Vampire Shift - By Tim O'Rourke Page 0,2

and he had such a deep cleft chin that it looked as if it had been made with a nail gun. Although he was clean shaven, the lower half of his face was shadowed where his black stubble hid just beneath the surface.

“I said, take no notice of the old fart,’” he smiled, and looked over my shoulder at Sergeant Murphy.

“You show some respect,’” Murphy said, but he didn’t sound angry, it was as if it were a joke that he shared with this officer.

Taking off his black raincoat and draping it over the counter, he turned to me and said, “I’m Luke Bishop.” Then smiling he added, “The one who does all the work around here.”

“You don’t know the meaning of the word,” Sergeant Murphy scoffed, and went back to his seat, where he propped his slippered feet up onto his desk and sucked on his pipe.

“So you must be Constable Hudson?” Luke asked.

“Kiera,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Good to meet you,” Luke said, and I couldn’t help but notice that he held my gaze just a little too long – long enough to make me feel uncomfortable. Looking away, I noticed the sign above the counter that read:

It is against the law to smoke anywhere on these premises.

Then looking over at my new sergeant with the pipe dangling from his mouth, he winked at me again and picked up some of the paperwork that littered his desk. I was immediately struck by the lack of professionalism Sergeant Murphy showed, and it felt at odds with the almost military style of policing instilled in me at training school.

“I thought you started your shift with us tomorrow night?” Luke said, cutting into my thoughts. “You’re a night early,” he smiled, and it was a smile that seemed to light up his whole face.

“I can’t find my digs,” I told him.

“Where you staying?” he asked.

“‘The Crescent Moon Inn,’” I said, and I couldn’t help but notice the look that passed between Luke and Sergeant Murphy across the counter.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

Shaking his head, Luke said, “No, there’s nothing wrong. I’ll show you where it is.” Throwing on his overcoat again and grabbing his helmet, I followed Luke outside. As I swung the police station door closed behind me, I could just see the top of Murphy’s head on the other side of the counter.

“Welcome to the sleepy town of The Ragged Cove, Kiera Hudson. I’ll see you tomorrow night at seven for the start of your first vampire shift.”

Not knowing what he meant, I let the door swing shut and I stepped out into the rain again.

“Is this yours?” Luke asked, looking at my beat-up old Mini. “Yeah, why?” I asked, feeling proud of my little red car.

“Nothing.” Luke grinned, going to the passenger side.

Opening my door, I got in. Throwing his helmet into the back, Luke wedged himself into the front seat. His legs were so long, that his knees seemed to rest just beneath his chin. Smiling to myself, I put the car into gear and we rumbled off up the street.

We sat in silence, and I felt uncomfortable. “So where is this Inn?” I asked him, trying to make conversation.

“It’s a mile or so up the road from here. Just take a right at the top,” he said.

“So what’s with the crucifix and all this stuff about starting my first ‘vampire shift’ tomorrow night?” I asked, above the sound of the wipers as they squeaked back and forth in the rain.

“Oh, that’s just the sarge trying to be funny,” Luke said, staring straight ahead into the dark. “I don’t think he was trying to be funny. It was as if he were trying to give me a warning,” I told him. Glancing sideways at me, Luke said, “Look, some strange things have happened here in the last few years or so, that’s all.” “What do you mean by ‘strange’?” I asked him, struggling to see in the dark. “Well, apart from some of the new recruits that have been sent from headquarters going missing, we’ve also had our fair share of grave desecrations and murders for such a small town,” Luke said, and looked back into the night.

“What do you mean by ‘missing’?” I asked, feeling intrigued rather than scared.

“Well, they don’t show up for work. One day they’re here and the next they’re gone. Not even so much as a goodbye,” Luke explained.

“What, they ask to be posted someplace else?” I asked.

“No, they just go