The Bohemians were all assembled at the costume shop, with everyone off in various sections in search for a costume. Rodolfo was being watched by Nana for a bit, so they could put their full attention in finding their costumes. Unfortunately, not everyone was having much luck. After a good fifteen minutes, Roger still hadn't found a single costume he liked.

"Maybe not," he sighed, returning an Egyptian soldier costume he'd been debating over to the rack. Man, had he gotten out of the habit of finding a Halloween costume. The last time he'd dressed up was when he and Mark had gone to the Halloween Party back in high school, during their senior year. But that was ages ago.

Deciding to check up on how the others were doing, he made his way to the back of the store. Over by the dressing rooms, he ran into Maureen, Joanne and Collins, who apparently had all selected their costumes. Maureen had found a rather revealing-looking tiger suit while Joanne was scrutinizing over a zombie costume. Collins, meanwhile, was looking in the mirror, examining himself in the gangster costume he'd come across.

"Not bad," Roger grinned, judging his friends' selections.

"What about you?" Maureen asked, looking down at Roger's hands to see if he was carrying anything. "What are you gonna be wearing?"

"No idea," Roger shrugged. "Nothing's really calling to me. Anyway, where's Mimi and the Cohen fam?"

"Probably still trying on costumes in the dressing room," Joanne surmised.

"Oh, not anymore." Collins pointed to where Penny had emerged, dressed as a hobo, followed by Emily in a full baseball uniform and Mark, who looked as if he'd stepped out of an old Victorian movie.

"Mark, what is that?" Roger couldn't hold back a loud laugh at seeing his best friend in the black cloak and burgundy waistcoat, complete with a jabot collar. Mark sent Roger a stern look, holding up a rubber butcher knife.

"Jack the Ripper," he answered.

"And Emily's a baseball player, obviously," Joanne noted. All the Bohemians knew Emily was a big-time fan of baseball.

"Dorothy Kamenshek, to be exact," Emily confirmed. "The seven-time All Star player from the Rockford Peaches."

"Never heard of them," Maureen shook her head.

"That'll be because they were only around from 1943 to 1954," Emily explained. "The team eventually fizzled out after the war ended, and the male baseball players came back."

"And where's you're costume, Roger?" Mark asked.

"He doesn't have one," Collins smirked.

"I just can't see myself in anything here," Roger defended himself.

"Maybe I can help," Mimi's voice purred from behind him. Roger instantly smiled as he turned, but he found his jaw dropping when he got a look at Mimi's costume of a very short, low-cut black dress, with fishnet stockings, black stiletto boots, and a pointed witch's hat.

"Whoa," was all Roger could manage to say. "Tell me you're gonna wear that for me tonight."

"We'll see," Mimi winked. "First, let's find something you can wear to the Halloween Bash. I've already found a little pumpkin costume for Rodolfo, so finding something for you should be easy." Mimi took Roger by the hand and started to lead him through the store, quickly turning down thinks like 'Werewolf' 'Frankenstein' and 'Swamp Thing'. Finally she stopped and held up a Dracula costume.

"Dracula?" Roger cast a skeptical eye at the costume.

"Well, duh," Mimi giggled. "You know vampires are really sexy. You should have no problem pulling it off." Roger slowly broke into a sly smile.

"Well, maybe I should start practicing, then," he joked before bending down to lightly nip at Mimi's neck, prompting a loud giggle from her.

After the costumes had been purchased, the Bohemians parted ways to return to their homes. However, Roger and Mimi were taking a small detour to pick up Rodolfo before rejoining Mark, Emily and Penny back at the Condo. As they walked, with Roger whispering to Mimi every so often and Mimi lovingly squeezing his arm in response, they passed a rather tall man in a trench coat, dark sunglasses and a fedora. The stranger moved so closely to Roger that their shoulders brushed against each other. The moment the contact had been made, the tall man had immediately stopped and stared at Roger.

"Sorry, mister," Roger carelessly apologized before he and Mimi continued on their way. The two were so lost in their own world that they failed to notice that the tall man continued to stand there, watching them walk up the street.

Officer Kurtz waited in one of the offices at St. Vincent's Hospital. It was times like this he disliked being a cop. Still it was like they said, 'it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.'

After a short time, Doctor Jordan entered the room.

"Good afternoon, Officer Kurtz," the middle-aged doctor greeted.

"And you," Officer Kurtz nodded in response before getting straight to business. "So, I take it the results of autopsy of that longshoreman are in."

"Yes, they are," Doctor Jordan confirmed. "I suppose you'll want to know what the autopsy discovered."

"You must know I do. We need something to put on the police reports."

"Well, I'd love to see how you'll be able to explain this one at headquarters," Doctor Jordan frowned grimly.

"I don't understand."

"The man that was brought in, Officer Kurtz," Doctor Jordan paused before continuing. "He was completely drained of blood. There was not a single drop in the body when the autopsy was performed."

AN: Sorry about the short chapter. There just wasn't much to cover in this one. But I'm hoping that it's becoming clearer over where this story's going. If not, just wait until the next chapter.