Blood Red (30 page)

“Can a cop buy a guy a beers?”

Sean motioned to the bartender, who set another beer in front of the blond man. “This is it,” he said, wincing. “I may never drink again. Worse than that, I may be afraid to get laid for the rest of my life.”

“Tell me.”

“She was gorgeous. We met in some bar. Started talking, drinking. She knew music…we danced. Drank some more. Then she told me she had a room. Next thing I know, she's trying to rip my throat out.”

“And then?”

“Some guy bursts into the room and they go at it—and I got the hell out. She was scary crazy. She'd had her teeth sharpened or something. And she must have been on steroids, because she was stronger than any guy I ever met. Stronger than the entire football team.”

“What about the guy who burst in on you? What happened to him?”

“I don't know. Like I said, I got the hell out. That's the truth, I swear it. Please…that's all I know. I've never run so fast in my life. Please, don't arrest me. I wasn't doing anything illegal.”

“I'm not going to arrest you,” Sean told him.

The kid lowered his head. “After this bear, I'll never drink again, and I'll never pick up a strange girl again, either. I don't care how good she looks.”

Sean set a hand on the other man's shoulder. “I wouldn't go telling all your buds on the team about this, if I were you.”

The young man looked at him with sheer horror. “Oh, God, no!”

“Good. Here's my card. You have any more trouble, give me a call.”

“Thanks.” The kid offered his hand. “I'm Nate Herman. And…thanks. I don't know who that guy was, but…he saved my life. I'm telling you, she had
fangs.
And she wanted to rip my throat out.”

“Why don't you finish up that beer and I'll drop you off at your dorm?”

When they left, the sun was coming up.

Sean was relieved but still wary.

The sun was no guarantee the world was a safe place. He knew that all too well.

Lauren wouldn't have believed it was possible, but she actually fell back to sleep. Mark was glad; she had seemed keyed up but, beneath that, extremely tired.

As for Deanna…

With Jonas in the house, she seemed to have made a miraculous recovery. The nurse who'd come by a little while ago had told them that she didn't think Deanna needed continued medical visitations. That was a relief, Mark thought. He didn't like having outsiders in the house.

It was midmorning before he got the chance to talk to Jonas. And that was after he spent some time on the phone with Sean Canady, who asked him to try hard not to break any more windows. Or to fall four floors from a building and then put a stake through what appeared to be a young woman's heart in public.

“Glad you're all right,” Sean said as the conversation drew to a close. “And, by the way, I've asked Maggie to stop by Montresse House later today. She can take some of the stress off the others, let them have a little break.”

Mark let out a breath, thinking how grateful he was to the cop. With Maggie in the house, he wouldn't be so worried about leaving. He felt tremendous faith in this woman who had actually
been
a vampire, thought he still didn't understand how it was possible that she had reverted to humanity.

I never actually died,
she had told him.

Therein must lie the difference. He'd seen a lot through the years, but nothing like Maggie Canady. However, once they had talked, he hadn't been able to doubt her.

“All right, where were you?” he asked Jonas, when he was alone with him at the kitchen table at last.

“I'd been at the hospital, and something didn't seem right.”

“As in…?”

Jonas looked at him, cocking his head at an angle. “I just…sensed something wasn't right. So I went into the hallway and I saw a doctor. But he
wasn't
a doctor, you know? Anyway, I started following him. He headed out to the parking garage. It was a trap. A whole gang of them lit on me. I managed to get away, but I was messed up pretty bad, and I didn't think I'd make it. Anyway, I must have passed out. I wound up in the emergency room. As soon as I could, I escaped, but by then…the whole hospital had gone nuts. I was on my way here, ‘cuz I overheard someone saying Deanna had been taken here, when I ran into Stephan's…general, I guess you'd call him. And I took him out.”

Jonas sounded proud, and if what he said was true, Mark supposed he had a right to. But was it true?

Or was it all a clever act?

Mark leaned back, staring at him. He looked fine right now, wearing one of Bobby's freshly pressed shirts and chinos.

What he looked like didn't mean a damned thing.

“So how are you doing now?” Mark asked.

“Good. I'm in good shape,” Jonas said.

Mark drummed his fingers on the table, studying the man. He wasn't leaving him here. Not when he was going out, even if Maggie Canady
was
coming by.

“So you think Stephan got into the hospital by dressing up in a doctor's uniform?”

“I'm willing to bet. Who wouldn't open the door for a doctor?”

Mark pulled out his cell phone and made a call to the hospital. He asked for Leticia Lockwood's room.

Judy Lockwood answered. She sounded pleased to hear his voice. “Leticia seems to be doing much better. She isn't actually coherent yet, but she
has
opened her eyes a few times. She seems bewildered, poor dear. But we're just fine. Mighty kind of you to ask.”

He hesitated, then said, “Judy, you have to be careful about letting anyone into the room—including the doctors. Never actually ask anyone in, okay?”

He heard her soft chuckle on the other end. “Silly man, I know that,” she assured him. “And I have that nice officer's card if I get worried, and your number, too. Don't you go being worried about me. I know what I'm up against”

“I'm glad to hear it, Ms. Lockwood. Thank you.”

He closed his phone, studying Jonas again.

“We're going to take a ride.”

“Shouldn't I stay here?”

“Hell no.”

“You still don't trust me.”

“I don't know you.”

Jonas shrugged. “Fair enough. Where are we going?”

“I told you. For a ride. No questions. You still look a little rough around the edges, so you can rest while I drive.”

“Mind if I tell Deanna I'm going out?”

“Sure. I'll walk you up there.”

He watched from the hallway while Jonas went in to talk to Deanna. Heidi was sitting with her, which didn't seem to be the safest combination in the world, but Big Jim was there, too, so he decided things would probably be fine.

He left Jonas to his goodbyes and went into his own room.

Lauren was still sound asleep in his bed. She was so beautiful, her hair like sunshine splashed across the pillows. He leaned down and kissed her brow. She smiled, as if, even in her sleep she was aware he was there.

He met Jonas in the hallway. “Let's go,” he said.

“I'm right behind you.”

“I like it better when you're right in front of me,” Mark countered.

Once they were out of the city, Jonas looked at him. “What are you looking for?” he asked.

Mark hesitated. “Anything that looks like it's been abandoned but's suddenly in use. Like a car in front of a condemned building, anything like that.”

“Like beer bottles on an overgrown lawn?” Jonas asked.

“Yeah, exactly,” Mark said.

“Turn around then. We just passed one.”

Lauren was surprised when she woke and walked into Deanna's room to find Deanna asleep and a strange woman sitting with her. She had auburn hair, darker than her own, and fantastic eyes that seemed both green and gold. She had been reading, but she set her book down and stood.

“Hi. You have to be Lauren. I'm Maggie Canady.”

“The lieutenant's wife?”

“Yes.” Maggie offered her a hand, and Lauren took it. “Actually, I think I've seen you before.”

“Oh?” Lauren murmured warily. Had this woman known Katie, too?

“You've been in my shop. I own a clothing store.”

“Oh, my God, yes!” Lauren said. She should have recognized the woman's face, she thought. There was a painting of her in the store, wearing a costume. Civil War era, Lauren thought. It was a beautiful painting. She had admired it often.

“Great shop. I go there practically every time I come here. I feel like I've been going there since I was a child.”

“It's been in the family,” Maggie said.

Deanna moved on the bed but didn't awaken.

“She looks great,” Maggie said. “Especially for being nearly drained by a vampire.”

Lauren blinked. “You…know?”

“Yes, and I'm here to help,” Maggie told her. “Trust me, I know what I'm doing.”

There was something about the way she spoke; Lauren
did
believe her.

“I'm glad you're here. Is…Mark still here?”

“He left with Jonas.”

“Oh. Heidi?”

“Asleep in her own room.” Maggie smiled. “It's a very tired household this morning. Bobby is puttering around in the kitchen. At least he's awake.” She smiled. “He's assigned to watch the house. I'm not sure how Sean manages stuff like that with his superiors on the force, but…he's a good cop, and they give him a lot of leeway.”

Lauren nodded, feeling more secure knowing there were cops who knew what to watch out for. Mark had been right. They didn't dare leave until Stephan was stopped. She was more afraid than ever, after last night, certain that sooner or later he would find her.

“Well, I'm awake, but I have to admit, going back to sleep this morning was wonderful. Right now, though, I need to go to the library.”

Maggie frowned instantly. “You can't go anywhere alone.”

“Since Big Jim and Bobby are here, do you want to come with me?” She smiled. “I'm willing to bet there are tanks of holy water in this house. I have a water pistol—and I know how to use it,” she said lightly. “I'm sure you do, too.”

Maggie looked thoughtful as she studied Lauren and said, “I have a feeling you're going to the library with or without company. Why?”

“There's something I have to look up. It's important. This all began with a fortune-teller. She made a few comments about things I need to know.”

Maggie's brow furrowed. “It's so important that you'd leave the house now?”

“Yes,” Lauren said firmly.

“All right. I'll get Big Jim up here. We'll go together. Go get your purse, or whatever you'll need. I'll meet you downstairs in a minute.”

“Thanks.”

Apparently there really was a vat of holy water in the house somewhere, because when Lauren got downstairs, Maggie was supplied with a number of water pistols, four in all, two for each of them. She handed Lauren a small container of something else.

“What's this?” Lauren asked.

“Toothpicks,” Maggie explained.

“Toothpicks?” Lauren repeated, confused.

“They don't kill, but they hurt a vampire like hell. Especially if you catch one in the eyes. I always keep a few in my pockets. So…you wearing your cross?”

“I am.”

“Are you two off?” Bobby Munro asked, coming in from the kitchen. “I'm not sure this is such a great idea. Don't be gone for more than a few hours,” he said firmly.

Maggie laughed. “Don't worry, Bobby. I have to be back before church camp ends. My kids,” she explained to Lauren. “I have three. And I wouldn't leave them at all right now if it weren't for church camp.”

“Call,” Bobby said. “If you need me.”

“You bet,” Maggie assured him.

With a wave, she started out the door. Lauren gave Bobby a cheerful wave, as well, and followed.

Mark made a U-turn. A minute later he saw the place Bobby had been talking about. It was dark, two storied, and looked as if it had been built in the Victorian era. There had once been a wrap-around porch, but most of it was gone now. There was still evidence of ginger-breading on the trim. One step leading up to the front door was gone.

But the lawn showed signs of activity.

A rum bottle. Two beer cans and a half dozen beer bottles.

As they walked across the lawn, Mark noticed that someone had recently created a makeshift barbecue; an old oven grill had been placed between sticks over a bed of coals.