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By the time we got back home, Mama had her own version of a magic laboratory set up on the kitchen table. Smoke curled from the cauldron, swirling around it and snaking through the rest of the house to the point that everything below our knees was obscured in mist. Green light from the contents of her potion illuminated her from below, making her appear freaky even to me. I was used to that, so I came around the side of the table and kissed her cheek. Then I put the contents of the bottle in a sealed to-go mug.
“Any luck?” she asked.
“I have some of the drug they used. I’m going to analyze it at the lab. Zoe determined it was someone expected. How about you?” I asked.
Mama’s lip crooked up on one side. “Someone tried to murder my daughter, you bet your assets I did.”
Motioning for us to gather round the table, she nodded at the bowl before her, and we all peered over the rim. Inside, the liquid appeared clear despite the light and smoke pouring forth. It rippled as she passed her hand over it, and a picture of what I assumed to be the vampire estate’s kitchen gurgled to the surface. Bottles of champagne sat on a metal cart in the kind of chef’s paradise one might find in the trendiest and most expensive restaurants in the world.
I raised my eyebrow and glanced at Julian. “For people who drink blood, this seems a bit excessive.”
“We still enjoy the pleasures of humanity even if they aren’t necessary.” He grinned and winked.
Mama waved a hand over the scene and ripples ran through as people came in and out of view in a fast-forward speed. I noted that Pandora’s story played out exactly as she’d said it would. I saw everyone I expected to, including Carmichael, whose face sent a shiver down my back. Soon, everyone had left.
“Zoe?” I looked up, waiting for her to weigh in.
“Well, there were a bunch of people not shown there. But that one vamp took several bottles from the room, so who knows who drank from those.”
“We do,” I said. “There’s a new vampire club that meets there this time every month, and they drank those.
“How am I supposed to know who’s a new vampire?” Zoe protested.
“Wait.” I slapped the table, and a group of tiny glass vials shook, making my mother gasp. “Sorry, but I think I might know who did it. It’s always the butler.”
“We have no butler,” Julian said carefully, as though he was afraid I was losing it.
“No. But Gomez and Morticia did. Lurch! The valet. He took your car for a joy ride. But the timing is suss.” I moved away from the table and began to pace. “He wanted to be sure you had no easy escape because you were supposed to drink the champagne and rip my throat out. That’s why I got the vision. I don’t just see things for fun. I’m such an idiot. It was a warning.”
“I did see a seven-foot-tall creep enter and leave again,” Zoe said. “I’m going to assume that’s who you were talking about.”
“Why did a valet need to be indoors?” I asked. “Especially one that’s not a vamp?”
“We can’t know for certain—” Julian began.
“But it’s a lead and we can question him. Assuming you can find him,” I said in challenge.
Julian’s nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed dark purple. “His scent is in my car. I can track him. Thank you, ladies, for your help and hospitality. Get some rest. I will call you in the morning, Charlotte.” He turned to leave, and panic gripped me.
“Wait just a damn second, Lieutenant.” I marched up to the door and crossed my arms, having used the title to irk him. “You’re still drugged if you think I’m not coming with you for this and then going straight to my lab to run tests on the champagne.”
Julian pressed a hand to his forehead in the dramatic fashion I’d witnessed multiple times. Normally, I found it charming. Now? Not so much.
“You are human. You need re—”
“Not if I drink coffee and Zoe gives me one of her stay-awake charms.”
Zoe tossed me a pearl-sized, coffee-flavored charm I snatched and swallowed before he handed me the travel mug full of champagne.
“Fine.” Julian gestured to the vamp mobile. “Let’s go question the butler. It’s almost time for work anyway.”
Chapter Fourteen
With a Name Like Vlad
I don’t know what I expected—maybe Julian sniffing the air like a greyhound and running through the woods with me on his back until we found the guy? But what I got was Julian holding the door for me then climbing in, rolling down the windows and zooming off down the road toward the base.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
