(Luke)

“Can you let me win one game,” Jones exclaimed. He tossed over his King with a big finger.

“That would only go to your head,” Luke said amiably. “Your head is big enough now.”

“Funny boatman, very funny.” Jones tossed back his drink.

“As much fun as this is, I need to head out. I have business in the morning.”

Jones gathered his board and pieces. “I suppose. Another day I will beat you.”

?

Eddie’s was dead at this hour. The dishes long since washed, tables cleaned and floors swept.? Eddie lounged by the cash register just hanging on for these two clowns to leave.

?

Luke clapped Jones on the back as they exited the BBQ joint, “Next time old friend. You might get that win.”

“I hear that,” Jones snorted. “When cows fly.”

“That happened in a movie,” Luke said pointedly.

Jones slid behind the wheel of his old Caddy. “Sure, thing skipper. Next time. Get some.”

?

“You too,” Luke said with a laugh. He hauled himself into the pickup and headed back to the marina.? He pulled into the large parking lot that served the marina, a small business office and a public boat ramp.? His office was located right inside the main entrance to the office building. He ignored the office and drove down close to the docks. Only a scattering of vehicles were in the lot at this hour.? He got out of his truck and headed for the dock. The lot was well lit by a single lamp pole unit in a far corner. The powerful lamp bathed the whole area in a bleached out glare.

?

Skinny’s Marina had a simplistic security code on a gate that allowed you to walk down the main dock. There were cameras purported to be 24 hours surveillance and maintained by ‘Watchmen’ Security Service.

He did his customary wave to the cameras as he passed through the gate. The whole idea of protection was illusionary. One could always get to a boat by the water. They’d had a couple trespassers over the years, but they had been discovered and apprehended presumably because of the camera coverage.

?

There were a lot of yachts in the marina. Most were larger than his. Some had expensive barns that protected them from the weather. He did not. His pride and joy was exposed to all that mother nature could toss at her.

?

“Divine Pleasure” sat right where he’d left her. A sliver of moon and an ocean of stars gave him feeble light as he climbed aboard. The powerful yacht was designed for fishing on the open sea. It’s three powerful outboard motors could motivate the craft through calm seas at over 60mph.

?

Something moved and he jumped back in alarm. His weapons were close by but ultimately out of reach if this shadow decided to open fire.

“Hey Skipper,” Tiger voice called out.

“Heaven above Tiger, you scared the daylights out of me.”

“Sorry, couldn't find you, so I thought I’d wait for you.”

“Why not just call me?”

“I did. Left a bunch of messages. Texted you too.”

?

Luke pulled out his phone. Sure, enough the screen was full of her messages.? “Hell, I must have turned off the notifications, sorry. What’s going on? What’s so important you came all the way out here?”

“It’s Jenny Lee, Bobby Lee’s young daughter. She’s very sick.”

“I know who Bobby is, why doesn’t he take her to the clinic?”

?

“They don't have money or insurance. His little dugout boat would take a couple of days to paddle to a highway. If I remember he is somewhere near the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. South of Morgan City,” Tiger said, then added in a subdued voice, “She gonna die Skip.”

?

“Who is going to let me borrow a fan boat in the middle of the night. Then I’d have to find them.”

“Longitude and latitude boss.”

“Ah hell, I’ll be dead for the fishing trip tomorrow if I make it back in time.”

“No worry Skipper, I can handle the ‘Pleasure’ myself. You know I dun it before.”

“How old is she?”

“Jenny will be twelve if she makes it.”

Luke squared his shoulders, “All right then.”

?

(Scarlett MacAleister)

Scarlett arrived the next night at a diner in Raconteur City. She was meeting with her contact from the sheriff’s department there to see if she could get her hands on the Rhames autopsy files, as well as anything else her source could give her.

?

She walked into the diner dressed a little more conservatively than she had been the prior evening in New Orleans. She’d traded the skintight leather bodysuit for a pair of faded jeans, holes ripped in the knees, heels, a green blouse and a black leather jacket – no duster or sword for this evening. A pair of glasses topped off her attempt at looking as ordinary as she could.

?

The redhead for Jackson Sage seated in a booth the back of the diner. Sitting down across from him, the young cop looked up and glanced around to make sure she wasn’t followed.

?

“I wasn’t followed,” she muttered.?

“Never can be too careful,” he replied, brushing back some of his brown locks. “I could get my ass fired for giving you anything.”

?“And I could turn over those pictures of you and your captain’s wife to him, I’ll bet he’d love to see those,” Scarlett quipped.

?

?

Jackson frowned and slid a folder across to her. She noticed he had a second folder, closely tucked under his arm atop the table. The redhead looked down, opened the folder and looked through the contents.

?“Everything on Rhames. Good,” she said. “What’s the word around the department.”

?

?“Rhames was a dealer. Nobody gives a shit,” Sage scoffed. “Not sure why you even care.”

?

?“It’s business,” she replied, still absorbing the contents of the folder. “You’d think the cops you work with would want to catch whoever mutilated this kid.”

?

?

“He’s a scumbag. They don’t care,” Jackson said. She looked up at him and saw a look on his face that despite the fact he was playing tough, the contents of the folder bothered him. The autopsy photos were gruesome, though Scarlett had seen much worse. He was also just slightly interested in seeing the perp caught.

“Tell me again why you’re riding a desk?” she asked him.

?

“Questions over missing drug money from the evidence locker,” he said. “They said if I didn’t take it, I knew who did. So I’m on desk duty until they can figure out what happened.”

?

?

Scarlett nodded, “So the captain finding out what you and his old lady were doing…”

“Would be the last nail in my coffin,” he said uncomfortably.

?

“So, when are you planning to give me the second folder?” she finally asked, closing the first folder and looking across the table at Jackson over the rims of her glasses.

?

?

He sighed and pushed it over to her, “Looks like Raconteur PD is working an identical case. Kid named William Wright…Billy. Young, dealing drugs for the Jamaicans. Found in a similar manner.”

?

Scarlett was looking over the file as Jackson gave her the narrative. Again, the report sounded like the cops didn’t care. They were chalking both up to rival gangs, possibly yakuza, especially with Rhames’ ties to Nakamura.? She exhaled sharply and looked up at Sage, “You hear any more on these cases or anything like it, call me.”

?

?

He eyed her for a moment, then decided to talk, “I do this for you, and you give me the photos? Otherwise, we’re done here.”

The redhead smiled, “I suppose that’s fair. You help me get EVERYTHING on this case, keep me in the loop, and when either I or your cop buddies catch whoever is doing this, I’ll play nice and give you the photos.”

?

Sage nodded, “This…whatever did this…it’s not normal is it?”

?

“I see you have astute investigation skills,” she said. “They did teach you something in cop school, didn’t they? Yes, Jackson, this isn’t some gangster with a sword chopping people up. The cops know it, but they won’t acknowledge it, part of the reason why they aren’t investigating.”

?

?

Jackson looked a little pale, “You’re not normal either. I’ve heard the rumors. About the vampires, about you.”

Scarlett looked around cautiously, “Keep it down. I’m going to let you believe what you want, Jackson. You keep getting me information. Call or text when you have something more.”

?

“I can trust you?”

?

?

Scarlett gathered the folders and stood up. Looking down at Jackson, she smiled, purposely showing her fangs for just a second…enough to surprise the young policeman. “You can, as long as you don’t fuck with me. Got it?”

Sage nodded and Scarlett turned and walked toward the door. The night was young. She’d seen pictures of the articles found on Wright’s body. One of the items was a matchbox with the name Eddie’s BBQ on the cover. It wasn’t far, so she decided to check it out.

?

The redhead took her motorcycle and rode the few short blocks to the restaurant. She parked the sleek black bike and walked across the parking lot toward the doors of the restaurant…

Tag: Luke

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(Scarlett MacAleister)

Scarlett arrived the next night at a diner in Raconteur City. She was meeting with her contact from the sheriff’s department there to see if she could get her hands on the Rhames autopsy files, as well as anything else her source could give her.

?

She walked into the diner dressed a little more conservatively than she had been the prior evening in New Orleans. She’d traded the skintight leather bodysuit for a pair of faded jeans, holes ripped in the knees, heels, a green blouse and a black leather jacket – no duster or sword for this evening. A pair of glasses topped off her attempt at looking as ordinary as she could.

?

The redhead for Jackson Sage seated in a booth the back of the diner. Sitting down across from him, the young cop looked up and glanced around to make sure she wasn’t followed.

?

“I wasn’t followed,” she muttered.?

“Never can be too careful,” he replied, brushing back some of his brown locks. “I could get my ass fired for giving you anything.”

?“And I could turn over those pictures of you and your captain’s wife to him, I’ll bet he’d love to see those,” Scarlett quipped.

?

?

Jackson frowned and slid a folder across to her. She noticed he had a second folder, closely tucked under his arm atop the table. The redhead looked down, opened the folder and looked through the contents.

?“Everything on Rhames. Good,” she said. “What’s the word around the department.”

?

?“Rhames was a dealer. Nobody gives a shit,” Sage scoffed. “Not sure why you even care.”

?

?“It’s business,” she replied, still absorbing the contents of the folder. “You’d think the cops you work with would want to catch whoever mutilated this kid.”

?

?

“He’s a scumbag. They don’t care,” Jackson said. She looked up at him and saw a look on his face that despite the fact he was playing tough, the contents of the folder bothered him. The autopsy photos were gruesome, though Scarlett had seen much worse. He was also just slightly interested in seeing the perp caught.

“Tell me again why you’re riding a desk?” she asked him.

?

“Questions over missing drug money from the evidence locker,” he said. “They said if I didn’t take it, I knew who did. So I’m on desk duty until they can figure out what happened.”

?

?

Scarlett nodded, “So the captain finding out what you and his old lady were doing…”

“Would be the last nail in my coffin,” he said uncomfortably.

?

“So, when are you planning to give me the second folder?” she finally asked, closing the first folder and looking across the table at Jackson over the rims of her glasses.

?

?

He sighed and pushed it over to her, “Looks like Raconteur PD is working an identical case. Kid named William Wright…Billy. Young, dealing drugs for the Jamaicans. Found in a similar manner.”

?

Scarlett was looking over the file as Jackson gave her the narrative. Again, the report sounded like the cops didn’t care. They were chalking both up to rival gangs, possibly yakuza, especially with Rhames’ ties to Nakamura.? She exhaled sharply and looked up at Sage, “You hear any more on these cases or anything like it, call me.”

?

?

He eyed her for a moment, then decided to talk, “I do this for you, and you give me the photos? Otherwise, we’re done here.”

The redhead smiled, “I suppose that’s fair. You help me get EVERYTHING on this case, keep me in the loop, and when either I or your cop buddies catch whoever is doing this, I’ll play nice and give you the photos.”

?

Sage nodded, “This…whatever did this…it’s not normal is it?”

?

“I see you have astute investigation skills,” she said. “They did teach you something in cop school, didn’t they? Yes, Jackson, this isn’t some gangster with a sword chopping people up. The cops know it, but they won’t acknowledge it, part of the reason why they aren’t investigating.”

?

?

Jackson looked a little pale, “You’re not normal either. I’ve heard the rumors. About the vampires, about you.”

Scarlett looked around cautiously, “Keep it down. I’m going to let you believe what you want, Jackson. You keep getting me information. Call or text when you have something more.”

?

“I can trust you?”

?

?

Scarlett gathered the folders and stood up. Looking down at Jackson, she smiled, purposely showing her fangs for just a second…enough to surprise the young policeman. “You can, as long as you don’t fuck with me. Got it?”

Sage nodded and Scarlett turned and walked toward the door. The night was young. She’d seen pictures of the articles found on Wright’s body. One of the items was a matchbox with the name Eddie’s BBQ on the cover. It wasn’t far, so she decided to check it out.

?

The redhead took her motorcycle and rode the few short blocks to the restaurant. She parked the sleek black bike and walked across the parking lot toward the doors of the restaurant…

[Luke]

Jones studied the board while Luke considered his moves in advance.?

“Any time you are ready,” Luke chided.

“Whatever,” Jones quipped.?

The front door opened and they heard Eddie confer with a new customer.

“Getting late for BBQ,” Jones said. He moved his pawn up a square.

Luke chuckled at the big man’s play. “Never too late for a cold one.”

“Amen to that,” Jones said.

[Tag] Scarlett

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• 
  [New Scarlett MacAleister)

? ?

? ? ? ? ? ?Scarlett parked her bike outside Eddie's BBQ. Her keen sense of smell took in the delicious odor of the barbecue coming from the stovepipe on the back of the place and she remembered family picnics when she was a girl growing up in Chicago. Sometimes she missed things like food almost as much as she missed family and friends who were long gone.?

? ? ? ? ?As a vampire who had been reluctant to feed on people to survive, save for the occasional criminal or scumbag whom she was going to kill anyway. She survived off blood stolen from blood banks in the area and sometimes bought in the Raconteur underground. It was not an ideal way for a vampire to survive, but it was a way of life she had grown used to.

? ? ? ? The redhead walked into the BBQ joint and found Jimmy Buffet music playing on a jukebox. There were only a handful of people in the place, mostly around the bar having a drink. She sauntered up to the bar and took a chair as Eddie turned from talking to another customer and greeted her with a biug smile.

? ? ? "Good evening, pretty lady," he said, pouring on the charm. "What can I get you?"

? ? ? Alcohol did nothing for Scarlett, but she had loved it in her mortal life and at times she would have a glass, even though it no longer had the same affect. Still, in order to fit in at human establishments she sometime would partake. A glass or two would be fine -- much more than that and it would make her ill. Even vampires had their limitations, or so it seemed.

? ? ?"A glass of merlot?" she asked.

? ? Eddie laughed, "You are quite the lady, ordering wine in a BBQ joint."

? ? "You seem quite worldly," she smiled. "If you don't have any..."

? ? He raised his hands, "Say no more dear lady, merlot coming right up."

? ? As he poured her a glass, she looked around the restaurant and saw very few people here. It was a weeknight and the place was close to shutting down for the night. She took the glass and smiled at the bartender, "Cheers," she said, raising her glass.

? ? "So, I'm Eddie and this is my place," he smiled. "I'm going to jump to conclusions here and take a guess that you're not here to check out the wine in my BBQ place?"

? ? Scarlett smiled and reached into her jacket, pulling the photo of Billy Wright from the pocket. She placed the photo on the bar and looked at Eddie, "Recognize him?"

? ?Eddie looked at the photo and slowly nodded, his mood suddenly turning sad. "That's Billy. You police?"

? ?"P.I.," she said. "The family of a young man in New Orleans hired me to look into his murder. The case is similar to Billy's murder. Do you know anything about Billy? Who might have wanted him dead?"
? ?Eddie took a deep breath and slowly shook his head, "The boy got himself on the wrong track. It's a shame. But I didn't into his business. Sorry."

? ?She sensed he was holding back. Scarlett sipped the wine and slowly nodded, "Know anyone who might?" Eddie looked up and across the room at a pair of men sitting at a table....

[Luke]

“Someone is talking about us,” Jones said. His ears were profoundly good at picking up voices.?

Luke turned to look towards the entrance. He could just make out a trail of red hair and a figure that would melt a butter knife.?

“I haven’t broke any laws have you?”

Jones shook his head, “Not any, no where, no way, least anyone can stick me for.”

Luke looked back at the chess board. “You know I win in twelve moves right?”

“I know no such thing.” He moved a bishop.

“That move makes it only six.”

“Okay, I give.” Jones pushed over his king.?

Luke turned his attention back to the redhead.?

“You don’t want any part of that,” Jones said under his breath.?

“That bad?”

“I can smell them kind a mile away,” Jones whispered.?

“Can we be of service Ma’am?” Luke said, helpfully.

(TAG): Scarlett, Any

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(New Scarlett MacAleister)

Scarlett sensed one of the two men approaching when he stood up from his chair. She thought she'd picked up the scent when she came in the door, but the aroma of the barbecue had disguised it somewhat. She glanced over, eyes falling immediately on the one called Jones, then she diverted her gaze back to the man speaking.

"Possibly," she said. "Do you know this young man?" She pushed the photo of Billy Wright along the bar toward the duo and then she looked squarely at Luke, her eyes taking a slight glace to Jones, whom she shot a knowing look so it was clear they each exactly what the other was.

(Luke)

Luke picked up the picture and held it up so Jones could see it.?

Jones took a step forward putting himself in front of Luke.?

“I see, interesting. Who are you and why do you care what happened to this man?”

Luke put up a restraining hand on Luke’s shoulder. He kept his dark brown eyes on the woman.

“Easy big guy. Yeah, I knew him. He was a couple grades behind me in high school. Haven’t seen much of him since. Heard more than seen if you get me. He was a runner for someone, drugs and other stuff I heard.”

“He was nobody,” Jones added. “Why do you care?”

Luke had noticed the hair go up on Jones neck the moment the woman had first questioned them. He’d only seen Jones react that way in the presence of a Vampire. This wasn’t the place or the time for trouble between these two.

He turned and confronted Jones. “It’s okay, back off. This is a good place we don’t want to spoil it.”

Jones huffed but the look in Luke’s eye’s made him nod and take a couple grudging steps back.

Luke turned back to the redhead and offered his hand, “I’m Luke Reardon and this is Peabody Jones.”

He took a step forward and offered his hand.

Jones grumbled, “You didn’t have to give her my first name.

“Don’t mind my friend, he is like a grumpy old bear, needy but utterly reliably.”

“Say now....” Jones bit his tongue.?

Luke cut him off, “We don’t know much more. I could get the information easily enough from the police.” He cocked his head at her curious why a high dollar PI would be interested in a punk like Billy.

[TAG]: Scarlett

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? Scarlett looked at Jones and sensed his hostility. She sighed as Jones and Luke seemed to briefly be at odds with each other and then focused her attention on the human. She withheld the urge to hurl an insult or two at the werewolf, instead trying more to ignore him rather than to inflame the situation worse.

? “I already have the police’s information,” she said. “I’m looking into this for the Rhames family. The MO in Billy’s death is similar, that’s my interest. I think Billy and Lucas were killed by the same person and I think it was done to both as a message. Billy worked for the Jamaicans and Lucas for the yakuza. I just want to see justice for both men. No one should have to die like they did.”

?

[Luke]

Jones took a step forward, Luke put a hand on his friend's chest.?

“Have you got anyone you can talk to about this? Maybe get us some details?”

The big man shrugged, “I’ll do it...for you.”

“Great. Let me know as soon as you find out anything.”

Jones rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.

“Go now,” Luke said.

Jones nodded and walked out past Scarlett. He gave her a wide berth.

When Jones was gone Luke gestured at one nearby table. “You have time to talk?”

Eddie called over, “You need something Skip?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

He sat down in the chair and glanced up when Scarlett joined him.

“I have a few places I can check for information,” Luke said. He gave her another long look.

“I can pass along the information if any when it comes in. How do you want to be informed? Phone?”

(tag Scarlett)

(OOC: cleaning up the post, not sure what happened, but please keep them trimmed and orderly. Thanks, Babs)

[Scarlett]

Scarlett caught the positive vibes coming from the one called Luke, but the ‘were’ was definitely only helping because the human wanted him to. She sensed his distrust and negative attitude. It was understandable. The hatred between vampires and werewolves was legendary.

The redhead took a card from her jacket pocket and handed it to Luke. “Cellphone, text and email are all right there. I appreciate any help you can give.”

She looked to Jones, “Thank you for listening.”

The girl then placed some money on the bar to cover the wine she’d barely touched, and she turned and left for the door.

She’d had her friend, Snow, open up her Raconteur apartment earlier in the day. She’d miss New Orleans, but she didn’t mind the change of pace here. It had been some time since she’d been in Raconteur longer than a few hours.

No doubt the vampire world in the city had already heard of her return. She wondered how long before she was visited by one of “her kind” to warn her about keeping her nose out of vampire affairs. She wasn’t known as the “Exile” for no reason.

In the parking lot she mounted up on the bike and headed toward her place.

?

[Luke with multiple NPC's]

Jenny Lee, Bobby Lee’s young daughter is very sick

Charlie Talman? veteran cop killed in a strange car wreck

Tad

Jenny Lee, Bobby Lee’s young daughter is very sick

Charlie Talman? veteran cop killed in a strange car wreck

Tad Bruster? young cop big like Jones

Clive Baker - City chief of police

Myer - A fireman

? young cop big like Jones

Clive Baker - City chief of police

Myer - A fireman

?

Luke started his pickup and headed out of town headed west. Morgan City was the closest he could find an Air Boat to take him up into the Bayou. The call about Jenny was upsetting and it looked as if it were up to him. Bobby Lee lived deep in the Bayou far away from the highway and completely water-locked.? Luke had been there one time about ten years ago. It was a faint memory at best.? He could navigate well enough just using his phone. Granted that he could get a reception.? But if he got close enough he had other means to find the place.?

The hardest part was getting a boat at this late hour. Bobby had called Luke just as he was getting back to the dock and now it was after 11.? He knew the boat rental guy well and he could rough over any doubts with some extra cash.?

Luke hadn’t gotten three miles before he came up on a bad accident. Two fire trucks, an ambulance and three Raconteur squad cars filled the night with flashing, strobing light.?

He pulled over to see if there was anything he could do to help.?

Tad Bruster, a young cop about the size of Jones loomed up ahead.

“What happened Tad?”

“A mess...ah...Charlie...he is dead.”

“What??” The only Charlie Luke knew was Charlie Talman. He was another cop. A fifteen year veteran. He’d know Charlie forever.?

“Charlie?” Was all Luke could manage. He was stunned. He’d spoken to Charlie just last week. His oldest daughter was having a baby and..? “Oh man.”

“I know,” Tad said sadly.

“Clive here?”

“Yeah,” Tad pointed vaguely ahead.

“Mind if I...”

“Go ahead, Clive might need you.”

Luke walked up the scene, his mind still reeling.? The squad car was sideways against a large Cypress.The car looked like it was folded around the tree.?

He spotted Clive standing nearby with a couple of firemen.? Near the accident the EMT’s were putting a body onto a stretcher.?

“Luke,” Clive said. He didn’t reach out to offer his hand. Luke didn’t even notice.

“What the hell Clive?” Luke started.

“Nothing you can do here Luke,” Myer said. He was a young fireman from town. Luke knew everyone in Raconteur.?

“Charlie.” Luke said again.

“I know,” Clive replied. “This is some shit. What do I tell Cindy and...”

“How did it happen?”

“Unclear. The tire tracks show he was dragging on two wheels when headed off the road. Left tire tracks for thirty feet.? There was no other vehicle involved as far as we can tell.”

“That doesn’t add up Clive.” Luke was suddenly fired up and angry as hell.

He marched off towards the accident. The squad car had been manipulated. As simple as that. Someone had murdered Charlie. He stood staring as if somehow this was just a nightmare and he’d wake up. He wouldn't cry for Charlie but he did for his daughter.? He stood there, eyes stinging for a long time.?

Luke couldn’t sulk over it for long. Jenny was sick and waiting on him.

He marched back to the Chief.? “I’m going to look into this Clive. Someone is going to pay for this!”

“Calm down Luke. Keep your distance. Let me handle the investigation.” Clive put a hand on Luke’s arm.

Luke pulled away angrily. “I’ve got to run. Jenny Lee is sick.”

“奥丑辞?”

“They live deep in the swamp. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Luck stormed off.? He got back in his pickup and pulled through the scene carefully then floored it for Morgan City.

?

?

Tag - Scarlett, any

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(New Scarlett MacAleister)

?

?? Scarlett awakened inside a box. It was more than a box, but at times that’s all it felt like to her. She reached up and tapped a button on a keypad built into the lid to the box and it lifted up and then slid down, opening to reveal the bedroom in Scarlett’s Raconteur City apartment,

?? She sat up and stretched, looking around the room. It had been a few years since she’d slept here, but with the help of her assistant she’d kept the place clean and well taken care of.

?? Naked, the redhead climbed out of the sarcophagus where she slept at night. Padding nude into her dimly lit bedroom, she tapped another button on the wall and the coffin, made of polished white marble, closed back up and sank down into the bed. The false mattress then folded back over the coffin and it appeared to once again just be a bed.

?? The door suddenly flew open, but Scarlett wasn’t surprised. She’d caught the scent of the ‘intruder’ a couple seconds before he burst into the room.

?? “Snow!” she cried, using her arms to cover herself.

?? A young man with pure white hair entered the room carrying a stack of folded towels. He laughed as she covered herself and continued past, toward the bathroom. “Rise and shine, Scarlett. And don’t worry about me, I’ve seen it all. Remember sugar, you’re not my type.”

?? The redhead grabbed up a green silky robe from a drawer and threw it over her ivory body. She then stood in the doorway to the master bathroom and watched Snow putting away the towels.

?? “Housekeeper wasn’t able to get here on short notice, so I took care of everything,” he said, turning from the linen closet. He then looked at her and with all seriousness said, “You’re welcome!”

?? “You know I’m grateful for everything you do for me, Snow,” she said as he walked hastily from the room to tend to another chore. “You’re wonderful!”

?? He stopped and looked back at her, “Then give me what I want, Scar. It’s all I’ve asked of you for 10 years.”

?? The vampire’s mood saddened a little, “I’ve told you, I’m not going to give you what you want.”

?? “Ten years I’ve been your loyal servant,” he pouted. “All I’ve ever asked is for you to make me immortal. Instead, I’m 10 years older and you’re the same as you looked a decade ago.”

?? Scarlett stepped back and folded her arms across her chest, “Snow, if you want it that badly you should find another vampire to serve.”

?? “But they aren’t you. You’re kind, you care about people,” he said, looking down at the floor. “I don’t want to serve some murdering blood sucker.”

?? “Or how about you become a murdering bloodsucker?” she asked. “That could happen. It took a lot of effort, a lot of suffering on my part to avoid being like the others. There are still moments when my thirst can’t be quenched by a pack of blood from the black market. I’m not making you one of them…like the others.”

?? Snow’s shoulder slumped and he shook his head, “I know about your concerns.? I just…want this. More than anything.”

?? “The thing I never wanted to be,” she muttered. “If you only knew what this was really like.”

?? He shrugged, “I guess I’ll never know. I’ll go on being your Day Assistant, only I get old and die.”

?? Scarlett sighed, “There’s a lot to be said for being mortal. I’d give anything to be mortal again. To have been able to grow old with the man I loved. To have children. I never got to experience any of that…and you want me to give you this curse?”
? “Hey, I get it,” Snow said. “Anyway, moving on…calls today, you had three. Two prospective clients and one a message from the Raconteur Midnight Society.”

?? Scarlett’s ears perked up. She looked to Snow with a raised eyebrow.

?? “Must be vampire shit?” he asked.

?? “Indeed,” she said. “The Midnight Society is the official cover for the vampire underground in Raconteur. They must know I’m back in town.”

?? “Well, the guy didn’t sound like they were breaking out the champagne for you,” Snow said. “Didn’t leave a name, just said to remind you that you should go back to New Orleans.”

??? She nodded, “Sounds about right. Did he leave a number?”

??? “Wrote it down,” he said. “It’s also in your phone.”

??? “Anything else?”

??? “Carl Wilson paid his bill. I deposited it in your account,” Snow said. “I sent payment reminders to Scofield and Haramedi. Oh, and check your text messages. One from your cop friend in there.”

?? She nodded as Snow turned and headed back into the living room. Scarlett stepped into the bathroom and took a shower. Afterwards, once she was dressed and had done her hair and makeup, she walked into the living room and found Snow had left.

??? Scarlett found her phone and a portable cooler sitting on the island in the kitchen. She opened the cooler and found several packets of blood there, along with ice packs. She took a pack and poured it into a glass before refrigerating the rest. She then took the glass and drank its contents, enjoying the rush as it entered her body and coursed through her veins.

?? Afterwards, she rinsed and placed the glass in the dishwasher and tended to her messages. One was from Det. Jackson Sage, back in New Orleans. The number was from a burner phone, but it was from Sage, who went by the moniker of Gumbo in the text. The police there had tied the deceased Mr. Rhames with Nakamura’s yakuza operation in Raconteur City. No surprise there.?

? Like it or not, Raconteur was where she needed to be right now. Scarlett grabbed her leather jacket and headed out the door to begin her nightly prowl of the streets…

?

(tag Luke, any)

[Luke]

Luke called while on the highway to Morgan City. The phone rang four times then went to voicemail. On their website was an emergency number and he called that.

“驰补丑?”

“I need an airboat ready to go with extra fuel tanks asap.”

“Not happening buddy,” the voice answered. I’m closed and at the house.”

“How much do you charge for rental on the spot without reservations?”

“Usually it’s either by the hour or by the day. You must have a registered pilot with the State.”

“How much per day?”

“$700 plus gas.”

Luke thought about it a second. “I’ll pay you two grand plus extra for the gas.”

“Make it three.”

“A kid is in the bayou likely dying as we speak. I’m a medic on my way out to them. They are dirt poor and have no way to get her to the hospital.”

“Who is this?”

“Luke Reardon, I own? ‘Open Water Charters’ off route 1.”

“Hey Luke, this is Red, Red Mattison. We’ve met before. I remember you at that Pro Bass event last year.”

“Red, can you help me out?”

“2500 and I will throw in the gas, on me.”

“Thanks Red. I’m on 90 now about fifteen minutes out.”

“I’ll see you there.”

Red didn’t have the boat ready but it didn’t take long.

“You putting her in the water here?” Red asked.

“Yes, faster than driving around the lake really.”

“Well this thing is loaded with five extra fuel tanks. You should be able to make it to Baton Rouge if you needed to.”

“Thanks Red. I plan to have her back by morning. I got a charter for crying out loud.”

“I feel you man, good luck.”

Red helped un-tie the airboat while Luke fired up the engine. It was a new boat and had the newest noise suppression fan. It was still loud to Luke’s ears.

He waved to Red and launched out into the dark waters of the Atchafalaya River. His headlamps put a bright beam of light out in front but at the speeds he was going he needed help.?

He needed to navigate two lakes, Lake Palourde and Grassy Lake, then he had to track due north another three miles to Bobby Lee’s place. In between the Lakes he had to troll through small rivers. The rivers meandered and split into dead end forks at every juncture. He had to take the main channel and not get lost.

He pulled to a stop once he’d passed under the bridge and entered Lake Palourde. He used a quick charm to focus then summoned the Elemental.

After a long wait a voice echoed in his head.

“I’M HERE. WHAT DO YOU NEED OF ME?”

“I need you to pace up ahead of this boat. Tell me what obstacles to avoid.”

“VERY WELL. MOVE!”

Luke pushed the throttle all the way up and set his course for Grassy Lake.

The voyage had its moments of tense, finger gripping excitement as the small water elemental guided him sometimes at the last possible moment to turn. Countless times he was amazed he didn’t kill himself.?

Like magic, he made amazing time and within the hour was throttling down at Bobby Lee’s little dock.

“Luke, thank God!” Bobby greeted him with a bear hug. The clan encircled him, two twin boys almost adult in age and two teenage daughters. They all were chattering and laughing with renewed hope for their baby sister.

“How is she?”

“I don’t know,” Bobby said, his face ashen.

“Well let’s go fix her up,” Luke said.

Maggie Lee sat at her daughter’s bedside. She rose when Luke entered.?

“What can we do?”

“I will need a small bed made for her in the airboat. That’s about it for now.”

Maggie hugged him and kissed his cheek. “You are....” she couldn’t finish. The tears were running down her face as she held back sobs.

“Sit down Maggie. Let me look her over.”

Jenny was feverish and her blood pressure was spiking badly.?

“Stay with me Maggie. If I look like I’m going to fall over hold me up okay?”

“Yes, I will.”

Luke reached out with his talent. His mind was instantly challenged from the heat and pain that came from the little girl. He took that heat and pain and transferred it into himself. His head sagged and he started to fall over backwards but Maggie steadied him.

It took a long time to make it happen. He managed it at last. When it was done he sank back onto the floor.

“I’ve got her stable for now.” His words came in staccato beats as her old fever gripped him.

“What now,” Maggie asked. Her smile was bright with hope.

“I’ve got to get her back to Morgan City Hospital. She needs meds and maybe a transfusion.”

“I must go with you.”

“Yes, and bring identification.”

Luke lay down on the floor and took many short breaths.??

“Give me about half an hour then we’ll go.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Luke felt someone shaking him.

“What...?” He was lying down on a sofa. The air was cool and had that antiseptic smell of a hospital.

“She’s going to be fine,” Maggie said. “They are going to keep her for another day but it’s just for precaution. The Doctor said it was a miracle that she is alive.”

“Almost,” Luke said with a sleepy grin.?

“We’ll never be able to repay you.”

“Nevermind all that.” Luke struggled to a sitting position. His head throbbed.

“Bobby is headed this way. He should make it by evening. A friend is helping us with a small outboard.”

“Wonderful,” Luke agreed. He wasn’t ready to run that gauntlet again.

Maggie hugged and kissed him again as he rose to his feet.

“Are you staying?”

“No, I got a charter this morning. Got to get back.”

“We will never forget this Luke,” she said. “Lord be praised.”

“Take care. Say hi to everyone.”?

Luke headed for the door. He still had to get the airboat back. It was going to be a long day.

(Tag: Scarlett, Any)

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