After
a short rest, Drea and Kirk are taken to the police station to look
at a lineup.
Drea
scanned the lineup carefully, looking for a familiar face. Although
they all fit the basic description of the man in their shop, she
didn't think any of them were.
"Could
I hear them speak?" She asked quietly.
"Certainly.
What shall they say?"
"Blood
pudding or Steak Tartar."
Sandra
raised an eyebrow, but leaned over the microphone. "Number One,
step forward and say steak tartar."
"Say
what?" The man looked confused. He stepped forward. "Steak
tartar," he stumbled slightly over the pronunciation.
Drea
shook her head. Each man stepped forward, saying the same words. Only
Number Four, sounded close to right.
"Could
Number Four say something else?" Drea said. "I'm simply not
quite sure."
"What
would you like him to say?"
"I
know your secret. You can no longer hide."
Sandra
gave the instructions. The man stepped forward again, saying the
words rapidly.
"He
has to say them like he means them," Drea said.
"Repeat
them, with feeling," Sandra instructed.
Drea
closed her eyes, listening. The man cleared his throat, then spoke in
a menacing tone. Drea shook her head.
"It's
not him. It's very close, but not him."
"Thank
you. This group can go out." She turned to Drea. "I have
another group. Would you like to see them?"
"Yes,
please."
The
others filed in. Drea waited while they took their places, her eyes
closed. One man tread on the heel of the fellow in front of him. The
trodden upon man complained loudly, growling at the man behind him.
"Watch
it, bub! Pay attention, huh?"
Drea
stiffened, her eyes still closed. "Which one is that?"
"Number
Six."
"Have
him say the phrase, please." She kept her eyes closed.
Sandra
gave the instructions.
He
stepped forward, speaking loudly. "I know your secret. You can
no longer hide."
"That's
him. I'm sure of it." She opened her eyes.
The
face before her was unmistakable. It was the man who threatened her
in the shop. Clutching Kirk's arm, she sat slowly on a stool.
"That's
him. I know that's him."
"Take
a closer look at the others as well."
"Of
course. But I'm sure."
None
of the others were right. Number Six was her man, Drea was positive.
Sandra gave instructions to the unseen listeners once more and the
men were dismissed.
"He's
been detained," Sandra told them. "He'll be taken back to
the cell block shortly, so we'll wait in here until that's been
done."
Someone
in the hallway yelled loudly. There was cursing, hollering and
confusion. Sandra told them to stay put, picking up a nearby phone.
"What's
happening? I see. Thank you." Frowning, she hung up. "Just
confirmed his guilt, I'd say. He tried to get away. He's been
arrested for assault on an officer. I don't think you'll have
anything more to worry about."
Drea
and Kirk exchanged a long, penetrating look. Drea cleared her throat,
shrugging. Kirk nodded.
"Sandra,
we have reason to believe that he may have information in the
disappearance of some of our friends."
Sandra
stared at them, confused. "What friends?"
Sighing,
Kirk told her the names of their vampire acquaintances.
"Have
all of them been reported to the police?"
Having
the assurance of Heinrich that they had, Kirk nodded. "We belong
to a rather special organization. We believe this man and his
compatriots may be targeting us."
Pursing
her lips, she sat on the edge of a table. "There's more you
haven't told me. I can keep a secret. Whatever this is about, I need
to know. If some organization has become the target of another in my
town...."
"Thing
is," Kirk said quietly. "I don't know if you'll believe us.
And even if you do...."
"If
you do," Drea continued. "You may not want to help us."
"What?
Are you devil worshipers or something?"
They
shook their heads.
"I
think the best way is to show her, darling," Drea said. "I'll
do it."
He
nodded. Drea took several steps back from Sandra. "Whatever you
see next, realize that I won't hurt you."
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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