“Yes. Kelly has all kinds of medical and forensic degrees. She can take a bunch of bones and get a clear picture of not only how the person died, but also a very close replica of the way the person looked when they were alive.” They talked about the little boy that had been murdered some months ago. “She not only figured out who the child was but also had a good idea who had murdered him. Kelly will say it was a team effort. However, to hear Bancroft tell the story, you’d think she could run the FBI department all by herself.”
“Their love is so tangible, isn’t it? I mean, they look at each other with so much love.” Remy didn’t tell her he loved her that much—she was still dealing with things. “I’d like that someday, I think. To have someone look at me like I’m a banana split with all the trimmings.”
He was still laughing about her comparing love to a dessert when he heard from Bancroft. He told him that the vampire committee he was on wanted to meet him today if they could. After asking Lizzy if she had any plans, he told Bancroft he’d be at the empty building on Main Street in twenty minutes. They decided to walk over—the weather had turned warm again—and enjoy the last few days of summer. Fall was only around a week away.
~*~
Of the three men on the committee, she didn’t like two of them. Bancroft was the third man, and the verdict was still out on whether or not she liked him. The first man, his name eluded her right now, kept asking for the original receipts that Remy had. Harlen, the other man, just kept staring at her like he was thinking of where to stick his knife.
Bancroft kept saying the same thing over and over. “Stanley Remy has paid his dues.” Lizzy had about enough.
“This is getting us nowhere.” She had to agree with that statement from Kelly. If they didn’t get their heads out of their asses soon, Lizzy was going to have to get up and smack them. They’d been there for nearly an hour, and they hadn’t moved beyond wanting his receipts. She nearly laughed when Kelly stood up, and the room became as still as death. “Excuse me. I’m new to all this, but can you tell us why it’s important you have his receipts? I want the truth from you, so no messing around with me.”
“We want them because anyone can forge a receipt.” Kelly said it was just as easy for them to destroy them. Then she told them to tell the truth. “How did you know that was our plan? Did someone leak that?”
She didn’t move when Kelly went to the front of the room where Remy was standing. The men, this time, including Bancroft, stood up. Telling them to sit down, Kelly did as well. Then she smiled at the group of them.
“So, you want to destroy his receipts so he’ll have to pay you again. Aren’t there other vampires out there you can pick on?” Harlen told her they had fifty such vampires on the hook for the same thing. “I see. So this isn’t just Remy you’re targeting, but a lot of people. Tell me, why do you need the extra money? I mean, it seems to me to have to pay dues to the league is sort of unfair. Why should people pay for the privilege of being a vampire when it wasn’t their fault as to how they were born to be one? What is this money supposed to go to anyway?”
“We use it for things we don’t have. Things that we want.” Harlen seemed to be pissed off that Kelly was getting answers out of him when he didn’t want to tell her. “If I were to pay you some of the money we gather up, would you not tell anyone of our pilfering?”
“Oh, you’ve gone well beyond pilfering. What you’ve done is larceny. Grand larceny, as a matter of fact.” She shook her head. “Yes, there is only one way to solve this dilemma you’ve gotten yourself into. It’s to hang the two of you. I’m to understand that is the normal way to rid the group of unsavory people like you.”
“You can’t do that to us!” She asked him why not. “Because you just can’t. We don’t want to die. We’re just having a good time. This job doesn’t pay at all. We were just having some fun with it, and it got out of hand.”
“So, you’re telling me that you not only stole from the vampires in your care, but you’ve also decided that since you want it, even more money should be yours for the taking. You didn’t tell me what the dues are supposed to be used for.”
The two men looked at Bancroft, who told them to answer. The compulsion, something Lizzy had only just figured out how to use, was stronger than Kelly’s had been. They both answered Kelly at the same time.
“We never were told what it was for.”
“It was there for the taking, so we did.” Harlen seemed to understand that he was digging himself deeper into whatever pit they’d put themselves in when he looked over at Bancroft. “You’re going to kill us, aren’t you?” Bancroft nodded. “I just knew that you being on the board was going to be a bad thing. But we also thought with you having a mate, she’d keep you distracted enough that you’d not notice what we were doing.”
“I wouldn’t have noticed now if it hadn’t been for my mate.” Bancroft stood up, stretching his body to at least a foot taller than he was already. “Think of it this way, boys. You’ve been taken down by a slip of a human.”
With a swipe of his hand, both men were gone. Lizzy wasn’t sure if he’d killed them or put them somewhere else, but no one spoke as he sat back down at the table, no longer sitting on the end of it. To all that were there—about fifty or more people in the room—he stated that he was the only man in charge and that he wasn’t going to be fucked with.
“Today marks the end of paying dues to the league. However, this does not keep you from having to make a yearly donation to help families of our kind that have been destroyed. This money will be put in a trust that will help with children left behind, the rebuilding of a home that might have been destroyed, as well as money for legal fees if they occur and one cannot afford them. This is not a due, but something that all of us might have to fall back on in the future.” Someone asked how much it was going to be. “It’s a donation, so that would be left up to you. However, I would expect those that can afford it to put in more than the ones that might have a little trouble gathering some spare money.”
“What if someone doesn’t pay? I mean, I can see that happening if you don’t put out an amount.” Lizzy looked back at the man who’d asked the question. He didn’t look as if he could afford a good coat, much less dues. Lizzy was standing up before she could think through what was on her mind.
“I’m sorry. But can anyone speak at these?” Bancroft introduced her to the group as Remy’s new mate. He also explained how she was made. Not understanding why that was important, she said what she had on her mind. “There are two businesses looking for places to put their plants. I’m in the process of purchasing one of the companies now. The other business is simply looking for a place to expand. It will bring more jobs to this area, nearly a thousand when these are finished.”
Remy stood up. “What she’s trying to tell you is that if finding a job is something that you’re having difficulty with, she and I are going to make it a priority that all night creatures have first dibs on the night shift of the jobs.” Lizzy wasn’t sure how he’d known that but was glad for his help. “In addition to that, there will be other businesses we’ll be helping in the area that will hire more of the residents around town.”
They both fielded questions about the new plants. One of them was a sheet factory that made high-end sheets for beds that would be shipped out all over the world. The other company, the one they both owned as of yesterday, was a company that made sandals from recycled items such as old tires and composite wood particles. Each of these new businesses was already established and ready to come to the area.
“Excuse me, I have a question.” She turned to Bancroft, just knowing he was going to shut her down before she could even start the hiring process. “Will there be discounts for employees? Will there be an outlet for the seconds? The reason I’m asking is, I have several buildings in the downtown area here that could be used for that. I’d think that would be a perfect way for some of
the others around town—teenagers and the elderly—to be able to pick up a few extra bucks by working. We can talk about this later if you’re in agreement.”
Lizzy wasn’t sure. She didn’t know anything about partners, so she looked at Remy. With a quick kiss on her mouth, he told Bancroft he could horn in on their plans anytime he wished. The room erupted in cheers that made her feel good about what she was doing.
The meeting ended not long afterward. The questions were still coming but in a less formal way. Two of the people that had been in trouble with the dues as Remy had been came to talk to them. It seemed that everyone wanted in on bringing more jobs to the area. She was glad for it.
“When I was first turned, I walked the town at night. I could see where things needed improvement. The things that needed to have a leg up. There are several homes that could use a little boost too.” Lizzy had a list on her of all the things she wanted to do to help around town. She read from it. “The addresses are all here, but there are currently three homes that have tarps over them due to leaks. I think we can do better than that. The area where a great many elderly live could use help too. Painting their homes. Mowing their grass. Trimming trees would really help too. There are at least ten houses that heat by wood. With winter coming up, trimming the trees in one area could go a long way in having wood to heat with in another part of town.”
Before they were home, she and Remy had been nominated to be in charge of the housing upgrades. There were donations made that would go to helping not just put roofs on some houses, but to put money in the soup kitchen, she’d not known about.
As they traveled to Bancroft’s house, she and Kelly made another list of things that were needed in general. Someone to take over the trees along the main street. To hang baskets of flowers in the summer. Lights to trim the trees in the winter months. Sidewalks needed repairing too.
“I had no idea it would get this big.” Bancroft asked why she didn’t think that. “I don’t know. I just figured you’d tell me to sit down and shut the fuck up, or you’d slay me, or something like that.”
Kelly laughed. “I made him promise not to slay anyone I like. That would be you.” Kelly hugged her. “This is just the thing I was looking for to do. I know it’s all your idea, but I want to help you in any way I can. It’s so much nicer than digging up the dead and trying to figure out what idiot thought killing them was the best way to settle a dispute.”
Lizzy enjoyed talking with Kelly. She was smart and kind. Her way of thinking was so close to hers that she thought they’d get along nicely when things started to roll. While sitting in the living room, waiting on Bancroft to get off the phone, they talked about all the other things brought up at the meeting. When Bancroft returned, he smiled at her.
“There is now a bank account at the local bank that is called simply Repairs. With the donation I made to set the account up, you now have more than fifty thousand in it to start repairs. If you don’t mind me asking, could you hire anyone local that knows how to make these repairs? It’ll help a lot of families be able to survive the winter coming up.” Remy and Lizzy both thought that was a wonderful idea. “Good. The pack of wolves here will benefit from this as well. I like this, Lizzy. Thank you so much for bringing it up.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled at her, and she could see his fangs. It occurred to her that he looked less like a vampire than any she’d ever seen. Not that she’d met that many, but he looked and acted like a normal person. “Are there many people in town that know what we are? I mean, no one is going to balk at having vampires making these adjustments for them, are they?”
“There are a few, very few, that know. But once this gets a start, after the first house is fixed, I don’t think anyone will care if you’re a pixie spreading dust all around to help them out.” Lizzy wondered how she could help Hal and his family and decided to look into that. “I can see your mind working. I hope you won’t mind Kelly and I working to help you out.”
“No. Why would I?” He didn’t say anything, but she thought she understood. “You mean because of the way I became one of you? You had nothing to do with me becoming a vampire. And so long as you don’t fuck me over, I’ll gladly do what I can for the town. I like it here.”
“And if I were to fuck you over? What do you think you can do to me?” She snapped her fingers, something else she’d only just figured out she could do. Bancroft was laughing so hard sitting in the cell she’d put him in that she couldn’t help but join him. “I don’t want to taunt you into having to do better than this, but you know this won’t hold me, don’t you?”
“How sure are you of that?” She watched him as he struggled with the cell. No matter what he did, he couldn’t open the doors or bend the bars. He finally gave up and asked her what she’d done. “I only put it in your head that you couldn’t get out. The rest was you.”
Lizzy figured she’d only be able to use that once on Bancroft. But it was worth it to have him look at her with a little more respect. Lizzy hadn’t felt this good in a very long time, even before she’d been changed. Having someone beside her, Remy made her feel like she could do anything she set out to do.
Chapter 5
Remy kept an eye on Josh as he moved in and out of stores. He’d heard no less than four times that the man was looking for Lizzy. He thought about killing him for all but a second. Remy knew to do that would piss Lizzy off. Talking with the man might be the best thing he could do right now. As he came to the store that Remy was by, Remy asked him if he was Josh Hinkley.
“I am. Who are you?” Remy took his hand into his and felt the man’s need for a good meal, as well as his anger at no one helping him find Lizzy. “I’ve never met you before, have I? I’m usually good with names, but I don’t think I know yours.”
“Stanley Remy. Most everyone around here calls me Remy.” Josh said it was nice to meet him, calling him Remy three times. “I’m to understand you’re looking for Elizabeth.”
“No. I am looking for someone, but her name is Lizzy. She and I are to be wed.” Remy explained to him that he thought Lizzy was short for Elizabeth. “Really? Well, perhaps I should be asking for her by that name. Then maybe someone can tell me where she is. Her attorney told me she was around, but I’ve not seen hide nor hair of her. Do you know her?”
“I do. I’m not sure why you’d think you might still be set to marry. Wasn’t she gone for like a year? A great deal could have happened between then and now.” Josh told him they’d had an agreement. “An agreement? That doesn’t sound all that loving. Does it to you?”
“We were settling. Mostly me. I could do so much better than her, I think. But when I asked her, thinking she’d turn me down flat, if she’d marry me, she said yes. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I think it’ll be a good marriage. How do you know her?” Remy asked him if he thought it was going to be a good marriage, why was he looking for her. He thought they should be together already. “You’d think that, wouldn’t you? But she’s been missing. For a while, I thought she was dead. No one had seen her, nor had they spoken to her. But her attorney assures me she’s alive. I need to get a few things cleared up with her, like setting a date for us to wed.”
“I see.” Josh looked over his shoulder, and Remy looked too. It was Kelly and Lizzy coming toward them. He asked her not to say their names; he was playing with Josh a little.
“Now, there are some beautiful women. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“They are. One of them is my wife.” Josh told him he was one lucky bastard. “Yes, I think so as well. The other woman is the wife of a very good friend of mine. You might have heard of him. His name is Bancroft Dalton?”
“Yes, I have heard of him.” Remy put his arm around Lizzy’s waist as she leaned against him. “From what I heard about him, he’s a very generous man with his money. You can do that when you have it all, I guess.”
“What do you know
about my husband?” Josh stuttered when Kelly asked him about Bancroft. “If you’d not mind, I’d rather you kept your opinions to yourself. You don’t know him or anyone well enough to form nasty comments like that.”
“I meant no harm. I swear it.” Josh kept looking at him, then at Lizzy. When he smiled at her, Remy was positive he had no idea he was standing next to the woman he’d been looking for an entire year. “You are beautiful if you don’t mind me saying so. I bet you look familiar to me because you’re a supermodel or an actress, aren’t you? Come on, tell me why I think I know you.”
“You do know me, moron. I’m Lizzy Strickland Remy. You’ve been all over town telling people I’m dead. Well, here I am. What is it you want?” He just stared at her. Remy thought it was funny that the well named moron asked Lizzy if she was sure. “Of course, I know who I am. Apparently, you don’t. What is it you want that has you going all over the place telling people you’re looking for me?”
“You and I are supposed to be married by now.” Lizzy told him she was married to Remy. “No. See, you can’t be. You and I, we had a date set up and everything. Then you disappeared and left me holding the bag. I just realized something too. There were gifts I should have had a part of. Are you keeping them away from me as well?”
“There were no gifts, Josh. I never sent out the invitations. For that matter, I didn’t even have them printed up. Marrying you would have been a mistake for you and me both. I think one of us wouldn’t have survived the first day.” He asked her if she meant the wedding night. “That’s it. I was telling you that you’d never survive having sex with me. Is that all men think about?”
He and Josh answered her at the same time, both of them saying yes. She smiled at Remy but glared at Josh. The poor man didn’t know what to think with Lizzy being so honest with him, he’d bet.
Stanley: Dalton’s Kiss Book 2 (Dalton's Kiss) Page 6