Alcide

Thanks, everyone! As always, I appreciate you bearing with me and still enjoying this story. I have received several reviews that keep saying that I haven't updated in months or that I've abandoned the story. Well, I haven't. It's just taking me a bit more time because I have a life and most times, life comes first. During this pandemic, I'm considered an essential worker. I was to post this chapter back in February. I do apologize for the delay.

I want to thank each of you for reading, reviewing, alerting, and making this story a favorite. I always say that I will not abandon the story. I will finish it. It may take me a little longer than expected, but I will finish. I hope that y'all continue enjoying the ride. Well, here we go!

"I can't believe you guys are here asking me about Quinn," Alcide said as he placed the coffee pot on the table next to the cream and sugar. "I haven't spoken to him in years." He slid coffee cups to each of us as he sat down. "Before he got lost in the world of revenge, Quinn was my friend. He was a guy that I could depend on. Anyone could depend on. He would give you the shirt off his back." I could see the positive images of Quinn floating around in his head. "He was good guy at one time."

Jake poured himself a cup of coffee and snatched a donut from the box we'd brought over. I figured we may as well bring something sweet while we question one of allies. Or enemies. I'm not quite sure what he is just yet. "How did you meet him?" Jake asked.

"I served with Quinn." Alcide looked down at the table as he talked about his past relationship with the now dead Were. "As I said, he wasn't always bad, ya know?" He nodded his head. "He had great potential. Sarge was always proud of Quinn. He was the perfect soldier. He worked hard, and he was loyal." This time, Alcide shook his head. He looked disappointed. "He always had the backs of his fellow soldiers. No one had anything to fear if you had Quinn at your side, but one day all that changed. He just snapped. I always thought that Quinn was one of the good ones."

As I poured myself a cup of coffee, I asked Alcide what changed Quinn. "Did something happen to him? Did someone do something to him?"

"No," Alcide answered. "As I said, he was normal. He was no different that we are. But Quinn, he would say otherwise. He was up for a promotion. He was going up a rank. He was a model soldier. He made the brass proud. He could've been so much more. He had it in the fucking bag." He looked at me and apologized. "I didn't mean to swear in front of you. If my mom heard me, she would tan my hide."

"It's okay," I assured him. "I've heard worse. I do have a brother."

"A douche bag brother," Jake mumbled. "That's what you have. I've never met a bigger asshole in my life. Disrespects you and gets mad because you won't give him money. Who does that?"

"Right?" answered Alcide. "Biggest douche bag I've ever met, and I've met quite a few douche bagged assholes."

What could I say? They were right.

"He is. That's what he's always been," I agreed. "But I need to know about Quinn and that promotion he missed out on. I have to know what pushed him over the edge."

Alcide shrugged his shoulders. "It's simple. He had an awful temper, but he was clever enough to hide it but one day, this guy named Evan questioned Quinn about something he'd done wrong. He called Quinn out on his shit, and he didn't like it."

"Did he kill him?" I asked.

"No. Not right then," Alcide shared. "Quinn remained calm when Evan questioned him about what he'd said and done and then explained to him why he was wrong. Quinn tried over talking the guy, but Evan wasn't having it. Evan was so on point, the sarge agreed with him and told Quinn why Evan was right and why he should listen to him." He began shaking his head. "He could see that Quinn was pissed. The sarge tried talking him down. He told Quinn that he should take criticism as a learning tool and not an insult. He told Quinn that if he can't handle criticism, he wasn't the right man for the promotion. He told Quinn to man up and listen to what was being said. He told Quinn that soldiers can handle criticism. They use it to grow and if Quinn was complaining about criticism, he wasn't a soldier. He told Quinn that he was apparently lacking in character." He poured himself a cup of coffee and scooped so much sugar into it, I just knew it had to be syrup. "Quinn smiled as nicely as ever and agreed with Sarge. He listened and took in every word that was said. He smiled and praised Evan for calling out his mistakes. Evan went so far as to pat Quinn on the back and assured him that he wasn't picking on him. Quinn acknowledged that he was being too sensitive and apologized. He assured them that he didn't mean any harm. He said that things have been hard for him because of the pressure he was under. Hell, he went so far as to take the guy out for drinks afterward."

"It sounds like everything went well," I chimed it. "I don't get it."

"It was all an act," Alcide continued. "They found the man's body the next day in the showers. He'd been beaten so badly, he was unrecognizable. They had to use his dental records to identify him."

"Can you say fragile ego?" I asked.

"It was like fine crystal," Alcide admitted.

Jake asked, "How did they know it was him?"

Alcide sipped his coffee and put two more spoons of sugar into the cup. I swear it was as thick as soup when he took the spoon out of the cup. He sipped it again and smiled. "Perfect," he whispered. "They knew it was him because he killed another guy."

"The sarge," Jake replied.

I laughed. "No."

"Yeah," Alcide answered. "He was caught by the MPs leaving the sarge's room. He was naked and covered in blood. When asked why he didn't have any clothes on, he said that he didn't want to ruin his uniform."

"Crazy bastard," Jake mumbled. "Why was he let out of prison? I would think that they would have kept him locked up forever. There's no way he should've been let out."

"Prison?" Alcide asked. "He shifted, killed the two MPs and left. They never caught him." Before we could ask any questions, he raised his hand. "They could've caught him, but they didn't try. They let that crazy fucker walk." He laughed as he rested his elbows on the table. "He was so fucking crazy that he came back to the base on the anniversary of the sarge's death. He went to the sarge's old room and had a beer as he played Don't Fear the Reaper."

I've never been happier to know that one person is dead in my life. "And they let him go."

"Yeah."

"They could've killed him," I said.

"I guess that was an option. I don't know why they chose not to. My only is guess is that they were afraid him." Alcide sighed. "No one betrayed Quinn. I remember when I cut all ties with him. My sister, Janice, she didn't want me to meet with him face to face. She told me to call him over the phone." I shook my head no. "I'm a Were for pity's sake. There was no way I was going to do that. I'm not a coward. I told him to his face that he was bad for my look. I couldn't be seen with him. I told him that it was nice knowing him, but our association was over. I couldn't risk my name and reputation dealing with someone like Quinn."

My mouth fell open. "What did he say?"

Jake laughed. "He was probably pissed and wanted to kill him. Quinn's never been what one would call stable … at least from what I've known of him."

Alcide agreed. "He did want to kill me, but he said that he respected that I talked to him about ending our friendship to his face. He respected that I was man enough to cut all ties respectfully. Hell, I was happy as a clam. I believed that he was cool with it. I was wrong. That fucker didn't let me go unscathed. He stabbed me." He stood up from his seat and pulled up his shirt. There was a huge knife wound in Alcide's side, chest, and one in his shoulder. "He told me that he just wanted to cause me a little pain. I was in surgery for six hours."

"Shit," Jake whispered.

"He stabbed you in the chest," I said. "You could've died."

Smiling, he nodded. "Quinn came to the hospital to see me. He said that he stabbed just close enough to my heart to hurt me. Not kill me."

"He went to the hospital?" I asked.

"Yeah." Alcide shrugged his shoulder and said, "He knew that I wasn't going to turn him in."

I frowned. "Why not? You could've been rid of him."

Alcide pointed at his scars. "He took pity on me when he did this. I wouldn't be here now if I'd turned him in."

And I believed him. Not because his mind told me that he was being truthful but because I could see the truth in his eyes.

Alcide looked at his watch. He slapped the table and said, "If that's all, I have to get ready to go." He stood and smiled at us. "I have a date this afternoon." He waggled his eyebrows. "Hopefully, it'll carry into the night."

"Be sure to warm your hands before you scratch her belly," I said. I used my head to nod at the cat that entered the room.

"Good one," Jake said as he laughed … loudly. "You're going to get it tonight at the pack meeting."

"So, we're doing picking on Alcide today?" Alcide asked.

"Just a little bit," I answered as I stood from my seat. I offered Alcide my hand to bid him good day. "Enjoy your date."

Alcide took my hand. "It's good that you're fitting in with us but the joke … that was a bit much." He used his thumb and forefinger to measure the too much. He was soon shifting his footing. "Ah, Sookie. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about your dad. It's never easy to lose a loved one. If you need anything, please, don't hesitate to let me know, okay?"

I closed my eyes and looked down at the floor. I wanted to see my dad. I wanted to see him sitting across from me at Gran's dinner table on Thanksgiving as he would bite into his turkey leg. He would moan from delight and hunger. I wanted to see him sitting on Gran's couch watching the NCAA games with grandpa and Jason. I wanted to see his handsome face. I wanted to see the crinkles that would gather around his blue eyes as he'd laugh, but I could see none of that. I could only see his bruised and beaten face. I could see him on his knees as Jonathan held him captive. I could see him dying at Jonathan's hand. I could hear his neck as it was snapped by Jonathan's hands. And just like that, I wanted to kill Jonathan all over again, but I would change a few things. I would kill him slowly. I would hold him captive and destroy his from the inside out. I would enjoy it. I would relish in his pain, and he, Jonathan the traitorous vampire, would regret ever taking my dad and leaving me fatherless. I would have my revenge.

"Sookie," Jake said.

I looked to my right, expecting to see him standing there, but he wasn't there. He was standing next to Alcide on the other side of the room. They looked surprised. They were looking at my feet. I followed their eyes and just like that, boom, I was on the floor on my bottom with my legs sprawled out. I looked up at the two Weres and shook my head as I answered their unasked question. "I don't know."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I was going to call it day and go back to Eric's, but I needed to see Andy and call my grandpa. He needed to tell me what was going on with me. These changes were more than I could handle.

Looking at my companion as we traveled to the police station, I told Jake that I needed to go to the police station first. I needed to see Andy to let him know about daddy. "He's known my dad for most of their lives. They grew up together. They worked together. They were good friends."

"Maybe your grandpa told him," Jake suggested. "Call him to see if he's spoken to him."

"I did," I answered. "I called grandpa this morning, and he didn't answer. When my aunt Linda left, grandpa shut himself off for a couple of days." I shook my head. "I'm not sure how he's going to handle this, you know?"

"I do. Do you need me to come in with you? You know. So that you don't have to do it alone?" Jake asked. He began to shake his head no. "After what happened last time with Quinn, I'm not sure that you should go in there alone? They may have sent a replacement."

I shook my head no. "I'm grown, Jake, and I can take care of myself. I have my weapons, and you saw what I did at Alcide's place." I tried to joke about it, but I couldn't find any humor in it.

"You're going to call your grandpa, right?" he asked. "You promised that you'd call him until you could reach him. You should know what's going on with you."

"I will. As soon as we leave here, I promise." I said. "And as far as going into the station with me, I can do it. I hate that I have to do this, but I can do it. I have to. I can't leave this up to my grandparents. They've been through enough and if I can help them in any way, I will." I patted Jake's hand before getting out the car.

Jake stared at me for a moment and nodded. He then turned off the car. He opened the door and got out. He walked to passenger's side and stood in front of me. He pointed at the door to the police station and said, "I'm going to go with you. I'll sit in the lobby, and I'll wait for you. It's the only way in and the only way out. Deal?"

I knew that there was going to be no arguing so I agreed. "Deal."

And Jake did just as he said he would. He sat on the bench by the door. Since I arrived during shift change, Kenya was preparing to leave. She was putting her purse on her shoulder and scooting her chair to her desk. Before going, she said, "Pauline told me what's going on with your parents. I'm sorry about all that's going on, Sookie, but regardless, you're family. You're not in this alone. We're with you."

"Thanks, Kenya," I said.

She reached out to touch my shoulder but put her hands in her pockets.

Pauline came from the back and led me to Andy's office for our talk. "Andy's waiting for you."

Somberly, I said, "I know."

Pauline's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry to hear about what you and your family are going through. Over time, it will get easier. It may take a while. It's a huge change to your life. Everything changes, you know. Holidays. Birthdays. Maybe it'll be easier since you're an adult."

"Thanks, Pauline." Though her comment about me being an adult made no sense, I get what she's saying. Her brother was murdered last year in Bossier. He was on the gambling boat and won a nice chunk of cash. He was going to use that money to start his own business. He'd always wanted to be a PI. He and Pauline were going to run the business together. Someone else had a better idea of what to do with his money. "I really appreciate that."

She patted my back. "When my dad and mom got divorced, it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through … well, back then it was. We all expect our parents to be together forever. I know I did. I was the only fifth grader in our community with divorced parents, but you, you're an adult. You'll get used to your parents not being together anymore."

When I looked at Pauline, all I could was nod because I didn't know what to say. Where did they get the idea that my parents are divorcing? I wish that was the only thing that we were going through. I would love that more than anything.

"Are you alright?" She stopped walking as she stared at me. "Do you need some water or anything?"

I shook my head no. "I'm good, thank you. I just need to talk to Andy about what's going on."

Pointing at Andy's office door, she said, "Go on in. He's waiting for you."

"Thanks, Pauline. I appreciate you."

"Anytime, Sookie," she assured me.

When I walked into Andy's office, he was just hanging up the phone and from the look on his face, the conversation didn't go as planned. He pointed at the seat in front of his desk. "That was your grandpa. He called to let me know that your dad is gone out of the country for a while. The blindsiding that your mama gave him was a kicker. I get it. Needing to clear his mind and all." He gave me a lazy smile. It almost looked sad. "You holding up okay?"

"I guess," I whispered. "I'll be okay." I was hoping to have someone to talk to about dad, but grandpa has the bases covered. I guess he didn't me to talk to him after all. "Since you've already talked to grandpa, I don't want to waste any of your time."

"You're not wasting my time. You've never wasted my time." Andy tucked his shirt in his pants before sitting down. "I was going to call you and tell you not to come, but your friend Jack Leeds called this morning. He said that he didn't have your number, and he had a message to give you." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "He said that the girl from that night said that Victor Madden was the name she heard the others talking about." He frowned. "Who's Victor Madden?"

"An a-hole," I mumbled under my breath.

"What?"

I waved my hand at him. "Some vampire. Nobody that I know. I've never met him. He seems to be causing some problems for me and my friends. We're going to have to figure out what's going on and how to fix them."

Andy frowned. "Do you need my help with anything, Sookie? I know your dad's sorting some things out in his life right now. If you need me, I'm here for you."

I smiled. "Thanks, Andy. I really appreciate that, but we've got it. Daddy always speaks highly of you." Looking down briefly as not to cry, I shared, "He said that you were one of the best friends he's ever had."

Andy nodded his head as a brief smile appeared on his face. "He said that about me?"

"Yeah," I said as I nodded. "He did. He says it all the time."

Andy puffed out his chest. "Well, Corbett Stackhouse was the best detective we've ever had. He could solve cases that no one else could get a clue on." He shook his head. "I never knew how he did it. He could read a suspect like a book. He used to talk about their colors and how their body language would give them away. He would say things to them that there's no way he should've known." He nodded. "He was one of the good ones."

I sighed and smiled. "Yeah. He is."

"Oh," Andy suddenly shouted. "Do you remember Dawn Greene? This is before your time, but she used to work at Merlotte's as a waitress. She quit long before you started there. I think she even rented property from Sam when she first came into town."

This was interesting. I shook my head no. "I don't know her personally, but I have heard of her. From what I know, she's into dating vampires now. A vampire called Maxwell Lee is the one she's keeping company with nowadays." It's not technically a lie.

"Yeah, well, she was supposed to appear in court, but no one's heard from or seen her in a few days. Her attorney has reported her missing." He reached in his desk and pulled out some flyers and handed them to me. "If you wouldn't mind, would you pass these out to your vampire friends. Maybe they've heard something."

I studied the picture. She looked incredibly young and innocent in it. She had a smile on her face that reached her eyes. She looked youthful and happy. She didn't look like the woman that let Maxwell Lee control and ruin her life. She almost looked like me. "Yeah," I answered. "I'll pass them out tonight." Looking at Andy, I asked, "Do you know much about her?"

'No," he replied. "From what I've learned from Dave and Pauline, she was always a loner. She never had very many friends." He chuckled. "She kind of reminds me of you. You used to have that innocent look in your eyes not too long ago." He stared at me for what felt like hours. He was soon shaking his head. "I don't see that anymore. I know that I'm not your father, but you can talk to me. You know … if there's anything you need to share." Something was in his eyes. I wanted to go in his head but now was not the time. He didn't know anything anyway.

Tears slid down my cheek as I stared at Andy. "Thank you, Andy, and I promise, if there's ever a time that I need you, you know that I will come running."

Andy nodded as he handed me his handkerchief. He dropped his head. He wanted to comfort me but remained seated. He didn't know what to do. He's never been good in situations where women cry. When his sister got married, she was crying from joy. She tried to hug Andy, and he shook her hand. He suddenly cleared his throat. "You wanna be careful working in the supe world, Sookie," he murmured softly. "And here at this police station." He said it so softly, I almost didn't hear him.

"What do you mean?"

Andy suddenly stood from his desk. He removed three devices from the bookshelf. He removed two more from the lamp. He turned his cell phone off and unhooked the phone from the wall as removed the mouthpiece and took another one of those devices from it. He nodded as he looked around the room. "Okay."

Yeah. Okay.

"Contrary to what others say, I'm not stupid, Sookie." He leaned back in his seat. "I knew that Quinn was sent here to spy. I knew that something was up when he was going through Bon Temps asking questions about you. I noticed how he watched you. I noticed that you were uncomfortable around him." He shook his head again. "I'm not stupid."

"I know, Andy."

He continued on. "I know for a fact that they've got someone other than Quinn feeding them from the inside. I just haven't had the chance to figure it out." Pointing at me, he said, "I promise you. I will figure it out."

"I know you will." I was soon leaning forward in my seat. "What makes you so suspicious about the detectives here? We're all family here, remember?"

Smiling, Andy said, "Yep. Let's get back to our little family here. We are family but there are times when family can't be trusted. I've learned in this life that most times, family will stab you in the back quicker than your enemies." He began stabbing his desk with his finger. "And someone in our family is a traitor."

"How long have you believed that?" I was suddenly on alert. "Did daddy have these same suspicions?"

Andy nodded. "Yeah, he did. He never discussed those suspicions with anyone but me." He shook his head. "I just wish that things had worked out differently." He looked sad as he sighed. "I wish Corbett was here."

"You've got me," I replied. "I can help."

Andy began shaking his head no. "I can't put you in danger. You have to stay safe. I won't do that."

"And you won't," I assured him. "I'll work with my contacts and if I hear anything, I'll let you know … if I can." I made sure to mumble that part under my breath. I reached out and placed my hand atop Andy's. "You're my family and if I can keep you safe, I will. Daddy wouldn't want you doing this alone." I was soon gripping Andy's hand. "You know about me and what I can do, Andy. You've always known." And that's when I saw it. He knows about daddy. "Is there something you want to tell me, Andy?"

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. "Nope, but I'll admit one thing. I do know about you and your gift. I've always wanted to ask you about it but was too nervous too."

"You could've asked me," I assured him. "Everyone knows that I'm different. I scare most people but those that know me, know there's nothing to fear."

He glanced at his desk before looking at me. "You helped him, didn't you? Corbett. You helped him."

I only stared.

He only nodded. He patted my hand before I released his. "Your dad learned that Pauline has been doing side work with that vampire Victor Madden."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Pauline?" I shook my head no. "She wouldn't do that … would she?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"We don't know."

"Does she know that you and dad know?"

He shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of but that doesn't mean she doesn't know." Andy suddenly had a look on his face. His eyes welled up with tears. ""I'm sorry for lying to you."

I waited.

He sighed and said, "I know the truth about your dad, Sookie."

"I know." I whispered.

He chuckled. "Yeah. You would know. I was supposed to meet him at your grandparents' place that night," he shared. "I'm not supposed to tell you this but to hell with it. Your grandpa doesn't want you to know. He said that you've been through enough." He shook his head no. "I think he's wrong. Your dad asked me to look after you since you're now working for the vampires. That's what he wanted so that's what I'm going to do." He chuckled. "That's why I was so willing to tell you about the call at your friend Pam's home."

"How much do you know, Andy?"

He studied me for a moment before nodding curtly. "I was filled in on what you're doing since you were hired on at that vampire bar. I know everything."

Whispering, I asked, "Do you know about that night?"

"I do. I parked at the old Compton place. We both did. We didn't want anyone to know we were there. Fintan was supposed to meet us there, but your gran didn't want him involved." He laughed. "He was supposed to sneak away after she'd gone to bed."

Andy's shoulders slumped. "When I got there, he was already at the house. We were supposed to go there together. I was late," he whispered. Tears fell on his desk. "If I'd gotten there on time … if I'd filled my tank up that morning …"

"Don't do that, Andy," I warned him. As sternly as I could, I said, "You didn't cause daddy's death."

Andy quickly swiped at his eyes as he looked at me. "I'm a cop and when I lose a guy, it's always my fault. We're a team. We brothers." In a choked voice, he added, "And he was my friend. One of the best friends I've ever had."

I walked over to Andy and wrapped the top half of his body in my arms and luckily, he didn't move. He let me comfort him. "Oh, Andy."

"I'm so sorry," he cried into my stomach.

And I let him cry. His pain flowed through me. I could see everything that happened that night as I held him and he tried to save daddy, but it just wasn't meant to be.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

He saw them taking daddy away. He'd been beaten so badly that they were dragging him by his arms to the car. "Corbett!" he yelled as he ran after daddy's prison. He pulled his gun out and began shooting at the tires of the car as he ran. "Corbett! Corbett!" Andy ran until he couldn't run anymore. He dropped to his knees and screamed out my daddy's name one last time. "CORBETT!"

After a moment he pulled out his phone. "Fintan, they knew we were coming! They took Corbett!"

Frustration was on Andy's face as he listened to whatever Fintan was saying to him.

"No!" Andy yelled. "You have to tell her! You can't let her walk into this blind! She will end up like her dad!"

He was seething with anger. His free hand was a fist and if grandpa had been in front of Andy, I would have feared for his life. Not grandpa's but Andy's. If he'd given grandpa that look, he would've been in serious trouble.

"It's not up to the fucking vampire to keep her safe!" Andy yelled. "What do you mean we can't interfere?! We've already interfered!"

He closed his eyes.

"Sure," Andy said. "Sure. We'll keep doing it your way and guess what will happen? She's going to be gone. You're never going to see her again. You can't …"

Andy rolled his eyes as he listened to my grandpa.

"Okay," he finally relented. "Okay. So, what do I do?"

Andy looked defeated. He looked as if his world had suddenly caved in.

"I hear you, Fintan," Andy said. "But we all have choices. Sometimes, we have to do what's right." He hung up his phone and threw it in the woods just to the right of my grandparents' driveway. I could hear it ringing as he walked back to his car.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I went back to seat and waited for Andy to get himself together. He'd already decided that he was going to tell me what my family has been trying to hide from me.

"Your mom," he said.

"I know," I answered.

"I'm sorry."

I smiled. "Don't be."

"We were working together to keep you safe," he said. "Michelle had given them some of your things so that they could track you. This Victor Madden. She's supposedly working with him. He's her lover," he quickly said under his breath.

I think I was supposed to be surprised, but I wasn't. I wouldn't have expected anything less from my mother. I've always known what she is. I'm sorry that it took everyone else so long to see it. "It's okay. I'm not hurt by it."

"By accident, I heard Pauline and your mom talking about Victor and what he needed. Pauline was supposed to come to your apartment … when you'd first moved in and taken you. She told her vampire associates that she had a relationship with you and that you trusted her. She was to deliver you to Victor, but your mom had different plans. She wanted to be the one to do it. From what she told Pauline, her goal is to earn her place at Victor's side forever."

I frowned. "I didn't think mom liked supes. She's always been dismissive of me."

Hmm. That's first time I've ever considered myself to be a supe, but I guess I am.

"Did they know you heard them?"

He shook his head no. "They didn't even see me and I was in full view. I told you. Everyone thinks I'm a joke, but your dad knew that I'm a helluva detective."

I guess I'm one of those people. "I apologize for doubting you, Andy."

"Don't give it a second thought," he said. "You're an extraordinarily strong, young woman, Sookie. You have had people in your life that have always felt that they have the right to make decisions for you. You have fight in you. You're brave. You're resilient. You're a person that has the right to make her own decisions. I know for a fact that you will be safe because of you."

"Thank you, Andy."

He rested his elbows on his desk. "Do you believe in making your own choices or having them made for you?"

"I'm me," I answered. "I'm my own person."

"You are," he answered. "Victor is coming for you. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but he's coming for you. Your mom is lying in wait. Watch your back, Sookie. Keep your weapons on you and be ready to kill if you have to and that goes for your mom, because, Sookie, if it comes down to it, she'll kill you if you deny her."

I know that I'm not my mom's favorite person. I know that she's ashamed of me and if I didn't know that she does hate me, I wouldn't have believed any of what Andy said. I knew better. He looked terrified for me.

He reached into his desk and slid a holstered gun in my direction. "Keep this on you at all times. Your dad gave it to me when we started working together outside of work."

I shook my head no. "If they know that you know, you're in danger, Andy. You need this. I have other weapons that grandpa and dad have given me. I can't take this."

I tried giving it back to him, but he said no. "I have other weapons. I can take care of myself. You keep this and those vampires close to you, do you hear me?"

"I do, and I'm not going to take your weapons," I said. "You said that you trust me and believe that I can protect myself." I stared into his eyes. "I promise you. I can protect myself. I have Eric and the others too. I'm not alone in this. You're not alone in this. Keep your weapons."

Andy agreed. Pointing, he said, "I'll keep them … all the time. I'll not let them out of my sight. That's an equal opportunity killer right there. It will kill anything and anyone."

Nodding, I said, "I know. I have some of my own."

He looked at his watch before standing up. "We're going to have to cut this short today. I'm having a late lunch with grandma today. You call me if you need me and please, stay safe and be careful of Michelle."

I stood from seat and stared at Andy. "I will, you need to promise me that you'll stay safe. Don't do anything alone when it comes to the vampires and the traitors. You call me if you need me."

"I will."

The knob to Andy's door began to jiggle. Laughing loudly as I pulled the door open, I said, "See you soon, old man."

He laughed. "Get outta here."

There stood Pauline. "Oh, sorry," she said. She was acting nervous. I saw her slip her hand in her pocket just as I reached out to touch her, but before I could, she moved. She noticed the look on my face and said, "I think I'm coming down with something."

Liar. She knows what I can do, and she's trying to keep me out of her head. I continued laughing. "Thanks for the heads up. I don't need to come down with anything."

"What's up, Pauline?" Andy asked.

"Nothing," she said. "I thought I saw you leave." She had a folder in her hand. "I was going to leave this on your desk."

He walked over to her and took the folder from her hand. "You know that office is always locked when I leave. You caught me just in time."

A new suspect added to my list.

"I'll see you around, guys."

Andy waved. "Call me if you need anything."

I reached out and grabbed the flyers from the desk. "I'll be sure to pass these around."

"Thanks," Pauline answered. "We need all the help we can get. Dawn's family is looking for her. From what I've heard, her grandparents have been looking for her for a few days now."

Her grandparents are dead. Oh, Pauline.

Andy's phone began to ring. He walked over to the door and guided me and Pauline from the room. "Duty calls."

Before going, I hugged Andy. "Dawn's grandparents are dead. They were all working together," I whispered in his ear. "And you're not going to find Dawn. She's dead."

As I stepped away from Andy, he was still smiling. "Vampires?" he asked telepathically.

"Yeah," I said. "Duty calls."

"See ya, Sookie," he answered.

I smiled as I made my way back to Jake. I'm aware now. We can plan. We will win this.

Okay, Victor. You want to play these games, we can play, and God help you.