“I like it better when you’re right in front of me,” Mark countered.
Once they were out of the city, Jonas looked at him. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
Mark hesitated. “Anything that looks like it’s been abandoned but’s suddenly in use. Like a car in front of a condemned building, anything like that.”
“Like beer bottles on an overgrown lawn?” Jonas asked.
“Yeah, exactly,” Mark said.
“Turn around then. We just passed one.”
Lauren was surprised when she woke and walked into Deanna’s room to find Deanna asleep and a strange woman sitting with her. She had auburn hair, darker than her own, and fantastic eyes that seemed both green and gold. She had been reading, but she set her book down and stood.
“Hi. You have to be Lauren. I’m Maggie Canady.”
“The lieutenant’s wife?”
“Yes.” Maggie offered her a hand, and Lauren took it. “Actually, I think I’ve seen you before.”
“Oh?” Lauren murmured warily. Had this woman known Katie, too?
“You’ve been in my shop. I own a clothing store.”
“Oh, my God, yes!” Lauren said. She should have recognized the woman’s face, she thought. There was a painting of her in the store, wearing a costume. Civil War era, Lauren thought. It was a beautiful painting. She had admired it often.
“Great shop. I go there practically every time I come here. I feel like I’ve been going there since I was a child.”
“It’s been in the family,” Maggie said.
Deanna moved on the bed but didn’t awaken.
“She looks great,” Maggie said. “Especially for being nearly drained by a vampire.”
Lauren blinked. “You…know?”
“Yes, and I’m here to help,” Maggie told her. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
There was something about the way she spoke; Lauren
“I’m glad you’re here. Is…Mark still here?”
“He left with Jonas.”
“Oh. Heidi?”
“Asleep in her own room.” Maggie smiled. “It’s a very tired household this morning. Bobby is puttering around in the kitchen. At least he’s awake.” She smiled. “He’s assigned to watch the house. I’m not sure how Sean manages stuff like that with his superiors on the force, but…he’s a good cop, and they give him a lot of leeway.”
Lauren nodded, feeling more secure knowing there were cops who knew what to watch out for. Mark had been right. They didn’t dare leave until Stephan was stopped. She was more afraid than ever, after last night, certain that sooner or later he would find her.
“Well, I’m awake, but I have to admit, going back to sleep this morning was wonderful. Right now, though, I need to go to the library.”
Maggie frowned instantly. “You can’t go anywhere alone.”
“Since Big Jim and Bobby are here, do you want to come with me?” She smiled. “I’m willing to bet there are tanks of holy water in this house. I have a water pistol—and I know how to use it,” she said lightly. “I’m sure you do, too.”
Maggie looked thoughtful as she studied Lauren and said, “I have a feeling you’re going to the library with or without company. Why?”
“There’s something I have to look up. It’s important. This all began with a fortune-teller. She made a few comments about things I need to know.”
Maggie’s brow furrowed. “It’s so important that you’d leave the house now?”
“Yes,” Lauren said firmly.
“All right. I’ll get Big Jim up here. We’ll go together. Go get your purse, or whatever you’ll need. I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.”
“Thanks.”
Apparently there really was a vat of holy water in the house somewhere, because when Lauren got downstairs, Maggie was supplied with a number of water pistols, four in all, two for each of them. She handed Lauren a small container of something else.
“What’s this?” Lauren asked.
“Toothpicks,” Maggie explained.
“Toothpicks?” Lauren repeated, confused.
“They don’t kill, but they hurt a vampire like hell. Especially if you catch one in the eyes. I always keep a few in my pockets. So…you wearing your cross?”
“I am.”
