Bloodsucking fiends: a love story

under his breath as he hoisted his bulk out of the car.
    "And a good early morning to you, Inspector." The Emperor bowed. "I see the fiend has us all burning the midnight oil."
    Rivera nodded to the uniforms. "We got it, guys, thanks." One of the uniforms was a woman. She shot Rivera a dirty look as she headed for the cruiser.
    Rivera turned his attention back to the Emperor. "You've been busy calling in reports of a vampire in the City."
    The Emperor frowned. "And I must say, Inspector, I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of promptness of your response."
    "Eat me," said Cavuto.
    "We've been busy," Rivera said.
    "Well, you're here at last." The Emperor waved to Bummer and Lazarus, who were waiting at his heel. "You know the men?"
    "We've met," Rivera said with a wave. "Your Majesty, you reported seeing a vampire" – Rivera pulled a notebook out of his jacket pocket – "three different times over the last month and a half." Rivera took a copy of Tommy's mug shot from his notebook and held it out to the Emperor. "Is this the man you saw?"
    "Heavens no. That's my friend C. Thomas Flood, aspiring author. A fine, if confused, lad. I arranged for his employment at the Marina Safeway."
    "But he's not the man you reported as being a vampire."
    "No. The fiend is older, and has sharp features, of Arab descent, I would guess, if he were not so pale."
    Cavuto stepped up and took the picture from Rivera. "You reported the body they found in SOMA, but you said you didn't see anything. Did you see this man anywhere near the scene?"
    "The victim was a friend of mine, Charlie. He left his mind in Vietnam, I'm afraid, but a good soul just the same. He had been dead for some time when I found him, though. The fiend left him there to rot."
    Cavuto bristled. "But you didn't see this vampire guy at the scene either."
    "I have seen him in the financial district, once in Chinatown, and at the marina last night. In fact, that young man gave me sanctuary at the Safeway."
    Cavuto's beeper went off. He ignored it. "You saw Flood and this vampire guy together?"
    "No, I ran from the wharf when the fiend materialized out of mist."
    "I'm outta here," Cavuto said, throwing up his hands. He checked his beeper and went back to the car.
    Rivera held his ground. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, my partner needs to learn some manners. Now, if you can just tell me…"
    Cavuto beeped the horn and hung his head out the window. "Rivera, come on. They found another one. Let's go."
    "Wait a second." Rivera took a business card out of his wallet and gave it to the Emperor. "Highness, could you call me tomorrow, around noon? I'll come get you wherever you are – buy you and the men some lunch."
    "Of course, my son."
    Cavuto yelled out the car window, "Let's go, this one's fresh."
    "Be careful," Rivera said to the Emperor. "Watch your back, okay?"
    The Emperor grinned. "Safety first."
    Rivera turned and walked to the car. He was still shutting the door as Cavuto pulled away from the curb. Cavuto said, "Another snapped neck. Body's in a pickup off of Market. Uniforms found it five minutes ago."
    "Blood loss?"
    "They knew enough not to say over the radio. But there's a witness."
    "Witness?"
    "Homeless guy sleeping in the alley saw a woman leaving the scene. There's an all-points out for a redheaded female in a black cocktail dress."
    "You're bullshitting."
    Cavuto turned and looked him in the eye. "The Laundromat ninja returns."
    "Santa Fucking Maria," Rivera said.
    "I love it when you speak Spanish."
    The radio crackled again, the dispatcher calling their unit number. Rivera grabbed the mike and keyed it.
    "What now?" he said.

Chapter 30 – Cops and Corpses
    "This guy is pissing me off," Cavuto said, expelling a blue cloud of cigar smoke against the file drawers of the dead. "I hate this fucking guy." He was standing over the body of Gilbert Bendetti, who had a thermometer sticking out of the side of his abdomen.
    "Inspector, there's no smoking allowed in here," said a uniformed officer who had been called to the scene.
    Cavuto waved to the drawers. "Do you think they mind?"
    The officer shook his head. "No, sir."
    Cavuto blew a stream of smoke at Gilbert. "And him, do you think he minds?"
    "No, sir."
    "And you, Patrolman Jeeter, you don't mind, do you?"
    Jeeter cleared his throat. "Uh… no, sir."
    "Well, good," Cavuto said. "Look on the side of the car, Jeeter. It says 'Protect and Serve,' not 'Piss and Moan.' "
    "Yes, sir."
    Rivera came through the double