The Vampire Council: Case File:1 by Steve Cunningham Page B

as she knows Dirk has always lusted over her.
    ‘Usually I love your flirtatious banter, but not today.’ Dirk’s face is serious as Jacqueline rolls her eyes and smiles at the thought of ever flirting with someone like Dirk. ‘Do you realise what you’re doing?’
    Jacqueline picks up the cigarette box on her desk and pulls one out. She looks around her desk looking for her lighter. It’s not on the desk. ‘I swear it was there earlier.’ She proceeds to open the drawers of her desk still looking. In frustration Dirk pulls out a lighter from his back trouser pocket and slams it on her desk. Jacqueline picks it up and lights her cigarette as she takes a drag. ‘Do you mind if I keep this?’ She exhales the smoke.
    ‘Go for it, I’ve got more in my car.’ Dirk takes a deep breath and composes himself.
    Jacqueline smiles to herself as she knows her lighter is in her bra. She wanted to test whether she still had Dirk wrapped around her finger. ‘To answer your question Dirk I know exactly what I’m doing. You must have heard by now about the attack by Leofric on two of our new recruits.’ She takes another drag whilst Dirk answers.
    ‘Yes word has gotten round the council, but it’s being shrugged off as a random misfortune.’
    Jacqueline coughs out the smoke in her lungs at the mention of the council believing it’s random. ‘Random? Bullshit was that a random attack Dirk. The vampire hunter league knew we had recruited new members that day and sent one of their top hunters to kill them. No one outside of the council knows when we recruit, not even rogues. So why was Leofric lying in wait so close to the base?’
    ‘So I’m one hundred per cent certain you’re thinking we have a traitor within the council.’ Dirk’s back tenses at the mention of the word traitor.
    ‘We must have a traitor, there’s no other explanation. That’s why I’ve called for an urgent meeting of the council heads. I was thinking we could possibly get to the bottom of who the traitor might be. If not that at least come up with some plans to tighten security until we do.’
    Dirk pulls up a chair from the corner of the room and places it in front of Jacqueline’s desk. He sits. ‘As I’ve said the council have made up their mind, they’re just not caring about it. If you ask me it seems like the council is beginning to fall apart.’ Dirk states in a serious tone.
    ‘And this is why I need your help.’ Jacqueline stubs out her cigarette in the ashtray then leans forward on her desk. Her cleavage now fully on display in front of Dirk’s eyes, all part of a plan to trick him into helping her.
    Dirk clocks on pretty quick to Jacqueline’s plan but little does she know a plan of his own making is formulating in his mind. ‘Well anything for you.’
    Happy that her plan had worked wonders Jacqueline leans back in her chair, ‘As you’re the highest ranked vampire I thought having you backing the meeting and demanding the others to attend they’ll be far more likely to show up.’
    ‘If I do this for you, what do I get in return?’ Dirk winks at Jacqueline. She cringes inside but doesn’t let it show.
    ‘I wouldn’t get your hopes up Dirk. I was thinking more along the lines of you finally proving yourself and repairing your tarnished reputation as a traitor.’ Jacqueline guessed by Dirk’s slight jerks that using that word un-nerved him.
    ‘Since you put it that way. I’ll be happy to make sure that all the council members are present at your meeting.’ Dirk flashes Jacqueline a smile.
    Jacqueline doesn’t reciprocate the smile; doubt starts to appear in her head, but happiness about how her plan to get Dirk to do her bidding overshadows the doubts.
    The office door swings open as Vaelen enters. He stops dead in his tracks at the sight of Dirk. Decides to look straight past him and address Jacqueline. ‘What’s the traitor doing here?’ Vaelen spits out with anger.
    ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa.’ Dirk steps up