With the recent public kill of a werewolf (which the human population believes was a rabid wolf), the press decided they wanted an interview with Detective Angelica Cross and Detective Daniel Mancini. With Angelica’s “condition” and, let’s face it, poor people skills, I asked if I could record an interview with the both of them and give the tape to the press. They [the press] sent me some questions they wanted answered, and I promised to work most of them into the inquiry. This is the unedited transcription, to keep for our records only.
I have color coded the initials of the participants to make it easier for the files. I (DD) am GREEN. Angelica Cross (AC) is RED. Daniel Mancini (DM) is PURPLE.
Photos are included for the press’ perusal. (Yes, even my own!)
--Director Frederic Dominic, Paranormal Investigative Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, August 2014
****
Louis Ferreira as Det. Danny Mancini
Lucy Griffiths as Det. Angelica Cross.
Sir Ian McKellen as Director Frederic Dominic
Director Dominic: Thank you both for sitting down for this. I know you have a lot of cases on your plate right now.
Angelica Cross: No shit. But business is business.
Danny Mancini: Right. It’s no problem.
DD: You brought down a werewolf in a fairly quiet neighborhood. Not necessarily a usual case.
AC: No, it wasn’t. Those things rarely venture this far into the city.
DM: It was my first time seeing one, and I have to admit, I’d rather never see one again.
AC: What are you talking about? You’ve seen Bart in the armory, and the other security guards around the PID.
DM: Oh. I meant a werewolf that was fully transformed. My bad!
DD: It killed a man, an innocent who tried to help detain it. Was it hard to lose a bystander?
AC: [rolling her eyes] It’s always hard. Death is a fact of life, the only thing guaranteed. Even taxes aren’t guaranteed, because you could die before you pay them. But when it’s an innocent human that tries to be a hero who winds up half-eaten on a dirty city street, it hurts. Mortals are so fragile and life is quite cheap.
DM: [looking a bit green] It was...difficult to see. I have never seen something so disgusting. His insides were, well, they were on his outside. And his heart was ripped from his chest. I’ve seen pretty gruesome crime scenes, but that was one of the worst.
DD: You used to be a detective with the Chicago Police Department before joining our ranks temporarily, Danny. Has this been harder, easier or not much of a difference for you?
DM: [Grins.] Ah, it is a Hell of a lot different! I used to say that doing Homicide was dull sometimes, because it was always the same thing. And my old partner would ask me, if I thought that was dull, what was a challenge? This is a challenge. I had to learn so much coming here; thankfully, Angie is a wonderful teacher. [Places his hand on her leg for a brief second.]
AC: [Looks as if someone painted her face with rouge. Clears throat.] We here at the PID are very lucky to have found Danny. He is a wonderful marksman, has wonderful intuition and might be one of my very best partners...since you, of course, Director.
DM: Wait...how were you two partners?
DD: [Laughing.] You mean because I’m old as the hills?
AC: [Nudges Danny with her black stiletto heel.] Hey. Didn’t anyone ever teach you the meaning of “savoir faire”, Mancini?
DM: Why yes, when I was abroad my junior year of college at l’Hopital Esquirol in France.
AC: [Smiling.] Aller vous faire foutre. *English translation: Go fuck yourself.*
DD: Okay, I think we can move on, please?
AC: [Laughs.] Sure, Director.
DD: What do you plan on doing to prevent something like this from happening again?
AC: There isn’t much we can do aside except warn civilians that, if you do see something like that, STAY INDOORS! Don’t try to play the hero. We could have brought it down without incident had that man stayed inside his home. So, again, if you see a large animal of any species in your neighborhood that doesn’t belong there, stay indoors and call the cops or animal control.
DM: The best thing anyone can do to prevent fatalities from animals is to be vigilant. It’s the same rule that applies to anything out of the ordinary or dangerous: see something, say something.
AC: [Sotto voce.] Don’t go and be a fucking shifter’s chew toy.
DD: Are these kinds of incidents more common than people think?
AC: What kind of stupid question is that?
DD: Don’t blame me--it’s from a reporter.
DM: So, what, are people starting to think wolves--natural or otherwise--are going to be running around eating them now? Come on, that’s ridiculous! I did a shit ton of press conferences, and while I did get some off beat questions, no one was that idiotic. Have the press really gotten that much more dense in the two years since I was with the CPD?
DD: That brings me to another question they wanted me to ask you. Why did you leave the force two years ago?
DM: [Shifts uncomfortably in his seat.] You probably won’t be able to use this shit with the press. I saw Vincent killing a young woman in an alley on the South Side, and I reported exactly what I saw--that he was draining her blood from various bites on her body. Of course, try telling that to your mortal police captain. I wasn’t sure I believed it myself! So they kicked me off the force, but in a very political way, by saying I failed my psych eval.
Angie came to me and recruited me to help catch him when he resurfaced. I admit, I was drowning myself in a pit of alcohol and depression, not to mention denial. I am indebted to her for her...forcefulness.
DD: Forcefulness?
DM: She practically strong armed me to let her into my house and badgered me till I agreed to join this company. She does not take “no” for an answer!
AC: I know what I want, I go after it with vehemence and, as you well know, I always get what I want.
DD: With that being said, I wanted to include the only available photograph of Vincent available, and warn the public that he is indeed a very dangerous man and, if you see him, DO NOT APPROACH. Call 911 or the FBI immediately. He is armed and dangerous.
AC: Yeah, armed with fangs and the blood of an ancient immortal woman in his veins!
Richard Armitage as Vincent.
DD: This is another press question, so don’t bitch at me about it, Cross! What is your relationship like as partners?
DM: You wanna take this one, Angie?
AC: Partners where? Workplace or bedroom? [Laughs.] No, really, we might not always get along but we work quite well together. He follows me every command.
DM: Not in the bedroom!
AC: Please. I could probably have you in a dog collar and thong and you wouldn’t complain. Though I guess now that you’re having those psychic visions I should probably keep my plans for you better under wraps.
DD: Okay, I think that question was answered successfully. Moving on. What is the FBI doing to keep Chicago safer?
AC: What we have always done here in this department. We monitor the city, we take census randomly, and we execute whatever creature breaks the paranormal laws that have been in place for a hundred and fifty years.
DM: Yeah, you’re gonna edit that one, too.
DD: Cross, there’s a publication that wanted me to ask you what it’s like being a woman in this profession.
AC: I have always been doubted by people, ever since I can remember. My age, my family history, and of course being a female has made me have to work extremely hard to earn my credibility. However, I have done it. I have passed every test given to me and I will continue to be the best at what I do. I will not let anything or anyone make me feel inferior in my position in this company or in the community.
I am not defined by my gender. I am not defined by my parentage. I am not defined by anything except for my track record at the PID, which is impeccable. There isn’t a soul on this Earth or beyond that can question my credibility to get the job done.
DD: Last question--what final words to you have to say to the public?
AC: “Final words?” Sounds pretty morbid! Well, it’s simple, really--stay in line and I won’t have to come and slit your throat. Yes, Vincent, that was a warning to you!
DM: [Nervously.] Trust that we will keep Chicago safe, no matter what the cost. Nothing will get past us.
Author’s Note/Playlist:
I love music. Music is as big a part of my life as books are. My parents met because of a Guns N’ Roses concert in 1991. My grandmother worked promo for the Black Crowes, and my mother and grandmother both did promo for Aerosmith. I went to my first concert in the womb (RATT). There was a radio in every room of the house growing up. So, needless to say, I inserted music as much as I could into Stake-Out.
At the beginning of every chapter, I have a relevant lyric from a different song. While I didn’t use a couple of these songs in the book, I am giving you a playlist to listen to while you read the book. Most of it is rock and metal, as that is mostly what I listen to in my personal time. (Links are to YouTube videos of the songs.)
Happy reading!
Purchase Stake-Out via:
Amazon (ebook and paperback; worldwide shipping)
Barnes And Noble (paperback only; US and Canada shipping)
Books-A-Million (paperback only)
Synopsis :
In a city overrun with the undead, an ex-cop is given a chance to get revenge...
Danny Mancini is on a case, following a murder suspect. When he catches him, he finds out that the perp isn't even human: he's a 200 year old rogue vampire!
The department doesn't believe him, and puts him on early retirement, despite his many years of service to the Chicago Police Department, which sends him into a downward spiral.
Two years later, Danny gets an invitation from the beautiful, young and very attractive Detective Angelica Cross to join a secret branch of the FBI to help her track down Vincent, the wayward vamp.
But renegade werewolves, meddling immortal witches and Danny's strange visions of a life lived a century ago with Angelica make things more difficult than it should be.
Book Trailer :
Stalk me online via:
Fascinating. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much!
DeleteSounds like a great mystery with vampires, werewolves, and witches. I can;t imagine being on a case and meeting a 200-year-old vampire. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I tried my best to interest and scare the readers!
Delete