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Cormac burst into laughter.
“And why, pray tell, are you laughing, dear brother?” Theo asked, his smile turning slightly evil.
The young wolf’s laughter cut off when he glanced back at his brother and saw his expression. “I…”
Theo leaned back in his chair with a hum. “Octavius, I looked through your financials for the agency, and I have to say, you are paying Cormac way too much to do nothing. So, either he does more, or he gets a pay cut.”
“WHAT?!” Cormac cried out.
Turney snickered as Octavius burst into laughter. Cormac and Theo started to bicker, right when the phone began to ring. Octavius, of course, also then started back on his quest for his list.
Turney eyed Scarlett, who sighed and reached for the red phone on her desk.
“You’ve reached The Undead Detective Agency, this is Scarlett speaking, how may I help you?” Scarlett asked with her professional fake salesman voice. She frowned, glaring at the three who had started yelling. “One moment, please.” She covered the receiver and then bellowed, “QUIET, YOU IDIOTS!”
Octavius, Cormac, and Theo went silent instantly, and Scarlett went back to the call.
Turney shook his head with a soft chuckle as Octavius skulked over and hopped up to sit on the edge of his desk. There was a clear pout on his face.
The vampire sat there pouting for a few moments, and then…Cormac stuck out his tongue. Which of course set Octavius off. Turney sighed as the two started a silent and very immature war with each other.
His gaze drifted past the silently bickering paranormals, to Henry in his small alcove. He frowned to find the vampire on his phone. Henry glanced up, the smile on his face…made him instantly concerned. Turney gasped in horror when the vampire held up his phone to show the screen, showing off a website about keeping ducks as pets.
He mouthed ‘no’, but Henry’s grin widened.
“No duck,” he whispered fiercely.
Looking put out, Henry sighed and slowly placed his phone upside down on his desk. Oh, the unsuspecting menaces were the worst!
There was a loud click as Scarlett hung up the phone. “We have a new case. You and Turney need to go to Café Barron on First Street and meet our new client, John Bordu. The man plans to hand over all the documents to you there.”
Octavius jumped to his feet, beaming happily, as if he hadn’t just been arguing like crazy. “Wonderful! Did you hear that, Turney?! A new case!”
Turney couldn’t help but smile as the vampire went from pouty to excited in a blink of the eye. Just normal everyday behavior for Octavius. His smile widened when the vampire began to bounce on his feet.
God…did he love him. His gaze swept around the room at Octavius, Cormac, Theo, Henry, Scarlett, and Min-ji. So much had changed.
It felt like it had been a lifetime ago since he first set eyes on Octavius’ crazy black flyer. He wasn’t even human anymore. Dying, and then becoming a zombie, hadn’t exactly been fun…yet so much more had been gained than lost.
Because before he had nothing…no family. Sure, he had a few friends, but…not close. In truth, Turney had been alone, just like he’d been for most of his life. As much as he tried to say—and believe—that he’d been okay with that…he hadn’t. Turney had just been living day to day, trying to not think too hard. But in truth…he had been so lonely. His eyes welled up at the thought.
Now, not even half a year after he first walked into the office, he had…a family. A real family. A crazy family, but a family nonetheless. Turney was no longer alone. And it was all one crazy vampire’s doing—Octavius.
“Octavius, I love you.”
Octavius giggled. “Love you too, my precious zombie bun! Now come! Let’s be off! WE HAVE A CASE TO SOLVE!” He bounced more, his laughter growing louder.
Chuckling, Turney stood and followed the crazy vampire out the door. Octavius started talking a mile a minute with excitement, going over all the possibilities of what they were about to face. He wasn’t sure what the next case would bring, but Turney had a feeling that the craziness of this new life of his was just beginning.
The End!
