The Vampire Next Door (32 page)

“Too bad. I’d have bought the stuff for him just to have one less vampire in the building.”

Merry gasped. “There’s more than one?”

He chuckled. “No, not that I know of. But considering the folks that are attracted to living here…”

She blew out a breath. “Whew. You scared me for a minute.”

“Sorry, so go back to the weird story.”

“Yeah. They tried mixing some of the wine with the whiskey and it didn’t go well. As Nathan put it… ick, never mind.”

“So Nathan knew about it too? Did anyone bother to tell Jules?”

“Apparently he discovered it on his own and dismantled it.”

“Good. Seems like it could have been more than a legal hazard.”

“Yeah, but they’re back to square one. Apparently Morgaine had a psychic flash and knows how to make it now. They have to make their own wine and add a little of the vampire cure to it. If it ferments together, the whole bottle becomes the curative stuff.”

“Doesn’t it get diluted though?”

“No. Apparently it’s like sourdough bread in that way.”

Jason’s brows knit. “Huh? I don’t bake, sweetheart.”

She chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Well it’s the same principle. If you add a little of the old mixture to the new, it keeps it going.”

“And going and going and going?”

“Exactly.”

“And you wanted to ask me something. No, let me guess. You want to know if they can set up a winery in the basement.”

She grinned and batted her eyelashes at him.

“Oh, man. I know you so well.”

“Not a whole winery. It turns out that making wine for your own consumption is easy and legal. And it isn’t dangerous like a still would be.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“So do they have your permission to make the wine and store it in the basement? Apparently the cool temperature down there is ideal.”

He leaned over and rested his head in his hands. “Will I ever be able to say no to you?”

“Maybe if you don’t love me anymore.”

“Then I’m doomed. Because that’s never going to happen.”

She leaned over him and hugged his back. “Good.”

He sat up and gave her a real hug. Then he leaned back and looked her in the eye. “You said there were a couple of things…”

“Gwyneth told me something about Jules that was a little upsetting.”

“Yeah? What?”

“Well, Gwyneth said Morgaine suspects Jules of falsifying his résumé. As Gwyneth put it, ‘He couldn’t fix a sink with a bottle of Drano.’”

“Oh, boy.” Jason rose and began to pace. “It’s a little late to check his references now, isn’t it?”

“Did he give any references other than your uncle Ralph?”

Jason strode to his desk. “I barely glanced at his resume. I took Ralph at his word.”

“And Ralph probably believed whatever Jules told him. What if he’s a pathological liar? They can be very convincing. If something breaks…”

Jason pawed through the drawer until he found the folder he wanted. “Okay, under references it says he has twelve years of experience in apartment building maintenance at 70 Rowes Wharf. Why does that address sound familiar?”

“It sounds like it’s down on the waterfront.”

“It is.” Jason opened his laptop. “Let me check it out.”

A few minutes and keystrokes later, he said, “Ah ha! No wonder that address sounded familiar. It’s a seafood restaurant. One of the team’s favorites.”

Merry gaped. “So it’s not an apartment building at all?”

“Nope. Apparently, ol’ Jules did lie on his résumé. There’s a contact name and number here. Maybe I’ll call and ask about him just for kicks.”

“Yeah, I think we should, just to be thorough before we speak to him.”

Jason groaned. “Oh, crap. If it doesn’t pan out, one of us will have to fire him. You know how much I hate confrontation.”

“Maybe we should talk to him before we fire him. And if it comes down to that, don’t worry, I’ll do it.”

Jason grinned at her. “You complete me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just dial the number.”

He chuckled and used his cell phone to place the call. It must have rung a few times with no one picking up. Eventually Jason put his phone away. “The number he gave is disconnected.”

“Oh, no.”

“I guess we’d better go have a chat with him. Then we can start the happy process of looking for another maintenance man.” He rolled his eyes.

Merry snapped her fingers. “Wait a minute. I have an idea.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Hey, when have I ever steered you wrong?”

He shrugged. “Never, I guess. Okay, let’s hear it.”

“Sly was an electromechanical engineer before he was turned. He wants to earn his rent. Why don’t we ask him if he can do building maintenance?”

Jason’s eyes lit up. “You might have something there. Why don’t you find out, and then we’ll have a talk with Jules.”

Just then Max began to fuss in his crib.

“Okay. Right after lunch. It sounds like Max is ready for his.”

“Can I watch?” Jason waggled his eyebrows.

“You’ll do anything to get an eyeful of my massive jugs, won’t you?

Jason chuckled. “You know it.”

Sly opened his apartment door after a loud knock. It was such a relief not to worry about Malvant being on the other side.

“Merry! How nice to see you. Come in. How’s the baby. How are
all
of you?”

She smiled. “We’re fine. I have to talk to you about something though. May I sit down?”

“Of course.” Sly led her to his sofa in front of the fireplace.

“Would you like some heat? I can build a fire.”

She chuckled. “That isn’t necessary unless you want one for yourself and Morgaine. Is she here?”

“No, she’s upstairs in her own apartment. She needed a… rest.”

Merry smiled. “I’ll bet.”

If Sly could have blushed, he would have. Instead he changed the subject. “So, what’s on your mind?”

“Well, we’re not certain about this, so keep it under your hat…”

“Of course. What is it?”

“We think maybe Jules lied on his résumé. We’re not sure he’s qualified to do building maintenance.”

“Seriously? What a weasel.” He raised one eyebrow. “Shall I go have a talk with him?”

“No. I’ll do that in a few minutes. I just wanted to ask. If it turns out we have to fire him, would you like the job? I was thinking, with your background as an electromechanical engineer, I imagine you’re pretty handy…”

A job? Right here in the building? Something I can do and help out my daughter at the same time?

“I’d be delighted to do it. And as far as building maintenance, I maintained the home your mother and I lived in for five years. Plus, I’m ridiculously strong. I could lift the dryers to clean out the dust bunnies behind them.”

Merry laughed. “No need to go crazy. I just thought I’d ask you first. You’d really be helping us out.”

“And I wouldn’t feel like such a freeloader. I actually came up with a part-time gig—well, Gwyneth and Nathan thought of it—but I can do it from here. I distributed some flyers around the college campuses offering my services as a tutor.”

Her expression lit up. “That’s great! Since the super’s job comes with a free apartment, you’ll have free rent and spending money too.”

“Sounds good to me. When can I start?”

“Well, I have to talk to Jules first, and I imagine he’ll need a little time to find another place. We won’t just kick him out with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, I’ll tell him about your wine cellar and ask him to leave it alone.”

“You know about the wine?”

“Yes, Gwyneth told me everything. Sly, if you can make a cure that’s great, but if you can’t…” She shifted uncomfortably. “Well, just know that Jason is ready to pay for the stuff from New York.”

“No.” Sly held up one hand as if saying,
halt right there
. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s more than I can accept. Besides, Morgaine is fairly certain this new batch will do the trick. It’s almost ready. I’ll test it tomorrow, just before sunrise.”

“Terrific. Would it be okay if I visit during your test? I’ll be up with Max anyway.”

“Why not? Let’s invite the whole gang.”

“I really hope it works.”

“You and me both.”

*   *   *   *

Merry found Jules not in his own apartment, but in Lillian’s. The door was wide open. He wielded a handheld belt sander and appeared to be trying to scuff the hell out of the hardwood floor.

“Jules? What are you doing?”

He whipped around and stared at her, wide eyed and openmouthed. “Uh, um, Mrs. Falco. I didn’t see you there.”

“I was about to look for you at your place, but I spotted you here. What happened to the floor?

He set down the belt sander and rose. “Oh, nothing. Just giving the floors a little freshening up.”

“I may not know a whole lot about building maintenance, but even I know you’re not supposed to use a hand sander on floors. How could you keep them even? Ever hear of ‘the right tool for the right job’?”

He waved away her comment. “Ah, it’s nothing. I’ve done it about a hundred times. Once you’re that good at something, you don’t need the right tools anymore.”

Merry stepped into his space, and he backed away. She slid the toe of her shoe over the place he had sanded and felt quite a dip.

“Jules, I don’t think you know what you’re doing. You’ve gouged this floor. And since when did it need freshening up? It was perfect when Lillian moved in.”

He shifted his feet nervously. “Yeah, well, Lily had a little accident.”

“An accident? Is she okay?”

Just then a moan came from the direction of the bedroom. “Oh, dear! She’s hurt.” As Merry dashed to the bedroom door and yanked it open, she started to ask Jules, “Why didn’t you tell—”

She stopped short. Lily and some guy were kneeling on the bed, naked. If Merry wasn’t mistaken, he was giving it to her doggy style.

Their gazes met for a moment, then the guy continued his rhythm.

Nope, I wasn’t mistaken
. Her cheeks heated, and she closed the door quietly.

She returned to the living room only to find Jules cleaning up and putting away the sander.

“Did you know they were in there?”

“Yeah. How else could she make the money to pay me with no job?”

Merry shook her head hard, trying to clear it. “Are you telling me that what I just saw was… is… Lily’s a prostitute?”

Jules nodded slowly. “Why? Is that bad? I thought it was the oldest profession.”

She crossed her arms. “It’s only illegal and unhealthy. We can’t let her break the law in our building.”

“But the third-floor tenants sell phone sex. Why is this so much worse?”

“Because that isn’t illegal and it doesn’t spread STDs.” Merry sighed. Obviously this guy hadn’t the faintest idea where to draw the line and how to maintain a legal residence.

“Jules?”

“Yes.”

“You’re fired. And when you see Lily, tell her she can expect an eviction notice too. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be upstairs writing your final check.”

“Huh?” Jules tipped his head, looking genuinely puzzled.

“Did you understand what I just said?”

“You said I’m fired, but it’s Lily who’s setting fires.”

Merry stepped back and rested her palm on her hip. “Are you kidding me?” She pointed to the scuffed spots on the floor. “This is fire damage?”

Jules grimaced. “Uh, yeah. I thought you knew.”

“Obviously not. Why…?” Merry paused, then remembered they lived in Freak Central. “I mean, how did this happen? What is she?”

Jules shrugged one shoulder. “She’s a call girl—and a dragon. Sometimes she sneezes fire.”

Merry’s breath lodged in her throat. “Don’t move.” She ran for the door but stopped when she reached it and pivoted. “Unless it’s to pack your things and get out.”

*   *   *   *

Sly stopped reading, laid the book face down to hold his place, and strolled over to answer the knock at his door.

“Merry, you’re back. Did Jules have anything to say for himself?”

Merry sagged against the doorjamb. “Oh, Sly. I hate to put you on the spot so soon, but do you think you could go upstairs and keep an eye on the second-floor apartments, just for a few minutes?”

“Sure. Why? Was he a jackass about it? Are you afraid he’ll vandalize the place?”

“No. Well, not on purpose and no more than he already has.”

Sly zoomed around Merry and up the stairs faster than she could say, “Please.”

Morgaine was just descending the stairs, and they met in the middle. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “I sensed some very unsettled energy.”

“Stick around. I may need you.” He pounded on the door to 2B, Jules’s apartment. There was no answer.
He must be at Lily’s. That’s why Merry said to keep an eye on both places.

Sly strode across the hall and banged on 2A.

Lily opened the door a crack and peered through it.

“Step back,” Sly said authoritatively.

Lily took a giant step backward and waited for Sly to come in. He couldn’t enter without being invited, but did she know that?

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“No,” she answered meekly and pulled her robe tighter.

Morgaine strolled over to Sly and placed a calming hand on his arm.