V.A.M.P.s

Chapter 10

The sound of a police siren loudly waxes. Matthew sits up and reaches for his gun but it's not there. The room is pitch black and his eyes strain as they try to adjust. The siren wanes into the distance. He checks the time on his digital pad. Nine o'clock. Matthew uses the illumination from the screen of the device to navigate his way to the control pad on the wall and presses a button. The lights come on. He walks over to the windows and scans the night skyline of Capernaum, his gaze is drawn to the building where he works. His stomach interrupts with grumbles. Matthew makes his way to the refrigerator where he notices a note left on the kitchen table. "Went to dinner with my friend, didn't want to wake you, found the gun and hid it in my room under the bed. We will talk in the morning." Matthew puts the note down and opens the door. The appliance is almost barren except for a few cans of beer. He slams the door shut.

*****

Matthew walks down the steps of the building. The night air is cool and it feels good against his skin. He browses his digital pad's list of local restaurants, finds one that he likes and places an order. Matthew follows the direction instructions, rounds a few corners and approaches the restaurant. The front of the building has an outside access which opens to the sidewalk. He walks up to the counter and the employee behind it greets him with a pleasant. "Hello."

"Hey." Matthew slides his hand across the digital scanner.

"Your order will be ready in a minute." The employee walks to the back.

Matthew sits down on a makeshift stool, looks over his shoulder and notices the same black hover car from earlier across the street. He gets up and briskly walks away, glances back, the car pulls out from its spot and creeps along the street.  Matthew stops at a tall, thin, metal, obelisk, with screens on all four sides that display the daily news. For a few credits you can download copies to your digital devices. He pretends to browse the screens of information while he keeps an eye on the vehicle. The hover car passes and travels down the road where it turns right onto another street and disappears from view. Matthew departs, he reaches the corner and goes the opposite way. Further down a performer entertains for a crowd. Past them Matthew notices the same hover car approach. He hurries his pace and tries to blend into the crowd. The car slows as it passes and Matthew watches it travel down the street. The sound of a train approaches which draws his attention to the terminal building on the other side of the street. He starts to cross and notices that the hover car makes an abrupt U-turn. Matthew races for the entrance, swipes his hand and enters. He runs up the steps, the train comes to a stop, the doors open and he boards.

*****

Matthew sits at his desk, removes from a drawer the digital file card his boss gave him and slides it into the computer. Reams of data scroll across the screen but all he can do is gaze at the vamp woman's beauty. He focuses his attention and skims the information. There is a lot to go through and Matthew thinks to himself where do I start? An urgent message interrupts, it replaces his screen with the text "Mr. Carter requires your presence right away." Matthew pulls the disk out and places it in a drawer.

*****

Doors to his boss's office open and Matthew walks in. Carter stands in front of the large windows that ring the room. They provide a impressive panoramic view of the city below and he stares off into the distance.

Matthew clears his throat and says. "You wanted to see me."

Carter turns and motions with his hand. "Have a seat."

Matthew tires of Carter's games. "I'd rather stand if that's okay?"

"Fine with me." Carter sits down in his chair. "What are you doing here on the weekend?"

"Just checking on that file you wanted me to."

"Good." Carter leans back in his chair.

Matthew huffs. "Is that all?"

Carter blurts out. "Tragic thing what happened to Janet."

It surprises Matthew that word of her death has spread so quickly. "You know about that?"

"The police were here asking about you."

"What did they ask?"

"They want to speak with you."

"I was going to go tomorrow."

"They told me if you came back here to call them."

This unnerves Matthew and he walks to the doors. As he approaches they don't open.

Carter motions for Matthew to sit. "You might as well have a seat while we wait for them."

Matthew turns to his boss. "You bastard!"

"They just want to question you about her. What do you have to fear?"

Matthew approaches the desk. "If you don't open these doors right now I'll tell them about the file."

Carter leans forward. "They won't believe I assigned you to a vamp file and if they do investigate I'll say you stole it."

"Not that. The voice file that authenticates you."

Carter fidgets in his chair nervously. "What voice file?"

Matthew takes out his digital pad. "The one about how you want to kill me and the vamp."

Carter smirks. "You're crazy maybe I should send you for drug testing."

Matthew presses a button on his pad and the conversation between Carter and the mysterious man plays.

Carter is livid. "How did you get that?"

"Special recording device I picked up. Worth every credit if you ask me."

Carter shifts uncomfortably side to side. "What do you want?"

"You're gonna get me out of here." Matthew heads for the doors.

Matthew and Carter walk down the white corridor and Matthew leads him to his cubical. "I need to get something from my desk."

Carter looks at his watch. "They'll be here any minute."

Matthew removes the disk from his computer and places it in his pocket.

Carter objects. "You can't take that it's government property."

Matthew heads towards the elevators "Just watch me." A pleasant woman's voice greets them. "Welcome, up or down?" Matthew replies. "Down." Matthew tensely looks to the other side which shows an up signal. A ding, the doors on their side open and they step in.

Matthew "Parking Level."

Woman's voice. "Authorization needed."

Matthew motions for Carter.

He hesitates. "Confirm."

"Thank you Mr. Carter." The doors close and the elevator begins its descent.

Carter turns to Matthew. "They're not going to let you get away."

The elevator stops and the doors open "Have a nice day." The hover car is the first vehicle when they step out of the elevators. Matthew grabs Carter by the arm and leads him to the driver's side of his vehicle. "Open it."

Carter's voice. "Open."

The driver's door lifts up, reveals a sleek interior and the ignition turns on. The car greets him. "How was your day Jerome?" Matthew pushes him aside and slides into the cockpit. "Consider it my retirement gift. I quit."

Carter frowns. "You can't leave me here."

"What are you worried about they're after me!"

A ding as the elevator doors open. Police stream out with guns ready. "You're under arrest..." Matthew slides the shifter, the engine races and the thrusters under the vehicle come alive with roars as it lifts off the ground. They open fire and bullets riddle Carter and the vehicle barely missing Matthew. He thinks to himself, they want me dead and don't care whom they kill. Matthew grabs the handle and closes the door as he turns the vehicle around and jets away.