Friday Snippet: Better Late Than Never
“You said you were going to call,” Juliann said when she opened the door to find Detective Aaron Ritter on the other side.
“I changed my mind after I saw the body. Can I come in?”
“If I say no, are you going to get a warrant?”
“If I have to,” he said, giving her one of his disarming grins.
[clipped]
“Alright, tell me exactly what happened,” he told her, after downing half his pop.
Juliann told him everything she could, leaving out anything in reference to what she sensed from the woman or the body. He jotted down some notes as she spoke, but mostly just listened. He tapped his pen on his lips, and Juliann knew him well enough to know that meant there was more.
“What’s going on, Aaron?”
“You know I can’t tell you that, Jules. It’s on ongoing investigation.”
“Since when has that stopped you?”
“It’s for your own good,” he said, and she successfully resisted the urge to deck him. She hated that phrase. “This investigation…well, it’s a little weird.”
“Come on, Aaron, dish it. I’m just a spectator, and you know it.”
Trouble snorted.
“Spectator, right.” She tugged his tail.
“Well…” he considered. “Well, this is the third body we’ve found in two weeks.”
“Third?” she said, honestly startled.
“Yeah, all the same thing. Male, early to late twenties, completely drained. If I were a superstitious sort, I’d think it was some sort of vampire. But even that wouldn’t be right, since they’re supposed to drink blood.”
“Not just blood, but every bodily fluid?”
“Every single one. I’ve seen a lot of autopsies, but these are definitely the creepiest.”
“No idea of the cause?”
“Not a mark on the bodies. But at least you saw a woman. That helps. I think.”
“Glad I could help. Is there anything else I can tell you? It’s late and I need to be at the Center pretty early.”
“No, that’s it. Thanks, Jules. I’ll give you a call later this week and give you an update.” “I appreciate that, Aaron.” She opened the door for him. “Get some rest. Good night.” He hesitated in the doorway as if to say something.
“Good night,” was all he said.
“I changed my mind after I saw the body. Can I come in?”
“If I say no, are you going to get a warrant?”
“If I have to,” he said, giving her one of his disarming grins.
[clipped]
“Alright, tell me exactly what happened,” he told her, after downing half his pop.
Juliann told him everything she could, leaving out anything in reference to what she sensed from the woman or the body. He jotted down some notes as she spoke, but mostly just listened. He tapped his pen on his lips, and Juliann knew him well enough to know that meant there was more.
“What’s going on, Aaron?”
“You know I can’t tell you that, Jules. It’s on ongoing investigation.”
“Since when has that stopped you?”
“It’s for your own good,” he said, and she successfully resisted the urge to deck him. She hated that phrase. “This investigation…well, it’s a little weird.”
“Come on, Aaron, dish it. I’m just a spectator, and you know it.”
Trouble snorted.
“Spectator, right.” She tugged his tail.
“Well…” he considered. “Well, this is the third body we’ve found in two weeks.”
“Third?” she said, honestly startled.
“Yeah, all the same thing. Male, early to late twenties, completely drained. If I were a superstitious sort, I’d think it was some sort of vampire. But even that wouldn’t be right, since they’re supposed to drink blood.”
“Not just blood, but every bodily fluid?”
“Every single one. I’ve seen a lot of autopsies, but these are definitely the creepiest.”
“No idea of the cause?”
“Not a mark on the bodies. But at least you saw a woman. That helps. I think.”
“Glad I could help. Is there anything else I can tell you? It’s late and I need to be at the Center pretty early.”
“No, that’s it. Thanks, Jules. I’ll give you a call later this week and give you an update.” “I appreciate that, Aaron.” She opened the door for him. “Get some rest. Good night.” He hesitated in the doorway as if to say something.
“Good night,” was all he said.