Dana leaned lazily up against the doorjamb of my open door and eyed me as I lay back in my office chair, my booted feet up on the desk, laptop in my lap, and a small bag of popcorn in my hand.
Brows that were darker blond than her short bleach blond hair (I was sooo jealous of that cute pink streak she'd run through it) rose over bored, deep blue eyes, "You look busy, as usual."
I appreciated the sarcasm. "I'm conducting some serious research," I told her seriously.
She grunted sarcastically and sauntered around my desk to peer over my shoulder at the screen. Right at the good part too, Bugs Bunny had just declared it was rabbit season and Daffy turned the gun on himself.
That was when Dana hit the power button.
I pouted up at her over my shoulder, "You're despicable."
"Boss man wants you," she told me as she straightened.
Uh-oh, I thought. I glanced down at my watch and let out a gasp, "Golly, is it that time already? Well," I hopped to my feet and grabbed my gym bag, "I've got to head out. Tell Boss that I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it, but you know what a busy girl I am. I'll stop by his office some other time."
I caught the smirk on Dana's face and froze. Shoot. Busted. "He's right behind me, isn't he?"
"Uh-huh," came the man-in-question's voice from behind me.
Damn, caught before I could skip town. I pasted a bright smile on my face and spun, "Hey there, Chief. My! Don't you look handsome today."
He eyed the half-eaten bag of popcorn in my hand, then folded his arms over his chest, "I want an update, RJ."
Nah, shit. "Well...you see, Chief. By the way, did you do something to your hair recently? 'Cause it looks fantastic today."
Dana snatched the popcorn out of my hand and plopped herself down in my chair and assumed the position I had been in just moments ago. She let out a laugh that had her nose stud flashing in the lights as she took a handful and stuffed her face, "Oh boy, this is gonna be good."
I was busy planning some nasty things I was going to do to Dana's coffee later as I faced the Chief with a less than cheerful grin.
"Update. Now."
Gritting my teeth, I braced for the explosion, "I don't have one."
I wasn't sure which was worse; the dead silence or the explosion of unrelenting fury that I had expected.
"And why is that exactly?" I don't think I've ever heard the Chief's voice so restrained before. Like the calm before the storm, it foreshadows danger.
I cleared my throat loudly, "W-well...you see, Chief. The reason I've got nothing is because...well... it's because I haven't found any really good leads yet. But I'm working on it."
I watched my Boss's eyes flick over to my desk and watched the tiny gears start to work in his brain. Laptop plus popcorn, plus desk and chair equals no work being done. And no work being done equals a very unhappy boss.
I hurried to explain, "I'm waiting around here to kill time before I head out to follow up on some other leads."
Fisting his big hands on his hips he remained silence and waited expectantly.
"First I'm going to go and see one of my rats...er, I mean, informants. Then I'm going to Blood City to question some of the Master's older and powerful vampires that could've done this."
"Have you talked to the Master himself?" the Chief butted in.
I barely restrained the sarcastic remark that was about to spurt from my lips. "Yes. He wasn't even aware of the murders around the country and he's just as determined to find the culprit as the authorities are, Chief."
Dana spoke from behind them, her mouth full of popcorn, "Couldn't the Master have committed the act himself and is just playing dumb."
I tried to imagine Wolfric tearing open the victims in the same manner I'd seen in the crime scene photos. For some reason, I just couldn't picture it. "I know Wolfric. He does not fit the profile for the vampire I'm after. He's not old enough and unlike my killer he's sane, not a complete psycho."
The Chief was silent as he pondered what I had told him. Finally he glared at me, "If you have some probable leads then get to them now. I don't want to see you lazing around in your office again until I have the ashes of the bastard on my desk. Is that clear, RJ?"
My boots clomped together at the heels as I saluted my boss, "Sir, yes, sir! I will fulfill the mission and job that I am getting paid the very minimal and pitiful amount of money to perform, Sir!"
Dana snorted on a laugh behind me, but the boss, who was too used to my smart ass remarks just ignored it and left my office. I was glad to see him go.
Relaxing, I turned to Dana, who was still scarfing down my popcorn, "Please tell me there is still some of that left."
She tilted the back so I could look inside it and smiled brilliantly at my expression as I spied the empty contents, "Oopsie daisy."
I snatched the empty bag and threw it into the trash bin. Pointing at the door, I stomped my foot in irritation, "Out. Now."
Dana smirked, but did as I asked.
I watched her go with a frown, but when she was finally out of my sight my frown broke into a full blown grin. Damned if I didn't like Dana. My personalty and hers are too similar; if I hated her, then I'd have to hate a small part of myself as well.
Blowing a stray strand of hair out of my eyes, I checked my watch. Ten thirty, I'd better get moving if I was going to catch Nicky Marx at his usual hangout on a Friday night.
I packed up my stuff and slung my bag over my shoulder just as Hank ducked inside the office doorway, an open bag of Doritos in his hands. "Shit. Did I miss cartoon time already?"
I'd texted Hank earlier to see if he wanted in on some Looney Toons. He was out on an assignment, he'd said, but if he had the time he'd swing by.
"I'm afraid so, big guy. The Chief came in to bust up the party," I replied as I turned around to face him.
Despite him munching on chips, Hank was still a hunk and the way he was eying my empty desk was downright sexy.
"You gotta be anywhere quick?" he asked me as he backed me slowly but surely towards my desk with sexy but serious purpose.
I laughed and patted him on the chest, "Whoa there, big fella. Yeah, I do in fact have somewhere to be. Chief's kicking me out until I can solve the case."
"Bummer," he said as he stuffed another handful of chips into his mouth.
"Sure is. But, hey, I'll be done with case in no time. See you then?"
He grinned wickedly, "You know I've always got time for my best girl, RJ."
I grinned right back, "Okay, Tex. It's a date then." I walked around him and headed out the door, "See ya' later, cowboy."
As I headed out the door, I was more than a little worried that I wasn't as attracted to Hank as I usually was. Somehow, his invitation of hot and sweaty office sex wasn't very appealing.
That was a scary situation, since the reason I believe I'm not reacting to one attractive man is because of a certain other sexy vampire with a Scottish bur.
If I'm losing interest in Hank, my on and off boy toy for the last couple of years because of Wolfric, then I'm in serious trouble.