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Nerissa snorted. “Oh, the Pride’s open to bisexual shamans, but they aren’t fond of the concept when it trickles down into the main population, and you guys know what they think about you three.
I get snide comments every day, and I’m sick and tired of it. This afternoon, I went back for a final look at a condo that caught my eye earlier this month. I’ve had it inspected, and it passed, so it looks like I’m buying my own place not two miles from here.”
Again, a shocker.
“How wil you afford the mortgage?” Delilah was prone to asking blunt questions, and I was glad she’d asked, not me. I wanted to support my girlfriend in any way I could but was worried she was making a mistake, maybe getting in over her head.
Nerissa flashed her a sly smile. “That’s right, you don’t know. I’m so used to keeping this a secret that I don’t tel many people.”
“What? You an heiress?” Chase said, laughing.
“You might say that.” Nerissa laughed back at him. “Two years ago, I inherited a tidy sum of money from my mother’s aunt. Great-Aunt Lucy was an FBH—she married into the Pride, but they lived in town. But she was definitely Were-friendly.”
I stared at her. “You mean I’ve got myself a rich girlfriend?” Giving her a fangy smile, I leaned back, thinking that at least Nerissa could take care of herself if need be. No wonder she’d thrown herself into a job that paid a fraction of what she was worth—she could afford to fol ow her passion.
“Wel , hardly anybody knows. I didn’t want the guys in the Pride trying to marry me just for money, and plenty of them would think of that. And I didn’t want the Council of Elders trying to arrange a marriage for me in order to get hold of my savings. With Venus gone and with Zach out of the picture, I have very few supporters left there.”
I sat back, shaking my head. Changes, changes everywhere. Then, laughing, I jumped up and planted a long kiss on her. “Now we won’t have anybody breathing down our necks about our relationship, and we’l be able to see each other more often.” I hadn’t yet told her about Roman.
With luck, that wouldn’t put a crimp in things.
With luck, that wouldn’t put a crimp in things.
“You know,” Chase said, eyeing her closely, “I have an opening for a civilian victims’ rights counselor on the FH-CSI. Duties involve helping victims of violent crimes find out what their rights are, counseling them after they’ve been assaulted—that sort of thing. Seems like it might be right up your al ey. I have leeway to appoint someone. Drop me a résumé tomorrow if you like.”
Nerissa clapped her hands. “That would be such a welcome change of pace. Maybe for once I would feel like I’m actual y making a difference. I hate being part of the bureaucracy where I’m just one more cog in the wheel, pushing paper and never real y making an impact on anybody.”
“Then come by tomorrow and we’l talk.” Chase winked at me. “Your girlfriend is the kind of material the FH-CSI needs.”
I found myself smiling at him. For once, the detective had outdone himself. I also realized that I liked him a lot more since he and Delilah cal ed it quits. It was as if both of them had calmed down and quit trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
“So, Chase, what’s your offering on the table tonight? I figure something had to bring you out this late.”
He shifted, the uncomfortable look returning. “I have a couple important tidbits. First: I asked Sharah to inspect the other victims’ foreheads before we release the bodies to the families. She did, and we found thumbprints on each. The same print, smudged in a cross formation. But there isn’t any record of the dude’s fingerprints in the system. Whoever he was, he didn’t enter the judicial system via being arrested.”
“Cross formations. Why would he be doing this?”
Camil e frowned. “Maybe he feels remorse for the kil ings.”
“Nope,” Chase said. “If he did, he wouldn’t have left their bodies displayed in such undignified postures. And he also rapes them—it’s not like he’s just a vampire experiencing angst over the drinking-blood thing.”
“Cross indicates Christian. Could be a religious psycho with a split personality who maintained it even into death? Whatever the case, we need to figure it out.”
“Wel , we can work on that al we want, but let me tel you the other part of the news. This is a bit better. I received a tip on the hotline tonight. Someone saw a vampire traveling via the sewer system in the Greenbelt Park District. They gave me the location of the manhole they saw him slip down. We have a lead to fol ow up on.” He leaned back, a smug look on his face.
“Why didn’t you tel me this when I first came home?” I sent a rubber band zinging his way.
He laughed. “Because I am not going down there tonight. I’m exhausted. I’m tired and going to sleep. We can explore tomorrow night. I know that we should now, but the fact is, the sun wil rise within a few hours, the vampire wil have to sleep, and I’d rather not rush this matter.”
I glanced at the clock. It was nearing three thirty. Camil e and Delilah looked exhausted. Chase was fal ing asleep where he sat. “Okay, I get your point. Tomorrow night, first thing after sunset, I’l meet you there. Send over directions tomorrow.”
Turning to Nerissa, I nodded. “Come on. Let’s go spend some quality time alone.” I wanted nothing more than to strip off her clothes and cover her body with kisses.
As we headed toward the parlor, Camil e snorted. “We al know what that’s a euphemism for.
Have fun. Meanwhile, I and my two darlings wil retire up to the bedroom for actual sleep.” Even though she was joking, I could tel she was worried about Smoky—and why he’d left.
Delilah and Shade pushed to their feet. “We’re heading up to bed, too.” She winced. “My ribs are stil sore, but they’re healing.”
