The next morning Chris found himself walking up the stairs from the bullpen to higher ranking offices and he stopped in front of Chief Albert Kirby’s door. Chris raised his hand to knock but before he could knock a gruff old voice called out, “Come in, Officer Quinn!” 

Chris entered the office and closed the door behind him and didn’t walk in further than that. Chris’ eyes laid on the old man behind the desk and he reminded Chris of Sam Elliott when he was playing Wade Garrett from Roadhouse. Albert was writing in a file for a second before looking up with his faded blue eyes to Chris and used his chin to point to the chair.

“Sit down, Quinn.” He said and Chris sat down at one of the chairs in front of Albert’s desk. Chris saw Albert press a button on his desk and he heard the door lock as the windows in the office become opaque. The hair on the back of Chris’ neck raised and he knew this feeling was from magic being used. “Isolation spell is up.”

“Diamond had a panic attack last night,” Chris said the moment he heard that and Albert raised his chin in interest but Chris could see a hint of warning in Albert’s eyes. “The scent of vampire Victor King c-”

Chris stopped when Albert snapped his pen in half and a low rumbling growl vocalized in Albert’s throat. This surprised Chris and was impressed that Albert could do it with being a human like Chris. He stopped the growl and threw the pen away before waving for Chris to continue.

“I believe it wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t covered up in an old sewer smell. She mentioned she had to filter that smell to get the killer’s scent.” Chris explained and Albert leaned back in his chair to think. “Who is this vampire named Victor King?”

Albert paused and raised a brow to examine Chris before leaning forward in his chair. “You only did surface reading of Diamond’s background?” Albert asked. “What do you know about her?”

“I was raised to never dig too deep into the werebeast's past and wait for them to share, it's the best way to build strong trust with them.” Chris said and leaned back in his own chair now. “Diamond is a short-faced werebear, she has some younger siblings but she never told me the number. She has mentioned the youngest, Tullia, is berserk touched, and the triplets' names are Danica, Daisy, and Danna. From the surface level read she had a twin sister named Eve…oh and just yesterday I found out she’s married.”

Albert’s brows shot up while a smirk appeared on his face before it faded just as fast, “Hmmm…can’t wait for her to tell you this due to your current case...” Albert closed his eyes and felt like the old man looked even older now. “Victor King was the surgeon that was hired by Kek’s Shadow String gang's illegal fighting pit, he was one that would stitch up their ‘fighters’.”

Chris felt a sickening pit in his stomach and remembered that Diamond and Eve were kidnapped when they were five years old. “I can see why she would remember his scent.” Chris muttered and Albert didn’t acknowledge Chris’ words. 

“Diamond and Eve weren’t kidnapped because they are the last of Luna Clan bloodline, they were kidnapped due to being twins.” Albert said and Chris raised a brow. Chris would have figured their rare bloodline would be more interesting than being twins. “An illegal pit fighter normally lasts one to three years unless…they have spare parts.”

The sickening pit feeling got worse in Chris’ stomach and he covered his mouth as if it could stop the feeling. He knew werebeast twins had a better chance of matching organ donors with each other but organ failures in werebeasts were extremely rare to begin with.

“The Shadow String gang would figure out which of the twins was more aggressive and…the less aggressive twin would be…lobotomized…the body still alive but the brain is dead.” Albert said and Chris could hear the rage bubbling under that calm tone. “You’ve seen Diamond’s scars, yes?”

“Yes…I just had thought her limbs were cut off and stitched back on due to separate cases…” Chris trailed off as trying to remember any other scarring that could be connected to surgery. “W-What else?”

“Right eye, and her heart…no wait… the heart was done after they were found.” Albret muttered the last part before waving that thought away. “I’m not going to tell you to pull Diamond off the case.”

“I wasn’t going to ask that,” Chris quickly replied and Albert raised a brow. “I was ready to defend her on staying on the case, she was just sucker punched by the scent. If her defence was up she wouldn’t have a panic attack.”

Albert took a long pause before nodding, “Agreed, there are few things that knocks Diamond off balance but keep close eye on her.” He said and Chris nodded as stood up once he felt this talk was over. “And hit the deck if she has a more typical werebeast panic attack.”

“Will do, and I will try to stay very still once I do.” Chris said and Albert pressed the button on his desk to unlock the door and returned clarity to the windows.

“Also if you get the chance, put the twisted bastard in the ground.” Albert said and Chris looked over his shoulder to give Albert a small nod before leaving the office.

Chris walked back to his desk and leaned back in his chair before rubbing his hands on his face. Once his hands left his face he stared at his computer before pulling himself to desk. “Time to dig more about this Victor King.” He muttered to himself as his finger was typing on the keyboard.

“Then you have to go down to records.” Belle’s voice said and Chris looked to the side to see her standing beside his desk with a box. “All the files of Victor King are on paper…Have fun.”

She placed the box on his desk and Chris looked at it for a second, “Thanks…” Chris paused as Belle smirked. “This isn’t the only box, is it?”

“There are four more, just as full and Bill and Ted are bringing them up for you.” Belle said and put her hands on his desk. “All for you to go through.”

Chris just made a hmm sound and nodded at her words. He knew she would strike back soon but wasn’t thinking it was going to be paperwork, lots of vampire history paperwork. “Well played.” He only said and Belle just playfully patted his back.

Diamond shifted under her bed coverings and took pause in not feeling Alex’s warmth around her. She could only smell Alex’s scent all over her due to the sweater and last night’s cuddle but her ears could pick up on the sound of sizzling bacon. Diamond grumbled as she got out of the bed and took a glance at the alarm clock to see it was ten in the morning.

She froze at the sight of that time as normally she wakes by six in morning and at the shop around seven. She bolted down the stairs and headed to the bathroom, “SIT!” Alex’s voice ran out and Diamond stopped to look at Alex, who was standing in the kitchen. Alex had their back to Diamond and was pouring some coffee into Diamond’s favorite mug. 

She took a pause before walking to the brunch kitchen counter and sat on one of the stools at the counter. Alex turned around to slide the mug to Diamond and she lifted to her lips with both hands and raised brow.

“I already called Ophelia about your panic attack. She told me she would tell Albert about it.” Alex said and rested their hands on the counter to wait for Diamond's disapproval gaze, which came with a small grunt. “Dia, is there anything you truly do at the police after what happened.” 

Diamond lowered the mug to open her mouth but closed it as started to think. She couldn’t go hunting in the old sewers without a direction as it would be fruitless and only make Diamond feel more frustrated. Chris would start looking into other missing cases with no trace of scent and that was more paperwork that Diamond didn’t like doing or met up grieving family members, which Diamond hated doing even more.

She finally let out a loud sigh, “Nothing but wait until they call on me.” She muttered and lifted the coffee to her lips once more. She watched the soft smile form on Alex’s face before turning around to flip over some pancakes and Diamond didn’t try to filter out Alex’s scent that blocked other smells, as well kept her calm.

“After we have breakfast, we will head to Silvervine Manor,” Alex said as they opened the oven to pull out a pan filled with pancakes and bacon. Diamond narrowed her eyes at Alex and they just huffed at Diamond. “Dia, love of mine, you are still unbalanced and one night in my scent can’t fix that, you need your family to help you rebalance you.”

“Fine…” Diamond muttered into her mug as a sign of defeat as she knew Alex was right about her being unbalanced and could easily be emotionally knocked over again. “Better be back bacon and chocolate chip pancakes.” 

“Of course,” Alex said as they filled up a plate before putting it in front of Diamond. Diamond put her mug down as Alex slid maple syrup to her and smirked seeing Diamond pouring the syrup on the food in front of her.