“Exactly the same,” assured Dodie. She turned to Madison, who nodded in agreement. “Why?”
Stacie resumed her place at the table. “Where’s Colin? Does he know about the brand?”
“We’re not sure of his whereabouts right now,” responded Samuel. “Since our last conference call, he has not been heard from.”
“It’s no wonder,” Stacie snarled.
It was well known that Stacie Neroni and Colin Reddy did not like each other. Madison had once been told by Pauline that it was because of a friend of theirs who had died. She’d once asked Colin about it, but he’d never answered and had instead grown more sullen as the evening wore on.
“Colin has a brand exactly like that.”
Every head turned Stacie’s way, both vampire and beater, but it was Samuel who broke the silence. “Are you sure, Stacie?”
“Yes, I saw it once when he had his shirt off. It was a long time ago, but I’m sure it’s the same mark.”
At the idea of the sexy Colin shirtless, Kate cast an arched brow Dodie’s way. Dodie fought to suppress a grin. Stacie saw the exchange.
“Oh, get over yourselves, you two old biddies,” Stacie growled. “It was when Colin, Julie, and I were in Mexico years ago and went swimming.”
The table went silent as a grave, or as silent as a group of people standing over a fresh grave. Dodie and Kate both had their heads down, whether in embarrassment or from the chastising, Madison couldn’t tell. Even the men were looking elsewhere, anywhere but at Stacie, including Notchey. Madison looked at each one of them, her internal radar humming as she tried to get a feel for the reason. Usually lively, the meeting had taken on the same air of discomfort as when someone tells a particularly bad or inappropriate joke.
“What about the brand?” asked Notchey, turning to Madison. “What did he say when you saw it?”
Madison didn’t care for Notchey’s tone or implication. He had a mean streak that came out from time to time, and his question had been underlined with spite. Madison was sure he hadn’t made a mistake, that the question had been meant for her.
“It was Stacie, not me,” she reminded him, “who said she’d seen the brand. I’ve never seen Colin with his shirt off, back or front.” She stared at Notchey, asking him with her eyes what in the hell he thought he was doing.
“Well,” said Samuel, once more breaking the awkward silence with diplomacy, “as soon as someone hears from Colin, let him know I’d like to speak to him. If he knew anything, he should have mentioned it during our conference call. Meanwhile, I want full surveillance on this house day and night. If there’s a third body on its way, we’re going to be there waiting. Madison, I want you and Pauline doing day watch. The Dedhams will watch all night.”
“Absolutely, Samuel,” Doug agreed. “We can’t have this happening again, no matter who is at the root of it.”
Samuel nodded confirmation at Doug and continued with his instructions. “Before you and Dodie go to bed, I want you to wake up Madison and make sure she’s on the job. I’ll also send Hyun over before dawn, just in case. He can also fill in when Madison’s at school. I don’t want that back yard unguarded for a moment.”
Samuel turned to Mike Notchey. “The information you gave us on Keleta was most helpful; thank you. At least we know he’s no more than eighteen months old as a vampire, if that. And we know where he met the woman who kidnapped him. I’m going straight over to Byron and Ricky’s tonight to question the boy further about it.”
The meeting was about to adjourn when the front door opened. Every head turned to see who came in, half expecting it to be Hyun with a message for Samuel. Instead, it was Colin, standing tall, dark, and handsome in the doorway. He was dressed in his usual black shirt and pants and black leather jacket. His swarthy face was set in stone, and his thick, black hair was windblown. He looked at the gathering with a stony face, offering no greeting or explanation.
Behind him was a gorgeous and very shapely woman with long, wavy red hair. She wore an elegant knit pantsuit the color of copper. Thick gold baubles adorned her neck and ears. Coming around Colin, she entered the room with cocky confidence. Spotting Doug Dedham, she flashed him a wide, perfect smile, but when her sapphire eyes met Dodie’s, the smile turned to a smirk. Dodie started to rise to say something, but Doug put a hand on her arm to stop her.
“Annabelle.” Doug’s voice was a whispered mixture of surprise and wariness.
The woman stepped up to the dining table and placed her designer handbag on it as casually as if she did it every day. Samuel rose at the head of the table and studied her, letting her know he was in charge and she was on his turf.
Annabelle Fogle met Samuel’s powerful gaze with a slight but superior smile, letting him know in return that he wasn’t the boss of her. “You must be the famous Samuel La Croix I’ve heard so much about.” Her voice was as cold and sparkly as a diamond.
Samuel gave up a tiny, tight-lipped smile of his own. “And you must be the infamous Annabelle Fogle.”
The two studied each other like opponents at a gunfight, each waiting for the other to twitch first. The room went silent once again.
With a slight sigh of surrender, Annabelle relaxed. “Actually, the name’s Ann now. Ann Hayes.”
SEVEN
H
ayes?” Doug spoke next, his voice swollen with anger and surprise. “You took my name?” He had risen to stand next to Dodie’s chair.
Ann Hayes tossed her glossy hair. “Well, darling, it’s not like you were using it anymore. Besides, I wanted something to remember you by.” She rolled her stunning eyes. “Thank goodness your name wasn’t Dedham at the time. What were you thinking, naming yourself after a town in Massachusetts? I would have thought you’d have more creativity than that.” She turned her eyes on Dodie. “Or at least you did when we were together.”
Dodie shot to her feet and bared her fangs. “How dare you disrespect me in my own home.”
Doug placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders and tightened his grip. Everyone at the table was out of their seats, standing at alert.
“Oh, that’s right.” Ann moved to stand in front of Dodie but remained out of reach. “I’d heard Doug gave you eternal life as a wedding present. How romantic.” Ann sneered at Dodie. “Just remember, you mousy old housefrau, who gave it to him.”
With their speed overwhelming Dodie’s strength, both Colin and Doug held Dodie back from attacking Ann. But the usually nurturing Dodie continued to snarl at her opponent like a mad, bloodthirsty dog. Madison watched, fascinated yet pale with fright. Without her realizing it, Mike had put an arm around her waist and was slowly drawing her back, away from the table and out of the fray.
Kate’s fangs were out, ready to defend Dodie’s honor, while Eddie and Stacie had come behind Ann, ready to step in and break apart the fight. The air was thick and fetid, like bad breath in a confined space.
“Enough!” Samuel’s baritone roar filled every crack and crevice of the room with its menacing authority.
Everyone froze, even Ann Hayes. Madison felt warm urine dampen her panties.
“Dodie, sit down,” the head vampire commanded. Dodie hesitated, but with a final growl aimed at Ann, she obeyed. Doug stayed behind her, keeping his hands on both of her shoulders like a safety harness.
Samuel turned his milky eyes toward Ann Hayes. “Ms. Hayes, you are a guest here. Remember that and behave accordingly.” He indicated the seat at the end opposite him. “Sit there. We have questions we’d like to ask.”
Ann looked ready to challenge Samuel’s authority to ask her anything, but one glance at the dark figure changed her mind. He’d tolerated her bravado earlier, but it was clear he would not any longer. She’d heard enough about Samuel La Croix to know that he meant what he said and expected nothing less than cooperation. Raising her elegant chin in her only show of defiance, she took the seat at the opposite end of the table.
“Call me Ann, please.” She mustered a sweet smile
with Samuel as its target.
Samuel glanced at Colin. “Colin, take the seat next to Ms. Hayes.” He turned his eyes back to Ann as he spoke to Colin. “Restrain her if you must.” He looked around at the rest of the group. “Everyone, take your seats.”
After giving Dodie reassuring pats on her shoulders, Doug took his seat next to his wife.
With Colin and Ann added to the party, there were no more seats for Notchey and Madison at the table. Notchey brought two chairs out of the kitchen but set them back away from the table, where the two humans gladly retreated to watch the proceedings from a distance.
With the meeting under control again, Samuel got to the question on everyone’s mind. “Ann, did you try to kill Keleta Kibreab and dump him in the Dedhams’ pool?”
“Colletta who?”
Samuel opened the file in front of him. It was Notchey’s missing persons report on Keleta. In it was a copy of the photo given to the police by Keleta’s family upon his disappearance. Samuel retrieved the photo and pushed it down the table. Eddie Gonzales picked up the photo and handed it to Ann.
“Do you know that young man?” asked Samuel.
Ann studied the photo, then dropped it to the table in boredom. “He’s cute, but no.”
Samuel passed down a print of Doug’s sketch, the one of the morning’s dead vampire. “How about this man?”
Ann glanced at it briefly before dropping it to the table next to Keleta’s. “No.”
She turned to Colin, her face ablaze with anger. “Is this why you brought me here? To be interrogated like a common criminal? I thought you wanted my help.”
Colin looked at the sketch with surprise, then up at Samuel. “There was another?”
“Just this morning.” Samuel shook his head slowly. “But this one didn’t make it.”
Colin’s dark eyebrows met in the center of his forehead like a black hedge. He pushed both pictures back in front of Ann. “Just look at them and answer the questions.”
Glancing down at the pictures, Ann shrugged. “Why would I know these men?”
Doug leaned forward. “Because they both had your brand on their backs.”
Ann pursed her lips and studied the faces of the two men again before looking back up at Samuel. “Sorry, but you can hardly expect me to remember every man I’ve turned in the last thousand years.” She tossed an inviting smile at Doug Dedham, then turned and did the same to Colin. “Of course, some were more memorable than others.”
“You bitch,” hissed Dodie.
Madison’s eyes widened. She’d never heard Dodie swear, let alone participate in name-calling.
“Oh, come now, Mrs. Dedham.” Ann turned a saccharine smile on Dodie. “Just because you’ve probably never turned anyone doesn’t mean the rest of us are celibate in that regard.”
Dodie rose from her seat, fangs once more on display. Doug jumped up, ready to step in if needed.
“Order,” demanded Samuel, rapping his knuckles on the table. “Dodie, mind yourself, or I’ll have you leave the room.”
Without taking her eyes off Ann, Dodie put away her fangs and sat down. Doug resumed his seat but stayed alert.
Samuel directed his attention back to Ann. “I don’t know what Colin has told you, Ms. Hayes, but we are investigating the attempted murder of that young vampire.”
“Yes, I know. Colin told me. He was staked and dumped in a swimming pool.”
“Our swimming pool,” added Doug with emphasis.
Ann turned a plastic smile on Doug. “How interesting. And so you automatically think it’s some pathetic trick on my part to gain your attention? You’re cute, Doug, but not that cute. I’ve been over you for decades.”
Doug narrowed his eyes at Ann. “The last time we saw you, you tried to kill Dodie.”
Ann waved a manicured hand in the air. “Pish, posh. Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all.”
Dodie started to rise, but Samuel, clearing his throat, gave her second thoughts. She settled back into her seat.
The action amused Ann. “Seems Mr. La Croix has you all trained like little lap dogs. How sweet.”
Colin leaned in, his mouth close to Ann’s ear, but he didn’t bother lowering his voice. “Behave yourself, Ann. Killing another vampire in our jurisdiction is serious business.”
“Colin is quite right, Ms. Hayes.” Samuel stood back up at the head of the table. “We live a civilized life here, and these incidents are unacceptable. So just answer the questions.”
With a jerk of his chin, Samuel indicated the pictures again. “Keleta, the young one, was found nearly dead a few days ago in the Dedhams’ swimming pool. The other man was found dead this morning in the same place. Both vampires, both with what I understand is your personal brand at the small of their backs.”
“Sorry, but if they are my work, I don’t remember them.”
Samuel didn’t let up. “Keleta has been a vampire eighteen months or less. That should be recent enough to be memorable.”
Ann’s lips curled in smugness. “Then I know he’s not mine. I stopped branding about the time the Prince of Wales married Wallis Simpson.”
She looked at Colin, then at Doug. “And I’m surprised at the two of you, thinking I would be interested in men like these. This one.” She tapped Keleta’s photo. “He’s too young for my taste. This other.” She moved her finger to the unknown vampire. “He appears too rough and uncouth. I only keep company with men of refinement.” She turned her intense blue eyes on Samuel. “Someone like you, Mr. La Croix.”
Samuel didn’t take the bait. “Then how did your brand get on these vampires?”
“I honestly have no idea. Brands are easy enough to have made. Someone obviously is trying to set me up.”
“Anyone with a grudge against you come to mind?” asked Samuel.
“I’m sure there’s a long list,” added Dodie. Samuel shot her a look to not test his patience.
Samuel studied Ann Hayes, trying to read her. Although easy enough to do with humans, vampires were a different story. Sometimes he could get a bead on them, but most often they were able to easily block him. It depended on whether or not they threw up a firewall before he got inside their head. Ann’s thoughts were like Fort Knox—secure and guarded.
“I must tell you, Ms. Hayes, if this council decides to charge and try you for one count of murder and another of attempted murder, the consequences could be severe.”
Once again, Ann Hayes waved a dismissive hand. “And LA used to be such fun.”
EIGHT
W
hy am I here?” The question was tossed to Samuel by Madison.
“You are here to observe. Pay close attention to Keleta when he first meets Ann Hayes. Don’t take your eyes off of him. If she’s lying, the boy’s face will tell us. Beyond that, just keep your eyes and ears open.”
They were getting out of Samuel’s car. Hyun, Samuel’s new driver, was holding the door open to the black Mercedes sedan. Where Gordon, Samuel’s last driver, had been thick and beefy, Hyun, a Korean man in his mid-thirties, was more on the wiry side. He stood straight in his black suit as he held the door, but his eyes were constantly surveying his surroundings for any possible threat to his employer.
Hyun had pulled the car into the circular brick driveway of a lovely single-story home situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Beverly Hills. It was the hilly portion of Beverly Hills, not the flat section that was closer to the famous shops and restaurants. The street was steep, and Madison could see that the house was set against a small hill covered with rich vegetation. It was the home of Byron and Ricky, the gay couple who fostered abandoned vampires.
Before they got to the front door, Byron opened it and greeted them warmly. Just as they were entering, Colin’s Porsche pulled up to the curb. With him was Ann. Madison had been surprised that Samuel had not invited Ann to ride with them. When she had asked him about it, he’d simply said he needed time away from Ann to think about the problems she presented. He’d made
one call from his cell phone. It had been to Isabella, letting her know that Colin had located the former Annabelle Fogle, but asking her to keep snooping around for information on Ann Hayes. For the remainder of the trip from Topanga to Beverly Hills, Samuel had remained silent and unmoving, lost in his thoughts behind his sunglasses until the car came to a stop at its destination.
Byron and Ricky’s home was inviting and comfortable. Not huge and sprawling like Samuel’s villa or as coldly modern as Colin’s condo, it was more like the Dedham house in taste and warmth. Built-in bookshelves lined many of the walls and were filled with more books than Madison had ever seen outside of a library or a bookstore.
“Ricky took Keleta out shopping just before you called,” explained Byron as he showed them into the living room. “I called and let him know you were on your way. They should be back soon.”
Madison had first met Byron and his partner Ricky shortly after she’d gone to work for the council. Samuel had held a reception for her at his home for the purpose of introducing her to the core of the Los Angeles vampire community. Byron and Ricky were both in their forties, of average build, with brown hair and beards, though Byron’s hair and beard were threaded with gray. They looked more like brothers than lovers.
Madison sat on the large sectional sofa. Samuel stood by the sliders that led to the patio. When Ann and Colin came in, they both took seats on the sectional with Madison, though Ann sat on the far side from her. Colin seated himself between the two women and crossed one long leg over the other. He shot a quick glance at Madison, accompanied by a partial wink. Ann saw it and cleared her throat with displeasure.
Ann Hayes had paid Madison little to no mind at the Dedhams’. Now she studied Madison so closely, Madison could feel perspiration beading on her forehead.
“What’s she doing here?” Ann smoothed the front of her impeccable pantsuit like a monarch preparing for an audience.
Baited Blood (A Madison Rose Vampire Mystery) Page 6