CHAPTER 11
It isn’t long before Rick strides back into the suite.
“Get your things. We’re taking a field trip.”
I look up from the computer as he continues to walk to the center island without further explanation. “Field trip to where?”
Without looking up, he says, “I told you the government could accommodate us. We’re going to another facility where they have a criminal vampire in a holding cell. You’ll get your wish about getting a closer look.” He rummages around his papers and picks up a clipboard. Before I can even get up, the door opens again and Ms. Montgomery walks into the room. She only comes in a few steps before stopping, as if she is waiting for something. I try not to frown as I get up and walk back to the closets to get my coat. When I return to the middle of the room, Rick is standing with Ms. Montgomery by the door. I pick up my notebook from the island and head in their direction.
Without prompting, Ms. Montgomery says, “Another research team will be joining us. A military vehicle will take us to the other facility.”
I follow them into the hallway. Rick looks at me and nods as if acknowledging that things are going as planned, although he looks like someone has just run over his puppy. No, not even that. He looks like he has just made the decision to have a beloved pet euthanized. It isn’t a happy occasion and he has made the decision to do something more. All because of what I had said. I don’t think I could feel any lower than this.
We walk in silence to the back of the facility where we leave from the rear exit. The other research team is waiting for us, standing beside a black sports utility vehicle. As luck would have it, Tucker is one of the people waiting for us. I pretend to be as relaxed as possible, even briefly smiling, to cover the fact that the muscles along my spine feel like they are gripping onto one another, holding on for dear life.
Rick begins introductions, holding out his hand to shake the hands of the other researchers, “Hello, I’m Dr. Rick Allstedt. This is Dr. Emma Burcham and our archivist Ms. Sarah Montgomery.”
The female of the other group, a model-beautiful Asian woman, makes the other introductions. “I’m Dr. Bree Vinh and this is Dr. Abhilash Krishnamurthy. Our archivist is Tucker Dutrieux.”
I shake everyone’s hand, but only raise my hand in a slight wave to Tucker. “Tucker and I have already met.” Rick slowly looks from me to him as he shakes Tucker’s hand.
“Very good. We are not complete strangers then. And you may call me Abe for short,” Abhilash says as he squeezes my hand. Abe is a very tall Indian man who speaks with only a hint of an accent. His eyes are so brown they are almost black and his skin is the color of warm caramel cappuccino. I try not to show how much I approve of this much-needed distraction.
Tucker clears his throat. I look from him to Rick who signals that we should be on our way.
We have to sit three to a row in the middle and back as two men in military uniforms take up the front. I look at Rick. "Will anyone be meeting us at the other facility?"
"Yes. Mr. Caulfield will be there to oversee the experiment."
Experiment? Okay, that's rather ominous. I want to ask what experiment, but don’t want to show my ignorance in front of the other research team.
We travel over rocky, hilly terrain for about fifteen or twenty minutes. There is near silence the entire trip. The night is pitch black and without the aid of streetlights, I feel as if I am actually traveling down into the earth itself. If it weren't for the headlights, I would have no idea that we were making any progress instead of riding in place on the SUV tram to nowhere.
When we arrive at the other facility, Mr. Caulfield is waiting to escort us into the building.
"Good evening, ladies and gentleman. I trust that this experiment will be fruitful and set you on the right path in your research. Shall we?" He gestures for everyone to enter the building, making sure to take the lead. The military guys remain outside by the door, like camouflage bookends.
We are led to a holding area with only one cell being occupied. What appears to be a female vampire with dirty blond hair is walking in circles around the white room, with a glass wall allowing us to observe her without any threat to our safety. When she sees us, she bares her fangs. If we could hear her, we would probably be inundated with the hissing sound of one seriously pissed off vampire. When we were all positioned in front of the glass wall, she walks over to leer at us. After looking at each of us, she bites her wrist causing a free-flow of blood. She spits some of the blood on the glass then uses it to finger-paint the words "buffet" and "tasty morsels." Well, at least we know what she thinks about us.
Mr. Caulfield allows one corner of his mouth to twitch as if he is withholding a smirk. "This is Thalia. She was captured by the Drug Enforcement Administration in a sting operation. She was part of a gang of vampires that were running a drug ring in the Appalachian region, West Virginia specifically. The point of their arrangement was to tap into a market for drugs within the poorer parts of the region, where people are desperate for an escape. The drug trade was a front for the steady influx of buyers who unwittingly became victims."
Bree steps closer to the glass wall. "They lured people in with the promise of drugs, and then drained them," she states rather than asks. It’s almost as if there’s no possibility she could be wrong. Either she’s that smart or she has some serious personality issues. Just hope they don’t clash with my issues. That could get messy.
"Exactly, Ms. Vinh," Mr. Caulfield replies. "Not only that, they were adept at making it look like a drug overdose, because with the exception of some early mistakes, they would often not completely drain the victim. They would leave them hanging on by the barest threads of life, then inject them with drugs to finish them off."
"How did they get the drugs?" I ask.
Mr. Caulfield looks at me, an act of recognition on his part. "Good question, Dr. Burcham. There are humans who are willing to partner with such vampires. If the price is right. Let us be clear, the heads of drug cartels are not in business to change the world. They want to make money. If a vampire can provide money, the kingpin doesn't care about the reasons the vampire wants the drugs. They only care about getting payment without raising the suspicions of the authorities. Since these type of humans know that those type of vampires also do not want to attract that type of attention, it appears to be a safe transaction where everyone benefits."
"Only they were caught," I say, staring blankly at Thalia as she continues to write tomes in her own blood, urging us to step in the room for a bite.
He nods. "As what usually happens. Particularly with the creation of FOHVA. Now what does that have to do with our visit tonight? Thalia gives us the unique opportunity to observe, up close, the effect of sunlight on a vampire."
Abe speaks up, "Isn't that unethical? Using an unwilling participant in an experiment, must less a lethal one?"
A tight, thin smile graces Mr. Caulfield's lips. "She chose to participate when she killed forty-six humans."
I lower my head slightly, not making eye contact with anyone. Given the shuffling around me, it seems that I wasn't the only one who is unnerved by Mr. Caulfield's comment.
He continues, "We are at this facility as it is more equipped with vampire accommodations. Given that we need sunlight - natural sunlight - for the experiment, both teams will spend the rest of the evening here and after sunrise, the humans within the group will accompany some technicians to the observation deck. The vampires in the group will be able to rest comfortably underground. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement, please let me know and we will escort you back to the main building."
Mr. Caulfield turns to go. "I do want to say congratulations. Both teams seem to be progressing well. And the fact that you came up with the idea of this experiment makes me optimistic in your results. Good job, everyone."
Then how come I don’t feel so good about any of this?