by Judith Post
Danny rushed into the house while they were talking and settled at the kitchen table with them. He looked at Maggie's pinched face. “You okay?”
Maggie glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me any of this? I think you owe me an explanation."
"Simple," he said. "You just got done surviving the clown killer. I thought you deserved a break before we sprang vampires on you."
She blinked. "That makes sense."
Enoch could feel himself relax. He'd created all kinds of horrible scenarios in his mind—that Maggie would toss Danny out because he hadn't confided in her, that she'd tell anyone and everyone that she'd been attacked by vampires—who knew?
Danny took her hand in his. "I wish you weren't involved in this at all. It got a lot more complicated than any of us expected."
"Well, I am involved," she said. "And the next time, I'd rather be warned. From now on, level with me."
"Will do. Honest Injun." Danny nodded at Enoch, trying unsubtly to switch gears. "New look for your car?"
"Yeah, what happened to it?" Maggie asked. "Were you in an accident?"
“They came after Voronika.”
Maggie put a hand to her throat. "Vampires did that?"
“Last night. That’s probably why you were attacked,” Voronika said. “Vlad yelled that he’d get even with us when Enoch protected me.”
“So this Vlad is nothing but a bully and a scumbag.” Maggie pressed her lips together.
Enoch blinked his surprise. Maggie never reacted the way he expected her to. “Vlad didn’t know Jason was here. He couldn’t get past Bart and me when he tried to grab Claudia and Danny, but he thought you'd be an easy mark.”
"He tried to grab Danny?"
Danny put a hand on her arm. "Yeah, and it freaked me out."
"You too?" That seemed to make her feel better.
"It freaks everyone out," Enoch said. "I'll never forget the first vampire I met."
She gave him an odd look. "I'd like to hear that story sometime, but for right now, I want to know about the vampires who are protecting us."
Enoch explained about Bart and his generals, how they spent century after century fighting their rogue counterparts. “And for now, they're trying to keep mortals in Three Rivers safe."
"So you're all working together?"
"Right."
She walked to the door and called for Jason. It surprised Enoch at first, but then he remembered how she couldn't stand it that he was sitting in his car, keeping watch over her house. When the vampire came, she flinched, but opened her door wide. “We’re having a strategy meeting. Want to join us?”
Jason looked at Enoch. “Is she for real?”
“If you’re going to protect me, wouldn’t it be easier if you stayed inside?”
Typical Maggie, Enoch decided. Vamps included.
“I’m a vampire, ma’am.”
“Exactly, so if there’s ever any sun, you’d have to find some place to hide. That’s silly when you’d be safe in here.”
Jason looked at Danny. “Maybe you can explain it to her.”
Danny shook his head. “She’s a nurse. I’m a cop. We deal with reality every day, even if reality means vampires. She’s right. I’d rather have you close than holed up somewhere.”
“Thank you, but when there’s sun, the other vampires won’t be out either.”
“When it's cloudy? It’s cold out there,” Maggie said.
Jason smiled. “I’m an undead. I don’t get cold, and I’d rather be outside where I can watch for movement, see if anyone’s sitting on your roof or in your tree.”
Maggie shivered. “They do that?”
“They do whatever they want,” Jason said. “It’s our job to police them.”
“Thank you.” Maggie held out her hand to him.
Jason looked confused, but gave it a quick shake. “Be safe,” he said and was gone.
Danny looked at Enoch’s Land Rover, parked at the curb. “Nice air conditioning. Bet it's hard to stay warm.” He grew serious. "Your friend doesn't really have a handle on any of this, does he?"
"Not with Vlad."
"Looks like you're going to have to use your Jag."
“It's not good on ice. I’m taking the Land Rover to the dealer’s before I go to Jenny’s. I’ll either get a loaner or lease something to drive while it’s in the shop.”
“Good idea. You don’t want too much fresh air in this weather. And thanks for coming—again. You had to half freeze on your way over.”
Voronika turned to Maggie. “Are you going to be okay?”
Maggie frowned at her. "You're really a vampire, aren't you? But you seem so nice."
"Nice is pushing it."
"And you're with Enoch?"
"Yes."
Maggie grabbed her hand too and gave it a squeeze. "I don't know why this Vlad is after you, but I hope you stay safe."
Voronika looked away for a minute. She wiped at her eyes. She wasn't used to kindness, Enoch knew. "Thank you."
Danny put an arm around Maggie. “I took the rest of the day off. I’ll be here with you." He turned his attention to Enoch. "You don’t need to rush to Jenny's either. One of our guys is covering her until you get there.”
When they left Maggie’s house, Enoch took his Land Rover straight to a body shop. The mechanic scratched his head. "This isn't covered by your warranty."
"I know."
"I hope you have insurance."
"I do." Enoch might not need medical or life insurance, but he didn't take any chances with his cars. The dealership gave him a nondescript gray sedan to drive until his vehicle was fixed. He looked at it and sighed. “It doesn’t even have tinted windows.”
Voronika slid onto the passenger seat. “It doesn’t matter. It's another gray day. The metal grids will be installed in the apartment by the time we get home. I can stay there tomorrow."
"You’ll be safer.” Enoch scrunched himself behind the steering wheel and searched for the lever to push the seat back. “Doesn’t anybody in the world have long legs?”
"Not too many people are as tall as you are." She raised an eyebrow as they left the lot. “Which are you going to miss most for the next few days, me or your car?”
“Why do I have to choose?” His mood didn’t improve on their drive to Wells Street.
“If you’re going to sulk, I’m going to sleep,” Voronika warned.
"I'm not sulking. I'm mad." There was a difference. What good did Caleb's promise do if people he cared about were being grabbed left and right? But Voronika was trying to make the best of things. He could try too. While they watched Jenny's shop, he made an effort to be better company. But when Voronika's eyes closed, he returned to his brooding. Jason had saved Maggie. He should be happy, but he wasn't. He shouldn't have had to worry about it in the first place.
He waited until they were home with the steel bars down on every window and door and Voronika safely tucked into bed before he went to his kitchen and called Caleb.
Caleb’s vision came to him almost immediately. It flickered with temper. “You tried to kill Vlad.”
“Vlad tried to take Voronika when she was sitting next to me in my car." Enoch stepped close to the image, got right in its face. "He got lucky; I missed.”
"Really? Hard to believe." Caleb narrowed his eyes.
"It won't happen again."
“He’s my favorite,” Caleb warned.
“Voronika's mine."
They glared at each other. Finally Enoch said, "When he didn’t get her, he went after Maggie. Your deal is worthless. I'm taking Vlad out.”
“No!”
“I’m not risking any more lives. I shouldn’t have waited this long to stop him.”
“I’ll stop him,” Caleb said.
“He doesn’t listen to you.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“He calls you the old man, a fossil.”
Caleb smiled. “His ego's as big as mine was at that age. Remember?”
“If he
gets you thrown in the Pit, it’s your own damned fault. But I came here to protect people, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Caleb shook his head. “Wait. Enoch, stop. We've weathered worse. I’ll send more troops.”
“I heard that before. You didn’t do it.”
“I sent three top enforcers and a dozen of their soldiers. They're my best men for your small city.”
“We're not small."
"Then I'll send a whole army.”
"Vlad's that important to you?"
Caleb spread his hands. "What can I say?"
“Then send them. And do it now. Or I track down Vlad and finish him off.” Enoch wasn't in the mood for any of Caleb's bullshit.
“Give me until morning.”
“Have Bart let me know when they’re here.”
“And you won’t hunt Vlad?”
“If he and his idiot followers stay away from people, I’ll stay away from him. But if he comes after Voronika or any of my friends, I won’t miss again.”
“I’ll send troops to run interference.” Caleb disappeared.
Enoch went to his computer and pulled up the article he was working on. He needed to concentrate on something different, something new. He wrote until morning—an angry article that took the government to task. When Bart landed on his balcony at dawn, Enoch slid open the glass doors. The metal grid was still between them. Bart grinned. “Just wanted you to know I have an army to control Vlad, but you’ve taken measures of your own, I see.”
“It all looks good, but I still don't feel safe.”
"Even rogues can't enter without an invitation. It's not a choice. It's a reality."
"Familiars can't enter now either."
"Aah, I see. As for vamps, Caleb sent enough troops that we can watch every inch of this city. We'll pay special attention to your friends.”
“Thanks. That’s one less worry.”
“Let’s hope it’s enough. And good luck.” Bart smiled. "I don't know how you did it, but you've accomplished what I asked for a long time ago."
"Fear," Enoch said. "I've had it with Vlad, and Caleb's worried."
"Then I envy you. I don't have that kind of power."
Enoch thought about that after Bart left. Bart was a rock, a solid foundation in the fight against rogues. Caleb had created him. That had to cause some conflict. If push ever came to shove, Enoch decided to side with Bart before he ever joined with his ex-angel.
Enoch glanced at the clock. Time to leave. He woke Voronika long enough to have her close the metal grids behind him, sealing herself in the apartment. No human would get past those. Then he drove to Wells Street in his rented car and parked in a different spot than usual. It was going to be a long, lonely watch, so he settled in.
Chapter 63
It was late afternoon when Joshua came again. Jenny saw him standing outside the flower shop. He was dressed in the same camouflage pants and army jacket he’d worn before. Were those his work clothes? she wondered. Or part of his disguise, if Enoch was right. Like before, he parked in the small lot behind the shop and looked up and down the streets while he walked to the front door. Jenny frowned. She tried not to let Enoch's insinuations color her views, but what was he doing? Looking for the Land Rover? Enoch didn't drive it today. He'd come in the shop to make sure she knew he was there, even though he was driving some horrible rental.
"That might work in our favor," Enoch told her. "Our guy might recognize my car from the pizza parlor, just like he seemed to recognize Voronika and me from Marie’s rescue."
Joshua stopped in front of the shop to inhale a few last puffs on a cigarette he’d taken from his pocket and lit. He looked up and down the street again. Why was he so nervous? This was day time. The afternoon. Enoch swore their killer only struck after the sun went down. Joshua ground out his cigarette and returned it to his pocket. He was being especially careful. When he finally opened the door to come inside, she led him to the glass cases at the rear of the shop. She pointed to a new batch of daisies and red roses so that he wouldn't notice Enoch leave his car and run to the side of the building. Joshua was a good customer. She didn't want him to feel uncomfortable or intimidated, and Enoch seemed to have that effect on him.
He was on edge today, full of nervous, little ticks. "Do you have anything more Christmassy?"
Jenny looked at him, surprised. He'd never ordered anything but daisies before. "What else does your wife like?"
A pulse thumped in his temple. He gave the buckets of flowers a quick glance. "Something red?"
"Besides the roses?" She slid the door open and said, "I have poinsettias, dyed chrysanthemums…" She was making her way from left to right, describing the containers of flowers.
Something slid around her neck. She put a hand up to loosen it, but Joshua knocked her to the floor. He placed a knee in the small of her back. Eyes watering, she lifted her head and glanced at the front windows. Enoch was looking inside. He saw her and rushed through the door. She was on her hands and knees. Her vision was getting blurry. Her lungs burned.
Enoch charged forward, and Joshua ran to the side door. She yanked the nylon stocking away from her windpipe and took a shaky breath. Her limbs felt like rubber. She sagged back onto her calves in a kneeling position. The door was blocked with heavy shelves. Joshua tried pushing them aside when Enoch reached him. Joshua turned and threw a punch. Stupid. Even Jenny could tell that Enoch was bigger and stronger. Joshua pulled a straight-blade razor from inside his jacket. He sliced through Enoch's throat.
Jenny rubbed her eyes. She had to be hallucinating. Enoch's skin closed and healed. Joshua slashed through his coat sleeve and forearm.
"Damn it!" Enoch picked him up and tossed him against the wall. When Joshua slid to the floor, he looked surprised. He must have tossed him harder than he intended. Joshua didn’t get up, and Enoch knelt beside her. She sputtered and choked, embarrassed and scared. He gently removed the nylon, and she started sobbing. She tried to stay brave, but her lips puckered, her eyes squinched, and tears fell. Enoch cradled her in his arms. “It’s all right. You’re all right.” While he comforted her, he dialed Danny’s number.
A short time later, Joshua stirred and groaned. He pushed himself onto his elbows and gazed around the flower shop. He saw her and started to struggle to his feet, a mask of hatred transforming his face. Then he noticed Enoch and stayed where he was. When Danny got there, Derek cuffed him.
“You’re under arrest…” Danny started.
“She died!” Joshua glared at them all. “My wife died today.”
“Lucky her!” Enoch's anger burned every bit as hot as his. Jenny felt scorched by it, and it wasn't aimed at her. “Your wife never has to know what a creep you turned into.” Joshua stared, his face mottled with anger, but before he could argue, Enoch said, “Did you tell her? Did it make her happy that you were murdering innocent women because she was dying?”
“It’s not fair!”
“She’d have been ashamed of you,” Enoch said. “She was bigger than that.”
"That was her problem. She gave and gave, and what good did it do her? All of her volunteer work and all of her caring…and God took her!"
Enoch looked at him with disgust. "You're a disgrace to her."
Wayne and Derek each took one side of Joshua and led him away.
Jenny tried to push herself to her feet. Enoch easily lifted her. She turned to thank him and was eye level with the sharp slash in his leather coat sleeve. She raised her eyes to his throat and delicately lifted her fingers to touch where the slit had been. And then the tears started again. She couldn't help it. She'd almost died. He'd almost died. Hadn't he?
Danny turned to her. “Are you all right?”
Jenny pointed to Enoch. "I couldn't breathe. He didn’t wait in the car. He came to check on me, or I’d be dead.” A shiver swept up her spine. She'd never been so scared.
“I called your husband at work. He’s on his way,” Danny said.
S
he looked around her shop. “Who'll…?”
“You must have someone for back up, someone you can call. Take the day off. Be nice to yourself.”
She closed her eyes, tried to collect herself. She turned to Enoch. “I can never thank you enough. You were here every day. If you hadn't come….”
“Just keep being you,” Enoch said. “The world needs people like you.”
She squeezed her eyes shut again, but the tears leaked out, then gushed more. Why couldn't she stop crying? Enoch laid a hand on her shoulder, and she felt comfort spread through her body. She couldn't explain it, but his touch made her feel better. The tears slowed, and she wiped at her eyes.
Enoch nodded to Danny. “I’ll let you handle it from here.” He started to leave, but Jenny grabbed his hand. He was her rescuer, and she wasn't ready to let go of him. Enoch looked at Danny, unsure what to do.
“Give her some time,” Danny told him.
She felt like such a fool, weak and weepy. She wanted to tell them she was crying because she was happy, because she was alive and grateful, but her voice wouldn't come. She choked on a flurry of feelings that swelled inside her. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Enoch and hugged him. "Thank you." The words were barely a croak.
“It was a pleasure. Really. But now I’m going home to Voronika.”
She nodded. That was a good thing. They all needed to find a connection, a safe place, and stay in it a minute. She was happy that Enoch's problems were finally behind him.
Chapter 64
On the drive home, Enoch felt a great weight lift off his shoulders. From now on, he could spend day after day with Voronika. His mind raced with possibilities. They still hadn't gotten a Christmas tree. It was another crappy day, but that was a blessing. It meant that Voronika could be out and about. He smiled. Maybe gray clouds did have silver linings.
He surprised her when he knocked on her bedroom door and woke her up. "We caught our killer, and my day is free. Want to go Christmas shopping?"
"Not a big tree," she fussed on their way to the stores. "It's almost Christmas. We'll have to take it down in a week."
But they went to the shop across from the mall, and Enoch bought an eight foot tree that was already lit and decorated. He had the clerks shove it, whole, in the back of the Land Rover. "What next?" he asked Voronika.