Baited Blood

by Sue Ann Jaffarian

  Madison listened with sharp ears and interest. “Is that when he got shot and nearly died a couple of years back?”

  Samuel nodded. “Yes. But it’s been seven years now, not just a couple.”

  “Notchey made it sound more recent.”

  “To him, the pain of losing Libby probably feels like yesterday. As I understand it, they only had each other—no other family.”

  Samuel’s last words sunk into Madison’s head with familiarity. Mike Notchey was alone in the world, just as she was. When she thought about it, the news didn’t surprise her. He had the same chip on his shoulder and prickliness she did—a constant shield raised against the outside.

  “Mike killed one man,” Samuel continued, “and wounded two others before nearly being killed himself. Rather than tell the authorities what had really happened, Mike passed it off as a drug bust gone wrong, which in reality it could have been. You see, the vampire was the head of a large drug ring, something the council does not tolerate. The wounded men kept their mouths shut about their leader out of fear and went to prison. Since then, Mike’s been staying close to us, hoping to hear some news about Libby. He also works hard to hold the line between vampires and the living.”

  “I had no idea.” Madison’s personal sinkhole was forgotten, replaced by genuine sadness and pain for Notchey. “His behavior makes more sense now, though I still don’t like his accusations or that he didn’t believe a word that came out of my mouth.”

  “Mike Notchey cares about you. He’s worried you’ll fall into the same ugly situation as his sister.”

  “Fallen,” Madison corrected. “Notchey accused me of sleeping with both you and Colin—present tense.”

  Samuel touched her ear again; this time, she didn’t pull away. “Yet despite our best efforts, you’re sleeping with no one, not even the good detective.”

  “Notchey won’t touch me as long as he thinks I’ve been with you or Colin.”

  “And who do you want, Madison? I know you have feelings for both of them.”

  “Them? And what about you? Aren’t you going to throw your hat into the ring?” She looked boldly at the head vampire, challenging him. “I’ve always had the feeling you wanted to add me to your harem. Or are you willing to share me like one of those vampire groupie girls?”

  “I don’t share. What’s mine is mine.” Samuel put a hand under her chin and fixed his milky eyes on hers. “More importantly, you’re worth more than that—a lot more. And it is about time you started realizing it, no matter what your background. Inside here,” he tapped her head with his other hand, “and inside here,” he tapped her chest over her heart, “you have what it takes to rise above whatever life hands you, past or future.”

  She looked doubtful. She wanted to believe him, but it was difficult. A lifetime of being beaten down couldn’t be erased in thirty seconds with a handful of pretty words.

  “Those vampire groupies,” Samuel continued, “those girls like Miriam would never have been approved to work with the council. Nor would I waste my time mentoring any of them.”

  “Is that what you are, my mentor?”

  Still holding her chin, Samuel leaned forward and kissed Madison. It was the first time he’d ever kissed her mouth. It was soft and tasty like a fresh peach. Madison didn’t pull back but leaned into it. When it was over, Samuel slipped a hand around the back of her neck and drew her to him again, this time for a longer, deeper kiss.

  “There,” he said, when their lips parted company. “Now tell me honestly, did that send shivers down your spine?”

  Madison leaned back in her chair. “Don’t be silly.”

  “I’m quite serious.” Samuel got up and walked to the fireplace. He leaned against the mantle and faced Madison. “Did it?”

  She cast her eyes down, unable to look at him when she spoke the truth. “I’m sorry, Samuel, but no.”

  “Don’t be sorry about the truth, Madison, especially when I’m trying to make a point.”

  His words coaxed a smile from her. She lifted her head to see that while he was serious, he was also smiling.

  “Okay, now,” he continued, seeing her relax. “Did Colin’s kisses send shivers down your spine?”

  She nodded. “And everywhere else.”

  Samuel fought to suppress a grin. “And what about Mike Notchey’s kisses?” Samuel paused, scrunching his brow in consideration. “You have kissed him, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, I have. Just this morning and not for the first time. And, yes, his kisses did curl my toes.”

  Samuel walked back to her and sat down on the edge of the table again. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk again about what you want.”

  “Wait. You don’t find me attractive?” Madison sunk lower in the chair. “You mean I’m being rejected by three men in one day? That’s a new personal low, even for me.”

  Laughter rumbled from deep inside Samuel’s chest. He flashed her one of his killer smiles. “Madison, I find you very sexy and physically attractive, but I have no trouble finding women to share my bed—women whose toes I curl.” They shared a smile before Samuel continued. “What I have difficulty finding is dependable friends, especially women. You are much more valuable to me as a close friend. I think you feel the same way, deep down, about me.”

  Madison understood Samuel’s words were high praise and that he didn’t offer friendship lightly. “Thank you, Samuel. A friend and a mentor?”

  “Precisely.” He stood. “Although who knows what the future will bring.” He held out a hand to Madison. She took it and stood up in front of him.

  She shrugged and took a deep breath. “I honestly don’t know, Samuel, about the two of them, though I suspect you’d prefer me with Colin. In fact, you set that up tonight, didn’t you? That’s why you insisted I speak to him about Keleta and go to his place to do it. Dodie even picked out this sweater for me to wear. You two in cahoots?”

  “It wasn’t a setup, Madison. I’d simply hoped that by putting the two of you together with such an intimate topic, nature would take its course. I think Dodie was probably thinking the same way.” He glanced at her ear again. “And it seems it did, up to a point.”

  “What you didn’t factor in was pig-headed behavior on both our parts.”

  Samuel laughed again. “You always make me laugh, Madison. It’s another reason why I like having you around.”

  “Glad I’m the court jester—though I didn’t see that on my job description.”

  “Yes, I would prefer you to be with Colin, because he’s one of us, and it would be simpler for me, as head of the council, to have you emotionally engaged in such a way. But Mike Notchey is a solid man with a good heart, and once he irons out his misconceptions, he will be good to you.”

  Samuel stroked Madison’s cheek. “Colin and Mike are very much alike. Maybe that’s why you can’t make up your mind. Both are good men with tragic pasts that haunt their present and dictate their behavior, even when it’s bad. Both have had to kill and live with the consequences. Both know deep loss.” He pulled out his sunglasses but didn’t put them on, just held them as he carefully composed his words. “I’m afraid the road to love will be rather rocky, whichever path you take. And,” he said with another smile, “considering your personality, it won’t be a smooth ride for the man you choose.”

  “Gee, now give me the bad news.”

  Samuel started for the door but stopped and turned. “Another thing that would be good for you, but perhaps not so great for the council, is to make some friends, living friends, your own age. I know it might be difficult considering your work and living circumstances, but I think it would be healthy. Maybe there’s a classmate or two you can go to the movies or shopping with once in a while.”

  “I didn’t make friends easily before I came here; what makes you think I’m any better at it now? Besides, I thought my loner status was one of the things you guys liked about me.”

  “Skilled at it or not, it would
be very good for you to spend more time among the living.” He paused, then added, “And I trust you to be discreet, or I wouldn’t suggest it.”

  Madison thought about the people she met at school. There were a few she thought she might like to know better. Then her thoughts turned to Julianne. “There is a woman I’ve met while running in the morning.”

  “Splendid. Give it a try, Madison. You might surprise yourself.”

  Samuel was about to say more when his cell phone vibrated. With his free hand, he retrieved the phone from inside his suit jacket.

  “Yes,” he said into the phone. As the call continued, Samuel’s stance stiffened. He asked few questions of the caller but listened a great deal. “Someone will be right there,” he said just before ending the call.

  Samuel flung open the door to the den. “Doug, Dodie: get Hyun and come on back in.”

  “What’s happened?” Madison asked, but he only held up a finger telling her to wait.

  As the Dedhams and Hyun came rushing into the den, Samuel made a call. “Colin,” he said when the call was answered. “Get over to Stacie’s as soon as possible. There’s been another murdered vampire.”

  “What? Where?” asked Doug, speaking the questions on all their minds.

  “At Stacie’s house. Another one was killed and discarded.”

  “In her pool?” asked Madison.

  Samuel turned to her. “Stacie doesn’t have a pool. He was in her bathtub.”

  Dodie couldn’t believe her ears. “They broke into Stacie’s house?”

  “Sure seems that way.” He turned to Hyun. “Get the car.” Hyun took off.

  “Colin’s going to meet me over there. Dodie, I want you to stay here in case someone decides tonight’s the night to dump two bodies. Doug, you come with me, and bring your sketchpad.”

  Samuel looked at Madison, unsure what to do with her. “I should send you straight to bed since tomorrow night you’ll be up all night, but I want you to come with us. I want you to check this vampire over and record every detail about him to tell Joni. You’ll ride with Doug. I’ll send the two of you home as soon as possible.”

  As much as Madison didn’t relish seeing Colin so soon after their encounter, she was very curious about the latest dead vampire.

  Samuel sensed her hesitation and turned to her. “Will that be a problem, Madison?”

  “No, Samuel, it won’t be.”

  FIFTEEN

  Doug pulled the Dedham’s Range Rover into Stacie Neroni’s driveway and parked next to Samuel’s black sedan. Next to the car, Hyun stood on alert. Madison had taken time to change into a heavy sweater and jeans, which put their arrival several minutes behind Samuel.

  Madison got out and surveyed the area. The house was entirely hidden from the street by tall, mature trees, and the house itself was the color of aged wood, helping it to blend in with its surroundings. Coming down the street, she hadn’t noticed any other houses close to the road’s edge.

  “Everything okay, Hyun?” Doug said to the bodyguard.

  “Seems to be, Mr. Dedham. I did a quick walk of the perimeter but found nothing.”

  “Boy,” Madison said to Doug as they walked to the bottom of the staircase leading to the door, “this place is even more secluded than yours.”

  Doug looked back toward the street but saw only inky night. “The people who own homes in this area are rabid about their privacy. I believe several well-known celebrities live on this road.”

  Stacie’s house was built into a hillside not far from the Dedhams’. From the main part of the driveway to the front door, it was a good climb up winding stairs.

  “Where’s the back door?” Madison asked as she and Doug started up the stairs.

  “It’s around back, up at the top. You either have to walk up the drive or drive up and park in front of the garage.”

  Madison eyed the steep drive that curved up a hill and disappeared behind the house. “Those are the only two entries?”

  “As I recall, there’s another door inside the garage that leads into the house through the laundry room. I would have parked closer, but Jesús will need to get his truck up there.” Doug indicated Samuel’s car. “I’m sure Samuel had the same idea.”

  “I don’t mind the climb, though I’ll bet whoever broke in and dumped the body drove up to the back. These steps would be hard carrying dead weight.”

  “Unless the killer had an extra kick of strength,” Doug noted.

  “You mean like Dodie?”

  “Exactly. Even I would have a difficult time carrying a grown man up these stairs. A couple of people could do it, but it would be very awkward with the way the steps zigzag.”

  Madison stopped at the top landing and looked back at the dark road. “And a car could quietly come onto the property and no one from the street would notice or probably care.”

  “You’re becoming quite the detective, Madison. Notchey giving you lessons?”

  “Humph. Just making sensible observations.”

  They found the downstairs empty and followed voices up the inside staircase to what looked like the master bedroom. Stretched out on an area rug was the dead vampire, his eyes hollow orbs. His face and head were clean shaven. A short stake had been driven through his well-developed chest. He looked much younger than Parker but older than Keleta. Kneeling next to him was Samuel. Stacie was sitting on the edge of the bed. They stopped their discussion when Doug and Madison entered.

  “He has a brand just like Parker and Keleta,” Samuel told them as he turned the body on its side to show them the mark. The vampire’s back also sported some intricate ink work. “He also doesn’t appear to be a very old vampire, as he’s showing no signs of rapid deterioration.”

  Doug pulled up a small chair from next to a dresser and positioned it near the body. Opening his sketchpad, he pulled out a pencil and got to work.

  Madison studied the naked body on the floor, then pulled out her cell phone. It was a new smart phone—a Christmas gift from the council. She aimed it at the body and took a couple of photos.

  “Those might be very hazy,” Stacie told her.

  “Still, it might be worth a shot.” Looking at the photos, Madison could see what Stacie was saying. The first two photos showed the body clearly, but it was outlined in a fuzzy haze, as if someone had tried to erase it from the outside in. She showed the photos to Stacie.

  “Actually,” Stacie told her, shooting her eyes from the photo to the body on the floor, “those are pretty good. Another indication this guy hasn’t been a vampire very long.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The older the vampire, the less clear the photograph.” Stacie pointed to the fuzzy edges surrounding the body. “On an older vampire, the entire body might be fuzzy or even just a shadow. Depends on the age of the vampire.”

  Curious, Madison aimed the phone at Doug. He saw her and mugged for the camera. When she looked at the photo, she nearly gasped in surprise. She could see him, but his likeness was very faded, like an old photo that had been left out in the sun. She turned to Samuel and got off another shot.

  “Would you quit playing around,” Stacie snapped at her, “and get back to checking out the body. I’d really like it out of here as soon as Jesús arrives.”

  “I’m trying to set a frame of reference between the ages and how faded the photos are,” Madison explained.

  “That’s very smart of you, Madison.” Samuel looked over her shoulder at his own photo, or what little there was of it. He had been leaning next to a chest of drawers made of pine when she’d taken the shot. In the photo, the chest was as clear and solid as it was right in the room with them. Next to it was a hazy figure, an outline, like an apparition caught in the middle of a haunting.

  Madison laughed. “I could put this on the web and claim it’s a photo of a ghost. People would believe it in a New York minute.”

  Samuel looked at her in surprise. “You don’t believe in ghosts, do you?”

  “W
hy not?” she replied, half in jest. “Four months ago, I didn’t believe in vampires. Who knows what else is out there that goes bump in the night?”

  “Ghosts,” Stacie scoffed. “Next you’ll be telling us you believe in Santa Claus.”

  Quickly, Madison took a photo of Stacie. “You’re the youngest vampire here in the room, right? I mean, except for the dead guy. About how long?”

  “I’ve been a vampire forty-three years now.” Stacie stopped short. “Wow, if I hadn’t been turned, I’d be eighty-one years old now.”

  “And terrorizing the staff in some old-age home, more than likely,” teased Doug as he continued to sketch.

  Her sample photos taken, Madison went back to looking at the dead vampire. Besides the empty eye sockets and that he was dead, there was something disturbing about him, something that scratched her brain like a loose piece of wire. “It looks to me like this guy was some sort of gym rat. Look at that six-pack and those arms.”

  Stacie paced off the stretched-out body. “He’s also not very tall. Maybe only five foot seven or eight, max. Compact and fit.”

  Madison got an idea. “Can you turn him over again, Samuel, but more on his front. I want to take a photo of those tattoos. Since he’s not an old vampire, they might come out okay.”

  “Yes,” added Doug. “It might also be a good idea for me to make a quick sketch of them. They seem rather distinct.”

  Before turning the body over, Samuel pulled out the stake. It made everyone wince.

  Madison bent to study the hole. “There’s not much blood. I noticed that with Parker, too. Is that normal?”

  “Yes,” answered Samuel. “Vampires don’t have as much blood in their systems as the living, nor do we have a heartbeat to pump it out. Also, this fellow was probably killed elsewhere and brought here.”

  It was difficult to tell if the tattoos on the back of the dead vampire were one art piece added to over time or a mishmash of a bunch of tats on a limited space. They only appeared on his back—none on his arms, legs, or chest.