Getting Back to Work

Lana sat at the front desk thinking about her job while waiting for Vicki before leaving for the night. Sometimes she wondered about Vicki, Royce, and the hours they kept. The cases that were accepted were all more or less the same; tracing deadbeat dads, welchers , cheating spouses, employee theft, and an occasional missing persons, but the work was steady and the pay decent. Twice a week there were evening conferences for the staff, during which all the cases were discussed. Vicki and her live in lover, Harry Royce, did all the night shift work. Lana came to the conclusion she liked her job, her employer, and that Royce was hot.

The rattle of the back door had Lana calling out, "Vicki, Harry is that you?"

Vicki yelled back "Yep," and turned to Henry saying, "We need to install a security camera for this door so Lana or Jamus can see who's coming in. I should have thought of that before."

They walked on through to Vicki's office and Lana got up to greet them saying, "You have a client scheduled for tonight." Turning to Henry she added, "Royce, Jamus called asking if you could relieve him on a stake out. It seems our client's cheating husband is still at his girlfriend's house and we need pictures. Jamus says his butt has gone numb." Lana handed Royce the address, and as he looked at it he said to Vicki, "Unless you have something better for me to do, I'll go relieve Jamus." Vicki smiled at Henry saying, "Go ahead. If you can't get pictures by 1:00 AM, count it a wash and come on in, there's some other work I need help with." Turning toward Lana she said, "If the details for the client meeting are on my desk, you can go on home."

Lana smiled at Royce while saying to Vicki, "They are, so I'm heading out. Royce care to walk me to my car?"

Henry gave her a quick smile and said, "Go get your things and I'll be right there." Before he could say anything else Vicki whispered, "Behave yourself. No biting the hired help, and be careful, she has a crush on you."

"Don't worry, I found out the hard way, flirting with more than one woman in an office can be dangerous to a man's health." Giving her a kiss he added, " I'll be back by 1:00 so we can feed."

Lana stood waiting for Harry thinking this was her chance to get him alone and get that kiss she wanted. Lana wrapped her arms around Henry's neck. She kissed his closed lips, pulled back disappointed and pouted prettily saying, "You didn't cooperate."

Henry reached up and unlocked her arms from around his neck, "No I didn't, and I won't." He stepped back and continued, "Lana, don't risk your job doing something foolish. I'm with Vicki."

Lana placed a hand on his arm, "What does she have that I don't?"

Henry smiled saying, "She has my heart." His voice deepened and eyes darkened, "Get in the car and forget any romantic nonsense about me. You're not attracted to me."

Vicki stood in the window watching, heard Henry's words and said loud enough for his ears to pick up, "I love you." Hearing her words Henry waved as he got in his car.

Vicki returned to her desk and reviewed the client demographics and the issue. When the door opened, Vicki had on her tinted glasses and was standing behind her desk. "Mrs. Warren?" After a moment there was an hesitant "Yes." Vicki asked the client to come the rest of the way into her office. She pointed toward the client chair and sat after the Mrs. Warren did. "How may I help you?"

Mrs. Warren talked about her family and the fact they were all gone. She was the last one left and had just recently learned that her brother had been in jail for two years before he died. She wanted to know what he had done to deserve jail time. He had always been a little different with grand ideas and big plans. He had meant well but nothing ever seemed to work out right for him. Vicki listened to the older woman and watched her face as she talked. Whe she finished , she looked at Vicki, "So will you help me? I'm not good enough on computers to do the research myself and I don't know what or who to ask."

Vicki heard and felt Mrs. Warren's sadness and asked, "Does it matter whether or not you know what happened? Will it change how you feel about your brother? Is there anyone else that would really care what your brother did when he was alive?"

Mrs Warren looked down into her lap and saw that she had folded pleats into the hem of her sweater. While fan folding back and forth, releasing and starting over she said, "No, I guess not. I would rather remember my brother the way we were as kids. We had some great times, going for long walks. He taught me to play chess, and checkers. He and I would go to the movies on a Saturday afternoon to give Mom some peace and quiet." She smiked quietly, "You're right Ms. Nelson, somethings are better left alone." Mrs Warren stood and placed a twenty dollar bill in Vicki's hand saying, "Thank you." Vicki held out the twenty and replied, "You're welcome and you don't owe me anything." Mrs. Warren waved the money aside, "But I do. You gave me my brother back by listening." She turned and quietly closed the outer door.

Vicki dropped the twenty in the office fund used to buy coffee and donuts. She made a few notes on the file and placed it on Lana's desk, then walked around the office looking at the desks, the files, the magazines on the table and the wall hangings. She thought to herself she really should have Henry do some art for the walls, then changed her mind about asking him. She returned to her desk and started cleaning out drawers.

Henry found her at the desk a little while later with her head resting on her folded arms. "Don't bother trying to sneak up on me Fitzroy, I know you're there." He set the camera on her desk and said, "Jamus appreciated my relieving him. He said he would be in around 6 AM to write up his report. I got a few good shots of our client's cheating husband in his girlfriend's arms." Vicki let out a sigh and kept her head down. Henry placed a hand on her shoulder, "Out with it. Tell me what is going on in that confusing head of yours."

Vicki pushed back her chair, got up and walked to the window looking out into the night. "It's time for me to quit this job. I can't take money from unhappy people anymore. I'm tired of looking for cheating spouses, deadbeat dads, welchers, and who knows what else. A sad woman left me a twenty just because I listened and you have pictures of a cheating husband. That's not what I wanted when I started out. I went into police work to make a difference. It's all changed. Do you like what we're doing now?"

Henry walked over to look out the same window, "I like watching your mind work out problems. I like being a part of the process that leads to your finding answers and helping people. What do you want to do if not this?"

"I don't know. I have no idea what I might be good at besides poking my nose into peoples lives. How did you decide what to do with yourself for centuries?" She turned so that she was facing Henry and placed a hand on the white strands of in his hair then traced the dusting of freckles across his cheek and said, "The only thing I am certain of is wanting to be with you."

He took the time to think about what she asked and then started speaking, "I've lived in so many places and have done so many things to earn a living. Even vampires have expenses and I made up my mind I wanted to live comfortably and honorably. For me it always comes back to some form of artwork or writing. I'm good at both and I enjoy it."

Vicki studied the street light across from her door and spoke more to herself than him, "That's just it. I don't know what I'm good at besides police work."

He traced her lips with the tips of his fingers saying, "You're very good at something besides police work."

She smiled and kissed the tips of the fingers lingering on her lips, "I don't think earning a living doing that fits with my current life style."

Henry placed a possessive arm around her waist saying, "Nor would I allow it."

Vicki raised an eyebrow, "Are you daring to tell me what I can or can't do?"

He started laughing and said, "In case you forgot, you tried to tell me who I could or couldn't bite."

Vicki said in a highly indignant tone, "We were on a case! You can't go biting everyone you interview." Then they started laughing at a shared memory of the incubus and the beautiful women.

Henry held her close, "We don't have to make any changes yet, but it's time to start exploring options."

Vicki give him a peck on the cheek saying, "Let's go eat. I always think better on a full stomach."

She picked up her keys and studied a small, flat, red metal heart that was engraved with 'Mike loves Vicki' and smiled when she remembered Mike winning it at a benefit to help fallen police officers families. She turned the heart over in her hand and saw new engraving on the other side, 'Henry loves Vicki too.' She held it out for Henry to see asking, "When did you have this engraved?"

Henry took the keys from her hand, "I needed to use your keys one evening, saw the heart and had my name added. I was wondering how long it would take for you to notice."

Vicki put one hand on her hip saying, "So? How long did it take?"

He pulled her close, placed his forehead on hers saying, "Long enough. Let's go."

Vicki walked ahead of Henry as they left the building as said to herself, "With two good men to love me, there's no sense in worrying about the future. It will take care of itself in time."