His Name is William
We stayed out as long as Willie could stand it, but the tingling got to be too irritating for him. Taking the elevator, Colin pressed a button for a floor and the elevator moved. I smiled as I knew what Colin was doing. When the elevator stopped, Willie was going to get out, but stopped.
“Get out, Willie,” Colin said pointing to the hall.
“But this isn’t the correct floor,” Willie said looking at a floor he’d never seen.
I grinned. “Get out anyway.”
The difference was the floor he had been on was nice, but clearly an office type of hall. Now, this was…the walls had molding on it, a more decorative carpet running down the center, pictures on the walls, furniture as in a hall table with lamps and flowers. The doors lining the hall were also a little more ornate with peepholes. This was the residence floor. These were double doors. Colin stopped in front of one and opened it.
Willie looked at the apartment walking in slowly. It was large and nicely furnished with the couch and chairs, pictures on the walls and on tables of family. There was a large balcony you could see the sun was out and the sky was blue.
“Whose apartment is this?” Willie asked.
“Well, this is Devon’s and my apartment.” Colin smiled. “I hope it will be yours, too.”
Willie’s eyes grew. “Yours and mine?”
I nodded. “If you like.” I motioned for him to follow. “Come with me.” I led him down the hall and opened another door and swung it open. “This can be your room.” This room was almost four times bigger than the room he was in upstairs.
“My room?” Willie asked in amazement as he walked in, looking at the curtain covered windows out of which he could see Manhattan. It was not sterile but lacked a personality from someone that lived there. There was a grand bed, bedside tables with lamps, a dresser and it was clean. That’s it.
I walked to a door and opened it. “And your own bathroom.”
Willie walked in seeing the shower and separate tub. It was spacious and not white. The tub was a cream color that went into the tiles mixed with white. A big mirror over the double sinks.
Colin walked up behind Willie. “We want this to be your home, Willie.”
“You can decorate it with your treasures and place them around the room as you like.” I smiled. “It will be your room,” I said again.
Willie looked at Colin and then me. “My room.”
Colin chuckled seeing Willie was having trouble believing it. “Just let it sink in.” He shrugged. “Now that you’re taking the serum, we don’t have to have you completely out of the sun.”
I walked closer to Willie. I put a hand on his arm. “You’re free to do whatever you want, Willie. No one’s pressuring you. Once you’ve got the disc in, you can go wherever you want. Stay here or even go back to that ticket office.” I smiled. “If someone discovers you now, you have the freedom to go wherever you want, when you need to. You have options now.”
Willie covered his face with his hands and then brought them down to look at his wet hands and chuckled. “Tears.” He looked for a tissue. “I haven’t cried in a century and now in a couple of days, I’m blubbering all the time.” He said wiping his face with the back of his hand and sleeve.
Colin smiled coming up behind me. “You have to be able to produce tears to cry. Now, you can.” He touched Willie’s shoulder again making Willie turn around. “The point is…I want you happy and safe. You can live here, or we’ll find someplace else, but you are a vampire like we are. You will have to remain on the serum. So, once a month you’d have to check in or become that creature again. We’ll be able to see you that way.”
Willie nodded with a sniff. “I’ve been alone so long I was used to it. Even when you were there, Colin…I didn’t connect. I was afraid to.” He smiled. “I’d like to stay.”
“This will be home for you if you want,” I said.
Willie looked at Colin and me, puzzled. “What is it you do here?”
Colin thought. “We find others like ourselves. We have a group that looks for vampires. There are vampires out there and you know it. We seek them out and occasionally; like you, they retained their humanity. We offer help to get them a better life. There are the others…who has been taken over by the venom and are no longer human.”
“And you kill them,” Willie said.
“They’re not human anymore,” Colin stressed. “Would you want to suffer like that?”
“No.” Willie nodded readily. “I’m well aware of the others.” He laughed a little bitterly. “They can’t even talk anymore.”
“We’ll introduce more people as you are able,” I said. “If you don’t feel like it, we won’t.”
Willie nodded. “And my head?”
“There are some techniques we can use to help you,” I said. “When you are able, talking about it is the one proven good way to make it stop. I would like George to examine you a little more thoroughly. There may be something more we can do.” I smiled. “Now that you’re practically back to normal, there may be some medication you can take that will help.”
“Medication?” Willie asked.
“Things have changed in the past century,” I explained. “There are some good medications to help veterans like us who are having a hard time, but a medical exam will tell us more.”
Willie nodded a shrug. “If it helps, but talking about it?” He shook his head, telling me he wasn’t ready for that.
“Your mind has been struggling to come to grips with what happened to you. Talking about will help you. You won’t be able to forget, but you’ll be able to deal with it better…with time.”
Willie nodded. “Okay, maybe.”
I smiled. “Are you hungry? We haven’t eaten in a while. I’m getting hungry.”
Willie grinned. “That chicken was great.” He grinned at Colin. “I was promised a steak.”
Colin chuckled. “As many as you can eat.”
I nodded. “You might want to take it easy still. This consuming of food is still new for your body to process.”
Colin leaned closer to Willie and whispered. “The problem will be with your bowels.” He jutted his head toward me. “Devon saw how much I ate and asked me about that when we first met. Let’s just say…you may have to go at first…a lot.”
Willie chuckled. “Got it.”
“Soon, you won’t have any problems,” I added.
Gabriella cleared her throat to remind us she and Alex were there, too. “Do we order from Vamps? I really don’t cook.”
Colin nodded. “We’ll order from Vamps. They know about us and can fix anything, any time.” Then he narrowed his eye and turned to Gabriella and Alex. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten. You proposed to Alex when?”
Gabriella rolled her eyes coming to her father putting an arm around his waist. “Come on, Daddy. You like Alex, I know it. He’s a good man.” She smiled. “The world changed.” She waved down at how she was dressed. “Women wear pants now. We can vote, own businesses and be independent. Why is it the man has to propose?”
Colin nodded. “I wish you’d given me some warning.”
Gabriella nodded. “So, you could fret about it longer?” She shook her head. “I love Alex. He loves me. Why shouldn’t we get married?”
I shook my head as I looked at this family. “I’m still using a human’s view of things,” I said. “You called Willie Grandpa. The way I see it, he might have a grandchild…about three! He’s not that much older than either of you…in appearance. Really, you Colin should be the Grandpa. You’re older than everyone except Burke. Willie should be calling Gabriella Mother or Grandma. Chronologically, he’s younger than she is but looks older. You, Colin, look too young to have a daughter that looks as old as she is. In order of birth…”
Colin nodded pulling me kissing my temple. “It’s better if you don’t think too much about it. It’ll give you headaches.”
“And you guys have spent way too much time with me,” Willie said to Colin and me. “You both have lives. I appreciate you holding my hand, but you’re married. You need time to do married things.”
I nodded. “Our room is right over there, just down the hall.”
Willie nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“After we eat, we can start moving your things in here,” I said.
We ordered from Vamps. Willie was loving everything he ate! Until…he suddenly stopped as his eyes widened. It was a good thing we ate in our apartment. He hurried down the hall to his room and shut the door.
Colin grinned after he’d gone down the hall. “We warned him.”
I chuckled. “He’ll be fine.”
After we’d finished we all helped Willie set up his room, letting him tell us where to put things. It took a few hours, but it started to look to Willie like his room. He lived here!
Our apartment faced the West. Willie looked out at our balcony and walked out. He smiled as there was still a little tingle in his body. As there was no direct sunlight hitting him, it wasn’t bad as it could have been if the sun was shining directly on him. Colin and I went with him as he smiled at what he saw.
“The tingling will stop soon,” Colin said to Willie’s unasked question.
Willie nodded and shrugged. “It’s not bad.” He smiled as he looked over the city. Central Park was in view surrounded by more city. “This is a big world. A big city.” He looked at Colin. “I’d forgotten so much. I like looking at it.” He looked at Colin. “You were so determined to get Wentworth Plantation back. I assume you did.”
Colin nodded. “Oh, yes, I did.”
“When you’re ready, we’d love for you to see it,” I said. “You’ll have a room there, too.”
Willie nodded and looked back at the apartment. “You must be rich. I’m no judge about today’s world, but even I can see this isn’t cheap.”
“He is.” I grinned at Colin. “I married him for the money.”
Willie chuckled. “Right.” He said not convinced at all. “Devon, you are so devoted to Colin and he to you…I know it’s not about the money.”
“Now, that you can move around more…” Colin began. “Maybe you can find something like we have.”
Willie gave a grudging nod. “Maybe…one day.”
I smiled. “I’d like you to meet my mother.”
“Your mother?” Willie repeated. “Is she one of us, too?”
I shook my head. “Nope, still one hundred percent human.” I pulled my phone out to text her. “But she’s been in Charleston alone for a while now. I’ll invite her up. If I can get her away from David, that is.”
Willie smiled. “I’d like to see Wentworth and meet your mother.” Then he suddenly yawned. “Sorry.”
Colin nodded. “Our schedules are a little different, so we’ll be going to bed soon ourselves.”
Willie nodded. “Well, I’m turning in now.” He said and was starting to walk away but stopped. He grabbed Colin in a hug, and then me. “Thanks for making me feel welcome…and a part of this family. I love you both.” He said and went inside.
Colin sighed. “I hope he will make this home. He seems fine, but if he has another episode…”
I nodded. “Well, I think he had that last one because of what he was watching. It was about war and probably brought the memories back.” I suggested. “I’d still like George to look at him. The PTSD is a part of it, but I think there’s something else.”
Colin nodded and turned me to face him. “We’ll have to watch him a while longer.” Then he smiled. “Now, I think this is the longest we’ve ever spent together and not made love.” He said kissing me.
I chuckled. “We haven’t been alone,” I said as my arms came around him.
Colin nodded and looked to where Willie had gone. “If he’s asleep…we will be in a few minutes, we will be alone.” He began kissing me deeper. “Shall we get ready for bed?”
I grinned pulling him by the hand back inside. “Let’s go, husband.”
We did have our time alone and we did make love, a few times. The first time was a little urgent as we hadn’t had any time in a while and were feeling a little desperate. The next time was slow and more loving, but it was all very good.
Mom texted back that she was coming up that weekend and might stay a week.
George had given Willie the serum to the point that Willie only had the pain like Colin had experienced when I met him. Five minutes and it was over. George took a blood sample and made a disc for Willie. George then did a more thorough exam of Willie. Willie was still amazed at the devices and machinery used for the exam and what he could see himself, of himself.
We sat with Willie as George looked at his findings from the exams and scans where he showed the inside of Willie’s skull.
“Willie.” George began. “You were turned here, in the United States, right?”
Willie nodded. “I was traveling the rails after I returned from Europe after the war ended. I was having trouble then, losing time and other things. I couldn’t make a living because I couldn’t hold a job…so I became a hobo.”
George nodded. “And no one examined you when you got back?”
Willie shrugged. “A short one, but they didn’t have what you have here.” Willie pointed at the machines.
George nodded again. “You said there was an explosion you were in.”
Willie nodded. “There sure was. I nearly died!”
George smiled. “I think I have the reason you have trouble with memory and other things like time.” He nodded at me. “Devon is right. Even we are governed by the sun. You’re being underground like you were that regulation was stopped. What I found were little fragments.” He pointed to the image of Willie’s skull and the little black dots to which George pointed out.
“Fragments?” Willie asked.
“Shrapnel. When the explosion happened, it sent these little pieces of shrapnel into your head like tiny bullets. What I found was some larger pieces of shrapnel in your frontal lobe…your prefrontal cortex to be exact. That controls your memory, both short term memories, and long-term memories. Now when I say large, they are still really small…” he pointed to a black dot on the scan, “but larger than the others. They were so small they penetrated your skull and lodged and have remained there.” George said. “I can treat you with medication, but…I’d feel better getting them out.”
“Getting them out?” Willie repeated. “You mean you’ll go inside my head?”
George nodded. “It will relieve some of the pressure. Surgery on someone like us…on the serum…theoretically would be the same for a human.”
“But you’ve never done surgery like this on a vampire before,” Willie said.
“On a vampire? No.” George admitted. “I’ve done surgery and I’ve even worked on the brain later when I studied more in neurosurgery. You’ll be awake the whole time and I will be able to see if something goes wrong.”
“Wrong?” Willie’s eyes widened. “I’ll be awake!? Won’t it hurt?”
George laughed and shook his head. “Not in your head. There aren’t any nerves inside your brain.” He looked at Willie. “It’s up to you. I’ll walk you through all I would do and explain it all. If you have questions, I answer them.”
“Will that help with the episodes?” Willie asked.
“Your episodes are more related to PTSD,” George said. “Removing those pieces of shrapnel might help with retaining memory. You’ll still need therapy. There is some danger, but it won’t hurt to remove them, but like I said…it’s up to you.”
Willie nodded. “Let me think about it?”
George nodded. “Take your time.” He shrugged. “You’ve lived with it all this time. A few more days won’t kill you.”
I smiled at Willie. “I thought there was more. Now, you have options.”
Willie nodded. “Yes, I do.”
Colin put a hand on Willie’s knee. “Whatever you decide. We’ll both be with you, right by your side.”
George nodded. “And me, too. I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Willie nodded. “I know.”
We did spend time with Willie even after he had the disc inserted. He looked surprised when it was finally in.
“That’s it?” Willie asked from the exam table.
Colin frowned. “What do you mean, that’s it?”
I laughed. “What did you expect?”
Willie sat up, leaning on his elbows. “I don’t know…pain?” He held a hand up. “Not that I’m complaining, but that didn’t hurt at all.”
George laughed as he put the instruments he used away. “That’s the whole point of medicine. To stop the pain. Occasionally there is some pain I have to inflict, but I try to avoid it.”
Willie’s eyes grew. “Yeah? Well, that serum sure as hell hurt.” He rubbed his chest at the memory. “That hurt a lot!”
George smiled nodding. “I said I try to avoid it. I also said there is occasional pain that I have to do. You’ve gotten off easy.” George teased. “Colin and I put up with pain daily for nearly twenty years!”
Willie nodded. “I suppose…vampirism is worse.” He said scratching where the disc was inserted. “It is itching a little.”
“There’s a cream you can use, it will go away.” Colin crossed his arms across his chest. “I’m glad you understand being a vampire is worse.” He shrugged. “But, if it’s pain you want, I can help you out with that.” He held his balled fist up.
“No.” Willie chuckled. “Thank you, I’m good.” He looked at George. “I’m still a vampire though.”
George nodded. “You are. So are we.” George shrugged. “I’m still working on a cure.”
Willie sat up from the bed used. “What would you do for the removal of the shrapnel? Crack my skull open?”
George’s eyebrows rose. “Not anymore.” He opened a cabinet and removed a device…with a long almost wire looking thing, but white plastic and easily bending at the end at the barrel end of a gun. There was a double trigger he pulled a finger pulling them both independently. “This is a device of my own making. You really can’t see it, but there’s a claw at the end.” He pointed to the tip of the little plastic tube. He turned on a monitor and the screen went from black to a lighted image out of focus. The tip of the plastic tube was now glowing with a tiny light. He waved his hand in front of the wire end and you saw something move over the screen. “There’s a tiny camera at the end here that will let me see where I’m going, the light is like a headlight letting me see where I am and I can see the shrapnel and I’ll just grab it and pull it out,” George said as if would be the simplest thing. “I’ll also have a three-dimensional scanner, so I’ll be looking at two screens. One will show where I’m going and the other will be the scanner that lets me know I’m heading in the right direction.”
Willie smiled. “A camera? That tiny?”
George nodded. “Practically microscopic.” He touched Willie’s head at a point he thought of going in. “I’ll make a small hole and I’ll snake the probe in.”
“You said there was shrapnel…more than one?”
George nodded. “There are about five pieces that are a good size. All in the same area. I’ll get them out as well.” George sighed sitting on the rolling stool next to Willie. “It will take some time, but I think it’s for the best.”
Willie nodded slowly. “But you can do it.”
George smiled. “Since I started taking the serum, I’ve had time. I went to several schools and got certified in several types of surgery. Including neurosurgery. That AMA card I showed to the police was real.” He went and got what looked like a human brain. I knew it couldn’t be real, but it looked like a real brain. “I’ll do some scans and we can determine the best approach.”
I was looking at Willie. His eyes saw the brain and I saw him immediately jerk back a little and then I watched his pupils get smaller. “Willie,” I said touching Willie’s shoulder. He jerked away from me and looked at the brain. “Willie!” I repeated more urgently.
He was now trying to get away. “No, no…” he said holding his hands up to shield him from seeing the brain.
George put the brain down. “It’s not a real brain, Willie.”
Like before, he rushed to the side of the room and looked for the exit. It was clear he wasn’t thinking, but just trying to flee.
“What are you remembering, Willie?” I asked calmly as I walked toward Willie. “What did you see?”
Willie shook his head and pressed his fists to his temples. “I don’t want to remember!”
I nodded. “But you are remembering,” I said. “Whether you want to or not, you are remembering. The best way to make it stop is to talk about it.”
Willie was crying. “I don’t want to.” He said pitifully.
I got closer. “If you want it to stop, you have to talk. I’m not an authority, but with the other veterans I have, talking helped it stop.”
Willie shook his head. “I don’t want to remember!” He closed his eyes as if doing that would keep him from seeing…whatever he was seeing.
“It’s too late,” I said. “You are remembering.” Slowly I got even closer. I suddenly understood more. “These episodes…you want them to happen.”
Willie looked at me. “What!?”
“After an episode, you don’t remember, do you?” I asked.
Colin came up behind me. “Devon, what are you doing?”
I didn’t look back at Colin but said. “Getting him to face the truth.” I got even closer. “That’s why you went underground, isn’t it? You cut yourself off from everyone. No reminders to make you remember. Having these episodes, you want the episodes to take them away even more. It was more than just because you are a vampire, you stayed there to forget.” I reached out to touch his arm. “This happened when…1916, 17? That was a century ago. You never faced it. It will never stop until you deal with it. Now, what did you see? It was the brain, wasn’t it?”
“Yes!” Willie moaned.
I nodded. “Tell me about it,” I said quietly.
Willie’s hands came to cover his face as his breathing hitched. “It was horrible. We were moving through this village I don’t even remember what town. It had been heavily hit by bombs. Our bombs. I went to where…” he cried a little more. “…it was a school. They were children!” He said in this moan. “Children! I did it!!”
“You did?” I said carefully. “You targeted a school?”
“I sent the bombs! I fired them off. I killed them!” Willie said.
“You knew it was a school?” I asked.
“I did it! I set the bomb off! It killed them.” Willie pressed the heel of his hand into his eye. “I went in and saw…” he had agony on his face. “…a little girl. Her head was open, I saw her brain spilled out.” He now cried, but it wasn’t as tortured. “She was maybe six or seven. First or second grade. She should have been playing with dolls or hopscotch.” He said sadly. “I took that away.”
Did he do that? I wondered. Coming even closer, I pulled him into a hug and just held him as he cried.
George ended up giving him something to calm down. Putting him back on the exam table, he drifted off to sleep.
Colin found his voice after witnessing the whole event and hearing what Willie said. “I can’t believe Willie would do something like that.” He said softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t think he did, but he feels responsible.”
George shook his head. “The only danger Willie ever was, was to rats. He didn’t do that.”
I smiled. “I’m almost certain he didn’t, but at least he talked a little. He’s dealing with it some. This will take some time.”
George smiled hugging me one armed. “I think we found our needed counselor.”
I was surprised at what he said. “What? No! I’m not a counselor. I was never trained…”
“Devon…” George smiled. “I’m medicine. Colin knows people and can read them and just knows when to trust and when not to. You have…” he thought. “…the ability to speak to someone and get them to listen. I’ve known Willie fifty or sixty years. He’s never said a thing like this to me.”
Colin nodded. “I’ve known him even longer. He’s never said a thing to me either, but he did to you.” He smiled. “You just instinctively know when to push and back off. Almost every time we’ve had an issue with anyone, you are the one that gets through. Be it Willie, Amanda…even Stan and Mark. That’s your gift to our new society.”
George nodded. “As far as Willie is concerned, you have the military background and have dealt with veterans before. If its education you think you need, you have time to get it. Right now, you’ve done in a few weeks, what hasn’t been done in over a century with Willie.” He patted me on the back. “You might think about it. Personally, I know you’re the man for the job.”
I just wasn’t prepared. There wasn’t anything to say. I looked back at Willie as he was sleeping. Me? A vampire psychologist? George was right about there would be a lot of time to get the education. George was a walking hospital and could do almost anything needed scientifically and medically. Colin knew who to trust, but he was also spectacular with business…that was the ability to know what and who to trust.
A few hours later, Willie was awake and we took him back to the apartment. Colin stayed, but I was wondering how things were with the task force. That job was ongoing, and Colin and I hadn’t contributed much in the past week or so.
Entering the Control Room, as it was now called, I saw the team gathered for another evening of searching for vampires.
Mark looked up from looking over Stan’s shoulder at the computer monitor as I came in. His face lit up. “Devon! Good to see you.”
I grinned. “Colin and I have been busy.”
Chuck came over. “We heard. Is everything alright?”
I shrugged. “It’s getting better. Our newest family member is in a…touchy place right now. We can’t really leave him.”
Gabriella walked up with Alex. “Is Willie going to be alright?”
I nodded. “He will if he cooperates.” I smiled. “I think he will, so yes, he’ll be alright.” Shelly was there, Gabriella and she had formed a team in itself. Gabriella loved this new world she lived in. Nothing about her said she was from the 19th Century anymore. She still favored blue in her navy-blue pants and shirt. Even Shelly had adopted the look. Chuck was with them on the team. Mark, Alex, and Burke was another team. “Any other new finds?”
Shelly smiled shaking her head. “We may be making a difference. There have been a lot fewer deaths since we began.”
“That’s not saying we’re done.” Chuck cautioned. “But we’ve taken a few off the street. It seems to be paying off.”
I nodded. “Good.”
My mother arrived on that Friday afternoon. I greeted her on the roof as she was flown from the airport to the VUN. I wasn’t sure what I expected but seeing her…she didn’t look that happy. I would let her tell me if there was anything wrong, but my gut told me things were…difficult?
I hugged her and we took the elevator down to Colin’s and my apartment floor.
“Before you enter…” I said at the door. “We have a new family member staying with us.”
Mom’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“His name’s Willie. He meant a lot to Colin since the 1920s and now me.”
“I see.” Mom said. “He’s on the serum?”
I nodded. “He had the disc inserted, but…he’s going through some rough spots now. He’s dealing with it, but he may act a little…strangely. He’s a very nice man, but sometimes he loses memories, and he can phase out sometimes.”
“Phase out?”
“He’s going through Post Traumatic Stress.”
Mom nodded. “Oh, I see.” She shrugged. “If Colin trusts him, who am I to judge?”
I smiled and opened the door. Inside, Colin rose from sitting on the sofa smiling as he greeted her, asking the usual questions like how her flight was. I heard the door open down the hall and Willie walked in the great room. He was a little subdued since I got him to talk about what he’d seen, but he was dealing with it.
“Hi, Willie.” I greeted but noticed he had on new clothes and had another haircut. Gabriella was good, but he’d had it done professionally this time. “You look like a new man!” He was a very nice-looking man.
Willie looked down at what he was wearing and smiled with a nod. “Colin thought I needed to.”
I waved to my mother. “Willie, this is my mother, Betty McGee. Mom, this is Willie.” I said. “I don’t know your last name.”
Willie chuckled. “I don’t remember what it was. I’ve been just Willie for so long.” He came forward extending his hand to my mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. McGee. You raised a good man.” Willie said looking at me with a smile.
My mother smiled, shaking his hand. “I think he is.”
I was hoping…well…Willie was shy, I hoped introducing someone that was fully human…I don’t know. Physically, they looked about the same age and I hoped Willie’s meeting her would bring him out more. Mom was attractive and had her figure and long dark auburn hair. She was seeing David Braun, but I just hoped that Willie would respond to her more and make him more at ease. She was my family, and he was Colin’s family, it made sense to introduce them so we would become one family. We visited a while before Colin ordered dinner again from Vamps. Gabriella and Alex came for dinner as well. Our family was getting bigger.
The next morning, I got up to the smell of cooking. I smiled as I got up, finding Mom in the kitchen making breakfast.
“I know.” Mom smiled knowing what I’d say. “I’m making Colin plenty. Does Willie have the same love of food?”
I chuckled. “He likes it, but Colin loves it, a little more than most men or vampire, but not as much as Colin. Gabriella told me he was always that way even before he was turned.” I hugged her quickly. “It’s nice to have you here. I felt guilty leaving you alone in Charleston.”
Mom smiled. “You have a new role in the world, but a very important one. I understand why you’re doing what you are.”
I dared to ask. “Is everything okay with you?”
Mom gave a sad smile. “I keep busy. I’m still showing property and real estate. I do volunteer work…”
“And David?”
That she gave a sad smile. “I don’t know.” She admitted as she prepared eggs to serve with her pancakes.
“What don’t you know?” I asked.
She sighed. “He’s very attentive when he’s with me, but…there are times I think he should be dating you and Colin.”
That was surprising. “What? Why do you say that?”
“Well, more often than not, he’s asking me about the two of you.” Mom explained. “How you met and what is it you do. He knows Colin’s wealthy, but doesn’t seem interesting in his money, more about the two of you personally.”
“Really?” My caution was now coming up in my head more. “What did you tell him we did?”
She shrugged. “What can I say? That you’re both vampires and looking for other vampires?” She shook her head. “I merely told him that Colin was working with a friend and had a good business up here.”
“What was his store in Atlanta?”
She shook her head again. “That’s just it. I don’t know. He mentioned that it was named after him and that he had five stores in the Atlanta area.” She looked at me frustrated. “He comes and goes. He’s in Charleston, but I never know the hotel. He calls and we meet somewhere…”
I nodded. “Can I do a check on him?”
Mom looked at me. “I always taught you. When a person is being evasive, he has something to hide.” She grimaced. “He’s hiding something.” She seemed to decide. “I like him, but I’m not trusting yet. If you can check on him.”
“His name is David Braun,” I said to be sure.
She nodded. “David C. Braun. He often uses a credit card and I saw that. I saw the credit card was for a bank in Atlanta, Fidelity Bank, Peachtree Center.”
I nodded. “I’ll get my FBI contacts to check him out.”
Mom nodded. “I hate doing this, but I think he should be.”
I smiled. “Well, if the FBI can’t tell us, who can?”
Mom nodded. “I hope he is what he says…” she looked at me sadly. “…but being uncertain?”
“We’ll find out.”
Later I asked Colin about David. “What did you feel about David Braun?” I asked as we sat on the couch.
Colin’s eyebrows rose. “Not much. The one time we met him, he wasn’t that forthcoming. I neither trust him nor distrust him. Why?” I told him what my mother had said making his eyebrows come together puzzled. He turned more looking at me. “This is what your mother said? She’s not trusting him?”
“She’s suspicious,” I admitted. “I was going to ask Stan or someone to do a search about David.”
Colin nodded. “I think we need to.”
Coming to the Control Room, it was in the middle of the afternoon I hoped there would be someone. I grinned as Mark bent over and was again kissing Stan who was sitting at the computer. Only this time, Stan didn’t try to break away from Mark when he saw me.
I came in and sat near them. “I take it things are good with you two.”
Stan was turning a little pink again. “Yes, it’s going very well.”
“We moved on your floor!” Mark said happily.
I nodded. “I wondered if that was you. I saw the boxes in the hall.”
“That will be taken care of.” Stan assured quickly. “I swear.”
“I don’t care about that.” I laughed. “Moving is moving. I’m just glad you’re happy.”
Mark nodded standing up straight but kept his hand on Stan. “Very.”
I sighed. “Now, I need a huge favor.”
Stan was puzzled but immediately nodded. “Anything we can do.”
I gave them what I knew. “If he’s not what he seems, we need to know that. I have a feeling he isn’t.”
Mark frowned. “But he’s not a vampire.”
I shook my head. “Colin and I would have known that. We would have sensed he was. He’s human. He could be like that rogue agent found with Burke, but I don’t think so.”
Stan nodded and immediately typed on the recessed keyboard quickly. His eyes widened. “I see an account with Fidelity Bank…Peachtree Center, but he’s not from Atlanta.”
“He’s not?” I was now very suspicious.
“No, the address at the bank says he’s from Charleston,” Stan said simply.
Now, nothing made sense. “Charleston? It’s a big city, or at least Charleston thinks it is. Why would he say he’s from Atlanta? Why the stores? Is there a business for him?”
Stan gave a shrug and began typing again. “Tying in with the computer at the FBI, there’s nothing that Buddy and I can’t find out.” He chuckled patting Buddy like it was a good dog but then frowned. “No. There are no businesses by that name.” He hit another couple of keys again. “That name isn’t coming up on any data files.”
“Meaning?” I asked.
“Meaning David C. Braun may not exist,” Mark said.
“Okay, he may not exist?” I asked.
“Aliases are common,” Mark said folding his arms over his chest. “All he needs is an ID, which he can get with an address where’s he receiving mail.” He said as Stan was again typing. Mark looked over at the screen. “Do you know this area of…” he looked closer. “…John’s Island?”
I gave a shrug. “I know the island, but I’ve not been there in a while. It’s developing very quickly.” I thought about it for a minute. “When Mom was growing up on the neighboring island, she and most others thought John’s Island was a little remote. A lot of farms and kind of…where the hicks lived. Now it’s become chic. Everyone’s moving there. Maybe he moved there?”
Stan gave a doubtful look. “Maybe, is this him?” The image of a man I had never seen was on the big screen. This man was heavier and not the man we met.
I shook my head. “Absolutely not! Is he the one that lives…where you say?” I shook my head again. “I mean…is that the man that lives there?”
Stan nodded. “According to the records.”
“I need to find out who this man is. I mean, the one who was dating my mother.” I said out loud in thought. Then I thought about Mom. “This is going to be upsetting for Mom,” I said a little mournfully.
Mark nodded. “But she needs to know before it gets too serious.”
I nodded getting up. “She was the one that told me about her suspicions. Still…” I looked at Stan and Mark. “I’ll tell Colin, but I won’t say anything to her yet.” I shrugged but grinned at them. “Carry on.” I waved at them. “Feel free expressing affection, but like I said the last time I walked in and you were…doing something like you were…PG, guys.”
Mark grinned a little evil. “With you…maybe we’d dare an R?”
Stan reached back swatting Mark lightly, not enough to hurt, but Mark jumped back with a grin.
“Very mature, Mark,” Stan growled. He looked at me. “I’ll do another search with the name. Does your mother have a picture? We can do the facial recognition if she does.” Then patted the computer again. “With Buddy here, it will take half the time. He’ll breeze through the Facial Recognition Program.” He smiled and now rubbed the surface.
Mark’s eyes rolled. “Do you want to be alone with Buddy? Just remember, no body fluids on the computer.”
Stan ignored him as he nodded to me. “If she has even one on her phone, I can do the search. I’ll do all I can.”
I smiled walking over to them and hugged them both. “Thanks, guys.”
I went back to our apartment. Entering, I saw Colin watching TV. He watched occasionally and since we were watching Willie now, he had started doing it a lot more. He smiled as I came over.
“What did you find out?” He asked turning the TV’s volume down.
I sighed. “There is a David Braun, but the man we met wasn’t him.”
Colin nodded. “Your mother suspected this…or at least suspected he was hiding something.”
I nodded. “Stan’s doing a more thorough search.” I looked around the room. “Is Willie asleep?” I asked not seeing anyone else.
Colin shook his head with a grin and waved back to the balcony. “It seems the McGees are a very charming people.”
I looked to see Willie with my mother sitting on the couch we had out there. They weren’t physically close, but Mom was giving Willie her undivided attention as she listened carefully. Her arm was over the back as she was turned to face Willie a little. Willie was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees as he was saying something quietly. I couldn’t help myself as I grinned. “You know that’s the other reason I invited her up here?” I said to Colin.
Colin’s eyes grew a little. “Hoping to get them together?”
I gave a shrugging nod. “Not together, but…” I waved at them. “…together. Mom’s a great lady. I knew if anyone could bring Willie out, she could.”
“As in therapy?” Colin asked.
“Being a friend is therapy.” I nodded. “He’s family, so is she.” I sat by Colin. “I would trust Willie with my mother, and I haven’t known him that long. There would be problems if Willie got involved with Mom.”
Colin nodded. “Same as it was for us. She’ll age, he won’t.” He looked back at Willie. “I don’t know if he remembers how to…” Colin grinned bring two hands together and the fingers touched and did something with his hands that told me exactly what he was saying. “…you know.”
I raise a finger to Colin. “One more time, this is my mother. She doesn’t just…” I did the same with my hands as Colin did. “…you know,” I said pointedly. “I’m thirty and you’re…older.” I grinned. “Can’t you say what it is?”
Colin chuckled as he leaned closer kissing me. “Because it is your mother, I didn’t just say sex.” He looked at Willie. “I wonder, if it’s like riding a bike, you never forget.” Then he looked at me. “You haven’t forgotten how to do…you know, have you?”
I grinned. “Want to find out?” I looked back at Mom and Willie. “I think they’re okay out there.”
Colin smiled rising, taking my hand. “Let’s see if you remember.”
There’s only one thing as good as love after dark. Spontaneous love in the afternoon! Neither of us had forgotten how to…you know.
I’m happy to say it was a few hours before we cleaned up and went back out to the great room.
Mom and Willie had left the balcony and were watching TV. Mom smiled at us as we came back in. “William has something to say.”
My eyebrows rose. “William?” I grinned.
Mom chuckled. “Willie just is so…juvenile sounding.”
Willie smiled and nodded. “I decided to have George do that…” he did a circle toward his own head with a finger. “…thing to get the shrapnel out.”
Colin and I sat near him. “Okay,” I said.
Colin nodded. “You know George is good at…pretty much everything medical.”
I smiled at Willie. “We’ll be right there. You won’t be alone.”
Willie chuckled. “And I’ll be awake!”
I grinned. “Yes, you will be.”
Colin smiled also. “We’ll set a time with George.”
I nodded at my mother and mouthed a thank you. She just smiled and shrugged.
“You are right, Devon,” Willie said. “I was running away from it all. It was easier than facing what happened. Maybe if I have this procedure, I can handle it better.” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
I smiled. “It might help, yes, but in order for this to work, you will have to be able to talk to…whoever you trust.”
Willie grinned at me sheepishly. “That would be you, Devon. I feel I can tell you anything.”
I wanted to make sure he knew. “I’m not a therapist. I’ve not had the training.”
Willie chuckled and shrugged. “You got me to see what I was doing. Clearly, that was what I was doing for a century. You were right about my going underground. The lapses I had there were lighter but managed to confuse my memory.”
I smiled bigger. “That’s great, Willie! How’d you come to realize that?”
Willie looked at my mother and smiled at her. “She helped me see that.”
Mom smiled. “I just told him what you may have done. He came to the decision himself. About what you were trying to do and having the shrapnel removed.”
“I trust you, Devon,” Willie said.
“This will still take time. Those memories are buried so deep, they will be hard to get out.”
Willie nodded. “I know.”
Colin smiled slapping his knees. “This is great!” He stood up and rubbed his hands together. “I say…let’s eat!”
I rolled my eyes. “We were going to eat anyway.”
Colin nodded. “Now we can enjoy it more! More reason!” He waggled his eyebrows. “What about trying something, Willie?”
Willie looked curious. “Like what?”
“Maybe go to Vamps?” He said hopefully. “Maybe try to be with other people?”
Willie looked uncertain. “What if it triggers another episode?”
“If it does, Willie. We’ll deal with it.” I said quietly. “It’s a member’s only restaurant. There won’t be many there. If you feel like something is happening…”
Willie frowned. “I don’t know until I’m in an episode.”
“We’ll deal with it,” I said. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”
Willie looked at Mom. “Let’s do this!” He chuckled. “I hope I remember my table manners.”
I chuckled. “You’ll do fine.”
Willie was a little self-conscious, but he did well. He did look often at the few other customers. The other customers didn’t notice or care that Willie was there. Most I’d seen before and worked either at the VUN or somewhere else in the building. These customers may not have been aware of what Vamps really was, but it was very good and to be allowed in was sought by many. It was a pleasant meal, but I sensed Willie was getting more upset as the meal progressed. Finally, I suggested we go back to the apartment. Willie had to excuse himself to relax, but Colin went with him to be sure he was okay.
“What did you find out about David?” Mom asked out of the blue.
I nodded and thought how the best way I should say it. “It’s questionable.”
Mom turned me around to face her. “What does that mean?”
“Stan is this great guy on a computer. Our computer here is linked with the computer at the FBI.” I began. “I saw where David Braun lived.”
Mom nodded. “So, he is who he says he is?”
I frowned and shook my head. “No. The man I saw on the computer, who has the account at the bank in Atlanta, isn’t the man you introduced.”
I was not surprised that she wasn’t too upset. She nodded. “And we have no idea who he is?”
I smiled. “Do you have a photo of him?”
At first, Mom shook her head, then brightened. “Wait, I do!” She smiled getting her phone out. “Janice…you remember her? A friend I knew was at this party with us…she took a picture of us and then sent it to me. David…or whoever he is…doesn’t know about it.” She pulled up the pictures on her phone and handed me the phone and showed one of her and that man together. It was a good picture of his face.
I smiled. “This should do the trick. Can I send it to my email?”
Mom nodded. “Sure.”
“I’ll send it to Stan. He will use the computer we have and do a face recognition.” I said smiling. “He claims it should be faster.” I shrugged. “We’ll see.” I did what I said and handed the phone back. Looking at her, I felt sorry this had happened. So, I said. “I’m sorry.”
Mom gave a small smile back. “I’m a big girl. It will be fine.” Then she added putting her hand on my arm. “I’ll be fine.” She assured.
I sent the image to Stan with a note this was the man we had met as David Braun. “And thank you for talking to Willie.” I chuckled. “Or, should I say, William.”
Mom laughed. “I just felt…calling him that was more respectful. The name William gives that sense of pride.”
I nodded. “We all love Willie.”
“I know.” Mom smiled. “I just wanted Willie to understand, I see him as a man. I just asked if he liked what his life was before? Was it better now and would it be better if he got the shrapnel removed.” She smiled. “He decided it could get better.”
I hugged her. “Thank you.”
Before we got more involved with who the man was, we scheduled Willie with George. George prepped Willie and had gotten two others that worked with him to assist. This time George looked very much like the doctor he was with the mask and scrubs. And it began. He made a small incision and talked with Willie the whole time. He had Willie’s head in a contraption that kept Willie’s head completely still. Colin, Mother, and I waited. It was the worst six and a half hours before George came out of his lab with a tired sigh but smiled. “I got them out.” He said wiping his face with a cloth. “He’s still awake if you want to see him. He’ll need time to recover, but I think we’ll see some improvement soon.”
We visited with Willie a few minutes and then left him to sleep a while. After we’d done that, Colin and I went down to the Control Room. Stan was still at the computer when we arrived.
“You have an apartment here,” I said smiling. “Don’t you ever go home?”
“I am!” Stan said and gave a thin smile. “I found out who he is.” He handed us a tablet. He ran a finger over the screen’s surface. “His name is Stephen Benedict. He is from Charleston.”
I looked at the man’s image and it was the man we thought was David Braun. I read the information on the screen. “Do we know who he works for?”
Stan frowned. “His employment was the problem. The company he’s employed by is a dummy corporation. What’s also interesting is that a dummy corporation’s owner is also unknown.”
Colin looked at me. “You’re thinking what I am, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “We’ll be finding out who this other vampire is in Charleston.”
Colin grinned and nodded, but worried more. “You know, whoever it is like you said, has been around a long time and knows how to cover tracks.” He looked at me seriously. “I can’t help but feels like we’re being guided.”
“You think David…or rather Stephen did it on purpose?”
Colin suddenly looked up as he realized more. “My god, if he’s working for this vampire, there could be others.” His eyes grew as he realized even more. “The reason we can’t find out where this vampire hunts…is because it doesn’t.”
“You think people are giving their blood willingly?” I asked.
Colin nodded and began to pace in that circle again. “The reason we’re not finding victims is that there aren’t any.” He turned to me. “Just like Burke has those sheep which gives that blood to be consumed…this vampire may have people who give their blood. They aren’t bitten so no venom given or needed, and no other vampires are created. There are those that willingly give their blood to this vampire. No hunting needed.”
I nodded. “I see that. You think we’re being led?”
Colin gave a shrug. “I don’t know if it was on purpose, but this guy, David or Stephen, could be a link.” He looked at me suddenly. “It could also be a test.”
“A test? To see if we get it?” I asked.
Colin nodded. “We need to get back to Charleston.”
Mark came closer. “You’ll need back up.” He said firmly. “Stan and I will go as well.”
Colin smiled but shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
Mark pulled up his shirt to show the cut across his abdomen. “I know that all too well. It is dangerous and not just for me, but you two as well.”
Stan nodded coming up behind Mark. “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” He agreed standing just behind Mark. “I know Shelly and Chuck will want to come as well. Perhaps even George and Burke. We all should go.” He put his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “We should all do this.”
Colin smiled at me. “I’ll make the arrangements.”