Authors: C S Winchester
“
Because if I started telling people, the vampires would kill me. Besides, some of the higher ups know, those who need to. Vampires are actually quote patriotic; they've worked for us in times of war.”
“
So if they'd kill you for telling people, how come you told me.”
“
I didn't tell you, Dante did, and he made sure that you couldn't tell anyone else.”
“
I still don't get it” Will shook his head. “You just said it, they're killers, they'd kill you if it's in their interests, so why do you help them?”
“
Because I don't have a choice,” she said. “I might as well make the best of it. Besides, as much as I hate it, I do understand their point of view.”
“
You do?”
“
Yes. If people found out about them there would be panic. Sure, vampires are fast but given the remote weapons we have these days, they're much easier to kill than in the days of pitchforks and torches. They have no reason to trust me, but they can't vamp me so of course they keep an eye on me. I don't like it but I'm a threat to them, so I have to learn to live with it.”
“
They're inhuman.”
“
Actually not so much. I'm only alive because Josh sacrificed himself for me. He died so I could live. Dante offered to heal my neck by letting me have some of his blood. Some of them aren't so bad.”
“
Wait, you suck
their
blood!”
“
I said he offered, I didn't say I accepted. I'm still bruised aren't I?”
“
Their blood can really heal people?”
“
It really can. It saved my life once.”
Will took a long drag on his cigarette. “I didn't happen to fall down any rabbit holes recently, did I?”
“
Not that I saw,” Frankie smiled slightly.
Will sighed. “I don't suppose you found anything out about my case, did you?”
“
Nothing since you left. I still have a report to write but then I'll do some research. Dante will get back to me if he finds anything helpful in the photos.
“
I guess I should go home,” Will said, getting to his feet and offering his hand to help Frankie up. “Maybe when I wake up this will all feel like a dream.”
“
Good luck with that.”
They began walking back towards her house and his car.
“
Frankie... I'm sorry.”
“
What for?”
“
For not believing you. For thinking you were cuckoo. You tried to tell me so many times and I just dismissed it, rationalised everything away.”
“
I can't exactly blame you. I'd probably do the same in your shoes.”
Will shrugged and they slowed to a stop beside his car. Frankie turned to him.
“
Give me a call if you need to talk or anything,” she said.
“
I will.” He opened his arms to her and Frankie stepped into his embrace. “What a crazy day this has been,” he said quietly.
“
Tell me about it,” she pulled away. “Are you going to be okay?”
“
Don't worry about me. I'll cope.”
Frankie nodded. She didn't want to leave him, it felt like there was so much more to say, but she didn't know where to start.
“
Goodnight, Frankie.” He kissed the top of her head, then stepped away and got into his car.
Frankie watched until he was out of sight, then turned to go inside. She noticed the curtain drop back into place and rolled her eyes as she realised that they had been watched.
When Frankie awoke the next morning it was to the welcoming sight of her father, brandishing a mug of coffee.
She accepted it gratefully.
“
Thanks, Dad.”
“
Your Mum will be down soon, love,” he said.
Frankie nodded, understanding his meaning. She enjoyed a few more sips of her coffee then set about gathering up the papers she'd been reading when she fell asleep on the sofa. Her mother would think it unseemly that she had fallen asleep while working.
'Chairs are for sitting, beds are for sleeping,'
Frankie could almost hear her saying. When she had gathered them, she locked the papers away in a desk drawer and logged onto her computer, hoping to check her work emails before her mother came down. There was nothing new, so she emailed the report she had finished last night to her boss, logged off and took her coffee through to the kitchen to join her father.
“
I'm sorry there's not a lot of food,” she said, sitting at the kitchen table. “I placed an order online last night; it should be delivered before lunchtime today.”
“
That's kind of you, love, but I'm sure we could have found a local supermarket.”
Frankie shrugged. He was right but she didn't want to hear her mother's reminder that she was being a bad host. Having found the frozen loaf of bread in the freezer, her father was busy making himself some toast.
“
Dad,” she asked, a little hesitantly. “Do you know anything about how I was found?” Ever since she'd spoken to Dante last night, her curiosity about her heritage had been reignited.
“
We've told you everything we know,” her father turned to her, looking surprised at her question.
“
Was anything found with me, a note maybe? Any clue as to why I was left?”
“
What brought this on?” her father asked as he sat down opposite her, his toast all but forgotten.
“
I don't know. I suppose seeing you and Mum again. Sometimes I just...”
“
You're curious about where you came from, it's only natural.”
“
You're not upset?”
“
Of course not,” he covered her hand with his own. “Let's see,” he began. “Well, you were left in St Francis church in Ashford. You were under a pew near the alter, they said it looked as if whoever left you wanted you to be found. You were well cared for, in a clean nappy and baby-gro and wrapped in a blue blanket.”
“
There was no note?”
“
Not that anyone told us about.”
“
When was I found?”
“
Quite early, I think. The Reverend found you before the Sunday morning communion.”
Frankie thought for a moment, wondering if she could use any of this information to start another search.
“
There was a press and television campaign asking if anyone had any information, but as far as I know they didn't get anything useful. Your parents never came forward.”
“
Of course! There would be a police report, wouldn't there?”
“
Well yes, I suppose so.”
The last time Frankie had tried looking, she had been at university and hadn't been allowed to view the police report, but these days she could access it through her work.
“
I doubt they'll let you see it, love,” her father said kindly.
“
They don't need to let me, Dad. I work for the Security Service, I can...” She hesitated, realising it probably wasn't smart to reveal that she could hack any police computer system. “Well, let's just say I have avenues available to me that most people don't”
“
I won't stop you, Frankie, but don't do anything silly, will you?” Her father looked worried.
“
It'll be fine, Dad. I promise.”
“
What will be fine?” her mother asked. It wasn't even 8am and she was already perfectly made up for the day. She'd chosen a duck egg blue suit today, with a white blouse and pleated skirt. Her blonde hair was swept up into a French pleat and sprayed to within an inch of its life. Frankie always wondered why she had long hair when she never wore it down.
“
Nothing, Mum. I was just telling Dad that your staying here isn't a problem.”
“
Well of course it isn't; we're your family,” her mother announced. “We really must pick up a teapot today. I can't believe you don't have one.”
“
I do have one,” Frankie rummaged in the cupboards until she found a clear Bodum teapot she'd been given years ago as a house-warming gift.
“
I've never seen a tea pot like that before,” her mother sniffed.
Frankie smiled and brewed a pot of tea for her. “It's progress, mum. They didn't ha
ve
c
afetières
years ago either, but they're all the rage now.”
“
Just because something is popular, doesn't make it good,”
“
No, Mum.” Frankie sighed. She didn't want to argue. “I'm going to get ready.”
She showered quickly and dressed in her usual uniform of black jeans, a dark shirt and boots.
She would have liked to just leave, but she knew that she had to see her parents and make her excuses.
“
You really should wear more colour, Francis,” her mother admonished Frankie as she joined them in the living room.
“
I think she looks lovely,” her father smiled.
“
Well
you
would, but she's never going to attract a husband looking like that.”
“
Mum, I'm not looking for a husband,” she perched on the arm of her father's chair. “So what were you two planning for today?”
“
I thought you could show us the sights. It's so much nicer to see a city with a local showing you around.”
“
I have to work, Mum.”
“
But we're only here for a few days!”
“
And you didn't let me know that you were coming. Look, I'll try and get home a reasonable time and maybe we can go out for dinner again?”
“
Do you have any suggestions for us?” her father asked.
“
There are tour buses going from Waverly Station, there are a couple of different tours, but the guides will have all the information. You can hop on and off the buses all day, so you can get off at the tourist attractions and have a look around whenever you want.”
“
That sounds lovely, doesn't it Cecilia?”
Her mother didn't answer.
Thankfully her phone rang than and she saw from the display that it was Will. She didn't bother with any preamble when she answered.
“
Has there been another one?” she asked.
“
I'm afraid so.”
“
Can I have a look at the crime scene?”
“
Sure, I'm heading there now. It's on Corstorphine Hill, just follow the trail up the hill until you see lots of policemen.”
“
I'm on my way.” She hung up and turned to her mother. “Sorry, I really do have to go.”
“
Nothing serious, I hope?” her father said.
“
Not sure yet, Dad. I've got my phone with me, so call if you need anything.”
Chapter Seven
Will stood up and pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn't slept very well and seeing a dead tabby, a chihuahua and a shih-tzu was not exactly the way he wanted to start the day.
He sighed and looked out over Edinburgh. He should never have agreed to take this case.
“
All done,” the police photographer said.
“
Great. Will you email me a set of pictures?”
“
Sure thing.”
“
And don't answer any questions from the press as you leave.”
“
Bloody vultures,” the photographer agreed.
The crowd of journalists that had gathered wasn't large as crowds went, but it was large enough. He hadn't really expected the national papers to be interested but three of them were here, along with the Scottish and local papers.
He saw Frankie pushing her way through the crowd, keeping her head down. She was stopped by the constable controlling the crowd until Will called for her to be let through. She reached him a few seconds later.
“
Oh God,” she said when she saw the animals.
“
I hope you haven't had breakfast.”
“
Thankfully, no. Have the crime scene officers been yet?”
“
Yeah, SOCO left about fifteen minutes ago. They took lots of samples but you know we're going to be way down their list. If this one is going to get solved, it'll be the old fashioned way.”
Frankie walked around the scene, looking for any magic paraphernalia, occult or paranormal symbols, or anything out of the ordinary. Besides murdered pets, of course. The area was just a small clearing with nothing to distinguish it from anywhere else. If there was a reason why he chose this spot to kill the animals, that reason wasn't clear to her.