Mr. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighbourhood

6

Florence Lowell, an orphan whose family perished in a terrorist bombing during her studies, chose forensic work driven by a profound respect for life and a desire to seek justice for the wronged. Working at the Los Angeles Criminal Identification Center alongside biologists, toxicologists, pathologists, psychologists, and even anthropologists, she excels in criminal identification and anatomy.

Despite the predominance of men in her field, Florence stands out not only as a woman but as one with a distinctive beautiful appearance, leading one of the strongest forensic teams in Los Angeles. The team, known for their exceptional skills and dedication to justice, often sacrifices personal time for their demanding work due to the city's high crime rates.

Now, amidst a day's work, Florence finds herself distracted, a rarity for someone typically so focused. Her thoughts linger on the previous night's encounter, a stark departure from her usual dedication to her profession.

Last night, after the police arrived and detained three assailants, they found that the trio had no memory of the incident or why they targeted her. Experienced officers can often tell if someone is lying, but it's unlikely that everyone is lying. Polygraph tests confirmed their claims: they did indeed experience memory loss.

Florence, too, gave her statement to the police but omitted the part about the figurine and encountering a vampire. Who would believe such a tale? She feared being labeled insane. The idea of someone leaping to rooftops in a single bound was still unbelievable to her.

Reflecting on the encounter, the man's calm yet wild eyes and his enigmatic presence had left an indelible mark on her.

Vampires couldn't possibly exist in the real world, could they?

"Hey, Florence is still spacing out," Toni, a slender blonde with green eyes and a member of Florence's forensic team, nudged David. She and David were Florence's right-hand assistants, both deeply passionate about forensic science.

Despite their dedication, neither could match Florence's intensity. It was unusual for her to be so distracted; she was typically immersed in her work.

Florence being lost in thought was out of character, and they had never seen her like this, especially not for an entire day.

"She's been like this all day," David remarked.

"Could she have been traumatized by the attack?" Toni wondered, concerned that yesterday's incident might have shaken Florence deeply.

"That's unlikely. Florence is one of the most courageous forensic pathologists we know. She's faced down situations that would make most men blanch. She must be pondering something," David speculated, admiring Florence's unwavering spirit.

"What could possibly make her zone out for so long?" Toni asked.

Only Toni and David were aware of Florence's childhood ordeal, and at her behest, they hadn't shared it with the rest of the team. They respected her wish, even though they were worried.

"It might be a new clue she's unraveling. Let's not disturb her and let her think," David suggested.

As they returned to their tasks, a commanding figure entered the room, drawing everyone's attention. The surprise was evident when they recognized him.

"Ah!" Toni exclaimed, recognizing the man.

The man, introducing himself as Wade White from the FBI, made his way to Florence's office.

"Who is he?" David asked, noting Toni's flushed face.

"He's one of the FBI's top agents," Toni replied, her eyes sparkling.

"Dr. Lowell?"

Florence was brought back to reality by the call and turned to see who it was.

A tall, dark-skinned man stood at her office door, his rugged appearance indicating a life spent outdoors, and his furrowed brow hinted at a man accustomed to deep thought.

"You are...?"

"Sorry to disturb you." He showed his ID, identifying himself as Wade White, an FBI agent.

"Hello, Mr. White," Florence greeted, shaking his hand but wondering which of her cases had drawn the FBI's attention.

Wade was taken aback by Florence's youth and beauty, not expecting the forensic pathologist he was to meet to be a young, attractive Eastern woman.

"Just Wade is fine," he said, looking at her intently.

Despite his casual demeanor, Florence maintained a professional tone, "How can I assist you?"

"I've read your statement about the attack last night. I'd like to discuss some details with you."

His request made Florence suspect there was more to her mysterious encounter than she realized. The quick involvement of the FBI was unusual.

After inviting him to sit, she asked Toni to bring some coffee. Just as Wade was about to light a cigarette, Florence caught the action, a mix of curiosity and caution playing across her features.