The Guilty Innocent

by D N Simmons

  “Yeah?” he answered.

  “Thank you.” I said with the upmost sincerity. He smiled, then reached over and took hold of my hand, kissing the back of my fingertips.

  “Anything for you, Natasha,” he said.

  I fought against the urge to snuggle. I looked out of the window as the scenery changed from apartment buildings to single family homes. Warren then pulled the car into the driveway of a beautiful red two-story brick home. The windows frames were painted white and there was a lovely garden in front of the house filled with pink, blue, purple, red and yellow flowers I didn't know the names to. Nevertheless, they were beautiful to look at. I was actually surprised that the flowers were blooming so early in the spring season. Well, it's a fact, anyone who lives in Chicago can vouch for the unpredictability of the weather conditions of the “Windy City”. Warren climbed out of the car and I followed him inside. He turned on the lights and a gorgeous chandelier overlooking the foyer sparkled brightly overhead.

  “Make yourself at home, I'll be out in a little while.” He then sprinted up the flight of stairs, disappearing into a room I assumed was his bedroom.

  I walked around his house looking at photographs, some of Matthew and him on vacations or in uniform, others of people I didn't recognize, though many were very attractive. I ran my fingers over his dark blue suede sofa before I sat down on the soft comfortable cushions. He had a beautiful home, I wondered how much he was paid to police the supernaturals. Warren came out of his bedroom thirty-minutes later, his hair still damp from his shower. He was wearing a white t-shirt that hugged his muscular chest and biceps and a pair of dark blue jeans, that completely elongated his already long legs. Adrian was a lucky man, then again, I had no idea what Adrian looked like. Hell, they might both be lucky!

  “Are you ready to go to the movies? What do you want to see?” he asked as he pulled on a brown leather bomber jacket.

  “I was hoping we could see the movie that just came out this past weekend.” I suggested as I rose and walked towards the door.

  “Oh that one. Okay, that looked interesting, that's cool.” We climbed into his car and drove to the movie theater. We theater hopped and were able to see two movies, one turned out to be longer than I expected. By the time we left the theater, the sun had set and there was a good chance we could talk to some of the vampires that may know something about Anthony. But the first thing I wanted to do was talk to Darian. Warren agreed and we drove to the precinct. When I arrived there, Warren gave me a visitors pass. I walked towards the holding cell area of the S.U.I.T. station and was stopped by the guard.

  “I have a pass, what's the problem?” I asked.

  “There is someone in there already, Ma'am, you'll have to wait.” The officer said, then he gestured to the waiting area. There were ten yellow plastic chairs in the waiting area. A man who was sitting down watched me as I entered the room. He was extremely handsome, a lock of his black hair falling into his grey eyes as he sat in the chair, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. I smiled and nodded as I walked over to one of the hard chairs, his gaze lingered on me a moment longer, then he turned his head to stare at the door just as Warren entered the waiting area. Warren stood in the doorway as he and the mystery man eyed each other intently. I watched, not knowing what was going on. I was beginning feel the tension in the air. The two men turned away from each other, the mystery man returned to his previous position, not really paying us anymore attention.

  Warren took two steps toward me. “Why are you out here?” he asked me.

  “They said that someone was visiting Darian already, so I have to wait.” I replied, then I gestured for Warren to lean closer to me, he did. “What's going on?” I whispered into his ear. Warren straightened himself then smiled down at me.

  “Don't worry, I'll explain later. Right now I have to get to work, it's about that time. Let me know if you need me, okay.”

  I nodded, but for some reason, I felt alone. The man in the chair glanced once more at Warren before he left the room. I watched the man settle back into the position he had before, head bowed staring downward. After about five more minutes, a tall female entered the room. I have to admit, she was beautiful. Long, wavy brown hair cascading down her back, beautiful green eyes and a body that most women practically kill themselves trying to attain. The man who was sitting down practically jumped out of the chair like a jack rabbit when she entered the room. She did look in my direction, but the glance was so quick, I doubt if she even noticed me. The man walked over to her.

  “Can we go now?” he asked, he seemed extremely annoyed.

  I began to wonder if this was the person who might have been visiting Darian...who was she?

  “Yes Sergio, we can go. But this doesn't make any sense at all, they're trying to frame him, but for what reason?” she asked.

  I believed I knew who she was referring to. The man she called Sergio, only huffed and puffed as she speculated on Darian's predicament.

  “Serves him right! Let's go!” Sergio said with malice.

  The woman looked at him as if she wanted to strike him. They shared a long moment glaring at each other, then the waiting room doors opened once again and Xavier stepped into the room, he looked at the three of us.

  “Natasha, you should have told me you were coming to visit Darian, have you seen him yet?” he asked me.

  I shook my head. “Not yet, I had to wait.”

  “Yeah, I was told there was a line.” Xavier said, then he turned his gaze towards the female and her male companion. “Hello Elise, have you visited with Darian?” he asked.

  She smiled sadly and nodded her head. “He is being quite stubborn about drinking the synthetic blood. But he seems to be in good spirits. He requested playfully that I feed him-”

  “I hope you didn't!” Sergio interjected.

  She looked at him sharply. “And if I had, what business is it of yours? Enough of this Sergio, Darian needs help and I don't require your permission to help him!” Elise stated forcefully. Sergio seem to bite his tongue, forcing back any remaining arguments that he may have wanted to express. Elise turned her gaze to Xavier, still ignoring me, I was beginning not to like her and I most definitely didn't like the man she was with.

  “I want to help clear Darian of these outrageous charges! I'm sure if he was going to kill some woman, I would seriously doubt that he would drive around town with her carcass in the trunk of his expensive car.” Elise said chuckling at her last statement.

  I didn't know what part about what she had just said pissed me off the most. That she would think it easy for Darian to kill someone or that she referred to Annette as some “carcass” whatever the case, I rose from my chair.

  “That 'carcass' you were referring to was my best friend!” I said angrily. I didn't care if she liked my attitude or not. Xavier step closer to me and put his arm around my shoulder to comfort me and calm me down. Elise looked at me, a spark of what seemed to be jealousy flash across her face. I began to wonder if Darian and Elise were lovers.

  “Whatever. It just isn't Darian's style, that's all I'm saying. Darian would be smarter than that,” she said smugly.

  Oh yeah, I did not like her I could feel my anger boiling inside me.

  “Well, that's a rock-solid case we can take straight into the trial with us. Hey judge! Darian wouldn't kill someone and then drive around with their carcass in the trunk of his expensive car. No, no, no, he's a much more clever killer than that! So you see, your Honor, you've got to let him go, this murder just isn't Darian's style!” I felt shaky, I knew that I had to lake it easy, but I felt as if I was falling apart, Xavier's arm tightened around me.

  “Calm down, Natasha. Why don't you go see Darian, go ahead, I need to speak with Darian and I want to do so before visiting hours are over.” Xavier led me towards the door.

  I didn't protest, I came to the precinct to see Darian, not to argue, so I walked towards the guard and he led me to Darian's cell. Darian was spraw
led on the white linen covered mattress. He looked up at me and smiled as I approached his cell. I looked around the cell, and noticed that the ceiling was equipped with ultraviolet lighting and a sprinkler system. There were no windows in his cell and the bars appeared to be made from silver. I wondered how much this setup was costing the poor taxpayers?

  Darian rose from his bed and walked closer to the bars, his hands gripping the bars as he smiled at me. Seeing him behind bars was really difficult for me, Darian looked as out of place in jail as anyone could be. This was not his style.

  “Hello Natasha, how are you holding up?” Darian asked me with a hint of sympathy in his charming Greek-accented voice.

  “I'm doing fine, considering everything that has happened. Look Darian, I know you did not kill Annette but do you have any idea who could have done it? Do you have any enemies that would want you killed?” I asked. Darian smiled at me as if I was asking if Santa Clause really existed. I suppose to Darian, my question may have seemed naive, but I needed to get a grasp on the situation someway... somehow.

  “I have many enemies, my darling. Some even so bold as to attack me head on. This situation however, is something new to me, I have never been framed before.” He said smoothly, as if he wasn't the slightest bit concern about his predicament, only curious

  “Are you not worried? Are you starving yourself?” I asked. “I heard you refused to drink the synthetic blood”.

  Darian chuckled. “Worried? No. However, it seems that I am expected to drink this cursed synthetic travesty.” He said as he grimaced at a bottle of Synblood.

  “Well drink it, I don't want you to suffer if you don't have to. Xavier told me what happens to vampires if they don't feed.” I said concerned. Darian looked at me, a smile spreading across his lips. His boyish dimples lighting up his already gorgeous features. He walked to the table and picked up the bottle of synthetic blood, he twisted off the cap and took one sip from the bottle. After swallowing, you would have thought he had swallowed a mouthful of super-strength antiseptic by the expression on his face.

  “Horrible!” Darian declared with a shiver.

  I giggled. “You're carrying on badly!” I teased.

  Darian rolled his eyes playfully then began to drink the entire content of the bottle. After he had finished he tossed the bottle in the trash near the table and walked closer to me. He leaned against the bars and I slid my hand between them to caress the side of his face. My fingers ran down the cool smoothness of his jaw line. He had been clean shaven at the moment he became a vampire and remained that way. His face had not one wrinkle, his lips full and luscious, and I was eternally lost in the forest green of his eyes. His long jet black lashes and thick, arched eyebrows accented those already gorgeous eyes, making his gaze both dramatic and sensual. My eyes roamed over his body, I wondered what he did for a living before he was turned, because he appeared to be very muscular, I've always pictured him as a gladiator. But I suppose he didn't have enough scars to be a gladiator from what I could see. But then again, I had no idea how old he was and I've never seen him naked before. He watched me closely as I drifted off in my thoughts, when my eyes locked onto his, I came back to reality. Darian was incarcerated, Annette was gone and the real murderers are still out there.

  “Darian, do you have any idea why this has happened?” I asked.

  “I wish I knew, but I don't...I'm sorry,” he said, then he caressed my cheek, his fingers brushing my skin lightly. “I'm sorry about Annette, I know how dear a friend she was to you,” he said sympathetically.

  I could feel the tears threatening to erupt from me again and I forced them back. I looked at my watch, my time was up, the guard that escorted me to the cell had reappeared and was waiting by the door. I looked at Darian, he smiled and nodded.

  “I'll see you later, Xavier will be here next. Remember drink the bottled stuff even if you don't want to,” I told him.

  “Yes ma'am.” Darian said playfully. He took a hold of my wrist gently and kissed the back of my hand, his eyes remained locked to mine.

  “Goodbye, Natasha, be careful,” he said softly. “You too, Darian. And don't worry, we are going to clear your name and get you out of here, I promise!” “Of course.” Darian nodded slightly.

  I looked at him one last time, then turned and walked towards the guard, who locked the hallway door behind us. He led me back into the waiting room where Xavier was standing, still talking with the female and her male companion. The guard informed Xavier he could go in and reminded him that he had only fifteen minutes. Xavier nodded and disappeared down the hallway with the guard. I realized that I was now alone with the bitchy female and her equally bitchy companion... just great!

  I walked past them and sat down in one of the chairs. The female sat down in the chair opposite mine, her gaze fixed on me. I tried to ignore her penetrating glare, but I could not and I looked at her.

  “What!?” I asked, annoyed.

  “I'm simply trying to figure out what it is about you that can possibly interest Darian. You're just so plain.” She said snobbishly. Her French accent adding a certain arrogance to her words.

  I wanted to beat the living daylights out of her, she had her nerve!

  “Well, I obviously have what you're missing and that's what interests him.” I said in my most bitchy tone. I could see her jaw tightened. Her eyes widened, then narrowed becoming hard... resentful. Her male companion walked into the room and looked at the both of us.

  “He's found another woman to seduce, Elise. Like I told you... to Darian, you mean nothing, by all rights, we should not even be here!” he said as if trying to reason with her.

  She looked at him. “Sergio, you can leave at anytime. I'm going to help Darian.” She said this with a stubborn resolve.

  Well it seems that both she and I were batting for the same team, I just hope we did not have to meet again.

  “You know I'm not going to leave you alone, if this is what you're going to do, then you'll just have to do it with me at your side.” Sergio said, then he took the seat to Elise's left. Elise looked at me again.

  “I don't like you.” She said

  “Likewise.” I responded in kind.

  We sat in the little room in silence until Xavier returned. He leaned against the door frame as his eyes panned over Sergio, Elise then myself. He then walked close to where I sat, taking the seat next to mine. He took my hand in his and intertwined his fingers with my own. He felt warm, that meant he had fed for the evening. He looked over to Elise then he began to speak.

  “When I awoke this evening, I awoke to carnage. Our home had been ransacked, our human servants-slaughtered. I checked the nightclub which was in a similar condition. Thank goodness the club was closed, no one was working at that time. I don't know who they were, or what they were looking for. I don't know if they found what they were looking for. But I want to go back to our home perhaps we can gather more clues,” Xavier stated.

  I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Who would be so bold and stupid, I might add, as to rob a vampire's lair!?

  “That sounds like an excellent idea, perhaps we can sniff out something you've missed.” Elise said, then she began to rise, her long white cashmere coat brushing her ankles. “What about her, what's the purpose of her coming with us?” she asked boldly.

  “Natasha has an ability that can possibly lead us right to the killers if the right materials are there for her to form a connection. She is a psychic.” Xavier said as he rose from his seat, his hand extended towards me. I took his hand and he pulled me up gently from the chair.

  “I also have a dash of clairvoyance as well,” I said arrogantly. I hoped that would shut her up.

  “Fine...whatever,” she said, then she walked out of the room, followed by Sergio.

  I stopped Xavier before he could leave, he turned and looked at me questioningly.

  “What's wrong?” he asked.

  “What did you and Darian talk about?” I asked

  �
�I told him about the house and the nightclub, I also told him that Elise, you and I would be tracking down the killers. I've made some telephone calls last night and learned that Anthony, our previous day manager had been visited by a male and female the night...” Xavier trailed off. He looked at me, then continued. “The night before he disappeared. We knew that Anthony had been with the Russian mafia in the past but was no longer an active member. I want to find out who the two people were and what kind of connection they had with Anthony. I think we may find some clues tonight. Come on, let's go.”

  Xavier led the way as we exited the precinct. Elise and Sergio climbed into a silver Python sports car, Sergio behind the wheel, Elise sat in the passenger side. Xavier and I walked towards them, Xavier told them the directions to the mansion. Sergio nodded then started the engine. Xavier and I climbed into his own red two-door sports car the Viper, an expensive car built for speed with all of the luxury of a Boa. We zoomed on the expressway towards the mansion. Xavier's driving was very similar to Warren's and from the way Sergio was keeping up, he appeared to enjoy speeding as well.

  We soon arrived at a huge beautiful mansion, I've only seen these sort of homes on television when the camera goes inside the extravagant mansions of the rich and famous. This was my first time in Darian's and Xavier's home, I was a very excited. Sergio pulled in behind us and we all climbed out of the cars. Elise walked towards the front door, her long cashmere coat flapping in the wind as she practically glided towards the entrance. I did not like her but I had to admit, she did look pretty damn smooth. I did admire the design of her pale pink satin pantsuit, the way it accented her curves and skin tone. Sergio wasn't wearing a coat which gave me a great view of his body, he was extremely muscular and if my eyes were not deceiving me, he was packing some heat in the gentleman's department, if you know what I mean? I could see a pretty distinct imprint in the front of his blue jeans. I liked the way his white t-shirt hugged his toned torso. I took my eyes off the two of them and focused on Xavier, who in his own right was dangerously handsome. Xavier wore a black ribbed pullover shirt and boot-cut blue jeans and a black bomber jacket. He was extremely sexy, even the manner in which he moved was mesmerizing. I wondered how much of that was truly Xavier before his change?