The Ranger

  Kasia had told her that she was a deep sleeper and not to worry about waking her, but when the alarm went off at noon Myla practically smashed the thing to shut it off. It was an old analog model with flip card numbers, she liked the old thing. Besides, it used to be her mothers. She held her breath and checked on the petite form in her bed. Not even a stir? She leaned in close and listened for breathing but heard nothing. Then she remembered that she wouldn't would she?

  She flopped back and stared at the ceiling, “Sleeping like the dead huh.” Last night had been… the most interesting night she had ever had without being shot at. It certainly hadn't been like giving blood. “If the red cross took donations like that, no hospital would ever have to worry about running out again. Hell, I might go every day.” Then she sat up and her head swam. Ok maybe she wouldn't give blood every day, but Kasia had certainly proved that her bite wasn't the only reason to keep the vampire in her bed.

  Several times. Feeling how light headed she was now, definitely on purpose too. She wondered how many times Kasia had bit first just to be left dissatisfied herself before she learned that lesson. Myla slipped out of bed, she found herself trying to be quiet despite knowing she wouldn't wake Kasia. She hadn't stirred for the alarm, hadn't so much as twitched at the smell of cooking food, and didn't move at all when Myla went back into the room to make sure the blanket was covering her.

  Sometimes Alice stopped by her house to borrow her TV, and the idea of her accidentally catching an eyeful of Kasia like that… well it was for the best. The clothes had finished on their the night before, she made decent money as a ranger but she was still paying off the all-in-one machine that was her washer and dryer. She always forgot to swap her clothes to the dryer so she considered it a worthwhile expense. She left Kasia's clothes on the side table in case she woke up before she got home, but suspected it was wasted effort.

  She made sure the bedroom door was shut before collecting her duty belt and jacket, first stop was the office. She would go on duty, check to make sure nothing pressing needed her attention, then she would head over to the sheriffs office to discuss the vampire in town. Then she yawned. Nevermind, coffee then office. She stopped at Mystic Brews and tried not to glower at the sun. She didn't regret it but she had stayed up far too late. There was a small crowd already and a decent line at the cash register.

  She ignored it and walked over to the pick-up counter instead, Alice was already waiting there with her usual, “Hey Myla! Wow, you look half dead today. What, did you find a new show to binge after the party?” Then a mischievous look filled her eyes, “Or did something else keep you up last night? Maybe a mysterious German girl from the woods?” Myla claimed the coffee, “Polish actually.” Alice seemed to grin wider, “Hey Dan, I'm taking my fifteen! This I have to hear.”

  Myla shook her head, “Sorry, can't stay and talk. I have to hit the office and then go see the sheriff.” Alice's eyebrows shot up, “Really? Does that mean she's actually…?” She considered how to answer that before slowly speaking, “It's her business and I'm not gonna spread it around without her permission. She gave me permission to tell the sheriff about it and I'm gonna bring him to meet her later so we can figure things out. I will say it's because she needs help but isn't in danger. That's all you're getting out of me.”

  Alice nodded, disappointed. She also ignored an impatient tourist clearing his throat at her while Dan was hurrying to make coffee, “Fine. She gonna meet the sheriff at the motel?” Myla sipped her drink, it was good coffee. Despite the tourist focused design, this was the best coffee house in the small town, “She didn't have money for it, so I let her stay over at my place.” Alice nodded, “So I probably shouldn't stop by to watch movies on your monster TV then. Wouldn't want to wake her right?”

  She shook her head distractedly checking her phone and seeing a message asking when she would be in, “Nah, she didn't even notice my alarm, I doubt you can wake her up.” She caught Alice's grin and glittering eyes, “Soooo she isn't sleeping on the couch then?” Myla felt her ears start to burn before beating a hasty retreat, “Sorry Alice, the office is asking where I am, can't stay!” Alice called after her, “You're gonna give me details later! You hear me Myla? I demand them!”

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  She was ten minutes down the road before she suddenly realized exactly how stupid she was and groaned. She could have just lied and said she switched her to the room after she got up! Now Alice wasn't going to let her hear the end of it. “Oh well. Still got my coffee.” The main ranger station was on the edge of town along the visitor road into the preserve proper. It wasn't a large building despite there being nearly fifty rangers based out of it, most of their time was spent either in the field or at one of the smaller posts around the preserve.

  She actually spent most of her time patrolling the exclusion zone, she was rated as one of the few rangers qualified to deal with the creatures living there. Her heritage didn't hurt things either. She spotted the familiar shape of the sheriffs old Prowler parked at the ranger station from the road; that would save her a trip. But that coupled with the message earlier meant she was going to be busy most of today. Well Kasia said she wouldn't get up on her own till nightfall so maybe that was fine.

  She parked next to the cruiser and went inside. She spotted the sheriff and the Chief looking over a file right at the front desk, a couple of other rangers standing around them with a couple deputies as well. She was late to a briefing then. Damn. It was gonna be a long day. She spotted Deputy Mac chatting with Dorothy at the front desk, flirting no doubt. It always felt like she forgot how big he really was, broad shoulders and gorilla arms that looked a little too long for his body, a face that looked like he cracked bricks for a living, and what should have been a towering height.

  And yet if you took your eye off him for even a minute, he seemed to just fade away. He called it a gift. She just thought someone that big shouldn't move so quietly. He was also a bit meek, the boy just needed to man up and ask Dorothy out. Can’t dance around it forever. With that in mind she beelined it to the sheriff, waving a greeting at the front desk as she went. Dorothy waved back but Mac actually excused himself and followed after her, that meant he had been waiting for her. He gave her a grin filled with sharklike teeth when he spotted her looking at him.

  He was too nice for those teeth. She was very glad she had stopped for coffee. “Afternoon chief, sorry I'm late. No excuses, party ran last night and I decided sleeping in and being in the shit was better than being half asleep on patrol. Sheriff Montok, what an unexpected pleasure.” The chief snorted and straightened up. Chief Ranger Felix Sky was a stout man in his mid forties and was wearing his age well. His thick black beard and hair were starting to grey, the salt and pepper adding distinction to his features with a hawkish nose that gave him a solid glare with his black eyes.

  Luckily he looked more amused than mad, “I heard a bit about it from Jade when he crawled home this morning. That girl ok?” She winced internally, of course they were already talking about it. “Uh yes and no. I'm not talking details anywhere people can hear me, at her request. Actually I was gonna stop by your office to talk about just that sheriff. After checking in here of course.” Sheriff Montok was clean shaven with a sharp, unsmiling face. His cheeks looked almost hollow and a thin frame would make you think he was malnourished.

  And make you underestimate how strong the old enchanter really was. His age didn't show at all in his slicked back hair, the high widows peak and nearly pointed nose just made him look more like blade given human form. “Is that so Miss Lesnik? Is the matter urgent or something that can be postponed?” Mac leaned on the counter, “Heard she was a lost tourist. And a cutie. I could help her find her way home if you need.” She decided to ignore Mac, “It's important but not urgent, she needs help but I think it's the humanitarian kind not legal. I convinced her to talk to you sheriff, but she's skittish. And one of us.”

  That got Montoks full attention, “Really now? Are you at liberty to say what she is?” She hesitated, “Not here sir and just to you. It took convincing not to have her rabbit altogether last night, I'm not gonna break her trust now.” She decided to keep the rest of the night private either way. The sheriff nodded, “Very well Miss Lesnik, I will arrange an opening in my schedule later in the evening. Right now we do have a more urgent matter at hand.” The chief slid the files down the counter to her, “Remember that truck you found? The one that was under concealment runes.”

  She nodded and started looking through the paperwork, “Of course, three weeks back, clear signs of someone heading into the exclusion zone, likely a poacher. Plates wouldn't run and VIN came back scrubbed. We finally get word from Greenville?” She found the right papers and whistles, “Gregory Duvall, executive security for… New Breed Security Innovations, really? What, they think he rabbitted with company secrets or something?” Montok tapped the paperwork, “They're worried he was compromised.”

  He flipped the files to the relevant page for her, “They found that his accounts were connected to some less than reputable loans, the lender has connections to the Sinners it seems. They want to know if he's alive, and if he's not then they wish to know how it happened. They also want his personal effects retrieved if possible, his cellular device in particular. They are very concerned, Miss Lesnik. And your grandfather has been decidedly obstinate on the matter.” She sighed and nodded, “So you need me to find out why. Alright, but you know how he can be.”

  The sheriff nodded, “Of course Miss Lesnik. I won't hold his stubbornness against you.” Mac grinned, “And if he keeps it up we can always threaten to arrest him for obstructing an investigation.” She snorted, “Good luck with that Mac. It's like arresting a tree.” He shrugged, “Barks worse than the bite?” She shook her head, "You'll have to find the forest first.” Mac frowned in confusion, "What does that mean?" The chief snorted, “Maybe we need to find a different handler for the old bastard, you're starting to talk like him.” She slumped, “Maybe you do, I've actually heard something like that twice today. Well I've held things up long enough, let's go talk to the trees.” The chief chuckled but Montok just followed her out with Mac trailing in the man's wake sniggering, “Lead the way miss Lorax.”