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Four: Dead men don't talk.

Fredericks didn't sleep much that night wondering what kind of danger he'd sent his partner into. He was relieved when she showed up for work on time the next day.

"Hey Jason.... You look like shit."

"Where've I heard that before?"

"Almost every time I've seen you in the morning."

"Gee thanks."

"Welcome."

He looked her over. She seemed fine. Just as bight and beautiful as she was every morning. Ok she'd taken to wearing a turtleneck sweater today but hey the weather was turning cold these past few days. Not like he could shout Vampire and check her neck for bite marks now.

"So.... About last night Phillips."

"Yes?"

"Learn anything?"

"Not really. Place is like a gentleman's club of sorts. Members invite people to come and share a quiet evening in a nice environment. Drinks are expensive. Usual stuff really."

"What about the whole minors thing?"

"Didn't see any there."

"Really?"

"Yes. Vlad and I had a wonderful evening talking about life and the city and how it seems to be sadly slipping into darkness what with the rising crime rate and all. And we...."

Fredericks tuned her reply out. Something was off about her. Normally she was all about work but not today. Today seemed like it was going to be all about Vladimir Petrov.

"Phillips."

"Hmm?"

"I'm going back to Mr Freihafen's apartment."

"Oh. Ok."

"Coming with?"

"No."

"What? Why?"

"I was going to go through your old case files and see if I could come up with any links besides that case the chief took you off."

"Oh. Good idea Phillips."

"Thankyou and Jason."

"Yes?"

"Call me Maya."

"Er... ok Maya."

She smiled. He was merely confused. She'd fought him on that issue before and had accepted the fact he wasn't going to get close to her. Why all lovey dovey now? Vampires, was his only thought.

He once again visited the apartment of Mr Freihafen but this time he received no answer to the doorbell. He tried knocking and it was then he discovered the door was in fact open.

"Shit. Never a good sign." He contemplated calling for backup but decided against it. He was starting to doubt he could trust anyone but himself any more. "It's not really paranoia if they are out to get you." He drew his gun while quietly entering through the apartment door. From what he could see it was a nice place. The entry hallway was mostly off white with some tasteful paintings, probably that Van Woof artist guy or someone else rich people paid millions for. It was one of the nicer parts of town after all. A couple of doors led off the hallway. Fredericks could see that the open door led to a small bathroom. He checked in their first and found nothing. The other door proved only to be a closet. He continued down the hallway until he reached what had to be the living room. That's when the smell hit him; the coppery scent of fresh blood. He stepped into the living room slowly gun pointed ahead of him. He almost gagged at the sight that lay before him. Mr Freihafen was clearly dead for his torso had been pinned to the wall with a large sword. His guts law strewn about the living room floor and his legs laid on the blood soaked couch. Fredericks took deep breaths to avoid heaving and managed to step back into the hallway and reach for his radio.

15 minutes later Fredericks stood outside the apartment watching several uniforms coming out retching. It certainly wasn't your everyday crime scene. Strangely enough thought his partner, Phillips, hadn't shown much of a reaction to the horrible slaughter. He'd heard stories of her fainting at autopsies and now she wasn't even batting an eyelid. There was definitely more to that club than met the eye. He talked with her after she'd looked over the scene.

"So much for our leads. Anything in the files?"

"No. Nothing." She sighed. "You were right to file it under U for unsolvable."

"Guess so and since dead men don't talk."

"We have nothing."

"You talk to people at the club?"

"Yes. People remember seeing her but not what she did while there."

"Maybe I should talk to Mr Petrov again."

"I'll do that. I think he'll be more open with me."

"Yeah. You're probably right."

She smiled at him again. Her smile used to annoy him. How could anyone be so cheerful in this town? Now it just frightened him. Just what had happened to her in that club? And who had killed their potential lead? More questions than answers. Usual way for most of his work.

Five: Trust No one

Fredericks shifted as the thorns on the bush once again decided to remind him why stalking his partner wasn't a good idea but he had questions that could only be answered by her and she wasn't going to just let him look at her neck so he followed her home. Luckily she seemed oblivious to the world at large and lived in a neighborhood where people weren't likely to care if someone was stalking someone else. Crimson City, the happiest place in Hell. He'd watched her for over an hour already and all she'd done was sit and talk on the phone. "Dammit Phillips will you just get undressed!"

"Calm down Rabbit."

Frederick nearly jumped out of his skin. "Fuck. Johnny how long have you been here?"

"Long enough. Not very good at this are you?"

"First time. I normally catch the guys who do this."

"First easy collar ever eh Rabbit?"

"What?"

"Catching yourself. Unless you of course couldn't even catch a cold."

"I don't get colds."

"Ah. Than answers that."

"Why the fuck are..."

"Showtime Rabbit."

Fredericks took a second to register what showtime meant before turning his attention back to Phillips' window. She was indeed getting undressed. He found a certain part of himself was thoroughly enjoying this whole affair and tried to put any sexual thoughts out of his mind. This was business.

"Damn. One fine Vixen you workin' with Rabbit."

"Shut the fuck up Johnny. Now come on Phillips show me your neck."

Almost as if she could hear him she stretched and turned towards the window a little. He fought the instinct to focus on her breasts and stared at her neck.

"Fuck I can't see..."

Johnny handed him a pair of binoculars. "You really don't know how to do this do you?"

"Shut up." He took the binoculars and used them to get a closer look at her neck while she stood up and continued undressing. There they were. Bite marks on her neck.

"Vampires."

"Hope you got plenty of garlic Rabbit. Now if you've finished with those I'm missing out on quite a good show."

"Johnny."

"Fine fine. Just give me the damn binoculars Rabbit."

Fredericks handed them over after getting one last look at his partner. She was beautiful. Athletic body, firm muscles, toned stomach, pert breasts, that soft fur on her mound... He took a deep breath and then went wide eyed as he felt a hand on his groin.

"What the fuck!"

Johnny smiled and moved his hand away. "Just checking to see if you're alive. Seems you are."

"I should arrest you."

"Then go ahead."

"Fuck you."

"Oh is that what you were thinking about?" He grinned.

"Lets just go."

He took Johnny to the café on 23rd street, Benny's. Place was open at all hours. Fredericks wondered if Benny ever slept as he always seemed to be serving but then again the Dragon had the stamina of... well a Dragon. Benny waved at the two of them as they entered.

"Ah my two Favorite... wait is that right. Two customers anyway." He laughed, a big hearty laugh that started somewhere in the blue Dragon's feet.

Fredericks shook his head. "Two coffees and whatever the rat's having."

"Usual please Benny."

"Two coffees and a BLT. Certainly. Take a seat and I'll get to you when I can."

Fredericks looked around to see the place was, as usual, virtually empty. He shrugged and took the nearest free booth. Johnny sat opposite him.

"So Johnny." He paused. Which question to ask first?

"So Rabbit." He grinned.

"Er..."

"Um."

Fredericks narrowed his eyes. "Why the hell you touch me like that back there?"

"Touch you... touch you...."

"Come on Johnny you know what the fuck I mean!"

"Oh that." He grinned again "Like I said checking if you were alive."

"Cut the crap."

"Ok ok. I was checking to see how much of a prude you were."

"What!?"

"Rumor has it your equipment doesn't function since your wife left you."

"Rumor? What rumor?"

Johnny laughed. "Word on the street Rabbit, word on the street. No one's seen you even look at a female since your wife. I was gauging you're reaction to your partner. Plus there is the fact I think you're cute and wanted a free feel."

"You.... Er.... What....."

"Oh come on. I think you're cute. I like you. I want to get you into bed. I'm gay."

Fredericks shook his head this wasn't the time to be sidetracked by things like this. Johnny smiled and continued. "I was kinda hoping that after your wife left you'd switch teams."

Fredericks remember the thoughts he'd had about Mr Petrov. Had he.... Wait.... No... He hadn't. "So you were just checking to see..."

"How you were reacting to seeing your partner naked, yes. Sorry if I've ruined you perfect vision of me being some low life sewer rat who chases all the tail he can get. Well I do, but in a different sense." He smiled.

Fredericks let out a sigh as Benny came over with their order. "So you like me?"

"Yep. Always have Rabbit."

"So... back on track."

"Aw." Johnny feigned disappointment.

"Not now. I'll deal with that thought when I can. About my partner and the Deus Vitae."

"She's been ensnared." Johnny took a huge bite out of his sandwich. "Got her good and proper. She's theirs now."

"Any way to help her?"

He shrugged. "Don't know about that. Never heard of anyone getting out before. Well... except in a body bag."

Fredericks frowned.

"Bad coffee Rabbit?"

"No. The last person to see Felicia alive was killed."

"Who's Felicia?"

"Feline kid that was killed after being at the Deus Vitae. Guy that brought her turned up dead today."

"Huh. Maybe he felt guilty about bringing her eh Rabbit."

"That's what I was thinking. Johnny. I got a big favor to ask."

"What?"

"My partner's been ensnared as you put it. I don't know who I can trust in the department. I mean it was the chief that shut me down last time."

Johnny cut him off. "And you want me to be your new partner."

"Yeah. Will you do it?"

"You're asking me even after what I did and told you?"

" I trust you more than anyone else. Seems the bloodsuckers have their fangs in everywhere."

"True. I only got the word on the street but most of the rumors compliment each other pretty good. It's a deal Rabbit."

"Thanks."

"You can thank me later by taking me out on a date." He grinned.

Fredericks shook his head a little but said. "If that's what it takes Johnny I'll do it."

"You're kidding Rabbit?"

"Nope. Help me on this and I'll give you a shot. First date since my wife left."

"Fuck."

"What?"

"I should've made that bet with Mike. Coulda scored a hundred bucks."

"What have I got myself into?"