Page 13 of The Elementalist (Four Elements #1)

The One

The next day, I ignored my alarm, slept a little late, and went downstairs after a lazy breakfast of a microwaved egg burrito.

It’s a pity the old alchemists didn’t have microwaves.

They spent so long trying to turn lead into gold, who know it would be this easy to turn bread into stone? Gotta eat it fast.

Never had being in my office felt so good. I knew this office. I knew my job, too. Both of them represented things quite normal, quite real. I liked normal and real.

This other stuff was... too crazy. Part of me still felt halfway certain I had dreamed the last two days.

In fact, I’d been hesitant to test my newfound skills all morning.

For now, mentally filing away the past few days as a dream afforded me a break I sorely needed.

A rational explanation that made sense of it all.

So, I got back to work. Crystal Bradbury showed up a little after eleven, wanting an update on the case. Seeing her made me happy. She walked in on me making coffee at the little bar sink in the corner of my office. While it brewed, I headed back to my desk and sat across from her.

She looked… well, beautiful. If I hadn’t noticed it before, I sure did today.

If possible, her second impression was even more stunning.

Quite frankly, I had been in a dating slump since Sheriff Justine Waters.

More precisely, I hadn’t wanted to date.

I still didn’t, not really. I enjoyed being alone.

I enjoyed my quiet moments. In the past, my relationships had proven to be more troublesome than they were worth.

In truth, I felt pretty certain I’d never been in full-blown love, even though I had said the words on occasion.

That was okay. I loved my quiet life, instead.

My simple life. I loved my books and TV shows, and my long walks.

I even loved my job. Stakeouts were a great way to relax and quiet the mind.

Or maybe I merely kidded myself.

Perhaps I really did want a relationship and I just hadn’t found ‘The One,’ as Ron always said. Could be I’d been terrified of finding my ‘one’ since that meant I could also lose her—as Ron had.

It surprised me to discover my heart beating a little faster than normal while I looked at Crystal. Geez, what was up with that? I hadn’t felt quite this way the first time I met her, so why now? Sure, I had admired her beauty... but what’s the deal with my pounding heart and shortness of breath?

I hadn’t a clue, but something came over me.

She literally took my breath away in her knee-ripped black jeans and faded, tight black T-shirt with Victoria’s Secret spelled out in rhinestones across her chest. No bra, no makeup, no nail polish.

Her hair was up in a casual ponytail, a messy one, even.

She hadn’t dolled herself up one bit and, yet, I had difficulty focusing.

To be completely honest with myself, I might have developed a goofy, school-boy crush on Crystal Bradbury. Like, right now. In that exact moment.

Lord help me, but the word smitten rolled across my mind.

“How are you holding up?” I asked, surprised I only stumbled slightly over my words. Schoolboy crush indeed.

“I’m holding up… I guess about as well as anyone can be after what happened. Have you learned anything yet about Dana’s death?”

While I contemplated how, exactly, to answer her question, the coffee maker quit percolating, thus buying me a little time. I remembered how she liked her coffee the last time and, without asking her if she wanted a cup, made her one and brought it over.

“Two sugars and cream,” I said.

“You remembered,” she said, both eyebrows up.

“Here at Long Investigations, customer service is our top priority.”

She smiled and sipped her coffee, making a face as if she enjoyed it. I enjoyed that she seemed to enjoy it.

Settle down, partner, I thought.

“About your sister,” I said, still not sure of the direction I should take.

“You’ve discovered something.” She set her coffee down and leaned forward. I had her full, unwavering, and perfect attention.

Lord help me.

Of course, by admitting exactly what I had discovered—that her sister had likely been killed by a vampire—I would also be admitting that the events of the past few days were not part of one long, drug-filled (even though I don’t take drugs) hallucinogenic dream.

No, I hadn’t quite abandoned enough sanity to be willing to admit that yet.

And definitely not to her. I needed to believe it all myself first. But how could I look this woman in her lovely, hypnotic eyes and lie to her?

I considered my options, then decided to pass the buck. “You’re right, the police didn’t investigate very deep into the attack. They saw—or wanted to see—‘animal attack’ and stopped the investigation right there.”

“It was no animal, Mr. Long.”

“I believe you,” I said.

“Dana and Luke were being followed. Hunted. And not by an animal.”

A chill swept over me as I recalled the autopsy photos.

I prayed Crystal hadn’t seen them. No sibling should have to see their sister’s throat torn out.

My God, the savagery. Had the bastard who’d shown up at my office done that?

Sweet mama. If so, he was a killer through and through.

And what would he have done to me had I gone down there to answer the door?

Well, he would have killed me, perhaps in a similar manner.

So why didn’t I worry about being in my office now? Well, for one, it was late morning with a lot of sunlight out. And two... well, I wasn’t so helpless now, was I?

No, very much not.

Dreaming, I thought. Not real. Refuse to believe. Head in sand.

Except here sat a woman—and not just any woman, but one causing a bio-physical reaction within me—openly crying angry tears, confused and needing answers. Answers I might actually have.

Time to take my head out of the sand.

Time to help.

Time to do my damn job.

Crystal waited expectantly for my answer with tears pooling upon her high cheekbones.

I opened my palm and summoned a small wind. A zephyr, I believe they called it.

It appeared instantly, ruffling her hair and the papers along my desk, small enough not to cause any alarm, although she shivered and rubbed her bare arms.

It’s official, I thought, sighing. I’m a freak. She looked around, no doubt in search of the air vent responsible, then gave me the most curious of looks. I had a feeling she realized exactly what I’d done.

Way faster than Ron, too.

I took in some air, and reluctantly leveled my stare at her. “Do you believe in vampires, Miss Bradbury?”