The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn Page B

attractive man inched toward me, madly scribbling in a notebook, totally oblivious to the fact that I was staring at him. He must have sensed he’d reached my chair because he started talking, eyes still on his writing.
    â€œDr. Knight? I’m Special Agent Stevens,” he said, finally making eye contact. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. Seems I really can’t walk and do anything else at the same time. I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation you had with the doctor. The victim of the attack is your client?”
    â€œSpecial Agent Stevens?” I took in his jeans and white T-shirt. “You don’t look like a special agent. Who do you work for?”
    â€œSorry. I’d just gotten home and changed clothes when I picked up the call that there’d been another attack.” He pulled out his identification from his back pocket and handed it to me.
    Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent Alan Stevens. I shifted my eyes from the photo to his face and back again, then returned his ID. “Why would the FBI be interested in an animal attack in Denver?”
    He paused and studied me as if he was trying to figure out if I was serious or not. “This wasn’t an animal attack. I’ve been tracking these cases all over the country. The local police are involved too. So is Emerald Addison your client?”
    â€œYou know I can’t confirm or deny that.” Shit . He’d obviously heard me confirm it to the doctor.
    â€œThat pesky confidentiality thing, eh?” He grinned and made excellent eye contact.
    â€œUh.” I played with my hair. “What cases have you been tracking? What does Emerald’s situation have to do with them?” It was definitely time to change the topic.
    He smirked. “Oh, so you won’t answer my questions, yet I’m supposed to answer yours? I don’t think so. But I’d like your contact information, just in case I think of some questions you can answer. Could I have one of those business cards you gave to the doctor?”
    I gave him one, and he fished in his wallet for his. “Here’s mine,” he said. “If you think of anything that might help me find whoever did this to your client, you can call me. Day or night.”
    â€œThanks, I will.” What an odd fellow.
    He locked eyes with me for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze back down to the notebook, began writing furiously again, and shuffled a few feet toward the nurses’ station. Midnight, who had been standing off to the side, listening to the exchange, joined me and reported that Ronald and the van were out front. We were just going through the door when Special Agent Stevens suddenly reappeared and grabbed my arm.
    â€œOh, by the way, Doc—watch out for the vampires.”

CHAPTER 5
    B y the time we left the hospital, the mountain skyline shimmered in the midst of a breathtaking color and light show. Brilliant shades of red, orange, blue, and purple swirled around and through one another, muting into pinks, peaches, and lavenders as shafts of sunlight streamed through openings in the kaleidoscope of colors. Off to the east, faint points of light floating in an indigo void sparkled as the sun retreated behind the towering peaks in the west. Nothing’s as magical as a Rocky Mountain sunset.
    We were all exhausted and worried about Emerald, and the ride back to my office was a silent one. It appeared my companions had buried the hatchet, because Ronald offered to take Midnight home, and she accepted. Before they left I rescheduled Ronald’s appointment and thanked him for being such a big help. He seemed ill at ease with my expression of appreciation but gave me a tentative smile. I looked forward to finding out if I could help alleviate the sadness I saw behind his warm tawny eyes.
    I wrestled with myself about whether I should go up to my office and work for a while or head home to a glass of wine and