Hey Everyone! Whew. Finally got Chapter 6 done for you and it's HUGE. Almost 10,000 words. The reason for its enormity is that the first half of this chapter should have been with chapter 5 and the second half should be with chapter 7, but whatever. I don't think you all will mind! I promised that Eric would be coming in Chapter 6 and I'm holding true to my promise! :) I will save the rest of my blah blah blah for the end. Enjoy! This chapter is not beta'd.
Bon Temps being the small town that it is, it took me less than ten minutes to arrive at a set of duplexes not far from where Merlotte's stood. Parking next to a blue Sedan with a red siren attached to the roof, I killed the engine and leaned over to open the glove compartment, pulling out a dogtag chain. Slipping it over my head, I clipped my badge to the string of beads, the insignia resting heavily against the white cotton dress I was wearing.
Getting out of my car, the first thing I noticed was a small group of spectators standing behind the barricade the Sheriff's Department had set up. Thinking of Maudette's murder and the massive gathering it caused, there was no doubt in my mind that this crowd would grow in number once church let out.
"Hey, Sookie," a voice called.
Turning around, I watched as Kevin Pryor, a Sheriff's Deputy, approach me with a roll of police tape in his hands. Closing the car door, I stepped up on the sidewalk.
"Hey, Kevin. What happened?" I asked, spotting Andy Bellefleur striding toward us.
Kevin shook his head, grimacing. "Found another one, done in just like Maudette. Has the Vampire bite marks and everything."
"Who is it?" I asked, holding my breath.
"Dawn Green."
The air rushed out of my lungs upon hearing the name, but I had no time to recover from the shock as Andy zeroed in on me.
"Hey, Sookie. You sure got here fast," Andy said, coming to a stop in front of me.
"I was already here in Bon Temps, visiting with Gran." I was impressed that I could even speak; my mouth had gone ridiculously dry.
"What are the odds, huh?" Andy replied, squinting at me as the late morning sunshine burned brightly above us. "Right, well, the victim is Dawn Green. We got the call at ten thirty from Rene Lenier, but Sam Merlotte and JB du Rone found her. When I got here and saw that she'd been done in exactly like Maudette, I called the Shreveport station. I made sure that no one tramped around the room where the body is, I'm hoping your forensic guy has a better chance of finding something this time around."
I nodded my head as Andy briefed me and asked the first thing that came to mind once he finished speaking. "Sam found her?"
Andy turned slightly to look up at the duplex that had been sectioned off with the police tape. "Yeah, something about her not showing up for work. I'm sure you'll want to ask them your own set of questions. I have them waiting in the back yard where the shade is. Too damn hot to be standing around in the sun." Both Andy and Kevin started to walk back toward the duplex, but when Andy noticed I wasn't following in their footsteps, he paused. "You comin'?"
"I'll be right there. I need to make a phone call," I said, fingering the casing that housed my smart phone.
Once alone, I called Alcide.
"Hey," he answered, "I'm on my way. Did you get the page?"
"Yeah, I was already here in Bon Temps, visiting with Gran," I said quietly. I was sure Alcide could sense my apprehension, even over the phone. "Listen, the woman murdered was my brother's girlfriend. There's no doubt in my mind that the Lieutenant will take me off this case. You know as well as I do that the boyfriend and husband is always suspect number one in a case like this and Jason will be fingered for it, especially since his name was brought up in Maudette's murder."
Alcide was quiet for a moment. "Just sit tight, Sookie. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
As we hung up, my mind began to process that Dawn Green was dead. I felt a pang of grief in my heart by her passing, but was more concerned with how my brother would react. Dawn was the closest thing he had ever had to a stable relationship, and in Jason's own special way, he loved her. This wasn't going to go over well.
Deciding that I better start questioning Sam and JB, I walked around the duplex and went through an open wooden gate that led into the backyard. Andy waved me over to where Sam, Rene Lenier and JB du Rone stood underneath a tree. Sam looked agitated, JB was pleasantly relaxed and Rene just smiled at me.
"Gentleman, you all know Sookie. She needs to ask you her own set of questions. I'll leave you to it." Andy said, surprising me with his civil attitude. It was a long cry from how he'd acted the last time.
"Hey, Sookie. You sure look nice today," JB said, stepping forward to give me a quick hug. I had gone to high school with JB. He was a good guy, a real sweetheart and never had any negative thoughts.
"Thanks, JB," I said, looking over at Sam. He returned my stare solemnly, his eyes speaking volumes. I wanted to give him a hug as well, but controlled the impulse. It wouldn't do to start passing out the hugs to everyone when questions needed to be asked.
"Hey there, Cher," Rene drawled as I nodded in his direction, his Cajun accent flavoring his words. Rene worked with Jason on the road crew and had been married to Arlene for a short while. He was an interesting character, especially when drunk.
"So," I said slowly, "What happened?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, Sam spoke up. "Well, Dawn was running late for work again, so I came over here to light a fire under her ass. When she didn't answer the door, I tried around back since her car was out front. I thought maybe she overslept, but...then I saw her through the bedroom window." Sam grimaced, looking down at his feet.
"And how do you fit into this, JB?" I asked, making a quick notation on my notepad that I'd dug out of my purse.
"I live in the duplex next door. When Sam started pounding on Dawn's door, I got curious and came out to see what the ruckus was about." JB replied.
"And you made the call, Rene?"
"That I did, Miss Sookie. I was workin' on my truck when both Sam and JB came 'round front. Both were real pale like. Sam said that Dawn was dead and since I had my phone with me, I called 911 right quick." he explained, rubbing oil off his hands with a dirty, smudged towel that was in his back pocket.
"What time was Dawn supposed show up at work?" I asked Sam.
"She was supposed to be there by nine thirty to start setting up for the lunch crowd. Come ten fifteen, I couldn't stand it any longer and decided to come over. I didn't expect her to be..." Gesturing with his hand toward the duplex, Sam couldn't finish his sentence.
Concentrating on my notepad to stay focused, I finished questioning the three men. After doing a quick mental probe on Rene and JB to make sure they'd told me everything I needed to know, I excused myself. Back up front, I wasn't surprised to see the crowd behind the barricade had doubled in number.
Walking the short sidewalk that led to the open front door of Dawn's duplex, I was happy to see Alcide and Diego already standing in the entryway, talking to Andy. Both men were casually dressed; Diego wore a green polo T-shirt tucked into beige cargo shorts and tennis shoes, while Alcide had on a collared white button down and a pair of blue jeans paired with black combat boots.
Stopping before the three men, Diego smiled at me. "Hey, Sookie."
I returned his greeting quietly, forcing myself to smile back. Glancing up at Alcide, I saw him studying me, concern shining in his green eyes as Andy kept talking and gesturing towards the back of the house.
"Diego, why don't you go on ahead and start casing the scene. I need to speak with Sookie."
"I'll show you the way," Andy offered, leading Diego past the living room and kitchen, Diego's heavy silver suitcase in tow.
Pulling me over to the love seat, Alcide got right to the point. "You gonna be able to do this?"
Glancing over to where Diego and Andy had disappeared, I shrugged helplessly. "I don't know," I whispered, my professionalism melting around me as the reality of Dawn's death sank in deeper. "I can't act like this doesn't affect me, because it does. That's my brother's girlfriend laying dead back there. I used to work with her. I shouldn't even be here."
Alcide was silent, his brow furrowed in thought. "I can only imagine how you feel, Sookie. I'm sorry that you're being put in this situation and if you want to be taken off the case, I completely understand. The Lieutenant will make that decision for you anyway, whether you want to or not." Placing his hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently, he softly said, "I'm gonna go join Diego and Detective Bellefleur. It's your choice whether you want to join us or not, okay?"
Smiling gratefully at my friend, I nodded my head and watched him disappear down the hall. With a deep breath, I tried to center myself and stem the worry that flooded my mind about my brother. I knew that the Sheriff's Department would want to question him and want an alibi, especially since Dawn spoke up for him when he'd been questioned about Maudette's death.
The only thing that assuaged my anxiety was that I knew my brother was innocent, and if accused of anything, his name would be cleared once Diego ran his DNA against the samples he gathered from Maudette and what he found today.
Feeling more assured, I wiped my sweaty palms on the cotton of my dress. I needed to get it together. Granted, this case was bleeding over the lines of just being another murder to solve and was becoming more personal, but I needed to do what I could while I could do it. That was, until Lieutenant Whitley pulled me off the case and reassigned me to another.
"Buck up, Sookie," I whispered to myself, my feet slowly finding the way to the bedroom of Dawn's final moments.
Before stepping through the doorway, I reenforced my telepathic shields, hoping that it would keep my emotions in check. Yet, upon entering the room, the sight of Dawn's body on the four-poster canopy bed almost caused my shields to falter. Walking the edge of the room, I came to stand next to Alcide, my fingernails digging into the palm of my hands.
Dawn was laid out nude on the bed, in a kneeling position, her hands tied behind her back with a black silk scarf. Her dark brown hair fanned out around her head, her face half buried into the mattress. The left side of her face was visible, one brown eye looking at the mirror on the dresser that stood behind Alcide.
The flash of Diego's camera broke the trance I had fallen into. Clearing my throat, I stepped closer to the bed, pulling on the pair of surgical rubber gloves that Alcide handed me. Kneeling, I studied the ligature markings on Dawn's throat, the thickness of the bruising identical to Maudette's. My eyes lingered on the Vampire bite marks that marred her neck, the puncture wounds several days old.
...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...
Dawn's thoughts from Friday night came to mind as I considered the fang marks. Had she gone to Fangtasia last night? And who was this hunk she spoke of? Was it the same Vampire that Maudette had entertained or someone different?
Saving those questions for later, I studied the rest of Dawn's body.
She had bruising on both sides of her hips, her upper arms and most likely her wrists, but with the scarf in the way, I couldn't be sure. Studying her fingernails, I noted that they were intact, meaning that the killer had grown smart and wanted to avoid being scratched up by his victim.
Looking around the room, I studied the Venetian face masks on the wall and the harlequin clown figurines set up on the dresser. Everything seemed in order, nothing was out of place.
Glancing at Andy, I asked, "Was there any forced entry?"
Andy shook his head. "Nope, in fact, Merlotte let us in."
"That's right," I murmured, "I forgot that Sam owns these duplexes." Sighing loudly, I shook my head. "Dawn must have known the killer, just like Maudette. And let's face it, in a town like Bon Temps, everyone knows each other, so why not let the person into your home? We're not strangers here and that's the problem. Some people in this town don't even sleep with their doors locked." Like Gran. I shuddered at the thought, making a mental reminder to harass her to lock up at night.
"It is...disturbing." Andy agreed, patting the sweat off his forehead with a hand embroidered handkerchief.
"What can you tell us, Diego?" I asked, watching as he carefully moved around the bed, taking pictures from different angles.
"Well, I can tell you from looking at the contusions on her neck that they are identical to the ones that were in the first case." Carefully placing his camera down on the dresser, Diego crouched down by the body, clicking on a small flashlight that had been in his front pocket. "You see this zigzag pattern here?" he asked, gesturing to the side of the throat, shining the light on the bruising leading up toward the ear. I moved to the other side of the bed to get a better look. "You only get this with nylon ropes, which leaves its indentation on the skin. Other rope fibers are scratchy, and with the force needed to strangle someone, it leaves the skin raw."
Andy cringed after Diego's explanation. "What else can you tell us?"
Reaching down into his silver suitcase that held all of his tools, Diego took out his special ultra violet lamp. Not all secreted fluids, such as saliva, semen, urine and even blood, were visible to the naked eye. The ultra violet lamp, or UA, detected these fluids due to special proteins that fluoresce under its light. It was a critical tool used in all crime scene investigations.
"I don't think I'm gonna find any tissue samples under her fingernails since they are intact, but I'll check anyway. Our best bet is to check the pubic area. Detective Bellefleur, if you would be so kind to draw the curtains?" Diego asked, shutting the bedroom door. Andy went to the window and shut the heavy curtains, the room falling into semi darkness.
Diego switched on the lamp, the white of my dress and Alcide's shirt glowing a psychedelic blue in the light, as did the smear marks across Dawn's buttocks and thighs.
"Looks like he tried to clean up after himself this time," Alcide remarked, making a face.
"Yeah, but he didn't do such a good job," Diego said, turning the lamp at an angle to get a better view. "I'll be able to get a sample from here."
Feeling sick to my stomach, I looked away. Catching Alcide's eye, we shared a silent conversation as I lowered my shields.
The air in here isn't as contaminated as it was by the first crime scene, but all I can smell is...Alcide took a deep breath, closing his eyes,...Dirt. Still fresh.
I quirked a brow at him. In Bon Temps, there were many professions that called for digging in the dirt; from gardeners to construction workers and farmers, it didn't really narrow down the field. But at least we could look into any new or on-going projects that had been started. It was still too early in the season for farmers to start harvesting their crops.
Tilting my head towards the bedroom door, I was about to signal to Alcide that we should step outside to speak privately, when my eyes shifted to the mirror behind him. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed the sudden appearance of writing that was on the glass surface.
"Sookie, what is it?" Alcide asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"The mirror..." I gasped, causing Diego and Andy to look as well.
The four of us crowded around the dresser, the UV lamp in Diego's hands causing the writing to become clearer. Written in a bold hand, the words glowed eerily in the darkness.
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
"It's from the Book of Revelation." I said, my blood running cold. "Revelations contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil. It even speaks of Armageddon." The versus from Revelation were Gran's favorite from the Bible.
"But what does it mean, Sookie?" Andy asked, his voice slightly high pitched.
Stepping away from the mirror, I glanced back at Dawn's body, noticing once again the direction of her lifeless stare. Was that why she was staring at the mirror? Had she watched as her executioner wrote out her death sentence in what could only be invisible ink? Was there a similar message written somewhere in Maudette's apartment? The killer must be in possession of a black light or UV lamp to be able to write such a message. Why would he use invisible ink, which was undetectable in normal light?
"Sookie?"
Snapping out of my reverie, I returned my attention to the mirror.
He who searches mind and heart...
"He's passing judgement on those he considers immoral," I ruminated out loud, focusing more on the latter part of the paragraph. "He is looking for these women and punishes them as he sees fit. The fact that both were recently involved with Vampires has to be what influences his decisions on who to pursue."
"Great," Alcide muttered, "As if this case wasn't bad enough, it's a Bible thumping serial killer who likes his victims room temperature before he violates them."
Before anyone could respond, a muffled shout came from outside the house.
"Dawn!"
"Shit!" I exclaimed, recognizing the voice immediately.
In a flash, I was out of the bedroom and racing through the front door. Standing on the small patch of grass before the porch, I caught sight of my brother in a heated argument with Kevin, who had been guarding the front of the house.
"What is goin' on? Goddamn it, Kevin, let me pass!" Jason raged, pushing against Deputy Pryor, who pushed him right back. Both men were equally matched in height and weight.
Before the situation could escalate any further, I called for my brother. "Jason."
As soon as he saw me, Jason began to shake his head in denial; my appearance could mean only one thing. Stepping off of the porch, I held my hand out to him. Stumbling towards me, Jason dropped the bouquet of roses he'd been holding.
Glancing at the crowd behind the barricade, I grabbed Jason's hand and pulled him toward the backyard so we could speak privately. Sparing a quick glance at Sam, JB and Rene, I turned to my brother, who already had tears running down his face.
"She's dead, ain't she?"
Biting my lip, I nodded my head.
"Oh God!" he sobbed, falling to his knees. "I never should have left last night, but we had a fight and she wanted me to leave."
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I tried to offer him what comfort I could while still keeping it on a professional level. I still had a job to do. "Tell me what happened."
Wiping angrily at his tears, Jason tried to get his emotions under control. "I came over here yesterday when I got off work, to spend the evening with Dawn. When I got here, she wasn't too happy to see me. Said she was going out with some friends to that Vampire club, Fangtasia. I told her that I didn't think that was the best idea, especially after what happened to Maudette. That's when she started yelling at me, telling me that I wasn't her keeper and that she could do what she wanted. Said that she didn't want to be together anymore and that I needed to leave, before she called the cops."
"Did she end up going to Fangtasia last night?" I asked, the gears in my head churning.
"I don't know. I went to Merlotte's afterwards and got drunk. I was so angry with her-"
"Angry enough to kill her?" a voice asked from above us.
My annoyance flared when I saw that Andy had been eavesdropping on our conversation.
Jason stood quickly, his face flushing red at the accusation. "I didn't kill her, I swear!"
Andy smirked. "You know Stackhouse, I find it strangely convenient how the woman that was your alibi for Maudette's murder is now dead. Who will be your alibi this time? Maybe we should forewarn them before they meet the same fate as these two women."
"Fuck you, Andy!" Jason exploded, his hands curling into tight fists.
Before Andy could throw more fuel on the fire, I jumped in. "Andy, that's enough. While you are well within your rights to question Jason, you don't have any evidence that points to him being the killer."
"But he's been involved with both victims-" Andy began, but I cut him off.
"Half of Bon Temps was involved with Maudette, Andy. And with Dawn, that's just circumstantial. I know you think I'm saying this because he's my brother, but I know he's innocent. I'm sure he would be more than happy to supply Diego with a sample of his DNA to prove it."
"You're damn right I will." Jason said, relief clear in his voice.
"Sookie."
Looking over towards the gate to the backyard, I saw Alcide standing off to the side, phone in hand. Leaving my brother to Andy's questions, I walked toward my partner.
"It's the Lieutenant," he said, giving me the phone.
Clearing my throat, I tried to sound upbeat. "Hey, Boss."
"Sookie," he sighed, sounding regretful. "I'm sure you already know what I'm going to say."
"You're taking me off the case." I knew it would come, but that didn't mean I was happy about it. Since joining the Detectives Devision, I had followed through on all of my cases, right to the end. Even though I knew the reasoning behind such a decision, I still felt a small sting of disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Sookie. When your personally involved in a case, you can no longer be objective and keep a clear head." He was quiet for a moment, his voice taking on a fatherly tone. "Alcide told me that it was your brother's girlfriend that was murdered." Another pause. "Do you need to talk to a counselor, Sookie?"
"No, no, I'll be fine." I assured him, silently hoping that I would be.
"You know, when my wife tells me she's fine, that's usually my cue to run for cover," he quipped, managing to bring a smile to my lips.
"I'm good, Boss. Don't worry about me." I reiterated, trying to sound confident.
"Okay, but I still want you to take tomorrow off. When you come in Tuesday, I'll get you reassigned to another case."
After a few more words with the Lieutenant, I hung up and handed Alcide his smart phone back.
Alcide looked put out. "This case is insane enough as it is and with you gone, it's going to be that much more harder to solve."
"Just because I'm off the case doesn't mean that you can't bounce ideas off of me. And I'm sure Whitley already has someone lined up to take my place." Stepping closer to Alcide, I said quietly, "I need to tell you something. When I was at Merlotte's the other night, I caught a man thinking about that Fellowship of the Sun Church. Considering the new twist on the case with the writing on the mirror, it might be worth looking into, especially since they just opened a new sect in Shreveport."
Alcide's eyes glowed with interest. "That's a good find, Sookie. Thanks for telling me. I thought maybe after we're done here, Diego and I could swing by the first crime scene. Check and see if we missed anything the first time through."
"I'm about ninety-nine percent sure that your search will strike gold. With two murders under his belt, he can now be labeled a serial killer. And with the one message here, the chances are high he left one at Maudette's place, as well. Killers stay true to their M.O."
An M.O. is the perpetrator's method of operation; such as the weapon they liked to use, what motivates them to commit the crime and what they decide to leave behind on purpose.
"Yeah, that's true," Alcide commented, studying me closely. "You sure you're gonna be okay?"
Rolling my eyes, I tried to laugh it off. "Yes, I'm-"
"-fine, yeah, I heard." He chuckled, dodging my hand as I tried to slap his arm.
"You better stay in town, Stackhouse. You step one foot out of Renard Perish and I'll get a warrant that says you're a flight risk!"
"I should go rescue my brother, before he puts his foot in his mouth," I said, glancing over at the two men.
Hugging Alcide good-bye, I walked over and interrupted Andy before he could start another tirade. "Are you finished?" I asked, looping my arm around Jason's waist.
"Well, I may have a few more questions that I might need to ask." Andy started, to which I nodded my head.
"Of course. And you know where to find my brother when you need to ask them." Looking up into Jason's blue eyes, I gave him an encouraging smile and got him walking toward my car.
"Come on, Jas", I said softly, using his childhood nickname. "Let's go home."
Entering my apartment several hours later, I felt bone weary and sported one hell of a headache. Tossing my purse on the side table that was next to the door, I went straight to the kitchen and found some aspirin.
Pulling some bottled water out of the fridge, I leaned against the counter and quickly washed the pill down. Taking a moment to relish the coolness on my parched tongue, I slowly lowered my shields and sighed in relief.
The throbbing in the middle of my head let up a bit, but without my defenses in place to hold back my stronger emotions, my mental dam burst open and I began to sob with despair.
Closing the refrigerator door, I slowly made my way to the living room and flopped down on the couch. Gripping the hand embroidered pillow that Gran had made for me, I buried my face into its softness and allowed myself to experience all the feelings that had bubbled beneath the surface for the majority of the day.
The senseless death of these two women, caused by prejudice and fear, made my blood boil. I never understood such crimes, no matter how hard I tried to see the reasoning behind it. But what bothered me the most was how Dawn's death was affecting Jason.
After leaving the crime scene, I had gone straight to Gran's house. Someone must have called and let her know what was going on, for upon arriving, she was sitting on the porch with chamomile tea, waiting for us.
As Jason dragged his feet up the stairs of the porch and into Gran's waiting arms, I'd been taken with a sudden case of déjà vu. When my parents died, Jason had reacted the same way, almost zombie like. In the months following their deaths, Jason didn't speak to anyone, not even to me. Watching him today, I was reminded of that time, a time that I wished to erase from my memory.
Gran and I tried had our best to comfort Jason, but after an hour, he'd excused himself and gone upstairs to his old room. The urge to follow was great, but I knew that he needed to be alone to sort out his emotions.
I told Gran what I could about the murder, but I had to bite my tongue about the scripture written on the mirror. While I trusted Gran, she sure did love her gossip and I didn't need her slipping a major clue about the case into Everlee or Mrs. Fortenberry's ear. It would spread all over Bon Temps like wild-fire.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with Gran, and though I tried my best not to show it, I was completely distracted. Gran left me to my musings, for which I was grateful. Just because I was officially off the case didn't mean I could turn my thoughts off about it.
Once Jeopardy was over, I decided to take my leave, but not before checking on Jason. He'd been sleeping peacefully, which I took as a good sign. He just needed time.
Before leaving, Gran had grabbed my hand and pulled me close.
"Sookie," she whispered hoarsely, her brown eyes earnest. "Be careful."
Studying her closely, I could only nod in assurance. My voice seemed to be on the fritz today.
And now, alone with my emotions, I let the fear, the worry and the anger surge through me until I had no tears left. Sniffling, I slowly sat up and reached for the tissue box on the coffee table. Blowing my nose and wiping the dampness off my cheeks, I leaned back into the buttery soft cushions of my new suede sofa.
Relieved that I felt better, I glanced around my living room, enjoying the sanctuary of my home.
I lived in a two bedroom apartment on the outskirts of western Shreveport, close to Cross Lake. When I'd decided to move to Shreveport, it had taken me a long time to find an ideal place to live. I didn't want to stay in a highly populated area where I could never let my shields down.
After weeks of searching, I came across a new apartment complex built near Walter Jacobs Park, set in the lush woods that surrounded Shreveport. I immediately jumped at the chance to live in the beautiful Antebellum modeled apartments. Gran had given me a bit of furniture that had sat in the attic, stating that even though I wasn't living with her anymore, I could still take a part of the Stackhouse home with me. I loved the serenity I found here, and while I did pick up a spare thought or two on occasion from my neighbors, the sound proof insulation in the walls helped guarantee that I could have my peace at home.
Slowly making my way to the bathroom, I decided that a hot steamy bubble bath was in order. Pushing the shower curtain out of the way, I turned on the faucets and added a generous dose of my favorite bubble bath to the clawfoot tub. Stripping out of my white cotton sundress, which I vowed to never wear again, I pinned my hair up and slipped into the hot water with a sigh of delight.
Pushing all questions and thoughts to the back of my mind, I closed my eyes and relaxed.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, the phone was ringing and I was sitting in lukewarm bath water. Springing into action, I scrambled out of the bathtub and snagged one of the beige terry cloth towels hanging on the towel rack.
Quickly wrapping the towel around my chest, I made a mad dash for the cordless phone in the kitchen, almost slipping on the hardwood floors since my feet were wet.
"Hello?" I gasped, pressing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I secured my towel around me, tucking the corner between my breasts.
"Sookie? You okay?"
"Alcide," I said, trying to catch my breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was taking a bath." I frowned at my fingers. They looked like raisins. "What's up?"
"We hit pay dirt at Maudette's."
That caught my attention. "What did it say?"
"Go check your cell phone. I sent you a picture of it. I've tried to get a hold of you for the last hour until I thought to try your home phone."
Entering the living room, I grabbed my purse by the door, fumbling with the zipper to get to the contents within. Slipping my phone out of its special side pocket, I turned it on and scrolled through all the notifications of missed calls and text messages received. Finding the picture Alcide sent me, I selected the image and enlarged it.
And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations. And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
"Alcide..." I whispered, studying the florescent words written in the same bold, slanting script. I didn't recognize the verse, but the meaning was quite clear.
"I know. We found it on the mirror just inside the closet door. And get this; someone's broken into the apartment."
"Really?"
"Yup. After the cleaning crew finished with the apartment, the door was sealed shut. When Diego and I arrived here this afternoon to look for the message, the padlock had been pried off with a crow bar ."
That was just...creepy. "Was anything taken?"
"Funny you should ask that. After a fun hour of looking at all the pictures that Diego had taken the day Maudette was found and comparing them to the current state of the room, we found one thing missing. What appears to be a small ballerina figurine in the picture is no longer on the shelf."
"He's collecting souvenirs." I murmured, turning off my smart phone.
"Yeah, but why not take it the day he did the deed? Why go back?" Alcide asked, the sound of a car door closing in the background.
"I don't know. Maybe he was so impressed with himself that he actually went through with it, he decided to go back and collect something personal from the victim as a trophy."
"Do you think he'll go back to the crime scene from today?"
I rubbed my eyes. "I don't know. But considering that it was risky enough going to Maudette's place, I don't think he would chance it a second time. I'm sure he's already taken what he wanted from Dawn's place."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Alcide sighed. "How's Jason doing?"
"He's doing as well as can be expected. I'm sure he'll be okay." I actually crossed my fingers.
"Well, I'm heading home. I feel like I've been rode hard and put away wet. Call me if you need me, all right?"
"I will. You take it easy, Partner."
Those were my conversations with Alcide; short, sweet and right to the point.
Hanging up the cordless, I walked back to the bathroom. Unplugging the bathtub, I stood and watched as the water slowly disappeared down the drain. The small piece of harmony I'd found was gone and my mind was once again firing on all cylinders.
How could someone from my hometown be committing these murders? Yes, Bon Temps was a backwater town inhabited by rednecks and many of those people were scared of the strange and unfamiliar, but to do something so malicious, so horrible. Never in a million years would I have thought it possible.
...drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
Vampires were the pivotal driving force here. He viewed them as unholy beings and anyone who became involved with them should be judged and punished.
He who searches mind and heart...
How did he target his quarry? How did he know that both women were with Vampires recently? Maudette and Dawn had frequented Fangtasia quite often. Was that the start point? Did the killer go shopping for potential victims at this Vampire bar?
Shaking my head, I walked over to the sink and washed my face. Patting my face dry with a hand towel, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. An idea began to take form in my mind as I studied the familiar features of my face. It wasn't the greatest idea, or even the safest, but it was all I had and it felt like a good place to start.
Leaving the bathroom, I headed straight for the closet in my bedroom. Opening the door, I flicked the light on and considered my clothing options that were available for my impromptu visit to the Premiere Vampire Bar in Shreveport.
While I trusted Rasul, someone who wasn't a Vampire needed to check this place out. Alcide couldn't walk into Fangtasia since he was a werewolf and the two were usually hostile toward each other, Rasual being the exception. A normal person could be glamoured and forget any information they'd gathered.
I knew that Rasul wouldn't be pleased. And Alcide would be furious with me. But I had to do this. It didn't matter that I wasn't on the case anymore. I was the only one who could go into that place and have a chance at finding some answers.
Frowning at the summer and church dresses hanging in front of me, I pushed them to the side, the metal hook of the hanger screeching slightly on the bar. Pushing my work suits out of way, I growled in annoyance that I had nothing that would allow me to blend in.
I knew what fangbangers looked like, and while I would never try to emulate one, I sure as hell couldn't walk in there wearing a pretty little sundress. I didn't want to draw too much attention.
Just as I was about to give up and go rummage through my dresser, a dress bag hanging in the corner caught my eye. Remembering the dress within, I smiled in triumph and snatched it up.
Laying the bag on my bed, I unzipped it and pushed the plastic cover away. For my birthday last month, Gran had given me her original Suzy Perette dress. Bought in the 1950'S, Gran had worn this dress proudly as a young woman. It had been a gift from Grandpa Stackhouse for his lovely bride and she'd delighted in this dress, her one true extravagance.
I've always admired the pictures of Gran where she'd worn this outfit, so you can imagine my surprise when unwrapping my gift from her revealed the newly restored Suzy Perette, fitted to my exact measurements. It had brought tears to my eyes.
Eyeing the black taffeta material, I decided this would be my reconnaissance outfit for the evening. Granted, it was a bit fancy, but it was black and with the right makeup, I just might be able to pull it off. I just hoped that it didn't get dirty.
Heading back to the bathroom, I pulled out my makeup bag and began to color my eyelids with a smoky gray hue. After ten minutes of playing around with eyeliner, mascara and blush, I smiled in satisfaction as I achieved my desired look. To complete the ensemble, I applied a dark red lipstick.
Unclipping my hair, I quickly brushed the strands and returned to my bedroom. Discarding my towel, I pulled the dress off the hanger and undid the back zipper. Being careful not to mess up my face, I pulled the dress over my head, the silken material rustling as it molded itself to my body.
Retrieving a pair of red pumps from my closet, I stood before the full length mirror next to the bed to contemplate my finished look.
The black taffeta dress had a full skirt that fell to the knee and a halter style top with a plunging neckline that showed a generous amount of cleavage. The red heels were a perfect match, and along with my makeup and long flowing hair, I barely recognized myself. The woman staring back at me in the mirror was sexy, mysterious.
Moving my wallet, cell phone and badge into a small red leather purse, I frowned at my gun laying on the bed. I was not going to leave myself unprotected, but bringing a gun into a Vampire bar would be pointless. A Vampire could take several rounds to the chest and still come at you as though nothing had happened.
Opening the drawer to my night stand, I pulled out a different kind of gun; my taser gun. Now, if I bring a taser gun into a Vampire bar and shoot 50,000 volts at about 19 pulses per second...you were going down, Vampire or not. Sensory and motor nerves would be put out of commission. It was simple, yet effective.
As added protection, I wrapped a sterling silver lariat around my neck, the ends of the necklace nestling into my cleavage.
When it was completely dark outside, I grabbed my car keys and left the apartment.
Fangtasia was in southern Shreveport, off of Interstate 49, a large black building sitting alone against the Louisiana countryside. Miles from town but still within city limits, it gave visitors a taste of danger and excitement to enter the lion's den set in an isolated locale. Any safety a person may have felt disappeared once they realized that they were alone here, prey among the predators. I think it was the adrenaline rush that kept people coming back for more.
Pulling into the parking lot, it took me five minutes to find a spot. The club looked packed, with a line wrapping around the building.
Getting out of my car and locking the doors, I stared at the building through the rows of cars. The only thing I could truly distinguish from this distance was a large red sign flashing the word "Fangtasia".
"You can do this, Sookie," I whispered, psyching myself up.
Gripping my purse tightly, I slowly made my way through the maze of cars, staying alert to what was going on around me. My heels clicked against the tarmac, the sound matching the loud cadence of my heart which roared in my ears.
As the front of the club came into view, I stopped and noticed that the club had no windows, at least none that I could see. Glancing at the line of fangbangers anxiously waiting to get into the club, I lowered my shields and reached out as far as my telepathy could go, hoping to get a count on how many Vampires were on the premises.
I was immediately bombarded with the craziest thoughts I'd ever heard in my life.
...Oh god, I wanna get tweaked so bad tonight...
...for Mistress Pam, I will do anything Mistress Pam says...
...My nipple clamps are pinching my skin...
...I need to get fucked tonight, I don't care how, just pick a hole...
Cringing, I threw my shields up. It would be a challenge to glean anything useful through the sewage that was here tonight. At least I'd been able to make out nine black voids in the mess that had bombarded my senses.
"Who wants to get into the club?!"
The voice was strong, confident. And slightly annoyed. A female Vampire stood a few yards away by the entrance of club, no doubt the hostess who decided who got into the club or not. She was quite tall and her blonde hair was twisted into a complicated chignon bun. She wore a red skin-tight bodysuit with matching leather boots that went all the way up to the knee. She was quite beautiful, but she struck an imposing figure; especially with the riding crop she wielded in her hand.
Standing behind her stood another Vampire. An Asian male, he had long black hair and his arms were covered in tattoos. He held a clipboard in his hands. I suppose he acted as the bouncer.
The crowd of fangbangers began to yell and holler at the question, trying to draw the attention of the statuesque Vampire.
"You there!" she ordered, pointing with the riding crop to the front of the line. Silence fell as a scrawny man sporting a mohawk and eyeliner stepped forward.
The blonde eyed the man and sighed impatiently as he trembled before her. "What will you do to get into the club?" she asked, smacking the leather crop into her open hand.
"A-Anything, Mistress Pam!" he stuttered, clasping his hands together in supplication.
Mistress Pam?
"Anything?" Mistress Pam repeated, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
The man nodded his head fervently. And to prove how serious he was, the fangbanger dropped to his knees and proceeded to kiss her red leather boots.
Curling her lip in disgust, the Vampire kicked the man roughly away.
"Too desperate. Next!"
Perhaps this wasn't the best idea. As much as I wanted to get into the club, I wasn't going to humiliate myself to do it. I was walking away from this place with my dignity in tact. Turning to leave, "Mistress Pam" looked my way and our eyes met.
I paused, curious when she smiled. It was strange. I'd never seen a Vampire smile before. Rasul never showed any emotion. Yet, to finally see one smiling and have it directed toward me...it was unnerving.
I braced myself as she came sashaying in my direction, the eyes of the crowd watching her every move. As she neared, I could see that she was a classic beauty, with high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes.
"Now, what do we have here?" she asked, her gaze traveling the length of my body. "Is...Is that a Suzy Perette?"
I raised my eyebrows, surprised by her enquiry. "Yes, yes it is."
A genuine laugh left her rouged lips. "I thought so. I use to own several of these dresses. You have good taste." I almost jumped when her fangs snicked down.
Stay calm, Sookie.
Tapping her chin with a blood-red fingernail, she studied me for several heartbeats. "You're something of an enigma, aren't you?" She sounded intrigued.
I didn't answer her question. I returned her stare unflinchingly, even when she glanced at the silver wrapped around my neck.
"Definitely an enigma," she murmured.
Turning, she walked over to the black velvet rope blocking the entrance of the bar. Unclipping the rope from the post, she glanced at me and gestured with her hand.
"You may enter."
Breathing out a silent sigh of relief, I moved toward the Vampires and the open doors of Fangtasia. I half expected them to stop me and rescind the invitation to enter, but I passed unscathed and entered into a darkened hallway lit by dim wall sconces.
I followed the curving hall, the sound of music guiding my step. I frowned when I saw that the archway leading into the club was covered with what appeared to be plastic refrigerator flaps. I'd only ever seen them in the grocery store or at Merlotte's. Why would someone put them up like this as decoration?
Then the irony hit me; this was the club owner's attempt at a joke. Needed to keep the food fresh, right?
Rolling my eyes, I pushed through the flaps and stopped short at my first glimpse of Fangtasia.
The first thing I noticed was the dance floor. The club wasn't full yet, but the people that had gotten past "Mistress Pam" were up and dancing to the intense rock song pounding over the speakers placed strategically throughout the room. A strobe light pulsed in rhythm to the beat of the song, making the dancers look like a writhing pit of snakes in their leather and latex clothing.
A well stocked bar was to the left, inviting people to belly up to the bar or they could take a seat at one of the tables where a waitress could deliver the drinks. A raised daïs was to the right of me, a large chair carved from wood sitting on its surface. It was an interesting piece of furniture with strange designs etched along the legs and back rest. I suspected that it was reserved for someone special.
Besides the occasional sign warning that biting wasn't permitted within the bar, the walls were bare.
Scanning my surroundings one last time, I took a seat at a corner table so I could see the entire club and prevent anyone from sneaking up behind me. Though the lighting wasn't as bright as I would have liked it, I could already place five Vampires by the slight glow they emitted. As far as I knew, I was the only one that could see this illumination. I wasn't sure why I had this ability, but I accepted it and used it when I found using my telepathy an inconvenience. This sixth sense was quite helpful.
I sat up straighter when a waitress came to my table. She looked a little frazzled and didn't make eye contact with me, completely focused on her order pad.
"What's your poison?"
"I'll take a seltzer water with a slice of lemon, please," I requested, turning my head to study the untidy hair of my server.
She nodded quickly and scurried away to the bar where a Vampire was serving the drinks. The Vampire had long black hair, and unless I was mistaken, he looked like he had Native American roots. I scrutinized them for a moment, noticing the aggressive body language of the male as he spoke to the girl and her fearful stance. Something was going on there.
Careful to keep control of my shields and not be overwhelmed with so many thoughts, I tentatively reached out, hoping to catch something.
...where is he?
...oh god, I hope Eric shows tonight...
...I can't stand waiting like this...
...I'm as good as dead if Eric finds out. I wish I'd never noticed the missing money. If Eric doesn't kill me, he will. I can feel him watching my every move, even now...
Slamming my shields in place, I glanced up as the waitress returned with my drink, her hand shaking as she placed my water before me on a small napkin. The last thought I'd heard had come from the frightened server, and studying the name tag on her black Fangtasia shirt, she went by the name Ginger.
"Thank you," I said, giving her a warm smile. Who was this Eric? Seemed like many in attendance here tonight had him on their mind.
"You're welcome," she returned, her voice thick with unshed tears. Clasping her tray to her chest, she disappeared into the crowd.
For the next hour, I watched and listened as the club slowly filled. The Vampires were stoic and aloof as fangbangers showered them in admiration. I found a few of them look my way from time to time, but to my surprise no one approached me, for which I was grateful.
Every few minutes I would listen to the sexually charged thoughts of the people around me, hoping to capture something useful.
...just touch me, please, yes, oh god yes!
...bitch gonna get it good, I want her to suck me dry...
...I wonder where the Northman is?
Sighing in disgust, I finished my water and slammed my glass down onto the table. This was getting me nowhere. After a full hour of listening to the obscene and perverse, I felt like running home and scrubbing my skin raw.
Deciding to call it a night, I grabbed my purse and stood up. That's when I noticed the eerie silence that had settled over the club. Someone had even turned the music off. Glancing around to see what was going on, I felt my breath catch in my throat when I saw who everyone was looking at.
A Vampire had emerged from the back of the bar, magically appearing from a concealed door in the wall. As he walked across the room, the people standing in his way jumped back, lest they get run over by this mountain of a man.
I wasn't surprised to see him heading for the daïs. As he climbed up onto the raised platform, his black biker boots thumped loudly through the bar. He settled himself into the massive chair, stretching his long legs before him. He glanced around the room once, and with a nod of his head, the music came back on and people began to talk again.
Fangbangers rushed forward to kneel before the Vampire, though they were careful not to touch the daïs. It reminded me of how commoners pay fealty to a King or Queen. Judging by his entrance and the attention he was garnering now, he was a V.I.P. Was this the elusive Eric that so many had thought of tonight? He didn't seem to be interested in the adoring crowd gathering before him. I had the feeling he was bored with it.
Mr. V.I.P. was unlike anyone I'd ever seen before. He had long blonde hair that went past his shoulders, framing a face that was handsome and strong. He was extremely tall, his body well-defined and muscular. I appreciated the view his black wife beater tank top gave me, my eyes moving of their own accord down to the leather pants that hugged his legs like a second skin.
Glancing back up at his face, I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw him looking at me. I stared back in return, surprised. I wasn't sure if he was staring at me or at something nearby. The cadence of my heart began to accelerate when I realized that he was indeed fixated on me. Bracing the palm of my hand against the table to steady myself, I quickly looked away, my face burning with embarrassment.
Had he seen me checking him out? I appreciated a handsome man, but I was usually more discreet when it came to that appreciation. I wasn't sure why I was reacting so strongly to the sight of this Vampire, but my instincts were screaming caution.
Nervously tucking my hair behind my ears, I tried to act nonchalant as I glanced his way once more. Mr. V.I.P. was still looking at me. And unless mistaken, the corner of his mouth was curving up in rare smile. Unable to break eye contact, we gazed at each other from across the room, the intensity of his stare causing the hair on my arms to stand on end.
Come to me.
That was when I heard it. Just three little words. My eyes widened in shock as the words echoed inside my head. It was impossible. My shields were still in place and even if I tried to read a Vampire's mind, I would get nothing but dead air. Yet, it seemed that the impossible was possible. I'd somehow read Mr. V.I.P.'s mind and he wanted only one thing; for me to come to him.
Yeah, he wants only one thing: SOOKIE! So, I hope everyone enjoyed that, because I sure did love writing it. The plot thickens! I really took my time with this Chapter with researching my facts, I hope that I didn't get anything wrong.
I hope you like the angle I'm taking on these murders, because in my opinion, killers who kill in the name of God are the creepiest of all.
Sookie's dress, the Suzy Perette, is a real line of clothing, you should check them out. They are amazing!
With the relocation of Fangtasia: I always found it silly how CH put it next to a Toys'R'Us in the book. With a Vampire bar, you are gonna go for the thrill of seeing creatures of the night and being out in the middle of nowhere adds that thrill/fear factor. Not next to a children's toy store. :S
Thank you Samantha Jones for giving me the riding crop idea for 'Mistress Pam.' I loved that Sex and the City episode where Sam is wielding that crop, and I wanted our Pam to have fun, because we all know how much she loathes fangbangers. I wanted to let her have control. :=)
Eric, Eric Eric. Or should I say Mr. V.I.P. or V.I.V? Lol. I wanted to focus on how important he is, that he is above a normal Vamp and Sookie sees that in his dramatic entrance. I'm excited to write the next Chapter and their interaction with each other.
I added 2 new songs to my playlist on YouTube. You can find the link to my soundtrack list for this story on my profile page.
Nine Inch Nails-Dead Souls: This is the song I hear as Sookie walks down the hall into the club. I love the beat and it fits in perfectly with Vampires.
Florence and the Machine-Drumming Song: This is the song I hear when Sookie and Eric make eye contact. I know my heart would be beating louder than anything and this song fits the bill.
Thanks for reading and to everyone who reviewed. You are amazing!