Lance was nearly out of his chair, gawking at the group. Just as Hugh said, Lucy was wearing a V-neck cotton shirt and no bandages. From where he sat, Lance couldn’t see any marks indicating she had been injured. “Well that is interesting. Still, I took the body in and he died from the usual causes, enzyme poisoning. The funny part was, it all seemed rather quick, didn’t it? I’ve never been bitten, but we’ve all heard Evan and Saba’s stories.”
Hugh shrugged and finished off his mug of coffee in one swallow. “Something’s up with that girl. Lona and I went over to her apartment to grab her some clothes and to bring back her cat. She’s here for a while, whatever the reason.” Hugh suddenly smiled, which was uncharacteristic, at least in Lance’s opinion. “Cute little kitten, you shoulda seen the tiny little thing! She fell asleep in the palm of my hand on the way back.”
Lance stared at Hugh as if he’d grown another head. “Hugh, a full grown Labrador could curl up and take a nap in the palm of your hand. Wow, who’d have known you were a softie for animals? Next thing I know you’ll be taking up needlepoint and advocating for gay rights.”
Hugh scowled. “Don’t push your luck, prancy pants.”
“Now, now, gentleman.” Miles, who had been walking past their table, seated himself in an empty chair and looked with mock severity between both men. “Do I need to recommend sensitivity training for the two of you?”
Evan was legend among EJC’s secret vampire hunting team’s staff for his unconventional method of pairing people with different personalities into teams, but Hugh and Lance were probably the greatest mystery. Hugh was a former Marine Drill Sargent, Southern Baptist, and fiercely anti-gay. Whereas Lance was openly gay, proudly non-religious, and fiercely anti-military. To everyone’s surprise, including their own, Lance and Hugh’s antics never escalated into a physical confrontation. However, after four years as partners neither had attained the level of tolerance that Evan required before he’d consider reassignment. Because of this, Miles was surprised when his lighthearted intervention failed to launch them into a tirade about each other’s character flaws. Instead, both men leaned closer to him with uncomfortably keen interest.
“Ah, I see,” Miles said and tipped his chair back, crossing his arms in front of him. “Okay boys, what are we betting on today?”
“You were so not kidding about Ida’s talents,” Lucy exclaimed while helping herself to another bowl of shrimp gumbo that put every other gumbo she had sampled since moving to New Orleans to shame.
“Save room for dessert,” Lona mumbled around a mouthful of fresh baked bread. “If I ate here every day I’d be fat.”
“Hush about calories!” Lucy scowled. “I’ll give myself a nice long guilt trip later. Right now I’m living in the moment, one fat gram at a time.”
“We have a state of the art work out facility at our disposal, Lucy,” Dara informed her with a wink. “Perhaps one day I’ll even be inspired to do more than peek in and think, ‘my gosh, that’s a state of the art work out facility!’”
All three women laughed. Evan, who had remained polite, but silent through most of the meal, just shook his head at Abe in unspoken male camaraderie.
“Don’t look at me!” Abe protested. “I’m with Dara. It looks like an exceptionally effective work out facility for those who are inclined to work out.” He gave a pat to his slightly bulging midsection, which incited another bout of laughter.
“Yeah well you don’t have to work out, do you?” Lucy directed her comment at Dara. “Why wasn’t I blessed with the skinny vampire gene?”
“Not all vampires are skinny,” Abe answered. “But don’t worry, we’ll need to do a more extensive physical exam and find out exactly what your dietary and exercise needs are.”
“Whoa, one thing at a time, Doc!” Lucy waved her spoon at him. “One major life changing event a week, if you don’t mind. I got bit by a vampire and found out I am one, so I’m going to need my comfort food, ok?”
“No more surprises for now,” Evan assured her. “Some more information, but considering the fact that you’ve spoken to both Bellona and Ida today, I don’t think there will be anything too shocking. For a secret organization we seem to have an unusual amount of loose lips.” He leveled a pointed stare at Lona.
“Don’t look at me, Ida outed you before I even got back this afternoon,” Lona protested.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Lucy cut in. “I pretty much guessed what you do about the time Miles and company showed up in the cemetery and started killing vampires. But to be fair, Lona just explained her own situation, and I’m glad she did, it puts things in perspective.” Lucy hesitated, she wasn’t sure if she would be getting Lona into trouble for mentioning the supposed job offer, but decided she didn’t want to prolong anything either. “But on some other things that were brought up, well, I’d prefer to hear about them directly from you before I lose sleep over it.”
Lona looked like she was going to say something else, but Evan cut her off with a meaningful look. “Lucy,” Evan said slowly, “other than her own history, what else did Lona discuss with you today?”
Lucy considered lying. “She mentioned you were recruiting,” she said vaguely.
“I see.” Evan frowned and Lona bit her lip. “Don’t worry. I’ve long since accepted that despite the sensitive nature of our work here, both as a legitimate research company and elsewise, no one in my employ has the ability to keep anything a secret unless it’s a matter of life or death. I admit that we’ve had our eye on you for a while, though I also admit, we didn’t think you carried the enzyme. Had we looked into your grandmother’s file earlier, we would have probably asked you to come in for tests. The enzyme is hereditary, you see.”
Lucy gave Evan a questioning look. “How’d you get my grandmother’s DNA?”
“It isn’t unusual for companies, especially research companies on the government’s payroll, to have access to some medical data about public officials,” Evan explained. “Understand that while our little ‘problem’ appears to be local, there is a branch of national government that is aware of the true nature of this particular project. That, however, is all that I am allowed to say on that subject. As I was saying, I wanted to bring you in for tests immediately, but Miles convinced me to wait. He said you had a lot on your mind. Last night, once we had your initial results, that changed the game a bit. Genetically, you’re at the top of a very short list of candidates for the type of work that we do here. I won’t allow anyone on the team who doesn’t carry the enzyme. Not that we deliberately hunt down vampires and let them drink our blood, but it is comforting knowing we have another line of defense should a struggle arise.”
“I guess that the enzyme is handy, but I’m sure vampire hunting requires a lot of skill,” Lucy noted.
“That is true,” Evan replied. “My team is comprised of men and women who have a background in combat. Most are ex-military or law enforcement and two are black belts in martial arts. I know you don’t have any of that, but neither does my nephew, Andre, and he’s one of my most trusted hunters. You remind me of my nephew in some ways. You’re both very observant, and in this line of work, observation can be more important to survival than ten black belts.”
Lucy was quite sure that the difference between being able to recognize a vampire and killing a vampire was bigger than Evan was making it out to be, but she kept this to herself.
“I would have liked to give you more time to get to know us and what we do, but since it’s on the table, yes, I am planning on recruiting you, if you are agreeable. Understand that there is a lot of information that we haven’t covered, but based on what you know now, are you interested in joining us?”
Lucy sat silently for a moment. Hearing Lona casually mention that Evan might try to recruit her was very different from the reality of the moment. Rather than reluctantly following in her grandmother’s footsteps, she would be obliterating the footsteps of a father she had never known. Just once, she thought, she’d
like to have a say in her own destiny. Out of nervous habit, she began toying with a butter knife, spinning it between her fingers, until it disappeared from her hand, and seem to reappear out of thin air. Evan watched her hands with interest.
“I guess this is the point where I accept that everything I’ve been exposed to in the last twenty-four hours is real,” Lucy said at last. “You’re absolutely right, I have no experience. The last fight I had was in the third grade with Alison Levy over a Barbie doll. I had bodyguards for most my life and they didn’t even see any action. I was in the drama club and on the debate team. The closest I’ve ever come to any kind of martial arts training was some basic self-defense that my grandmother insisted upon after one of my classmates was kidnapped for ransom. If you’re banking on some hitherto unknown prowess, then you’re going to be sadly disappointed. But,” Lucy said and leveled a stern look at Evan, “if you were banking on playing my emotions by letting Lona tell me what happened to her, then well played. My grandmother did drill in the philosophy of doing what I know is right.”
Evan’s eyes crinkled in a smug smile. “I didn’t tell Bellona to say anything.”
“Oh I know,” Lucy threw a smug smile of her own back at him. “You just so happened to imply that she was involved, gave her the choice of whether to tell me or not, and purposefully omitted her from your recollection of how you came to possess the knowledge that she led you to gain about the bad guys. Yes,” Lucy acknowledged the look of guilty surprise that Evan had, “one of the great things about living life in the shadows of people more important than you, especially in Washington, is learning to see that what is important is what isn’t being said. If I agree to train, I’m assuming that there’s an orientation at the least, if not a Killing Vampires 101 course I need to take?”
Evan wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement now. “Training is extensive, yes.”
“Good,” Lucy nodded and plowed onward. “I’ll train, but I’m not going to accept the position unless you, me, and whoever else on your staff that makes the decisions are all in agreement that I am able to do this.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Evan agreed. “I know you aren’t officially accepting the position, but there is paperwork involved. If you are to be hired, this would be a legitimate job offer, meaning I’ll need you to fill out an application, tax withholding forms, and insurance and benefits release forms. We can take care of that now, if you’d like.”
Lucy stopped fidgeting and the knife fell back onto the table. “Okay you’ve stumped me. How do you register Vampire Slayer with the IRS?”
“On paper you’ll be applying for the position of patent research analyst. It won’t be a lie. You’re going to be given access to some technology that isn’t on the market right now. Some of that will eventually make it to the consumer market. I think you’ll enjoy that aspect, Miles says you’re a bit of a gadget junkie.”
Lucy bristled, slightly embarrassed by the comment. “Just because I have a few electronics doesn’t make me a junkie. My laptop's like, at least two years out of date!”
“That is a blatant lie.” Miles appeared out of nowhere and set two large pots of coffee on the table. “Lucy once had a panic attack because she left her phone at the shop and all she was doing was traveling two blocks to pick up a pizza.”
Because he was right and she had no good rebuttal, Lucy stuck her tongue out at him.
“Really!” Lona rolled her eyes and gestured at the two full pots of coffee. “Are you going to drink all of that?”
Miles clutched the coffee pots protectively. “Some of us have to work tonight.”
“And some of us would rather you didn’t get arrested for peeing in an alley!” Lona said with a look that made Lucy wonder if that had ever happened.
“Almost got arrested,” Miles answered the look Lucy gave him. “Luckily, I knew the guy on duty and he was cool.”
Lucy laughed, but vowed privately that if Evan did ask her to work for him, and she accepted, she would need to lay off the coffee.
“So it looks like I got here just in time,” Miles said with a wink. “The wonder twins just made the funniest bet and I get the pleasure of telling them they both lost.”
Dara shook her head and groaned. “You’ll also come to realize that in addition to being a bunch of gossips, this crew has a bad habit of betting on any and all tidbits of information that come through the grapevine. Miles is the worst, but those two are a close second.”
Lucy looked over to where everyone else’s attention had been and recognized Hugh’s seven-foot frame as one of her rescuers. The younger blonde man, whose athletic build might have been impressive had it not been dwarfed by Hugh’s presence, she did not recognize, but she assumed he was Lance, the other person from the previous night.
“What was the bet about?” She asked, knowing it probably had something to do with her.
Miles burst into laughter. When he caught his breath, he explained. “Hugh, or Mt. Dixon as he’s better known, thinks you’re a vampire and Lance, the pretty boy, thinks you’ve got hunter’s blood and that Evan’s over here trying to recruit you.”
Lucy laughed. “Well, they’re both right as well as wrong. I wanted to thank them for what they did last night. Do you think I can deliver the news as well?”
“And spread the rumors before I’ve even got your signature on the contract yet?” Evan protested, but Lucy pouted. “Fine, have fun. But Lucy,” Evan warned with a stern look, “keep the part about your unique enzyme level to yourself. I do worry that some of our secrets are making it to the streets.”
“I can’t really talk about what I don’t fully understand, can I?”
“You’ll understand soon enough,” Evan looked at his watch. “I’ve got to get ready for tonight. Dara will bring you up to my office in an hour and we’ll get the paperwork out of the way. After that, the night is yours, enjoy yourself, relax. Lona and Dara have my permission to answer any questions you might have.”
Lucy thanked Evan and made her way across the room. Even though she knew they saw her coming, both Hugh and Lance pretended to just notice her when she approached them.
“Hello there.” Lucy smiled warmly, seating herself in the chair that Miles had previously occupied. “I’m Lucy. I just wanted to thank you two for what you did last night. I’m sure following Miles’ friends isn’t part of your normal job description.”
“Ain’t no such thing as normal in our job description, Ms. Lucy,” Hugh rumbled in a deep baritone fitting of his immense size. “Hugh Dixon.” He started to extend his hand to shake hers, but hesitated. Lucy noticed and suppressed a mischievous smile. Instead, she held out her own hand and pursed her lips in mock disdain.
“I might be a vampire, but I was raised in polite society, Mr. Dixon.” Lucy could almost see the dollar signs flashing in Hugh’s eyes as his hand shot out to engulf hers.
“My apologies, I’ve come to expect folks to consider any move I make as threatening, so I wasn’t sure you’d shake my hand or run,” Hugh covered smoothly.
Lance rolled his eyes and shot a withering glance at Hugh before gracing Lucy with a wide, too perfect to be natural smile. “Ignore him, honey, Hugh’s just a big ol’ teddy bear, ain’t that right?” Hugh scowled, but Lance ignored him. “Lance Fields at your service,” he drawled and grasped Lucy’s hand in both of his. “So what brings you to our cozy little clubhouse?”
Lucy glanced at Hugh, realizing that he had the capability to squash her like a bug for the letdown she was about to bestow upon him. “I’m uh, Evan offered me a job.”
“Oh?” Lance’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “What kind of a job?”
Both men were now looking at her with confusion and keen interest.
“Well,” Lucy choked slightly, realizing how preposterous she sounded. “Actually, uh, the same job as you two.”
“But you’re a vampire!” Hugh exclaimed somewhat louder than he meant to, causing the chatter from surrounding
tables to momentarily cease.
Lucy blushed and looked around. “Well yeah, but only half. My mother was human and passed along the enzyme that all you guys have too.”
Lance brightened visibly. “Is that so?” He smirked at Hugh.
“Yeah.” Lucy bit her lip to keep from laughing at their not so secret exchanges. “So I guess that means you both get to keep your money. Anyway,” she stood up and bowed slightly towards both men. “Thank you again. It was nice meeting you both. See you later!” Lucy twirled on her heels and jogged back to her table and the promise of dessert.
Hugh stared blankly at the spot Lucy had vacated. “Did that just happen?”
“It sure did,” Lance nodded, equally dazed. “I like her, the girl’s got balls.”
“Don’t she need the bat to go with them balls for you to like her?” Hugh taunted.
“Don’t be vulgar,” Lance admonished. “I mean it though, she’ll fit in. I don’t think Lucy is going to have to deal with the usual rookie BS.”
“We’ll see.” Hugh studied Lucy, who was now heaping chocolate mousse onto her plate. “The kid’s got a pair, but I think she’s greener than most. We’ll see what happens.”
“You said the same thing about me,” Lance countered.
“True,” Hugh admitted, “but who’d have known your prissy ass had five different black belts.”
“And that I’d mop the floor with you the first time we sparred? Remember that,” Lance advised, “because you’re probably training her and I’ll re-bet my fifty that Lucy has a few more surprises up her sleeve.”
It was well after midnight before Lucy finished filling out the forms associated with the job.
“Excellent,” Evan yawned, stuffing the papers into a manila envelope. “I’ll run these over to HR in the morning. Now, get some rest, and sleep in. I don’t have to tell you that this is going to be a third shift job and I’d like you to be acclimated to the schedule well before you take to the streets.”
The Eyes of the Sun: The Complete Trilogy Page 7