Of course, he'd only returned because there was more trouble in town. Selena did not take kindly to this intrusion into her affairs.
"Who are you to tell me what a companion should do?"
Istvan didn't have to look at a clock to know the time. Nor was this a discussion he could afford to get into, even if there were plenty of hours left in the night. "I also told Ariel to forget about the case." His chest rose and fell in a deep, disgusted sigh. "I spoke too soon. Now I actually have to do some work."
"Which is where I come in."
"Which is where you come in."
Selena carefully schooled her thoughts and emotions. She'd been practicing shielding herself, with a lot of help from her aunt. Aunt Catie said Selena was good at mind tricks. It was because of worry for Aunt Catie that she didn't immediately mention anything about Lawrence being attacked in his sleep to Steve.
Maybe the Enforcers' Enforcer was in charge of the case, but Larry was in Aunt Catie's basement.
Selena wasn't setting her aunt in Steve's way. Even though he knew, and so far tolerated, Catie Bailey's being aware of the strigoi community, there was no guarantee he wouldn't kill her if he found out how deeply she was into the life. Besides, it was habit and professional pride that made Detective Sergeant Crawford still disgruntled with turning over a case to another law enforcement agency.
"Where do I come in?" she asked.
"The vampire's remains were seen and examined by mortals. All records of that have to be wiped."
"Well, duh. As if I haven't already thought of that. The paper trail is growing more confused all the time."
He reached over and patted her, his big hand cupping her breast when he did it. "You're clever. I'm thorough. I'm going to have to have a little talk with everyone who dealt with the body."
She sat up and looked down on him in a whirling mixture of terror, skepticism, and outrage. "You want me to bring all of them to you? What are you going to do to them?"
"Talk to them. Make them forget."
"Magic doesn't work like that! You can't make everybody forget."
He propped his hands behind his head. "I can."
Maybe he could. "Promise me you won't kill anyone you can't hypnotize."
He didn't argue. He yawned and closed his eyes. "I promise. It's dawn," he added.
Which didn't give her time to tell him she didn't believe his promise. It was just as well, as he might have gotten all outraged with wounded honor. Selena dragged herself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. All he wanted was a list. Fine. She'd get him a list, then maybe he'd get out of town. Out of her life again. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall as hot water poured down over her.
Another sleepless night spent arguing and in the arms of Steve left her shaking with reaction. Her fingers found the starred hole that had been left in the tile when she'd shot him a couple years ago. She almost smiled at the memory, except it reminded her that a companion with a weak bond or sufficient motivation Page 53
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
was capable of killing a strigoi.
Steve would remember that as well. It made her wonder if she was his main suspect and if that was the real reason he was back in town. Maybe he was playing cat and mouse with her and would pounce once the mortal witnesses were disposed of. Maybe he wanted to see if she had accomplices. Her on-line companions' support group came to mind, and the thought was blocked as quickly as her tired mind would allow. She figured she was safe from Steve's mind walking intrusion for the moment. Even he had to experience a time lag between passing out at dawn and being able to project his thoughts while his body was frozen. Still, she was grateful she didn't know any of the other companions' real identities, so she couldn't be forced to rat them out, even if Steve found out about them.
When she got out of the shower, she got dressed and escaped the apartment as quickly
"Who are you to tell me what a companion should do?"
Istvan didn't have to look at a clock to know the time. Nor was this a discussion he could afford to get into, even if there were plenty of hours left in the night. "I also told Ariel to forget about the case." His chest rose and fell in a deep, disgusted sigh. "I spoke too soon. Now I actually have to do some work."
"Which is where I come in."
"Which is where you come in."
Selena carefully schooled her thoughts and emotions. She'd been practicing shielding herself, with a lot of help from her aunt. Aunt Catie said Selena was good at mind tricks. It was because of worry for Aunt Catie that she didn't immediately mention anything about Lawrence being attacked in his sleep to Steve.
Maybe the Enforcers' Enforcer was in charge of the case, but Larry was in Aunt Catie's basement.
Selena wasn't setting her aunt in Steve's way. Even though he knew, and so far tolerated, Catie Bailey's being aware of the strigoi community, there was no guarantee he wouldn't kill her if he found out how deeply she was into the life. Besides, it was habit and professional pride that made Detective Sergeant Crawford still disgruntled with turning over a case to another law enforcement agency.
"Where do I come in?" she asked.
"The vampire's remains were seen and examined by mortals. All records of that have to be wiped."
"Well, duh. As if I haven't already thought of that. The paper trail is growing more confused all the time."
He reached over and patted her, his big hand cupping her breast when he did it. "You're clever. I'm thorough. I'm going to have to have a little talk with everyone who dealt with the body."
She sat up and looked down on him in a whirling mixture of terror, skepticism, and outrage. "You want me to bring all of them to you? What are you going to do to them?"
"Talk to them. Make them forget."
"Magic doesn't work like that! You can't make everybody forget."
He propped his hands behind his head. "I can."
Maybe he could. "Promise me you won't kill anyone you can't hypnotize."
He didn't argue. He yawned and closed his eyes. "I promise. It's dawn," he added.
Which didn't give her time to tell him she didn't believe his promise. It was just as well, as he might have gotten all outraged with wounded honor. Selena dragged herself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. All he wanted was a list. Fine. She'd get him a list, then maybe he'd get out of town. Out of her life again. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall as hot water poured down over her.
Another sleepless night spent arguing and in the arms of Steve left her shaking with reaction. Her fingers found the starred hole that had been left in the tile when she'd shot him a couple years ago. She almost smiled at the memory, except it reminded her that a companion with a weak bond or sufficient motivation Page 53
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
was capable of killing a strigoi.
Steve would remember that as well. It made her wonder if she was his main suspect and if that was the real reason he was back in town. Maybe he was playing cat and mouse with her and would pounce once the mortal witnesses were disposed of. Maybe he wanted to see if she had accomplices. Her on-line companions' support group came to mind, and the thought was blocked as quickly as her tired mind would allow. She figured she was safe from Steve's mind walking intrusion for the moment. Even he had to experience a time lag between passing out at dawn and being able to project his thoughts while his body was frozen. Still, she was grateful she didn't know any of the other companions' real identities, so she couldn't be forced to rat them out, even if Steve found out about them.
When she got out of the shower, she got dressed and escaped the apartment as quickly
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