Master of the City (A Kate Brokenshire Zombie Slayer Adventure Book 3)

by Garth Ono

  "I'm not a vampire," he said.

  Kate considered how to prove whether he was alive or undead, preferably without him realizing what she was doing. Stabbing him, even superficially, was out of the question, though it would do the job. If he bled, then he was alive.

  "So you say. I was more entertained when your chorus spoke for you," she said. "That was freaky, and didn't help your case."

  "Does it really matter?"

  "Normally, yes," she said. Catching and holding his eyes, "But you're so hot I can overlook a little thing like being dead."

  He looked genuinely flattered. Kate thought that was a mark against him. Wouldn't a living man protest?

  What do I have to do? she thought, looking him over. He was a gorgeous man, but she couldn't imagine ever being with an undead man. I already know his hands are cold, but that doesn't prove anything. Morgan's hands are icy cold year round, but she's not undead.

  It would be hard to feel body heat through a suit, but not impossible.

  "Please, have a seat," Kate said, sitting back on the couch. Afterwards, when he stood back up, she could feel the cushion. If he was alive, it would be warm. "Let's discuss what we can do for each other."

  He stared at her lips a long second, and then licked his own. She arched a brow, and then patted the spot beside her on the couch. Mordred remained standing. So frustrating.

  "I am in negotiations with a vampire, whose name will remain a secret for now," Mordred said. "He's willing to Call the zombies for you, to a location of your choosing. I'll pay him the fee he demands. But I need something from you first."

  "I have nothing," she said. "I'm poor, especially by your standards."

  "But you have the skill set I seek," he continued. "I want you to slay my enemies. I'll give you a list of vampires to slay, and then I'll double the bounty you collect on them."

  Kate almost blurted out that someone else had already made that offer to kill him.

  "Do you know who is letting zombies into the city?"

  "I think so, but I cannot prove it," he said. "There's a new, ambitious vampire in town. His name is Simon Williams."

  "I know him. Simon was the minion of the vampire I killed this summer," she said. "I also killed Simon, and then he was a vampire. You might say he's the one that got away."

  Kate agreed with Mordred. Simon looked awfully suspicious, but that implicated Daphne as well. Also, it seemed a little too convenient for Mordred.

  "I encourage you to find and kill him for the double bounty," Mordred said, eyes narrowing. "I have people looking for him. When we find him and his minions…"

  Kate froze. They would kill Daphne. To cover her shock, Kate nodded and stood up. She stepped up close, looking up to hold his gaze. He looked determined.

  "If you get any information about his whereabouts, send it to me. I'll take care of him without you getting your hands dirty," she said, letting her voice drop an octave. His eyes widened a bit. She unbuttoned his suit jacket, bit her lip, and snaked her hand underneath to stroke his muscular back. "I have unresolved issues with Mr. Williams."

  Mordred smiled. God, he looked so damned fine. The fact she felt absolutely no body heat under his suit didn't bode well. Then his lips parted, though not enough to see fangs, and then he leaned down to her face. Kate hesitated, feeling a pang of panic. If he bit her…

  "We have a deal then, Kate?"

  "Yes," she whispered, lifting her chin to offer her lips. There was no way the inside of his mouth could be cold if he was alive. "Sealed with a kiss."

  Their lips melted together. His hand gently cupped her face as they sank deeper into that kiss. Kate struggled, knowing she was enjoying it too much.

  "Mmmm," she moaned.

  Kate slowly opened his mouth with hers, and then slipped her tongue inside. His icy cold tongue met hers. She swirled her tongue around his, and felt fangs touch either side of hers as she did so.

  "More business deals should be sealed that way," she said. Kate was surprised how disappointed she felt about proving he was a vampire. "So we're agreed? I'll do the drac slaying, while you do the paying?"

  "Agreed," he said. "When you take Simon's head, I'll provide you with a vampire as well." He kissed her again. "Once this ugliness has been resolved, I'd like to discuss another business proposition with you. One you will find exceptionally profitable, I promise."

  Chapter 20

  As soon as Calista dropped her off, Kate jumped into her vehicle and headed toward Simon's place. She parked two streets over, armed up, and continued on foot with a pair of binoculars.

  The houses were all huge. The smallest had to be at least three thousand square feet, most with three car garages and fenced in backyards with pools. Kate slipped between houses until she reached the house opposite Simon's place. That house was occupied, so she checked the two houses on either side of it. They were also occupied, and one of them had a large barking dog in the backyard. She finally found a vacant house three up from Simon.

  Kate forced the back door open and entered. There were still some furnishings, but looked like it was quickly vacated. Trash was everywhere, holes in the walls, and the fridge was open and stank to the high heavens.

  She studied Simon's house from a front window. The two big black guys were gone, replaced by a Hispanic man and two pretty girls. Kate grinned. The women didn't look like they'd be much help in a fight. It was good to see he couldn't recover from losses too easily.

  Moving upstairs, she watched the house for a few hours. Daphne came and went with Brody once. Seeing Brody limping brought a smile to her face, though she marveled at his ability to endure pain. Brandy returned in a red sedan, picked up the Hispanic man, and left. Kate wondered if the guy was her minion or on loan from Simon.

  As she watched the comings and goings, Kate sketched out two plans in her head. One, she came back that night to follow Simon, Daphne, or Brandy when they left to open up holes in the perimeter fence. She could video record them with her smartphone. With the evidence proving Simon was the one responsible, she could prove the problem was resolved after taking him out and the city could start getting back to normal.

  Kate prayed it wasn't Daphne doing the dirty deed for him. She couldn't see herself turning her friend in to the police. If Simon stayed behind, but sent his big male minions with the two female vamps, then she might go for the gold. Kate could smash out a window and charge in, killing Simon while he played with his minions girlfriends.

  "I rather like the thought of catching him with his pants down around his ankles."

  With Simon dead, there wouldn't be any reason for his minions to continue letting zombies into the city. After the zombies already in the city were cleared, then it would be over. And she'd have that extra $15,000 in the bank, not counting Mordred's promised bounty.

  Around midafternoon, she explored the street behind Simon's house. She took note of any obviously abandoned homes. Kate located bolt holes in case she was spotted and chased, and even located a few prospects for waiting in ambush for pursuit. And then she went back to the hotel.

  Kate spent the rest of the afternoon in her hotel room on the computer. Using Google Maps, and street view, she studied everything around Simon's house. She memorized the map around his house, determining the best place to wait in her vehicle for them to leave. With so little traffic in the city it would be difficult to trail them.

  When she heard Axl and Rocco out in the hallway, she closed her laptop and waited for them to go into their rooms. Kate slipped out as quietly as possible, not wanting a pair of horndogs chasing her. Downstairs she found the hotel staff restocking the all day buffet for the slayers.

  "Mmmm, bacon and eggs. I love breakfast for dinner," she said. Kate made a sandwich with scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, and a slice of cheese. Then she went to the St. Louis Police Department's Captain's office. "Is Captain Monroe in?"

  The desk sergeant told her to sit down while he made a call. Kate finished her sandwich and was
licking her fingers when Captain Evan Monroe came out to see her. He was a tall, heavyset African-American cop with a permanent scowl. She offered her hand, but he hesitated before taking it. She smiled.

  "Sorry, I didn't think when I licked my fingers," Kate said. "I'm told my cooties are actually quite nice."

  His scowl turned into a smile and chuckle. "How may I assist you, Ms Brokenshire?"

  "I'd like to speak to you in private," she said. "I have an idea to resolve the zombie problem quickly and permanently."

  "I hear that about a dozen times every day," he said. "What makes your plan special?"

  "I have vampires who can Call zombies," she said. "Interested?"

  He looked incredulous. After a long second, Captain Monroe pulled himself together and waved her through the door to his office. He called in two other senior cops before they started: Lieutenants Jasmine Flores and Kyle Newark. Kate had briefly spoken to both officers before.

  Kate laid it out. They listened patiently, but she noticed the other two cops weren't too keen on her plan at all. The Captain remained open-minded.

  "First of all, vampires are felons and we cannot accept help from them," Lieutenant Newark said. He was a middle-aged, rail thin cop with snow white hair. "How do we know the vampire helping us isn't the one letting all of the rotters in?"

  "I'm working on taking out the guilty vamp," Kate said. "I located a drac over in Clayton who I suspect is doing it. I hope to be able to prove or disprove it in the next night or two."

  "What's his name?" Lieutenant Flores demanded. She was a few inches taller than Kate, with dark hair pulled back in a bun. Her uniform and utility belt made her look heavy, but she had a lean, athletic body. Of the three cops, Kate thought she was the most dangerous in a fight. "I'll send SWAT over to take him out."

  "Simon Williams," she said. "I actually killed his original master. And I'm the person who killed him, but was unable to take his head before he rose as a vampire." They were looking at her suspiciously. "He's sneaky and cunning, but I've fought him before. I'm pretty sure I can track him down and kill him this time, but I'm trying to do it while he is committing the crime of letting zombies in. I think we need to know no more zombies will be let in before we Call all of the zombies in and kill them."

  "Do you know his current location?" Lieutenant Flores demanded.

  "I have a pretty good idea," Kate lied.

  Their faces said they didn't believe her. Kate stared back innocently. So she leaned forward in her chair, narrowing brown eyes.

  "So, what is it? Do you just want to kill a vamp?" she asked. "Or do you want to end the infestation forever? If you just want the vamp, I'll give him to you and go home. I'll know you aren't serious about saving the city, so I'm wasting my time here. But if you want to put an end to the current zombie threat once and for all, then let me do this my way."

  "I'll give you three days to work it out," Captain Monroe said. The two lieutenants objected, but he shut them up with a sharp wave of the hand. "If you cannot pull it off, then I want that vamp's head."

  Kate smiled. "You'll get his head either way. But there's one other thing."

  "Which is?" he asked cautiously.

  "The vampire that helps us round up the zombies will need a full pardon, amnesty, whatever it takes to restore his, or her, rights. No vamp will help if he remains with a sentence of death over his head," Kate said. "And the vampire will need a police escort and protection while we're doing this."

  "Impossible," Captain Monroe said. "I cannot promise that. I will guarantee his safety up to the time all zombies within the city have been eradicated. And I can promise him safe passage out of the city after that. No more."

  Kate thought about that a moment.

  "I'll offer that. It might be enough," she said. "But is that really the best option?"

  "Oh, pray tell, what should we do, Ms Brokenshire?" Lieutenant Flores asked.

  "Imagine having your own vampire," Kate said. "An undead consultant, if you will, that can assist you whenever you have a vampire or zombie problem. And let's be honest, you will continue to have constant issues with the undead for the foreseeable future."

  That shut them all up. Captain Monroe looked at her with something just shy of respect. He kind of reminded Kate of her favorite sheriff back in Tennyson.

  "What do you get out of this?" Captain Monroe asked. "I'm sure you're not doing all of this out of the kindness of your heart."

  "Well, I am an exceptionally compassionate person. Ask any of my friends," she said. "Seriously, though, I do expect to be paid. And not as much as you might expect. I was thinking $10 for every zombie killed, for both me and the vamp. Vampires need money, too."

  "That's outrageous," Captain Kirk said.

  "You're paying $100 a head right now," she said. "How is $20 outrageous?"

  Captain Monroe ended the discussion with a promise to send her proposal up the chain for approval. Kate promised to secure a vampire in the off chance they chose to accept her proposal. The three senior cops were huddled together discussing it when she left.

  "Time for a little rest and relaxation," she said.

  Kate planned to leave around midnight. She was going to watch Simon's house until daybreak. If he or any of his vampires left during that time, she was sure it was to go cut holes in the fences. Kate would follow, record the crime, and hopefully take a very valuable head in the process. Of course, if Simon sent Daphne to do his dirty work, then all bets were off.

  She spotted Axl down at the buffet table. Kate managed to get to the elevators without being seen. She took the elevator to her room alone.

  "I'm so tired, I might actually be able to get some good sleep in before I have to leave," Kate said. She placed her phone on the night stand, sat, and started unlacing her boots. Her body tingled, knowing it was about to get the rest it needed.

  Her phone rang.

  It was Morgan cell number's ring tone. Kate didn't really want to talk to Morgan, or anyone for that matter. But she picked the phone up and answered.

  "Kate! We have a zombie in town!" Morgan said before she could speak.

  "Are you sure it's not a ploy by the mayor to get me back in Tennyson?"

  "I'm sure," Morgan said. "I'm looking at the rotter right now."

  Chapter 21

  The dark blue Suburban pulled into the St. Louis Business Center's parking lot. A silver minivan followed them. The two vehicles turned east in the lot and found parking places just close enough to see the dark green Land Rover in the Residence Inn parking lot.

  Daphne rode shotgun in the Suburban, with Brody driving. Carl was in the hospital recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. Brody had a limp, but with pain meds he was able to function remarkably well. She was pretty sure it was a dark desire for revenge that kept him going. Two Goth men sat in back, both of them former Mordred followers. Simon bit them after their capture, turning them into his loyal minions.

  Daphne got out to speak with Brandy face-to-face. The sun seemed especially bright that afternoon, and hurt her eyes even wearing the darkest sunglasses she could find.

  Brandy was in the minivan with two of Simon's minions, and her own first minion driving. Ayssa Brady was an acquaintance of Brandy's that she bit. The minion was a black girl with a spectacular head of blonde-dyed hair. She was also a black belt, which was the main reason Brandy wanted her. With them was another pair of Simon's minions. One was a forty-something white man and the other a teenage Hispanic girl.

  "I think we should split up," Daphne said when Brandy rolled down her window. The blonde vamp was in the front passenger seat. Ayssa was driving. "I'll stay here and wait for Kate. I want you over at the UPS place on the other side of Jefferson. We'll alert you when she leaves. That way we have her boxed in."

  "Fine by me," Brandy said, acting completely bored. "I'll be glad when all of this crap is over. I don't like being a goon."

  Daphne just shrugged. She didn't like doing all of Simon's dirty work either. It
was so much nicer when all any of his minions did was primp all day and have lots of sex. As soon as Simon found out there was a Master of the City, and that it could be a significant position of power, he became ambitious and the good times ended for her.

  If Kate would just bow to the inevitable and kill Mordred everything would be right again. Once Simon was supreme in St. Louis, she could take her rightful place at his side. A king needs a queen. Though, she was worried that Brandy was prettier, better in bed, and might usurp her as Simon's favorite.

  "Call me," Brandy said as Ayssa started the engine. "We'll keep an open line until Kate is captured, bound, and chloroformed into la-la land." The blonde smiled viciously. "I swear, if Simon doesn't bite that bitch I will. Kate will be brought to heel."

  "Yes," Daphne said, scowling as she rubbed her cheek. Kate embarrassed everyone with her escape. A mere human kicked both hers and Brandy's ass, and Daphne still couldn't believe her friend hit her with a pistol. "But I wish I could kick butt like she does."

  "I know, right?" Brandy said. She looked past Daphne and sat up straighter. "Is that her?"

  "Kate's on the move," Brody called. "She's moving with a sense of urgency, too."

  Kate's Land Rover was moving before Daphne reached the Suburban. Brandy's minivan took the lead in their pursuit. As usual, Kate turned east down Scott to Jefferson, but then she continued east on I-64. Daphne called Brandy, and then put her phone on speaker so Brody could hear.

  "Where do you think she's heading?" Daphne asked. "Kate doesn't usually go to downtown."

  "The way she tore out of there, I think she's got a call about some zombies," Brandy replied.

  "We can grab her when she returns to her Land Rover after slaying zombies," Brody said. "We've already seen she's vulnerable at that time. She'll be tired from fighting and her hands will be full."

  Daphne felt excitement building. Vampiric excitement was pure mental, and she kind of missed the whole racing heart and breathless feel of mortal excitement. She could get the tingles, but most physical reactions were lost. What few physical sensations she still enjoyed were ten times more intense as a vampire.