CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The three girls sat in the main room with the laptop still on the desk. The television was still on with an ongoing program but none of them however where listening to it. Alice was the most pensive of them all.She buried her head in her hands. She coudn't' t believe how everything was turning out to be.

"Alice we could be wrong about this" Maggie said. "Perhaps that lady’s image which kept appearing was just coincidence. It could be that she happened to be at that moment by chance, we can't jump into conclusions now."

"What's the probability of that happening?" Alice asked. " You said its just a coincidence and its easy to believe but as a detective we believe in every single details. Things are just not adding up. First my family died then one day I saw a photograph on my boss's desk which showed a murder scene with exactly the same method as to how my family were killed. Then they requested for their best agent and of course I forced my way here. Then the apartment I entered turns out to be the same apartment my mother whom I never had the chance to be with once lived. For all I know she could still be alive. Then I found out vampires were the ones who killed my family and now my neighbor who just introduced herself to me recently turns out to be a suspect on my murder case. I don't know about you guys but something is amiss. I'm missing something here."

"Alice what if you were lured here?" Janet asked. "I mean why is it the one single case of this kind of murder found in New York ended up being your family and you then saw the same murder here in Atlanta and of course you would force your way here, I mean who wouldn't."

"I see your point" Alice said, "I think someone planned all this. But the question is, what do they want with me?"

"I think your questions would be answered in time" Maggie cut in, "nothing stays hidden forever in this world but for now where the hell is that brother of ours?. I've been trying to reach him but it isn't going through. Its really taking long."

"Relax", Janet said," maybe his battery went flat and something came up. We shouldn't get worked up over nothing. Let's not allow the stress of things to get to us."

"Janet he only went shopping" Maggie said, " we both know him too well. He's never late and if he knows he'll be late he'll always find a way to tell us. We can't just say nothing is wrong considering how dangerous this place is."

"I really think you're getting worked up over nothing", Alice said, "I mean Janet is right something could have come up, anything could have happened." Maggie didn't look convinced but she didn't argue further. She excused herself and went into the bedroom leaving Alice and Janet.

"So Alice what're you going to do now?" Janet asked. "I know how confusing things are for you but what's your next step. We've established that vampires exist in this city but from what I can tell we're helpless to fight them."

"I'll meet my neighbor" Alice said, "her name is Mary. She's the closest I've got to cracking this case and I'll try and see if I could get some infos from her. She could also be a vampire so I'll be very careful when discussion some things with her."

"Are you sure about that?" Janet asked. "What if she ends up being the murderer. Things could get really ugly." "I don't have a choice, Alice answered, "this is the only way to move on and I'm too damn close to back down now". Just then Maggie came from the room, she had changed her dress. Her eyes went to the television and it caught her attention immediately.

"Janet, look" she called out. She startled both girls who were still discussion. Janet's eyes moved to the television and she immediately recognized why Maggie looked surprised and worried. There was a news report going on about an accident in a particular area of the city. The reporter was talking about the crash.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked when she observed the sisters countenances after seeing the news. " That's our brothers car", Maggie answered, her voice was shaky. The police in the camera brought out some grocery items from the car.

"I told you something was wrong!" Maggie almost screamed. " I felt something was amiss. Oh my God i hope he isn't dead". Alice increased the volume of the television. " One body was discovered on the spot" the reporter said, " the police haven't determined what caused the accident but what they could deduce is one of the vehicles crashed into the other and we could find a dead body here though it looks like the person was killed outside the vehicle which is kind of strange considering the two vehicles crashed together. Things aren't clear yet but the authorities........." "We need to go out now!" Maggie screamed, "we need to find out if it was him."

"Let's move now" Alice suggested, "let's hope it isn't your brother's body that was found there." They all rushed and put on their coats before moving out of the house. Janet volunteered to drive them there. They rushed into the vehicle. Alice sat at the backseat while the two sisters sat in the front.

Janet drove quickly going as fast as the car could go. Alice observed that the two sisters were unsettled but she didn't say a thing, well what could she say she was worried also.

They arrived at the scene. The place was already filled with activities. Jane hurried out of the car and so did the rest. Maggie allowed them to head there first as they were the ones with the badge. They showed their badges to some officers behind the restriction tape and he allowed them to pass through. They beckoned on Maggie to come and she did. Dozens of reporters were outside the tape trying to get a good shot of the accident.

"Where's the body that was found?" Alice asked one of the officers there. He looked her over wondering who she was.

"Oh" she said and showed him her badge." I'm detective Alice ATPD. I'm working on a similar case and I want to see the body that was found." "The body has been transported for autops" , he replied but there are photos of the corpse you can check it out with that officer over there.

"Thanks a lot". Alice said. They all went to the officer they were directed to. They approached him and Alice requested the photos after showing him her badge. He hesitated but gave her. Alice checked it and showed it to the two sisters. They released a heavy sigh they didn't know they were holding. Its not him, Maggie said. "Thank goodness."

"Thanks" Alice said and returned the photos back. "So what now?" She asked, "your brother isn't dead but he's missing.". " We look for him" Janet said. " Anything could have happened. I don't know any reason why someone would want to hurt him but we can't rule out the possibility that he could have been taken."

"Let's search everywhere for him." Maggie suggested, "for all we know he could be injured and went somewhere to recover."

"Maybe" , Janet said, "but to cover more grounds we need to split up. Whatever anyone finds the person should call the other two." They all agreed and went different ways. Alice walked through a path her sense sharp and alert to every detail.

She walked alone amidst some people who were going to different locations. She kept glancing around trying to find a clue. Her eyes then caught something, no someone. She felt her heart beat speeding up. It was Mary. This was her chance. She quickly text Janet and informed them she was tailing Mary her neighbor.

Mary hadn't seen her yet that's for sure. She was talking to someone and she was holding a bag. She probably went shopping. Mary began walking. Alice tailed slowly behind her keeping up to six people apart from her position. Mary was a fast walker. She was wearing a tight jeans and a shirt. Alice couldn't help but admire her curvy edges and large hips which she seemed to be deliberately twisting as she was walking.

Mary went into an alley. Alice followed though she counted fifteen seconds before she went into the alley also. She was surprised not to find Mary again. That was strange. The alley was long and straight and there was no where to hide. Where could she have gone? She reached for her gun as she walked.

"Looking for me? She heard a voice say behind her. She turned around sharply and saw Mary behind her who was smiling. She picked her pistol and aimed at her. "Who are you?" She asked.

"Something tells me you know the answer to that already". Mary replied. "You murdered all those people?* Alice asked. She couldn't believe she was this close. Mary smiled at her. She suddenly rushed to Alice going so fast that Alice barely saw her coming. She grabbed Alice by the throat and slammed her hard against the wall. Alice let out a scream. Mary grabbed her again but Alice caught her wrist and twisted it so hard that she felt it snap. It was Mary's turn to scream. She looked angry and her eyes turned crimson. She kicked Alice hard against her chest and Alice crashed into the wall creating cracks on it. Alice groaned in pain. Mary grabbed her by her collar and lifted her up so easily. She slammed her again on the wall. Alice growled loudly. She grabbed Mary by the head and slammed it with all her might into the wall. Mary's head went through the wall smashing its way in. Alice could hear let out of screams from within. People were in the building behind. Mary screamed in anger. She grabbed Alice so fast and hauled her high up towards the opposite wall. Alice had a heavy impact with the wall but before she could land Mary had already grabbed her again. Mary was stronger and faster which gave her the upper hand. She hit her back to the wall and sent multiple blows to Alice face. Then she threw Alice to the floor. Alice could feel blood dripping from her nose.

"You fight well", Mary said "and I will love to keep this up but however time won't permit me." She then slammed her leg into Alice neck slightly twisting it. There was a crack sound and Alice slipped into unconsciousness.