Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 29

Chapter 29Paying Respects gibibyte Bendetti want his job, real liked his job. It was a government job, of sorts, so the benefits were good and the work easy. He liked working nights, too, it was quiet and he was usually in the morgue by himself, so he didnt catch to feel self-conscious intimately his weight or his bad skin. He liked playing with com tackers and the lab equipment, and he liked respond the phone and acting official. Being the night man at the coroners office would cede been a large job even if he didnt get to fuck the fallen, notwithstanding with that, it was heaven.Tonight Gilbert was bubbling with anticipation. They had rotate Miss Right in that afternoon and left him explicit instructions not to wander her outside(a), entirely to let her sit fall forth to thaw for the autopsy. Some psycho had put her in a freezer. demented bastard had put TV dinners down the stairs her arms. Now she was curled up on a gurney, tease him. That cocktail dress, that g oing hair he could hardly wait.He check over the log and tuck awayed his skin books in the desk drawer, therefore loosened his lab coat and went down the hall to test her for flexibility. The last time he checked shed started to get a little flexibility, but he knew that inside she was well frigid, despite the Salisbury-steak gravy dribble from low her arms.He pushed through the glass entrance into the holding room and there she was, tho as he had left her, her pouty lips beckoning to him, her agreeable legs curled up behind her.My angel, Gilbert said, shall I help you with those vexing panty hose?He straightened her legs on the gurney and pushed her skirt up. She was still a little chilly, but she was movable. Good, once rigor mortis set in, passion could put you into positions that would challenge a yoga master. Gilbert had thrown his foulward out more than once.Her panty hose were sheer black, but except for her right big toe, her feet were dusty. She must curb been walking in her stocking feet. Indulging himself in near foreplay, Gilbert had sucked her big toe clean in brief after they brought her in. Foreplay, sorta.He considered testing her with the meat thermometer, but she was so perfect, he didnt want to mark that lovely body. He reached up under her skirt, grabbed the waistband of her panty hose, and began to work them down.Black interlock panties, my goodness He tried to remember her name, then(prenominal) checked her toe tag. My goodness, Jody, how did you bed I liked black lace?He peeled her panty hose off, stopping to loosen the toe tag first, then ran his men up her thighs after the lace panties.And a natural redhead, Gilbert said, dropping the panties on the traumatise. He stepped back a moment to admire her and slip out of his lab coat. He locked the wheels on the gurney, pulled the TV dinners out from under her arms, and unzipped his pants.This is going to be so good. So good. He climbed over the end of the gurn ey, careful to quell balanced. Nothing ruined the mood more than toppling to the linoleum and bashing your skull.He licked a path up the inside of her leg.Tommy, that tickles, she said.Gilbert looked up. No, its my imagination. He returned to his plea positive(predicate).No, let me shower first, she said. She sat up.Gilbert pushed himself backward so violently that the gurney went up on its end, dumping Jody on the floor. Gilbert backed away from her holding his chest, his breath refusing to come, bis wasting willy waving in front of him.Jody climbed to her feet. Who are you?Gilbert couldnt talk. He couldnt breathe. It felt as if barbed fit out had been looped around his heart and was being yanked by a team of horses. He backed into a steering wheel of drawers, banging his head.Jody looked around. How did I get here? Answer me.Gilbert gasped and fell to his knees.Wheres Tommy? And where the fuck are my panties?Gilbert was shaking his head. He rolled on his side, took two more to rtured breaths, and died.Hey Jody said. I need some answers here.Gilbert didnt answer. Jody watched the black air of his expiry fade away, leaving only the residual heat soupcon of his body.Sorry, she said.She looked around the gurney, the big file drawers of the dead, the instruments of dissection this authorized looked like the morgues in the movies. Something had gone seriously ill-treat while she slept.She checked her watch, but it was gone. The skirt clock over Gilberts body read 1 a.m.why did I wake up so late? Ive got to square off Tommy and find out what happened.She picked up her panties from the floor and wiggled into them. The panty hose she left where they lay, instead looking around for her shoes. She didnt jibe them. She didnt see her purse anywhere either.Money. Im going to need cab fare.She crouched by Gilberts body and rifled through his pockets, coming up with xxx dollars and some reposition. Almost as an afterthought she tucked his exposed member bac k into his pants and zipped him up.I did that for your family, not for you, she said. Then thought, Im getting worse than Tommy, lecture to dead people.She started toward the door, then stopped and looked at the wall of drawers. The scenario cane over her like a sudden sneeze.Tommy is probably in one of those drawers. The vampire crop uped him, and when the coroner came, they thought I was dead too. exclusively why did he spare me? And why did it take so long to wake up? Maybe it was that med student. Maybe when I missed the meeting he told the cops when to find me. But he didnt cut how to find me.She went though the glass doors and down the hall where she stopped at the phone and called the loft. No answer. She dialed the Marina Safeways number.Marina Safeway. She recognized Simon McQueens drawl.Simon, this is Jody. I need to talk to Tommy.Who? Who did you say you were?Its Jody. Tommys girl maven. I need to deliver to him.Simon was quiet for a moment. When he finally spoke, h is voice was an octave lower. You dont go where Flood is?Hes not there?Nope.Is he okay?In a manner of handlein, hes okay. What about you? You feelin all right?Yes, Simon, Im fine. Wheres Tommy? good, aint you a wonder. Youre sure you feel okay?Yes. Wheres Tommy?I cant tell you over the phone. Ill come get you. Where are you?Im not sure practiced a second. Jody ran to the front door. The address was printed on the glass. She went back to the phone and gave Simon an address two blocks away.let me get psyche to cover my section. Ill be there in a half hour.Thanks, Simon. Jody hung up. What in the hell was going on?While she waited for Simon to arrive, Jody parried the propositions of two guys in a Mercedes who had mistaken her for a hooker. Not an irrational mistake considering she was standing barefoot on a back street in a necked cocktail dress on a cold San Francisco night. Finally, when she told them she was an undercover cop, their resolve softened and they drove off suspe nsion system their heads.Simon rounded the corner five minutes later and skidded to a stop in a hide of smoking rubber and testosterone. He threw the door open for her.Get in.Jody leaped into the passenger seat. Simon seemed a little affect that she hadnt used the two steps mounted under the door. Youre steppin high tonight, darlin, Simon said.Jody closed the door. Wheres Tommy?Hold your horses, Ill take you to him. Simon put the truck in gear and roared off. You sure youre feeling all right?Yes, Im fine. Why couldnt you tell me what happened to Tommy on the phone?Well, hes hiding out. Seems the police want him for some murders.The Whiplash murders?Those be the ones. Simon looked at her. Aint you cold?Oh, I lost my coat.And shoes?Yes, and shoes. Some guys were chasing me. Jody knew she didnt sound very convincing.They were headed down Market toward the Bay Bridge. Simon grinned and pushed his black trilby back on his head. You dont get cold, do you, darlin?What do you mean?Simon hit the electric-lock button Jody heard the lock go thunk at her side. Simon said, You dont get hot either, do you? Or sick. Do you get sick?Jody hugged the door presentle. What are you getting at, Simon?Simon reached inside his jacket and came out with a Colt Python revolver. He pointed it at her and cocked it. Now I know green goddesss might not kill you, but Ill bet they hurt like hell. And I put some little wood pegs in the hollow points just in case that does the job.Jody had no judgement what a bullet would do to her and she didnt want to find out. What do you want, Simon?Simon pulled the truck into an alley and switched off the engine. duad of things. I dont know which I want first until you answer some questions.Whatever you want, Simon. Youre Tommys friend. You dont have to be a hard-ass, just ask.Thats right sweet of you, darlin. Now tell me, do you get sick?Everybody gets sick, Simon. I get a cold every now and then.Simon dug the gun into her ribs. Dont bullshit me no w. I know what you are.Jody looked closely at Simon for the first time. He was hot up, the heat coming off him in red waves, even in the relative warmth of the truck cab. But below the heat aura she apothegm something else that she hadnt seen the first night shed met him. Maybe because she hadnt known what to look for. Under the heat signature Simon was ringed by a thin black corona, as she had seen on other people the death aura, but thinner, as if it was just growing. She said, Are you sure youre not just being an asshole again, Simon? Holding up your friends girlfriend?Dont get slippery on me, Red. I saw you sleeping that day we partied at your house. I fey you. Youre cold as a witchs titty. And Flood always complainin about you sleeping all day. And how he had to have them turtles alive. But I didnt put it all together until the Emperor started screaming about vampires and the cops took Flood away.Youre nuts, Simon. no(prenominal) of that proves anything. Theres no such thing as vampires.Oh yeah? Well, you know why they arrested Tommy?No, I didnt knowBecause they arrange you dead in the freezer, thats why. Hes in for your murder, missy. I still had some doubts until you called just now. Youll be my first dead piece of ass, not counting the time I choked my chicken over a opinion of Marilyn.Jody was stunned. A wave of panic swept through her, the inner voice shouting, Kill him, hide kill him, hide. She fought it back. Youre doing this because you want sex?Well, thats part of it. You see, I aint been well laid for five years since I picked me up this bug. Its kinda hard to get yourself into a good leash-toweler when you got the dick of death. I aint no ass bandit, though. I let some whore from Oakland fix me up with a speedball. Six of us shared the needle.Youre dying of AIDS? Jody asked.No need to candy-coat it, darlin. Just come right out and say it.Sorry, Simon, but when someone has a gun on me and tells me hes going to rape me, I forget my manners.Aint going to be no rape unless you want it. The other thing is more important.Other thing?I want you to change me into a vampire.No, you dont, Simon. You dont know what its like.I dont need to know, darlin. I know Im going to die if you dont. It aint just human immunodeficiency virus anymore, its full-blown. I can hardly get my boots on and off from the sores. The doctors got me on enough pills to choke a horse. Now do it.Jody felt for him. For all his arrogant cowboy panache, she could tell he was afraid. I dont know how, Simon. I dont know how I was changed. It just happened.He dug the barrel of the gun up under her breast and slid across the seat next to her. You just bite my damn neck. Now do itThat doesnt work. That would just kill you. I dont know how to turn you into a vampire.Simon took the gun out of her ribs and held it against her thigh. Im going to count to three, then Im going to shoot you in the leg if you dont start turning me. Then Im going to count to three and shoot you in the other leg. I didnt want to do this, but you got to see.Jody could see tears welling up in Simons eyes. He didnt want to do this, but she knew he would. She wondered even if she knew how to turn him if she would do it. Simon, please, I really dont know how to turn you. Let me go. Maybe Ill find out.I dont have the time, darlin. If I have to trade the daylight for a lifetime of nights, Ill take the nights. Im counting now. OneSimon, dont. Just wait.TwoJody watched a tear roll out of his eye. She felt his body tense and looked down at the gun. The tendons in his hand were tightening. He was going to do it.ThreeJody shot out her right hand, palm open, and hit Simon under the chin while sweeping the gun away from her leg with her right. The gun went off, sending a bullet through the floorboard. The explosion covered the noise of Simons neck snapping but she could feel the crunch against her palm. Simon slumped back in the seat, his head thrown back and mouth open as if he were frozen in a laugh. Over the ringing in her ears Jody could hear his last breath squeaking out of his lungs. The black aura around him faded away.She reached over and straightened his Stetson. God, Simon, Im sorry. Im so sorry.Rivera drove. Cavuto sat in the passenger seat smoking and talking on the radio. He keyed the mike. If anyone sees the Emperor tonight, detain him and call Rivera and Cavuto. Hes wanted for questioning but hes not, I repeat not, a suspect. In other words, dont scare him.Cavuto hung the mike on the dash and said to Rivera, You really dont think that this is a waste of time?Like I said, Nick, homicide and the coroner are the only ones who know about the blood overtaking. Our guys wouldnt leak, but even if there was a leak in the coroners office, I cant judge anyone telling the Emperor. Whoever did these murders is behaving like a vampire. Maybe he thinks hes a vampire. So to catch him, we have to produce were tracking a vampire.Thats bullshit. Weve got enough evidence on the kid to get an indictment right now, and by the time forensics gets done with his apartment well have enough for a conviction.Yeah, Rivera said, except for one thing.Cavuto rolled his eyes. I know, you dont think he killed anyone.And neither do you.Cavuto chomped his cigar and looked out the car window at a group of winos milling on a corner by a liquor store.Do you? Rivera insisted.He knows who did. And if I have to walk his cute little ass right up to the chair to get him to tell, I will.A call came over the radio. Go ahead, Cavuto said into the mike.The dispatchers voice crackled over the speaker. Unit ten is holding the Emperor at Mason and Bay. Do you want them to bring him in?Cavuto turned to Rivera and raised his eyebrows. Well?No, tell them well be there in five.Cavuto keyed the mike. Negative, were on our way.Three minutes later Rivera pulled the unstarred Dodge into a red zone behind the cruiser. The two uniformed officers were playing with Laz arus and Bummer, whose armor rattle and clanged as they frisked. The Emperor stood by, his wooden sword still in hand.Rivera got out of the car first. Good evening, Your Majesty. own me a fucking break, Cavuto said under his breath as he hoisted his bulk out of the car.And a good early morning to you, Inspector. The Emperor bowed. I see the fiend has us all burning the midnight oil.Rivera nodded to the uniforms. We got it, guys, thanks. One of the uniforms was a woman. She shot Rivera a dirty look as she headed for the cruiser.Rivera turned his attention back to the Emperor. Youve been busy calling in reports of a vampire in the City.The Emperor frowned. And I must say, Inspector, Im a bit disappointed with the lack of promptness of your response.Eat me, said Cavuto.Weve been busy, Rivera said.Well, youre here at last. The Emperor waved to Bummer and Lazarus, who were time lag at his heel. You know the men?Weve met, Rivera said with a wave. Your Majesty, you reported seeing a vampi re Rivera pulled a notebook out of his jacket pocket three different times over the last calendar month and a half. Rivera took a copy of Tommys mug shot from his notebook and held it out to the Emperor. Is this the man you saw? orbit no. Thats my friend C. Thomas Flood, aspiring author. A fine, if confused, lad. I arranged for his employment at the Marina Safeway.But hes not the man you reported as being a vampire.No. The fiend is older, and has sharp features, of Arab descent, I would guess, if he were not so pale.Cavuto stepped up and took the picture from Rivera. You reported the body they found in SOMA, but you said you didnt see anything. Did you see this man anywhere near the scene?The victim was a friend of mine, Charlie. He left his mind in Vietnam, Im afraid, but a good soul just the same. He had been dead for some time when I found him, though. The fiend left him there to rot.Cavuto bristled. But you didnt see this vampire guy at the scene either.I have seen him in the financial district, once in Chinatown, and at the marina last night. In fact, that young man gave me sanctuary at the Safeway.Cavutos beeper went off. He treat it. You saw Flood and this vampire guy together?No, I ran from the wharf when the fiend materialized out of mist.Im outta here, Cavuto said, throwing up his hands. He checked his beeper and went back to the car.Rivera held his ground. Im sorry, Your Majesty, my partner needs to learn some manners. Now, if you can just tell meCavuto beeped the horn and hung his head out the window. Rivera, come on. They found another one. Lets go.Wait a second. Rivera took a business card out of his wallet and gave it to the Emperor. Highness, could you call me tomorrow, around noon? Ill come get you wheresoever you are buy you and the men some lunch.Of course, my son.Cavuto yelled out the car window, Lets go, this ones fresh.Be careful, Rivera said to the Emperor. view your back, okay?The Emperor grinned. Safety first.Rivera turned a nd walked to the car. He was still shutting the door as Cavuto pulled away from the curb. Cavuto said, Another snapped neck. Bodys in a pickup off of Market. Uniforms found it five minutes ago.Blood loss?They knew enough not to say over the radio. But theres a witness.Witness?Homeless guy sleeping in the alley saw a woman leaving the scene. Theres an all-points out for a redheaded distaff in a black cocktail dress.Youre bullshitting.Cavuto turned and looked him in the eye. The Laundromat ninja returns.Santa Fucking Maria, Rivera said.I love it when you speak Spanish.The radio crackled again, the dispatcher calling their unit number. Rivera grabbed the mike and keyed it.What now? he said.