Round Robin, Part 3 
by Deanie 
(DNPDoc@aol.com) 
  
Taking a deep, metaphorical breath, Nick opened the door to the Raven and 
stepped inside. In contrast to the usual tumultuous atmosphere, the patrons 
in the club were more subdued. The air was still smoky, the goth decorations 
gleaming in the dim lights, but inside, there was a note of fear. The
mortals were worried that one of them would be the next victim. The vampires 
were worried about what kind of lunatic could break the code so flagrantly, 
right outside the doors of their sanctuary in Toronto? 
  
Nick walked down the steps, glancing over the thinning crowd, hoping to catch0 
a glimpse of Janette. < If she was still being questioned, she'd be in the 
back room > he thought, heading past the bar to her private rooms in the back 
of the Raven. 
  
"How many times do I have to tell you, gentlemen, I do not know any more 
details about those people who were found outside my club?" Nick could hear 
the frustration in Janette's voice as he approached. "Oui, Monsieur Pearson 
came into the Raven on a regular basis. Non, I had not seen either of the 
young ladies before. I do not know if they had any enemies. I did not see 
anything, or hear anything, and I was here the entire night." 
  
Nick knew he had to intervene. It wouldn't do for Janette to get on the bad 
side of the Metro Police. This scandal was already bringing down too much
scrutiny to the Raven and its patrons. He strode through the door. "Thanks, 
guys," he told the officers taking her statement. "I'll take it from here." 
  
Janette glared at the departing patrol officers, waiting until they were gone 
before speaking. "It is awful, Nicolas. What kind of a lunatic would drain 
three bodies, directly in front of The Raven?" 
  
"I don't know," he said. "But I'm going to have a hard time covering this 
up." 
  
"Even with Natalie's help?" 
  
"She's calling it a wild animal attack, but that doesn't explain the loss of 
blood. I don't know how I'm going to explain that." 
  
"You must find this monster, Nicolas. He jeopardizes all of us, threatens
the safety of the entire community." 
  
"Do you know who he is?" Something in her voice made Nick suspicious. 
  
Janette hesitated. "I do not really know anything, but I have heard rumors, 
mostly from the young ones. They speak of a fiend, worse than any others 
among our kind." 
  
Nick grimaced, thinking of the last vampire he had known to deserve that
designation. "The Butcher is dead, Janette." 
  
"I know, Nicolas," she said. "But what if he wasn't the only....." 

A sound from the door made the two vampires turn around. 
"Sorry," Schanke said. "Didn't mean to startle you." 
  
Nick sighed inwardly. Janette knew something, but with Schanke around she 
certainly wasn't going to mention it. 
  
"Captain wants to see us back at the station, pronto." 
  
"I'll be right there," Nick said, turning back to Janette. 
  
"Now, partner," Schanke replied. "You can flirt on your own time." 
  
The look Nick gave Janette promised they would continue their conversation 
later, but he reluctantly followed Schanke out of the room. 
  
*** 
  
In the Caddy on the way back to the station, Schanke was suspiciously silent,0 
but kept sneaking glances at Nick. Odd, certainly, but Nick was relieved his 
partner had stopped singing. 
  
"Okay. I've held my tongue long enough. I know it's none of my business,"
Schanke began. "But I like Natalie and I don't want to see her hurt." 
  
"What are you talking about?" Nick asked, but he had a feeling he knew what
Schanke was referring to. 
  
"Janette. Take some advice from a man who's been there, buddy. If you're
going to keep Natalie happy, you have got to stay away from your old
girlfriend." 
  
"Schank, Janette and I are -" 
  
"Don't even try to tell me you're 'just friends' 'cause I'm not going to 
believe it. You and Nat used to be 'just friends,' too. I don't know what 
happened between you and Janette and I really don't care. But Natalie is my 
friend too, and if you hurt her........" 
  
"Schanke!" Nick interrupted. "Thank you, for caring about what happens to
Nat. You're a good friend. But what Janette and I had is over. I love
Natalie, more than I had ever thought it was possible to love anyone. And 
nothing is going to come between us." 
  
"Good." Schanke nodded. "I'm glad we got that out in the open. I'm happy 
for the two of you. Any idiot could tell that you and Nat had feelings for 
each other." 
  
"I know," Nick smiled. 
  
"Now, all we have to do is catch whoever - or whatever -- did this," Schanke 
said. "Do you have any idea where all that blood went?" 
  
Nick grimaced. < I wish I didn't > he thought, as the Caddy wound its way 
through the dark Toronto streets.

  
~~~~~~~~~