Spellbound

We are about to meet the chief of police and I hope that you all like her. I love to put women in position of power in my stories. Thank you all for reading, reviewing, and making this story one of your favorites. Happy reading.

The main characters belong to Charlaine Harris. The story idea is mine.

"Forgive him, Mr. Northman," Chief Cara Ambroselli said as she walked into the room. Her slow, southern drawl filled the now quiet office. Keeping her attention on Alcee, she said, "Obviously, Detective Beck is under the assumption that he's in charge of this case. Needless to say, he is sorely mistaken. I am in charge of this case and this police station. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Cara Ambroselli."

Sookie and Eric expected to see a crotchety old man and not a vibrant, young woman. She had to be in her early thirties, quite attractive, and obviously extremely intelligent to be the chief of police at such a young age.

"We're very pleased to meet you," Eric replied. Sookie nodded in agreement.

As Cara stood by the table, she looked at Eric and Sookie and smiled but only briefly. She quickly returned her attentions back to Alcee. "So, tell me, what's going on in here?"

Alcee looked as if he'd just been run over by a Mac truck. He and Andy were standing and staring at Cara as if the POTUS had just walked through the door. Eric and Sookie looked amused.

"You seemed to have so much to say before I entered to room, Alcee. Please continue. Enlighten me of the many choices of Mr. and Mrs. Northman. I'm more than excited to hear what they are."

"Chief," Alcee began. "I didn't mean to … I was just … I was only …."

"Making a fool of us and of this police station?" she finished. "We aren't all as ignorant as Detective Beck appears to be. I don't tolerate ignorance from my staff and I won't stand for it now. Apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Northman before we begin. Ask them to forgive you for your rudeness and stupidity."

Alcee couldn't believe his ears. He was no longer at a loss for words. Not only had the chief embarrassed him in front of visitors but she was forcing him to apologize to a vampire. "What in the hell is going on here? I'm the detective! I'm the one that has been working this case with no sleep. This case belongs to us … not a fucking vampire! He's a vampire!" He stared at Eric and yelled, "He's a fucking vampire! Those deaders are the ones being accused of taking the missing girls and I have to apologize to him? Are you out of ….?"

"Finish that sentence and you'll be out of a fucking job," Ambroselli said. She stepped in close to Alcee. The two police officers were standing toe to toe, nose to nose. Very calmly, Ambroselli spoke. "This is not about you or your pride. We are here to find these girls and if they can help us, we will accept their help and we will accept it by showing them gratitude. You and Carmichael will just have to deal with my decision. He doesn't make the decisions. You don't make the decisions. I have been entrusted with protecting this city and I will decide what goes on here. This is my station. This is my case. Now, I'm going to give you a choice, Detective Beck. You either apologize to the Northmans or you clean your desk out tonight."

Alcee was seething. The foul taste of anger filled his mouth.

Ambroselli stepped in a little closer to him. "I'm sure that another detective will gladly take your place on this case. The notoriety will do wonders for someone else's career. So, as far as choices go, you have one."

Alcee opened his mouth to bitch some more but he could see that the chief wasn't making an idle threat. He snapped his mouth shut. Whatever he was about to say he swallowed it down like a bitter pill. He scowled at Eric; almost as if he was daring him to say anything to him. Eric decided to take him up on his dare.

"My wife and I are appreciative of your support, Chief Ambroselli. And Officer Beck …"

"Detective," Alcee corrected. "I am a detective."

"Yes," Eric said. "We are willing to accept your apologies and your cooperation."

"You're willing to accept our cooperation? Our cooperation?" he exclaimed as he pointed at his chest.

Alcee quickly looked away from Eric. He knew that if he hadn't, he would have said something that would have cost him his job. He decided to give Ambroselli an apologetic look and his version of an apology. "I'm under a lot of pressure with this case. You know how I get when things don't go as planned. This case is important to me. It's aggravating not getting anywhere and the possibility that vampires might be involved only makes matters worse; especially since we need their help. I'm sorry, chief. You have to see where I'm coming from."

Sookie noticed that he didn't mention his earlier gripe; Copley Carmichael. She stared at Alcee Beck. She went into his mind but saw nothing but the faces of the missing girls. She didn't get what she was looking for but she knows that something more is there. In time, he'll be seen for what he truly is.

"That's the precise reason you need to welcome whatever help we can get," Ambroselli replied. "And your explanation doesn't negate the fact that you owe them an apology. Apologize to them and do it now."

Through clenched teeth, Alcee apologized. "Forgive me, Mr. and Mrs. Northman. You have my sincerest apologies."

He didn't mean a word of it. It killed him to have to bow down to a vampire. He only did it because his job was on the line and he had absolutely no choice. He couldn't believe that he had to apologize to a fucking vampire, a bloodsucker.

He's not even alive and I have to work with him, apologize to him. He's not even fucking human. He's a fucking killer. They're no more than monsters.

Sookie had had enough and she wasn't going to let Alcee's disrespect of her husband go on any longer. She could speak her voice and mind without giving them a hint of what she can do. He'd given them more than enough of his distaste for vampires. Now Sookie was going to let him know of her distaste for him.

"Detective Beck," Sookie said.

"Yes," he said in his most sarcastic tone as he looked at her.

"I don't know of the problems that you have with vampires and I honestly don't care but I will not sit here and tolerate your flagrant disrespect of my husband any longer. You will respect him. Speak ill of him again, Detective Beck, and you will regret it."

Alcee smiled. With his hands resting on the table, he leaned in and looked at Sookie; never taking his eyes off of her. "Did you just threaten me?"

She leaned in to him and smiled. "I've never threatened anything or anyone in my life. Know your place, human and respect your betters," she spat at him.

Andy smiled. Chief Ambroselli was beyond surprised. She never expected a human to be so protective of a vampire. She never expected to see a vampire let a human defend him. She leaned her back against the wall and watched Sookie and Eric. She noticed how Sookie placed her hand on Eric's and stroked it. It was as if she owned him. She noticed how the vampire watched his wife. She noticed how he seemed to be under his wife's spell. She noticed that they were the same but not the same; their hair color, their eyes, their mannerism. They matched perfectly but were different beings. She was beyond fascinated by them and she couldn't hide it.

Sookie looked at her and smiled.

She knows. I don't know how but she knows what I'm thinking.

Ambroselli stared intently at Sookie. Her heartbeat quickened and her pulse raced. She's not vampire and she's not human.

What are you?

Again, Sookie smiled.

Her eyes widened.

Sookie stared into the woman's eyes. It wasn't going to be hard to do; take away what she'd seen.

"Chief?" Alcee said.

Ambroselli blinked several times and shook her head. She didn't know where she was or what she was doing. She looked around the room at the occupants. She blinked herself out of her reverie. "What? What are we talking about?"

"She threatened me."

Ambroselli looked at Sookie and asked, "Did you threaten him, Mrs. Northman?"

Andy and Beck looked shocked. It was as if the chief had just entered the room. She didn't seem to know where she is.

"I've never threatened anything or anyone in my life." Sookie looked just as innocent as she did when Ambroselli first met her.

Ambroselli shrugged her shoulders. "She said that she didn't. Look we can't let this get out of hand. Almost everyone here has said something that they may or may not regret. What we need are calm heads. We are here to work together and we will work together."

"But …," Beck began.

"But nothing," she said. "We need to find these girls and hopefully, we'll find them alive. We've been working on this case for the past six months and we've gotten nowhere. There are no buts, Alcee. Suck it up and get over yourself."

Just as Ambroselli finished her sentence, there was a knock at the door. "Mr. Carmichael is done with his business call," the officer said to the chief when she opened the door. "He's ready to start the meeting."

"Send him in," Ambroselli said. Once the officer was gone, she turned to face the occupants of the room. "We will remain professional and we will keep our prejudices to ourselves. If you can't do that, leave this room now. The last thing we need is for the parent of a missing girl to think that there is discord amongst the investigation team. Either we do this amicably or we don't do it at all."

Everyone in the room knew that the speech was meant for Beck. He didn't want to be taken off of the case. He needed to solve this. It's too important to him. This case means absolutely everything.

"I can do this," he confirmed. "I apologize, Mr. and Mrs. Northman. I can remain professional and I can keep my prejudices to myself. I know how important this is and I will work diligently to see that we get this done." This time his apology was true.

Sookie stared into his eyes. Again, she tried to getting into his head but she could only see the faces of the missing girls. Softly, Sookie said to Eric, "There's something more to this. I think he knows what it is. I can't see it but something is there."

Eric squeezed her hand as to acknowledge her statement.

Ambroselli took the seat at the far end while the detectives set up the covered whiteboard. They pulled files from cardboard boxes. There were four boxes for the four missing girls. The boxes contained information on their activities, their friends, and any other thing they'd ever done.

Eric fixed his sights on the door just before Copley Carmichael and his bodyguard entered the room. When they entered the room, Copley handed his coat, gloves and scarf to his bodyguard as he looked around the room.

"Mr. Carmichael," Ambroselli said as she stood up from her chair. "I'd like to introduce you to Detectives Alcee Beck and Andy Bellefleur. They are the lead detectives working the case."

He nodded at the detectives but kept his eyes on Eric and Sookie. He took the chair across from Sookie's and sat down; his bodyguard standing behind him.

"And this is Mr. Eric Northman and his wife, Mrs. Sookie Northman. They are the representatives from the vampire community that were sent to assist us with the case." Ambroselli spoke with finality. She was letting him know that the vampire was going to help them whether he wanted him to or not. She wasn't going to give him a choice at all. As far as she was concerned, he didn't have one.

Carmichael leaned across the table and looked at Sookie. "You don't look like a vampire."

"She isn't," Eric answered.

Carmichael tilted his head to the side and stared at her a little longer. "Do you work for them willingly or have they used their mind tricks to get you to do what they want you to do?" His eyes scanned the room. "We all know how they operate." He looked at Eric and added, "No offense to you, Mr. Northman."

Eric only stared.

"So," Carmichael started. "Are you here against your will?"

Sookie looked at Eric. He gave her a slight nod. Needless to say, the nod didn't go unnoticed.

"You need his permission to speak?" Carmichael laughed. "I find that to be quite amusing, quite antiquated if you want to know the truth. Are we not in the twentieth century, Tyrese?"

Tyrese laughed at his employer's attempt at a joke.

"What I am is none of your concern, Mr. Carmichael. How I and my husband do things is also none of your concern. We are here in the hopes of solving the cases of the missing girls. We are here to assist in finding them alive. Not answer your questions about our relationship."

Copley leaned back in his seat and laughed. "I find you to be quite charming, Mrs. Northman."

Needless to say, the sentiments weren't shared. Sookie said nothing else to him.

Eric glared at his new enemy. "Now, if you're done with focusing your unwanted attention on my wife, we can carry on with this meeting. And in case you're wondering, Mr. Carmichael, you will direct any and all of your questions and concerns to me. She has nothing to offer you."

Tyrese moved in behind Copley. He placed his hand inside of his jacket. Sookie's back straightened and her eyes gleamed. She was more than ready for whatever Tyrese had planned. He would have died with his hand inside his jacket.

Noticing the change in Sookie, Copley glanced at Tyrese over his shoulder. "No need for that. The vampire is right. There is no need for me to address his wife. She may be here as a representative for the vampires but she is still his wife. I've learned that vampires are quite possessive. And from what I can see, Mr. Northman, you have every reason to be. She is quite stunning."

Copley expected to get a rise out of Eric but he didn't get one.

"Shall we begin?" Eric asked Ambroselli.

"Beck," she said.

"Okay," he said. "What we have so far …"

"There are some things that I want to say," Copley interrupted. "I have no plans to stay for the briefing. I only want to let you people know what I expect of you. I'm here …"

"We were told that you would be sitting in on the briefing," Bellefleur interjected. "What's changed your mind?"

Copley gave him the most evil look. "Did I pause and somehow give you the impression that I was done speaking, Andy?"

"Sorry." Andy cowered in the corner and didn't say another word.

"It's no secret that I'm not a fan of the fang. My daughter is gone and from my understanding, the detectives here agree with me when I say that vampires are behind her disappearance." He looked at Alcee.

Alcee nodded.

Copley continued. "They also believe that my daughter is dead. I, on the other hand, do not. I will not believe that until I see her body. As far as I'm concerned, she is alive and well. She is waiting for me to bring her home."

Sookie could see the pain in his heart, his eyes. It is strong and sincere. If only for a second, Copley would have given up everything that was important to him if it meant that he would get his beloved Amelia back. Sookie placed her hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. She knew how he felt. Eric squeezed her thigh. She smiled at him to show that she was okay.

"She's my only child and I will do everything in my power to bring her home. I want a full scale investigation. I want no stone left unturned. I will ride your asses until I get what I want. No one will rest until I get my Amelia back. Not you, Detective Bellefleur and not you Detective Beck. I will have your fucking jobs if my daughter isn't found."

Both detectives eyed him. They didn't flinch at his words. They didn't kowtow to his threats. What they are determined to do is find that girl; all of the girls. They would do all that they could and that's all Carmichael could expect.

"You, vampire," Carmichael said.

Eric regarded him coolly as he rested his elbows on the table and leaned in to look fully into Copley's eyes.

"A vampire has my daughter," Copley began. "I know it. She hung out at your clubs. She kept company with the dead. She dated you monsters and now she's missing."

"You will call him Mr. Northman," Sookie interrupted. "He is no monster. He is my husband and he is here to help find your daughter and because he is giving you his time, you will respect him. So choose your words carefully when addressing him, Mr. Carmichael."

Copley's expression was one of shock. He was used to people listening to what he has to say in spite of what it was that he had to say. They didn't question him and they definitely didn't correct him but he wasn't dealing with men and women that fear him. He was dealing with vampires and they are deadly. He breathed in deeply; clearly struggling to keep his emotions under control.

"That's fair, Mrs. Northman. That's more than fair. I have freely accepted the help of your husband and his people but mark my words. If I find that vampires are involved with Amelia's disappearance, I will do everything in my power to destroy you all. I want my daughter home."

Eric nodded as he studied the man before him. "It's a good thing that you are a part of this investigation, Mr. Carmichael."

Carmichael frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I think that it's a blessing to the other girls that your daughter went missing," Eric said.

The room fell silent. The grumblings from outside the room could be heard it was so quiet.

"What did you say?" Copley growled in a whispered voice.

"It's a blessing to the other girls that your daughter is missing."

Copley stormed around the table. Before anyone knew what was happening, his hand was in a fist and he was aiming for Eric's face. He never made contact. Eric caught his hand in mid swing. Tyrese's hand was in his jacket. Before he could grab whatever he was reaching for, Sookie had it. The gun was in pieces and on the table. The wooden bullets were no more than dust. Within seconds, she was back in her chair looking as innocent as ever.

"What the fuck?" Beck exclaimed as he stumbled back against the wall.

Andy was hiding behind the whiteboard. He was so afraid, that he and the whiteboard were the same color. Ambroselli's eyes were once again widened. Tyrese was standing near the door; shaking in his boots. Copley's fist was wrapped in Eric's hand; the stink of his fear filled the room. This time, Sookie didn't erase what any of them had seen from their minds. She wanted them to remember.

"I can break every bone in your hand, Copley, but I won't."

Copley swallowed and forced his heart back into his chest.

"Have a seat," Eric said as he released Copley's hand.

Carmichael walked backwards to his chair and flopped down. He said nothing. His eyes were on Sookie but for only a second. She terrified him. He never saw her move and it scared him. His gaze fell back on Eric.

"Let me explain the meaning behind my statement, Mr. Carmichael. It's quite obvious that you didn't understand. It's a blessing because your efforts will probably save the lives of the other missing girls. We wish no harm to come to your daughter or the others. If it weren't for you and your persistence, those other girls wouldn't stand a chance. You will be the reason they are found … if we find them."

"And we will find them," Sookie promised.

With trembling hands, Carmichael touched his face. He swallowed and he stared at the table. Once he'd composed himself, he stood up from his chair. Tyrese tiptoed to him and handed his boss his coat, scarf, and gloves.

"I want my daughter found," Copley said in a softer and more respectful tone. "If I don't get her back, all of you will be sorry. All of you," he said as he stared at each person in the room. On shaky legs, he turned and walked out of the room; slamming the door behind him.

Sookie and Eric watched the man as he vanished. The chief and detectives watched them. All of them were wondering what Sookie is but were too afraid to ask so they did what came natural to them. They went back to work.

Ambroselli stood up and walked towards the door. "I have to call the commissioner and the mayor. I can't wait to tell them about the briefing," she said as she ran her hands through her hair.

With her hand on the doorknob, she glanced over her shoulder at Eric and Sookie. "I won't tell them everything that happened here tonight. None of us will." She chuckled. "Hell, I don't know what happened here tonight and frankly, I don't care. Regardless of what anyone else thinks or believes, we need your help and I'm grateful for it. I don't think we could solve it without either of you." She sighed. To the detectives, she said, "You guys get them caught up with what's going on. Give them whatever they ask for. Give them everything that we have. We have to solve this. We have to bring those girls home."

"We'll do whatever we can to help, Chief Ambroselli," Eric said. "We will do all that we can."

For the first time tonight, she almost allowed a little bit of hope to creep in on her. "I hope so, Mr. Northman. I truly hope so."