picked Jane up and will bring her home.”
“Too bad she’ll miss Caleb. She was in his corner all the way.”
“But you’re not, are you?”
“Hell, no. I’m in your corner. I’m in the corner of all those women Jelak is going to kill if we don’t catch him.” He looked over his shoulder. “But I don’t have to be in his corner. He’s not going to stay in that corner for very long. We’re going hunting.”
ELEVEN
“I’M SORRY YOUR JANE ISN’T HERE. She always brings an electricity to any occasion,” Caleb said as he pushed back his chair at the table. “Delightful meal.”
“Hamburger Helper?” Eve said. “Hardly. It was just fast.”
“Hearty, flavorful, and substantial. That’s all that’s necessary to make it good.”
“Then food must not be that important to you,” Eve said.
“Sometimes. Not usually.” He smiled. “But I appreciate you serving me under your roof. It shows a certain acceptance.” He looked at Joe. “And trust?”
“Conditional,” Joe said. “How about Kevin Jelak? Is food important to him?”
“At this point, not at all. It probably makes him ill after only a few bites. He’s living on blood.”
“He couldn’t,” Eve said. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s possible for a little while longer. He’ll grow thinner, but his energy level will carry him through.” He turned to Joe. “Why did you ask me that question?”
“I wanted to know how deeply Jelak has bought into this bullshit.”
“All the way.” He glanced at Eve. “Could we have coffee on the porch? I’ve grown very fond of your wonderful views.”
“I suppose we could.” Eve got to her feet. “As long as you’re not trying to evade our questions.”
“Perish the thought. I’m encouraged that Quinn is thinking that I can be useful in digging into Jelak’s psyche.” He got to his feet. “I have a call to make. I’ll meet you on the porch.”
“Sidestepping?” Eve said to Joe as Caleb left the room.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. We’ll know later.” He got down the tray and carafe. “Because I’m going to ask him a boatload of questions.”
Caleb was just finishing his call when they joined him on the porch. “You’ll be glad to know that Jane is fine. They’d just finished the dinner that Charlie Brand had cooked.” He smiled. “And it was not Hamburger Helper.”
“You called Jane?” Eve asked. “Why?”
“I like to keep track of her,” Caleb said as he took the cup Eve handed him. “Jelak thinks she’s important. I do too.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t hang up on you,” Eve said.
“She knows I want the best for her. She was impatient, but not angry. She’s a very smart woman.” He sat down on the top step and gestured to the swing. “Sit down. I’m sure you’re impatient too, Quinn. You want answers. I just wanted to be sure about Jane.”
“So do we,” Joe said. “But there’s an officer with her.”
“And that was probably enough of a deterrent. However, Jelak is getting closer to his time and may get desperate.” He took a sip of his coffee. “You were asking about Jelak and food.” He chuckled. “You’ve been thinking back about all the trashy movies and novels you’ve read about vampires and the traditional profiles. Let’s see, vampires never eat.”
“You’ve just said that Jelak doesn’t,” Eve said.
“Not at this point. According to what his master, Franco Donari, taught him when he was in training, he should have no hunger except for the blood when he was coming near to his completion. Since he’s completely sure that he’s right around the bend from that august state, he’s convinced himself that he has every sign he should have to support that fact.”
“In other words, he’s sold himself a bill of goods,” Joe said. “What happens when he doesn’t reach this completion? He’d starve to death.”
“Not for a long time. The mind can do amazing things.”
“I thought you said this vampire cult Jelak belonged to only believed the more palatable things connected with the legends. Starving seems pretty extreme.”
“But only in the last stage of his resurrection.”
“Resurrection? You’ve never mentioned that word.”
“Didn’t I? Perhaps it sounded too pretentious.” He leaned back against the railing. “What else, Quinn?”
“Does he believe he can’t go out in daylight?”
“No, but he’s a night creature because it’s easier to prey. Very sensible. I’ve always wondered if that’s how that legend got started.” He smiled. “And he doesn’t think garlic or onion or holy crosses will make him powerless. A stake in the heart? At this stage he thinks a bullet would do the job. That’s why he’s wary.”
“At this stage?” Eve repeated. “What about when he goes through this resurrection? What does he think it’s
