Baited Blood

by Sue Ann Jaffarian

  “Slow down,” Samuel advised in a tired voice. “Take your hands off the keyboard, then close your eyes and go over the steps in your head.”

  She shot him a goofy look. “That’s lame.”

  “Do it and you’ll see. You’re too wound up and it’s affecting your memory. Take a deep breath, go through the instructions in your mind, then tackle it. Don’t rush the process.”

  “Well,” she conceded, “it couldn’t hurt.”

  Following Samuel’s advice, Madison closed her eyes and mentally went over the instructions Joni had given her for accessing the database. She’d written them down but had left them on her desk at home. Before leaving Marin, she’d gone through the exercise several times, until Joni was satisfied she knew the procedure by heart.

  It was at least a full minute before she opened her eyes. When she did, she placed her hands on the keyboard and went through the access steps, one after the other, with a calm mind and steady fingers, in plenty of time before the fob changed passwords. Up popped the opening page to the database.

  “We’re in!” Madison beamed at Samuel like she’d won a goldfish at a school fair.

  Samuel chuckled. “Slow and steady wins the race, Madison, nearly every time.” He got up and leaned over Madison’s shoulder to look at the screen. “So what are you looking for?”

  “A profile for Julianne Jaz.”

  Going through the search procedure, she found the profile for Julianne Jaz. There was a photo, and it looked a lot like the woman Madison had met on the trail in Topanga. With Samuel watching, she flipped over to Julie Argudo’s profile.

  “Wow, they really do look alike, don’t they?”

  “At least in the photos.” Samuel leaned forward to examine the photo on the computer. “This touched-up photo doesn’t do Julie justice. She was much prettier in person, with more delicate features. That’s one of the problems with vampire photos—they’re usually just a resemblance rather than accurate.”

  Madison turned her head toward Samuel. Still looking over her shoulder, he was so close her nose nearly touched his face. “You knew Julie Argudo was already dead, didn’t you?”

  Samuel didn’t look at her. “Yes, I did.”

  “And you know how she died. That’s why you didn’t push Libby to say anything more about it.”

  Samuel finally turned his head toward her, his lips nearly touching hers. “Yes, I know what happened.”

  “You took her out, didn’t you?”

  He didn’t confirm her suspicions, nor did he give any further explanation. Madison knew none would be coming.

  They both returned their attention to the computer screen. Madison switched back to Julianne’s profile. There were no names listed under associates or downlines. The upline and bio were another story. “Look at this,” Madison pointed to the screen, first to the upline listing, then to the bio. “It says here Julianne was turned by Julie Argudo. Before that, she was a consort to King Leopold.”

  It didn’t take Samuel long to cover the considerable distance from the office, through the main part of the house, and down the long corridor of the guest wing. He entered the room now occupied by Libby without knocking, a concerned Madison half-jogging behind him.

  Libby was in bed. Hyun sat in a chair next to the bed. They were both surprised by the intrusion. Hyun leapt to his feet as soon as he saw the scowl on his boss’s face.

  “Libby,” Samuel said, jumping to his purpose. “Did you know Julianne Jaz before you became one of her consorts?”

  Libby looked frightened. She reached out to Hyun, who took her hand. “Yes, I did. Did I do something wrong, Mr. La Croix?”

  “Tell me everything you know about Julianne,” he ordered. “Right now.”

  Libby fumbled like a drunk to dig through her memory and get the words out in an orderly fashion. “She was a consort at court before she was turned vampire. When she became wealthy and powerful, she hired consorts for her own household and asked me if I’d consider managing them for her.”

  “Who turned her into a vampire and when?”

  “I … um …,” Libby faltered.

  “Spit it out, girl,” Samuel boomed, flashing his fangs.

  Hyun stiffened, ready to defend Libby. “There is no need for that, Mr. La Croix.”

  “He’s right, Samuel,” Madison added. She rested a hand on Samuel’s upper arm. “Slow and steady, remember?”

  Samuel jerked his arm away but retracted his fangs.

  “Well?” he demanded.

  Libby sat up straight. “Julianne was a popular consort at Leopold’s court,” she began. “Both Julie and I met her when she attended a party Julie gave. They found it amusing that they looked alike and even had similar first names. Almost immediately, they became close friends, and Julie received permission from Leopold to turn Julianne. After that, they were inseparable—they even referred to each other as sister.”

  She looked to Samuel to see if he was satisfied. He gestured for her to continue. After taking a deep breath, Libby did. “After Julie was killed, it was Julianne who helped me get the consort job with Leopold. The rest is as I told you—she later hired me herself, shortly before she moved to California.”

  Samuel walked to the French doors that opened onto the pool area, a feature of all of the guest rooms. He stared out at the pool that sparkled in the night, the submerged lights making it look like a cauldron of crystals.

  “Did either you or Julianne know who killed Julie Argudo?”

  When Libby didn’t answer right away, Samuel turned around and fixed her with one of his famous glares.

  “No, sir. At least I didn’t know the vampire who killed Julie. I had never seen him until that night.” After a short hesitation, Libby added with emphasis, “Nor since. Nor have I ever told anyone what I saw … until today.”

  Samuel approached the bed. “Not even Julianne?”

  “No. Julie and I were alone that night. If Julianne knows, it’s not from me. She’s never mentioned it in all these years.” She met Samuel’s stare with one of her own. “Whoever killed Julie did me a favor, Mr. La Croix. She was almost as bad as Gus Himmel.”

  When Samuel was finished giving Libby the third degree, he and Madison left Libby’s room and walked down the hall. Samuel stopped outside the door to the guest room Madison usually occupied when she stayed overnight. He opened the door. “Like I told you, I want you to get some rest. We have a very long night ahead of us. I’m going to turn in myself. Later we’ll find something for you to wear. I’m sure there’s a party dress around here somewhere.”

  “We’re still going to the party?”

  “Yes, of course. I want to find out how Ann Hayes fits into all this. Could be dumping branded vampires, especially Parker, is simply Julianne’s way of tweaking Ann’s nose while carrying out her bigger plan. I’m hoping Ann will cooperate and tell us something. At the very least, she lied to us about knowing Parker, and I want to know why.”

  Madison grabbed Samuel’s arm and dragged him into the room, shutting the door behind them. “Do you think Julianne is coming after you because you killed Julie Argudo?”

  “Who said I killed Julie?”

  “That’s the point, no one said it, but the suggestion is hanging in the air like bullshit at a county fair.”

  “Another colorful phrase. You seem to have an endless supply of them.” When Madison said nothing, he added, “It could be she’s after the council because we banished Julie.”

  Madison shook her right index finger at him. “I don’t buy that. How long ago was that banishment—thirty-five, forty years ago?”

  Samuel offered up a casual shrug. “About that. So what’s your point?”

  “My point is, Libby disappeared about seven years ago. Since she worked for Julie sometime after that, and if you account for Libby spending a year in Julianne’s employment and maybe a couple at Leopold’s court, it would put Julie’s death somewhere in the neighborhood of three to seven years ago.” Madison put her
hands on her hips. “Why would anyone connected with the council wait over thirty years to carry out an overturned execution like some vigilante?” Madison squinted at Samuel. “And I know you would never kill someone without a good reason.”

  “Again, who said I killed Julie?”

  Madison plopped down on the bed and pounded the mattress with her fist. “I want to know, Samuel. I know I’m just a teeny-weeny speck in your lifespan, but I want to know why Julie Argudo died, especially if it had anything to do with you or the council. I work for you. I put my life on the line for you. I deserve to know what’s going on before I walk out that door tonight with a target on my back.”

  Samuel leaned against the closed door and studied Madison, his face dark and unreadable. Madison fidgeted, knowing that one day she might go too far and he’d take her head off.

  “A little less than five years ago,” Samuel finally began, “Julie Argudo killed a former mistress of mine, a bloodline holder who I turned, much as I turned Isabella and Joni after our time together. Her name was Rebecca. She’d been a vampire only a few years and was in Bulgaria on holiday with some friends. Julie did it out of cold-hearted revenge against me.”

  With sadness, Madison looked down, almost wishing she hadn’t made him tell her.

  Samuel pushed off from the door and approached her. Roughly grabbing her chin with one hand, he squeezed her cheeks together and forced her head up to look at him. His opaque eyes blazed like white-hot coals.

  “I kill those who kill mine.” He let loose of her face with enough force to push her backwards on the bed. “If you haven’t learned that by now, Madison, you haven’t been paying attention.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Notchey didn’t show up at Samuel’s house until close to eleven at night, just as they were getting ready to leave for Ann’s party. Hyun greeted him at the front door and showed him into the living room, where Colin, Doug, Samuel, and Madison were gathered. Dodie was with Libby. Stacie had called. After Samuel filled her in, she said she’d meet them at the party. Doug and Dodie would stay behind.

  When Notchey’s eyes caught on Madison dressed in a short, strapless sheath in midnight blue, her long hair done in a French braid, he jeered, “The big emergency you called me about can’t be too big of a problem if you’re dressed to go out on the town.”

  Samuel approached him, his hand offered in greeting. “Nice of you to come, Mike. We have a situation. Several, actually.”

  Notchey didn’t take his hand. “I’m not here because you or Madison summoned me. I’m here on police business.”

  “Sit down, Mike.” Samuel gestured to the large sofa.

  “I need to speak to you alone, Samuel.”

  Samuel studied Notchey, digging deep into the cop’s mind for the true purpose of his visit. What he saw caused him to stagger slightly, but he composed himself and quickly showed Notchey toward the left wing of the house and to his office. Everyone else stared at each other in silence, wondering what could have caused such a reaction in the usually rocklike Samuel.

  A few minutes later, a wail came from the left wing that sent chills up and down Madison’s spine and rocked her balance. It was unlike anything she’d ever heard, primal and beastly in both its volume and complaint. Hyun was the first to react. Grabbing a gun stashed at the small of his back, he ran for the office to protect his employer, but Doug and Colin passed him with their speed. In strappy high heels, Madison ran in last place.

  They found Samuel on the leather sofa, his head buried in his hands. Notchey was standing on the other side of the room, his face dark and brooding. Samuel lifted his head. His fangs were drawn, his eyes glowing. He screamed again, rocking the windows on the French doors. The sound hurt Madison’s ears, but she made no move to cover them.

  They heard footsteps, and soon Dodie was at the door. “What on earth is going on? Are we under attack?”

  Notchey turned to the others. “Kai is dead.”

  “What?” Madison started to go to Samuel, but Colin stopped her, holding her tight.

  “You can’t,” he whispered, “it’s too dangerous.”

  Madison started to protest, then Samuel tilted his head and opened his terrifying mouth. He let out another roar, longer and more deadly than before. The air in the room went almost wet with the depth of his fury. He lashed out, his arm smashing a hole in the wall next to him.

  Dodie threw herself on the sofa and wrapped her steel-strong arms around Samuel. He struggled against her grasp, but she hung on.

  “Everyone out,” Dodie ordered. “Doug and I will stay with Samuel.” She looked at the bodyguard. “You, too, Hyun. This isn’t something you can help with.”

  Everyone, including Notchey, left the room, leaving the Dedhams to deal with the distraught ancient vampire.

  Keeping a tight hold on Madison lest she bolt back to Samuel, Colin directed her to the large sectional sofa in the living room and sat her down. Her entire body trembled as she sobbed. He took the seat next to her and pulled her into his chest, holding her tight while she cried. Notchey watched them both, weighing and measuring their reactions to the news and their relationship to each other.

  “What happened, Notchey?” Colin asked.

  Notchey took a seat across from them. “Kai’s body was found in the hills by the Hollywood sign a few hours ago.” He looked at Madison, unsure if he should continue.

  Madison looked at the cop. Smudged mascara ran down her face like tiny black snakes. “How?”

  “Looks like someone grabbed her, took her there, and killed her. We won’t know more until the body’s examined.”

  “A sex crime?” Colin asked.

  “Could be, except …,” Notchey’s voice trailed off. He cast another look at Madison.

  Madison wiped her face with her hand. “I want to know.”

  “Kai’s body was badly mutilated.” He saw Madison flinch. He paused before continuing, to let her absorb the shock before handing her another. “It looked like a pack of animals tore her apart. She was wearing workout clothes at the time, and they were in shreds.”

  “She worked out on Saturday afternoons at a yoga studio in West Hollywood,” Madison told Notchey in a broken voice. “A place on Melrose. I went with her a few times.”

  Notchey pulled out a notepad and jotted the information down. “You got a name?”

  Madison thought a moment, but it didn’t come to her. “No, but it had a New Age sound to it. Spiritual or spirit or something like that.”

  “We’ll check it out. Someone there might remember her. It could tell us the time she was taken, whether it was before or after the class.”

  “I have to go to Samuel.” Madison tried to stand, but Colin held her in place.

  “No,” Colin told her. “Didn’t you see how he was? He might not recognize you. He might try to hurt you and not even realize it.”

  Madison held out her wrist to show the bracelet. “But I have this.”

  “Voodoo or not,” Notchey snapped, “listen to Colin. He’s right about this.”

  Colin put his face near hers, trying to comfort her while still confining her movements. “The bracelet will protect you. But if Samuel does try to harm you and can’t, it could frustrate him more, increasing his agitation. What he needs is to collect himself. Doug and Dodie will know how to help him.”

  With new worry, Madison looked up into the face of the vampire she’d nearly bedded. “Do you all get like this, or just him?”

  “Samuel lost control of his human side, Madison,” Colin explained, his words thick with warning. “Potentially, it could happen to any of us if we allow ourselves to be engulfed by anger. It’s not all that different from human rage, just intensified.”

  Madison shivered, but she’d stopped crying. She’d seen Samuel angry many times, but this was beyond her imagination.

  “Speaking of which,” Notchey said, “the other cops on the case are looking for a sexual deviant for this murder. I think it was done by vampires—angry va
mpires with a grudge against Samuel. You think this is connected to those dead vampires?”

  “Very likely,” Colin answered.

  “Yeah, I thought so, too.”

  Hyun remained silent, standing off in the background, never taking his eyes off of Mike Notchey.

  “Wait a minute,” said Notchey, leaning forward. “Didn’t Kai have one of those anti-vampire bracelets like Madison’s?”

  Colin straightened in understanding. “Yes, of course she did. So it might not have been vampires who killed her.”

  Madison shook her head. “Kai didn’t wear hers all the time, especially when she wasn’t around vampires. She hated it and thought it was ugly. I remember Samuel scolding her about it many times.”

  Notchey sat back. “Well, that theory’s tanked. You have no idea how much I don’t want this to be a vampire killing.”

  Colin agreed. “You and me both, pal.”

  Madison struggled to get free of Colin, but he was latched on tight. “Let go of me, asshole. I promise I won’t go near Samuel.”

  Colin released her while Notchey looked on with interest. Madison headed in the direction of the kitchen. When she returned, she had a box of tissues in her hands and was wiping her face.

  “We have Julianne’s address,” she told the men. “Why can’t the cops just go and arrest her?”

  “Who’s Julianne?” asked Notchey.

  Madison stood by the doors leading to the patio and pool area. She looked out at the lights of the city. They twinkled below like fallen stars. “Julianne Jaz. She’s the vampire who’s been leaving dead vampires as calling cards.”

  “So you’re sure it’s not Ann Hayes?”

  She nodded. “Seems Julianne may have a score to settle with Samuel, and possibly another with Ann. At least we know the two women despise each other. She might have been setting up Ann and getting back at Samuel at the same time.”

  Colin left the sofa and went to Madison. “This score with Samuel, you know what it is?”

  Madison turned away from him.

  “Now who’s being the asshole?” Colin grabbed her upper arm and spun her around. “Is Julianne connected to Julie Argudo somehow?”