulling the rest of the silver from Compton's skin was painful to watch and unpleasant to smell as his flesh came away, sticking to the metal. He endured the discomfort in silence, taking an unneeded breath once he was free of the chains. I stepped away from him as he sat up, watching as he fingered the gaping wound left on his neck from the silver.
He glanced up at me and inclined his head. "I thank you for your help, Miss Stackhouse."
I nodded. "You will need to give the Sheriff a statement about what occurred." As Compton slowly stood up, I saw Sam standing in the distance, watching. "If you will excuse me, Mr. Compton."
As Kenya approached the Vampire with her notepad at the ready, I stopped by Sheriff Dearborn. "I will write a report for you. I had to draw my gun. I will try to have it to you by Monday afternoon, at the latest."
Once again, Dearborn looked at me strangely like he did the other day at Maudette's apartment. He was still having difficulty dealing with me as an equal. "Good work, Sookie."
With a last glance at Compton, I slowly walked towards Sam, tucking my hair behind my ears. My first instinct was to thank him profusely for his help with Mack, but I reined in my gratitude as I reminded myself that Sam would have to first tell me how different he really was before I could tell him that I'd already known. I would have to show how different I was, as well.
"Are you okay?" Sam took in my disheveled appearance and reached out for me.
I nodded, gratefully leaning against him as he walked with me back towards the employee entrance. "Nothing a hot shower and some bengay won't fix." Truth be told, now that the adrenaline was receding, I was beginning to feel every minute that I had spent out there with the Rattrays.
"Did you want to stay at my place, since it's getting so late? You can take a shower and I have some spare clothes you can wear," Sam offered, leading me into his office.
It was on the tip of my tongue to accept, but I knew deep down that it wasn't a good idea. Sam lived in a trailer just behind the bar, and though it was past midnight and I was dead tired, I had to refuse.
"I appreciate the offer, Sam, but I just want to go home," I bent down and picked up my purse that I'd thrown on the ground. Walking up to Sam, I gave him a hug and whispered in his ear, "Thank you, Sam. For everything."
"Anytime, Sookie," he responded, brushing some of the dirt off my face.
With one last smile, I slowly walked to my car and plopped down behind the wheel. Closing my eyes, I felt the nervous energy slowly leave my body and my hands started to shake as I rubbed my arms. Hindsight was 20/20, and thinking back to Alcide's previous offer of joining me for the evening, I wish now that I'd accepted.
Sighing loudly, I reached into my purse and pulled out my smart phone. Alcide would no doubt be asleep by now, but there was someone else who would be interested in learning about the events that happened tonight. After plugging in the headset and pulling out of Merlotte's parking lot, I hit dial.
"Sookie," Rasul's deep voice sounded in my ear after the third ring, along with a cacophony of noise. "Give me a moment."
I waited patiently as I listened to the drone of music fade in the background as a door opened and closed, surrounding Rasul in silence. "Is everything okay?"
Whenever I called Rasul this late, it was never for idle chitchat. "I just wanted to let you know that William Compton found himself on the wrong end of a needle tonight. He is lucky to still be undead."
Rasul stayed quiet and taking that as permission to continue, I told him everything, including my uneasy feelings about Compton. I'd never come right out and tell Rasul about my telepathy, but I knew he suspected. I didn't have to explain my reasons for being at the bar or how I knew Compton was in trouble as he left with the Rattrays; Rasul was smart enough to figure out the things I left unsaid.
"Sookie, you always continue to impress me. With more humans like you, the Great Revelation would have happened eons ago," That was high praise indeed, coming from a Vampire. "And while it pleases me that two drainers are out of circulation, your concern over Compton might well be something to worry over. He checked in with my Master yesterday, and while he was full of answers, they lacked conviction and credibility."
Even though I couldn't hear what Compton was thinking, it was good to know that even without the guidance of telepathy, I still had the ability to sense when someone was hiding behind a falsehood.
"That's what I was afraid of," I muttered, gripping the steering wheel as I picked up speed on the interstate.
"Stay safe, Sookie," Rasul warned me, and despite the warm air surrounding me, I felt goosebumps rise on my skin. Vampires generally only cared about their own well-being, and to have one concern himself with my safety made his warning all the more dire.
I swallowed hard. "I will, Rasul."
Feeling more unsettled than before, I bid Rasul a good night and tossed the headset onto the seat next to me. Rolling my shoulders and stretching my neck to the left, I decided I would worry about Compton in the morning. I was too tired and didn't need more fodder to give me another sleepless night.
One of Gran's favorite sayings came to mind, her shrewd voice ringing loudly over the rest of my thoughts; Worrying is like a rocking chair, Sookie, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.
Smiling softly, I decided to take Gran's advice tonight. Pushing away all my fears and worries over the last few days, I found a bit of peace as I drove through the deep dark night.
So, what do you guys think? Little bit of everything here. Don't you guys worry about Sam none, once Eric enters the pic(Chapter 6!), he will be all that Sookie sees! Please review guys, reviews help my creative juices!