The stairwell was silent, dark. Warmth pulsed through her fingers. She glanced at the glasses in her hand.
'They're on the roof,' she whispered.
MacEwan gave her a curious look, but didn't refute her statement. She followed him into the stairwell, squinting up into the darkness, straining to see something, anything that might indicate Jake was near.
The sound of a dragged footstep rasped across the silence. The handset squawked.
'Heading to the roof,' MacEwan answered.
Though he spoke softly, his voice echoed. The zombies would know they were coming, if they didn't know already. She licked her lips and followed MacEwan up the stairs. Somewhere above them, a door opened, then slammed shut. She gripped the handrail tightly. They didn't have much time left.
'Quickly,' she whispered.
'It's a black hole in here. I'm going as fast as I damn well can.'
Tension edged his whisper. She smiled grimly. Maybe MacEwan wasn't the cool, calm and collected type he liked to appear. They reached the exit to the roof. MacEwan opened the door and peered out. A cold wind ran in, whipping around her ankles. She shivered and peered over his shoulder, trying to see Jake.
MacEwan nudged her back. 'I see them. Wait here.'
He disappeared out the door. Nikki snorted softly. Stay here indeed . Slipping out the door, she ran in the opposite direction. The warning pulse grew more urgent. The zombies were dragging Jake to the edge of the building.
She raced around a crumbling chimney, then stopped. The wind slapped against her face, as cold as ice.
The zombies were heading for the building's edge, Jake's unconscious figure held between them.
MacEwan stood twenty feet away, gun drawn but by his side.
'Police! Stop or I'll shoot,' MacEwan warned.
The zombies paid no notice, ambling on towards the edge. Again MacEwan shouted a warning, this time aiming his gun. The zombies continued to ignore him.
The gunshot reverberated through the night. One zombie stopped, then dropped his hold on Jake and ponderously turned to face MacEwan. The other limped on, dragging Jake's still body by an arm.
Nikki broke into a run. Out of the corner of her eye she saw MacEwan take a step, saw him raise the gun.
'Stop or I'll shoot!'
The creature continued to ignore him. Another shot reverberated. The zombie staggered sideways as the bullet hit, but it wasn't stopped. She didn't know if MacEwan had aimed to wound or kill, but it didn't really matter. Bullets wouldn't stop them, as she'd feared.
The second zombie had almost reached the building's edge, and she wasn't close enough to do a damn thing. Desperately, she kinetically wrenched Jake's unconscious body away from the creature, hauling him across the darkness into her arms.
She staggered under the impact of his weight, her mind reeling with pain. She'd never attempted to move anything as heavy as a man before, and it was harder than she'd ever imagined it could be. Sweat broke out across her brow, quickly chilled by the cold wind. Licking her lips and tasting fear, she thrust her shoulder under Jake's arm. Holding him tight, she walked away as quickly as she could.
The zombie howled in frustration. Heavy steps followed.
'How the hell do you stop these things?'
MacEwan's sharp question jarred the silence.
'I told you. Break their necks.' She barely glanced at him, all her attention on the exit across the far side of the roof. A warning pulsed through her, and she checked.
The door opened, and two of MacEwan's men stepped out. They looked around, then ran towards the detective.
Behind them, the door opened again. The third zombie stepped out.
She swore and stopped. The creature had the exit blocked, and there was no other way off the roof.
They were trapped.
The plaza pulsed with music and light. People danced and drank, filling the night with heat and music.
Michael kept a close watch on the partygoers from his vantage point above the square. Jasper wove his way through the unsuspecting crowd, a red haze in the darkness, easy to follow. Michael sensed the other vampire's hunger, felt his need. Knew he would attempt to feed tonight. He watched him move from figure to figure, searching for easy prey, someone to lead off into the night and feed upon.
Only Michael had already made sure there were no loners in the immediate area, forcing the drunks and lone partygoers to move on. Jasper would have to extend his search to a less populated section of the city.
And there he would die. Nikki would be safe.
He stirred, shifting from one foot to the other. He wouldn't—couldn't—think about her. Not when he had a murderer to catch. Maybe not even after.
But the memory of her smoky amber eyes, clouded in confusion and fear, kept running through his mind, haunting him.
He sighed and leaned wearily against the wall. He had never wanted to fall in love. Not with Nikki. Not with anyone. His life was too dangerous and human life too tenuous, too short. But right from the beginning he'd had no choice. He might have told himself he was only using her as bait, but the truth was, he had simply used it as an excuse to stay near her. She was a flame, a bright torch that had pierced the darkness surrounding him. He needed the touch of that fire. Needed her.
He didn't want to return to the emptiness of an eternity alone. Better death, if it came to a choice.
He frowned and watched Jasper move back to the center of the square. What was the fiend up to now?
The younger vampire found shape, intercepting the attentions of a pretty young woman, spinning her away from her partner in a dance both erotic and sensual.
Why the hell was Jasper dancing? Why was he risking exposure like this? Michael stood up straight.
Something was going on, though he wasn't sure what.
The younger vampire turned. Their gazes locked in a battle Michael knew neither could win. Then Jasper sneered and mouthed a word.
Michael clenched his fists. Somehow, Jasper was going after Jake. Probably the zombies again, he thought, and wished he'd killed them when he'd had the chance. Though what was the point when Jasper could so easily call more of his victims from the dead? He jumped to the ground and moved forward, slipping quickly through the crowd. There was nothing he could do for Jake right now. As much as he liked the man, as much as his death might hurt Nikki, he wasn't going to let Jasper slip through his fingers now that he almost had him…
Jasper's laughter stopped. His eyes widened as he suddenly realized his plan wasn't working. The fiend turned and ran, pushing his way through the crowd.
Michael smiled grimly. Jasper could never escape, no matter how fast he ran. Not when the air recoiled against his evil.
He walked quickly through the crowd, following Jasper's trail. They moved out of the square and into the main street. Jasper crossed the road, then ran into an alley. Michael hesitated as a car drove by, and picked up an old steel bar from a bin before he entered the alley.
Jasper's life force shimmered ahead. He tossed the bar in his hand a couple of times, then glanced towards Jasper. Hefting the bar a third time, he threw it as hard as he could.
It hit with a satisfying thump. Jasper staggered forward, then regained his momentum and kept on running. But for the first time, Michael felt fear rather than gloating in the younger vampire's thoughts.
Jasper crossed another street. He was heading for the docks, perhaps hoping to lose Michael amongst all the old warehouses.
The tang of salt air grew heavier on the wind. Michael listened to the waves breaking across the wharf supports, an angry sound that matched his mood. Jasper ran down a wooden walkway and into a building.
