29
It's Going to be a Long Night
Hello, everyone! I apologize for the delay. I have been working nonstop and it has been difficult for me to be able get my chapters edited and posted. I'd also like to say that this chapter was supposed to be a lot longer but it was too long. It was 13,000 words so I broke down into two parts. The title of the chapter is fitting because this part of the story is going to be like four chapters, maybe five, for this one night. We're going to find out a bit more about what happened that night at Pam's. I hope that y'all bear with me and trust that I have not abandoned the story. I repeat. I have not abandoned the story. RL is a bit hectic right now.
As always, thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting to this story. I hope that y'all enjoy.
S/N: I will be posting another chapter in a couple of days to make up for the delay.
With my hand entangled in a mass of blonde hair, I glanced at Sookie's swollen, pink lips. I watched the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath. I stared into her eyes as I realized that I've never been more enthralled with a woman … ever. Her bravery and her strength is astounding. Her need to defend those that she considers her friends is mind boggling. Earlier this evening, this small woman was locked in a room with three very deadly vampires and she showed no fear. She gave it. The fear that she sent through the king was fucking mesmerizing. It was fucking outstanding.
Bill was practically speechless when she told him her family name … Brigant. She's a blood member of the most feared fae clan in the supe world. Any faery that's willing to kill off their enemies … fae enemies included ... will kill anyone that gets in their way. The numbers of the fae have diminished greatly over the years but to the Brigants, it doesn't matter. If you're an enemy, you fall at the ends of their swords. Niall is the patriarch of the Brigant family. He and his wife, Einin, are the deadliest members of their bloodline. They have lived in this realm for hundreds of years and they've left their deadly mark on it for just as long. When fae blood is spilled by anyone other than themselves, they don't take too kindly to that slight; especially Niall. He's been known to kill vampires as they sleep. Many have found themselves chained to trees so that they can meet the sun for the first time in many years. Niall and Einin will watch the vampire burn. They have been known to dance around the remains of the vampire. For them, it's a joyous occasion. Many vampires have died at the ends of Einin's and Niall's swords. Einin isn't as willing to kill vampires for sport. She's fair. She's been known to kill them out of vengeance. But Niall, his goal has always been to rid the world of our kind. He believes that the vampire race is an abomination. When a vampire crosses him, he demands repayment and he doesn't want money. He wants his repayment in blood and sacrifice. Bill knows this. He's seen it happen.
And because he's seen Niall in action, he put the stake back in the drawer. He slowly returned to his seat. He bowed his head for a moment before returning his attention to Sookie. He rested his arms on his desk and said, "You're a Brigant."
"I am." Once she'd seen Bill put the stake back in the drawer, she was no longer standing in front of me. She, too, had returned to her seat. I don't think the king or Salome noticed but she'd moved her seat further away from his desk. It was angled so that she could see them if they so much as moved in her direction. She had them in her sights. Though she had no weapons, she was ready to fight if she had to. Salome's earlier description of Sookie was almost correct. Sookie is small. She should've been trembling with fear. She was alone in a room with three vampires. Two of whom would have tried to claim her under different circumstances. But instead of being afraid, she was defiant. Just as defiant as she was when we'd first met.
Salome moved to stand behind Bill. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "How long have you known of your bloodline?"
"All my life," she answered proudly. Her voice was clear and concise. "My grandfather has always been a part of my life. He's the reason I'm secure in who and what I am. My grandfather and my grandmother have always been my biggest supporters." I noticed that she didn't mention that Fintan is her grandfather but who am I to say anything? She's very observant. She may have realized that the fear of Niall Brigant was going keep Bill from trying to claim her. Her back was straightened as she sat tall in her seat. To the gods, she intrigues me.
I've been in this world for over a thousand years and nothing intrigues me anymore. I've lived during different eras and the only thing that changes is the scenery. The people, they are always the same. They always want to believe that they are different than everyone else but they aren't. They were and always will be the same. During those times, the times of old, only one person intrigued me and that was Pam. It hadn't happened since that cold December night. That is until a girl walked into my bar and into my life. I watched her now and it's almost as if she's oblivious to the danger she's in. She was sitting in her chair with her legs crossed staring the king and his lieutenant down. Almost daring them to defy her. The cheaply made dress that she's wearing is beneath her but she wears it with style and elegance. She made the cheap fabric look priceless. It fits her perfectly as it caresses the swell of her breasts. The hem fell elegantly around her tanned legs. She may not have the Brigant money but her confidence and bravery is in the blood. Her face had remained neutral throughout the night ... that is until just now. She glanced at me as a grin lifted the corner of her mouth. Her blue eyes and the bond were filled with humor and boredom. She was enjoying the change in the king's demeanor but she was also ready to leave. She was tired of listening to the voices of the king and Salome. She was done.
I smiled at her as she winked at me.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked the king. "You know what Quinn has done and what he tried to do to me. You have seen what he's done to my face. It's quite possible that he was a part of the plan to take Pam. You know everything there is to know about me. You know that I'm a telepath. You know that I'm a Brigant. You know that you can't have me and since you know this, tell me why we're still here. I feel that we've wasted enough time. Our time is precious. Eric and I could be questioning Dawn and looking for Pam. I have no more secrets to tell you. I have nothing else for you. So, why are we still here?"
Bill looked at her as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "You are quite impatient, Ms. Stackhouse."
"I am," she agreed. "This meeting could've ended an hour ago. You've told us that you'd keep an eye out for the person that has hired Quinn. You know that he attacked 'an asset' to your kingdom. You and Salome obviously knew about me before we got here. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what we're supposed to be doing, why we're still here." She shrugged her shoulders. "I mean no disrespect to you, Your Majesty, but I don't do well with dramatics. Eric and I have answered your questions truthfully. We have no reason to lie to you. Either you trust us or you don't. We only need to be sure …"
The raising of Salome's hand cut Sookie's sentence short. She looked angry but her eyes were filled with amusement. I'm sure Bill could feel it since he and Salome share blood frequently. "You realize with whom you are speaking? He is a vampire king, Sookie. You will respect him when you are in his presence."
"I have shown him nothing but respect," Sookie commented. "He has allowed me to be myself with him, ma'am. He is the one that said that this is a relaxed setting. He is the one that said that I could be frank and honest. He's allowed me to call him by his first name for Pete's sake. Under different circumstances, I would never say the things that I have said to him. Eric is teaching me the way of the vampire. I would never purposely do anything to cause harm to him. I've been completely professional with you both … since we came into his office. Is that not true?"
Salome's lip twitched but the smile never appeared. "You have."
"Now," Sookie said. "Let's cut to the chase. Why are we still here?"
She's mine.
"I've noticed that you call him Eric." Bill looked from Sookie to me. "You allow this? You allow your pet to call you by your first name?"
Sookie's anger at being called a pet coursed through the bond but she remained still and quiet. Yet again, she has proved to the king that she is well aware of her place in our world. "She is mine and because this is a relaxed setting, she can call me Eric. Previously, she called me Master. She stood behind my chair and did not sit until she was given permission. As she said, she's learning the ways of our world. You changed the setting the of the meeting, Your Majesty. She's following your lead."
"That she is," Bill whispered. "It makes me wonder why she continues to address me formally when I've allowed otherwise."
Sookie didn't speak. Her silence was loud and clear.
Salome opened her mouth to speak. Bill stopped her with a simple shift of his body. "I want to hire out your services in the near future, Ms. Stackhouse. Once you've done your job for the sheriff, I want you here working for me."
She looked at me before answering the king. My face was neutral but the bond said no. "Eric my employer. I'm legally contracted to him. Any job that you have for me must go through him. I'm sure that he won't mind but I want you to be aware that I'm never to travel without him. He's always to be with me and it's not because of the job or the bond. It's because I want him with me. If he approves, I will offer you my telepathic services."
My fangs snapped into place as a growl built in my chest.
She body shivered from sheer anticipation and want.
Bill rested his elbows on his desk as he eyed her. He didn't try to hide the fact that he wants what is mine. He bowed his head and closed his eyes for a moment before acknowledging Sookie's request. "Eric," he began. "You will hire out her services to me once the investigation into Pam's disappearance has been solved. You will be with her while she is on the job but if anything arises in your area while she is here, you will be obligated to attend to it. She will be safe while under my care."
I knew then that something was going to need my attention while Sookie is working for him. He was going to do everything in his power to get Sookie to come to him on her own. He didn't want to face the wrath of Niall. He may think that because he's king, he has the upper hand. He does not. "I have to check her schedule and get back with you. I'm not sure of the pending jobs that she may already have. As you very well know, she's new to this world. I'd hate to start canceling appointments for her so soon. Our fellow supes may begin questioning her abilities and your ability as king. They will wonder why you'd allow an underling to accept appointments and not follow through. They'll question your leadership abilities. You might want to rethink your request, Your Majesty. You do understand?"
Frowning, Bill asked, "How many people know of her abilities?"
Looking perplexed by the question, I said, "I assumed that many know of her by now since you and Salome knew of her telepathy before she confirmed it. I believe that Victor knows of what she can do since he asked about her; which I believe that he learned by way of Long Shadow. He was under my employment the night Sookie was hired. She shared her talents with him … not knowing that he was a traitor. Am I wrong in my assumptions, Your Highness? Should I not be concerned with what has been said about Ms. Stackhouse in our world?" I shoved my hands into my pockets. "I'm not sure of who all knows of her but I'm sure that it's crossed your mind. You must realize that a telepath is a great asset for a king to have in his kingdom. You even said so. Imagine the many vampires, Weres, and shifters that are waiting to meet her … to hire out her services. I hope that you thought of the possibility that you're not the only one that knows of her, Your Majesty. We live in the world of the vampire. Loyalty is a rarity." My phone buzzed at just the right moment. After reading the message, I said, "Sookie is a very popular young lady. That's why it's imperative that I'm always with her. Always." I waved my phone at the king before putting in back in my pocket.
"See?" Sookie agreed. "I'm very popular."
Salome looked as if she was the cat that ate the canary. She has always been one that uses logical thinking. From the look on her face, I can almost guarantee that she'd advised Bill of the possibilities and he wouldn't listen. He never listens because he's the king and thinks that he knows everything. Obviously, he doesn't know enough to realize the value of a telepath. And the glance that he gave Salome, proved that I was right. Two underlings have given him the same scenario and he, the great king of Louisiana, hadn't thought of anything other than making Sookie his. "Don't worry about that, Sheriff," he ordered. "I am well aware of what's going on in my kingdom. Salome and I have already begun the process of letting the supe world know that Ms. Stackhouse is a part of my kingdom."
Salome looked at the king through hooded eyes and shook her head in disbelief. Something she'd already told him to do and he hadn't done it. She looked at me and Sookie and said, "I've not been made aware this process but I guess we have."
Bill looked at her over his shoulder and rolled his eyes at her.
"What about the bond?" Sookie interjected as she stood from her seat. "Are you going to tell them about the bond that Eric and I have? You will tell them that I am his." It was clear to everyone in the room that she wasn't asking him a question.
"Yes," he answered slowly. "They will be made aware of everything. Salome." He looked at her over his shoulder and nodded.
A look of pure rage was on her face. She realized at that moment that she was never going to have Sookie. "Yes, sir," she said. She winked and blew Sookie a kiss before gliding from the room.
Sookie rolled her eyes and shook her head at the vampiress. Nodding to the king caused her blonde ponytail to land on her shoulder. "Good," she said as she looked up at me. "That's good."
"And now that we're clear on the status of Ms. Stackhouse in my kingdom," Bill began. "You will not accept any appointments from any other supes regardless of where they reside or their species. I take precedence over everyone else. I am her next client. You will do this, Sheriff."
"I will," I agreed. "If we are done here, Sookie and I will take our leave." I placed my hand on the small of her back as I spoke with Bill. "We would like to thank you for allowing us this opportunity to meet with you, Your Majesty. I would also like to make you aware of the evidence that we've provided as further proof of what Quinn did to Sookie. His blood is saturated in her clothing."
Bill nodded. "I have been given the evidence and you have my word that Ms. Stackhouse will be safe. And whomever hired the were-tiger, they will be made to pay for their crime."
Sookie curtsied. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Before we could turn to leave, Bill said, "And, Ms. Stackhouse?"
"Yes?" she answered.
Bill stood from his desk and walked slowly and deliberately to where we were. He stopped in front of Sookie. "I meant none of what I said. I would have never tried to take you away from your master."
Sookie began to shake her head no. Calmly and evenly, she said, "I don't believe you. You meant every word that you said. You had every intention of trying to take me away from him. My heritage is the only thing that stopped you. If I were anyone else, you would have succeeded but fear kept you in your place."
"My place." His voice deepened by two octaves.
She cocked her head to the side and said, "Yes. Your place."
He made a move to step closer to her but I stopped him. "Be careful, Your Majesty. You know the laws. You don't touch what is mine regardless of your status."
Bill looked up at me as he pulled at his suit jacket. His body stiffened as his eyes darkened. "I don't fear your grandfather, Ms. Stackhouse. You will do well to know this but I can see why you say that. I know that my earlier behavior was less than becoming of a king and would give one reason to doubt my sincerity. The Viking," he said as he eyed me briefly. "He has a valuable asset that any king or queen would want. I let my … eagerness of obtaining you for myself, get the better of me. And because of my behavior, I won't hold your skepticism of me against you." He paused for effect. "I would have never gone back on my word. I would never take you away from your master. When you come to me, you will come to me of your own free will."
She stood closer to me and wrapped her arm around my waist. "Never."
He smiled at her as he continued. "I know that you don't believe me but I stand by my word. You intrigue me, Ms. Stackhouse. I wanted to see how far I could push you. I wanted to see if you'd fight for what you want and you did. I admire you." His smile turned into a sneer as he looked at me. He reached out to touch her but she wasn't having any of that.
She stepped away from him. "I'm Eric's."
Bill laughed heartily, coldly. "You are a very lucky vampire, Eric. Your riches are abundant."
"They are," I replied.
"And, Ms. Stackhouse?"
She rolled her eyes before answering him. "Yes."
"Do you agree to letting me hire out your services?" His hands were crossed in front of him as he waited for her answer.
"Sure," she replied. "Once Pam has been found and returned to Eric, I'm sure that he'll say that it's okay. He's fair. Eric and I will work it out so that you will come before any other jobs that may be pending. You are the king and you come before the little people. You're much more important than they are. Is that what you wanted us to say? If it is, we're on it. Eric and I will do the next job that you have lined up for me. Is that okay? Good." She boldly answered for him. "We'll call you."
Bill shook his head at her. "Jumping to conclusions is not a becoming trait, Ms. Stackhouse, but I do appreciate your offer. As soon as she's found, I expect you to come to me." He looked at me and said, "Both of you."
"We will," I answered.
"I have one more request of you, Ms. Stackhouse?"
"Hmm?" she answered.
He turned to walk away from her as he began to speak. "I will be calling you tomorrow to see if my name has been removed from your suspect list. I plan on proving to you that I shouldn't be on it."
Sookie filled the office with laughter. "Not a chance."
Bill glanced at her over his shoulder with a smile plastered to his face. To me, he said, "Keep me aware of the night's events, Sheriff. Call me as soon as the meeting is over. I want to know everything."
"I will."
"Good evening, Ms. Stackhouse."
"Until next time, Your Majesty," she replied. "Because there will be a next time."
"Indeed," he answered.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
She began to brush wisps of hair from my face as she stared into my eyes. "What do you want from me?" she whispered as she tucked her bottom lip between her teeth.
"I want to ravish your body and brand you with my scent," I admitted. "I want to make love to you and ruin you for any other being in this world. I want to make you mine for the rest of my existence. I want to wake up to you each night. Every morning before the sunrise, I want to go to rest with you by my side. I want you, Sookie Stackhouse. Every inch of you. I want you to give yourself to me. I want you to give me forever. That is what I want from you."
She closed her eyes and threw her head back as her body filled with lust. The sound of her heart pounding in her chest caused my 'friend' to throb ever so slightly. She looked down at me and smiled. "I can't give you forever. I like being alive."
"You like being alive," I repeated.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked.
As I bit into my finger, I answered, "I heal you."
She licked her lips as she looked at the bead of blood as it sat on the tip of my finger. Soon, those pink, swollen lips were wrapped around my finger. She closed her eyes as she began to grind herself against me. I wrapped my arms around her waist as I returned the favor. Her arms were soon wrapped around my neck. My hands were on her waist as I held her into place. Her moans were driving me to distraction. The shudder of body as she came was more than I could stand. I buried my face in her hair as we came together. She raised her head to look at me. "I can only imagine what it'll be like when you ravish me."
"I will bring you much pleasure, my lover."
She closed her eyes and moaned again. When she composed herself, she asked, "Now, what do we do?"
I would have loved a bit more of Sookie Stackhouse but we had business to take care of. I placed her onto the passenger seat as I revealed our plans for the evening. "The colonel called while we were with Bill."
She began to giggle. "Was he the 'supposed jobs' that keep lining up?"
"Most definitely," I answered. "He wanted to let us know that they're still having their pack meeting. It's going longer than anticipated. He said that they would be done in an hour. We can go to the warehouse and wait or we can go to your apartment and get some of your things and take them to my home." A look came over her face. "You don't have to sleep with me, Sookie, until you are ready. I have extra rooms upstairs. I would never …"
She rapidly shook her head no. "No," she hurriedly said. "It's not that. We can discuss that later. I have something better that we can do. I know exactly what we can do."
I leaned over and nuzzled her neck. "I'm more than willing to do whatever you want to do. Remove your dress. Your lace panties. Your frilly bra. Anything that you want me to remove for your body, I will remove. Slowly. Purposely." I continued to kiss and lick her neck.
She laughed as she playfully fought against me. As a vampire, I've never known for a human woman to feel comfortable with me. I have been with women and men that have been willing to do whatever I've asked of them but there have always been hints of fear from them. They were always guarded … always on edge … always waiting for me to become the monster that I am. But not Sookie. Just moments ago, she was sitting on my lap letting me taste her sweet mouth and now she's laughing with me. Not feeling an ounce of fear. Though it's for safety reasons, she's willing to move in with me. She feels safe with me … a vampire. Practically a stranger to her. She's not afraid even though she's fully aware of what I am and what I can do. She's shared her most valuable secrets with me without worrying that I could possibly betray her. Because she's a Brigant, she should fear everything there is to fear about the vampire race but she doesn't. It's almost as if she fears nothing. Even after what she's been through in her young life, she shows no fear … no signs of giving up … no signs of wanting to give up. Her mother and father have betrayed her in the worst ways; though on different levels. She stood up to the king. She defied him and Salome. She offered him her services but only after we find Pam. She called him out on his bullshit. She laughed at him in his face. She claimed me as hers. She is fucking amazing.
"I think I'm falling for you," I whispered. And it scares me.
Still smiling but staring into my eyes, she said, "I know. You can't help it." She leaned in and kissed me.
I returned the kiss before turning away from her. I'm falling for her and it's scared me. I don't like feeling like this. In over a thousand years, I've never felt like this.
She cocked her head to the side as she studied the side of my face. The light in her eyes dimmed a bit.
I turned to her and said, "Tell me what it is that we can do that requires you to keep your clothes on."
She stared long and hard at me before answering. "I want to know if you know where the Marine lives. The one that worked for Pam. His name was Reynaldo. He was the one that installed the panic room that had the extra surveillance equipment. Jake and I believe that he may have had the main surveillance system at his home. If he did, we would be able to see exactly what happened that morning. Do you remember meeting him?"
"I do." I remembered him. Pam was impressed by his credentials. She said that he was the most trustworthy of those under her employment. She'd even suggested that I use him. "I know exactly where he lives." I reached across her and opened the dashboard. I removed a lone key and slip of paper. For the first time since Pam gave it to me, I opened it. As I read it, my thoughts lingered before I folded it in half. "He used to work in some elite group of Marines that did covert work for the government. After he'd gotten hurt on one of the missions, he could no longer serve his country. He did a few civilian jobs but they never led to much so he decided to work for the vampires. Much like you, he said that he needed adventure. And exactly like you, he answered an ad that Pam placed in the paper. She read over his credentials and hired him on the spot. He did her normal surveillance and he was her day man. She had a couple of others that worked for her but he, Reynaldo, he was her most trusted. She would never let anyone know it but she admired that man. Come to think of it," I added. "He admired her. He adored Pam. There were times when she'd have to make him go home. He took his job of protecting her, seriously."
"I can see that," she said. "Pam has a gruff exterior but I can see why he'd adore her. She's funny and loyal. I see why he'd trust her. Tell me something, though. When the threat of her safety came into play, did she tell him? Did he know?"
"Not at first. She believed that he was spending too much time watching her. A few days before she was taken, she let him know what was going on." I smiled. "She said that he became almost unbearable."
"Because he loved her," I whispered. Speaking so that I could hear her, she said, "Pam's a vampire but she has good in her. I can see it. She has a good heart. She's strong and pleasant in an understated kinda way … not really but she has the potential to be … if she wanted to be." She shook her head as she laughed. "But she doesn't want to."
"She does not," I agreed. "She has integrity. Though they were never lovers, Pam and Reynaldo were very good friend. He gave her a key to his home." I squeezed the key in my hand before placing it and the slip of paper into my pocket. "She wanted me to use him to set up the surveillance at my homes. I didn't do as she asked. I should have. He's the one that installed the hidden cameras at Fangtasia. She told me that he was the best at what he did." I nodded and said, "Let's go and see what we can find out."
Sookie became giddy as she bounced in the seat and clapped her hands. "I knew that you'd know where he lived. We're going to have Pam home before you know it." She reached across her body and pulled the seatbelt into place. She looked at me and smiled. "You are not on my suspects list."
I laughed as I cranked my car and drove us to our destination. I expected that we would talk about what happened tonight but the car ride was a quiet one. Even the walk into Reynaldo's home was quiet. I thought that she'd have something to say about the cobblestoned walkway or the flowers that lined the driveway. I thought that she'd mention the comment that she'd made at the king's compound. I was curious as to what she meant when she said that 'he was right'. I was curious as to who 'he' is. I was wrong. She said nothing. Though I couldn't tell, she seemed to have something on her mind. I couldn't tell what it was because the bond was as blank as her face. I wondered if I'd done or said something wrong. I wondered if she was upset because we don't have any time to be alone. I wondered how she's able to block me from feeling her through the bond. I wondered why it bothered me so much. And then I thought that I was sounding like an insecure human. I am Eric Northman and if I'm anything, insecure isn't it. "Enough of that," I mumbled as I inserted the key into the front door of Reynaldo's home.
"Hmm?" she said.
"Nothing," I answered as I opened the door.
Sookie and I had just walked into the cleanest human home I'd ever been in. The place was pristine. Nothing was out of place. The home smelled as if it's been sanitized. And once again, I was wondering. "Stay here," I ordered Sookie. I blurred through the home and checked every room. I checked the backyard and the woods that outlined the house. And nothing was there. I went back inside and Sookie was standing where I'd left her.
"Safe?" she asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah. I figured it would be. Maybe he was just a neat freak," she said. "He was a Marine. They live by a certain standard."
"Maybe," I said.
She sighed as she placed her hands on her hips. "So," she began. "I think that we should start in the kitchen. If he has an oversized pantry, I'm guessing that's where the safe room's going to be because that's where Pam's was."
When we went into the kitchen, there was an oversized pantry. I traced my hand over the outside of the pantry and I could feel it. I could feel the cool air that was blowing from the crevice in the crack of the door. "The shelves," I said. "We need to clean the shelves." The cans were stacked so high, I knew that the latch had to behind them.
She blew her bangs off her forehead as we began to clean the shelves of the pantry of any food that it was holding. "Once we're inside, what's going to happen? I know that he wouldn't have left the security systems unprotected. How are we going to get in? I'll better dollars to Doritos that he has a password. There is no way he didn't have a password."
Once the shelves were clean, I traced my hand under and above each shelf so that I could find what we needed. "I'm certain that he had a password. He apparently was no fool. But I'll bet that he never expected anyone to know that he would have the main system in his home. He's not supposed to. What vampire would trust a human to have this type of control over his or her life? This had to have been something that he and Pam put together and spoke not a word to anyone else that she employed."
"Not even you?" she asked.
Soon, there was a click. "She told me," I answered. "I just didn't know it." That's when I pulled the slip of paper from my pocket. I handed it to Sookie.
She opened and read it before looking up at me. "Pam's Marine. That's the password to get into the security system."
"That's what I'm thinking," I agreed. "When she handed it to me, she said that if anything ever happens, I'll know what it is. I didn't take her seriously. Pam has always been a drama queen. There have been quite a few instances when she's told me things that she perceived to be an emergency. They weren't. She'd broken a heel on her shoe and it was the last of its kind or she needed to get a new piece of furniture because they 'are never going to make highboys again'. I assumed that the slip of paper and the key was another one of Pam's fake emergencies. As you said, I'll bet Doritos to dollars that we can access the security systems with that slip of paper."
She shook her head at me as she handed me the paper. "Dollars to Doritos."
"What?"
"It's dollars to Doritos."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Whatever."
I pulled the pantry door open and I was in awe. I now wish that I'd used Pam's Marine. The equipment in the room was the most sophisticated equipment I'd ever seen. Computers, telephones, camera, motions sensors. Whatever he needed, he had it. Knowing Pam and knowing the importance of her safety, I'm sure that she gave him unlimited access to my credit cards. There were fifteen consoles on the wall. None of them were on. I went back to the kitchen to grab a chair for Sookie. I took the chair in front of the control panel and placed hers next to mine. I pushed on the system and watched as it slowly came to life. The password bar was sitting prominently in the middle of the screen.
"Pam's Marine," I mumbled as I typed.
We could soon see the outside of Pam's home. The pool area. The shed. Even the edges of her woods were being filmed. We could see inside her garage. Her white mini-van sat perfectly in the middle of it. A mini-van. A vampire driving a mini-van. I'll never understand it. Anyway, nothing was going to get past Reynaldo. He was going to make sure of it. "If this were anyone else, I'd question why he needed to watch her so closely." Maybe I should question why he was watching her so closely. I looked at Sookie. "You and Jake need to return tomorrow to check out the rest of his home. Anything that looks suspicious, bring it to me. Notebooks. Pictures. Anything that you find, I want it."
"Okay." Her eyes bounced from screen to screen. "I'll bet that if there are cameras in the garage, there are cameras in the shed," Sookie said. "We'll be able to see who put the Weres in there."
"Possible," I said. Instead of checking the shed, I wanted to check the inside of Pam's home. I looked down at the control panel and pressed the interior button. If I didn't know any better, I would have never guessed that Pam's home had been the scene of multiple murders. It was beautiful and clean. Her home looked as it always has. The only thing that was missing was her. I almost expected her to walk through the doors. Longing hit me and it me hard.
Sookie placed her hand on my shoulder. "We're going to find her."
"I know." Though my voice was cold and hard, she didn't remove her hand.
"The very beginning?" she asked.
I started the feed from the beginning of that night.