Lethal Beauty

XXXVII - The Beginning of The End

The picture of pomp and elegance---crystal chandeliers, silverware, and servants. Classical music played in the background. The guests were mainly high-ranking officials and herald leaders of the World Government. It was more of a political gathering rather than an annual celebration to honor and remember the establishment of the Elite Hunter Protection Unit. It was clear that everyone here had their own agenda for attending.

Judy entered self-consciously, glancing all around her and looking for Delbert, her partner. She noticed the head of their department in Rome, Carlisle Forster Hill. Like when they first saw him, he was busy greasing boots with other heads and only raised his glass of champagne in her direction to acknowledge her. She did the same with an awkward smile.

"Judy, right?"

She turned to see one of the agents assigned to work with them. "Stell, right?"

The man was around six feet tall and slim, but his towering height loomed at her like a giant. "I'm happy you remember. Where's your partner?"

"Probably late. He always dislikes gatherings."

"He isn't interested in meeting other agents?" Stell seemed genuinely interested in discussing the older detective and handed her a glass of champagne as they walked toward an empty table.

"It's not like that," Judy took the glass and clarified, "D is not very sociable and he'd rather focus on the work."

"This is work too. Part of work."

"Maybe. Where is your partner?"

"Somewhere. Like your partner, Leif isn't great with balls and parties."

He led her to a table near a chocolate fountain and they both sat to listen to the music. "The program hasn't started yet and they're already drunk," she said.

Stell chuckled lightly. "They'd be wasted by the end of the night."

"I don't doubt that."

"You know, I can't help thinking about the case. I haven't seen anything like it in my life."

The subject being brought up was a welcome change and seemed to have no issue entertaining it. After all, they do not have to discuss everything. "You're new to EHPU. You'll get used to it."

"Maybe you're right. Whoever did it, had some kind of a sick masterpiece."

"If it's done by a vampire, then it shouldn't be surprising."

Stell was bewildered by her statement. "You don't think it's done by a vampire?"

Judy moved the glass to her lips, "Humans can be equally brutal."

He considered this and nodded. "I agree. But, I'm guessing that that body in Kent left you a clue. Right?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Because the body in Trollhättan did the same."

This caught her interest and she put her glass down to fix her whole attention to her present companion. "What did you find?"

Stell grinned at her and wiggled his finger, "Information doesn't go one way."

"You're still obliged to provide us with your findings one way or another. Delbert is your senior..."

"Oh, all right. Do you know how the people found the skin? It was stuck in the propeller of an elk. Took them a while to figure out that it was a human skin."

"Just the skin?"

"Just the skin. No organs or anything. It had been sliced off and fashioned to look like a vest of some sort. They immediately called the police and they quickly concluded it must be a vampire, so they called us. At first, I wasn't very interested in the subject. I had the same thinking as you," he snorted.