"What do you think?" Colin asked her.
"I'm not sure if he's playing a part or believes the part he's playing. I know he's not a real vampire like the three of you." Madison paused to consider her answer. "Fangs or no fangs, his hands were warm, and he was drinking and eating."
"Some people," Dodie told her, "have fang dental implants inserted."
"For real?" Madison shuddered at the thought. She hated going to the dentist for any reason.
"Yep," confirmed Doug with a short laugh. "And they aren't retractable like ours."
"Wilhelm," began Colin, "believes that he was born to be a vampire. He drinks human blood from time to time and even sleeps in a coffin on occasion-a coffin with air holes drilled into it."
"I bet he'd freak if he knew you were a real one." Madison leaned back on the sofa. She was tired and wanted to go to bed but knew they needed to talk about the evening.
"My guess is that he'd be insufferable, pestering me all the time to become one" Colin said the words with a slight smile.
"Yes, it was quite obvious he had a crush on you." It was Madison's turn to laugh. "Maybe you should fix him up with a gay vampire and see what happens." She gave some thought to what she'd just said. "Are there gay vampires?"
Dodie was the first to answer. "Yes, of course, just as in real life. Eddie Gonzales is gay. He's on the council but wasn't here for the meeting."
Madison turned to Colin. "Why don't you introduce Eddie to Wilhelm?"
"They've met." Colin's answer was chopped. "Eddie has gone to Bat Beauty a number of times. It has a large gay following due to Wilhelm. Eddie has even done some financial consulting for Wilhelm on my referral."
Doug shook his head with amusement. "Two vampires so close to Wilhelm, and he didn't have a clue."
"There's more than that," Madison said. The three of them looked at her with curiosity. She looked at Colin when she spoke. "You didn't see the bloodline on Geoff's hand?" When he looked blank, she continued. "Geoff was the cute young guy sitting on the floor at Wilhelm's feet most of the night. The one in the loose white shirt."
Colin looked at her, his dark brows a solid black line across his forehead. "Are you sure that bloke had a bloodline?" Even the Dedhams leaned in, their attention sharpened.
"Positive," Madison said. "After you went off to talk to those people over in the corner, Geoff took the seat next to me. He's quite nice, but rather shy. He told me he came here from Nebraska just six months ago. We got to talking, and he noticed the line on my hand and showed me his. Said I'm the only person he's met with the same birthmark."
Doug zeroed in on Madison. "He called it a birthmark?"
"Yes. Said he'd had it all his life. Was surprised to see I had one, too."
Colin drained his glass before turning to Madison with serious concentration. "Did anyone else hear this conversation?"
"Probably. Wilhelm was nearby and some of the others, like Miriam." Madison looked quizzically at Colin. "You've never seen any bloodlines on anyone at these covens?"
He shrugged, half lost in his own thoughts. "Once or twice over the years, but that's it. There was a woman in Wilhelm's coven with one a few years ago. She called herself Sylvia; I'm not sure if that was her real name or not. I kept an eye on her, but last year she stopped showing up. I asked Wilhelm about her. He laughed and said she had gone off to marry some executive and have a normal life."
"Did you believe him, Colin?" The question came from Dodie.
"At the time, yes. It didn't seem odd at all. To a lot of these kids it's just a phase, not a true lifestyle. But now, with these killings, who knows."
"How old was Sylvia?" asked Madison.
Colin thought about it. "About your age, maybe a bit older, but not much. She was rather plain in the looks department, but a pleasant sort." He smiled. "What I remember most was her incredible hair. Tiny, tight natural blond curls all over her head."
Dodie didn't look happy. "You think she might have ended up like the others, but her body was never found?"
Colin shrugged, his leather jacket making a soft sighing sound as he did. "It's possible."
"Well, Geoff wasn't the only one with a bloodline," Madison announced. Dodie and Doug looked at her with surprise, but not Colin. "Lady Harriet had one, too."
"Lady Harriet of Dark Tidings?" Doug asked.
Madison nodded, then looked at Colin. "You knew that, didn't you?"
"Of course. I've known her for years."
"And she doesn't know what it means?" Madison looked down at her own fake bloodline.
"Not that I know of. Did she notice yours?"
"I don't think so."
Madison then remembered something from the evening. "When I was at Dark Tidings, I asked to use the bathroom. When I came out, a man was waiting in the hall to use it next. I recognized him, but I'm not sure from where."
"Was he among the photos Mike Notchey showed you?" Doug asked.
Madison shook her head. "I recognized Lilith and Wilhelm from the photos. I didn't recognize Lady Harriet at first. She's aged some and gained weight; Mike must have an old photo. This guy's picture could have been there and he's changed since then. But I have a gut feeling I know him from somewhere else."
Doug cocked his head with interest. "From the diner, maybe? Or from school?"
"Hard to say. He was wearing dark glasses, which I noticed several people wearing inside at all the havens."
"Yes," Colin confirmed. "Many people don't want to be recognized as coven members. Others think it is rather cool and mysterious." He sounded amused at the idea.
"Well," Madison continued, "if he has been at the diner, I don't think he's a regular. Could be from school. He looked to be around thirty or so. People of all ages attend night classes."
Doug finished his drink and put the glass back on the tray. "I'm sure you'll think of it, Madison. You're probably too bushed right now to think straight." He stood up. "In fact, it's time for all of us to turn in. Colin, you're welcome to stay here today if you like, which makes sense if you're coming back later."
Colin stood up. "Thanks, Doug, but I'm going to head home. I always sleep better in my own coffin." He gave Madison an uncharacteristic wink.
"You don't sleep in a coffin," she said in disgust, then hesitated. "Do you?"
The three vampires laughed.
"No, Madison," Colin told her with a smirk. "I stopped doing that over three hundred years ago"
Dodie and Madison also got to their feet as the men headed out the door to the foyer. "Is he kidding about the `three hundred years' thing?" Madison whispered to Dodie.
Dodie smiled. "No, dear, I don't think so"
SEVENTEEN
hen Madison woke up, she had an idea. While at Bat Beauty, Wilhelm had given her his card. It was almost noon, and she knew the Dedhams would be sleeping for another five or six hours. After taking a shower and dressing, she went downstairs to find Pauline dusting in the living room.
"Pauline, I'm going out for a bit."
"Where're you off to?"
"We get paid every Wednesday at the diner. I want to stop by and pick up my check and say hello."
"Wednesday's an odd pay day, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but that's Kyle." Madison wasn't lying. The owner of Auntie Em's did pay them on Wednesday. "I also want to drop by my place and check the mail and pick up a few more things. That's okay, isn't it?"
"I don't see why not." Pauline stopped her work. "Just don't linger in either place-a quick in and out. And take your cell phone in case someone needs you."
In response, Madison held up her phone.
Pauline returned to her task, then shot back at Madison, "But eat something first. You're as thin as a baby bird."
Madison headed out the front door. "I'll grab something at Auntie Em's. I miss their cheeseburgers." Before Pauline could protest, Madison was in her car and heading out of the Dedham driveway.
During the drive to Culver City, Madison thought about the changes
in her life in just a few days. No one had ever cared before where she was going or if she had her phone. Pauline and the Dedhams seemed genuinely interested in her, but a mile later, self-doubt rose like bile. They needed her. When they didn't, she'd be back to her old life. The idea both pleased and disturbed her.
Auntie Em's was bustling even though it was near the end of the lunch crowd. All the tables were full, so Madison grabbed a stool on the far end of the long lunch counter.
A couple of regulars had nodded to her when she came in. "You still working here?" one of them had asked on his way out. She recognized him as a studio suit-one of the buttoned-up, conservative business types who handled the purse strings and decision making behind the artists and tinsel-town glamour. He always ordered the Cobb salad, no bacon, dressing on the side.
"Yes," Madison had answered. "Just took a couple of days off." When he seemed to expect more of an explanation, she added, "Family stuff." It felt like he thought she worked for him and not the diner.
"Time off is good. Family stuff, not always." His face contorted into a half frown, like he'd seen more than his share of unpleasant family drama. "Come back soon, you're missed. Had to send my salad back two days this week." He'd said the last few words like it was her fault and an apology was in order.
Sandra, Kyle's wife, always worked the counter and often the cash register. She stepped in front of Madison. She was a thick, tall woman with bleached hair, a big mouth, and an even larger personality-at least in the diner. When waiting on customers, Sandra liked to give them a loud, colorful show reminiscent of Flo, a waitress from an old TV sitcom. Off work, she was lowkey. "Nice to see you, Madison. Hope everything's okay with your grandparents."
"My grandparents?" Madison caught herself. That was the story she had handed Kyle when she'd called him, a health problem with her grandfather. "Yeah, they're fine. Thought my grandfather had a heart attack, but it was just a scare. I've been staying with them this week, helping out until everyone and everything settles down" She smiled at Sandra. "Thanks for asking."
Sandra cocked her head and studied Madison. "What happened to your face?"
Madison groaned. So much for the artful use of makeup. "I fell at my grandparents' place," she lied. "On the back patio, moving stuff around for them. I was lucky I didn't break my nose. But it should be gone by the time I come back to work."
"Hope so. You're far too pretty to look like you went the distance with Mike Tyson," Sandra laughed. "You come in for your pay?"
"Yeah, and a cheeseburger." Madison rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't believe what my grandparents eat. It's disgusting."
"Old-people food," Sandra said knowingly. "Same thing with my folks."
Madison gave her a mild grin, thinking if Sandra only knew exactly what her `grandparents' ate, she'd swoon.
Sandra put Madison's order in, then served food to a customer near the middle of the counter. When she returned, she had a tall glass of Coke. When she put the soda down in front of Madison, she lowered her head and whispered, "Did you hear about Evie Banks?"
"Evie? No, what?" Madison concentrated on unwrapping her straw. She didn't look up until after she'd stuck it into the liquid and took a long pull.
"It was all over the news last night and this morning." Sandra paused for effect, then looked around before lowering her voice even more. "She was murdered."
Madison faked surprise by popping her eyes wide with astonishment. "Murdered? You sure?"
"Dead as a doornail. Her body was found in Angeles National Forest. She was naked. Can you imagine?"
Sadly, Madison could.
"The cops came in early this morning asking about her."
Sandra left to cash out a customer. When she returned, she had Madison's food.
While she poured ketchup onto her plate, Madison asked, "I thought Evie left Auntie Em's to travel or something like that?"
"That's what we all thought." Sandra leaned back against the counter behind her. "Isn't that shocking?"
Madison picked up her burger. Before she took a bite, she asked, "Do they know who did it?" Her teeth dug into the perfectly cooked burger and chewed with delight. It was heaven.
"Not a clue that I know of. Poor girl." Sandra picked up the coffeepot to go refresh someone's cup. "Her parents must be beside themselves with grief. You know, her father's a Baptist minister in some little town up by Sacramento."
"I didn't know that." Madison stuck a fry into her mouth and wondered what it was like for Evie's parents, mourning a daughter killed so brutally. She'd mourned a mother killed senselessly, but she'd been a child when it had happened. Most of her grieving had happened later, as she got older and realized more clearly what she'd lost. She'd almost been killed like Evie and the other girls, yet no one would have mourned her. She thought about the Dedhams and wondered if they would be sorry if she died while helping them. Or would they just chalk it up to one beater down, plenty more to go?
After taking another bite, Madison pushed her plate away, her burger half eaten, and concentrated on drinking her soda.
"Not hungry?" It was Kyle Patterson, her boss, asking.
Madison shrugged. "Guess not."
Kyle took the stool next to her. As much as his wife's diner persona was loud and brassy, Kyle's was quiet and behind the scenes. He was not as tall as his wife and of an average build, except for the soft belly that hung over his belt from eating too much of his own diner's good food. "Sandra told me you'd come in. You coming back?"
"Monday, as planned," Madison told him. She wiped her mouth on a paper napkin. "Sandra just told me about Evie. Pretty awful, isn't it?"
Kyle nodded and looked off, his eyes not focusing on anything in particular. "Yes. She was a nice girl." He refocused his attention back on Madison. "Here's your check," he said, handing her an envelope.
When Madison held out her left hand to receive her pay, Kyle noticed the bogus bloodline. "What's that on your hand?" he asked, examining it. "An ink stain?"
Madison wasn't sure what to say, then decided to throw out another lie. "I'm thinking I must have broken a blood vessel or something when I fell." She pointed at her face. "Landed face first on my grandparents' patio like a klutzy dork." She took the pay envelope and stuffed it into her purse.
"Your grandparents live in the area?" Kyle asked. "You've never mentioned them before."
"They have a place in Topanga. I never saw them growing up, not until I moved here. Still don't see them much. They're retired and travel a lot." Madison was surprised at how easily the lies fell from her lips. Maybe if she said it often enough, she'd start believing it, too.
"Topanga's nice."
"Yeah, they have a cool place. Almost like being on a real vacation."
Sandra finished with a customer and came over. She looked at her husband. "You convince Madison to come back sooner than later?"
Kyle laughed. "Never even brought it up. Girl's worked hard for us. She's entitled to time off." He turned to Madison. "We do need you back, Madison. You're my best waitress. Even better than the old lady here."
Madison laughed softly and felt a low-level blush start. "I'm not sure about that."
"It's true, Madison," Sandra told her. "I'm not as young as I used to be, and neither are my feet."
Madison glanced at her watch. She still had things to do. "Guess I'd better be going." She dug in her purse for her wallet, but Kyle stopped her.
"You still work here, Madison," he told her. "Lunch is included, as always."
Madison's next stop was her apartment. Her only mail was a utility bill. She looked around the place, realizing now, after spending time with the Dedhams, how shabby it was. She wondered what the Dedhams had thought when they came to pick up her things, then dismissed her concern. It was hers. Everything was paid for, and there was nothing wrong with it. She went to the closet and pulled out a couple of tops that she thought might pass muster with Colin. There was no way she was going to wear that tee shirt with the stupid girly skull aga
in. Pulling out a duffle bag, she folded the tops into it, along with her bathing suit and a few other favorite items of clothing. With one last glance at the tidy but meager apartment, she left, thinking that maybe it was time to upgrade a bit.
Madison had gone halfway down the stairs when she had a thought. Returning to her apartment, she headed straight for the cabinet under the bathroom sink and pulled out two boxes of tampons. Stuffing the boxes into the duffle, she headed back out and down to her car.
EIGHTEEN
efore she'd gone to her apartment, Madison had called Wilhelm. After identifying herself, she'd asked if he would meet with her.
Madison had the address of Bat Beauty and remembered vaguely where it was from her visit with Colin. She headed east on the 10 Freeway and exited on Vermont, the same exit she remembered Colin taking. It took her several wrong turns, but eventually she found the club.
During the day, the neighborhood was even seedier than at night, but not as foreboding. The few businesses in the area had their security gates up, but none looked very busy. When she tried the door to Bat Beauty, it was unlocked.
Inside, the club was just as dark as it had been before, but there was no deafening music, just a soft, eerie instrumental piece being piped over the sound system. There were a few people having drinks at or near the bar, but they weren't the dancing, heavily made-up revelers of the night before. Today's patrons looked run over by life and left for roadkill, and Madison wondered if it was the neighborhood crowd.
Walking up to the bar, Madison caught the eye of the bartender, a guy easily in his sixties, with broad shoulders and a slight paunch, wearing jeans and a tee shirt.
"I'm here to see Wilhelm," she told him. "He's expecting me."
"Wait here," the guy told her. He headed for the end of the bar, where he picked up a phone.
Madison wasn't exactly sure what she was doing in Bat Beauty, but after hearing about Sylvia's disappearance, she felt compelled to find out if the woman had left the Bat Beauty coven to get married, as Wilhelm had said, or was missing for some sinister reason. She knew if she'd told the Dedhams or Colin, or especially Mike Notchey, that she wanted to talk to Wilhelm alone, they would not have allowed it. She also knew on another level that contacting Wilhelm was stupid from a security standpoint. But if the vamps wanted to use her as bait, then she was damn well going to call some of the shots on her own. The sooner all this was over, the sooner she could return to her life. She'd promised Kyle she'd be back to the diner on Monday, and she intended to do her best to move things along.
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