Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this little story. It has been fun to work on it and give Bill a little leg up. I hope you enjoy this chapter; there isn't much more to go.

Thanks to CH for creating the characters I have been privileged to play with here.

Part 5

On April 20th 2010 there was an explosion on an offshore drilling rig called Deepwater Horizon. Eleven men were killed; seventeen more injured in the blast, which set off what, is arguably the worst marine oil spill in the history of the industry. That platform, now at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, was drilling an exploratory well at the time of the explosion, that well gushed an estimated 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf before it was finally capped on July 15th of that same year. In that three months incalculable damage was done to the environment, incalculable that was until the lawyers got involved. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put a gag order on the estimates of the damage in the light of multiple lawsuits against British Petroleum and its partners, lawsuits that bandied about numbers as high as $40 billion. With that kind of money at stake, and the associated reputations, the murder of a researcher seems a relatively small cost. At least that is what I have deduced after spending several hours at the Bon Temps library, ignoring the stares of the other late night patrons as I use the computers. I did thank the librarian for her late hours and her assistance in finding reputable sites for my news. She twittered a bit as I recall, likely nervousness trying to hide under professionalism.

I went there as soon as the sun set, after downing my Tru Blood, and showering. I had planned to go and use the library computers from the moment I had laid my head down in my own cubby, against the dirt of Louisiana. When I woke the desire was just as strong to help this new mistress. I had not intended to go past Sookie's house, or perhaps I should call it Elizabeth's house, before going to the library, but my concern beat at me just as the water of the shower did, wondering if all had been well for her during the sunlight. I had never even asked her what her plans had been for the day, and that was enough to force me down the road between our properties. However, on the path I met two panthers and looking in their eyes I could see that she was well guarded and so I went to do my research instead. I wish to believe they were there to protect her from the outside world that wished to hurt her, but it was just as likely that they were there to protect her from me. I don't blame Calvin's thoroughness.

The internet is an excellent tool I am finding, I had not used it much before my self imposed exile, but it has given me a great insight into the situation Elizabeth is facing, personally and professionally. British Petroleum, the company that was running the Deepwater platform is more than just an oil company. The internet cannot give me the name of every other stakeholder in the project, but it has given me enough to understand the vast scope of what might be lost should these lawsuits go against them all. Knowing Vampires are a pragmatic lot I surmise that there are more than a few that stand to lose a great deal of money. BP is what you call a blue chip investment or it was, as I understand the notion of safe investments. Vampires have lived and seen a great deal, so they know about consumerism and invest according. Now mind you I have no proof of these assertions, but if it looks like a duck,…. That saying has always amused me. I have missed those simple kinds of things in my life; laughter, smiles, comfort.

As I walk away from the old white stone building, the one that has housed the Bon Temps library for a century, I try to process everything I have taken in. What I need to do now seems quite obvious to me. I have to go and speak to Elizabeth. It isn't that I don't trust Andy, but without proof he can't do anything, and besides, if this problem is on an international scale there is absolutely nothing he can do. Besides, it is up to Elizabeth what happens now, for all I know my assumptions are completely off base. But I need to ask her. I cannot make unilateral decisions for anyone without their consent, not again.

I approach the house slowly; there will be no mistaking me by the panthers that I am certain still wander around the woods. I do not wish to hurt one of them should they mistake me for a different type of predator. I call out her name before I even take the first step, and then I wait. Her footsteps are light crossing the sitting room, careful but quick.

"William?" She pulls open the door, smiling. She has left her hair long, and brushed it straight, it covers her shoulders in a wave I would like to bury myself in, but I push the urge from my mind, even as the lavender swirls around me again.

"Are you well Elizabeth?"

"I am William, I am so glad you've come back."

"Has anything happened in my absence?"

"It has been very quiet here, I've been working on my computer most of the day. Sam Merlotte came by with some dinner for me, but he's been the only company."

"You know Sam Merlotte?"

"Sookie made certain that he and Calvin knew I was coming, so I would have people to call in emergencies. They have been very sweet." She lets the screen door close behind her with its familiar squeak, her smile is brilliant and honest and the look in her unseeing eyes beckons me forward up the steps. "Thank you for coming round, I have found that today I have been missing company more than most. Perhaps you would like to come in, I could tell you the story of how I came to be in Bon Temps?" The words spill from her nervously, I find it so charming.

I very much did want to hear the story, selfishly because I wanted to be near her. Perhaps admitting that to myself makes the desire less sinister? I also wanted to hear the story in case there were any clues to her attacker. I think it is better not to present her with my hypotheses until I find a basis for them in her life. She invites me into the house and I follow, I sit in the parlor, and she hurries away to fetch me a drink, Tru Blood, she has obviously had Sam bring her those over as well, which means now he and Andy, and the panthers of HotShot know that I am here. Perhaps that should worry me?

"I told you that I am doing research about the environmental impact of the oil spill?"

"You did."

"I was sent to interview a Vampire, the Sheriff of Area 5, as he offered to act as the intermediary for all the local vampires who had property or businesses that were damaged in Louisiana. It turned out to be quite a big task that required several meetings. Over the course of those nights I met his wife, Sookie," She took a breath, likely to spare my feelings the hurt of hearing her name, "and we hit it off. She was quite, impressed with me." I noticed the way she paused before saying impressed. She was self-deprecating, unwilling to acknowledge her own powers, even when they were so obvious to everyone.

"We spoke of how difficult it was when the world was so noisy. I did not know she was a telepath then, I was only speaking about myself, and marveling how she seemed to understand that without my sight I heard so much more, and that all I wanted some days was peace and quiet."

It is obvious to me how Sookie understood, and not surprising that Sookie revealed herself to Elizabeth. Both women were decent and trusting and honest to a fault. I understand how they became friends in such a short period of time.

"I spoke with her and Eric alike of how my data gathering was coming to an end and that I was not looking forward to compiling everything in my hotel room; hotels are never quiet, and neither is the traffic outside them, even in the middle of the night, not in a town like New Orleans. It was Sookie's suggestion that I rent her house for as long as I needed. She told me all about Bon Temps, and how quiet everything around here was. The way she described everything it sounded exactly like what I needed, and with only a few more trips to make I moved in almost immediately."

"And she told you about me, and all the other players here in Bon Temps?"

"To one degree or another, yes, I guess she did. And she told me about Merlotte's, so I went there to introduce myself. The kitchen there makes very good meals, and I am not much of a cook anymore."

"Since you lost your vision?" I don't know if I should ask about it, but it seems to me that she is leading me towards that line of questioning.

"Yes, I used to like to cook, but now it's hard to distinguish between things I need without tasting everything first. I can fry an egg and make a sandwich, but sometimes I really just want gumbo, or lasagna."

I have to smile. It has been a long time since I have eaten real food, and a long time since I have tasted real blood, the desire never really dies.

"Perhaps I can help you one day?" I don't know why I offered that, I can't cook, and I have never had to. She laughs at me and reaches for my hands again. Perhaps she understands how ridiculous the offer is.

"That's very sweet William, but I don't have much here to work with. I don't know how long I'll be staying. My report is nearly done." That revelation tears at me, I have only just found her, and now it seems that I will lose her as well. Not that I can say there is much to lose but the lavender and her smile.

"Can you tell me more about that report? Not the details, but a general idea what you've been researching?" I think that if she tells about what kind of data she has been compiling I will be able to tell if my ideas are correct.

She tells me about interviewing people about the damage to their livelihoods, and cross referencing that with the NOAA reports about tar balls and slicks still drifting below the surface of the gulf, settling on the bottom. She also tells me about how she has been incorporating Coast Guard suspicions that cost cutting measures on the platform may have contributed to the disaster. She is expecting new emails of the formal engineering reports of those matters at any time. Even without a serious understanding of the issues, because I do not pretend to have gained a full knowledge of biological environmental concerns and off-shore drilling practices in a few hours at the library, I can see that the scant fund set up by BP, being doled out sparingly to claimants is not adequate, especially if it can be proved that corners were cut and safety ignored. Elizabeth tells me that she will be speaking to a White House Committee on the subject in only a week. I know that a good many people are running out of time, Elizabeth being my greatest concern of the bunch. I do not hesitate to tell her what I suspect.

At first she sits quietly and listens to me, keeping her lips pursed together, she nods periodically as I explain how her research could cost a great many people, a great deal of money. Her already pale skin blanches a little further as I continue with the fact that people have been killed for much less than the billions of dollars likely to be spent once the estimated 1,200,000 claims are heard and settled; this amount not even including the wrongful death suits from the families of the eleven men killed if willful neglect is proved in her report to the White House. When her grip on my hands tightens I know that she understands the truth of my words. I am sorry to have frightened her so badly, but now I can make a move to protect her properly.

She cries for a few minutes; I give her that; I would give her more. Then she composes herself just like Sookie was able to when she had to. She casts her sightless eyes on me and says, with a great deal of strength in her voice.

"Once I present my report and it's acknowledged in the record it can be used for any lawsuit. I won't need to be there again. Killing me won't make any difference then. I just need to stay safe until next Monday when I fly to Washington."

"I can keep you safe during the nights, and there are those who will watch out for you during the day, but Bon Temps is isolated and it might be better for you to go someplace else. I can call Sookie, Eric Northman is a powerful Vampire, and he most certainly has a safe house where you can work."

"If you think it's best William."

I squeeze her hand back, she has never let go of mine, and her warmth is something I absolutely crave right now.

"I don't want you to leave here Elizabeth, but I don't want you to be hurt either." I smile sadly at her, not that she can see it. "And my selfish desires cannot take value over your life."

"When?" She asks me sadly.

"I will call Sookie now." It will be the first time I have spoken to her since she rescinded my invitation to the very house I now sit it. "I will see if she can help us."

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