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The driver had classical music playing softly and with the blue interior lighting of the bus, it was a peaceful trip. Even the drunk stopped smelling as bad-either that, or my nose had become accustomed to her.
The teenager climbed off at the Dimboola Road stop in Broadmeadows and began walking down the hill. I followed, keeping far enough back so that even if headlights tore the cover of shadows away from me, she wouldn't realize she was being tailed. Not that she appeared to be really aware of anything else but getting home. I couldn't blame her-it was a miserable night.
She turned left into a street then crossed the road and ran into a house. I waited on the corner, watching as the lights come on inside, then touched the com-link lightly. "You still there, boss?"
"I'm afraid so. What's happened?"
"Hanna Mein, the co-owner of Meinhardt's, has just made contact with another teenage girl, and has employed her to sleep with a vampire for one night. I suspect we really have found our killers."
"And it undoubtedly means she's about to do another robbery-murder. Any hints as to who?"
"Yep. A vamp with a taste for unusual body markings. This girl has a wine-colored stain on her face and neck."
"That narrows the field considerably. I'll get Sal onto it straight away," he said. "I'm guessing you tracked the girl?"
He said that like it was a bad thing. "Any reason why I shouldn't have?"
He hesitated. "No. I just want these bitches stopped, Riley, that's all."
"And I'm working on it. In the meantime, we take away her tools, and maybe frustrate them into making a mistake."
He grunted. "Did you see the other owner at the club tonight?"
"Certainly did." I paused to swipe at the drips of rain rolling down my cheeks. "Maybe I was reading her wrong, but she seemed awfully uptight to me, boss."
"Well, they'd have to know these murders would be attracting Directorate attention. Where does the teenager live?"
I gave him the address. "She's got one of those magic business cards, so you're going to have to make sure Marg provides her with protection before you move her."
"I do realize that, Riley. I'm not a novice at this job, you know."
I grinned at his dry tone. "Sorry, boss. It's late and I'm tired. If don't need me for anything else, I'm off home."
"Don't be late for your new job tomorrow night."
"Like I would."
He snorted his disbelief-a sound I cut off by flicking off the com-link. I turned and headed back down Dimboola Road, wondering if I had the energy to fly home, or if I should catch a cab.
In the end, flying won, simply because there were no cabs at the rail station and I couldn't be bothered waiting for one to turn up. So I was as close to exhaustion as I'd ever been when I finally fell face first into my bed.
When I woke many hours later, it was to the scent of roses, coffee, sandalwood, and man. One smell was definitely more alluring than the others, and I forced a bleary eye open. To discover a pale pink rose sitting on the pillow.
I reached out and carefully touched it. It was real, not a figment of my overtired brain. "Thank you," I mumbled.
"You're welcome," said Quinn. "Now sit up so I can feed you some breakfast. Although technically it could be lunch, considering its well after one in the afternoon."
I scooted up in the bed and gave him a grin. He looked totally divine in faded denims that emphasized the lean strength of his legs, and a white shirt that was roughly rolled up at the sleeves, showing off his arms and shoulders. His hair, usually so neat, had that mussed, just-out-of-bed look, and when combined with a sexy smile-which he did so well-it was just about deadly. Luckily for me, there were no other females around, because he looked so hot I'd definitely be fighting them off.
"So to what do I owe this honor?" I said, reaching for the coffee on the tray.
He pulled it out of the way. "Sorry, kisses first."
"Oh, if I must," I muttered crossly, then grinned and caught his face between my hands, kissing him gently. It might not have been as explosive as the kiss I'd shared with Kye last night, but in many ways, it was far, far better.
"Now you have earned the coffee," he said, dark eyes shining with bedevilment.
I took the cup from the tray and inhaled the scent. Hazelnut. I sighed contentedly and took a sip, then eyed the bacon and eggs still on the tray.
