by D. M. Wicks
"Fuck you, Oda. I'll make sure you regret it if you break my fucking arm!"
I stopped applying pressure and panted. Declan relaxed his muscles. "Why do you do it, Oda? Why do you want to be a cop so bad?"
"Why do you fucking care? You've made it very clear you’d rather I just gave up. By the way, what you said about blue eyes earlier was a big fucking generalization. Yeah, some of my species are lazy bastards, but most of them are involved in some sort of volunteer work due to the strict laws preventing them from having a real job. You don't know how many hoops I had to jump through just to get a permit to work for you."
Declan sighed. "That's why I'm asking, what drives you to be different? Why, Oda?"
I was quiet as I wrestled with how to explain the reason and I released my hold on his arm, rolling over to sit cross-legged. "So I don't bore you with the story, to put it simply it's because of my dad."
Declan rubbed his arm as he sat up. "What about your dad?"
"It's a long story and I don't really want to get into it right now."
"Give me the cliff notes then."
I thought it over. "He was everything I fear in a person, but everything I wanted to be. I want to surpass him and prove to myself that I'm strong enough to beat my fears. I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and see a man that I'm proud to be, rather than the son I was destined to become. I have to break the mold or else I'm trapped. It's complicated. I can't explain it very well."
Declan was quiet for a while and we sat on the cold, wet concrete watching the traffic pass by on the road in front of us. It began to drizzle again and Declan looked up into it and said, "That's fine, I guess. That's alright."
I looked over to him then stood from the ground. I held my hand out to him and he looked at it for a second before grabbing it. I hefted him to his feet and we made our way to the car, me in the driver’s seat. Declan muttered something under his breath.
"What was that?"
Declan grinned. "I just said that I still got it with the women. That Nancy chick was all over me."
I shook my head. "I didn't know you were robbing the graves these days, partner."
Declan was silent and I began to fidget in my seat. He suddenly pulled out his headphones, but didn't put them in. I started the engine, turning on the windshield wipers. As I turned onto the road Declan spoke. "I was speaking with a friend of mine. I asked him if he could dig up some info on our victim and the girlfriend. The last thing I want is a dead pregnant woman on my conscience. He said he would look into it. Oh, and the lieutenant called while you were questioning the parents and asked to meet with us. I told her I would call her when I finally got some time. That's all. I was going to tell you, but I do admit I probably wouldn't have told you right away."
"Well, call Faye and get her to meet us at the office."
"I'm the one who gives the orders."
"Just call her, Declan. I'm driving."
He muttered under his breath, but pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number. "Hello popsicle, are you ready to meet?"
I sighed, could they just speak with each other like civilized human beings? The light turned yellow and I sped up to make it through the intersection. I didn't want to be late after all. Her office building was close to ours so it would only take her a few minutes to reach it. Declan grumbled as he ended the call.
"Go well?"
"As well as it could."
"She's meeting us then?"
"She's already there. Seems she took a long lunch break."
"I guess I better speed up then."
"No need to hurry, she can wait."
"You're a bastard."
Declan turned to me, a small smile on his face. His Irish accent was more pronounced as he said, "You got that bloody right."
Chapter Seven
By the time we arrived back to the office the rain had picked up again. I was soaked and a little pissed at Declan, but I was pleased to see Lieutenant Faye waiting for us. She was looking at her cell phone, seemingly lost in thought. When I reached her I glanced over her shoulder and saw that she was looking at a text from a sender named Patient X. It read, 'I don't like to be ignored!'
When Faye still didn't notice our presence I decided to get her attention. "Lieutenant, it's good to see you."
She jerked her head in my direction, slipped her phone into her pocket and nodded. "Officer, Detective."
Declan muttered as he unlocked the door and we filed into the office. I felt for the light switch, finding it on the wall next to the entrance. The lights flickered before settling. Declan took off his coat and hung it on the back of his chair. "Lieutenant, to what do I owe this pleasure? Seeing you twice in two days, usually you can't wait to get away from me. I dare say you seem not to be able to get enough of me."
Faye snorted and, taking off her coat, sat on the couch. "Don't flatter yourself. I just have another job for you."
I interrupted before they got into another pointless spat. "So soon? We haven't finished the one you gave us yesterday yet."
Faye turned to me. "What? You haven't finished that yet? I thought it was a simple suicide case."
I shook my head. "It turned out to be a murder."
Declan interjected, "That's enough, Oda." He turned to Faye. "It's our case now. You don't need to concern yourself with it. What is the job you came here for?"
Faye glared at Declan. "You're an asshole, Declan."
"I'm hearing that a lot today. It's beginning to hurt my self-image."
"I'm not joking around here, Declan."
"Neither am I! I'm not your lap dog, lieutenant."
"That's not why I'm here."
"Isn't it? Aren't you here to give me scraps from the table? Well I'll tell you where you can shove them."
Faye stood. "Jesus Christ, Declan! I came to you for a favor. People's lives are at stake. I can see I put my trust in the wrong person." She grabbed her coat and marched out of the office in a whirlwind.
I turned to Declan and sighed before chasing after her. I caught her on the fourth floor and grabbed her arm. She yanked herself free, but stopped. "What?"
"Just wait a minute, lieutenant."
"I'm not going to put up with his shit anymore, Oda. I came with good intentions. The least he could have done would be to hear me out, but that arrogant ass is too full of himself."
"Faye, it's my fault."
She turned to me. "Why is it your fault? You shouldn't stand up for him. He would throw you under the bus if it was between you and him."
"He's been on edge all day. We just found out that the victim, Jeramy Alcott, had a girlfriend and she's pregnant. The people who killed him are most likely after her and we don't have any leads to finding her."
Faye sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "That doesn't make it alright for him to take it out on me, but I understand where he's coming from now. He could have just told me that."
"I know, but like you said, 'he's an asshole'."
She smiled a little. "Fine, I'll let it slide this time, but he needs to get a hold of himself."
"Now, what did you come here for? It seemed important."
She sighed. "I'm in a bind. I want to hire you personally. I’d rather not talk about this in public."
I nodded. "You'll come back with me then?"
Faye nodded. "Just control your partner or something. He knows too well how to get under my skin."
"He's a master at that, but I'll try to mediate."
We walked back up to the fifth floor and entered the office. Declan was resting his head on his hands and looked up when Faye sat back down. "Lieutenant I'm—"
She interrupted. "Forget it, Declan. Let's just start over again."
He nodded. "What do you need?"
"Here is the deal. For the past year I've been assigned to a case recently labeled 'The Red Haze'. There has been a string of murders involving red eyes and blue eyes, where the blues eyes are the victims. So far there have only been four inc
idents. Actually, there was one yesterday that I just added, so five."
Declan said, "We aren't the homicide divisions, Faye. I don't usually deal with murders. The Alcott case was an exception."
"I know that I'm asking a lot of you, but I've been temporarily taken off the case until the commander decides otherwise and I have just gotten a big lead."
Declan walked over to the coffee pot and filled it with water. "Why did he take you off if you finally caught a break?"
She looked down at her hands. "He thinks it's too dangerous and that I should have a team if I'm going to proceed."
Declan scooped coffee grounds into the filter then shut the lid. "And why would he think that?"
Faye folded her hands in her lap. "Because the case may or may not be dealing with something called the Crew."
Declan sighed and leaned his head on his hand. He took a minute before turning around to meet us. "I shouldn't have woken up today. Actually, I should have turned you down yesterday. That case you gave us has led me to the Crew and now you want me to add another one on to that. You really know how to get in trouble, Faye. You're biting off way more than you can chew, taking them on."
I felt the need to say something. "What are the Crew?"
They turned to me. Faye spoke first. "I just know that they are some criminal organization or something."
Declan laughed. "You really don't know what you're getting involved with. They aren't just a criminal organization, they are a branch of the House of Roseus. More specifically, they are headed by one of the parents of the House, which, in case you're struggling with understanding, means they are backed and funded by the government."
Faye said, "How can something like that be sanctioned by the government? They cover up murders?"
"They do a hell of a lot more than that. I guess you could call them a necessary evil. The red eyes’ hunger has always been a problem since their creation. The birth of the blue eyes helped with that, but red eyes are naturally more violent. They are predators. The only things keeping them controlled and civilized are the two Houses—the House of Roseus for the red eyes and the House of Caeruleus for the blue eyes."
"Declan, I don't need a history lesson, I want answers."
"I'm giving you one. Just listen."
"Fine."
"There has always been tension between the two types of vampires. Now just imagine if what you’re saying about the blue eyes being murdered is what you think it is and not just a coincidence. There would be uproar in the community. There would be chaos if it wasn't kept quiet. I suspect the red eyes aren't just covering it up. Maybe the thing, The Red Haze as you called it, is responsible for this. They are probably trying to find the cause and nip it in the bud before the situation escalates."
"Well, they're not doing a very good job of it. Why doesn't the House of Caeruleus step in and do something?"
"Either they don't know completely what's going on or the people who do know are being bought off to keep quiet about it. The Crew will try to minimize the damage until they can stop it."
"Blue eyes are still dying, which means people are in danger. Shouldn't we inform people of the Red Haze, whatever it is, so they can stay out of questionable situations?"
Declan sat back at his desk with his coffee in his hand. "If you take it to the press, I guarantee more people will die. Human supporters and blue eyes will start killing red eyes in the streets. For Christ’s sake, Faye, you work homicide, haven't you seen enough people killed for stupid reasons to know about human nature? When you take away the things that make people feel safe, they eventually break under the stress."
We all sat in silence. I spoke first. "So what do we do?"
Declan blew on the cup then took a sip. "We do what we can. We find the girlfriend and protect her from whom I suspect is the Crew. Then we leave them alone until they leave us alone."
Faye stood. "That's a load of bullshit, Declan. I just saw a blue eyes slaughtered and it was made to look like a suicide. What about that kid’s family? Don't they deserve to know the truth? Doesn't that kid deserve justice?"
He placed the cup down. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
She sat back down and rested her elbows on her thighs. "I'm not trying to take on the houses of vampires. I just want to solve my cases and give the families solace."
"It's not that black and white though. If you mess with any of their people you mess with the whole house. They're a family, Faye, and they're powerful. That's a dangerous mixture. Not to mention you don't even have the backing of District Six to protect you. I'd say you would play a losing game then one day you just wouldn't show up for work. Do you hear what I'm saying? These people are fucking dangerous. You would be playing Russian roulette."
"If you don't play the hand you will never know if you win."
"Not if it's a game stacked against you. You will always lose. Even if I help you we are nobody. We are so small that we practically don't even exist. They would snub us out like stepping on an ant."
"How do I live with myself knowing that I didn't even try?"
"Welcome to the real world. Where everyone is corrupt and the world keeps spinning on. Didn't the commander tell you why District Six was formed?"
Faye nodded. "He said something like it was formed to combat the Crew."
"More like slap their hand away from the cookie jar. Sometimes they take risks that would damage the humans' interest. That's when District Six comes in and kicks their ass into shape. The rest of the time you're expected to take the lies they feed to you and get your promotion. What do you think your predecessor did?"
Faye scowled. "That fat ass didn't do anything."
"My point exactly."
"I don't agree with you, Declan. People may do shitty stuff to one another, but they are inherently good. It's not right to just let those wrongs go unpunished."
"For fuck’s sake, we could go in circles for hours about this. Let's just agree to disagree and to answer your question, no, we won't help you. I think you should listen to your commander and lay off this one until you're better equipped to handle it."
She sighed and stood. "I guess that's fair enough. Thanks for at least hearing me out this time, but I still think you're an asshole."
Declan grinned. "And you're a hopeless romantic."
Faye laughed and walked to the door. "Just one last thing, detective."
"What?"
"Have you always been such a pessimist?"
Declan shook his head. "No, but if you live long enough you'll see things and your view begin to change."
"I hope I never become like you."
"Me too, Faye. Me too."
***
After Faye left, Declan opened the blinds behind his desk and sat staring out of them for at least an hour. I was on the phone with the probate court not having any luck when his cell phone rang. He set his mug down to answer it. I was surprised when he didn't leave the room.
"Hey, Reggie, did you find anything? You did? Hold on." He grabbed a pen, but couldn't find anything to write on. I passed him my notepad.
"Go on … yeah … okay … got it. Thanks, I owe you one, man. Yeah, I'll buy you a beer sometime." He ended the call, stood, grabbed his coat, and shook it out before slipping into it. "Got a name and address on the girlfriend. I'll drive."
I followed him out into the rain and he took off like a mad man nearly hitting an unlucky pedestrian.
"Jesus, Declan, watch where you're going."
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry."
"Wherever she is I'm sure we'll make it in time without killing anyone on the way."
"My man mentioned that his search tipped off some people. Kally, the girlfriend, might get a visit from some very unpleasant men soon. I'd like to get there before they do."
"Well, hurry up then."
"That's what I'm doing."
"Good."
"Good."
"Hey secretary, plug in my music. I need some epic jams for my rescue theme."
"This isn't a game, Declan."
"Just plug them in. I'll drive better."
I pulled his mp3 player out of his coat pocket and inserted it into the auxiliary port. When I turned it on, dub step blared through the speakers and Declan sped up.
When we arrived at the apartment complex, Declan nearly hit a white cleaning van when they both turned into the parking lot. Declan jumped out of the car leaving the engine still running. I called out after him, pulled the keys out and climbed out as well. I ran around the white van that was between the building and me. I was surprised to see two sets of red eyes glaring out at me, one belonging to a blonde haired woman and the other to a man with a military haircut. I ran a little faster. I caught up with Declan in the stairwell. He ran through the door on the third floor and I followed after him, not knowing the room number. He suddenly stopped in the hallway making me run past him and have to back track. Declan straightened his clothes and smoothed his hair out before reaching his hand up and knocking. There was a pause where all I could hear was our ragged breath from the run and the sound of a dog barking down the hall somewhere.
Suddenly, there was a woman's voice as the door cracked open. "Yes?"
Declan was about to answer when I pushed him aside. "May we speak with you inside, ma'am?"
She took one look at my eyes and relaxed. "Who are you?"
"I'm officer Ko and he is my partner, Detective Webber. We are private detectives. I have some questions to ask you about your boyfriend."
Her face paled. "Jeramy? Do you know where he is?"
"May we please speak with you inside? The nature of our questions is very personal."
She nodded and shut the door. There was the sound of locks clicking before the door opened again and I was able to see the petite woman. Nancy had described her fairly accurately. The woman was short. She was shorter then my 5"5 and very pale. She stepped to the side to let us in. Kally closed the door behind us and immediately locked it.