[Private] Dope Whisperer

“It’s another seeker. I think we should give ‘em to Doctor Reese.”

Using my abilities was a mixed blessing at work. I was able to weed out a lot of the bullshitters and actually get to the sick patients, but on the other hand, all the bullshitters were now assigned to me. My new nickname in the department was the “Dope Whisperer” because I could get these assholes to fess up to their motives. One hundred percent of the time, even the humans knew who was bullshitting and who wasn’t, but it was that whole customer service bullshit we had to follow through. Me? I had a completely different set of rules.

Fine, what room? I think someone needs to start sharing the load of the discharge papers with me, though, if this is going to be a regular thing.
“You could also just show us your tricks, show us how it’s done and maybe-”
A magician never tells, I said, cutting off Connie for the millionth time she’d asked. I didn’t figure bloodlust was something she’d trade for such a small thing. And Connie would make a terrible vampire.

I entered room seventeen to find a skinny blonde, who probably thought she was ten shades of hot. Loose tank top showing small but still somehow saggy tits. At least forty, but I was being generous. I’d given her a few years because for all I knew she was thirty and looked sixty. Ten year old faded tit tattoo, track marks, and the unbearable stench of smoke. Likely hadn’t seen a dentist in the last decade, and she clearly wasn’t getting enough nutrients to keep those teeth since a few were hanging on for life.

I took a deep unnecessary breath, not sure why I bothered to attempt to look human, especially when I was going to manipulate her small mind anyway. Luckily, she was alone - not that it would have been a problem if she wasn’t, just means more people to compel. I caught her eyes and locked on and began to speak.

Ms. Frederick, you’re going to tell me the truth. Are you here because you want IV drugs?
“Yes.”
You’re going to agree to discharge without me giving you any medications. You’re going to go home, and you’re going to admit yourself to a drug rehab. You’re never to shoot up again.

The last part wasn’t some big-hearted gesture of mine. Honestly, it was risky and if it actually worked, the withdrawal might actually kill her in the right or wrong circumstances. But there were a few perks. If she died, or if she lived and actually did clean up her act, along with some of the others I’d compelled, it freed up my emergency room. It was the long game, really, but I still kind of enjoyed at least parts of my job. I enjoyed the puzzle of it, and my senses were helping me to be better, to diagnose more, to detect more lies and more truths, and well - I was getting recognition. Who didn’t like an ego stroking now and again?

“Thank you, doctor, “ she stated with a complete lack of emotion or feeling behind it, but her voice was still the same husky smoker voice that I heard in everyone like her. I left and gave Connie a thumbs up. I didn’t even bother pretending to counsel them anymore, and Connie just threw her arms in the air. “Mind control, that’s it, you hypnotize them!”
Something like that.

I started for the dictation room but didn’t make it there - I stopped and cringed when I heard Chad’s voice. Had I not eaten him yet?
“Aye, Ben, some gal here to see ya. Damn, son, you know how to find ‘em fancy, eh?”
How do your patients listen to you, Chad? Some of them found that country bumpkin bullshit “trustworthy” but I just found it grating and simple-minded. And as many years as I had put up with it, I’d lost my ability to pretend I wasn’t completely disgusted with him.
But I began to wonder - I couldn’t feel Noelle nearby, and who else was “fancy”?
Where is she?
“Back around the other side of the desk. She’s kinda hard to miss. You want me to write you for some-” I started off, not wanting to hear the rest of his “joke” about writing for some viagra or a xanax to put me in a better mood. All I had to do to be in a better mood was to get away from him. I really would have to dispose of him or maybe I’d send him to Gayle or Noelle. I could stand to watch what Noelle would do to him.

She leaned over the counter of the desk, tapping her stilletto nails on the counter, and her eyes lit up once she saw me.

You realize this isn’t a great time?
“I don’t care, Benjamin.” She couldn’t wipe her smile, fangs and all, and I couldn’t decide whether she’d somehow managed to compel the entire room or if her presence had been enough. Or maybe she simply didn’t care. She straightened up, and as much as I fought it off, I was embarrassed. She looked like a high end hooker, wearing a red, strappy crop top that barely even tried to cover her breasts, and a pair of high waisted black leggings. But who was I kidding? Had I been anywhere else I might have liked it.

Red looks good on you.
“Thanks, I know.” She winked, but I could tell she was bored. Any way we could make this quick? And uh.. take it.. somewhere else?
“I don’t plan on keeping you for too long, Benjamin, I just needed a quick chat.” She turned around and lazily leaned on the desk. “Noelle’s found her brother, and she’s none too happy about it. I think the sooner we make this happen the better.”

As reluctant as I had been before, it was fading. Maybe I was getting used to her, or maybe I’d hoped that shit like this wouldn’t happen. I didn’t want anyone in my “family” visiting me at work, but I wasn’t in a position to lay any ground rules, was I? Either way, maybe new living arrangements would at the very least prevent the need for things like this to happen. And maybe the idea of Noelle having a brother she didn’t want would help serve as a wedge to drive her away from Gayle and toward me.

Okay, then, when?
“My doors are open, but I might need something to help with.. security. Might I borrow a syringe?”
Right here? but before I could finish the statement her appearance had simply flickered and a needle was now in my arm pulling blood from my antecubital. I rolled my eyes as she finished, unscrewed the needle and capped the syringe.
“Dinner, tomorrow night, just us. My place?” She waved briefly and practically disappeared before my eyes. I quickly grabbed the needle tip, clicked the safety and held it in my palm.

I opened the compact to check my lipstick, smacked my lips together and snapped it shut. Another night, another show at the hospital to meet one of my contacts. It was crazy what people, even medical professionals, would do sometimes to get a hit. Trading a vial of something that gave one high for a supply of something else was an easy trick, and a visiting a comatose John Doe under the guise of being his wife the perfect way in. Vampire blood might have been considered more rare, but the product the addicted doctor traded it for was a lot easier and cleaner to sell at the point I was at in Index, still broadening my horizons.

My silver bracelets clinked when I walked and I almost strode straight past a known customer. I didn't tend to sell the stuff myself because I already had people to do the lowest of my dirty work, but I still knew who was using, the easy targets. I grinned and slowed to greet her.   Miss Frederick.. Brenda. I finished when I remembered her first name, my smile widening but my eyes narrowing. Hopefully the small talk, as dire as it was with a human such as this, would remind her who I was. I was aware there were a few other small time suppliers in the town - competition and there was an obvious reason she'd be at the hospital and what she'd be after next. You don't look so good. You should give Johnny a call, I'll tell him to give you a special discount.

Rather than fall at my feet in worshiping appreciate as I'd expected, the woman shook her head. No. I'm not going to use again. I'm going to rehab. She said, without properly looking at me, and walked on.

I stared after her, my eyes narrowing further, but I didn't bother following. She wasn't the first user to display such behavior in the last few months. A few and it seemed strange, more than a handful and it was damn suspicious. Whatever it was influencing the low-lifes to get out of their habits, it wasn't their godforsaken selves for sure. It was something else.

I changed my path, veering into the ER department that she'd just walked out of. A sudden breeze through the windowless, draft-less corridor had my eyes narrowing further. Jackpot. That was fast... old. My pace didn't quicken though, I just kept walking usually, my heels clicking along the linoleum. I withdrew my phone from my purse, opened the camera and set it to record a video, and rang a number I knew to be dead. It went straight to voicemail.

I put the phone against my ear and pushed through the last set of doors that led into the ER department. There was a desk, a few chairs with people waiting that I swept my gaze over for just a second. It could be any of them. I stepped to the side of the doors, keeping my eyes down. Can you call me as soon as you can, Derek. I spoke into my phone, pretending to sniff. I got a call from the ER... I paused to take a breath, slowly turning to face the wall as if out of embarrassment, seeking privacy. In reality the movement meant the camera on my phone got a good sweep of the room. I just really need you to call me. I continued talking to the dead line. I glanced over my shoulder, once, then twice, my gaze narrowing at the couple at the desk. The woman stood out easily from the rest of the public and I angled my phone camera towards her. Just call me when you can... I said into the phone.

I glanced over to the desk a second later and the woman was gone. I locked my phone, ending the ridiculous fake phone call but, taking a second to make sure the video saved before placing it back in my purse. I'd have to wait to watch it later, if it even caught anything. I took a breath, pretending to compose myself, and walked up to the desk. I hovered a second, taking in the needle tip in the man's hand. Excuse me, are you a doctor? I asked, looking his casual appearance up and down very obviously to make a point and making sure not to look him directly in the eyes - just in case.

I watched the woman, who almost stood out as much as Gayle had. Most people here at this time of night were in pajamas, sweats, maybe jeans and a tee. Granted there were exceptions, people who had been here all day, who had to run here after work, and had never went home to change into something more comfortable for.. waiting area accommodations. But that wasn’t the only fishy thing about her. Whatever her game was, she clearly did not expect that I had extraordinary hearing, and that I could tell that there was no one on the other end of her phone. It had almost even confused me and relieved me at first. It was just one less thing to hear and to have to work to tune out - but why was it missing? What the hell did she want?

It depends on what you want, I answered when she finally came to me. I shoved my hands in my pockets, dropping the needle off in a safe spot until I could reach a sharps container. Now was decision time. Did I care why she was having a fake phone conversation? Just an attempt to bypass the people in the waiting area so she can get whatever drug it was she wanted? This could be over just as quickly as it started, but she was avoiding my eyes as well. Intentional or not, it meant I had to make conversation. I leaned against the desk, now that I wasn’t going anywhere just yet. So what is it? If you want drugs you can get in line with the rest of ‘em in triage.

I didn't have to act out my affrontment. I knew better than a lot of people that any class of person could be an addict, but the fact I looked like one cheap enough to try and score free drugs from the hospital was enough to have me clenching my jaw. I wanted to blow my story and lord another over this man, perhaps that I was a hospital inspector, get him to squirm, but I just gritted my teeth in a smile and stuck to the plan.

I'm not after drugs, do I look like I am? I let out a dry laugh. Asshole. Actually, I'm on my way to visit a relative in another part of the hospital and I was wondering where the bathroom was, if you'd be kind enough to tell me? I got a bit lost trying to find one down here. I batted my eyelashes at the spot between his eyes, close enough that anyone else might actually think I was making eye contact, and leaned my elbows on the desk. I glanced down his torso, my eyes following the lanyard hung around his neck that held some hospital ID. I'm sorry for bothering you, Dr Reese. You must be having a tough night. Reese... it wasn't all that unusual, but where else did I know that name? I finally let my eyes meet his, watching him, judging. He didn't look familiar - just fairly attractive, especially as far as doctors went.

Do I look like I was born yesterday? I’d had this interaction with so many people I didn’t even tense up with the confrontation. I just wanted the conversation to be over so I could finish my shit and be on my way out of here as soon as my shift was up. Her explanation was… well I didn’t care if it was authentic, it hopefully meant she would be out of my hair soon. Still, there was that part of me that was forever sick of people thinking they were pulling something on me, and I had to make sure she knew I wasn’t the typical oblivious moron.

You’ll have to understand your false phone conversation has me questioning your motives. There are bathrooms in the waiting room, just through those double doors. I pointed with my thumb and started to move when it was made apparent she was going nowhere. She wanted to make small talk. Scratch that - I doubted she actually wanted to, but there was something that she wanted from me she hadn’t gotten yet.

Had she just left me the fuck alone then I wouldn’t have tried any shit, but now that she was here and the opportunity was here, I took it. With her eyes finally on mine, I met hers and gave my instructions.

Tell me what it is that you want from me.