Chapter 5

"All set?" Asked Merlin.

"All set." Said Paula, looking around for any missing hook on the wall of their newly rented and prepared apartment with one hall, two rooms and three bathrooms and a kitchen, if that's some information of any relevance. The hall was lit with ceiling lights and the floor was made of brown marble. Right out from the elevator there was a reception desk where a middle aged lady in her late forties sat, looking closely at the pattern on the desk and absorbing the comfort of the chair.

She had red curly hair and a plump face and body with an oversized poncho hung over it.

"You know you two kids did well with this place here. I always thought it was nothing more or less than a dumpster here." Said the woman.

"We appreciate it, Heena. Thank you a million times." Said Merlin and Paula double checked around for sunlight blocking pads.

"But I didn't understand one thing. Why all these sun blocking pads on windows and cracks?" Asked Gia, scratching the back of her ear with one of the pens in the table drawers. Heena was not a woman of much interest but her way of speaking fascinated both of the vampire siblings. It was jolly and intimidating at the same time and Paula was thrilled at how it made her like the part of a stronger team.

"We are not really fond of sunlight, Heena. Sensitive skin goes in our family, ultraviolet rays always leave rashes and itches. And also, Merlin has this fear of tanning his radiant pale skin." Paula said and Merlin growled under his breath but said nothing. He's tried to hit on Paula's jokes once and it totally did not end in his favour. Also, he sort of agreed with this improved excuse.

"Well, that's none of my concern anyways. I get work, I get money, my life is gold." Said Heena slumping back on her seat lazily.

"So, you will let us know if there is a client right?" Asked Merlin. His brain was still in full doubt that Gia was the right person for the job but Paula was confident. He didn't think a woman so nap lover like Gia would want to do anything other than mow her lawn and take care of her pet rodent, if hadn't been eaten by pet cats.

"That's kind of my job description love. Don't worry, my job is not just to mow the lawn and take care of my pet rat if my cat doesn't eat them at the end of the day." Merlin certainly would have stepped on his own foot and trip if not for the vampire reflexes.

"What? How—"

"Ah, don't be so shocked boss boy. This is one of the most common theory everyone got about me on first look." Heena said and Paula laughed, throwing her head back and Merlin almost dropped to the floor with shame. That's was his character, despite being a vampire, despite being a bloodthirsty vicious killer, he was majorly an introvert.

"Sure Heena. I am going to go out and grab a drink with Leonard." He said and took the elevator to the ground floor.

"Call me if anything comes up, Heena. I am going to hit the sack. Bloody hell, this place is too small." Paula sighed and disappeared into one of the rooms.

No later than she had put her butt on the small couch, the costume bell rang. Going out into the hall, her eyes were welcomed by a young man probably in his early twenties and all ruffled and out of breath.

"Did you run up here? Are you in some trouble?" Asked Paula and for some reason, her eyes lingered on his sweating neck for longer than considered safe for a vampire.

"No, I took the stairs, the elevator was taking too long. This is a PI agency right?" He asked.

"Damn right it is. Here, drink some water." Heena handed him the bottle of water from the mini fridge beside her. The man drank from the bottle and handed it back to Heena.

"My name is Tarun. I have a problem and I would really appreciate it if you would fix it."

"Follow me please." Paula said and guided Tarun up the stairs and into another small room. It was the office room. Three leather chairs surrounding a low wide wooden table with curved sides, giving it the look of waves.

"So? Your problem is?" Paula asked settled down on one of the chairs. Tarun took another one across from her.

"It all started precisely one month ago when I woke up and went out for a jog. I had this feeling someone was following me, like constantly watching me. I thought I was just paranoid and still, to be careful and everything, I took the long path home. I didn't see anyone around my house or street, even."

To say Paula was losing her mind over the pace of this conversation was an understatement. She was absolutely throwing her brain across the walls of her skull. But, all she did was nod with professional reassurance.

"Now this doesn't seem like a lot but trust me, I had that feeling for more than a week before I started hearing footsteps everytime I woke up in the morning, climbing down the front porch of my house. As if it was waiting for me to wake up and go out. So, I stayed in."

"Wait, hold on. Right when you woke up?"

"Yes."

"So you didn't see anything? From the window or —" Paula was now more concentrated than ever on anything. Her back had leaned forward unconsciously and chin was resting on her knuckles.

"No, there was no one. And last week I saw a shadow on my window but when I opened it, there was no one. Next day I hid inside the dog house in the garden all night but no one came."

"Did you go to the human police? I mean just the police?"

"Yes. They said I was delusional, that I was seeing things."

"You didn't really see anything?"

"No. I did the same the next day but no one came again. Then I again slept inside my house and again there were footsteps the next morning. I can't live like this. Help me please." Tarun was on the edge of his seat and on the verge of tears. Paula considered telling him the same thing police told him but she believed she was too sensitive to turn him around.

"You could totally be delusional and these could be symptoms of a serious mental illness. You need a doctor, not a P.I." With fake documents, she added to herself the last bit.

Tarun sank back into the chair.

"But, I won't want to send you with gloomy spirits." Paula, slowly and seductively approached her customer and sat on the armrest of his chair. First he looked confused and repulsed but the feeling came back to him a few seconds later. Paula could hear his breathing and heart rate go up, she smiled to herself.

P.I. Agency was a scam, this was her area of expertise.

Somewhere in and the middle of forbidden, non exclusive sexual quality time, the half open door of the room, slammed on the wall and Tarun jumped, startled out of his breath. Paula smiled at Merlin who stood, shell shocked.

"Hey little brother." She said, smiling smugly. Merlin was not impressed.

"Don't hold your pleasure on my account." He said and left. Paula knew that look, she had some damage control to do and it won't be easy.