chapter six

                Sookie had the lunch shift. She went through the motions of showering, drying her hair, dressing and putting on makeup, putting her hair up in ponytail, making sure her hair  was straight and the ponytail even on each side. She looked at herself in the mirror. She still looked pretty, she decided but she didn’t glow anymore. It had been months since she had vampire blood and months since she broke the blood bond between her and Eric. Sometimes, she had to admit, she missed feeling Eric. For a dead guy, he sure had a lively energy. She could even feel him buzzing softly in the background during the day when he slept. Now there was nothing.

                The day moved right along, the patrons picking up back at Merlotte’s coming in for their limited bar menu of salads and sandwiches during the summer, soups and sandwiches during the winter. Sheriff Dearborn was having his chicken strips and ice tea and Greg Aubert was having the burger Lafayette. Chuck Beecham was there in the back with Marvin Bodehouse, Jane Bodehouse’s son. He is having a meatloaf sandwich and fries and having water with lemon. Jane is Merlotte’s one and only alcoholic and the bane of her son’s existence. That is why he doesn’t drink. He has seen what that does to you.

                Tara Du Rone came into Merlotte’s with her assistant McKensie. They sat down in Sookie’s section and picked up the menus. In seconds, McKensie knew exactly what she would have. Sookie smiled, some days you don’t ever have to be a telepath to know what people are thinking, you just know from their habits. Sookie grabbed her tray and pad and went over to take their drink orders.

                “Hey, Sookie, how’s it going?” asked Tara.

                “Not bad, how are the twins?” asked Sookie.

                “Pretty good, of course JB is a little down since Hooligan’s shut down,” she said. JB Du Rone was a good old boy with a heart of gold and the body of a god but the IQ of a potato. He had been working at her cousin Claude’s strip bar called Hooligans and at first he tried to keep it from a very pregnant Tara, but she eventually found out about it and though she was mad, she eventually got it. JB was just doing everything he could to provide for his family.  Being a clerk at a gym did not pay as well as he would like.

                “I bet,” said Sookie.

                “You haven’t heard from Claude?” she asked.

                “Huh uh,” said Sookie, shaking her head.

                “JB can’t get a hold of any of the other dancers, they just seemed to disappear,” she continued, still looking at the menu. Of course she didn’t know all the dancers were fairies and had been taken back to Faery by Niall.

                “You have an idea of what you want?” asked Sookie.

                “I guess I better go with the grilled chicken salad with lite ranch and an unsweet iced tea,” said Tara. “I desperately need to lose my baby fat. Sookie, you were so lucky, Eric could never get you pregnant.” Suddenly, Tara realized what she had said, who she said it to, and how much it would hurt her feelings.  “Sookie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I swear, my mouth just runs off before I can catch it.”

                “It’s fine,” she said. “McKensie, what would you like?”

                “Club sandwich with some deep fried pickles?” she said.

                “And to drink?” she said, smiling broader.

                “Diet coke,” she said. Sookie turned on her heels and went to get the drinks and sped them back without stopping to talk.

                What Tara had said stung. She wanted what every girl wanted, to fall in love and get married and have kids. But with being what she was, it was unlikely to happen for her. She tried to make a life with Bill and Eric and she really thought things might be okay with Eric and she even saw herself being a mom if she could talk Eric into being a little opened minded about the idea she would be artificially inseminated. He liked kids, he’s had his own a thousand years ago. But now, that was not likely.

                Sookie felt tears spring to her eyes and she ducked outside for a minute to clear her head.  Not likely. Just one more thing you will not have because you are telepathic, and your longest term relationships have been with vampires, her subconscious reminded her. That marked her as different too.  Not too many human men could overlook that, at least men around here. Not that there were a lot of choices around here to choose from.  Antoine called to Sookie through the screen door that her order was up. She swiped at her eyes and went back in to serve Tara and McKensie their lunches. As she reached for the door handle, she saw something just out of the corner of her eye, but when she looked again, there was no one there.

                “Creepy,” she said, and went back in.

                Sookie brought Tara and McKensie their lunches and looked around. Sitting by the window, looking at the menu was a stranger. He was handsome and had longish black hair that curled around his face and on his neck. Sookie came up to him. “Hi, do you know what you want?”

                “What do you like to eat when you eat here?” he asked.

                “I like the burgers and the chicken strips and fries,” she said.

                “I will try the chicken strips and fries then,” he said.

                “Anything to drink?” she asked.

                “A Rolling Rock,” he said. He watched Sookie with bright blue eyes. Well they weren’t really blue eyes Sookie thought, but more like turquoise with a thin gold band just inside a black outer band around his iris. He had long coal black eyelashes and a sensuous mouth. “Thank you Miss….”

                “Sookie, just call me Sookie,” she said. She opened her mind up to sort of rummage around and she felt a strange sort of fuzziness. She smiled her big unnatural smile, “I’ll just bring you your beer.” She went to the window and put in the lunch order and then to the bar where Sam and Luna were. “Hey Sam, who is that guy?”

                “I don’t know his name, but he has been in here a few times, always has the Rolling Rock and he comes in alone and leaves that way,” he said. “You get a read on him?”

                “He feels two natured but not really,” she said.

                “Maybe,” he said. “If he is, he doesn’t really smell like anything I would know.”

                “Hummmmm,” said Sookie, grabbing the beer and a napkin. “I don’t know why, but he looks familiar to me.”

                For some reason, the day was looking up all of a sudden.

                Rachel was in her office. She had written her deposit slips and was about to go to the bank. She’d made out her bills and needed to go to the post office to get a roll of stamps. She spotted the card she had slid under the corner of her blotter and looked at it. It was Bill’s calling card. On the back he’d written his home number as well. Rachel had thought about Bill for a long time last night. She thought about his manners and his careful speech. She had never thought about dating a vampire. Sally, her receptionist, had dated a vampire in college but she had never asked her about it.  Maybe she should ask her what it was like. Or would that be too intrusive?

                She stacked up the envelopes and tucked them in her purse and grabbed her deposit bag and keys and headed out. She needed to be back in an hour for her yoga class and she was dressed in her cotton yoga pants and loose kurta.  “Sally, I am heading to the bank and the post office, I will probably  be back before my class, but if not, have Jara lead the meditation and the first couple of poses for me.”

                “Sure thing,” said Sally.

                “Hey Sally, you used to date a vampire right?” she asked

                “For a year when I was in college,” she said.

                “What was that like?” she asked.

                “It was okay,” she said. “I was a student and I had day classes and he of course had night classes, it just fizzled, not acrimonious.” Sally looked at Rachel. “You got a vampire interested in you?”

                “I dunno, I met that Bill Compton last night and he invited me to dinner,” she shrugged.

                “I don’t know a lot about him, but I do know he used to go with Sookie Stackhouse,” said Sally. “And then she dated the most beautiful dead guy I ever saw.”

                “So, she sort of sticks with vampires then,” said Rachel.

                “Well, Sookie is kind of…well…odd. She…well everyone says she is sort of spooky, but I really don’t know her, she was like four grades ahead of me, I just heard stuff,” said Sally, shrugging. Spooky in Bon Temps was code for “avoid at all costs”. True, she was not as peculiar as the folks at Hot Shot with their insular little community with their shabby houses and people who looked a little too much like each other for comfort.

                “Is she a fangbanger?” asked Rachel.

                “I don’t think so, ordinary guys just sort of shy away from her. Okay, people say she is some sort psychic or something. Kind of creepy,” said Sally.

                “Well, I better get going,” said Rachel. “Hold down the fort.”

                Rachel rarely drove her little red mini cooper. She liked to walk, especially when the day was not that hot and the sun was pretty. There wasn’t that much to Bon Temps, just a post office, a couple of banks, a pharmacy, the Crawdad Diner, a bakery and a second run movie house. The big theaters, the Super Walmart, and the mini mall were on the highway. Rachel made a mental note to pick up some croissants and a half dozen of those apple dumpling pastries everyone liked. She went to the bank and made her deposits and then to the post office for her stamps and her mail. As she rubbed the stamps on her envelopes, she thought about how no one ever wrote letters anymore. Everyone did emails these days. It was sort of sad.

                She was standing in the bakery, getting her bread and pastries when her phone rang. She dug out her phone. “Hey Sally?”

                “Rachel, you better come back quick, those Take Back the Night people are out here and someone threw a brick through the window,” she said, her voice excited.

                “Call Sheriff Dearborn, I’ll be there in five minutes,” she said. Well hell, there goes her bright sunny day.

                There were thick shards of window glass on the sidewalk and Andy was talking to Sally about what happened and Kevin and Kenya had the rock thrower against the cruiser handcuffed. The rest of the Take Back the Night crowd were standing outside the police line, their signs held high, shouting at the police and toward the building in general.

                “Sorry Miss Westnight, your receptionist called when the crowd gathered and that guy had already broken the window by the time we arrived,” said Andy.

                “That’s okay Detective, there was nothing you could have done,” said Rachel, looking at the plate glass all over the side walk and even more in the reception area inside the building. “Is that the guy who threw the rock?”

                “Yes ma’am,” said Andy.

                “I’d like to speak to this guy if I may?” she said.

                “I don’t think that is such a good idea,” said Andy.

                “A few hard words won’t hurt me,” she said.

                “Kenya, stick by Miss Westnight while she speaks to the perp,” said Andy. Rachel smiled. Andy always sounded like he stole all his lines from Law and Order or some other procedure cop show. She stepped up to the guy. He was wearing a black tee shirt with fangs on them and a circle with a slash through it, blue jeans and a Fellow Ship of the Sun ball cap. Her daddy always told her to beware of churches with their own brand of sport wear.

                “Why did you do this?” she asked.

                “You race traitors better learn what happens to you when you do business with or for vampires,” he sneered. “Something really bad could happen to you.”

                “Is that some sort of threat?” she asked.

                “Nah, it’s a fact. Vampers are trouble, they are nothing but leeches and blood suckers and until real live humans learn that, they will need us to remind them.”

                “We live in America, everyone has rights. Even you have the right to be an asshole,” she said. Rachel didn’t normally use curse words, but this made her mad.

                “They ain’t Americans, they ain’t even humans,” he said.

                “Well, if being human means I have to be like you, I’d rather be one of them,” she said. “Thanks for the warning. You’ll be getting a call from my lawyer about paying the insurance for my window.”

                “You better call on your god and get forgiveness for turning your back on him and your human brothers and sisters,” he shouted loudly.

                “You alright Miss Westnight?” asked Andy.

                “Yeah. Sally did Charlaine call our classes and tell them we were closed?” she asked.

                “Yeah, I helped her,” she said.

                “Well, let’s get a card board box and we will start cleaning up the glass. I’ll call Terry and see if he can help me out and get a piece of plywood up there, call Divine Signs to come and repaint the sign when the glass comes in,” she said.

                “I’ll send you the police report for your insurance,” said Andy.

                “Thanks, I appreciate it,” she said. After everyone was gone and the crowd dispersed, she called Bill. She waited for his voice mail. “Hey Bill, this is Rachel Westnight, I’m real sorry to have to call on you so soon, but those Take Back the Night people broke out the window of my store, just wanted to let you know. Give me a call if you have any advice. Thanks.” She rang off, opened the door, came in, and began to help with the clearing of the glass. While she was cleaning, Jason Stackhouse and Hoyt Fortenberry came around in a city truck.

                “Hey, Miss Westnight, Andy sent me and Hoyt around to clean up the glass on the sidewalk,” he said. Jason Stackhouse was a very attractive guy with a nice open face and sun streaked blond hair and dark blue eyes. “We can help you get rid of that glass on the inside too.”

                “That would be great,” she said. “I need to call Terry Bellefleur to go pick me up a piece of plywood and screw it into the frame to sort of secure the store til I get the glass people to come.”

                “I can do that for you, I know where I can get some plywood and I will pop it up there,” he said. “Who did it, do you know?”

                “Yeah, some of those Take Back the Night people,” she said, bleakly.

                “Assholes,” Jason muttered. “Oh sorry Miss Westnight.”

                “It’s alright, I agree with you totally,” she said. “If you boys get thirsty, come on in, I have some tea and juice in the back in the kitchen, help yourself.”

It took about an hour to get the glass cleaned up and the floor inside to be vacuumed. Jason and Hoyt carefully loaded the cardboard box with the glass shards into his truck. “I’ll be back in an hour or two Miss Westnight if you want to wait around,” he said.

“Sure thing Jason,” she said. “Take your time.”

Jason took off and headed toward the motor pool. He would pick up his truck from there and go to Sookie’s house. She had several pieces of plywood around the back of her house and he thought she might give it to him. “That is terrible to do to someone,” said Hoyt.

“Well, the vampires are learning that just because they got a few laws on their side don’t mean people has to like ‘em,” he replied.

“You need any help with that window?” asked Hoyt.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind. I got my saw in my truck and I think I might have to cut some,” said Jason. “I gotta call Michelle and let her know I am going to be late. You gonna call Holly?”

“Yeah,” said Hoyt. “Jason, do you like vampires?”

“They are alright so long as they don’t get my sister into their problems anymore,” said Jason, frowning.

“She break up with that Shreveport vamp?” asked Hoyt. The gossip was all around that Jason Stackhouse’s sister had broken up with the handsome blond vampire who ran Fangtasia.

“Yeah, they are broke up,” said Jason. “You know, I sometimes wished Bill Compton had never darkened Sookie’s door. If he hadn’t, Sookie would never have gotten into the messes she has been in.”

Jason said nothing more on the subject, and Hoyt did not press him. They finally arrived at the motor pool and Jason whipped out his phone and called Michelle. She said she would hold supper for him, to call her when he was headed for home. Hoyt did the same and Holly asked him to meet her at Merlotte’s. Jason got in his truck, shiny black with aqua and pink waves on it and Hoyt got into his battered Chevy. They drove out to Sookie’s. The house was neat and pleasant looking though the flowerbeds need to be weeded a little. Sookie was not home very often, she was putting in a lot of time at Merlotte’s. He suspected it was so she didn’t have time to think about Eric. Jason pulled around back and saw Sookie’s car and went to the back door, Hoyt in tow. He knocked on the storm door and Sookie came around, still in her uniform, and let them in.

“Hey brother, how goes it,” she asked.

“Pretty good,” he said. “How you doing?”

“Alright I guess,” she said.

“Hey Sookie, what you gonna do with that plywood?” he asked.

“Nothing I guess,” she said. “Dermot finished that room in the attic, I just need the door hung and the shelf hung on the door.”

“Sort of like a secret room,” observed Jason. “I can help you do it Sookie, this weekend if you want.”

“Bring Michelle, we will do some steaks on the grill,” she suggested.

“Sure, sounds great,” said Jason.

“What do you need the plywood for?” she asked.

“You know that Whole Body heath food place?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “That new lady bought it.”

“Yeah, well those Take Back the Night people were protesting out in front of her place and they threw a rock through her window. She needs someone to put it up for her to secure her shop.”

“Go on and take it, it should cover it,” she said.

“You want some money for it?” asked Jason.

“No, go on and take it,” she said. “No use in letting it go to waste.”

“Thanks sis, I’ll tell Michelle and she can call you and figure out what to bring,” he said.

By the time Jason and Hoyt managed to return, the sun was low in the sky. Sally had called most of the patrons and left voice mails for the vampires who came in for yoga and TM. When Jason and Hoyt arrived, Sally went on home and Rachel watched Jason and Hoyt fitting up the wood and cut it to fit the window. They carefully screwed the panels into place and bid her goodnight, declining her offer to pay them for doing the job for her. She went through the store and checked that everything was clean, fed her fish and checked all the activity rooms. As she went back through the store, her phone rang. By then the sun was down.

“Hello?” she said.

“Rachel, this is Bill Compton, are you well?” he asked.

“I’m fine Bill,” she said. “I just wanted to let you know what happened.” She put her arm on the long door handle and leaned on the door. She noticed a dark car parked across the street and up a little way from her. There was a person there. It made Rachel nervous, she felt as if she was being watched.

“Do you mind waiting there, I would like to come and take a look around so I can make a report of what has happened,” he said.

“Would you Bill? I would love to have someone see me home, there is a strange car across the street and there is someone sitting there. It makes me a little nervous,” she said.

“Stay right where you are, don’t go outside, I’ll be there shortly. I will park around back and see if I can get a look. It is probably nothing at all to worry about, but I will check and make sure,” he said.

“Thank you Bill,” she said. They hung up and she backed away from the door and began her wait.

Bill went out and got into his car. As he got into the car, he called Eric.

“Eric, this is Bill, Whole Body has been vandalized by the Take Back the Night group,” he said.

“Have you taken a statement from her?” asked Eric. He sounded unenthusiastic.

“I am headed there now. She says she thinks she is being watched, she says there is a car parked not far from her place and there is someone there watching her,” he said.

“Think it could be Latesta?” asked the Sheriff.

“Could be,” said Bill.

“I will be there shortly,” he said. As Eric was hanging up Pam came into the office. “Pam, I have to go to Bon Temps.”

“To see Sookie?” she asked.

“No, that woman who hired Ming has reported some vandalism and now she thinks there is someone watching her,” said Eric.

“Do you think there is?” she asked. “You know how humans let their imaginations run wild with them.”

“I would not be surprised,” said Eric. “I’ll be back later.”

Bill pulled into the rear parking lot of Whole Body and walked silently around the front. To the human eye he would be practically invisible in the darkness, but his keen vampire eye would see the person in the car with perfect clarity. He came around the corner very fast and as he went by the car, he saw the man in the dark shadow of the car. It was Latesta, and he was watching Whole Body. Why would he be interested? He went back around the back and knocked on the rear door. Rachel went through the shop and opened the door. “Bill, he is still out there.”

“Yes, he is,” said Bill. “If you like, I can drive you home now.”

“Thank you Bill,” she said. “Come and take a look.” She led the way to the front of the store. Bill looked along the window frame and shook his head.

“I am sorry you have been targeted,” said Bill. “Who helped you with the window?”

“Jason Stackhouse and Hoyt Fortenberry,” she said. “They brought me the wood and everything and would not take any pay.”

“I will see to it they are rewarded from our victim’s fund,” said Bill. “The American Vampire League will also help you prosecute the one who vandalized the window.”

“He is a real piece of work,” she remarked absently.

“You saw him?” asked Bill. She nodded.

“And spoke to him,” she said. Bill looked a little amused someone of Rachel’s size would confront anyone.

“What did you say to him?” he asked.

“I asked him why he did it, he said it was to teach me a lesson for hiring and catering to vampires,” she said. About that time a big blond stepped up to the door. He looked momentarily up the street and then turned to face the door. The car in question sped by behind him.

“That is Eric Northman, he is sort of a representative to our kind,” said Bill. Rachel nodded and went to unlock the door and let him in. He stepped inside.

“Miss Westnight, this is Eric Northman, Eric, this is Rachel Westnight,” introduced Bill.

“Nice to meet you, Rachel. Ming and Claris and Matthew speak highly of you and your establishment. Did you file a police report?” he asked.

“Yes, I filed one with Andy Bellefleur,” she said.

“And our visitor?” asked Eric.

“It is who we suspected,” said Bill. Eric growled something not in English. This frightened her a little. Eric was a very big, tall man, and she had to admit, she was a little intimidated. “I should see Miss Westnight home.”

“Yes, and I will meet you in the parking lot, I want to discuss this with you,” he said. “Miss Westnight, I am sorry we have met under these circumstances. Please keep Bill informed about any further problems.”

“I will. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Northman and I am sorry you had to be troubled on my account,” she said.

“No trouble whatsoever,” he said.

Bill walked slowly beside Rachel. “Do you work for Mr. Northman?” she asked.

“In a way of speaking,” said Bill.

“He’s a little…scary,” she said, her voice low.

“Eric is actually a very friendly person. He runs the bar Fangtasia in Shreveport. It is very popular,” he said.

“Sally and Julianne have been there,” said Rachel. “They say the music is really good and he has beautiful vampire dancers there.”

“It is very successful,” said Bill.

“There is something about Eric, something I can’t put my finger on,” she said.

“It’s his age, he is over a thousand years old, a Viking,” said Bill. They walked together and came to her garden gate. “Rachel, I would understand if after this, you would not want to go to dinner with me.”

“Oh no, I want to go to dinner with you, that is if you still want to take me,” she said.

“I will see you Friday then,” he said. He held his hand out and she slid her hand in his and he squeezed it gently and he leaned down she felt his cool lips brush her cheek. “Good evening Rachel, make sure you lock your doors and don’t hesitate to call me if you become concerned during the night.”

“Bill, do you know who was watching the store?” she asked.

“He is someone the vampire community has been keeping an eye on for some time,” he said. “Try not to worry.”

“Good night Bill, be careful out there yourself,” she said and turned and walked through her gate and up the walk to her door.

“She’s quite lovely,” said Eric, leaning against Bill’s car.

“She is,” said Bill.

“Are you seeing one another?” he asked.

“We are going to supper tomorrow night,” said Bill. Eric shook his head and looked up at the sky.

“I have always admired your ability to move on,” said Eric.

“Pam tells me you are still struggling,” said Bill.

“Pam has a big mouth,” said Eric, sullenly.

“She is concerned,” said Bill. “Are you having trouble?” Eric sighed heavily. Bill had never known the vampire to be so moody and depressed.

“Sookie broke the blood bond with me and I felt like…the world had let go inside me.  That feeling has not left me.”

“Eric, there are some among us who believe the fairy blood effects us much as our blood does the V addict.”

“But you are letting go,” said Eric.

“True, I am, but I am like a human alcoholic, I know one taste would hook me again,” said Bill. Eric shrugged. “It will pass Eric, you simply have to move on.”

“There is no one who can replace Sookie,” said Eric.

“Not replace, just let you get past her,” said Bill. “Do you think we should tell Sookie to be careful with Latesta around?”

“Yes,” he said.

“If you like, I can arrange for a meeting at Merlotte’s for the three of us,” suggested Bill.

“Very well,” said Eric. He stood up and away from Bill’s car and went around and got into the passenger seat. Bill got into the driver’s side and started the car and pointed it toward Shreveport and Fangtasia.

Latesta drove out of the town limits of Bon Temps and into Monroe. He had rented a squalid little efficiency apartment there, occupying a building with V junkies and white trash. He went up to his room and pulled out his cell phone. “Ayres, this is Latesta. A store was targeted today per your request, the window was broken and there was police activity.”

“Did Compton and Northman take the bait?” he asked.

“Yes, they were there as soon as the sun was down. I think Northman noticed me,” he said.

“Did he recognize you?” asked Ayres.

“I don’t think so,” said Latesta. “I don’t think he knows me.”

“Do you think Sookie may have said anything to him about you?” he asked.

“Probably, she was fucking him. Hell, she fucked both of them,” said Latesta.

“Keep it up, find another business and get everyone lined up to take action again. We want a lot of problems for the vampires in that area,” said Ayres.

Latesta hung up and smiled. These guys had no idea what he had in his arsenal. He had made contact with someone connected to Bill in an intimate way. A vampire. Then there was the simple matter of the woman who knew Sookie. She had been out of the area for some time, but he had always known where she was and how to get her. All he had to do was flash his credentials and sign a few papers. With the money the vampire was paying him, he set her up in one of those little shit holes across the river in Bossier  and that was that, tucked away til she was needed. And then there was the ace in the hole. The one thing he could really bargain with.

Bill parked in front of Sam Merlotte’s and went into the bar. It was busy. Sam and Luna was behind the bar. Luna had her purse, obviously on her way home. She stopped to kiss Sam good night and nodded at Bill and went out. Bill sat down at the bar. “Hey Bill,” said Sam. “TrueBlood?”

“Please, AB neg,” he said. He took out his wallet and set the price on the bar. Sam went to the cooler and grabbed a bottle and put it in the microwave. He then drew two draft beers and a pitcher and poured two shots of rum over two glasses of ice cold coke. With that out of the way, he went back to Bill.

“So, how’s it going?” he asked.

“I am well Sam,” he said. “How are you and Luna?”

“We are sort of feeling our way,” said Sam.

“How is Sookie?” he asked.

“She works hard, trying to just keep going,” said Sam. “Whatever happened in Oklahoma was pretty tough for her.”

“It was,” said Bill, a sound of regret in his voice. “Unfortunately, we need to speak to Sookie about some things which have popped up. I wondered if you would mind providing us a little time in your office tomorrow evening. Neutral ground so to speak.”

“I hate to get in the middle of this Bill,” he said. “I mean, you are okay and all that, but Sookie is having trouble with Eric and this is just going to trouble her.”

“We don’t want to hurt her, we want to keep her out of trouble,” said Bill.

“I will tell her you stopped by and said you wanted to speak to her, if she takes you in the back office, then that is fine,” he said. “What sort of trouble is Sookie in?”

“Well, as there has already been trouble here, you should know. Do you know that little shop downtown, the Whole Body?” he asked.

“Isn’t that the one who has a vampire massage person?” asked Sam.

“Yes,” said Bill. “The Take Back the Night group have broken out her store front window. I think businesses who cater to vampires, that is offer special services geared toward our kind may be targeted. You will want to keep an eye out on any strangers.”

“What does this have to do with Sookie?” asked Sam.

“We are not sure,” Bill lied.  “But we fear she may be targeted by extension.”

“Fair enough. I will let her know then,” said Sam.

“Thank you,” he said. “And keep an eye out.”

“I will,” assured Sam.

Bill finished his TrueBlood and went home. Sam thought about what he had told him. He of course remembered how Debbie Pelt’s sister Sandra had firebombed the bar. She did that when the Fellowship Church from Minden had come and protested because he was two natured. Maybe he should have someone come and sleep in the bar, just to keep an eye on it.

He still felt funny about setting up the meeting with Sookie. He didn’t think Bill would intentionally harm Sookie, and though he was not exactly friendly with Eric, he really doubted Eric would hurt her either. Sam just didn’t like being in the middle of things between Sookie and the vampires. He didn’t want her to be hurt anymore then blame Sam because he had arranged for the meeting. He looked up when Holly came for an order of Rolling Rock. He scanned the room and saw the young man Sookie had served that day. Sam told Holly he would take this beer himself and Holly nodded. Sam reached into the ice well and grabbed the Rolling Rock and wiped it off and opened the bottle and brought it to him.

“Hey, Sam Merlotte,” he said, setting down the beer and offering his hand. The man took his hand and shook it and let go quickly.

“Preston Pardloe,” said the young man, sipping the beer.

“You from around here?” asked Sam. “I only ask because I have noticed you in here and I can’t place where we may have met.”

“I just moved here about a year ago. I work at the library, in the rear offices, cataloguing and requisitions,” he said, sipping his beer.

“Ah,” said Sam. “Well, welcome to Bon Temps. Enjoy your beer. That round is on the house.”

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” he said.