absorb sound are hard. They carry a lot farther. And out where Tyler’s farm is they’re way off the beaten path. No cars or anything for that good old background hum we get used to in the city.”
Becca considered altering her image of the staggering zombie-like vampire to one of a much more frightening, and stealthier, version. “That’s a lot like the desert so it’s not an entirely foreign concept to me.” She dropped her chin to give him a look of mock disdain. “Do you have a theory?”
He slid a tanned hand up the doorjamb, taking a step further in, his expression going dark. “Oh sure, I have a few. But are you sure you want to hear ‘em? After all, a small town detective’s opinion isn’t worth much. Not to one of you big city Feds.” The first undercurrent of distrust rippled into the room. “You guys are so much smarter than us out here I figured I’d just wait at my desk until you asked me to drive you somewhere. Maybe a crime scene or something?”
Uncooperative didn’t bother Becca. It annoyed her, but it didn’t get under her skin like it did other people. She’d forgotten what it felt like though, her old partner Danny was a pro at soothing pissed off sailors and marines. A pain went through her chest when she thought of him, burned to death in the middle of the desert. And Michele, his widow, who would forever wonder what really killed her husband miles from the base where he should have been working. The explanation of a “training accident” rang hollow to everyone with half a clue.
Seeing the shadow fall over her face, Detective Salvo’s demeanor changed abruptly. “I’m sorry, that was an asshole thing to say. I don’t know why I did.” He took a step further, resting a hand on the desktop. “We’ve never had a big enough case come through to bring the Feds but I know other guys in Madison who did and they said once the Feds are in, locals are left holding their hats and if anything goes wrong, we get the blame.”
“We’re not like that, Detective. You have my word.” Becca assured him, hoping she could keep that mostly true. He seemed sharp and was going about the investigation the right way from what she’d read in his files. His cooperation and knowledge of local details could help them tremendously. “Although I would like to see those crime scenes if you don’t mind, and you do know the roads better.” She smiled warmly. “That wouldn’t be an asshole thing of me to ask, would it?”
His answer froze in his throat when he heard the cold voice from the doorway he’d just vacated.
“Yes Detective, if you wouldn’t mind acting as tour guide.” Michael eyed him coldly. “I’d like to get out of the office for a little while.” His dark gaze turned to Becca, ignoring the hostile stare of the young detective. “You, Captain Sauter?”
“Sure.” She set down the cup, reluctant to lose its warmth. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, Detective, I think visiting the crime scenes would be very helpful.”
Recognizing the vibe in the office as having officially changed to unwelcoming, Detective Salvo gave each a slight nod, his gaze remaining on Michael as he brushed past him to exit. “I’ll go tell the chief.”
***
Michael stepped in and took a seat at one of the black fabric chairs in front of her borrowed desk. Becca tipped her head and aimed a severe look his way. “Well, that wasn’t very nice.”
He didn’t even try to pretend his abruptness had been accidental. The vampire inside him clamored for release, demanding to follow the overly friendly detective and squeeze the life out of him. Mine , it hissed. Shrugging, he kept his voice low. “I stopped over to give you a break. Have you found anything? Signs of where this thing came from?” He indicated the computer with a hand.
Leaning back in her chair again, Becca yawned and ran a hand over her eyes. “Nothing. This thing came out
Becca considered altering her image of the staggering zombie-like vampire to one of a much more frightening, and stealthier, version. “That’s a lot like the desert so it’s not an entirely foreign concept to me.” She dropped her chin to give him a look of mock disdain. “Do you have a theory?”
He slid a tanned hand up the doorjamb, taking a step further in, his expression going dark. “Oh sure, I have a few. But are you sure you want to hear ‘em? After all, a small town detective’s opinion isn’t worth much. Not to one of you big city Feds.” The first undercurrent of distrust rippled into the room. “You guys are so much smarter than us out here I figured I’d just wait at my desk until you asked me to drive you somewhere. Maybe a crime scene or something?”
Uncooperative didn’t bother Becca. It annoyed her, but it didn’t get under her skin like it did other people. She’d forgotten what it felt like though, her old partner Danny was a pro at soothing pissed off sailors and marines. A pain went through her chest when she thought of him, burned to death in the middle of the desert. And Michele, his widow, who would forever wonder what really killed her husband miles from the base where he should have been working. The explanation of a “training accident” rang hollow to everyone with half a clue.
Seeing the shadow fall over her face, Detective Salvo’s demeanor changed abruptly. “I’m sorry, that was an asshole thing to say. I don’t know why I did.” He took a step further, resting a hand on the desktop. “We’ve never had a big enough case come through to bring the Feds but I know other guys in Madison who did and they said once the Feds are in, locals are left holding their hats and if anything goes wrong, we get the blame.”
“We’re not like that, Detective. You have my word.” Becca assured him, hoping she could keep that mostly true. He seemed sharp and was going about the investigation the right way from what she’d read in his files. His cooperation and knowledge of local details could help them tremendously. “Although I would like to see those crime scenes if you don’t mind, and you do know the roads better.” She smiled warmly. “That wouldn’t be an asshole thing of me to ask, would it?”
His answer froze in his throat when he heard the cold voice from the doorway he’d just vacated.
“Yes Detective, if you wouldn’t mind acting as tour guide.” Michael eyed him coldly. “I’d like to get out of the office for a little while.” His dark gaze turned to Becca, ignoring the hostile stare of the young detective. “You, Captain Sauter?”
“Sure.” She set down the cup, reluctant to lose its warmth. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, Detective, I think visiting the crime scenes would be very helpful.”
Recognizing the vibe in the office as having officially changed to unwelcoming, Detective Salvo gave each a slight nod, his gaze remaining on Michael as he brushed past him to exit. “I’ll go tell the chief.”
***
Michael stepped in and took a seat at one of the black fabric chairs in front of her borrowed desk. Becca tipped her head and aimed a severe look his way. “Well, that wasn’t very nice.”
He didn’t even try to pretend his abruptness had been accidental. The vampire inside him clamored for release, demanding to follow the overly friendly detective and squeeze the life out of him. Mine , it hissed. Shrugging, he kept his voice low. “I stopped over to give you a break. Have you found anything? Signs of where this thing came from?” He indicated the computer with a hand.
Leaning back in her chair again, Becca yawned and ran a hand over her eyes. “Nothing. This thing came out
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