"They Don't Just Come Out At Night"

Chapter Two: What In The Name of Coco Chanel Was That?

"Everyone's got their own bag o' tricks, mine's just a lot bigger than yours."

Two hours later I was content in the place I truly liked to spend time in: the mall. Emmett had dropped me off with his credit card, and then gone home. That was his idea of shopping with me. It wasn't exactly ideal, but I'd take it. It would be nice to have someone to go with though, but I knew that with him, that was never gonna happen. He wasn't much of the shopping type, sadly. And neither was Edward, so that pretty much left me no options unless Angela wasn't busy. Is it sad that I only have three people that I'm close to?

I guess that's a good thing, me being a spy and all, but still it makes me kind of lonely when I think about it. I'd really like a best friend, well, a girl best friend; I have Edward for a male one. I'd even settle for a shopping buddy, seriously. That would complete me.

Anyways, I was here, and ready to indulge myself, courtesy of my boyfriend and his rather sizeable credit limit. And he hardly even complained, knowing how I get when I go shopping. I figure he must really want in my pants again badly if he's willing to give me free rein. But I can delude myself with whatever reasoning I want, all I know is I have a credit card and know how to use it!

I decide to start off with one of my favourite things: shoe shopping. A girl really can never have too many pairs of heels or handbags, that's my reasoning. You need something that goes with any outfit you can cook up, and I have a very vivid imagination. I could probably spend hours in a shoe store and be perfectly content, so I do.

Another two-and-a-half hours later, I've got some killer heeled boots (which'll come in handy on the job and make me look très chic); three pairs of patent leather kitten heels in hues of bright blue, yellow, and red; some pastel-coloured ballet flats for when I'm feeling lazy; and with the greatest regret I also picked up a pair of running shoes that were grey and yellow. I supposed that if I was going to outrun a vampire, I might as well have the right shoes for the task.

Already I could feel the effects of the retail therapy working its magic. I wasn't even concerned about this new task. I could take a vampire, couldn't I?

With these happy thoughts in mind, I moved on to scout out a dress to wear on me and Emmett's anniversary, one-year, to be precise. I guess maybe then I'd let him get a little action, but tonight, hell no. I still cannot believe his stupid name-changing scheme. I mean, I have to introduce myself in a professional setting as that! Okay, so maybe a professional assasination and/or reconnaissance setting, but still, nobody will take me seriously even when I have my Magnum waving in their face!

Hmm, what colour dress though?

I'm kind of a yellow kick at the moment, so let's go with that. So I then thumbed through the racks, looking for anything cute, yellow, and my size. I ended up with three candidates that I took to the dressing room. The first was empire-waisted, and the skirt was undecorated. It was a very simple gown, and it somewhat reminded me of the clichéd banana-yellow raincoats that everyone harbors fantasies of wearing in Paris. Why? I have no idea. That's just what came to mind when I put the dress on.

The second was supposedly a mini-dress though on me it was a "decent" length. It was fashioned of slinky, silk-like material and had a square neck around which was yellow and white embroidery and beading. I decided to keep it in mind at least until I tried on the third dress. It actually looked kinda good on me, so I wasn't going to rule it out.

Lastly, the third was satin, very short, and tight. I looked like a hussy. Definitely not. The second dress it is.

I discarded the other two and quickly paid for my dress, wondering what I'd like to do next. Shoes, check, dress check...hmm I think I'll just look around and see if anything particularly strikes me. And maybe get something to drink while I'm at it. Shopping really makes me thirsty.

For a period I window-shopped, and then I decided to check out some of the little stands in the middle of the mall to see if there was anything worth getting. My first stop was at a makeshift cosmetics counter that promised "natural" make-up. We'll see, I thought to myself. The poor employee that had to man the place, a middle-aged woman named Amie, looked so happy to see someone who actually wanted to know something about her product that I felt pretty good myself for giving her that boost. Let's call it my good deed of the day.

Amie very exuberantly explained about the make-up, and its mineral composition. I nodded and smiled through that particular bit, until she reached a pause in her speech. "But more importantly, Amie, how does it look? What would you suggest for say, me?"

"Well, just something light. You look fine without a lot of make-up, so I'd say we try some eyeshadow for starters, maybe...this colour?" she suggested, holding up a light, earthy-toned brown colour. I nodded my approval.

"That's a pretty one, definitely."

Next she showed me a silver-coloured one. That one I liked too; it was shiny and I'd always preferred silver to gold besides. The process repeated, and by the time we were onto the fifth one, I was pretty well pleased with the make-up. However, I was waiting for her to bag up the ones I'd bought when I got a certain unpleasant feeling.

You know the one where you feel like someone's watching you?

Oh yes, that one. I hate that feeling. It literally renders you paranoid, trying to figure out where the supposed watcher is, only to find out that there usually isn't anyone watching you. Then it's frustrating because you were so sure that there had been someone there. Of course, that moment turns into an unsolved mystery, and people tell you just to forget about it. It's just a funny feeling, right?

Wrong. I was ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure that someone was watching me. Now I just needed to see what they looked like. It could be someone from a past job, you never know. In my line of work, there's always the danger of getting followed on your off time. And if you ask me, I'd rather not have that happen. I'd also rather not whip out my trusty handgun, Sherry, in the middle of a crowded shopping mall, but if worst came to worst, I would do it.

Smiling vacantly at Amie, I took my bag and continued on down the line of mall kiosks, weaving in between each one hoping to lose whoever was tailing me. That would be my preference if I couldn't at least catch a glimpse of the culprit.

I felt like I was being hunted. Maybe I was. I just needed to be smart about this. Stay around lots of people, try and see who it is, and keep Sherry at hand at all times.

When you receive field training, at least at N.P.I (Northwest Private Investigations), they teach you to use absolutely anything at your disposal to deal with a situation. It's amazing what uses everyday items can be put to. And at one of the upcoming kiosks, I spied an opportunity.

It was a sunglasses "shack" and even though this was the Pacific Northwest, and we almost never have use for sunglasses except for the snow glare in winter, I could use the glasses to my advantage this time. So with my plan in mind, I sidled up to Bradley, the cashier there, and began making small talk as I pretended to really look for a good, quality pair of sunglasses. "Bet you don't get much business," I said, eyeing the rack for something I could use.

"Not really," Bradley said, smiling at me. I glanced momentarily at him, and spotted the tell-tale signs of roots that seriously needed to be touched up. He was a negligent fake blond, and it kind of saddened me, so I went back to the task at hand.

"So, were you looking for anything specific?" Bradley inquired, his expression suggesting he knew what I was looking for. I highly doubted that, and of course I was going to turn down the date offer he was about to extend to me in eleven point nine seconds; I had a boyfriend already. A big, scary-looking boyfriend who truly was a teddy bear inside. A boyfriend who was probably seated on the couch now with a bowl of popcorn, extra butter, watching Sportscenter and laughing his ass off at the commercials instead of shopping with me. That's love I guess....

"No."

"So, plans Friday?"

Possibly hunting down the undead and hoping to make it home in one piece? Or maybe I'll still be stuck here waiting on Eric Mc Creepy and Co. to figure out how Edward and I are supposed to go about the expedition in the first place. Or I can go see the newest horror movie, get felt up by a "protective" date pulling an "arm around the shoulder" move, and then top off the night by fucking like horny teenagers in the back of his riceburner car and be happy as a clam that I'm being responsible and am on birth control. Decisions, decisions.

"I have a boyfriend." I don't know what this Bradley was expecting; do not-quite-twenty-something people just randomly ask each other out like this? I'm not sure, but I am certain that it's a bad way to go. Whatever happened to attraction or compatibility?

"He isn't here now, shopping with you. What kind of boyfriend's that? Or are you just saying that because you don't want to admit how attracted to me you are?"

"One, Bradley: I am not attracted to you. Two: I really do have a boyfriend, and him not shopping with me has nothing to do with our relationship, and lastly, touch up your roots, I don't find fake blondes appealing at all," I finished with a flourish, simultaneously spotting a viable pair of glasses. I pulled them off the shelf. They were a normal, black lens, black frame pair with no decoration whatsoever, but that suited my purpose.

"I'll take these ones."

He very snobbishly took his time ringing me up, and once I paid, I was out of there in record time, leaving Bradley and his raccoon-patterned roots behind. I got a distance away, and then whipped out the sunglasses, still feeling that paranoid vibe loud and clear. Turning the glasses around so that the front of the lenses were facing me, I eyed the reflection in the glasses, and then positioned them so that I could use them like a mirror to see behind me.

I spotted a few women shopping with their daughters, but none looked particularly dangerous. Besides, my senses told me it was a man following me. They were usually the bad ones in my experience. So I checked every few steps, spotting a few men, but they all looked rather normal and passive.

And then I saw him. Or rather, caught a quick glimpse.

"Gotchya," I murmured quietly, surveying the man in question, my follower.

From what I saw, very light skin, light-coloured hair, and skinny. However, before I could examine him further, there was a pale blur, and he became no longer visible, as if he'd run off or something. Weird. Very weird indeed.

I stowed the sunglasses back into the bag. He would probably just leave for now, I reminded myself. Maybe I should go home before he decides to resume tailing me. I'll tell Emmett what happened. Yep, that'll do it, I mused.

Instead of calling my beau to pick me up---I knew better than to interrupt "Play & Score Recap Time"---I called a taxi, and went to wait for it outside. I felt relatively safe as there were plenty of teens milling about to get picked up by their parents, or families heading back to their cars, hands full of bags.

As I was waiting, I watched absently as a little girl toddled over the flowerbeds off to the side of the front entrance. She knelt down at the flowerbed, and was playing with the blooms with a childish grin on her face. I couldn't help but smile with her. She was so cute....

Her parents were speaking with some other adults, not really keeping an eye on her. That didn't seem right, because she was so little, she could just wander off so easily...so I kept my gaze on her. She was still prodding at some of the flowers, in her own little world it seemed. At least she was having fun.

But something looked a little off. There was something protruding from the bushes, something that looked oddly like a foot without a shoe. Disturbed, I headed over there pronto, hoping the little girl wouldn't think to go behind the bushes to see what it was. Children deserved to retain their innocence as long as humanly possible.

When I got closer, the little girl beamed at me, and said "Hi."

"Hi, what's your name?" I asked quickly, setting down my bags on the sidewalk.

"Sasha," she replied, her brown eyes soft as she looked at me. "You're really pretty, lady."

"Thank you Sasha. Do you think you could do me a favour?" I asked gently.

"Yeah."

"Could you watch my bags and make sure no one takes them? I'd really appreciate it. I just have to check on something for a moment."

"Okay," Sasha agreed, skipping over to be closer to my bags. I smiled my thanks, and headed off. I rounded the clump of foliage until I found a thin gap in between bushes. Squeezing myself through, I had to place a hand over my mouth to keep quiet.

A body was hidden within the bushes, face-down and unmoving. Biting my lip slightly, I knelt down beside the man and felt for a pulse. He had none, naturally. Sighing now, I pulled my mobile out of the pocket of my jacket, and hit speed dial number three. I waited somewhat impatiently as I waited for the call to go through to the menu.

"Hello, this is the number of Northwest Communications International. If you already know the extension of your party, please enter it now. If not, press '0' to speak to a representative."

Northwest Communications International was our front, and the only information you'd get by talking to a 'representative' was what we'd come up with to fool you. The representative was usually whoever was on duty at the time, and the line you fed anyone who inquired was pretty much the same each time. If the same person kept calling, then you might suggest that N.C.I was going out of business, or something similar. Regardless, we didn't get a lot of outside calls.

I dialed extension #4329.

"Cullen speaking," I was answered after a few second's pause. He sounded out of breath, but I wasn't about to ask why that was. Cougar, cougar, cougar...my mind repeated in spite of this.

"Carlisle, we have a situation," I informed him. "We have a body at the Westfield mall. I was shopping here and came across it. If we hurry, we can pick it up before someone else finds it and calls the local fuzz. They'll take it in, and it'll have my fingerprints on it, since I felt for a pulse."

He sighed deeply. "Where exactly on the grounds is it located?"

I quickly estimated. "About twenty feet west of the front entrance, in the bushes. No one's seemed to notice but me so far, but I'd rather not take chances. How soon can you get someone out here to pick it up, and me so I can give a statement?"

"I'd say tops, twenty minutes. I'll tell them to take the usual shortcuts."

"Thanks Carlisle."

I hung up and returned out to the main sidewalk, not wanting to be gone too long in case any of the people around were wondering where I'd gone. Sasha was waiting by her bags with her mother.

"See Miss, I watched them for you."

"Thanks Sasha, I really appreciate that. Ma'am, you have a very nice little girl to help me out like that," I informed her mother, who nodded and tried to grab a hold of her daughter's hand to pull her out to the parking lot. I'm sure she thought there was something weird about me, talkign to children I don't know. People were paranoid like that these days, and I guess for good reason with all the nasty people there are in the world. Little Sasha was just doin' me a favour though, whether her mama knew it or not.

As I waited for Carlisle to get me some back-up, I decided I might as well call Emmett. As "boss" he'd want to know about this A.S.A.P., and as my boyfriend, he'd wonder why I wouldn't be home earlier. I pulled my phone back out, hitting the first speed dial this time.

"Hello?" his voice answered on the second ring.

"Hey Emmett. I thought you'd want to know about..." then I launched into my description of the incident, short as it was, and that I'd already called for backup. He listened with his "professional" patience, and at the end, he just had one thing to say.

"I'll meet you at Headquarters."

"Okay," I answered. That's what I'd thought he'd say, unsuprisingly.

By my watch, it took twenty-two-and-a-half minutes for back-up in the form of Edward and Liz, one of our medical staff, in a nondescript white van. I waved them down and they parked off to the side of the mall, where no one was hanging about, which made this all the more easier for us to execute. Showing them where the body was, I supervised as they rolled the corpse into a body bag, and transferred it into the back of the van. We tried to rush before anyone caught onto what we were doing, and I just knew someone at mall security was going to get paid off tonight to erase any footage of us there might be on the security tapes.

As soon as everything (corpse and all) was stowed away, I hopped up front in between the two, and we peeled out of there at the maximum speed, heading for the backwoods road that would lead us out to Headquarters. Edward was so focused on his driving that conversation was nonexistant, and well, Liz wasn't much of a chatterbox to begin with unless you got her yapping on about some complex medical procedure or Chomsky's Theory of Universal Grammar. The two didn't really fit together, but I wasn't going to ask about her mixed hobbies of medicine and linguistic anthropology. People like what they like, simple as that.

When we got back to HQ, Carlisle and Esme were waiting for us to unload the body and bring him around to the lab. There'd be an autopsy right away, and I'd have to say what I knew about the man and his untimely end.

Edward, a newly-arrived Emmett, and I waited in the autopsy room while Carlisle did his thing, medically speaking. In the meantime, I let them know about the body.

"I just found it...there was one foot partially sticking out of the bushes, so I investigated. There was no pulse, he was dead, and so I just called. There were no other clues at the scene, I'm afraid. But there was something else. A man was tailing me in the mall, but I just barely got a glimpse of him. I've no idea if he killed the man here, or perhaps if the deceased was the one tailing me and a third person took him out for some reason.... Anything's possible really. From the look I got at him, he had lighter coloured hair, either blonde or brown, and was pale-skinned. Not a light tan, pale," I explained firmly.

"Okay, well that's something I suppose. If this poor dude wasn't the one tailing you, then we have a slight description to go on for the tail. It would help if we were sure. But honestly Alice, why would someone take out the person that was tailing you if he or she doesn't work for us?" Emmett asked.

"I don't know. I could have an anonymous best friend out there," I quipped sarcastically. "Or maybe it was the other way around, the tail killed this man. We can't be sure."

"We'll have to work it from both angles then. But we're still missing a motive here, both for the killing and the tailing," Edward pointed out. "Carlisle, have you got anything yet?"

"Yes," the doctor answered solemnly. "One silver, crescent-shaped scar just to the left of the jugular vein; no blood in the body. We've got another one on our hands. Estimated time of death was not quite two hours past. So while you were there, Alice. Unfortunately this seems to point towards our vampires theory, because any other elaborate removal method of the blood would take too long. So they must exist."

"Great. I'll sure feel safe at night knowing that," Emmett scoffed. "Alice, do we have any garlic? Crosses? Holy Water? Wooden stake, perhaps?"

"Yeah, because I always try to include those on my weekly shopping lists," I shot back.

"Somehow I doubt those 'traditional' methods will work," Edward chimed in. "It can't be that...well not easy, but well-known, rather."

"There's something else you three might find interesting. The scars I mentioned, see the one here," Carlisle said, running his gloved hand along the corpse man's throat to where a large, silvery scar was seemingly carved into the skin. We examined it with mixed reactions. Emmett turned up his lip at it, Edward looked mildy shocked at the sheer size of the thing, and I...well I suppose this wasn't entirely right of me, but it kind of looked...neat? I mean it's not a good thing obviously, but the shape is distinctive and unique.

"If you would please put on one surgical glove, I'd like you to feel the scar please, and tell me what you notice about it," Carlisle instructed us, nodding towards the box of latex gloves on the counter in the corner. We each grabbed one and put it on our hand, and then took turns feeling the scar.

"Wow, it's really cold!" Emmett noticed when he went first.

"Cold?" Edward echoed, moving closer so that he could see if that was true or not. He touched it, and immediately removed his hand. "Very cold."

I went last. I felt kind of weird about touching a dead body, so I guess it's a good thing I never fancied being a doctor. I ran my index finger over the raised ridge, and all along the scar, the skin was freezing, like touching an icesickle with no gloves on. I removed my finger as soon as Edward had done, not wanting to get frostbite on my trigger finger.

"So what does all that mean, exactly?" Edward inquired.

"I'm not completely sure mind you, but it could mean that these vampires are cold in some way. Maybe they have a lower body temperature. It would make sense. With them being dead, their blood wouldn't be circulating, so I could see them as being cold. It's plausible," Carlisle answered.

"I guess so," Emmett murmured. "But so what would defeat these cold things? Fire?"

"Possibly," Edward said. "Kind of like melting ice."

"Except the hunk of ice happens to have once been human," I reminded them.

"Yeah, but you can still melt flesh if the flame is hot enough," Emmett chimed in enthusiastically.

"You've been watching too many horror films, Emmett," I said truthfully. I should know; I live with him.

"You can though," he insisted.

"I know, I was just making a point," I clarified.

"So maybe we should let Tech know about the cold, and see if they can do anything with the info," Edward hinted, interrupting us.

"Oh okay. I'll go," I sighed. "Later boys."

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews last chapter! This story is in Alice's POV. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them unless they're fishing for big spoilers. I'm sure you can understand that one at the very least. Oh and the quotes that go under the chapter title are just little jokes that may or may not have to do with the chapter, but usually they do. And yes, I make up the jokes.

Basically all I now ask is REVIEW, review, review! Frankly it pisses me off when you don't. And if you want updates, then you ought to have some consideration for the author. So even just a one-liner will suffice. Thanks for listenin'.