Hey, there’s a story idea for you, buster:Grandkid Moon. Go ahead, slap that up for pre-order!
Also, if you’re listening (and I know you are), I could use a few easy cases that pay well. Just saying.
And while you’re at it… any chance you could give me a clue about what the hell’s going on with these dinosaur bones? There’s gonna be something weird, right? Like, are they gonna come alive or something. Am I right? Or is someone using them for black magic? Not sure where that black magic idea came from, unless it came from you, Mr. Rain.
Okay, I’ll shut up now.
…Wait. Didyoujust tell me to shut up?
You better not have, mister, because Iwillfind you and smack you across the room. You think you can contain me? Think again.
(Sorry. Please don’t have a vampire hunter shoot me with a silver bullet.)
With a shake of my head at my crazy life, I pull into traffic. A quick stop at Starbucks gives me the last boost I need—mostly because I siphoned energy off those already partaking from a big cup of coffee, and then I’m off to Craig Regional Park, a short drive away. I don’t siphon energy off anyone working, or anyone ordering. In the least, I give them a chance to get some caffeine in them. I would be what’s called aconsiderateenergy vampire.
Alas, I don’t see the blond writer this time. I suspect I may never see him again. Probably for the best. I get a sense that he wants me to think that he was cute, but I can’t, just no. Isn’t that like incest or something? I think J.R. Rain might have a few screws loose.
Meanwhile, the parking lot to Craig Park is half full (I’m ever the optimist) when I arrive. I park in the visitor lot, snag my coffee, and head toward the paleontology center. The morning air is crisp, the kind of Southern California autumn that feels more like a polite chill than actual cold.
Inside the facility, I’m greeted by the familiar face of Dr. Jill Fenwick, who looks slightly less frazzled today. She’s in a similar professional outfit; though she’s swapped her blue blouse for a pale lavender one.
“Good morning, Samantha!” she says exuberantly, stepping forward with a warm smile. “I didn’t know you would come by so early.”
I shake her hand. “Please call me Sam, and I figured I’d get a feel for the place. I’d like to speak with Adam Lowell, in particular, if he’s available.”
Her cheeks pink slightly. “Adam? Yes, he’s here. He’s been buzzing around all morning, actually. He’s, um, very passionate about the exhibits.”
I smile faintly. “So I’ve heard.”
Jill raises her eyebrows, curious, but I don’t offer any more. She leads me through the center, past the main lobby where a towering replica of a raptor skeleton looms overhead. We move through various rooms lined with fossil displays, ancient teeth, claws, and polished bones, all gleaming under glass. I take note of the security cameras at every corner and down every hall.
Dr. Fenwick gives me a running commentary about the park and paleontology center. Apparently, it was founded in the early 1980s, when local paleontologists discovered a significant fossil bed just a few miles from the park’s current location. The site quickly became a hotspot for fossil hunters, and its abundance of well-preserved specimens drew the attention of scientists from all over the world. In response to this newfound interest, a group of paleontologists, geologists, and community leaders worked together to create a research facility dedicated to studying the area’s prehistoric past.
Dr. Fenwick continues, “The center’s primary focus has always been on educating the public about paleontology and preserving the fossils found here. It’s not just a research facility; we aim to make the science accessible, to get people of all ages excited about the wonders beneath our feet.”
Over the years, the center grew, eventually expanding to include not only state-of-the-art research labs but also an exhibit hall showcasing fossils and interactive displays. One of the most iconic features of the center is its large dinosaur skeletons, many of which were discovered right here in the region.
“The fossils we find here,” Dr. Fenwick says with a hint of pride, “are from a time when this area was a lush, tropical rain forest, about 75 million years ago. The dinosaurs that roamed here were very different from the ones in other parts of the country.”
The paleontology center also serves as a key educational hub, offering workshops and outreach programs to local schools, which is how Tammy had known about it. The park itself has become a popular destination for amateur fossil hunters, with tours guided by the center’s staff.
The gallery is part museum, part research facility, all sharp lines and polished displays. It smells unmistakably of clean tile and well-maintained HVAC… but there’s something else, just faintly at the edge of my senses. Old bones, I’m guessing.
Since becoming a vampire, all my senses have sharpened, including my sense of smell. Probably true for all vampires, but it’s not exactly something to brag about. So yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m smelling those old bones.
It was probably for the best that I left Kingsley at work today. Really don’t need my honey buns trying to drag the raptor skeleton out into the park to bury it. Orrebury it, as it were.
Meanwhile, we find Adam Lowell in one of the side exhibits, carefully arranging informational plaques near a display case. He’s a wiry guy in his late twenties, glasses sliding down his nose, dark hair tousled like he’s been running his hands through it all morning long.
“Adam, this is Samantha Moon,” says Jill. “She’s the private investigator I told you about.”
Adam turns quickly, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Oh, right! Nice to meet you.” He wipes his hands on his khakis and offers a handshake, which I take.
As he explains the fossil cataloging process, I quietly sip my coffee and dip into his mind.
Hey, what can I say? It’s one of the advantages of being who I am: a vampire, yes, but not of the bloodsucking variety. I drink energy when I need it. And when I’m focused, I can press a little deeper, skimming thoughts, nudging emotions, sensing the undercurrent of who they really are and what they might know.
In this case, Adam Lowell is an open book. He’s passionate about his job, eager to prove himself, and—unsurprisingly—he’s got a massive, unspoken crush on his boss. His every thought is layered with admiration for Jill.
