Kiss Me Undead

Chapter Four || The Suspect

Chapter Four

The Suspect

Later that day, Reine went into work with her sister. The two shared most of the same shifts. Which made it easier on them since they could share a ride to work.

As soon as Sookie and Reine made it to work, Reine didn't waste any time. She tied her apron around her waist and slid out her notepad and pen from her pocket just as she started to make her rounds. So far, Reine hadn't spotted Bill. Perhaps he was avoiding this place after the encounter with the Rattrays. She knew that she would avoid Merlotte's, at least for a few days, until things calmed down.

About forty minutes passed before Reine made her way to the back room to grab something. That was when she heard it. Her sister and Dawn were talking about her brother. "Arrested?! For what?!" Sookie exclaimed.

"Jason was arrested?" Reine questioned Dawn with wide eyes. She knew her brother was a troublemaker, but she never imagined he would go to this extent and break the law. "What did he do? Is he in a lot of trouble?"

"I don't know." Dawn answered just as Lafayette came to the back.

"Sook, Rae... sorry about your brother." Lafayette told his friend. He could only imagine what Jason had done to get himself in trouble. That boy was always pushing boundaries. It was only a matter of time before he crossed a line.

"How come everybody knew about this before we did?" Reine asked her friends. The latest gossip always seemed to reach everyone else before it met the Stackhouse sisters' ears.

"Well," Lafayette began. "I was there, baby girl. I saw him get carted away."

"And I was complaining to Arlene about Jason hanging up on me when we were making a date, not calling me back, and that's when she told me." Dawn informed the sisters.

"Arlene? How does she know?" Sookie asked her coworkers.

"Well, I guess Rene told her. Besides, we figured you'd just..." Dawn's words trailed off. She knew this was a touchy subject for Sookie.

"I just what?" Sookie inquired.

"Sweetie, didn't you just know already?" Dawn asked.

When Reine heard Dawn's question, she gently grit her teeth and slightly cocked her head to the side, preparing for her sister to go off on the waitress. "I am not... psychic!" Sookie shouted as she stormed out of the back room. Reine let a breath out that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. That had gone better than she thought it would. In the past, when people made the assumption that her sister was psychic, she did not hold her tongue. Quite the opposite, she would lose her temper and go off on whoever made the mistake of confusing her gift for being a psychic.

At first, it wasn't so bad -at least when they were younger- she would just calmly explain her gift and move on. However, as she became older, her fuse became shorter and she would lose her patience easily with people who made the mistake. "It's okay, Dawn. A lot of people confuse her gift for being a psychic."

"I just... I just thought that since she could read thoughts, she would know."

"I know. Reading thoughts and knowing the future is different, though." Reine carefully explained. The sound of someone walking into the room grabbed Reine's attention. She turned her head and saw Sam standing there. "I don't remember paying you guys to stand around." Sam chuckled, "Get back to work, you three."

Lafayette just shook his head as a smile crept to his lips. "Baby, I'm too pretty to work." The cook turned to look at Reine before leaving. "Try not to worry too much, sugar. He'll be okay."

Reine nodded as she watched Dawn go back to the front of the building. "You okay, Rae?" Sam asked the girl.

"I'm fine, just worried about Jason." Reine admitted. "I should probably get back to work."

"Rae, if you need a break, you can take one."

"I'll be okay. Thanks Sam." Reine gave the man a sweet smile as she headed back to the dining area. Once she reached the area of the bar, the first thing she noticed was vampire Bill. His eyes were locked on her, fangs extended as he gripped the edge of the table. Reine stared him down, not moving a single muscle. She attempted to show him she wasn't afraid. However, her heartbeat gave it away. Her pulse was so fast she could hear it drumming in her ears.

"Reine!" Sam raised his voice, attempting to grab her attention. He had already said her name three times.

Reine reluctantly looked away from the vampire, turning her attention to Sam. "Sorry, I... I wasn't paying attention."

"Why don't we get you and Dawn to switch sections?" Sam placed his hand on the small of her back, urging her to come along with him.

Reine nodded, she appreciated what Sam was doing. She was sure that her fear at least showed somewhat. All she needed was to make the customers nervous because of her reaction to a vampire. "Thanks, Sam." Rae finally responded as she went with him to another section of the dining area.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'll be okay. I just get nervous around him."

A simper edged its way to his lips. "Smart girl." Sam commented. "If you need anything, come find me."

"Alright, thanks Sam." Reine started to make her rounds, providing each customer with a sweet smile as she took their orders. It didn't take long before it was already closing time. A few final customers left right when they closed. Sam practically pried the drinks from their hands and urged them outside. After helping clean up the tables and taking the dishes to the back, it was nearly one-thirty in the morning.

Sookie and Reine headed outside. "I'm ready for a hot shower." Reine told her sister.

"You'll need to wait for a bit. I'm meeting up with Bill-"

"You're meeting Bill?" Rae wasn't too surprised. However, she didn't imagine Sookie would start making arrangements so soon after meeting him. "Sook, you should really think-"

"Don't lecture me tonight, Reine." Sookie had gotten enough of that from Sam and Tara earlier tonight.

"I'm not, I just-" The sound of the door closing behind them grabbed the sister's attention. It wasn't long before Sam joined them. "Sookie, Reine."

"Sam." Sookie was still upset from earlier. He had yelled at her about Bill and ended up making her cry.

"You want me to wait with you until..." Sam began but Sookie quickly cut him off.

A smile formed on Sookie's lips. "Go home, Sam."

Sam's eyes flicked to Reine. From the look on her face, he could tell she disapproved of Sookie's answer. The man reluctantly nodded. "Good night, you two."

As Sam made his way over to his trailer, Sookie started towards her car. Reine just shook her head in disbelief as she chased after her sister. "He's just trying to help, Sook. He's worried about you." Rae told her sister as she stopped near the driver's side of the car. "Can't you see that?"

"I don't need his help, Rae. I'm not in any danger." Sookie said as she unlocked her car. As soon as she unlocked the car, a sound came from the other side of the parking lot. Sook drew her brows together and followed the sound. "Bill?"

Reine was at her sister's heels. "Sookie, I don't think-" Out of nowhere, Reine was pushed to the ground face first. It wasn't long before her sister joined her on the ground. Before either of them could react, pain started to shoot through their bodies as they were kicked over and over again. A few blows even hit Reine in the face. Crying out in pain, Reine attempted to get away so she could help her sister. However, the more she moved, the harder the beating became.