Ghosts, and Vampires and Cops, OH MY! (Rina)

[Aidan O'Riley]

“I don’t like this place. There’s something wrong here.”
The little blonde ghost whispered in the detective’s ear as if anyone else could hear her.
Aidan O’Riley inhaled deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing to whatever was holy that his earlier appeals for a ‘little space while he was working’ or even the latter, and much harsher ‘SCRAM’ had been heeded.
Oh no. Lucy thought it best to stay as close as possible; reminding him every three seconds that in her vaporous, and apparently all knowing eight year old opinion, there was something fishy about the hotel where the detective was currently trying to find a lead.

Aidan had been working on this case for going on a month and he’d still come up empty handed. So far as far as he’d gotten were four bodies drained of blood in the morgue and a lot of mirthless comments about ‘Twilight’ from his fellow police officers. It didn’t help that two of the bodies that were supposed to have been ‘dead’ had apparently gotten up and ‘walked’ right out of the place. Or at least that’s what the morticians had said, but Aidan wasn’t buying it. Dead people didn’t walk, there were no such things as vampires, and a criminal with a gun and an agenda was a whole lot scarier than sparkly men with pointed teeth.

Aidan shook his head, waving a dismissive hand that went right through the looming little specter and he shuddered just like he did every single time. He’d never gotten used to the ghost of the dead girl whose heart had saved his life, and he imagined he probably never would. Maybe one day he’d have the balls to go to one of those…clairvoyants, or whatever they were called, and ask if they could show her the light or…whatever they did. Since being released from the hospital and consequently being haunted by the spirit, he’d taken to watching Jennifer Love Hewit on Ghost Whisperer and hoping that there was someone out there as gifted (and as good-looking wouldn’t hurt) as the character was and someday they’d be able to help Lucy go to where ever the hell the spirits of dead people went. The detective wasn’t sure he believed in heaven, but hell, before the accident he’d never believed in ghosts, either.

Exhaling slowly and running a hand backwards through his hair, the detective tried his best to ignore the impish spirit for now, instead focusing on all the magnificence around him. It was hard to believe that what little clues he actually -had- found had led him to the Palace Resort. Not only because the place had a slew of its own security guards (all of which were giving him serious stink eye right now), but because it was probably the classiest place he’d ever set foot in. Still, he couldn’t ignore that at least two of the five bodies had some kind of tie to the joint; One a match book from the swanky bar, one a receipt from a room rental. The stiff had spent more on one suite than he made in a whole month at the department. Psht. Rich people…

Clearing his throat and approaching one of the security guards, Aidan pulled a note pad out of his black leather coat and pressed a pen to it. “Tell me one more time who was working the night of the 12th.” He said, and his eyes drifted around curiously, landing on a slight woman that seemed to be watching them from afar.
It was useless to keep the smile from creeping up into the corners of his mouth, and even harder to drag them away to refocus on the guy, but he cleared his throat and did just that.

“I’m not telling you jack.” The security guard spat and crossed his beefcake arms across his chest indignantly. “This place ain't got nothing to do with those murders.”


Location: Palace Hotel and Resort, New York, New York

[rina]

((Mwaha, I ended up morphing this old Rina intro for you, so I hope it's in English. XDD ))
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“Look at them, Evvie. They are so…ignorant. I do not know how you live in this world.” Staring down at the world from the high rise of her hotel balcony, the dark haired woman held herself regally, her hands resting softly on the cool metal in front of her. It would be so easy to lean forward and slide over the rail; fly, just for a little while, and dream of a sweet release.

Not that she’d ever be allowed such a thing. Always and never, it was a curse.

“Oh stop your whining.” Her friend snapped. Evvie Nassau, just the ‘typical mortal woman,’ was packing two very large Sigs into an industrial strength duffel bag. Running a hand through her shortly cropped hair, the bodyguard straightened from her work to glare at her over a pair of dark, movie star-styled sunglasses. “I’ll have you know,” She continued, waving a Bowie in her direction. “That the world is a cool place to live. It’s never boring, it’s got lots of people, lots of sexy guys and booze…and the guns; oh my GAWD, Kar. You’ve gotta get out more.” With a deep laugh- the woman’s trademark- her concentration returned to packing.

Karina sighed. But then again, what did she expect of her friend? Evelyn had grown up in this world and had known no other. It was a…shame? Was it really?
No. She was just going insane.

A snort of amusement escaped her as she pushed herself away from the balcony. Dark hair rolled in waves across her shoulders as she moved, her equally dark skin shining almost ethereally in the late evening moonlight. She did so love watching the people milling about in the world, but it was high time that she participated in it. The hotel- her hotel, the Palace; one of New York’s most popular establishments- was beautiful in its design, but stifling at the same time. She needed to get outside; feel the wind on her face- from ground level, at least- hear the sounds of innocents playing, and close her azure eyes against the salty slap of the ocean…
Mmm, yes. She needed to go outside. Now.

“Where ya going?” Evvie asked her as she moved into the President’s Suite. Walking quickly around the king size bed and large beside table, she padded into the bathroom, selecting a pair of tight black leggings and a large black ‘T’. Around her neck went the usual gold cross- a keepsake; forever chained- and on her upper arm, she applied her favorite adornment; a thick silver band, riddled with Latin symbols.

“I’m going out,” She replied, bending over the sink to apply some mascara to her already dark eyes. There was nothing like the flair of the dramatic to get a girl into the night-time mood. “Just as you are. You’re always welcome to stay here, Evelyn.”

Evvie grimaced and shook her head. “Yeah, but no. I’m gonna find my own digs. Where abouts are you goin?”

“Out.” Karina replied with a small shrug. A small smile slid on and off of her lips as her friend rolled her eyes. “Take your time, and keep in touch.” She said. It was her usual farewell to the younger girl, and she couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped her. She could just remember the day when she’d met the woman for the first time. It had been…what, 1995? Little Evelyn Nassau, holding onto her brother’s hand as a drunk driver came careening onto the sidewalk. Rina had stepped in- she was still convinced that the author of Twilight must have watched her in action- the two had survived, and the elder sibling had promised eternal loyalty. Now, twenty some-odd years later, with Richard dead and Evelyn striving to join the Secret Service, she was still paying off that ‘debt’ of her brother’s…by haunting a vampire.

Well…no one ever said that she’d saved two sane apples.

Quickly, as if before she could change her mind, she shut the door without waiting for an answer. Ten steps to the right led her to the elevator, which brought her into the busy lobby of the hotel. Tourists, businessmen, and other well-to-do’s bustled around the tiled floor, followed closely by attendants and bellhops. She traded some minor chit-chat with the wait staff, as she quickly took in the scene.

Everything was in order, she thought with a little smile. Her people were where they should be, there weren’t any frowning faces amongst the guests, and by the looks that she was getting from the maitre’d across the lobby, things must have been going very well in the dining areas. Perfect; now she could just sneak out and—

A shiver crawled up her spine as she caught sight of a man standing across the lobby. The air became thick with foreboding, and she frowned at its spidery crawl up her spine. Dammit, when she’d decided to have an outing, getting into a staring contest with the personification of ‘there goes the neighborhood’ wasn’t what she’d been expecting. Her instincts begged her to run, but from the look on Lenny the Security Guard’s face, she wasn’t going to be giving into them.

Wonderful. Well, if today was the day she was going to die, she could at least say that she’d lived a long life…

“Lenny, that’s no way to address a guest,” She said smoothly as she came up behind the stranger. The look of absolute relief came onto the guard’s face, as she motioned for him to return to his post. Once he was gone, she turned to face the stranger, a look of cool imperiousness sliding onto her face with a practiced ease. ”I’m sorry if Lenny insulted you, Sir. My name is Rina Dernerovich, and I own the Palace Hotel. May I help you with something?”

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[Aidan O'Riley]

Aidan rolled his eyes, thinking he’d seen this guy in some B-rate movie he had watched a couple nights back. Big as a tank. Slovic accent. Tattoos all over beefcake arms that were too wide and straining the small sized black tee-shirt. Whatever. Aidan wasn’t the kind of man to get intimidated by a movie extra like this one. Those characters always got killed in the end anyway, and the bad-ass detective with the grin and the wit was left standing there smiling just before the credits rolled.

Shaking his head and letting loose a mirthless laugh, Aidan stuffed the notepad back into his jacket. “Listen guy, take it easy. For all you know I’m tracking down a Jack that used a stolen credit card to get his room. I didn’t ask about a murder.”
O’Riley was a professional. He couldn’t let the guy see any frustration, and he kept a civil tone. He was just a regular guy doing a job just like the security guard, and he kept it on the same level. Nobody was going to make any jerky movements and nobody was going to get shot. He’d been there, done that, and came away with a tee-shirt, a scar across his torso and the heart of an eight-year old girl. He didn’t need to watch the re-run. Which reminded him…

‘Uh-Oh here she comes…’ Lucie whined and floated through the Slovic just as that pixie from across the room appeared from behind him. Aidan’s breath caught, and sooner than he could catch it, the boyish grin spread across his countenance. Clearing his throat and watching Leny walk away so he could wipe the stupid smile off his face, Aidan returned his attention back to the pixie with a relaxed air.
“Lenny was just doing his job.” Aidan began and rubbed the top of his head absently. “I didn’t take any offense to it.”

Aidan’s crystalline eyes fell harmlessly over the woman’s petite frame before lifting back to her eyes. Automatically he was reading the way she held herself, listening for shudders in her breath as they spoke, holding her gaze to see if she looked away in a lie. It was embedded in him; something that he did just as normally as breathing. The detective had to. Sometimes it was the little details that solved a murder or caught the bad guy. Or kept you alive.

Of course, -this- one was easy on the eyes, so the detective didn’t mind watching her closely. And damn, had she said she owned the joint? Talk about a little live wire; she couldn’t have been more than a year or two out of college. Savvy business woman or inherited from family?

Focus, O’Rily, she’s waiting on you to say something!

Aidan colored and pulled out his pad again just to have something to do with his hands.

“Detective O’Riley. Aidan. Aidan O’Riley…” He shook his head creased his brows, trying to remember why he was here. “I…just need the names of all the employees working the night of the 12th, a little background info on those names and the surveillance video from that night. You’re help would sure be appreciated, ma’am.”

'She doesn't smell right.'

Lucie was jealous of the attention Aidan was showing the pretty woman. She was an eight year old after all. She crossed her little arms and stuck her nose in the air and slithered through them both, which was awful distracting and felt a little weird. He pursed his lips and tried to give the elfin spirit the ‘look’ without really giving her a ‘look’, hoping Ms. Dernerovich didn’t notice that he was suddenly preoccupied.

[rina]

Cool and composed; that was the way to deal with anyone asking questions around the Hotel. Lenny shot her a warning look as he turned to lumber off, and the vampire bit back the urge to sigh. Oh, for crying out loud…now what? Just that morning, she’d had to deal with an elderly couple wanted in ten states for robbing hotels, various ’21 year olds’ attempting to suck back the contents of the lobby lounge, prostitutes trying to pick up marks out near the taxi stand…what the heck was somebody trying to do to somebody else around her hotel?

Bah, she would never get used to the new centuries. Rafe, her partner in crime, was always going on and on about how civilized society had gone down the tubes after WWI, but she’d always disagreed with him. She’d kept thinking of the nicer things; women’s voting rights, sneakers, the Lamborghini, pantsuits…pretty much everything that wasn’t the century of her birth. But right then, at that moment, when she’d really been considering kicking off the Ice Queen routine and launching herself into the local nightlife…oh, she hated EVERYONE!

…Well, maybe except for this one. Mmm, was that cinnamon and sandlewood? Oh, please say that it wasn’t an expensive cologne and it was all him…mmmm…

Concentrate, Rina! With a mental slap, she forced her brain to back up and restart. She was into her Queen of the World mode; the only real way to deal with most of the cops around the city. They didn’t necessarily like the detached demeanor she favored with them, but it was really the only way she could get through meetings like this. There were reasons why she was the hermit living in the Palace’s top floors, after all.

But she wasn’t going to get into that. Okay, focusing on the task at hand, and THEN she could go and find some peace in the night.
And maybe drag this handsome little morsel along for the ride…NO! Not thinking like that! Oh gah, she was so going to get her head chopped off—

Rina couldn’t help but roll her eyes at herself when the man’s head was turned, and quickly snapped back into character when his attention returned to her. A frown tilted her lips down, and she raised a brow. Was he seriously asking for access to her surveillance footage, and probably interviews with her staff? Without a warrant, an explanation or even a freaking peek of his badge?

Okay, so Detective O’Reilly was either very trusting, or very…for the sake of her sanity, she was going to go with trusting. Damn, but she wanted to keep on staring at him, as if he hadn’t just pricked her businesswoman nerve. He was so pretty…

“I’m sorry, Detective, but I’m afraid I can’t help you unless you tell me why you’d need all of that,” She said, making sure some regret was evident in her voice. “I’d love to be of assistance to your investigation, but before I allow you to poke around the Palace, I’d like to be appraised of the situation. Most of my customers put a high value on their privacy. You understand.”

And most of the customers probably aren’t seen skulking around the hotel at all hours, because they’re jonesing for a blood fix, she silently added. Crap, she’d forgotten to take a visit to the surveillance room and edit some choice footage of her and a memory-wiped bellhop before the day was over.

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[Aidan O'Riley]

Aidan was a cop, and more to the point, one that usually couldn’t be intimidated; not by the biggest, baddest criminals out there. But this woman…God, what was it about this woman that made his face flush and his tongue to knot in his mouth so that when he went to answer her, the sound came out was nothing but a stuttering, absurd, blubbering?

Mortified by his word stumble, the detective cleared his throat and shook his head, pulling his badge out of the hidden pocket in his jacket like he should have done before making such demands. He snaked his tongue across his bottom lip, realizing that his mouth had gone bone dry. Clearing his throat once more for good measure, he flashed the gold emblem at the hotel owner before tucking it back away, forcing a composure that belied the unsteady tone in his voice.

“I -do- understand, but to be honest Ms. Dernerovich, I wouldn’t usually give out information about an on-going murder investigation. Of course, since there seems to be some kind of link to your hotel that might compromise the safety of you and your staff, I’d be willing to offer a few details in exchange for your help.”
Yeah, okay…he was sounding more like himself now. This was good. If he could just keep it up then the interview with the quixotic woman would be a cake walk.

“Can we go somewhere…more private to have this conversation?” Aidan asked, lifting his brows in expectation.
The little specter that’d moved on from ghosting through him and the petite woman and was now making ugly faces behind her stopped suddenly, making a choking noise that drew Aidan’s attention back to her. The detective realized being in a hotel…full of hotel rooms…and beds…might make it easy to misconstrue what he’d meant, and abruptly his cheeks flamed again and a strangled sound escaped from his throat.

“What I meant was your office, or…maybe we could sit at the bar.” Yeah, that was much better, and the thought of getting a little shot of something nice and warm in his stomach sounded appealing. The man didn’t usually drink while he was working, but he usually didn’t have interrogate women that looked like -her- either.

[rina]

Well…wasn’t this one a cute little thing? While Rina outwardly kept her Ice Queen façade in place, she couldn’t help the quirk of her lips when his initial reply to her questions was a startled stutter. Did she frighten him? She knew that she naturally exuded some kind of ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe that every one of her kind seemed to master…but a part of her hoped it was for another reason. What would it be like to be desired? She considered that, only absently listening to what he was saying. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself to be close with someone. So very long…

The vampire gave herself a mental shake and refocused on the man in front of her. No, she wasn’t going to get on that thought train, especially with so many witnesses around. She didn’t need to dredge up those emotions. Ever.

She glanced down at the shiny badge he flashed and raised a brow. Didn’t he know that such trinkets weren’t enough to satisfy a businesswoman with privacy issues? It was so easy to fake a badge these days, or to steal one and masquerade as a detective. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked into his, a thoughtful expression stealing onto her face. Was he trying to trick her? Or was he for real?

Her gut told her to trust the latter, and she accepted his credentials with a nod. Forcing herself to concentrate on what he was saying, her lips quirked up again at his reply. Quick wit, she thought, a smidgen of respect forming in her mind.

A feeling of respect that immediately looped its way back to those initial dirty thoughts of hers when he mentioned taking their ‘conversation’ somewhere private. She could just taste him on her tongue…would he be a gentle lover? Or would he be demanding? She suppressed a shiver as she shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind and gave him a cool smile.

”Of course. We can go to my personal office. This way, please.” Motioning toward a set of elevators surrounded by a velvet rope, she led her ‘guest’ up to her suite. The ride in the elevator was a bit tense, but she was good at hiding what she felt. A calm, polite smile was directed his way as the elaborate car dashed to the top floor. Once the doors opened, she led him into a hallway filled with paintings of landscapes and the stern faces of her ancestors.

It had taken her most of her long life to find the one of herself, but she’d managed. The portrait of herself in evening wear, her husband and daughter at her side, hung like a reminder in her personal quarters. Silently, she led him toward her office and waited until he crossed the threshold before moving inside herself. The door was left open and, with a little wave of her hand, she motioned for him to sit.

”So, Detective. What can you tell me about why you’re skulking around my hotel?”

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