North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Canvas

Out in front of the house, Morgan assembled three canvas teams. She and Jessica. Angel and Vera. Denise and me.

Morgan spared me a quick look. She and I are the canvas team. She would have preferred that, and nothing against Denise, but Morgan is my PI partner. I supposed I need to get used to the idea that Denise is going to be ever more a part of all facets of my life. It's not terrible. I love me some Denise. The more I learn about her, the more I love her. It is change, and change is not always fun.

I understand the assignments. The three licensed PIs each have a non-licensed partner. Jessica and Vera for all their intrinsic competence are not experienced at this kind of thing. I was not either when I started. Morgan brought me up. These days she is a better investigator and a better programmer than I am. I am better at peeing standing up. That's about it.

In terms of the partnerships, I drew the easy assignment because Denise will need no training to speak of. My canvas partner comes with centuries of experience. There is not anything a PI does that Crew could not do better and with more resources. If anything, Denise's only lesson might be toning it down a little. She is not an over the top type or anything. The opposite: Denise is as deceptive looking as they come. You see her, you think sweet southern girl, and the stereotype comes with a sort of assumed 'air-headed' coda. That is expressly and absolutely not Denise. To know her is to understand her depth and self-confidence. She is head of Crew for a reason, and that bravado is what has to be kept on a leash in this situation.

I am not worried about it. Denise has used her appearance to her advantage for centuries. It is similar to Morgan interviewing someone and never letting on the hidden connections she is making.

Denise has been doing Crew field ops eight or nine times longer than I have been alive. I thought back to the first Op she and I did together at Lake Travis. It was kind of fun, other than the human purists. That should be a clue as to what Denise and I can do together.

Morgan and Jessica went to the left on the same side of the street. Angel and Vera went right. Denise and I crossed the street. The more experienced team got the bigger swath of houses to cover. I imagine that neither Jessica nor Vera would have any issue with their tutor. Vera's only problem might be turning down the Succubus rays a little. Since turning, the woman has bubbled with attitude, energy, and confidence. Vera is putting the Vamp into Vampire.

"Sorry, Adrian. I know you would have rather been with Morgan." Denise said as soon as we were across the street, and it hurt that it was that obvious.

I stopped, which made her stop and look at me. I needed her to see my face when I said this. "Morgan and I are used to doing this kind of thing together as a team is all, Denise. It is nothing at all against you. We know each other's moves. It's a zone of comfort. Morgan is the other half of my brain. My soul partner. That creates a level of smooth operation that works. If I have learned nothing else about Poly and Vampire, I have more than one of those, and you and I are at the beginning of that journey. Things like this will add to it."

"I want to be everything Jessica and Morgan are to you. I need to be that." Denise looked at me with very sincere Honey-colored eyes. The earnestness was pretty heart-stabbing.

"You will be. I feel it in my heart. It's working up to my head still. Takes time and honesty, which is what I am being here. I respect the living hell out of you and you are far more experienced at this type of thing than I am at this, and so is Morgan. I am used to being the junior partner. Morgan has my same senses, so it's easy to follow each other's cues and later compare notes. You and I need to find our mode of operation. Your experience plus my senses. Figure out the sweet spot for you and me. How we fit together as a team. That is not a sexual reference."