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“Thank you all for coming,” Carmichael began. “I was alerted to the situation mere minutes ago. The victim of this heinous crime was my own pledge, who was under my protection, so the one responsible will have to answer to me.”

He and Julian locked gazes as others murmured. I cleared my throat.

“What happened exactly?” I asked, stepping closer to the group, between the sizzling energy of the two vampires.

“She was found hanging from a tree in the gardens near the vamp estate,” Carmichael said, stepping into my personal space.

I held my ground. “I’m so sorry.”

“Her neck was torn out and her blood left to pool on the ground beneath her.” He stared into my eyes without blinking.

Swallowing hard, I squared my shoulders. “That’s horrifying.”

“Placations will not bring her killer to justice, Dr. Devaux. But perhaps you can use your abilities to help if you truly feel strongly about it. As opposed to playing games with them that is.”

Heat burned my cheeks. Yes, I’d used mind-bending on him, but he’d asked for it. It wasn’t a game, and he knew it. But he was trying to make me look bad in front of the general. Strangely, the boss man didn’t jump at the bait for once, though.

“I will do everything I can to solve the crime,” I said. “Do you have a list of those present at the estate at the time? Does the public have access to the gardens, or is it by invitation only like the manor itself?”

“Invitation only,” Carmichael enunciated. “The perpetrator had to be either physiologically a vampire or an invited guest. My people are gathering the information now.”

I nodded.

“Have the body sent here for examination,” the general said. “If this is the same killer as the one responsible for Maryanne, then perhaps cross-referencing the list of suspects will be helpful.”

“I expect this to be the priority of the base in order to retain good relations, General.” Carmichael sneered at the intimidating man three times his size, seeming unfazed. “The idea that this could happen under your watch is…disturbing to say the least.”

“So the general is somehow at fault?” I snorted and crossed my arms. “Even though she was your pledge? That’s a bit hypocritical.”

Carmichael turned his attention on me, and I resisted melting into a pile of goo on the floor, glad my hands were clutched firmly at my sides to prevent them shaking in fear. Once again, the vision of him turning my father assaulted me.

Danger, warned Pythia.

“Quite right of course, Doctor. General, I would like to request Dr. Devaux’s assistance in examining the crime scene. I appreciate her forthright input.”

“Granted. Doctor, you should accompany Mr. Carmichael back to the estate. Dismissed.”

The general turned around, and the crowd broke apart, leaving me behind with two vampires and Daphne, hanging back by the ramp leading to the lower level.

“We will meet you there,” Julian said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t recall requesting your presence, Lieutenant,” Carmichael said with a fangy grin.

“Even so, I would like to see the crime scene as well, and since I am a vampire, I am welcome at the estate.”

The two men stared at each other again until Julian’s grip made me wince, and he retracted it. Apparently, some sort of nonverbal, uneasy truce was made, and the three of us rode down the elevator in awkward silence.

I released a breath of relief when Carmichael didn’t try to join us in the vamp mobile and Julian burned rubber out of the parking lot. The sun was already dipping below the horizon, and I sent off a quick text to Mama explaining not to worry or expect me for dinner.

“I don’t trust him,” Julian said when I tucked my phone in my pocket.

“Neither do I,” I agreed. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Do you still have your anti-glamour charm?” Julian asked, squeezing the steering wheel so hard that a piece broke off, which he tossed into the back seat.

“Yes.” I set a hand on my chest where it lay on my breastbone beneath my shirt.

“Too bad we didn’t keep your mother’s daylight charm,” he muttered, hugging the curving road that ran along the coast.