Walking on Her Grave (Rogue River Novella, Book 4) by Melinda Leigh Page B

theory.” Seth evaded the question. There was no point in speculating. Katelyn might have kept her recent liaison with Mike secret to avoid scandal, and Seth was not going to round out his evening by giving an old lady a heart attack.
    “Sit down, please.” Faye waved toward a sofa facing the picture window. She bustled around the kitchen, filling a tiny pitcher with cream.
    Seth faced the river, a ribbon of darkness in the fading twilight. “The water looks calm from here.”
    “It’s deceptive. This segment is particularly dangerous.” Faye set a tray on a glass coffee table.
    “I learned that today.” Seth drank his coffee black, but the brew was unusually strong, like Faye. He added some cream.
    “Yes. I know.” She sat and rested her folded hands on her lap. “I’m sorry about what happened. I so wanted to make a go of the new resort, but everything got out of control.”
    “It’s not your fault.” Seth drank his coffee.
    “I should have known what was going on under my nose.” Faye stared out the window. “Getting old is a bitch.”
    Seth laughed. A light appeared outside the window. Floating. Flying. It burst into a kaleidoscope, colors circling. Zooming in and out. What the hell? He rubbed his eyes. The lights circled his head like a cartoon concussion. What next, a little bird?
    “How do you feel, Seth?”
    He turned to Faye. Her face melted and reformed. Oh. Shit . She’d drugged him.
    “You didn’t really think Katelyn was smart enough to pull all this off, did you?” Faye tsk ed.
    Seth lurched to his feet. The wood floor rolled under him.
    Faye took his arm and steered him toward the front door. “Let’s get you to your car. Maybe you’ll get lucky. But I doubt it. You’re stronger than Bill was. I gave you a bigger dose. Just in case, though, it would be better if your car was pulled from the river tomorrow with you in it.”
    Seth tried to pull away from her. But his visual field undulated. He yanked his arm away but swayed like a drunk. Water pelted Seth’s face. It sizzled on his skin like acid. He smacked at the burning drops with his hands. His pulse quickened, the beats thudding like bongos in his chest.
    No. No. No . He couldn’t let this happen. He put his hands on his knees, shoved a finger down his throat, and vomited all over Faye’s hardwood.
    She jumped backward. “Well, now, that was just disgusting. I didn’t expect you to give me a hard time. My hired hands are dead. I’ll have quite a time getting your body out of the house on my own. I suppose, if push comes to shove, I could use the hand truck in the garage.” She waved a hand. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I’d really like to take care of this tonight. I don’t have much time.” She smiled at him, giant lips spreading to reveal fangs. Huge vampire fangs ready to piece his jugular. “You have even less. It’s a shame. You’re a nice young man. But, like Bill, just a little too smart. That’s why you have to die.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    “Where’s Daddy?”
    Pacing the kitchen of her mother’s house, Carly smiled at her daughter. “I’m sure he’ll be along. Why don’t you go check on those kittens?”
    “Okay, Mama.” Brianna disappeared into the laundry room.
    Damn Seth. He promised.
    She chewed a worried fingernail. This didn’t feel right. The “old” Seth wouldn’t have thought much about not showing up. But she hadn’t expected this. Not tonight. Not after everything that had happened in the last few months.
    Carly picked up her cell and dialed Seth again. And left yet another message. She texted her sister Stevie. All the Solitude cops had been busy with the forest fire and major crime scene at the campground. Stevie called her right back. “What do you mean you can’t find Seth?”
    “He said he was coming right over. That was an hour ago.”
    “Maybe he stopped somewhere.”
    “No, he promised he’d be here for Brianna,” Carly insisted.
    “Carly . . .”