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I shifted, wishing I’d brought a book with me, when a movement across the street caught my eye. Quick it was, so quick I knew it couldn’t be human. My serial kil er? Leaping out of my Jag, I glanced back at the manhole. It would take Ivana some time to work her way through there. Surely I had enough time.
Without a second thought, I raced across the street and gave chase into the park.
CHAPTER 16
As I ran, my feet flying over the snow-clad sidewalk, a thousand thoughts fil ed my head. Usual y my sisters were with me when I was about to face a major foe. Usual y we took things on together.
Right now, the best I could hope for was that it took Ivana a lot longer in the tunnels than it had taken in the diner. Of course, if she brought the roof down, it might take her out and I’d never have to worry about her again.
My quarry dodged off the sidewalk into a patch of undergrowth, and I fol owed. I couldn’t hear him, but the fleeing blur—the quicksilver movement—spel ed vampire to me. As I went plowing through a hedgerow, I slowed to a walk. One wrong skewer of a bare branch could act like a stake. Not so good for continued existence. Fighting my way past the last part of the hedge, I stumbled out into a circular clearing. Benches curved around the center fountain, which was turned off for the winter. On the other side stood another figure, but it wasn’t the one I’d seen before. No, I was staring at Wade.
“Wade? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I was out looking for your pervert,” he said, as we met by the fountain. “I saw someone come through the hedge, but then . . . I don’t know what happened, but he vanished. I know some vampires can turn invisible, but they’re rare.”
“Rare is right, and that skil usual y takes a long time to master. If this was our suspect, he’d have to be a lot older than we think he is.” I dropped to the edge of the fountain, sitting on the snowy rim. Wade joined me.
“I talked to Erin at the bar tonight,” he said.
Glancing at him, I gave him a weary smile. I wasn’t physical y tired, but the stress was catching up with me. “And?”
“She’l move into Sassy’s mansion once we get it outfitted. Meanwhile, I’ve asked her to come over and help us turn it into the haven we need. With her experience running a business during life, she could be a damned good project manager. I guess I should have asked your permission first, but it just seemed—”
“Perfect. Which it is. That’s fine, I real y hated seeing her waste her time cleaning the Wayfarer.
You’l send an escort with her to and from work each night? She’s stil so unaccustomed to being out on her own.”
He nodded. “I understand. And yes, in fact, I think she and Brett might get along. Both misfits.
He’s been a vampire for longer than I have, to be honest, so he’l do just fine on helping her adjust.”
“Brett . . . he stil on his superhero craze?” Brett was young when he was turned—in his early twenties. He’d been a comic book fan and had always wanted to be a superhero, so now he went around dressed as his alter ego, Vamp-Bat, looking for ways to use his life as a vampire to help people. He’d saved several women from being raped and a handful of citizens from being mugged, and he fed only on blood bank blood except when he couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, but it’s actual y good for him. Keeps him on the straight and narrow. Just like having a job wil help keep Erin focused. I truly believe one of Sassy’s problems was that she eschewed any real work. I tried to give her jobs within the VA, but she would get distracted. She never had to hold a job in her life, thanks to her parents’ money and then her late husband’s inheritance, and a a job in her life, thanks to her parents’ money and then her late husband’s inheritance, and a vampire with too much time on his or her hands is a vampire headed for trouble.”
“You’re right. Erin’s smart. She needs to be occupied, and she knows it.” I glanced around. “So, no idea where our runner went?”
Wade shook his head. “No, but I’l keep my eyes open on the way out. What are you doing here?”
I quickly ran down the events of the evening.
“Not Morio—he’s such a good guy. Crap. Wel , I’l see what I can find out about whoever was in the park tonight. I guess I’d better get moving. My thoughts are with your sister and her youkai.”
“I’d better get back.” Ivana wouldn’t wait forever, and I hoped I’d get back so she wouldn’t have to wait at al . The last thing I needed was for her to feel like I’d inconvenienced her. I brushed the snow off my shoulders. “Hey, Wade—”
He held up his hand, smiling. “It’s good to be talking again.”
“Yeah, I’ve missed it.”
“Me, too. Later.” And then he was gone.
I took another spin around the area and then headed back to the car. I’d barely reached the Jag when Ivana emerged from the tunnel in a cloud of sparkling dust. Her silver staff glowed like a light saber.
Silently, I handed her the second bag of beef. I didn’t have to ask if she’d gathered the spirits.
The satisfied look on her face told me what I needed to know. I wanted to ask her if she’d seen anything indicating my serial kil er down below, but that would entail yet another bargain. One thing I’d learned in my evening with Ivana was that the Elder Fae do nothing without payment.
I didn’t thank her, but instead, slowly backed away toward my Jag. Ivana started down the street, grocery bags in tow. Then, she paused, turning back to me.
