Blood Drive

Guilt momentarily replaces impatience. “Sorry. Didn’t check the number. Things have been kind of crazy.”

There’s a pause, like he’s waiting for me to expand on the subject. When I don’t, he says, “So. Did you see Max last night?”

A light bulb blinks on. “You let Max into my apartment, didn’t you?”

This time the pause is a beat too long. “Are you mad about that?”

I blow out a puff of air. “No. Not mad. But you owe me a new door.”

“What?”

I wave an impatient hand at the phone. “Never mind. Is there a reason you called?”

“You mean other than wondering if my partner is going to put in an appearance today?”

This time the impatience is David’s. And rightfully so. “I’m sorry. I should have checked in first thing. Is there anything important on the docket today?”

“Does that mean you’re not pla

When I don’t answer, he heaves a protracted sigh into the receiver. “It’s all right. I know you have a lot going on right now. Just do me a favor. Call me tonight, okay? Let me know what’s happening. I’m worried about you.”

“Why would you worry about me?” It comes out much sharper than I intend.

“Why?” His tone mimics mine. “Maybe because we’re partners and that’s what partners do. You’ve shut me out of this. I don’t like it.”

There’s a pause before he adds, “A

He says it in a rush, like it’s an unpleasant speech he’s been practicing. And the implication that I’vechosen to be absent from work makes my mouth fall open in disbelief. Then the light bulb goes on again. “Did Gloria tell you to say that?”

Silence.

“Gloria is there, isn’t she?”

Gloria. Of the long legs and big tits. I can see it in my head, Gloria, sitting on David’s lap, making sure the head he’s using isn’t the one on his shoulders.

She hates me.

Okay, I hate her right back. But she doesn’t usually have this kind of effect on David. There must be something else going on.

Then I know. She met Max yesterday. And if Max acted the way most men do around her, she’s convinced that Max would be a much more appropriate partner for David than me. In her convoluted way of thinking it would make perfect sense. Why settle for one man lusting after you when you could have two?

“Tell Gloria it was a good try,” I say in a voice you could pour on pancakes. “But it won’t work. She’s not getting rid of me that easily. And, just so you both know, Max left for Washington this morning. I have to go now, David. If you really need me, I’ll have my cell phone with me all day. Oh, and David? Tell your girlfriend I said she’s depriving some village of an idiot.”

I hear a quick intake of breath. “A

I cut the co

The cell phone rings again. The office number flashes. I shut it off with a decisive jab and bury the phone in my purse.

There is one good thing that comes from the conversation, though. Any guilt I had about shirking my responsibilities at the office vanishes with the image of Gloria whispering encouragement in David’s ear. We’ll need to have a conversation about that later, David and I, but now I’m free to pursue Carolyn with a clear conscience.

But damn that Frey. I have to see Trish first. Make sure she’s all right, that I didn’t scare her to death by buzzing the condo like that.

I look around. I’d pulled over right in front of the complex. A high, brick wall surrounds it, parking lot and all. Now, getting over the wall won’t be a problem. I could probably jump it without breaking a sweat. But it’s daylight and this is a busy street. The only shrubbery consists of low growing bushes and a vine of some kind that snakes over the brick. Nothing that would afford me cover.

At least nothing that I can see from here.

I start the car and ease into traffic, following the brick wall for several blocks until it makes a right turn and extends away from the main road. I turn right, too, and almost immediately find what I’m looking for.

This block is lined with trees, big, leafy trees with lots of low hanging branches. I won’t have to climb.

I just have to jump.

I must admit, I’ve come to enjoy some of my newly acquired vampire traits. The super human strength. The improved visual and sensual acuity. The ability to leap onto tall tree branches in a single bound. It takes me less than a minute to get over that wall and drop onto the grass on the other side.

And I luck out. There’s no one peering out of a window to see me take the jump or to sprint across the grass to the sidewalk. I then saunter purposefully toward Frey’s unit. I’m just about at the building when I see them.

Two men.Tall. Husky. Wearing dark suits and walking just as purposefully toward Frey’s front door. And they’re coming from the direction of the parking lot. How did they get by the security guard? They’re closer to Frey’s than I am and don’t seem to have spotted me, so I hang back behind a tall, fragrant bougainvillea bush to watch.

Suit One rings Frey’s bell, then steps back. He puts his hands behind his back and rocks a little on his heels, smiling toward the peephole in the door. His expression is friendly, expectant. He waits a moment. Then rings again.

Suit Two, meanwhile, is a step behind him. He’s looking around. I make sure I’m in the shadows when his eyes sweep in my direction. They scan right over me, keep going. I detect no unusual or supernatural vibes, and when I surreptitiously try to probe his mind, I get nothing. He’s human. He turns back to his partner and nods.

It’s eight o’clock on a Wednesday morning. It’s obvious that most residents are at work, but it takes balls to break into someone’s apartment in broad daylight. But that’s just what these guys try to do. Suit One takes a small leather case out of his pocket and extracts a thin, metal wire. While Suit Two stands watch, he goes to work on the door.

That’s when I lose it. Trish is inside. All I can think of is protecting her. In two strides, I’m at the door. Before surprise can register on their faces, I’ve grabbed both of them by the scruffs of their necks and flung them to the ground. I crouch over them, teeth bared, beyond all reason, snarling like an angry mother bear.

Chapter Twenty

Then two things happen at once. The neighbor to Frey’s right opens his door. “Hey,” he shouts. “What’s going on?”

In the same instant, Suit One puts a knee to my chest and heaves.

The sudden appearance of the guy in the doorway distracts me. Suit One’s knee catches me off guard. Before I can recover, I’m flying off him to land in an ungraceful heap at the neighbor’s feet.

He reaches a hand down, but rather than help me, it gets in the way of my leaping up and the two of us do a kind of weird dance trying to get disentangled. By the time I get my feet back under me, the suits are up and away.

The neighbor is a kindly looking old guy, with a Mr. Rogers smile and a shock of wiry white hair peeking around the edges of a faded baseball cap. He frowns at me. “Are you all right, Miss?” He pushes the cap back and scratches his head. “What just happened? Should I call the police?”

But I’m looking after the Blues Brothers, who are racing back toward the parking lot.

The neighbor puts a hand on my arm. “Were those men coming out of Daniel’s apartment?” he asks. “He’s not home, you know. He’s at school.”

I’m trying to regain my balance and pull at my sweater, which has ridden up embarrassingly high. My eyes are following the suits, and just as I decide to go after them, the old guy says, “Wonder if they’re kin to that sweet young niece of Daniel’s?”