by Primo, Jaz
“Congratulations to both of you,” Katrina offered. “May you be very happy together.” Of the group, she was the least surprised, given that Alton had alluded to a companion the previous fall during their tracking of Chimalma.
“Here, here,” Caleb added.
“So, you’ve finally taken the plunge, old man,” Paige teased, eliciting a groan from Alton while Dori giggled.
“I’m equally honored, dearest, as well as indescribably happy,” Dori demurred as she gazed upon Alton with adoration, at which each person sipped from their glass.
Paige pulled up a spare chair from a nearby table while Dori warmly repeated how she had met Alton. Though Caleb had already heard the story from her earlier in the day, he appreciated the charming tone that Dori used to deliver it.
Katrina held Caleb’s hand in her own while listening to the recounting, and she thoughtfully beheld him as she recalled their own courtship. However, unlike their story, Alton and Dori seemed to have shared a more methodical and graceful courtship. She was very happy for her friend and hoped that they would have a long, happy relationship together, though she fleetingly wondered if Dori would be joining the ranks of vampires at some future point. Likely, her former mentor had already weighed such prospects well before declaring Dori his mate.
One thing about Alton, he’s thorough, she credited.
As Dori finished her brief story, Paige imperiously arched one eyebrow and asked, “And why are we just now hearing about Dori?”
“I’m not one to kiss and tell,” Alton slyly replied.
“Rather, you’re just not one to tell, period,” Paige remarked before sipping at her wine.
“Alton’s merely a very private person while he deliberates,” Dori diplomatically observed. “I respect that, actually.”
“As you can see, Dori understands me all too well,” Alton said with a gracious nod.
A few minutes passed in idle conversation until Paige upended her glass, sat it on the table, and announced, “Well, sorry, but I have to run. The major wants me to personally review the perimeter of the conference grounds and then check in with each of our second shift guards before our evening briefing.”
“He’s sure keeping you busy,” Caleb observed.
“It seems the major’s big on delegation,” Paige mumbled.
She patted Alton and Katrina on the shoulder, congratulated Dori and gave Caleb a quick peck on the cheek before departing the dining room in a virtual blur.
“I like her,” Dori said.
“Paige is a hoot,” Caleb happily agreed.
“She’s quite a character,” Katrina dryly observed while possessively watching her mate.
Caleb innocently shrugged, sensing that the peck to his cheek had caught Katrina’s attention and not in a positive way.
“Well, I regret that Katrina and I must leave you two for the time being,” Alton announced. “But I hope you’ll both enjoy the sites in Podjelje.” He glanced at his watch and added, “I believe the shuttle is leaving in the next twenty minutes or so.”
After hasty goodbyes, Katrina and Alton retreated to Alton’s room to prepare the next day’s agenda, while Caleb and Dori proceeded to the front of the hotel. As they boarded the small tour bus along with a group of fellow hotel guests, Aiden Henderson and his vampire companion, Talise, waved to them. Caleb and Dori took the empty seat in front of them and turned to visit. The journey to town was less than scenic for the human passengers as the bus traversed the often darkened mountain road, but the vampires occasionally commented on the splendid surroundings, including the heights of surrounding peaks.
The small town of Podjelje was a short distance from the conference site, but it seemed farther in the shroud of darkness outside. However, the town itself was well-lit by antique street lamps and the inviting luminance cast through the windows of small, street-side shops that appeared to have extended hours for the visitors. The bus pulled to the side of the town’s central street, and everyone disembarked. The driver announced that two hours remained before their planned return to the hotel, leaving ample time to browse.
Caleb noticed that a couple of the vampire security guards were among the group, while the streets were patrolled by no fewer than three other local police officers. He momentarily wondered if the townspeople knew the true nature of some of the hotel guests. Surely, it must have been unusual for a busload of tourists to show up in town well past sunset.
“A penny for your thoughts, Caleb?” Dori asked while they walked behind Talise and Aiden, who held hands in front of them.
“Aw, nothing really,” he evasively replied. “Just my usual musings.”
She glanced sidelong at him and observed, “I was wondering what we must seem like to the town. Most of these shops must have been asked to stay open well past their typical closing times.”
He sharply looked at her. “Are you a mind-reader or something?”
She shrugged. “Me? Hardly. Just considering all of the angles.”
“You’re Alton’s dream-mate for sure,” he quipped.
She giggled as they walked the quaint town street together. They perused the various shops for over an hour, which included a bookstore, two clothing boutiques, drugstore, hobby shop, antiques dealer, and local glassware vendor. Finally, they entered a candy shop where they purchased some chocolates to share.
They continued their walk, nearly reaching the opposite end of town, when Caleb pointed to a souvenir shop set off to one side of the street next to where the forest skirted the town limits. The four of them entered the moderately-sized building, noticing that the shop also served as an import service and distributor of fine silks.
Caleb picked out a small handful of novelties and was perusing the shelves near a small window when something caught his eye. The window looked out towards the nearby forest and a small brick building that appeared to be an automobile repair shop. A small exterior light attached to the building illuminated the area enough to see four men standing next to a nondescript delivery van. Three of the men he didn’t recognize, though by the uniform one appeared to be a local police official. However, he clearly recognized the fourth person as Baldar Dubravko.
One of the men accompanied the police official into the van, and the vehicle proceeded further into the forest via a worn dirt road. The other man and Dubravko watched the van depart before turning and entering the small building.
I wonder what they’re up to?
“Caleb, everything okay?” Dori asked as she touched his arm to get his attention.
He jumped slightly with surprise and snapped, “Be-jeezus!”
He quickly tried to collect his wits while running his hand through his hair. “Sorry. You startled me.”
She looked at him with some concern and gazed out the window with a curious expression.
“What did you see out there?” she whispered.
He frowned at her sudden change in behavior from innocently curious to suspicious and whispered, “Baldar Dubravko, a police officer, and two other men. Not really sure what they were doing.”
Dori took note of her surroundings before offering, “Let’s talk about it outside.”
He made his way to the front of the store where he paid for his novelties, and they walked out onto the sidewalk. Aiden whistled from down the street and waved at them as he and Talise entered another shop.
Dori turned to stroll casually alongside Caleb and asked, “Now tell me.”
He recounted the strange scene and waited as she quietly mulled over his revelations.
Finally, she offered, “Maybe it’s nothing, just Dubravko conferring with associates.”
“You don’t really think that, do you?”
“Not really. Alton suspected that Dubravko might be up to something. It’s doubtful that he supports the goal of the summit, despite his financial backing for renovating and upgrading the hotel’s accommodations.”
“What then?” he pressed, his mind racing with a host of possibilities
all at once.
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“We could follow the van,” he suggested.
She bit her lower lip and studied her watch.
“Not a bad idea, really.”
Someone cleared their throat nearby, and they turned to see a local police officer standing not far from them. He wasn’t the one whom Caleb had seen from the shop window, but rather one who had been patrolling the streets when they first arrived.
“You are guests from the hotel?” the officer asked with a strong Slovene accent.
“Yes, we’re just shopping,” Dori replied, turning on her charm.
“The shuttle, it leaves very soon,” the man observed. “You should return to the loading area,” he politely suggested, though with an insistent tone.
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “Thank you.”
The officer watched them walk back towards the bus. Barely twenty minutes later, the bus departed for the hotel, and Caleb and Dori were still ignorant regarding the nature of Dubravko’s activities.
After returning to the hotel, they bid goodnight to Talise and Aiden and looked at each other with tentative expressions as they stood near a small fountain not far from the bus.
“So, how do you feel about a daytime stroll around town tomorrow?” Caleb asked.
Dori adopted a shrewd expression. “Why Caleb, I thought you’d never ask.”
Caleb took a shower and wondered when Katrina would finish working with Alton. Somehow, he suspected it would be a while, so he passed the time in the suite sitting on the couch reading some materials that he had packed in his luggage for the trip.
He pulled out a recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, which was renowned for its insight into relevant issues of the day affecting colleges and universities. The latest issue discussed the financial challenges of colleges during the recent nationwide economic downturn. One article decried the folly of releasing non-tenured faculty members from their contracts in order to save money.
It was the last thing he remembered reading before falling asleep.
Katrina entered the hotel suite and was surprised to find the lights on, as it was well after three in the morning. She quickly spied Caleb leaning back against the couch with his head cocked to one side, his mouth slightly ajar, and a newspaper absently strewn across his lap.
The scene fondly reminded her of when she used to watch him through his apartment window from the vantage point of his fire escape.
I was quite the stalker back then, she quipped while kneeling at his side.
She lightly ran her fingertips across his cheek, concerned by how uncomfortable he appeared in his sprawled position.
He stirred slightly, and she kissed Caleb on the forehead. He smiled, suddenly realizing that she was next to him, and began to stretch.
She helped him from the couch, and he half-staggered into the bedroom. She held the covers aside as he slipped beneath the sheets, and she kissed him on the lips.
“I’ll just take a shower and be right back,” she promised, and then shed her clothes.
Caleb intended to remain awake for her, but quickly succumbed to sleep once more.
Katrina finished her shower and shook her head at his slumbering form as she exited the bathroom. Instead, she appreciated the time lying in bed next to him for a few hours while contemplating the early events of the conference.
It appeared that she would have less time to spend with Caleb than she had originally planned, and she hoped he would understand. Then again, it wasn’t as if she were particularly happy about the development herself, and she silently cursed Alton for getting her involved at such key levels.
Yet she was beginning to share Alton’s concern for the implications of an unsuccessful end to the summit and felt compelled to support him.
Time passed quickly as she lay beside him, appreciating his rhythmic heartbeat and falling into a sort of meditative trance. She even dozed for an hour or so, though she was actually still days from needing any sleep.
When she finally stirred and noted the clock on the nightstand, it was time for her to rise again. She gently slipped from beneath the sheets, dressed, applied some makeup, and lightly kissed him on the forehead. After placing a note on his nightstand, she quietly departed the room.
Upon waking, Caleb immediately realized that Katrina was no longer next to him, and he groaned.
Gone already? Dammit, he silently cursed, wishing that he could be a vampire and not waste valuable time sleeping.
He never even had a chance to discuss what he saw in town the night before.
Maybe Dori told Alton, he hoped.
He rubbed his eyes and reached over to read the note on his nightstand.
Dearest Caleb,
Sorry I was so late last night, my love. It will probably be another long day in the conference, so try to do some sightseeing on your own. I’ll see you tonight, and I’ll make it up to you somehow. (Use your imagination!)
Love,
Kat
He placed the note back on his nightstand.
This trip is going to end up as a scrapbook full of scenic pictures and notes from Kat, he sardonically determined.
He dressed, shaved, and took the time to check his email on his notebook. After checking his personal messages, he logged into his college account.
Unfortunately, the article he had read the night before about college budgets’ being tightened was prescient. Robert Fulton Community College was expecting harsh budget reductions as they looked to the new fiscal year, slated to begin July 1. Among the list of reductions in travel expenses and supply purchases was a possibility of staff reductions. Apparently, more information would be forthcoming in the coming week once the legislature had allocated funds to state agencies, including funding to higher education via the State Regent’s Office.
He shook his head, hoping it wouldn’t come to that.
He shut down his notebook and called Dori before proceeding to the hotel restaurant for a late breakfast. She was already seated at a table in the corner when he arrived.
“Good morning,” she happily greeted as he sat down.
“Ready for a little sleuthing?” he asked in a mock-conspiratorial tone.
Her eyes darted around her. “You mean, sightseeing, don’t you?”
He tried not to look too obvious as his eyes swept the room. Other than some other human companions eating or visiting, he didn’t spot anybody within hearing range and certainly no vampires.
“Um, yeah, sightseeing,” he agreed with a quirky expression.
She’s awfully serious about this spy stuff, he observed.
A pensive, yet polite, waitress took their orders, and they passed the time casually visiting while waiting for their food. No mention was made about their suspicions from the previous evening or about their plans for the day other than going into town to peruse the shops at length.
Dori said that the shuttle was leaving for town within the hour. They quickly finished eating and made their way outdoors to sit and wait until the shuttle was available for boarding.
It was a beautiful day, and the scenery was breathtaking. For the first time since his arrival, Caleb looked forward to enjoying the sights unimpeded by darkness. He only wished that he could share his experiences with Katrina, and he momentarily lamented her shared chairmanship responsibilities with Alton.
Upon arriving in town, there was far more activity than the prior evening. Citizens went about their business shopping or doing errands, while tourists blended into the scene before them. Caleb noted that, unlike the previous night, there were three human hotel guards, though they sported only small side arms. No local police were evident, save for an empty patrol car parked across the street from where their shuttle was parked.
Rather than go to the souvenir shop where Caleb had seen Baldar Dubravko, Dori led him to a nearby crafts shop where they browsed at length. And while he pretended to be interested, he couldn’t have been more bor
ed in his life.
However, she seemed to gauge his interest level, because she smiled to herself as she perused the crafts. In the end, she purchased a couple of knick-knacks before they finally left.
“Oh please, do try a little harder, won’t you?” she sincerely pleaded. “Patience, Caleb.”
The two walked down the street in the direction of the souvenir shop, but halted some distance away from the establishment as Dori abruptly sat on a park bench beneath an awning. She removed a small ceramic figurine of an angel from her bag and examined it.
Caleb joined her. “Why did we stop?”
“So that we have a few moments to survey the area. Did you happen to look for surveillance cameras last night? I know I didn’t,” she whispered even while studying the delicate figurine.
She absently observed the area, much like a tourist taking in the sights.
“You have practice at this, don’t you?” he suspiciously asked.
He felt there was more to the young woman than met the eye, and his curiosity was piqued.
“Me? I’m just a curious tourist passing the time? Aren’t you?” she meaningfully countered. “There’s an older video camera in front of that jewelry store across the street, but I suspect it’s just watching the shop’s entrance,” she said.
They sat for a few minutes, and Caleb took the time subtly to mimic her method of casually surveying the area. It helped for him to repeat the mantra “curious tourist” in his head.
“Video camera in front of the repair shop next to the souvenir place, but I think it can only view the front of the building and maybe part of the area in front of the shop,” he said while gazing at the figurine in her hand.
“Very good, Caleb,” she complimented. “You catch on quickly.”
“Should we try an alleyway or something?” he suggested.
Her piercing violet eyes playfully pored over him as she replied, “Alton said you were a clever young man who thought quickly on his feet. Now, I can see why.”