Page 27 of Dark Obsession

“I’m okay.”

“Sounds like there’s a ‘but’ in there.”

Cody shook his head but felt the small grin. “You know me too well.”

“That goes for both of us,” Demmy said. “Come on, what’s up?”

“I took Jugs to his appointment at Memorial today.”

“Yeah, right. How’d it go? Did Zenona release him from his neck brace prison?”

“She did. He said something about naked Candyland with Aggie.”

Demmy scrunched up his face. “How would that even work?”

“The less we know, the better.”

“Agreed. So, how was Zenona?”

“She was good. Like, really good.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I mean, she looks better these days. Still looking a bit rundown, but her hair’s fuller or something, and there’s, I don’t know, a glow to her.”

“Yeah? I haven’t really seen her much. Sounds like she’s pulling out of her grief over losing Michael.”

“It seems that way.” Cody picked up his fork and waggled it a few times.

“Hey, come on. Talk to me.”

He put the fork down, pushed his plate forward and leaned on the table. “It feels kind of wrong to talk about it.”

“Oh? Is it a secret someone told you?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s…a feeling.”

“A feeling you’re having for Zenona?”

Cody extended a hand, palm facing up, and Demmy reached out to take it. “Not like that. You’re stuck with me. Forever.”

Demmy’s face relaxed, the skin around his eyes softening. “I like hearing that. What’s your feeling?”

Cody explained about the woman receiving the blood and the two people in the waiting area.

“What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know, really. But…the blood transfusion and the worn out and tired people all made me think about last Halloween.”

“Vampires?” Demmy whispered. “You think they might have been attacked by a vampire?”

“That’s what’s bugging me. They weren’t acting like they’d been attacked. No fear, no panic or police involvement I could see. It was like they had a virus and were paying a visit to the ED.”

“That is weird. Did Zenona say anything about it?”

“Nope.” He shrugged. “She falls back on HIPAA a lot, so I get it, but…”

“But it’s kind of strange,” Demmy finished for him.