“You are very persistent captain.”

“You cannot go around here flying solo Caleb, you need a partner.”

“I think we’ve established that not only do I not need a partner no one wants to be my partner.”

“Which is why I’m pairing you with a person who’s transferring in from another precinct, okay? It’ll be a fresh start. For you and for her.”

Caleb narrows his eyes at Captain Batting, “Is she being punished? Is that why she’s being partnered with me?”

“You are not a punishment.” Fredrick rolls his eyes. “She needed a partner and you were the only one available. And I think you two will get along, you guys are very similar.”

“She’s cynical and lonely too?”

“No, she’s kind, cute even and why the hell are you lonely? You are more than welcome to dinner at my house anytime. They even opened a new blood bank not five miles from where I live. Damn things are popping up like coffee shops.”

“You think I’m cute?” Caleb smiles, but then looks away to the wall of photos hanging up. “Your wife hates me.”

“Lorraine does not hate you.”

“She knows we’ve slept together.”

“That was twenty years ago. She doesn’t-”

A light knocking on the office door cuts Captain Batting off before the head of Peter Guerrillo pops in, “Captain, the new transfer’s here.”

“Right, send her in.” Fredrick stands up to greet her.

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Caleb watches her enter the room. Fredrick’s right, she is cute. Delicate, pale skin; straightened, dark auburn hair cut shoulder length; a light gray skirt and matching jacket and underneath a pale pink blouse.

“I hope I’m not interrupting?” She steps forward into the office. It’s smaller than she would’ve thought and the furniture is all old fashioned, most of it made out of wood save for a small, metal filing cabinet in the corner, even the computer on the desk is at least twenty years old.

“No, no, this is perfect timing.” He reaches across the desk and gives her a handshake, “Sit down, sit down. Caleb this is who I was talking about, Sophie this is your new partner Caleb.”

“Oh, hi, it’s nice to meet you.” She smiles and stretches out her hand as she takes the second chair in front of the captain’s desk, but her hand goes ignored by Caleb.

“I can work by myself Fredrick.”

“No Caleb, you actually can’t. You know why? Because you already have a partner, she’s sitting next to you.”

Caleb sighs.

“I’m sorry, but if you have a problem with me being your partner I’d like it if you just told me. Even though I can’t imagine what problem you could have considering we’ve known each other for only five seconds.”

Caleb raises an eyebrow, “The problem isn’t you, it’s me. I pity you because you’re my partner now. If I were you I’d put in for another transfer unless you enjoy being a pariah.”

“Caleb, that’s enough. This is pessimistic not cynical.”

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“I can’t be both?”

“If I have to call your mother…”

Sophie looks back and forth between the two of them, “Have I missed something?”

Caleb laughs drily, “They didn’t tell you anything at all?” He looks over at Captain Batting, “You’re an ass.”

“That’s enough Caleb.” The captain sighs heavily, “I was hoping this would be a much smoother meeting and we could just ease into it, but obviously that’s impossible.” He glares at Caleb, “Sophie, Caleb is a purebred vampire and before either of you can complain just know that you guys already have a case and I expect you to be there on the scene within the hour.”

~

Sixty years ago the vampire race revealed itself to humankind. Fearing the extinction of their food supply the vampires stepped forward and began to involve themselves in human politics. Since then global affairs have become peaceful and humans now live in a new golden age of prosperity, art, and technological advances.

Despite their new involvement in the world of humans for the last sixty years though there is still very little that humans know about vampires. Vampires still maintain a life of secrecy and they protect their secrets at all costs.

~

Caleb loathes his vampire family. For the last twenty years Caleb had strived to remove himself as completely as he could from them. This involved leaving behind his post by his mother’s side and working as a police detective. His efforts at the time had seemed to be done

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out of his own independence, but he quickly realized that he was still very much under their thumb which embittered him further.

Caleb had begun working as a police detective as a way to bridge the gap between vampires and humans. Working alongside the humans he helped them solve any crimes vampire related, but after so many years the only thing he has accomplished is to garner the animosity of all of his coworkers. Caleb has come to the conclusion that vampires and humans are very much just like cats and dogs. The vampires believe themselves to be superior in every way and treat humans like nothing more than a food source. Humans on the other hand, while innately curious of vampires, despise vampires for their superior attitude and secrecy.

Sophie is at the point where she is still curious about vampires. She’s open minded enough to not base her own opinions off of those belonging to others so through her own inexperience she has yet to learn to hate vampires. Sitting in the car, driving to the scene of the crime, she can’t help herself but steal glances over at Caleb trying to pick up on anything that would mark him as distinctly vampire, but so far she can only think that he looks like any other person.

“Take a picture it will last longer.” Caleb had spent the majority of the trip looking out the window and watching the apartments and high rises turn into rundown houses and then factories and warehouses and pretending to not notice Sophie.

“Sorry.” She hurriedly fixes her gaze back on the road. “I’ve never met a vampire before.”

“Sure.” Caleb pretends that this is a factual statement. Sophie cast another glance in his direction and is met with an unobstructed view of Caleb’s face staring directly back at her. For a