“No problemo.”
“I’d like to see those files, too,” Vlad said before I had an opportunity to turn the intercom off.
“I will bring those files down to your office right now,” Kale said, suddenly full of spunk and haste.
She was standing at the threshold to my office in record time, a stack of file folders pressed against her chest. Her eyes, the size of two glazed donuts, zeroed in on Vlad.
“Thanks, Kale,” I said, trying to pry the files from her death grip. “Will and I are just going to look these over while we have lunch.”
Vlad stiffened. “As a representative of the Vampire Empowerment and Restoration Movement, and as the new head of operations”—he puffed out his chest and smoothed his stupid damask vest—“I think I should be a part of this investigation.”
Will and I shared a look.
“This could very well begin affecting vampires—if it hasn’t already.”
I blew out a sigh. “Fine. Kale, can I have those files?”
Kale snaked her arms around the files. “Actually, Sophie, I’m personally responsible for these files. If something were to happen to them while they were out of my care ...”
I felt my left eye start to twitch. “Fine, you can come too.”
Kale grinned and batted huge eyes at Vlad. Vlad ignored the waves of love pouring off Kale, crossed his arms, and narrowed his eyes at Will. Will just looked at me, grinning, pleased as punch and probably considering nothing more than a wad of free French fries in his future.
The whole load of us tumbled into the hallway and I bumped square into Nina, who had her shoulder bag crossed over her chest.
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
“We’re going to lunch,” Will said.
“Of course you are,” Nina replied. “Vlad?”
“Official Vampire Empowerment—”
Nina held up her hand and rolled her eyes. “Got it.” “There’s been some activity in the area.”
“What a surprise,” Nina said, fishing in her shoulder bag and retrieving an O-positive pouch.
“Will and I are going to work on it.”
Vlad cut his eyes to me. “Okay, Vlad, Kale, Will, and I are going to work on it.”
“I’m just in it for the chips,” Will said, shrugging.
“Want to come with us?”
“Can’t.” Nina tossed a lock of hair over her shoulder. “I’m working through lunch today. This book is practically writing itself.” She waggled a finger a quarter-inch from my nose. “Mark my words, Soph. My new vampire romance? It’s going to be huge. Don’t worry, I’ll totally give you a nod in the acknowledgments.”
Chapter Seven
We must have looked like a motley crew walking out of the police station and down the street toward the diner: me, flaming red hair, white puffy ski jacket, and my business-on-a-budget suit; Will, looking like a cross between an Abercrombie model and David Beckam’s long-lost brother; Kale, her mod teen-hates-world black-and- deep-purple ensemble thrown off by her puppy-in-love grin; and Vlad, stern-faced, slicked hair, and dressed like a Dracula reject—sans cape, though, thank God. But this being San Francisco, and veil or not, no one batted an eye as we angled our way through the secretaries in business suits and sneakers, through the kids in baggy jeans and backpacks loping around, and all the way to the Fog City Diner—aptly named as we all huddled against the frigid city summer.
I breathed deeply in the warm restaurant. My stomach rumbled as a plate of meat loaf and mashed potatoes whizzed by.
“Okay,” Will said, once we were seated, “where do we start? Do we know what we’re dealing with?”
I put my menu down. “Wow! You must really be into this case. Usually, Alex can’t open a file without a three-course meal.”
Something flashed in Will’s hazel eyes and he studied the menu hard until the waitress showed up. I could see the hint of amusement playing on her matte red lips. She welcomed us, refilled our water glasses, and told us her name was Shirley. “What can I get you all?”
I quickly scanned the menu and ordered a chef’s salad, with dressing on the side, and no bread; Will went for a double bacon cheeseburger, with whiskey barbecue sauce, and fries.
I smacked my menu shut. “Actually, I’ll have that, instead.”
Will eyed me with a wide grin. “I love a woman who can eat.”
“And for the lovebirds?” Shirley grinned at Vlad—stiff, and as close to the end of the booth as possible—and Kale, snuggling up to her un-snuggable undead beau.
“Nothing for me,” Vlad said, his eyes settling on Shirley. “But thank you.”
Shirley’s eyes slowly widened, her mouth hanging slack. “Anything,” she murmured.
“Vlad,” I hissed. “No glamours!”
Vlad looked at me and rolled his eyes. Shirley sucked in a deep breath, looking as though she had just awakened with a start. “Nothing for the gentleman, and you?” Her eyebrows rose expectantly.
Kale looked from Shirley to Vlad, then back again. “Clam chowder in a bread bowl.”
Shirley scurried away and Kale turned to Vlad; her cheeks were flushed, fire raging in her eyes. She looked a bit like Drew Barrymore in that old movie
“You were totally flirting with her,” Kale said, eyes narrowed at Vlad.
Vlad shrugged. “She looked delicious.” He licked his lips. “You can’t blame me, baby, I’m a vampire.”
I wondered quickly whether it was too late to change my order to Pepto-Bismol and soda water.
“Guys! We’re here to work on Mrs. Henderson’s and Bettina’s cases.”
Kale picked at her fingernail. “Bettina didn’t look like anything was wrong with her this morning. And what’s up with Mrs. Henderson?”
I opened and closed my mouth dumbly. “Didn’t you hear?”
A sudden spark of interest crossed over Vlad’s porcelain features. “Hear what?”
I leaned in and lowered my voice to a hoarse whisper. “Mrs. Henderson is dead. Didn’t Dixon say anything?”
Kale’s eyes were wide. Her hand subconsciously went for Vlad’s sleeve. She pinched his shirt fabric between thumb and finger, rubbing like a child rubs a blanket for comfort. “What happened?”
I swallowed hard and looked at Will. He gave me a tiny, nearly imperceptible nod. “She was murdered.”
“How do you know that?”
I pulled a lock of hair and wound it tightly against my index finger. “I went over there yesterday. No one answered the door. I went in, saw what looked like a disaster, and called Alex.”
“Oh my God!” Kale’s eyes were wide. “She’s dead?”
I felt a lump forming in my throat and I coughed. “There was blood everywhere. It was awful. I told Dixon, and he said he would take care of it.”
Vlad stiffened. “Then he must be taking care of it.”
“But no one knows about it. And the centaur and now Bettina? No one knows that they should be on the alert.”
Kale leaned in, brows raised, the pale blond hair on her arms standing on end. “For what? For whom?”
I bit my lip. “We don’t know, exactly. Vlad, you’re one of Dixon’s right-hand men now. Have you heard anything? Did he call a meeting? Was he writing anything up or checking with the police?”
Vlad shrugged. “Not that I saw. But if Dixon said he was going to handle it, I’m sure he will.”
