Mrs. Morris and the Vampire

by Traci Wilton

  He shrugged.

  “Brandy made a new conquest tonight—a guy named Orpheus.”

  “What’s with these names? It’s like they searched vampire names on Google and chose from a list.”

  “That’s hysterical.” She shook her head. “But Orpheus isn’t a vampire, or vampire wannabe, though he does come from New Orleans.”

  “Like Alaric. Coincidence?”

  “I don’t know.” Charlene adjusted the blanket around her lap. “We’ve learned that the world is a strange place. Do you believe in vampires, Jack?”

  He scoffed. “No. But I didn’t believe in ghosts either, and look where that got me.”

  She laughed and leaned back against the cushion. She’d been the same way, coming from Chicago. If she could touch it, taste it, smell it—then it was real. Her life had changed a lot in the last year.

  “I have a message from Orpheus for Brandy; he wants to meet her again. We’re supposed to do lunch tomorrow and I’ll relay it then.”

  “So how does Brandy feel about all of this? She’s very intuitive.”

  Charlene played with one of her ringlets, winding her finger around a soft coil. “Brandy despised Alaric and his manipulation of her daughter. She was like a mama bear, ready to attack.”

  “Protective, as you said. I see dark circles under your eyes—should we continue this tomorrow?”

  Sweet. “Sam is coming over for coffee, and to hopefully tell us that Alaric is at home safe and sound.”

  Jack snugged the blanket tighter around her legs, always taking care of her. “Sam. Breakfast. Fine . . . I hope you’re right; otherwise, Brandy and Serenity might have some questions to answer.”

  She smacked her palm to her forehead. “Serenity’s ex-boyfriend, Dru Ormond, showed up around ten. He was furious that Alaric had stolen her away from him and punched him in the face. Drunk as a skunk. Ranting and raving, he said something about killing Alaric.”

  The yummy cake in her belly soured.

  “Punched him?”

  “I don’t think we should take it seriously. Dru was very, very intoxicated. Stephanos called a cab for him.”

  Jack stood and moved about the small room. “Alaric angered quite a few people for only being in town two weeks.”

  “I know.” She set her tablet and pen on the table. “He wants to make Salem his forever home.” What had seemed amusing earlier no longer did and she blamed the late, or rather early, hour.

  She stretched and put the back of her hand against her mouth to cover a yawn. “Do you mind if I say good night?” Friday had become Saturday and she suddenly felt the pull of sleep.

  “Of course not.” Jack bathed her in a warm smile. “We’ll talk again tomorrow. Oh, who won the contest?”

  “An eight-foot alien and a six-foot Aphrodite won. Their costumes were out of this world.”

  “Ha. Funny.” Jack snapped off the television, which had been running in the background. “Go to sleep, Charlene. Things will be clearer in the morning.”

  She was reminded of Evelyn saying something similar to Dru.

  As she walked to her bedroom door, the cold receded. Jack had shed his fabricated body and was back in the ether.

  Was it possible that Alaric could do the same, with a spell from Serenity?

  Too tired to think, she washed her face and undid her curls, then climbed into bed, covering herself with her plush duvet. Sleep arrived instantly.

  * * *

  When Charlene awoke, she knew she’d overslept. The autumn sun shone through the window and she heard voices filling the kitchen. She didn’t have to worry, as she knew that Minnie and Avery, her precocious teenage helper, were already at work and keeping her guests happy. Saturdays Avery usually worked all day.

  Charlene showered and dressed in a cheerful orange sweater and faded jeans.

  “Good morning,” she said to them, barely stopping as she focused on the scent of dark roast. Her mission was the fresh brewed coffee Minnie kept in the kitchen and the clarity a new day was supposed to bring. “Are the guests up yet?”

  “In the dining room,” Minnie said.

  “Let me drink this java and I’ll be human in a few minutes.”

  She poured a steaming mug and the smell let her brain know help was on the way. Now that she was over forty, her body required more than five hours of sleep. “Morning,” she greeted Minnie and Avery at last.

  “Happy Day of the Dead!” Avery shouted, giving her a big hug. The teenager’s face was fresh-scrubbed from the green Martian makeup she’d worn last night when she’d gone out with her friends.

  “What?” Charlene smiled over Avery’s shoulder to Minnie. When she was free from the warm embrace, she hugged Minnie next. “Day of the Dead sounds terrible.”

  Minnie grinned and shrugged. “I didn’t name it. Happy November?”

  “That’s got a nicer ring.” Charlene sipped her coffee and sighed.

  Avery hitched her butt on a counter stool, taking a banana from the fruit bowl. Fruit and pastries were always available on the countertop, and the teen had long lost her shyness over helping herself.

  “Are you hungover?” Avery peeled back the yellow skin. “Some of the older kids at the center showed up drunk, and man, does that make Janet mad.” Janet was the house mom where Avery lived with the other teens. “She wakes them up extra-early for chores.”

  “No, young lady, I’m not hungover.” Charlene slurped some coffee, knowing she’d better drink it fast if she wanted to be at her best. “I didn’t get in till very late.”

  “Did everyone like your costume?” Avery bit into the soft fruit. “I was hoping to borrow it for next year. We did a lot of work and it shouldn’t go to waste.”

  “You’re welcome to it, sweetheart.” Charlene sipped again, her eyes widening as caffeine surged through her system. “I got tons of compliments.” She cherished the one from Sam, especially.

  Minnie placed her hands on her hips. “Who won? I love all the costumes. Should be pictures of the witch ball in the paper this morning.”

  “Really? That’s great.” Charlene took another drink, then ate a few grapes. “Alien for king and Aphrodite for queen. But that’s not the coolest story of the night.” Alaric and the cape came to mind. “Don’t rush me now.”

  Their eyes rounded as they looked at each other. Charlene deliberately helped herself to more grapes and a healthy slice of a banana-walnut cake before she met their expectant gazes.

  “Are you done now, missy?” Minnie asked peevishly, refilling Charlene’s cup. “Can we get you anything else before you tell us?”

  Avery bowed before her like royalty. “Yes, madam, it is our pleasure to serve you.”

  Charlene snickered, covered her lips with a napkin, then sputtered, “No wonder I love you guys. Here goes.” She lowered her tones in a storyteller’s cadence. “A vampire and a witch fell in love. The vampire disappeared at midnight with a promise to return, but he didn’t.”

  “For real?” Avery’s mouth dropped open.

  Charlene nodded. “The clock struck twelve, and there was his cape and a bloody stake. No vampire. The witch claimed her spell had worked.” She leaned closer to them in a singsong voice. “Where oh where did the vampire go?”

  Minnie burst out laughing. “Charlene, I hope you’re joking.”

  “Nope. Detective Sam should be over soon to tell us if he found our missing vampire.”

  “The detective, huh? No wonder your cheeks are pink,” Minnie said, winking at Avery.

  “Hey now.” Charlene got up and topped off her coffee mug.

  “He’s superhot. If you don’t want him, maybe somebody with a spider tattoo on her neck and a stud in her nose has a shot.”

  “If you were ten years older, I might be worried.” Charlene was so happy that she’d taken a chance on this girl from Felicity House—a home for children with nowhere to go. She’d hired her with a little apprehension, but Avery had won over Minnie and herself, and even Jack.


  “I’m just kidding.” Avery’s eyes glistened. “He might be my boss one day.”

  One of Sam’s officers had given Avery a ride in a police car, and Avery was now considering joining the Salem police department . . .after college, thank you. Charlene had won that battle at least, and Avery would attend Salem State University for her bachelor’s degree.

  “His job is very important. Now, I think I hear our guests?” Charlene put her plate in the sink.

  “Oh-la-de-da.” Minnie flipped her apron. “We have some very fine people here this week.”

  “So fine, they don’t even say please and thank-you half the time.” Avery put her finger under her nose and lifted it in the air.

  Shaking her head, Charlene left the two joking around in the kitchen and sat down at the end seat of the dining table. “How is everyone this morning?”

  Gabriel, out of his Raggedy Andy costume, had brown thinning hair and a round face. She’d learned yesterday that he was a curator for a museum in Georgia. He slung an arm affectionately over his wife’s shoulders. “Too late is all I know. We danced our feet off and consumed a little too much of that sangria, but it was certainly the best Halloween we’ve ever had.”

  Emma rubbed the crease between her brows—was that a hint of red makeup from her Raggedy Ann costume? “I have a deplorable headache—my own fault, of course. After the Hawthorne, we went to another few bars on Essex.” She gave Charlene an apologetic look. “I managed toast and black coffee, but Gabriel devoured the frittatas and ham.”

  Chloe put down her apple juice and winked at her green-tinged husband. “We’ll have to get our Dalmatian costumes dry-cleaned from all of our dancing, but it’s worth every penny. The wine when we got here was just the right touch, Charlene.”

  “For you, Chloe,” Braydon moaned. They were in their mid-thirties, no children. Both worked at a Manhattan publishing house. “Wine!” He made a sour face. “After the sangria? And mixed drinks? My undoing, I’m afraid.”

  Charlene chuckled sympathetically. “What about you, Olivia and Andrew? Did you overindulge?” The black-on-black they wore this morning was similar to their witch costumes yesterday.

  Andrew ran a hand over his shadowed face. “Oh, man. Big-time.”

  Olivia shook her head. “Not me. Guess I’m the last one standing. But I could barely sleep all night. My mind was whirling, trying to figure out how that vampire escaped right in front of us! I wonder if he’s a professional illusionist. Has anyone Googled him?”

  Celeste Devries was at breakfast without Tommy or Joey. The bartenders from Jersey City had the three single rooms at the top floor. “No, but me and my boys partied with a friend of his, Asher.” She blinked her eyes and grinned. “So cute. Anyway, we were out until four this morning when most of the bars closed. I guess Asher’s renting a house with friends and we couldn’t crash there, so he’s staying in my room. I hope we didn’t wake anyone coming in?”

  They all shook their heads.

  “We tried to be quiet,” she said with a giggle.

  “Did you see Alaric then?” Charlene asked. “Since Asher and Alaric are friends.”

  “Nope.” Celeste bit into her toast. “Salem is the coolest city I’ve ever been to. I may not want to leave.”

  Judd Hernandez raised a brow. “It’s incredible—but I like the witches better than the vampires.”

  “Alaric wasn’t really a vampire, though,” Malena said.

  “Asher thinks so.” Celeste swallowed her toast with some orange juice.

  “I have my doubts, but it was part of the fun.” Judd’s tone let them know he wanted to deal with reality on his terms during breakfast. Charlene could hardly take him seriously, recalling how Malena had spanked Frankenstein on the dance floor.

  “Speaking of fun, it’s going to be a lovely fall Saturday.” Charlene stood. “Might be nice to walk into town and get some fresh air. I can’t recommend the tours enough. If you want to stay in and nurse your head, we have plenty of games in the den and a stocked bookshelf with local Salem interests.”

  “Thanks, Charlene.” Celeste wiped her fingers on her napkin. “I’m going to wake up the sleepyheads and meander downtown.”

  “The wharf is a nice place to visit. Check out their harbor cruise. You have a map and lists of tours with phone numbers in the welcome package we put in your rooms. If you need any more information, just ask us.”

  Avery entered the dining room. “Coffee or tea?”

  Some ignored her, Charlene noticed, while others held their cups up and said, “Yes, please.”

  Avery put her hands in the pockets of her apron and did a little curtsy that almost made Charlene laugh. She caught her eye and smiled.

  Just then the doorbell rang and Minnie called out, “Want to answer that? I bet it’s your handsome detective.”

  “Excuse me.” Ducking her head, Charlene went to the door. She opened it invitingly. “Good morning, Detective. What brings you here? Good news or the scent of coffee and pastries?”

  “Can it be both?” He ambled past her, removed his overcoat, and hung it on the coat-tree in the foyer. “I do have something to tell you, but privately. The information hasn’t been officially released yet.”

  “Let’s go into the parlor and we’ll light the fire. I’ll rustle up some of your favorites that Minnie makes special for you.”

  “At least one person in the house likes me,” he said, tugging at his mustache. His brown eyes warmed.

  She smiled. “Not the only one. Avery adores you. Silva too.”

  “Anyone else?” Sam moved a step closer, crowding her space. There were times when she wished she liked him more, and plenty of moments when she wished she liked him less. He disturbed her senses.

  “On occasion I’m very fond of you too.” Charlene took a step back, lips twitching. “Light the fire. I’ll be right there.” She felt a chill and gave a cold shoulder to her jealous ghost. Jack didn’t like other men’s attentions focused on her and made it quite clear. One of the conditions of his remaining in the house was that he behaved and didn’t frighten the guests—or reveal his presence.

  The last thing she wanted was to be overrun with ghost hunters. After giving Jack a stern look and tilting her chin in the air, she marched into the kitchen to prepare a tray for Sam.

  His coffee, black. A pecan-and-cranberry butter tart that Minnie laced with warm orange juice and brandy. Greek baklava with phyllo dough, stacked with honey and nuts. This should sweeten Sam up enough to tell her things he probably shouldn’t.

  “Going overboard, aren’t you, Charlene?” Jack’s whisper in her ear made her cheeks flame.

  “Do not create a scene, Jack, please.” She peered into his deep-blue eyes. “Take a back seat and let’s hear what Sam has to say—then I don’t need to repeat it, correct?”

  “Fine.” He crossed his arms. “You left Silva in your suite and she kept pouncing on me to play. I finally opened your door and she went straight to her bowl in the kitchen, very put out with you.”

  “You opened the door?” What if someone had seen it!

  Avery cleared her throat from the end of the hall.

  Charlene turned her back to Jack. “Hi, Avery. Did you need something?”

  “No, I’m still clearing the dining room.” Avery squinted her eyes. “Were you talking to someone?”

  “Just myself.” She brushed some crumbs from the counter to the trash can. “If you need me, I’ll be answering questions from Sam. We’ll need a little privacy, okay?”

  “Mm-hmm. Did you see what I meant about . . .” Avery cocked her head toward the dining room and lowered her voice. “Those people?”

  Charlene had found them pleasant enough, but they weren’t overly friendly with the hired help. “The way of the world,” she told her. “Some good and bad everywhere.”

  “You want me to take that to Sam? You can tell your guests goodbye.” Avery had a silver stud in her nose and purple tips in her highlighted hair. It might put off som
e people, but she’d never apologize for Avery. She was streetwise and sharp—and adorable in a million different ways.

  “That’s okay.” Charlene went to step past Avery but found herself blocked instead.

  “I was wondering what time you’d like me to leave today?”

  “Around three, the usual. Unless you’ve got something else going on?”

  Avery shrugged her thin shoulders. “No, it’s not important.”

  “What is it, hon?”

  “Well . . . Some kids I know are going ice-skating today in the park. They asked me to come.”

  “You totally should! As much as we love you, you’re not completely indispensable,” she teased. “This is your senior year in high school and you should have some fun. Minnie and I can take care of the guests. What time are you thinking?”

  “In about an hour? Is that okay?”

  “Of course. Tell Minnie that I said yes.”

  “Will do!” Avery pranced off and Charlene carried the tray toward the glowing fireplace and Sam. Jack was smoldering a few feet behind the velvet wingback chair where Sam sat—it was his chair when they were alone.

  “Here you go. Everything is still warm.” Charlene sat across from him and rested her feet on the fancy ottoman she’d bought at Vintage Treasures, one of her favorite shops in town. Other prizes were the large ornate mirror centered over the fireplace, a mid-century solid brass shell for the entranceway, and also a gleaming brass telescope for the widow’s walk to view Salem’s historical sights.

  “You didn’t need to put all my favorites on one plate,” Sam said. “How am I supposed to choose?”

  “You don’t have to. Take a moment and enjoy everything. I know how busy Halloween is for you.” She relaxed against the backrest. “What did you discover on the stake? Did you ever find Alaric?”

  “You were right about that being real blood on the stick. The stake was a prop—it came from the photo booth last night.”

  Alarm filled her. “Alaric’s blood?”

  “Don’t know yet.” Sam picked up the tart and took two quick bites, then leaned back in the chair with his coffee. “A body washed up on shore this morning. Male. Dark hair. Dark eyes.” He stared at her over the rim of his cup. “Naked. With a hole punched through his chest.”