Page 28 of Burn Falls

I heard the light footsteps before Andrea pushed the break room door open. “EMS on route with a thirty-four-year-old hit and run victim. Three minutes out.”

“On my way.” I set the newspaper down and went to start my day.

Another shift was done. We were able to save the hit and run vic as well as help a few more patients who came into the ER with various ailments. Still, in the back of my mind, I thought about the previous night and how I was going to track down Officer Ellwood and find out what he’d told people. Given the story, I figured it wasn’t the truth. If that were the case, there would still be time for me to compel him. If he told anyone that there was a vampire in the city, I was certain word would get back to Renzo and he’d come to Seattle in an instant.

“I can’t believe Seattle has a vigilante. That’s freakin’ awesome.”

My ears perked up as two nurses entered the locker room.

“What are you two talking about?” Dyana asked.

The blonde nurse responded, “The news that was on in the break room earlier said that some guy helped an officer last night take down five men.”

I stilled, waiting for them to continue.

“What makes him a vigilante?” Dyana proceeded to question. “Sounds like a hero to me if he helped save a cop from five men.”

“Same thing,” the redheaded nurse stated. “They’re asking people to come forward if they have any information because they want to thank the guy.”

Never going to happen.

“Maybe he’s like Batman, and no one will ever find out who he really is. He could be Dr. Webster for all we know.” Dyana laughed.

“Heard that,” I replied, and shut the door to my locker with a little more force than I’d intended.

The girls laughed, and the blonde asked, “So, is it you?”

I chuckled. “You know me. I go from working a ten-hour shift to saving the city.”

“Well, I think it’s amazing that someone stepped in to help save a cop’s life. He should get a medal or something,” the red-head stated.

I should probably have learned their names at some point, but they weren’t on my team, and the fewer people I associated with the better. It was bad enough that I craved their blood, but I could also smell their arousal, so I could never mix business and pleasure even if I could compel them to forget they’d fucked a vampire. It was easier for me to have a one-night stand so I wouldn’t have to see her again or even someone from a different department because the chances of seeing them were slim.

After grabbing my bag, I left the girls to chat about me. I needed to locate Officer Ellwood before daybreak. I just wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find him. It was raining, but I decided to run to the nearest precinct from the hospital in hopes he worked there. It was my best shot. Once inside, I walked up to the desk sergeant.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m looking for Officer Ellwood.”

“Are you a reporter?”

I furrowed my brows. “No, I just need to know if this is his precinct and if he’s on duty.”

“Because?”

I leaned forward, causing her to stare into my eyes. I watched as her pupils dilated. “Because I need to speak with him. Is he here?”

“He’s off today given what happened last night.”

“Give me his home address,” I whispered so the other police officers in the room couldn’t hear me.

She turned to her computer, pressed some keys and then grabbed a piece of paper. After she wrote on it, she handed me the paper.

“Thank you.” I took the small slip of paper, and our eyes met again. “You will not remember or tell anyone I was here. You will not remember that someone was asking for Officer Ellwood or his address. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

The address was for an apartment in Squire Park. Instead of running there, I decided to take a taxi so I didn’t get too wet. The cab pulled up to the apartment complex, and after paying, I walked around the four unit buildings until I found the apartment number.