Blood Red

building and then put a stake through what appeared to be a young woman’s heart in public.

“Glad you’re all right,” Sean said as the conversation drew to a close. “And, by the way, I’ve asked Maggie to stop by Montresse House later today. She can take some of the stress off the others, let them have a little break.”

Mark let out a breath, thinking how grateful he was to the cop. With Maggie in the house, he wouldn’t be so worried about leaving. He felt tremendous faith in this woman who had actually been a vampire, thought he still didn’t understand how it was possible that she had reverted to humanity.

I never actually died, she had told him.

Therein must lie the difference. He’d seen a lot through the years, but nothing like Maggie Canady. However, once they had talked, he hadn’t been able to doubt her.

“All right, where were you?” he asked Jonas, when he was alone with him at the kitchen table at last.

“I’d been at the hospital, and something didn’t seem right.”

“As in…?”

Jonas looked at him, cocking his head at an angle. “I just…sensed something wasn’t right. So I went into the hallway and I saw a doctor. But he wasn’t a doctor, you know? Anyway, I started following him. He headed out to the parking garage. It was a trap. A whole gang of them lit on me. I managed to get away, but I was messed up pretty bad, and I didn’t think I’d make it. Anyway, I must have passed out. I wound up in the emergency room. As soon as I could, I escaped, but by then…the whole hospital had gone nuts. I was on my way here, ‘cuz I overheard someone saying Deanna had been taken here, when I ran into Stephan’s…general, I guess you’d call him. And I took him out.”

Jonas sounded proud, and if what he said was true, Mark supposed he had a right to. But was it true?

Or was it all a clever act?

Mark leaned back, staring at him. He looked fine right now, wearing one of Bobby’s freshly pressed shirts and chinos.

What he looked like didn’t mean a damned thing.

“So how are you doing now?” Mark asked.

“Good. I’m in good shape,” Jonas said.

Mark drummed his fingers on the table, studying the man. He wasn’t leaving him here. Not when he was going out, even if Maggie Canady was coming by.

“So you think Stephan got into the hospital by dressing up in a doctor’s uniform?”

“I’m willing to bet. Who wouldn’t open the door for a doctor?”

Mark pulled out his cell phone and made a call to the hospital. He asked for Leticia Lockwood’s room.

Judy Lockwood answered. She sounded pleased to hear his voice. “Leticia seems to be doing much better. She isn’t actually coherent yet, but she has opened her eyes a few times. She seems bewildered, poor dear. But we’re just fine. Mighty kind of you to ask.”

He hesitated, then said, “Judy, you have to be careful about letting anyone into the room—including the doctors. Never actually ask anyone in, okay?”

He heard her soft chuckle on the other end. “Silly man, I know that,” she assured him. “And I have that nice officer’s card if I get worried, and your number, too. Don’t you go being worried about me. I know what I’m up against”

“I’m glad to hear it, Ms. Lockwood. Thank you.”

He closed his phone, studying Jonas again.

“We’re going to take a ride.”

“Shouldn’t I stay here?”

“Hell no.”

“You still don’t trust me.”

“I don’t know you.”

Jonas shrugged. “Fair enough. Where are we going?”

“I told you. For a ride. No questions. You still look a little rough around the edges, so you can rest while I drive.”

“Mind if I tell Deanna I’m going out?”

“Sure. I’ll walk you up there.”

He watched from the hallway while Jonas went in to talk to Deanna. Heidi was sitting with her, which didn’t seem to be the safest combination in the world, but Big Jim was there, too, so he decided things would probably be fine.

He left Jonas to his goodbyes and went into his own room.

Lauren was still sound asleep in his bed. She was so beautiful, her hair like sunshine splashed across the pillows. He leaned down and kissed her brow. She smiled, as if, even in her sleep she was aware he was there.

He met Jonas in the hallway. “Let’s go,” he said.

“I’m right behind you.”