Chapter 13: Running with a Vampire

Sheila Foster and Justin Duke sat in Shelia’s car in the parking lot of a gas station at the edge of Albany, New York. The glaring lights of the station cut through the darkness around the small car. Customers came and went without noticing the car parked in the corner of the lot.

“This is nuts,” commented Justin.

“I know,” said Shelia. “It’s been nuts since last winter.”

Justin reached into his coat and handed Shelia a holstered 9mm Glock pistol. “I’ve got my sidearm. You should be armed too, Shelia.”

“I ... I’m not a field officer. I...”

“We both know what this woman can do. I hope our Coven friends can contain her but are you willing to bet your life on that?”

Hesitantly, Shelia took the pistol and tucked it in her jacket.

There was a long pause between them.

“I wish Mark was here,” said Shelia finally.

“I do too,” answered Justin. “Probably for different reasons though.”

Shelia smiled tightly and looked down. “Is it that obvious?”

“That you’re interested in my partner?” observed Justin rhetorically. “Yeah it is – to everyone but him.”

Shelia managed a nervous laugh.

“If you want some free advice maybe you should follow the lead of the Coven folks. Take a more direct approach. Mark is a great guy but when it comes to romance he is dumb as rocks.”

“I’ll think about that,” said Shelia. “I think this is them.”

A large white work style van made a sharp turn into the lot. It rumbled up to Shelia’s small car. Shelia saw Sabrine glance out the passenger window. The forensic specialist climbed out of her car and was followed by Justin.

Sabrine and Shelia greeted each other and quickly hugged. Duane woke me up and opened the side door. He climbed out and greeted Justin. “Hey guys,” I said, poking my head out the van.

“Hi Michael,” answered Justin. “God you look beat.”

“I am,” I sighed.

“It was part of the ritual we used to locate our target. I still have a link with her,” interjected Sabrine.

“Wow,” said Shelia. “You can see her?”

“Yeah, if I close my eyes and focus but the intensity is starting to fade already.”

“It was quite the ritual,” added Anna from inside the van.

Sabrine closed her eyes and focused for a moment. “She’s on a bus ... about a half hour away ... I’m losing her thoughts ... I can’t ... dammit!”

“The link fades with time?”

“Yeah,” answered Sabrine. “I was able to read her thoughts but now...”

“And she know who I am,” I said.

“How is that possible?” asked Shelia.

“I don’t know,” I answered.

“In any case we have to move,” began Justin. “A bus will come in at Trailways downtown. She’s going to be a hard target in that environment. My guess is she’ll try and find a hiding place for the day so we’ll have to follow her and do the grab where nobody can see. It’s Duane right?”

“Yeah,” answered Duane.

“I’m going to want you outside the bus station watching for her so you can follow on foot. Take this.” Justin handed Duane a headset. “You take one too Sabrine. Park your van so you have eyes on Duane here and the front of the station. Advise us when you see the target.”

“Sounds good,” said Duane.

“We’ll be parked behind you as close as possible,” continued Justin. “If she spots us she’ll run. She’s fast and believe me, she can defend herself.”

“So if it comes down to a foot chase I’ll have to out maneuver her,” said Duane.

“Pretty much,” answered Justin. “We all good Michael?”

I gave Justin a thumbs up and pushed myself back into the van. The police detective had a lot more experience in this type of thing than any of us did. Letting him take the lead was logical.

“Okay, lets go people. Duane, Sabrine – Shelia and I are on channel 12,” said Justin, climbing into Shelia’s car. The detective still had his doubts and concerns about this whole operation but he allowed his professionalism to drive him, ignoring the fact that they were committing a crime.