Page 24 of Isabelle’s Forbidden Love

“His next-door neighbor, a Ms. Martinez, claims to have heard an argument between Hong and his estranged wife in his home, though she didn’t see them. That was around nine forty-five Tuesday night. We were about to check out if Mrs. Hong is a vampire or could have hired one to off her husband.”

“It’s always the spouse, right?” Benjamin asked.

“Yeah, on Forensic Files,” Buffy chimed in, stepping closer. “But this is Scanguards. It’s always a vampire gone rogue.”

Benjamin grinned and ruffled her thick hair as if she were a toddler and he the big uncle. “They let you out of school already?”

“If you must know,” Buffy said in a tight voice, “I’m working here now.” She lifted her hand, which at present held a scalpel. “So if you don’t want to hop on that table to be cut open, I suggest you leave my domain.”

Benjamin lifted his hands in defeat. “Nobody can take a joke these days.” Then he winked at her. “Welcome to Scanguards.”

“Thanks, Maya, Buffy,” Isabelle said quickly and motioned to the door. “Let me know as soon as you’ve got the results of the tests.”

“I’ll call as soon as I can,” Maya said.

Isabelle left the room together with Benjamin and Cooper. When the door fell shut behind them, she stopped in the corridor and turned to Benjamin.

“Did you have to tease her? You know how much she wants to be one of us.”

“She already is one of us,” Benjamin corrected her.

“She’s human, and that means she’ll always have to work harder than the rest of us,” Isabelle explained. “She already loses every fight with her eleven-year-old brother—”

“—half-brother,” interrupted Cooper.

“—half-brother, because he’s a vampire hybrid. So cut her some slack. She’s trying really hard, and you pointing out that she looks like she should still be in school isn’t helping.”

“Isabelle’s got a point,” Cooper added.

Benjamin sighed. “Fine. I’ll use my kid gloves next time.”

Cooper gave him a light slap on the back of his head. “Idiot.”

Isabelle cast Cooper a grin. “I think ever since Damian blood-bonded with Naomi and moved out, Benjamin has nobody to shoot the breeze with.”

“You don’t have a twin brother; you have no idea what it’s like to suddenly lose your other half. I mean we were practically joined at the hip, and then Naomi swoops in, and takes him away.” He made a dramatic gesture.

“Maybe you should find somebody too,” Isabelle suggested.

“Are you crazy?” Benjamin grimaced. “That would be limiting whom I can sleep with. I’m not ready for monogamy.”

Isabelle shook her head. “Never mind. Anybody else hungry?”

“I could eat a bite,” Cooper said, and Benjamin nodded in agreement.

“Let’s go up to the lounge and discuss who does what next.”

“Works for me,” Benjamin said, and they made their way to the elevators.

15

While Cooper was trying to make contact with Hong’s estranged wife, and Benjamin was busy verifying Brian Colby’s alibi, Isabelle drove to Hong’s house to meet with Nelson Sarduni. The sun had set only a short while earlier.

Nelson was already waiting in a black SUV, when Isabelle pulled up with her Thunderbird and parked behind him, blocking the driveway. She got out, her handbag slung across her torso, and met Nelson at the entrance to the cottage.

“You look rested,” she greeted him as he unlocked the door and ushered her inside.

“That’s the advantage of being a pureblooded vampire rather than a hybrid: nobody asks me to work during the day.” He chuckled.