by Helen Harper
Alison’s eyes shift nervously. ‘Okay.’
I pat her arm. ‘We need to cover all the bases.’
She bites her lip. ‘Sure.’ She holds out a small card. ‘This is the policeman assigned to her case.’
I take the card and study it, make a mental note of the details and hand it back. ‘Thanks.’
‘Would you like some more blood?’
I try to repress my involuntary shudder. ‘No, thank you.’
‘Something else? Tea? Coffee?’
‘I’m fine. I should get going. I’ll be in touch if I have any other questions.’
‘Ms Blackman? You will find her, won’t you?’
I meet her eyes. ‘I will try. There’s no guarantee of anything though. You need to be prepared that maybe she doesn’t want to be found.’
Her hand flies up to her throat. ‘You think she wanted to leave?’
She might have left all her clothes, make-up and jewellery behind but she’s taken all her sanitary products and contraception with her. I reckon she’s making a clean break. I open my mouth to say this but something in Alison’s face changes my mind. Maybe I still have it in me to be nice after all. ‘I’m just saying you should be prepared for every eventuality.’ And with that, I leave.
I wander back down the street, my hands shoved in my pockets. It’s been several weeks since I took the time to ask questions first before taking action. I mull over all that I discovered before veering left to Lisa’s ex-boyfriend. It’s still early.
I’ve barely rounded the corner when a dark shape flies out of nowhere, barrelling into me. My fangs immediately elongate and I thrust out my hands to ward off the attack and protect myself. I only just manage to pull the punch in time. Kimchi slobbers all over my face, panting a cloud of doggy breath that has me recoiling. I extricate myself and look over the top of him.
Matt grins at me sheepishly. ‘Hey.’
‘What are you doing here?’
There’s a fleeting look of hurt in his eyes but he quickly masks it. ‘Looking for you. I’ve missed you, Bo.’
Kimchi licks my hand as if to add weight to Matt’s words. I sigh. ‘How did you find me?’
‘When Kimchi spotted you at the station we followed you. I’m not completely stupid, you know.’
I raise my eyebrows. Not that I can speak. I allowed a muscle-bound idiot and a drooling dog that is incapable of little more than waddling to trail after me without me noticing. To add insult to injury, Matt sticks out his tongue.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ I mutter.
‘I need you.’
‘No, you don’t. Go back to the Montserrat mansion where you belong.’ I tilt up my chin, sensing a hovering presence behind him. ‘Who else is there?’
From the shelter of a tree, a slim shape appears. I’d recognise those heels anywhere. ‘Beth? They let you out?’
She smiles at me. ‘As you see.’ She walks up to Matt and hooks her arm round his. ‘It helps to have some brawn around though.’
I almost snort. In a fight, I reckon Beth could take Matt down any day of the week, despite his well-advertised muscles. ‘Does that mean you can withstand sunshine?’ I ask, wondering whether that is jealousy uncurling deep within my stomach.
She shakes her head. ‘No, but Ursus thinks I’m close.’
I gaze at her suspiciously. I’m betting there’s more about her newfound freedom than she’s letting on. Usually no vampire is let out until they are strong enough to get a sun tan. Matt and I are special cases; making another exception for Beth seems unlikely. I wrinkle my nose to show my distaste. ‘What do you want?’
‘We thought we’d tag along.’
‘I don’t need company,’ I growl.
‘Maybe not,’ she says lightly. ‘But we need you.’ She pauses. ‘I’ve just been to the hospital.’
‘Bully for you.’
‘Your grandfather is stable.’
I fold my arms. ‘And still unconscious.’
‘When he wakes up…’
‘If he wakes up. And what are you doing visiting him? He all but blackmailed you to look after me. I’d have thought you’d had enough of him.’
‘He needs someone to be there.’
‘No,’ I say flatly. ‘He doesn’t. You know why? Because he’s in a coma, Beth. He doesn’t know what’s going on. Besides, he’s an old man. They’re probably better off pulling the plug.’
Matt stiffens but Beth is unfazed. She steps over and peers into my face. ‘You don’t mean that,’ she says decisively.
‘Yes, I do.’
‘You’re hurting, I understand that. But you can’t keep pushing everyone away.’
‘Watch me.’ I spin on my heel and start walking away.
‘Do it,’ I hear her mutter.
‘Beth…’
Her tone brooks no argument. ‘Do it.’
Matt clears his throat and calls after me. ‘Kimchi is your dog.’ His voice is filled with reluctance. ‘I can’t look after him any more.’
I slowly turn. My gaze drifts down. Kimchi is looking at me with an expression that can only be described as doggy adoration. I curl up my fists. ‘I’ll pay you.’
Beth doesn’t give him time to answer. ‘It’s not a question of money,’ she says, immediately stepping in. ‘Matt lives at the Montserrat mansion. Some of the new recruits are allergic. You have to take him.’
‘So give him to Arzo,’ I snap. Then I pause. ‘What do you mean,’ I ask slowly, ‘new recruits?’ It’s too soon for Montserrat to be looking for newbies. A few of the older vampires have passed away but not enough to begin the whole process of recruiting again.
Beth frowns. ‘I thought you knew.’
‘Obviously I don’t. What’s going on?’
She exchanges looks with Matt. ‘It’s because of Medici.’
‘What is?’
Her eyes drop to the pavement. ‘It’s the only way.’
A tendril of unease snakes through me. ‘Go on.’
‘Maybe I’ve said enough. If Lord Montserrat didn’t say anything…’
‘Screw Lord Montserrat. What the hell is going on?’
‘Ask him.’
I look at Matt. ‘Tell me,’ I order.
He glances helplessly at Beth. She gives a minute shake of her head.
‘What?’ I scoff. ‘You think I’m going to run to Medici and give away all your secrets? It can’t be that big a deal. Tell me, Matt.’
‘It doesn’t work any more, Bo,’ Beth interjects.
I stare at Matt’s face. ‘O’Shea’s spell? It really has worn off after all?’
They both nod. I sigh. I should be happy. We’d been told that there was no hope for Matt. The enhancement spell which O’Shea created, and which Nicky stole to manipulate all the male vampires into doing her bidding, had messed with his mind, leaving him unable to refuse any direct order. He also seemed to have lost a ton of IQ points in the process although, admittedly, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box beforehand. He’s obviously still doing whatever Beth tells him to do, bespelled or not.
‘The others? The other vampires who were affected?’
‘We don’t know. They’re all in other Families.’
‘So? I assume that Montserrat is still working with Gully, Stuart and Bancroft. Just get Michael to bloody ask them.’ She looks at me. I blow air out through my cheeks. ‘He doesn’t know, does he? Your Lord Montserrat doesn’t know that Matt has beaten the spell. Well, well, well. You’re breaking ranks.’
Matt steps forward. ‘No, we’re not. We just want to keep it quiet for a while. We thought it might help you.’
I shake my head. ‘I don’t see how.’
‘Bo…’
‘You’re supposed to tell him, that’s how the Family hierarchy works. I’m not in the Family. You need to leave me out of it.’
Matt tries again. ‘Bo, everything’s going to shit. We really do need you.’
‘Find another sucker.’
‘W
hat about Kimchi?’
The dog takes that moment to whine. They must have stood on his tail or something. I look at him. His previous owners all but abandoned him and I hated them for it – but I’m no longer that person. I don’t have room in my life for a pet.
Kimchi whines again. Fucking hell. I pat my thigh. ‘Come here, boy.’
He requires nothing more. Beth drops the lead and Kimchi bounds towards me again. I receive another lathering from his tongue. I stand up while he paws me for more. ‘What is that?’ I ask, pointing downwards.
Matt shifts his feet. ‘It’s, um, a washing line. I lost his lead and the pet shop was closed.’
The Montserrat Family outsources all its laundry so Matt must have stolen it from someone’s garden. I roll my eyes and pick it up. It’s a good job I’m not worried about my street cred.
I jab a finger at them both. ‘Stay the hell away from me. I like you both and you’ve done nothing wrong, but I don’t need or want any friends.’ I force a smile. ‘It’s me, not you. Got it?’
‘Okay, Bo,’ Matt says.
‘Beth?’
‘Whatever you say.’
I glare at her suspiciously. Short of tying the pair of them to the nearest lamp post, there’s not much else I can do. I sniff loudly and, with an ecstatic Kimchi in tow, march off.
Chapter Four: Legal Ease
I mutter loudly to Kimchi all the way down the street. He swings his head up at me from time to time as if he’s listening. I tell myself that he is.
‘You’re going to do what I say,’ I order. ‘There’s going to be no chewing of X’s pretty furnishings, no waking me up in the middle of the day because you want something to eat, no getting in my way when I’m working.’
Kimchi pants, tongue lolling.
‘And,’ I continue, ‘you’re going on a diet. It’s embarrassing to be with a dog with a belly as round as yours.’
His head dives in for another lick. I only just manage to pull away in time. ‘No licking either,’ I tell him. ‘Got all that?’
Kimchi halts next to a car and lifts his leg. Apparently that’s all the answer I’m going to get. I wait for him to finish, double-checking that neither Beth nor Matt are continuing to follow me, then tug on the silly washing line tied to his collar.
‘I’m a vigilante, Kimchi. I stalk the dark streets of London, ridding the city of evil and preventing crime. What I really need is a vicious attack dog. At least act like a Rottweiler even if you can’t be one.’
An old woman passes by us. She sees me chatting away and gives us a wide berth.
‘Maybe you’re good for something,’ I grunt, turning up the path towards the address I have for Lisa’s ex. There’s no doorbell this time so I rap loudly. I wait for a few minutes but there’s no answer. I knock again.
The net curtains to the house next door twitch but, other than that, there’s no response. I gnaw on the inside of my cheek and hop over the small fence. Adrian might not be home but his neighbour may be able to help me track him down. I have no desire to spend any more time in suburbia than is absolutely necessary.
I knock with a polite rat-a-tat. Nobody answers. I try again, a little more insistently. When there’s still no sound of someone coming to answer, my eyes narrow. Alison Johnson was keen enough to speak to me; maybe it’s just the residents of this street who are shy of visitors.
I flip open the letterbox. ‘Hello! Can I speak to you for a moment? I won’t take up much of your time.’
Silence answers me. I wasn’t imagining the movement; someone is definitely home. Kimchi waits patiently, the washing line trailing behind him. He may be able to pull off restraint but I can’t be arsed. I step back and launch a kick, slamming my foot into the centre of the door. I don’t use enough strength to break it down; it wouldn’t do me any good if I did as I can’t enter a residence without being given permission first. The loud noise and vibrations across the door frame will make sure I’m not ignored, though.
‘What do you want?’ a female voice calls out.
I bend down and open the letterbox, peering through. A woman is standing in the hallway. I squint to get a better look. She’s well dressed and pretty, although her shoulders are hunched. I’d put that down to my implied threat of violence if it weren’t for the harsh bruise across her cheekbone. When she sees me looking, she draws back so she’s out of sight.
‘I’m looking for your neighbour,’ I shout. ‘Adrian Leeman. It’s urgent that I speak to him. It’s about the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.’
‘He’s not in.’
Which is why I’m thumping on your door, love, I think. I manage to bite my tongue. ‘Do you know where he is?’
‘Out of town at some arts festival in the country. He’ll be back tomorrow. Now please go away or I’ll call the police.’
I stand up. I got the answer I wanted. I look over at Kimchi and he wags his tail. ‘Let’s hang around here for a little longer,’ I say to him. ‘Just in case someone else decides to show up.’
I pull back from the doorway and return to Leeman’s door. I sit down on the front step and wait. I’ll give it an hour.
In the end, it’s less than half that time. A gleaming car pulls up outside and a middle-aged man walks out, car keys still in his hand. I get to my feet and wave to him. ‘Excuse me?’
He glances over. ‘Yes?’
I smile prettily and get closer. ‘I’m looking for Adrian. Have you seen him?’
‘He’s away for the next few days.’ The man might be well dressed but there’s a strong whiff of alcohol. I tut to myself. Drinking and driving. He peers at me. ‘You’re that vampire. The famous one.’
I give him a curtsey. ‘At your service.’
He grunts. ‘It’s about time someone did something about all the crime in this city.’ He jerks his head at Adrian’s door. ‘I’m not surprised he’s mixed up in something dodgy. I always had my suspicions about him.’
My eyes drift down. His knuckles are slightly bruised. ‘You’ve hurt yourself,’ I comment.
He moves his hands behind his back. ‘It’s nothing. I tripped and fell the other day.’
I cock my head. ‘If you tripped and fell then your palms would be bruised, not your knuckles.’
His face takes on an ugly cast. ‘What are you suggesting?’ I look over at his house then back at him. He snarls. ‘Whatever she told you, she’s lying.’
I lick my lips. ‘Is she now?’
‘She’s depressed,’ he starts to blunder. ‘She makes up stuff.’
I’m tired of his talking. I grab him by the lapels and heft him up into the air. He’s heavier than he looks so I let go. He flies into Adrian Leeman’s door, his head crashing against it with what sounds like a painful thump.
‘Oops.’ I step over to him and bend down. ‘I’m so sorry. Did that hurt?’
He groans. ‘What the fuck are you doing?’
I sidle backwards and kick him in the groin, not hard enough to maim him but enough to make sure he’s limping for a good few days. He doubles up. I sidle round once more and grab the tuft of hair at his forehead.
‘Eww. This is pretty greasy. You should wash your hair more often,’ I tell him. Then I slam the base of my palm into his cheek, at the exact spot where he hit his own wife. ‘You know what I’m going to say, right?’
‘Fuck off.’
I roll my eyes. This guy just doesn’t know when to quit. I lean down further until my breath is against his jugular. My fangs scrape his skin, nipping until there’s a bead of blood. I flick out my tongue and lick. Ugh. Too much alcohol in his bloodstream and it’s not even good alcohol. If I were guessing, I’d say he’s been chugging down cheap rum. Perhaps nasty pirate brew is the preferred tipple of wife beaters these days. Who am I to know?
‘Okay, okay! I won’t touch her again!’ he wheezes.
I lick again. ‘The trouble is,’ I say, ‘I’m not sure I believe you.’
‘I’m not lying.’
The do
or flies open. His wife is standing there. She actually has a rolling pin in one hand and a garlic bulb in the other. ‘Leave him alone!’
I straighten up. ‘You don’t mind that he beats you up?’ I enquire. ‘Punches your face because you burnt his dinner?’
‘He’s not doing that! He’s not doing anything wrong. He’s not a bad person! Unlike you.’ There’s an unmistakable sneer. ‘You’re a freak who should be put down!’
I raise my eyebrows. That’s rather melodramatic. Kimchi, still hanging at one side, starts to growl. I hush him and clutch my heart. ‘Words can hurt, you know. You’ve wounded me to my soul.’ My lips curve upwards.
She blanches but still holds her ground. If she weren’t defending her domestic abuser I’d be impressed. Whatever. I glance down at her husband. ‘Hit her again,’ I say very clearly, ‘and I’ll drain every last drop of blood you have.’ I look back at her. ‘And if you try to stop me, I’ll do the same to you just for getting in my way.’
I call Kimchi to my side. His body is still rigid with tension but at least the growling has subsided. The wife beater’s car keys are lying on the pavement where he dropped them. I pick them up. ‘You can collect your car from Brewer Street police station tomorrow,’ I tell him.
It’s close to where my new flat is without being so near it’ll raise suspicion about my address. Not to mention that an awkward conversation with the police about why it’s illegally parked in front of their station in the first place will do him good. More than anything though, ‘borrowing’ his car will save me a heap of time.
***
If I’d thought that there would be some lingering trace of X which would make Kimchi nervous about entering new territory, I was sorely mistaken. He rushes into the apartment with a delighted yip before I even step across the threshold. There is a loud screech of fear. Either he’s located the pizza or Maria doesn’t like dogs.
I pad in, trying not to look too amused when I see her on top of the kitchen table. Kimchi is circling round it in delight. He thinks he’s made a new friend who’s playing a fun game. She thinks she’s about to be eaten. I’m tempted to leave them to it – until I spot the dribble of urine. Shit. She really is terrified.