Here is the second part of my series which I started last month. I normally don't write about vampires, but for fun I started this series. If you would like to read
Part I its in last month's Excerpt Monday posting. I still don't have a title, but one may pop up as I continue to work on it.
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Part I of This StoryAs I drove to work the next day, I wondered why I didn’t tell the police about the night visitor who had rescued Molly and me. But who would’ve believed my story?
“Hi, officer. We’ve had a robbery attempt. But everything’s fine now since a blood-sucking vampire took out the creep and hid the body.”
Yep, I didn’t see that phone call going well. I’d found poor Molly hiding out in the girl’s restroom in one of the stalls. I’d expected her to call the cops, but as a teenager I would’ve flipped my lid as well. Her mother came and picked her up as I finished my call with the police.
The cops and Harlow’s owner of course applauded my bravery and said I worked well with such a dangerous assailant. Was that before or after I would’ve wet my pains when the guy pointed the gun at me?
I really should quit this place. But with community college bills and an apartment, I couldn’t afford to switch positions in such a turbulent economy. I had to face the facts—I was chained to the Mr. Happy Clown game like those florescent green mallets used to pound out those stupid clown figures you had to beat the crap out of for a measly ticket.
Last night's traffic of screaming kids and juveniles had filled the place. But on Saturdays, like today, the restaurant was packed. With a snort I thought, the guy should’ve hit the joint this evening to snag a bigger haul.
I entered the main office to find my boss, Chauncey Harlow, working on the accounting books on his computer. “Hey, Laney. Glad you could help out tonight.” The sixty year-old man hunched over his keyboard and squinted at the screen through his ancient bifocals.
After the robbery, I had asked for the day off to collect myself. Of course, the Saturday shift manager conveniently backed out.
I suppressed the response of, “I should’ve told Kyle he needs to bring his lazy ass in and stop taking an emergency evening off to get trashed at the local bar.” But as a soft spoken lady I replied, “It’s alright. I guess keeping busy is the healthy thing to do.”
Chauncey nodded. “After what happened yesterday, I plan to bring in some security around here. I’ve had problems before with those older kids causing trouble, but I didn’t expect to be robbed like that.”
“Video cameras sound like a great idea.”
“Oh, no. I plan to do more. The electronics guy referred me to a firm that does video cameras, security doors for the office, and training for our cashiers. He had great advice for how I can clean this place up.”
I’d told the police of my suspensions when I noticed the robber knew the exact time when the safe would open. My boss had balked after he heard the news, but he didn’t believe that someone would plan a robbery a children’s entertainment restaurant. I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling him that dollar bills from piggy banks worked just as well as the adult version.
“I need to check on a problem in the kitchen. Could you wait here for a call from the insurance company? I need to know a bunch of stuff about my premiums if I increase security at this place.”
He left without waiting for my answer. Didn’t he remember I worked as the shift manager?
Five minutes after he left, a knock sounded on the door. Perhaps one of the servers or cashiers needed help. I left the desk and then opened the door.
The vampire from last night stood there waiting. He formed a half-smile when he saw my surprise. The memories of the chilly flesh of his skin made me shiver. And those navy-blue eyes—I remembered how he clutched the robber in an iron-grip as he drank his life from his body.
The heavy door had blocked out the noise from the restaurant floor, but the full blast of cheesy music and games assaulted my ears and drove me away from my moment of reverie. Somehow my mouth moved. “Can I help you?”
“Is Mr. Harlow available? I'd planned to meet him here at 6:30.”
I gripped the door knob, but didn’t allow him to enter. “He had to check on something in the kitchen. Is there something I can help you with?” Other than a blood donation?
“Perhaps later, but right now I need to formalize the agreement between us for my services.”
So, he had to be the electronics guy. “You’re here to install the cameras right?”
He grinned and took a half step closer. “Apparently, you don’t know.”
“Know what? Chauncey said something about a consultant coming in to increase the security of this place.”
“Oh, I plan to make things much safer around here. I’m the new security guard.”
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