Charlie Swan: Vampire Hunter

4

I almost didn't sleep. When I finally pulled myself away from the computer and into bed, my brain wouldn't shut up. I stayed there looking at the ceiling for hours trying to wrap my head around the events of the day. When I finally did sleep, I only got about 30 minutes before my alarm went off. Or was supposed to go off. I overslept. Badly. I'm supposed to be at work by 8 but it was 10:30 by the time I showed up, uniform wrinkled and hair a mess. Everyone at the station raised their eyebrows at this. I was never late, never! And I always came in with uniform and hair in tip top condition. It was the standard I held myself and my crew to.
"What happened boss? The bed bugs kidnap you last night?" My deputy, Millicent, asked over a steaming mug of coffee.
I glared at her and stalked to my office, shutting the door behind me. I heard her laugh follow me into the office before I shut the door, and knew that I'd never live this one down.
I groaned at the pile of paperwork on my desk. I never seemed to finish it all on a day when I wasn't late, and today seems to be especially bad. I needed coffee.
The office was still buzzing from my late arrival, but I managed to get my coffee halfway back to the office before being ambushed again.
"Chief! Hey!"
I groaned inwardly and turned around toward the newest member of our team. "How can I help Xan?"
"Well boss," he said, sliding closer. "I was looking about at the other officers. And they all have badges and desks and such. As the newest member I figured you might have forgotten about me. See I don't have either yet."
I wanted to clobber him over the head. I couldn't care less about his wining, the badge would arrive shortly and he had a small table and chair in a corner. As the newest member of the team he got the worst shit, that's how it works.
"Your badge should be here soon. They come from the state not from me. As soon as it comes you'll have it." I said wishing I was at my desk. "As for the desk, we don't have space or money for a new one so your table will have to do."
He seemed a bit put out to be told that he wouldn't be getting a new desk, but he took the blow in stride.
"Alrighty boss!" He said with a smile, and turned to go back to his table.
I hurried back the the safety of my office.
——
I struggled to focus on the reports and papers piled on my desk. My head was full of vampires and Cullens. I finally gave up around 3, the earliest acceptable time to leave the office, and headed out. Out to do what I wasn't sure, but out all the same. I stopped at home to switch my work car of the old battered truck and started driving. I let my subconscious take the wheel, although I did pay greater attention to my surroundings just in case any more deer or kids came barreling out of the woods.
I ended up outside the school when all the kids were released, looking for the Cullens.
There were five kids: Emmet, Rosalie, Edward, Alice, and Jasper. I wasn't sure exactly how old all of them were, but Edward certainly wasn't the oldest of the bunch.
I saw them spill out of the school one after another, all headed for the parking lot. They all seemed to have cars, at least the ones old enough to drive did. I watched Jesper and Alice get into Emmet's car, as Edward and Rosalie climbed into his convertible. The two cars left, driving at reasonable speeds and heading towards home. Edward's face seemed to go extra pale when he saw me, but it could have been a trick of the light. He's already so pale it would be near impossible for him to be any more white.