The camp had the feeling of a traveling village, with cooking smells drifting through the air and music ringing through the night. A few children played along the outskirts, and a lazy dog lounged near a fire.
“It’s very welcoming,” Ben said. It was the highest compliment he could think to give Radu, who valued hospitality so much.
“Thank you.” The vampire beamed. “We like to think of ourselves as providing an important service to our guests.”
“Do you hide anyone?” He kept his voice nearly silent.
“Yes and no. Do we hide those whom some might consider criminals? Perhaps. It is not our way to judge others. If you have done our people no harm, no harm will come to you. But all three of us—Kezia, Vano, and myself—have discretion to choose or reject guests. The safety of our people, including the vampires who stay with us, is our top priority.”
Ben glanced around. “So according to everyone here, who am I?”
“You are another guest who has paid me a great deal to make him disappear.” Radu’s voice remained low. “You wouldn’t be the first powerful newborn who has sought our protection while they come to terms with their new life. We don’t take the bloodthirsty of course. But after the first year, some find shelter with us.”
“Good to know.” Ben saw a familiar face across the camp, the strange woman who’d been following him in Kashgar, along with her plain-faced vampire guard.
Oh, hello.
Her eyes rose as if she could hear him, and the corner of her mouth turned up. She was even more enchanting in firelight, a sphinx of a woman with mysterious dark eyes and an enigmatic expression.
Radu followed his eyes. “I believe you met Kezia in Xinjiang.”
“Met is stretching it.” He pulled his eyes away and continued scanning the campsite. “Is there anyone else I know?”
Radu’s mouth turned up at the corner. “I cannot tell you that.”
“Why not?”
His face was all innocence. “How could I possibly know all your associates?”
Of course he’d answer that way. “Do I have my own caravan?”
“Only the finest,” Radu said. “Very private and equipped with the latest technology for the Nocht platform.”
“Great.”
“It is also soundproof and secure from listening devices. We provide a bug sweeper if you want to verify. Feel free to conduct business there. Or… entertain guests. It will be your home while you are here.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Ben wasn’t planning on doing any entertaining while he was working, but he appreciated the privacy nonetheless. “I need to call Chloe, my uncle, and my assistant in Rome tonight. She’s expecting me.”
“Of course.”
“Where’s my bag?”
“In your caravan. I’m afraid we had to remove the tablet computer, but it’s being kept safe for you. We’ve also provided some more clothing than what you had with you.”
“Seriously, Radu?”
“We are only considering your comfort. You’ll have the latest equipment to work on. The best blood and wine.” Radu patted his shoulder. “Everything in your caravan is for sale. We can negotiate a fair price should you want to keep anything.”
He was very good at what he did. Ben almost forgot he’d been kidnapped.
They walked to a long travel caravan that was built on the chassis of a Mercedes truck. As they approached, steps extended toward them and lights switched on from invisible motion sensors along the side of the bus.
“This will be your home for the next three weeks.” Radu walked ahead of Ben into the caravan. “This is our newest unit. You’re only the third guest who has used it.”
Ben couldn’t not be impressed. The bus was equipped with leather interior and wood cabinets lining the sides. Sections of the caravan had been expanded to create more floor space in the living area. The windows had been blocked by modern art canvases and bookcases lined by plastic to keep the books from shifting when the bus moved.
“The day chamber is in the rear.” Radu pointed toward it. “Completely secured from the interior.”
“And what’s to stop someone from taking a chain saw to it in during the day?”
“That’s where the darigan come in.” Radu continued to push buttons and move levers to exhibit the amenities of the caravan. “You’re welcome to meet them if you want, but meet them or not, they will do their job, protecting you with force if necessary.”
“Great.” He sensed something nagging the edge of his amnis. There was someone nearby whom he’d met before. Radu’s sister? No, he didn’t know her well enough.
Radu was explaining the engine with great enthusiasm when Ben held up a hand.
“Yes?”
“Who else is here? Which vampires?”
“The vampire—?”
“The five you narrowed it down to. Which vampires are we talking about here? I must know one of them.”
Radu leaned against a leather couch. “Let’s see. There is Tatyana, who is not old enough to have stolen it, but she’s inexplicably wealthy and currently hiding from Oleg. Not a likely suspect.”
“And who are the other four?”
“If we are counting Tatyana, there are six guests, but only five real suspects. It took quite some wrangling to arrange their visits all at the same time.”
“Who else?”
“Madina is the first suspect. She’s been recently ousted from power in Central Europe, but she stayed with us in the 1930s.”
He didn’t know a Madina. “Who else?”
“Fynn. He’s German, but he’s been living in Argentina since the Second World War for exactly the reasons you imagine. He visited the caravan in the 1940s, and his character is despicable.”
“But you invited him back?”
Radu looked surprised. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Okay, who else?”
“Darius is the oldest vampire here and not likely as a suspect, but I included him because he knows more about the history of the goblets than we do, and he stayed here during the same period. He’s Persian and very, very secretive.”
“Sounds like Darius is a man who knows things,” Ben muttered. “Who else?”
“A French thief, René DuPont.
