well ‘fess up. I’m in love with you, Reika. Totally. Completely. Figured it out the moment you answered the phone. Got it? I love you. I’m new to it, and it’s scary, but as long as you’re there, I’m in. Heck. Sounds pretty much like paradise.”
Happiness flooded, turning her into a beacon of joy. She was surprised it didn’t light the entire cavern they stood in.
“I’ll be able to fly, too? And all the other cool stuff? Yes?”
She didn’t hear all of it. She was already draining him, and the taste was too heady. Too perfect. Too all-encompassing wonderful.
He was right. It was paradise.
-o0o-
Sneak peek at Vampire Assassin league #12
CANNOT UNITE, coming May 2013!
CHAPTER ONE
Flaked iron oxide .
Jeannette rubbed the particles between her latex-gloved thumb and fingers, watching the rust turn to fine granules that floated down and became dust. Same thing was left at the other murder site. In Philly. That…and a dead body with a lot of bruising and an equal amount of blood loss. Only difference was, this time the victim had managed a 9-1-1 call. That must have been what spared him some of the blood depletion.
“It’s rust, Lady.”
“I know.”
“Forensics already has a baggie full of the stuff.”
“Well…they missed some.”
“Who the hell cares about a little rust?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
She ignored the police officer escorting her. They’d given her an Officer Johnson today. He had a first name. She’d forgotten it the moment they’d been introduced. The guy was full desk jockey. Overweight and out of shape. Winded just from walking with her. Not much different from the policeman who’d been with her in Philly yesterday.
Jeannette walked around the chalked outline of a body to where two small spots of blood had hit the concrete. Forensics had already swabbed and no doubt bagged the evidence, but that wasn’t what she was looking for. There should be some arterial spray. Some sign of trauma. Something. Even hunched down in a squat, she couldn’t see any color other than what looked like a half-acre of light gray floor. Pretty nice floor, streaked intermittently with sunbeams from high-placed windows. Looked like it had even been waxed recently. Everything was nearly identical to the last time. Only in Philly, the body had been drained of over three quarts of blood. According to the police report, this one had lost significantly less. Probably due to that 9-1-1- call. Where would the blood be?
“You finished?”
“Just getting started, Officer.”
He sighed, loudly and heavily.
“You don’t have to stay,” she offered.
“Oh yes, I do. You’re my assignment for the day. I get to make sure nothing is messed with at the crime scene due to your hokie stuff.”
“Then I thank you,” she answered calmly, keeping the sarcasm out of her voice. It wasn’t easy. It was never easy around the uninitiated and closed-minded.
The crime scene faded. Warped. Became nightfall. If she blinked just right, she could end the vision. But that wasn’t what she was getting paid for. She tensed. Carlos Carlotti had been a second son. He’d been known for his big spending ways and his success with the ladies…and his movement to the top of the firm after the sudden death of his older brother in Philadelphia six weeks ago. The Senior Carlotti wanted this solved before they came after Son Number Three. That’s why he’d walked into her little shop two days ago, with a full retinue of bodyguards, and a job offer.
Saying no wasn’t an option. She’d gotten that part instantly.
In her mind it was dark again, the cavernous warehouse lit by large round lights dangling from the rafters some two stories up. Carlos was lighting a cigarette. Smiling. Waving to his driver as the guy drove away, leaving him alone…for what? A new lady-friend? Maybe…a married lady-friend? What else would explain letting his security force leave him alone and vulnerable? Carlos reached for his neck,
Happiness flooded, turning her into a beacon of joy. She was surprised it didn’t light the entire cavern they stood in.
“I’ll be able to fly, too? And all the other cool stuff? Yes?”
She didn’t hear all of it. She was already draining him, and the taste was too heady. Too perfect. Too all-encompassing wonderful.
He was right. It was paradise.
-o0o-
Sneak peek at Vampire Assassin league #12
CANNOT UNITE, coming May 2013!
CHAPTER ONE
Flaked iron oxide .
Jeannette rubbed the particles between her latex-gloved thumb and fingers, watching the rust turn to fine granules that floated down and became dust. Same thing was left at the other murder site. In Philly. That…and a dead body with a lot of bruising and an equal amount of blood loss. Only difference was, this time the victim had managed a 9-1-1 call. That must have been what spared him some of the blood depletion.
“It’s rust, Lady.”
“I know.”
“Forensics already has a baggie full of the stuff.”
“Well…they missed some.”
“Who the hell cares about a little rust?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
She ignored the police officer escorting her. They’d given her an Officer Johnson today. He had a first name. She’d forgotten it the moment they’d been introduced. The guy was full desk jockey. Overweight and out of shape. Winded just from walking with her. Not much different from the policeman who’d been with her in Philly yesterday.
Jeannette walked around the chalked outline of a body to where two small spots of blood had hit the concrete. Forensics had already swabbed and no doubt bagged the evidence, but that wasn’t what she was looking for. There should be some arterial spray. Some sign of trauma. Something. Even hunched down in a squat, she couldn’t see any color other than what looked like a half-acre of light gray floor. Pretty nice floor, streaked intermittently with sunbeams from high-placed windows. Looked like it had even been waxed recently. Everything was nearly identical to the last time. Only in Philly, the body had been drained of over three quarts of blood. According to the police report, this one had lost significantly less. Probably due to that 9-1-1- call. Where would the blood be?
“You finished?”
“Just getting started, Officer.”
He sighed, loudly and heavily.
“You don’t have to stay,” she offered.
“Oh yes, I do. You’re my assignment for the day. I get to make sure nothing is messed with at the crime scene due to your hokie stuff.”
“Then I thank you,” she answered calmly, keeping the sarcasm out of her voice. It wasn’t easy. It was never easy around the uninitiated and closed-minded.
The crime scene faded. Warped. Became nightfall. If she blinked just right, she could end the vision. But that wasn’t what she was getting paid for. She tensed. Carlos Carlotti had been a second son. He’d been known for his big spending ways and his success with the ladies…and his movement to the top of the firm after the sudden death of his older brother in Philadelphia six weeks ago. The Senior Carlotti wanted this solved before they came after Son Number Three. That’s why he’d walked into her little shop two days ago, with a full retinue of bodyguards, and a job offer.
Saying no wasn’t an option. She’d gotten that part instantly.
In her mind it was dark again, the cavernous warehouse lit by large round lights dangling from the rafters some two stories up. Carlos was lighting a cigarette. Smiling. Waving to his driver as the guy drove away, leaving him alone…for what? A new lady-friend? Maybe…a married lady-friend? What else would explain letting his security force leave him alone and vulnerable? Carlos reached for his neck,
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