“Ha. Fucking. Ha,” I say dryly, which makes Finn laugh as we walk out the door to the cars. When I head for my own car to save myself from being near Finn and Marcus, I’m steered toward their vehicle by Finn.
And while Marcus bickers about how much nicer it would’ve been to leave me behind, I get into the back seat with DeGray.
“DeGray, you’ve been so quiet lately, is something wrong?” Finn asks as he turns around in his seat to face him.
DeGray glances over at me, clearly the worst liar around. “No, just thinking. A bit tired too.”
I pull out my phone, hopefully proving to DeGray that I’m not going to just start spouting shit he doesn’t want spouted. When I glance down at it, I see I have a message from Claude. After the only date I got conned into going on with him, I told him he could text me once a day. Which means he decides to write a book every time he sends one text to fit it all in.
The Annoying One: Sorry I didn’t get to say bye. I know, I know, I’m only allowed one text a day, so I’ll just make it a really long one. Ha ha! That’s what he said. Anyway, today I started moving into my new house, but I haven’t owned a house in years so it feels kind of strange. Because I love learning about new cultures, I just traveled all over the world, but it’s been nice here with my brother, so I think I’m going to hang around for a while. Will you come see the new house? I’m forcing Marcus and Finn to come see it tonight, and if you’d like, you could come with them, and I can give you a tour. What about you? How is your day going?
I stare at the text for a while before sighing loudly. I don’t want to get involved with anyone. I currently have a few acquaintances and a small handful of closer friends, which is more than I want. I can’t let myself have more, and if I did, it wouldn’t be someone like Claude. We clash far too much when he’s so outgoing and easy to be around and I’m… not. I’d need someone…
I glance down at the text.
Me: Depends. Will you be there?
The Annoying One: LOL You always make me laugh. Yes, I will, but that’s the best part! I can show you my library. It’s the only thing I currently have moved in. I can’t wait for you to come over!
Oh lord. What did I just agree to?
“It’s called a penis sling,” Finn says.
What the hell kind of conversation did I just come back to? Thankfully, we arrive before I have to find out.
The crime scene is at a suburban house just on the outskirts of town. There’s tape up to keep people from loitering around on the sidewalk. The human police must have been the first to respond, but as soon as they figured out it was a case involving a vampire, it must have been pushed over to the VRC, since all vampire-related cases are. It doesn’t matter whether the vampire is the victim or the killer, any case related to vampires gets sent to the VRC. The issue with that is the VRC is so understaffed that we end up having to do the jobs of multiple people and get pushed from job title to job title depending on what works and fits for the individual case.
Marcus, being the eldest and strongest of us, generally takes charge. This means that as soon as we get out of the vehicle, he glares at the neighbors loitering around—sending them quickly on their way—ducks under the tape, and hurries on toward the house without stopping for anyone.
And in his wake is Finn, smiling and thanking the officers and nicely telling the terrified people to move along.
They’re so different and weird together. Or maybe they’re just weird.
That’s probably what it is.
I follow after them as they head into the house. I can instantly smell blood, but it doesn’t seem to be coming from one area. A human officer walks up and gives us a nod.
“Where’s the body of the vampire?” Marcus asks, always right to the point.
“We haven’t found one yet, but the blood is thickest in the living room.”