“The undead have no rights apparently,” says the vampire.
“We’ll see about that.” Meredith begins scrolling through her phone again frantically. A moment later, she turns the screen toward us with a cheer. “Ah-ha! All citizens are entitled to the right to legal representation. A citizen may be held for up to twelve hours without reasonable cause, after which time, if no evidence can be presented, they must be released.”
The vampire lifts a brow. “What makes you think the undead are regarded as citizens?”
Meredith smiles. “Ah, but if you’re not citizens, why doanylaws apply to you?”
A cruel smile creeps over the vampire’s face and he strokes his chin. “Mmmm. I like the way you think. And so will my sire. Let us see if we can’t make some movement here.”
Four hours later, I’m blinking to keep my heavy eyelids open, standing at the front desk of the SEO office waiting for the officer on duty to get off the phone to his manager.
The officer—a young guy with neat black hair and nervous eyes, glances back over his shoulder at us. “No, I don’t know how they found out he is here, but they know, sir. And they have a lawyer. Two lawyers.”
I shoot a grin at Meredith and tall thin lady who came as a representative of the local vampire coven. I feel pretty bloody good about the level of backup I’ve got right now.
There’s a pause.
“Yes, sir.”
Another pause.
“No, I tried to tell them that, but they made a very good point about some of London’s other ah… undead citizens, and I really think someone more senior than me should be handling this, with all due respect, sir.” He shoots us another nervous smile.
Eventually the young officer puts down the phone and returns to the desk. “Thank you for waiting. Superintendent Heidegger says he’ll be along as soon as he can. In the meantime, can I show you to a waiting room?”
“Look, we have footage from the bar that proves he didn’t do anything wrong. We have witnesses prepared to testify that he is not a danger to society. I just want to see my boyfriend and make sure he’s alright.”
The vampire lawyer clears her throat. “We’ve been very cooperative… so far. I’m sure everyone would prefer to keep it that way, but…”
The officer tugs at his collar. “OK, fine. I’ll take you around to see him—just you, though, ma’am. And I can’t release him. Not until the superintendent gets here.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
He unlocks a little gate barring us from entering the corridor to one side of the desk and ushers me through. Then he leads me down a narrow walkway until we get to three heavy metal doors. There are small sliding plates covering a rectangular hole in each door, and when we stop in front of the first one, he slides the plate open and stands aside.
I rush forward, peering through the hole to see Adam sitting on a hard bench with his head in his hands. “Adam!”
He looks up when I call out, and I spot the leather muzzle they’ve tied over his nose and mouth. He tries to speak, but it comes out so muffled I can’t make out the words.
“What is that thing?”
The officer shifts uncomfortably. “It’s for the protection of our officers.”
“Really?” I glare at him. “Really? At what point did my boyfriend offer any resistance or make any threats to you?”
“Ma’am, I wasn’t present at the arrest—”
I cut him off with an angry scoff. “Of course you weren't. This is bollocks. This whole thing. This doesn’t feel like something that should be allowed to happen in this country!” I turn back to the small window. “Don’t worry, Adam. We’re getting you out.”
He jumps up and hurries toward the door, shaking his head, gesturing at me to go.
“Absolutely not. I’m not leaving without you.”
At that moment the sound of footsteps echoes through the corridor, and the broad, stern face of an older man in a suit appears in the dim light. He holds up a badge to me as he says, “Superintendent Heidegger. Step away from the window, ma’am.”
“Not until you tell me what’s happening here. Why is he muzzled?”
“Protection.”
