[2021] Continue the Story...

[*Reading is FUNdamental]

The next morning, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to reveal my old friend, LAPD Trooper Harris. I invited him in and offered him coffee.

"I gather you've been busy last night," he said.

[*Gamera]

"Me? No. I've been home all last night," I replied

"Really? A shopkeeper said you broke into his place and threatened him. He said you kept going on about vampires."

[*The Butler]

"Vampires?" I replied. "What? Are we in an episode of Buffy?"

"Well, there have been a string of mysterious disappearances, and you know how to people around here talk," LAPD Trooper Harris said, his voice etched with concern.

[*Gamera]

I've known Harris long enough to trust him at this point. "Yes. I was there looking for a master vampire. I traced a pair of sunglasses that belonged to him to that store."

Harris looks around nervously. "I may be able to help."

[*Reading is FUNdamental]

Just then, there was another knock. I opened the door to find Chief Hemingway standing there. I offered him a coffee too.

"You're playing it close to your chest, boy," the Chief said. "Vampires and such. What's your game, eh? And Harris - what are you doing here?"

[*Gamera]

"Just checking up on a friend," Harris replies.

"Chief, I think there may be a nest of vampires here in the city and I need your help to track them down," I explain.

[*The Butler]

"Nest of vampires? What is this an episode of Buffy?" The Chief laughs.

"I already used that joke," I replied.

"This is serious, Chief," Harris adds. "I didn't believe it either. But Becky's daughter - last night, reported her boyfriend got aggressive with her. What started as a hickey turned into a bite. Which didn't leave the standard human imprint of teeth. There were two distinct marks on her neck."

[*Reading is FUNdamental]

"High spirits, boy," the Chief says. "You think we got the resources to chase after every tomfool thing that happens in this town? We get murders, manslaughters, break-ins, and thefts every day." He fixes me with a steely glare. "Speaking of break-ins, we got you bang to rights, son. Why don't you come down to the station with us and tell us what you were really doing in that store, huh?"

"I told you-"

"And I don't believe you," the Chief says. "You want to keep your PI license, son? You play by the rules. Our rules."

[*The Butler]

"I think 'our rules' have been thrown out the window," Harris said as he leaned back against a desk.

"Vampires," I added, "suck."

I waited. Looked between Harris and the Chief - but no one laughed.

[*Gamera]

Trying to move past the awkward moment I say, "Look, if you don't believe me, have Harris join me staking out the shopkeeper. I'm certain we'll run into something."

Harris says, "It's not a bad idea, Chief. A lot of fishy things have been going on lately."

[*The Butler]

"That's cuz the sea food place is next to the shopkeeper yer talkin' about," the old Chief grumbled. "But listen, if you two want to play cops and robbers, or... whatever it is kids do with those sparkling vampires - go on, Harris. But listen, I expect a fully detailed report of this... because they're gonna ask me why I stuck you with a P.I."

[*Reading is FUNdamental]

The Chief took me down to the police station for a full briefing of what I could and couldn't do. Drawing a loaded gun, much less shooting it, was definitely out. If I tried doing that tonight, I'd be breaking rocks in the state pen tomorrow.

[*The Butler]

As Harris and I left the police station in Harris' unmarked car, I realized if this really was a vampire... I am not too sure how good my gun would be.

At least, if the legends about vampires were true.

I turned to Harris as the car came to a stop a block away from the shop and asked, "Should we buy garlic or something?"

[*Reading is FUNdamental]

"What for?" Harris looked genuinely perplexed. "Are you making beef stew?"

[*The Butler]

"Beef Stew?" I asked, puzzled. Then after a moment, I answered, "No. It's just - if we think he's really a vampire - they don't like garlic. I mean, if you believe the stories."