The Undead Detective Bites

by Jennifer Hilt

  Shifters healed faster than humans but they were not nearly as indestructible as vamps. This wasn’t a fact they liked to be reminded of.

  Without all the immediate drama, I wondered why his hair had gone silver in the past decade. It suited him but I was curious. It wasn’t a usual shifter thing. Had something happened to hurt him in that time? I would be only to too happy to snap the neck of any woman who hurt him. Paranormal or human.

  “Idris never fights fair. And he’s not my boyfriend.” I pressed on. “I’m sorry about Griz. Any idea why someone would want to kill him?”

  “Absolutely none. He kept to himself. He was a good man. You already knew all that. I’m going to find out who did this and kill them.” Fang cocked his head to one side. “But why are you here? No word from you in ten years. Then you just show up bringing a lot of trouble.”

  “Griz was dead when I found him,” I said, irritated. I didn’t like the timing either. “I’m here because Elsbeth asked me to investigate Glytr here.”

  Fang’s eyes widened. “There’s no Glytr here.”

  “Elsbeth has reason to think there is.”

  “As the sheriff, it’s odd that this is the first I’m hearing of it. Elsbeth is wrong. Nowhere isn’t Vegas or LA,” he said.

  “But you do have a fancy new casino.”

  “Triana and Leon are opening it in a few days. She hasn’t said a word to me about this glitter.”

  “Maybe they aren’t into sharing illegal drug use with the sheriff?” It was petty and I was being a sarcastic bitch, but I never said I was perfect.

  “I was married to her for seven years. I’m pretty sure I’d know if my wife was a drug runner in my town.”

  Fang has been busy in my absence.

  Not a surprise really. Life moves on. I felt a dip of disappointment like being dropped from a height unexpectedly. It wasn’t reasonable to expect him to pine for me but deep down I had been hoping he did just that.

  “Was it marriage that made you gray?” I asked. We were still standing in the motel room. Ben’s fingers clacked away on his keyboard, but I knew he was absorbing every word like the gossip hound he was.

  My mind clicked along with the possibilities of what happened between Fang and Triana. I wasn’t sure how this complicated things, but I guessed it did. I was pleased with the news even though I had no right to care. I couldn’t imagine Triana was pleased about that outcome either.

  “That happened before.” Fang touched his fingertips to his gray hair. He inclined his head toward Ben sitting on the bed. “What’s up with him?”

  Fang placed his hand onto my arm above the elbow. My skin tingled at his touch even through my turtleneck.

  I looked down at where his hand was and pulled myself free easily. “He’s my assistant.” I felt hungry when Fang touched me. But it wasn’t something that could be amended by a feeding. Not that I hadn’t tried already.

  “Hattie, he could easily pass for my son.”

  “Don’t call me that. You know I prefer ‘Silverthorne.’” I scowled. “Anyway, that’s impossible. That’s not how vampires procreate, and I know you are well aware of that.”

  “I am. But how about if you explain why he looks like a younger version of me?”

  “I don’t see that at all,” I said coolly. Though now with both of them standing a few feet apart I was struck by the similarity in coloring and height. Ben was slimmer with a more refined air. Fang radiated barely suppressed cowboy. Still I brushed the idea that it was anything other than coincidence away.

  “Shifters are so conceited. We don’t have time for this. There’s a murderer running around Nowhere, a vampire carrying around a severed head plus a potential street drug epidemic.”

  “Come on,” I said to Ben. “We’re going out. You’re coming with us.”

  Ben made a face. He was cozy with Mr. Figgles and his iPad. “How about I stay here and work?”

  “What work? You said you were caught up on email?” I couldn’t keep him safe if he wasn’t with me. No, that wasn’t true. After last night, I couldn’t keep him safe in Nowhere.

  Ben glanced at Fang and then dropped his eyes back to the screen. “I picked up a side job. But it won’t interfere with my work for you.”

  Ben and Fang formed a work relationship? That was quick.

  I narrowed my eyes, turning back to Fang. “What is he talking about?”

  “I spent today going through Griz’s place. I didn’t find anything out of place, but I did find his will. He left this place to me.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Good for you.”

  Fang shot a quick look to Ben.

  “I asked Ben if he’d help me with running the place while you are here. He says he’s organized and good with computers. I’m neither of those things.”

  “You’re trying to poach my assistant right out from under me.” Apparently any jealousy Fang had didn’t blind him about Ben’s potential to assist him. Coming to Nowhere was like entering some alternative world where everything I controlled vanished before me. I didn’t like surprises. Still, Fang would protect Ben if he was useful to him. And I had no way to guard Ben in the daylight hours when I was dead.

  “Hattie, it’s more like timeshare.” He squinted extra hard, probably to avoid the twinkle I knew was in his eye.

  “Even if all this was okay,” I said, turning back to Ben. “And I’m not saying it is. You can’t stay here alone. Not after last night.”

  “Dr. Silverthorne, you can’t drag me around with you all the time like I’m your purse. In LA, I hardly ever see you.”

  “In LA, there aren’t three vampires running around who want to kill you.”

  “I have a theory on that.” Ben set the iPad aside, leaning forward. “I don’t think they want to kill me. If they wanted to, they would’ve killed me last night. I think they just wanted to scare you.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Ben. They could easily kill you.”

  “If I stay in our room they can’t enter unless I ask them in right?

  He was technically correct. According to vampire etiquette, a vampire couldn’t enter a human’s domain unless invited in. Outside the home was fair game but there had to be some kind of sanctuary for humans. I doubted Junior was much of a rule follower. My gut churned at the situation.

  I turned to Fang. “You have something to add to this since you two already worked out everything so nicely?”

  “I agree with him and,” Fang’s voice gentled, “you brought him here. You knew the risks.”

  “Okay, fine,” I said. “Fang will stay with you while I go see Triana Fang.”

  “No good, Hattie.” Fang shook his head. “I need to see her too. She’s stirred up a whole lot of trouble. I have no idea if there’s a shred of truth in any of this.”

  “She’s your wife. Ask her on your own time.”

  “She’s my ex-wife. And I’m the sheriff. I need to know what’s going on in my own community.”

  “You really want to stay here alone?” I asked Ben. Mr. Figgles lay across his lap and he rested the iPad on him. They looked tranquil. A picture of returning to this room later to find the walls splashed in blood and Ben’s drained corpse flashed through my mind.

  What had I been thinking bringing Ben here? I knew this place. I hadn’t been counting on three vampires but still. I knew Nowhere.

  “You know this wouldn’t even be an issue if you agreed to make me vampire,” Ben said.

  “I said I’d think about it.” It was an old argument.

  Fang snorted. “Lots of luck, kid. Even I know that’s a no.”

  “I’m not discussing this now.” I was not amused by Ben’s nagging.

  I turned to Fang. “Do you have any silver chains on you?”

  “In my truck.”

  “I’d like to borrow them.”

  Fang gave me a slow smile. “I’ll be right back.”

  He returned, handing the spool to Ben. “Wrap this around you, kid. It’ll keep the v
amps away better than anything else. “

  Soon Ben was busy draping himself in silver. Silver burns vamp skin just like placing a human hand on a hot stove. I had to grudgingly admit this was an excellent solution.

  “We should get going,” Fang said. “I haven’t been able to get a hold of Triana.”

  I slid into my leather coat. I should’ve brought something warmer to Nowhere, but at least this was soft and broken in. Plus, the short, belted trench coat style covered my ass, and I hated chilly buns. I belted it tightly then slid on my leather gloves.

  “I’ll lock the door behind us,” Fang said to Ben.

  Oh sweet Jesus. He sounded just like a father. What kind of fucked up melodrama had I gotten myself in?

  It was time to find Triana Fang.

  5

  Fang’s Bronco was ancient a decade ago, and the heat barely trickled out, which meant I was freezing. There was already several inches of fresh snow accumulation and the air smelled like more was on the way. My low-slung sports car was not a fan of mountain winter weather.

  Sitting in the vehicle with Fang, I savored the smell of him close by. His scent was wild and fresh, reminding me of a creosote bush after a rain. If I’d had human emotions, I’d have felt sad about the time that had slipped between me and Fang. I’d never admit to thoughts like that though, because that would be very most unvampiric of me. Now, as a foot of space separated me from Fang, the thought gave me the slightest pause before I could push it away. I wanted something I could never have. There was no use dwelling on it. Telling myself this didn’t help much.

  Fang blasted the heat without asking me. He knew how I felt.

  He always did.

  “You need help running the motel?” I asked as we pulled away from the adobe casitas. “I thought you were sick of that place after growing up here. Plus, it doesn’t seem to be overly popular.”

  “The place meant everything to Griz. I don’t want to let him down. I checked the books. There’s a coven coming in at the end of the week that booked up the place.”

  Covens. Witches. Uggh. They were like paranormal sorority sisters and I was not a fan.

  “We’ll have to move?” I asked. The last thing I wanted was to hang around a coven but my mind wondered what other temporary housing Ben, Mr. Figgles and I would find. The shifters pretty tightly regulated Nowhere’s accommodations.

  “You’re not the only ones. I’m in one too,” Fang stared straight ahead.

  “You’re living in the motel? Since when?”

  “Since my divorce.”

  “Fuck me,” I muttered, staring out the window. Great. There’d be no escaping having Fang around at my every turn. Nowhere was a small town but it had shrunk to a claustrophobic size.

  “What?” Fang asked.

  “Nothing.” I knew he heard me. And I knew Ben would be perfect at getting the motel organized. It just rankled me, them going behind my back.

  “Why’d you get divorced?” I asked.

  Fang’s eyes were on the road. “It was tough for a while, but I think we both realized it just wasn’t meant to be. There’s no hard feelings.”

  I turned to Fang. “I’ve never been married but I’ve seen plenty of marriages in two centuries. You are a bigger fool than I thought if you think anyone leaves a marriage without resentment.”

  Fang stared at the road ahead.

  The news about the divorce caused a surge of arousal to bubble through me. I felt like a bitch because Griz had died less than twenty-four hours ago.

  Vampires don’t feel guilt. If we did, we’d starve to death.

  I really didn’t like feeling anything like hope or joy. Those were human emotions. They were bad news for a vampire.

  “So tell me about Glytr,” Fang said.

  I took a deep breath, sliding into lecture mode. I was back on familiar territory that felt good. “Glytr is a street drug that acts as a prion, meaning it attacks the brain and replicates abnormal cells. Like a cross between Mad Cow disease and cancer. In humans, it can enhance strength and speed, giving them temporary superhuman abilities. However, Glytr corrodes normal brain tissue. The victim dies usually after a few doses. It’s not known what the effect is on paranormals. I’m wondering why they would even take it, since we already have those abilities. There’s something big I’m missing here.”

  Fang whistled. “Triana never said a word of this to me.”

  “Maybe you aren’t on as great of terms as you think,” I said.

  “When’s the last time you fed? You aren’t yourself.”

  I was not myself. And fuck the universe for making him the one to notice. I craved returning to my highly controlled surgical environment. Life outside it was unpredictable. I hated that.

  Being this close to Fang was painful. And dangerous. Especially with Elsbeth here, watching my every move.

  The drive to Triana’s house took longer than I thought. She lived a ways out of town. Shifters certainly subscribed to “the good fences make good neighbors” theory. They liked having an old-fashioned western town square with a post office, sheriff’s office, medical clinic and convenience store. These were housed in brick and clapboard buildings erected a hundred years ago. All were one story except for the medical clinic that had two floors.

  “Wagon Tales is still around?” The former saloon was the community’s answer to a neutral gathering place for a territorial community. Not surprisingly this community wasn’t a churchgoing one.

  “Still serves the best chicken fried steak around.” Fang replied. “Though it’s expected traffic will drop off when the casino opens.”

  That surprised me. It was hard to imagine these pack-oriented shifters wanting to mingle with others. I’d assumed the traffic would be out-of-town paranormals.

  My ears popped as we climbed in elevation and the snow swirled across the headlights on the road.

  I half expected my Djinn to appear issuing some dramatic warning. But it was just the wind blowing dry snow. It was colder up here. Could he even appear in snow? He seemed to form by particles, so probably. I’d find out one of these days.

  It didn’t take a clairvoyant to realize when you got this many paranormals together plus mixed in gambling, sex and whatever else gave them a hit, the whole place was a powder keg waiting for a spark.

  My gut churned knowing I’d not seen the last of Elsbeth, Idris and Junior. Idris and I had major differences. How scientific knowledge was used was just one of the problems we had. Thanks to our two centuries of history, I was seriously concerned about Idris being here. We’d attended medical school in Scotland together in the mid-1880s. In addition to being vampires, me being female and him being African didn’t make us popular. Humans would have some sort of emotional bond over an experience like that but not vampires, so we still didn’t like each other

  I was stumped why Elsbeth was so personally involved with the Glytr problem. She was not a science fan. She disliked humans immensely beyond their uses for her own survival. Maybe she worried about the impact on the paranormal community but that was unlike her given that vampires, like cockroaches, survived pretty much everything. We’d come out ahead on a Glytr epidemic just like we did with war and disease.

  But my main concern now was that four vampires in Nowhere were three too many.

  “Triana prefers to live out in the middle of nowhere that’s for sure,” I said, breaking out of my own thoughts. We’d driven a good thirty minutes away from Nowhere.

  “It was a wedding present from my brother in law, Leon. It was her dream house. I always felt like an accessory.”

  So much for no hard feelings—Fang sounded bitter.

  He turned off the county road onto a dirt road. We bumped, sliding across a few icy patches. No fresh tire tracks here.

  “You’re sure she’s here?” I asked.

  “No,” Fang said. “But it’s the most logical place to start looking.”

  I frowned into the dark night. This didn’t feel right.

&n
bsp; Fang read my thoughts. “She does this a lot. Hides out, wants me or Leon to come looking for her.”

  “Isn’t she a bit old for hide and seek?”

  “Let’s just say it contributed to the divorce.”

  The Triana I knew ten years ago was an immature female. Her parents, Antonio and Marchella Ryk, were the founders of Nowhere, a planned safe haven for paranormals over a hundred years ago away from conflict with humans. As wolf shifters, the Ryks were the alpha pack. They had two shifter offspring of their own, a son name Leon and then Triana.

  Unfortunately, Antonio and Marchella were either ahead of their time or incredibly naïve. They adopted an orphaned vampire. This would be akin to moving a rattlesnake into a rabbit warren.

  Triana and Leon’s parents were brutally murdered by their foster vampire. Leon took over the community leadership. Triana never quite found her footing.

  She had an eye for Fang even a decade ago.

  Coming out here to look for her seemed like a method to get me away from Ben. But Triana wouldn’t even know that I was here. God, I hated Nowhere. It made my thinking fanciful, and I didn’t like encouraging that part of me.

  We rounded a last corner. The snow-covered ponderosa pines lined the driveway so thickly that their branches scratched against the Bronco. The dark house backed up to a cliff wall. One side was all windows. During the day the view of the surrounding mountains would be impressive.

  The modern house was in a log cabin style with massive black windows contrasted to the thick timber frame. It was a cabin in name only. It was an expensive custom home befitting the reigning area royalty. A six-foot metal sculpture of a wolf gazed at us. I couldn’t imagine a place less like Fang.

  Triana wasn’t into subtle. Odds were the inside of the house was filled with oversized furniture and white rugs. Motion detector lights switched on as Fang’s truck pulled closer. Outside the house, the surroundings were peaceful. The snow fell more steadily here, covering everything with a thick white layer.

  I stepped out of the car. Immediately I realized I’d not given enough credit to Fang’s heater. Fuck, it was cold. I wrapped my arms around my body. Small animal and bird tracks laced the snow but no human or vehicles.