After the intercourse I dressed as swiftly as vampiricly possible. I was not in the mood for a second go-round with Ginger. Sex with the fang-banger had provided an outlet for the after effects of staking Long Shadow, but still left me curiously unsatisfied. Undoubtedly my discontent stemmed from wishing it had been a different woman beneath me.
"Return to the bar, Ginger." The human moved quickly to obey my command and departed with some manner of irritating farewell which I did not return. I had more important matters to consider.
I had staked another vampire. There would be consequences. I would have to pay a penalty, likely many times the amount Long Shadow had pilfered from the bar. The financial loss and legal hassle would be tiresome. I briefly considered framing the Fellowship of the Sun for the murder, but quickly dismissed it as an option. Bill, who I had so cunning maneuvered in being my witness, was now a potential witness against me. I'm sure he would be only too happy to contradict me should I try to lay the blame for Long Shadow's death elsewhere. Compton was yet again interfering with my plans. How tempting it was to turn my single murder into a spree.
Still, ending another vampire's existence was a serious matter. Reducing our numbers at this juncture in history was unwise. I won't arbitrarily disadvantage my species, even if I didn't think Bill Compton would be much of a loss.
Looking to the positive, I had a few things to be pleased about. I had caught my thief. I had dealt with the offender and I would get back my money. My disposing of Long Shadow would remind any vampires in my area looking to take my position, that I had not gone soft since the Great Revelation, that my owning a mainstreaming establishment did not mean I had abandoned all the old ways. I had begun what promised to be a fruitful arrangement with a human telepath. These were all reasons to be satisfied with this evening's course of events.
A small matter of worry was that I had not considered any of the above when I staked Long Shadow. Before the investigation had proven Long Shadow's guilt, I had decided not to kill him. I had considered the pros and the cons and came to the conclusion that the act would cause more trouble than it was worth. Yet, when the moment came, I went against my previous judgment and staked Long Shadow anyway. Why? It was impulsive, and though I am many things, impulsive is not one of them. Was my anger at Long Shadow deeper than I had previously realized? Or was it something else? Had my intervention been motivated by a desire to save Sookie Stackhouse? I had the uncomfortable feeling that it did.
Surely, I had not been infected by the sickness that had overtaken Bill Compton. No, it was madness to even consider such a thing. If I had acted to protect the human, it was not because I was suffering from any deluded romantic attachment to her. The only rational explanation was that my instincts sought to preserve a rare and useful business asset, as well as a desirable future bedmate. Nothing more.
"How was Ginger?" Pam had re-entered my office, slightly pinker than when she'd left it.
"Tolerable," I had no desire to confess my discontent. Pam, with her usual acuteness, would guess the reason behind my dissatisfaction and taunt me endlessly for it. " How was Belinda?"
"Quite satisfying. She really does have a lovely mouth." Pam looked fondly reminiscent. I envied her physical fulfillment.
"Really? Perhaps I'll try her sometime." It was an offhand comment, but for some reason it caused Pam mild amusement.
"You forget Eric, humans are as limited in their sexual preferences as they are in everything else. You're not exactly Belinda's type. I know what a rare experience that is for you." Pam was right on all counts. While varied sexual preferences were becoming more and more accepted among the human set, they generally kept to specific groupings. Belinda must belong to the group that desired only women. Humans and their rigid categories. I myself heavily favored females, probably a result of my experience with my maker, but I had been known to dabble on occasion. I had a feeling that Pam's last sentence was referring to more than just my lack of appeal to Belinda. Would Pam dare to suggest that I didn't appeal to another human of our recent acquaintance? Looking at her face, the answer was obvious. Of course she would.
"Pam, go glamour, Bruce, Belinda, and Ginger. I don't need any of them telling tales about the theft or Long Shadow's disappearance to the police." The task needed doing and I wanted Pam out of my office before her teasing became any worse.
"Already done. I'm surprised you didn't do Ginger yourself when you were done with her." Pam was efficient, no doubt about that. Her ability to anticipate my needs was why she was such a valuable second-in-command. It was also why I put up her prodding at things that ought to be left alone.
"I had other things on my mind." Like Sookie Stackhouse for instance.
"I'm sure you did." I wondered if Pam was as much as a mind-reader as the telepath. I sent her a warning look and she immediately retreated to a safer tone. "Do you want me to make the call to Hot Rain?" I debated that for a minute and then decided against it. I would not hide behind my child. I would brave whatever fury Hot Rain directed at me calmly but unapologetically.
"No, I'll do it myself." I was not looking forward to the conversation, but it would have to take place soon. I decided to allow myself a small diversion before I performed my unpleasant task. The talk of calling suddenly inspired an idea as to how to proceed with Sookie Stackhouse. "Pam, I would like you to call service and place an order for tomorrow night." Pam knew at once I was referring to the blood whores of Shreveport, or as they prefer to call themselves "The Minas". I found the reference to Dracula's legend somewhat amusing. I wondered how many of the escorts understood the literary significance.
"Male or female?" One of the rare things Bill Compton and I had in common was an appreciation of the warm female form. I found it somewhat ironic that the source of conflict in our dealings was not caused by our many differences but by one of our few similarities.
"Female."
"To be delivered where?"
"Bill Compton's house." Pam's eyebrows shot up in surprise. This provoked my first grin of the evening. It is not every day that I can shock Pam.
"Bill Compton?" My child's voice, usually so assured, was colored with confusion.
"He produced the telepath as requested, which lead to the discovery of the thief. Naturally, I wish to reward him." Pam looked at me with great skepticism. "That will be all, Pam." Pam nodded to me and left my office with the incredulous look still upon her face. I had no doubt she would decipher my intentions within minutes of her departure.
My gift to Compton would be a diagnostic tool, testing Bill's commitment to his human. He'll have to choose between offending me and offending Sookie. If the appearance of the blood whore caused tension and suspicion between Sookie and Bill, that would be an added bonus.