R. Edinger - Night Kill

Andrew got up and refilled his cup with more Earl Grey tea. He sat back down at the breakfast nook table. Andrew took a sip of tea, drinking in its aroma and relaxing liquids. Andrew contacted his friend at the Bayport Herald. She told Andrew about a feature story that the paper had done last year on author, Kara Sadler. This Kara Sadler had presented information from her book at a conference sponsored by the police department, local churches, and the healthcare community. The book she had written was titled Vampire Chronicles. The book was about the subculture of vampirism and its affects on adults and teenagers. Andrew finished his tea. He got up and put the dishes in the sink. Andrew left the kitchen to go back up stairs.

Andrew walked down the hall. He stopped and opened the door to his office. Andrew slipped inside closing the door behind him. He sat down at his desk and turned on the computer. First, Andrew went on Google and did a search for Kara Sadler. He had over a thousand hits. Andrew thought for a second and went to the ‘free people search’. He keyed in her name. It came up with four Kara Sadler’s. There were one in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Illinois and Ohio. His friend at the paper had mentioned Kara Sadler was from somewhere in Illinois. He wrote down the address and phone number. Andrew logged off there and went to the Chicago Police department home page. Andrew recalled that Talia was a detective in the Chicago police department prior to becoming Sheriff. He copied down the phone number. Andrew picked up the phone and pressed the number. He waited for a minute or two and when the operator answered, Andrew said, “Detective Flannery, please.” Andrew listened further, and repeated, “He gets off at 12 a.m.” Andrew was about to hang up when the operator asked him a question. “Andrew Knight,” Andrew replied. “We go back a ways.” Andrew listened further, and said, “Yeah I know about Riley’s. Just tell him that Andrew will meet him there at midnight, tonight.” Andrew hung up the phone. He shut down the computer and went back to bed.

Father Michael rose when his alarm went off. He got out of bed and dressed for his usual early morning walk. Father Michael went downstairs of the rectory and grabbed the keys. He was out the door in a matter of minutes and on his way down Marshall Street.

Father Michael loved the early morning sounds and sweet smells wafting through the air. As he walked along, the aroma from Hartman’s Bakery filled his nostrils. It made his mouth water. He could smell fresh coffee being brewed for another day at the Chat Room Cafe.

As he was passing by Washington Park, Father Michael stopped abruptly as a hooded figure sprung from the bushes.

“Hello Father Michael.” Night Blade greeted him with a bow.

“What do you want?” Father Michael asked.

“We want you to stop looking for Wyatt,” a second voice came from behind. Father Michael spun around to face them. “He didn’t kill the Higgins’,” Star Blade said.

“We need to talk to him,” Father Michael answered.

“We already have,” a third voice announced.

“And you must be Moon Blade,” Father Michael turned to his right. He saw the third hooded figure. Moon Blade bowed with arms extended.

“His mother has hired a private investigator to find him,” Father Michael answered.

“We know,” Moon Blade answered. “It’s Andrew Knight.”

“Then you know that he will find him,” Father Michael said, proudly.

“We want you to call him off.” Moon Blade took a few steps closer. “Before someone gets hurt, or before Knight gets hurt.”

“Why did you hurt those teenagers?” Father Michael changed subjects.

“They and the others do unspeakable things. Just like those centuries before them, so they have to be punished,” Star Blade spoke first. “They drink human blood and practice unholy rituals.”

“So we have fought against this plague for centuries,” Moon Blade spoke next. “And will continue to do so.”

“Its murder,” Father Michael rebuked. “And that’s a sin against God.”

“We do God’s work,” Night Blade shot back. “And by His will, we punish those who are vampires.” Night Blade moved closer and so did the others. Night Blade drew her swords first. Moon Blade and Star Blade did the same. They raised their swords, crossing them above Father Michael’s head.

“Tell Knight to back off,” Star Blade commanded.

“Or he will get hurt,” Moon Blade added.

“Andrew handled Night Blade quite well,” Father Michael smirked.

“He may have defeated me,” Night Blade got up in Father Michaels face. “But he is no match for the three of us, nor any of our fellow knights. If he pursues this further, Andrew Knight will die!” All sheathed their blades and instantly disappeared.

Father Michael finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was too shaken and immediately returned to the rectory. As soon as Father Michael got inside, he made a call.

Nick walked into Riley’s Blues Club. The place was packed. Nick strode up to the bar, took off his leather jacket and lay in across the stool. He nodded at the pretty girl behind the bar and she nodded back. Nick took out a pack of smokes and lit one up. A few minutes later the girl brought him his drink, a double whiskey on the rocks. It had been a real bad day at work. Most of the morning was spent testifying in court and he had mounds of reports to fill out.

Nick slammed down his drink and ordered another. He lit up another smoke. Nick spun around and scanned the crowd. He liked Riley’s, a blues club, because it was a great place to hang out after work.

Nick finished his second drink and was about to order another when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around on the stool to see Andrew standing there.

“Hey Nick,” Andrew smiled.

“Knight, you son of a b-” Nick hopped off his stool and gave Andrew a bear hug. “How the hell are you?”

“I’m fine,” Andrew grinned. His mood suddenly changed, “We need to talk.”

“What’s up?” Nick ordered them each a drink. “Why are you really here?”

“I’ll explain,” Andrew answered as Nick handed him the glass of scotch.

“Follow me.” Nick led the way. They walked through the main area and finally found a secluded booth near the back.

They slid into the seats across from each other. Nick offered Andrew a smoke, which he took. Nick lit his, then Andrew’s.

“So, why all the mystery s-?” Nick asked as he sipped his drink.

“Do you know a Talia Delsmann?” Andrew took a drink from his glass.

“Yeah, I know her,” Nick answered. “We worked together on the south side. Why?”

“She’s the Sheriff for Bayport County now,” Andrew explained. He quickly finished his drink, but it was Nick that finished his thought.

“What about her?” Nick pressed further.

“Were there any cases that stick out in your mind,” Andrew asked. “You know, anything involving vampires?”

“What the hell?” Nick choked on his drink. “Vampires? Are you kidding me?”

“Just answer the question,” Andrew insisted.

“Yeah, there was one case,” Nick recalled. “The department had received a great deal of missing person reports for several months. There were no solid leads. All of them had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. During that time, we were asked to investigate an abandoned house on South Lake Park Avenue in Oakland. The neighbors had been complaining about noises coming from the house.” He paused and flagged down a waitress to order more drinks. She took their order and left. “When we first got to…” Nick stopped when the waitress returned. “We never found those responsible. It was like they were f- ghost, shadows. There were other reports all over Chicago. They even set up a task force, but nothing came out of it. We never found those responsible.”