Tenzin Dorji

Normally, Susette would not question him. He was her superior, and what he asked wouldn’t be something she could push back against. The phrasing, however, was curious. He thought it best. He was possibly handling her gently, something she wouldn’t expect, or the situation was too muddled for the draconian certainty she expected from him.

“Sir?” was her only question, then. If he did not wish to clarify, then he would not.

His head tilted just slightly to one side, but his tone remained even. “He is currently under the purview of another. It’s imperative that you not interfere.”

“Yes, sir.” Susette confirmed. “The first was intentional.” She did not expand on this; he had her report. “The second was accidental.” Again, she did not expand on this; she had spoken to Tenzin on the phone during. “The third, he was in the vicinity of a lead I was following. I investigated his purpose to ensure I did not make another mistake as in the second time I had encountered him.”

If Isfet had informed Tenzin of her warnings, there was little she could do about it. She would report the events, and he would pass his judgment.

A citizen. Susette could quickly narrow down the possibilities. However, guessing or assuming would waste Tenzin’s time. It was paramount that she not do that.

“Which citizen, sir?” Was all she asked. It was a way to show she was paying attention, that she would follow his lead. That was all.

Susette was punctual as predicted, with ample planning ahead for the regimented dance steps of announcements and entrances. Tenzin was not one to make wait, or to inconvenience with an early arrival. It would waste both their time if she was not exacting.

There were many reasons he might have called her, Susette considered. There was simply further briefing, more information on her goal. There may be questions into her activities, the files she’d requisitioned, the people she’d spoken to. All had their place and their purpose. Tenzin, most likely, could appreciate that. Even if she was losing faith in his motives and morals.

When she entered, she stood at an easy attention, face neutral. There was no need to announce herself–the assistant had done that for her. He knew she was there, and she would wait until he chose to acknowledge it.

“Ah, Susette. Thank you for coming in today.” Tenzin finished another signature, and set it aside. His loosely clasped hands rested on the desk top now.

He did not offer her a seat.

Tenzin sat at his desk, stacks of papers spread out in neat piles. He had a computer, had access to all the tech he needed, but for some things, he preferred the tactile medium of paper and ink. An electronic signature meant nothing to him.

He would be having a brief meeting soon, but it required little preparation. He would simply continue to work until Susette arrived, no doubt punctually.

He would be notified of her arrival, and she would be allowed in by his assistant. The whole operation was unremarkable at an initial glance. The skyscraper office worked under the guise of a financial consulting firm, one successful and coveted enough that it was nearly impossible to secure a meeting to actually discuss finances, unless you were already part of the vast Regulator network that helped maintain such facades. That Tenzin Dorji also kept his own personal network of political and financial persons only helped the illusion.

The glittering lights of Maroa sparkled up at Lorna, the little indicators of peoples’ lives and movements in the vast city moving and blinking and dimming anonymously below her. Although the 25th floor sky lobby was far from the pinnacle of the sky scraping office building, it still offered a wondrous view of the city streets, as well as a peek at the ocean beyond.

Even though it was late, there were still a few stragglers only now making their way out of the building. This time of year provided the perfect timing to marvel at a colorful sunset-painted sky for the few employees who had the mind to linger for it. The last of the sun’s golden hues had finally fallen below the horizon behind now, though, and the muddied blue of the night ahead was melting in to take its place.

“Yes, sir.” Susette did not elaborate.

“Then that is what you will report. I will deal with the rest. Let him walk.”

A pause. “I see.” Another pause. “And how shall I put this in my report?” Only Isfet would see the brightening intensity of the eyes, an unnatural glow beyond the usual.

Isfet was looking away. He couldn’t really hear the other end of the conversation, but he got the gist of it. He hoped.

“Sir.” Susette’s tone was formal, professional. “I have here a vampire named Isaac. The one whom assaulted a civilian,” there may have been some subtle extra stress on the word, glossed over quickly, “and ex-sanguinated a human. Under questioning he reported this was per your directive.”

A pause. “I’m confirming this before bringing him in for the aforementioned charges.”

There was a long silence. If Isfet didn’t know better he would swear the temperature dropped a few degrees in the interim.

Isfet’s mouth twitched in frustration. A large piece of ash fell from the still-lit but neglected cigarette he’d all but forgotten about. Didn’t seem like he had much choice now.

“Tenzin,” he nearly spat. Felt for a moment like he was in free-fall and if he could take the name back now maybe he would. But he couldn’t, so, “Tenzin Dorji. He sent me.”

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Tenzin. Susette flinched for the first time, patient serenity broken for a furrowed brow. She took a breath and let it blow slowly out of her nose.

“Thank you. Stay there a moment, please.” She pulled her phone out and dialed for Tenzin’s line herself. It was far too early for this, but if this was his doing, then he could bear the imposition.

Isfet couldn’t help his upper lip from curling in distaste at the thought. But he got the point. He was not a Regulator, and as far as anyone knew, as far as anyone was supposed to know, he didn’t work for them either. And frankly, he didn’t want to. This gig was bad enough as it was, but at least he didn’t have to interact with the rest of the stiffs Tenzin was pulling the strings on, or whatever the fuck his job was.

“What about the other Regs you got lurking on Fumblr?”

There was a long silence, and only when he realized Tenzin wasn’t going to break it did Isfet speak up. “So… now what?” He felt like an idiot for asking it, but that’s probably what the Regulator wanted, anyway. If he had to guess, he’d be moving back out of the city. Maybe to Southridge. That had been their tentative next step after he’d successfully smothered the little uprising that had sparked up two counties over, before Tenzin had decided to tackle bigger fish. Or maybe out of state, give him more literal distance from this situation, and from the Regulator himself.

Isfet nearly fell out of his chair when Tenzin replied. “You’re staying here.”

He leaned forward. “Here?” He nearly sputtered. “In Maroa? And do what? They know me now!”

Tenzin wasn’t moved. “Maroa is a big city. Do you mean to imply the only problem you’ve found after all this time is a group of public social-media posts?” Isfet leaned back a bit.

“You know that’s not—”

“Has everyone you’ve tracked, everyone you’ve eliminated since coming here been connected to this one small, ragtag little group that hasn’t even gotten their feet off the ground?”

“No… but-“