A small preface from the author:

The action takes place in a world called Aion. Despite the abundance of traditional fantasy races, this world went along the scientific and technical path of development, without losing, however, the magic component.
And I ask you in advance to excuse me for some confusion of the string, in the following parts everything will be better. Probably :)

Monday morning began with the fact that Oliver's laboratory flew into the air.

Fortunately, Oliver himself had a habit of being late for work for at least a couple of hours, and, of course, simply could not change this custom at the beginning of the work week.

However, now, talking to a police officer, Oliver was already ready to regret that he did not burn in a plasma whirlpool. He knew with his mind that the policeman was simply forced to somehow detain him before the arrival of the detective investigating, but the stream of recurring questions could ruffle anyone.

- Let's check once again if I wrote everything down correctly, - the policeman came to the new circle - “Name?”

“Look at your transcript,” Oliver replied hopelessly. “You wrote it down six more points back.”

- Oliver Merce. 27 years. Race, - the policeman looked up for a moment, as if trying to make sure that his interlocutor did not suddenly grow his pointed ears out of spite - Man. All right

- Yes.

- Where were you at the time of the explosion?

- On the street, near the entrance. Finished drinking coffee.

“Can anyone confirm this?”

- I do not even know. Most likely - those and a half dozen people who scraped me off the asphalt, after I was thrown back by the blast wave to the opposite side of the street. True, we did not meet as it should, forgive.

- Your aggression does not help the identification of the offender.

- Your way of conducting an investigation too.

“If, of course,” as if the policeman had not heard his words, you want us to find this demolition man.

“You mean ...” Oliver began in a cold tone.

“I want to say,” the policeman interrupted him, “that the only one who was not at the workplace at that moment is you.” A happy coincidence, isn’t it?

It is not known what this conversation would have turned out if already air for an angry tirade, seething with outrage of Oliver, was not interrupted by a calm, melodious voice.

- Leave, officer. As for his colleagues, I am not sure, but I am ready to bite my hand for my precious pieces of Merce. About to blow up their speech does not even go.

Slowly turning one hundred and eighty degrees, Oliver came across the icy gaze of dark cherry eyes. In front of him stood a short girl, rather fragile in appearance physique, with pitch black hair.

Any outside observer would be surprised - how was she admitted to the police service? She looked to be about nineteen years old, and in general she looked more like a first-year student at a history department than a law enforcement officer. However, if the hypothetical observer would have the opportunity to examine it closely, this question would have disappeared by itself. The color of her eyes, the unnatural pallor of her skin, and most importantly small, but noticeable fangs, especially conspicuous, each time she began to say something, hinted at a certain species of the girl.

The only oddity was that the sun looked out did not seem to be a big hindrance for her. But, as far as Oliver knew, very little could be a hindrance to a higher vampire.

“Cassie,” Oliver tried to speak as neutral as possible. “Hi.” You look great.

The girl smiled wryly, as only vampires can do, and closed her eyes with sunglasses.

- Detective Cassandra Klein. - she deliberately corrected it in an official tone - I will ask you again without any familiarities.

Oliver mentally bit his tongue, although it was too late. It was probably worth talking in a slightly more affable tone and showing that he was really glad to see her ...

Meanwhile, the vampire gestures sent the annoying officer away, demonstrating that she herself would cope with Oliver. The policeman, throwing an unfriendly glance at Mercy, obediently spread the translucent wings and flew off to the side, remaining, nevertheless, within reach, in case his boss changed her mind and still ordered him to arrest the man. Fucking sprites with their eternal paranoia ...

Oliver looked again at Cassandra.

“Um ...” he began uncertainly. “I'm really glad to see you.” Have you been assigned to lead this case?

- Well, why would I still be here? - She mockingly said, blowing the disobedient strand of hair to the side. Although, as it seemed to Oliver, her voice warmed by a few degrees - I am also glad to see you. Especially whole and almost unscathed. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Oliver on the cheek.

- Okay. - Cassie again spoke in a businesslike tone, turned to the remains of the building and went to them, beckoning Oliver with her hand. He listened, looking back at the suspicious officer. The sprite was still standing at a distance, giving the man a glance full of hatred, which was now mixed in and ... jealous? Funny.

Oliver grinned and rushed after Cassandra, trying to listen to her speech. I must say that it turned out badly - his gaze continually strove to descend a little lower than the back of the girl, and memories that were completely inappropriate now surfaced in my head. Taking into account the fact that simple jeans and a shirt (of course, traditional black colors for vampires), fitted the body of the girl pretty tightly and demonstrated all the features of her figure, it was difficult to concentrate on the conversation.

- To investigate the wreckage we are not allowed. So tell me so far everything you need to know about your laboratory. What did you develop? Who might not like it? Who could be the enemies ...

Cassandra could list for as long as Oliver knew. Therefore, he gently put his hand on her shoulder, stopping and turning to him.

“Cass ... I know what caused the explosion.”

The vampire carefully examined his guilty face and finally asked:

“Have you experimented with explosives?”

- Not. - Oliver dismissed. - We designed Claims and hardware platforms for their deployment. The ion bomb was ... the last line of defense if someone decided to steal our designs.

- That is ... did you have such an original alarm system ?! How did you agree on this ?!

- We didn’t think that the need for such means would ever arise ... But this is not the main thing. The fact is that...

However, Cassandra was no longer listening to him, but excitedly walked back and forth, talking aloud:

- Only the employees of the complex were found in the building, then the thief left ...

- There is something else...

- Of course, if the thief was in the building, and did not attempt a remote hacking ...

- Actually ...

“Although, no, in that case the bomb would hardly have worked ...”

- Cassie! - Oliver, who lost his patience, grabbed the girl by the shoulders and shook her gently - Now it doesn't matter how the thief escaped from the laboratory before the explosion! In any case, the cracker did not manage to remove anything from the laboratory. This means that to fulfill the order he will have to look for the necessary files and samples in another place ...

- You took some samples to your home! - instantly understood Cassandra. Her tone changed to a more poisonous one, with hints of resentment - Well, of course, how can you live even a minute without your piece of iron ... And to hell with everyone else, right?

The last phrases of the girl Oliver ignored. He had already heard such speeches before breaking their relationship.

“I didn’t take samples from the lab.” - he corrected the vampire - It would have been noticed immediately. I created my own lawsuit, in parallel with the work in the laboratory. Of course, this is not quite ...