“It’s okay.” Before clean clothes, Luis wanted a shower. There was sweat and concrete dust still covering him.
There was a light tap on the door, and they both turned. “They should be here in about ten minutes,” Julien said.
Ten minutes later they were at the kitchen counter seats. Karim had put together a small charcuterie of cheese, crackers, and fruit to try and ply Luis into eating more. Luis was nibblingat the cheese trying not to think about what he had to tell the police when they arrived.
A knock came and Julien left to get it. Luis only set the cheese down and turned on the chair when he heard footsteps returning.
“This is Detective Sarris,” Julien said as he led the man in.
Detective Sarris was a tall, dark-haired man with a neat beard that was graying in spots. He wore a burgundy button up and dark slacks.
“Detective Vince Sarris,” the man said.
“Luis Vázquez,” Luis said.
“I’m from the VPD for Reigns, Fresco and New Haven counties,” Detective Sarris said. “Mr. Dubois called about an incident involving a group of suspected Purists.”
“Yeah,” Luis said. Then, “Vampire Police Department?” What the detective said had just registered. “Shouldn’t I… report this to the human PD?”
“The VPD works a lot of cases involving humans,” Detective Sarris said. “Vampire hate groups are of particular interest to us, of course. Mr. Dubois believes that himself and Mr. Singh are targets of this group as well. I’ve been working similar cases in the area involving Purists, so it falls under my jurisdiction. Do you think if I showed you photos, you could identify who attacked you?”
“Well, we know one of them,” Karim interjected. “I got his ID, hold on.” Karim left the room to retrieve it.
“That would be very helpful,” Detective Sarris said. He pulled out of his pocket a recorder and set it on the table.
“Next, I’d like you to walk me through what happened, both tonight and the prior incident at Bite Back. Do I have your consent to record?” He asked.
Luis nodded.
“Verbally please,” Detective Sarris said.
Right. “Yes,” Luis said.
Detective Sarris then gave his own name, identification number, and the date and time for the recorder. “Now, please state your name, and then you may begin with what happened at Bite Back.”
Luis took a shaky breath. He could do this. He had to.
He hadn’t crawled out of that basement window to be a coward.
He leaned toward the recorder, “My name is Luis Vázquez,” he said.
Chapter Twenty One
It was after five in the morning before they were done. The detective had taken corroborating statements from Karim and Julien about the bar incident, collected the ID from Karim, and had Luis look over photographs to ID anyone else at the church.
When finished, Detective Sarris pulled out a business card and set it down on the table. “If you remember any more details, big or small, feel free to give me a call,” he said. “We’re going to send officers to the New Hope Church to collect evidence, and I may have you come down to the station in a few days for another interview.”
Luis nodded.
The detective turned to leave, and Luis wanted to call him back, to ask him not to arrest his mother.
He kept the words in.
He’d provided her name and address during the interview. When asked if Luis wanted to press charges, he’d forced himself to say yes. Julien and Karim seated on either side of him gave him the strength to do it, even as it made his whole chest ache.
“I’ll be in touch,” Detective Sarris said as Julien stood to show him out. They both left.
“I’m glad you’re pressing charges,” Karim said in the silence.
