Baited Blood (A Madison Rose Vampire Mystery)

by Sue Ann Jaffarian

  “But Gus said he was killed—shot because of me.”

  “He was shot,” explained Doug. “But he lived through it. After he got out of the hospital, my wife here nursed him back to health.”

  Libby looked up into Dodie’s face for confirmation. The older woman nodded, her face full of kindness. “He’s fine, Libby. And he’s been looking for you all these years. Even Samuel here has tried to help him.”

  Ignoring Hyun’s gun, Samuel moved from behind Madison and knelt in front of Libby. He took her hands gently in his own. “We’re going to take you to Mike, but first we need to know what Lady has planned.”

  Madison left and went back into the other room, where she retrieved a piece of folded paper from her bag. It was a printout of Julie Argudo’s photo. After dinner with Chuck and Joni, she’d done more research on the vampire database and had printed out the profile to show it to Samuel. She’d brought the photo today to show Libby.

  “Is this Lady?” Madison unfolded the paper and showed it to Libby.

  Libby studied it a long while before answering. “It looks sort of like her, but it’s not. That’s Julie.”

  Samuel squeezed Libby’s hands. “How do you know Julie Argudo?”

  “I … I worked for her for a short time, right after Gus died. Not as a consort but as a maid. When she died, King Leopold hired me as a consort for his court. The pay was much better.”

  “Are you sure Julie’s dead?” Doug asked.

  “Yes,” Libby answered, looking from Samuel to Doug. “I saw it happen.”

  Hyun put a hand on Libby’s shoulder. “You never told me this.”

  “It was before we met and something I wanted to forget.”

  “How did Julie die?” urged Doug.

  Everyone could tell Libby didn’t want to talk about it. Samuel stared into her eyes for several beats of her heart, then said, “It’s okay, Libby. We don’t need to know. She’s dead, and that’s it. It’s Lady we’re interested in now. Tell us, please, what name does she go by?”

  “We’re not allowed to speak it. She insists we call her Lady. She’s told us all if we ever tell people about her, she’ll kill our families.” Libby looked over at Hyun. “Or anyone we care about.”

  “Is that why Keleta won’t say anything?” Madison asked. “Because he’s afraid for his family?”

  “Yes. Lady tracked his family down and showed him photos to prove she knew where they were. I know because he once told me when we were together. She does that to all the new vampires and consorts to bind them to silence. But that’s no different than other vampires. You all hold our tongues with death threats of one kind or another.”

  It was true. As Madison stood in the motel room listening to Libby, she remembered being threatened with death if she betrayed the vampires. Threats from the very creatures she lived with, worked for, and almost made love to.

  Samuel asked, “Does Lady know about you and Hyun?”

  She shrugged, then winced from the bites. “I don’t know. He and I have been very careful about our relationship, both here and at Leopold’s, even before I was employed by Lady. But she could have spies. She’s never said anything to me about it, but I think she’s aware Hyun is your bodyguard.”

  Samuel scrunched his brows and kept his eyes on Libby. “How do you know that?”

  “Because of what I heard last night. It sounds like she’s been following you. If she has, she knows who your driver is.”

  “What else did you hear last night, Libby?” asked Samuel with intensity. “I know you heard something. Let’s start with what you heard about me.”

  Libby swallowed. “I was outside Lady’s room on my way to my assignment for the evening. I overheard her joking with Adam, one of her new favorites. She told Adam she was close to exposing you—that it would happen soon and that she’d be killing two birds with one stone. That’s exactly how she put it. She also said she was going to draw names to see which of the new vampires would die next.” She paused. “They both laughed. Adam’s as crazy as she is. He’s the one who did this to me.” She started sobbing. “He and a new guy named Coby.”

  The muscles in Hyun’s neck nearly popped from anger. He tried to intervene, but Samuel stopped him.

  “It’s okay, Libby, tell us.”

  Libby’s nose was running. Dodie dashed into the bathroom and returned with a wad of tissue. Libby blew her nose.

  “This morning,” Libby continued, “when most of the vampires were asleep, Adam came into my room and did this.” She indicated the hundreds of tiny bites. “He said it was like snacking on peanuts—once you started, it was hard to stop. Then he called in Coby and he joined in.”

  “Why didn’t you go to Lady?” Dodie asked. “Good vampires protect their mistresses and consorts.”

  Libby started choking on mucous. She coughed into the tissue, then said, “Lady watched.”

  Hyun stalked over to the common wall between the rooms and swung his fist, leaving a good-sized hole in the plaster. “Goddammit, Libby! You said Lady would never hurt her consorts. That’s the only reason I let you go back there yesterday.”

  Libby stared at Hyun with red, swollen eyes. They stood out from her pale face like the bloodstains on her bra. “I’m sorry, Hyun. But she’s never done anything like this before, I swear.”

  “Samuel,” interjected Dodie. “If this Lady person is following you or has spies on her consorts, then we need to get this girl out of here immediately. Plus, I need to attend to all of her injuries. I can’t do that here.”

  Samuel remained kneeling in front of Libby. “One last question—and the right answer will buy your safety, so think about it carefully before you respond.”

  Everyone in the room waited. Hyun once again went to Libby’s side. Placing a hand on her head, he bent and kissed the top of it. “Do the right thing, Lib. For all of us.”

  Samuel fixed his milky eyes on Libby’s once more. In a deep, clear voice, he asked, “What name does Lady go by?”

  Keeping her eyes fastened onto Samuel’s, Libby filled her lungs with air, then released it with a long, slow sigh of surrender and relief.

  “Julianne Jaz.”

  TWENTY-SIX

  T

  hat’s impossible.” Madison’s voice was shrill with doubt.

  Every face turned to Madison in surprise.

  “Do you know this Julianne, Madison?” It was Doug who asked.

  “Yes, and she does have red hair—light red hair. I met her on the trail where I run in the morning.”

  “Lady took up running about a month ago,” Libby told them. “Not sure why, because vampires don’t need to exercise to stay in shape. Sometimes she goes alone, and sometimes she takes one of the newer vampires with her. She claims it relaxes her.”

  “Very early in the morning?” asked Madison.

  “Yes, right about dawn. When she returns, she showers, sometimes feeds, then retires for the day. What happened with her and Adam happened right after they returned from a run this morning.”

  Madison smacked her forehead with a hand. “That’s where I know Duff from.” Everyone looked at her. “That last dead vampire,” she explained. “I thought he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Usually Julianne and her running partner wear baseball caps pulled down low.” She turned to Libby. “Did Duff sometimes run with Julianne?”

  “Yes, right up until a few days ago when he disappeared.”

  “Yeah,” Madison added, still annoyed that she hadn’t made the connection with Duff sooner. “She had a new guy with her on Friday morning.”

  Libby looked like she was ready to cry again. “That would have been Adam.”

  Madison looked at the vampires. “I sometimes run with Notchey. You think Julianne knows Libby is his sister?”

  Samuel stood up and ran a hand over his bald head. “Madison, she’s not monitoring Notchey, she’s monitoring you, and I think you realize that.”

  Madison did, but she didn’t want to believe it. She�
��d thought she’d finally made a friend, only to find out it was probably a setup. She fought the urge to vomit, remembering the morning Julianne had offered her a ride.

  “Makes sense,” added Doug. “If she’s watching any of us, she’ll know who you are. Sounds like she’s been watching us all. She certainly knew when to dump the bodies into our pool and when Stacie wasn’t home.”

  Samuel pulled out his cell phone and punched at the keys. “And she might even know where we’ve stashed Keleta and is looking to finish what she started.” As soon as the call was answered, Samuel left Byron and Ricky a voice mail telling them to take Keleta someplace safe as soon as possible and stay there until they heard from him.

  His concern gave Madison an idea. She moved over to Libby. “Did you ever meet a vampire by the name of Ann Hayes or Annabelle Fogle?”

  “I’ve seen Ms. Hayes a few times at Leopold’s. She was a close friend of his and visited often, but I’ve never officially met her. Lady spoke of her often, though.”

  The news sparked Samuel’s interest further. “So they’re friends?”

  “Hardly. They hate each other.”

  Doug, Dodie, and Madison shared a look of raised eyebrows.

  “Any idea why?” Madison probed.

  “Not firsthand. But the rumor is that Parker was with Ann Hayes before he took up with Lady, and that he’d been with Ann for a very long time.”

  Dodie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “And we all know how Ann feels about losing a man to another woman.”

  Samuel ignored the remark. Doug winked at his wife.

  “But what about these new vampires Lady has been creating?” Samuel asked Libby. “Do you know what they’re for?”

  She shook her head. “No, but they are all fairly new, and she’s not training them properly, except to fight. I have noticed that the newer ones seem rougher and more violent than those she’s turned before.”

  “Samuel,” said Dodie, “that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s sending them after us.”

  “No, it doesn’t, Dodie. But whatever their purpose, it can’t be good.”

  Samuel let his eyes rest on Libby again. “Libby, do you have a cell phone with you?”

  She nodded.

  “Good,” Samuel told her. “I want you to call Lady or someone at the castle and tell them you’re not coming back. Tell them after what happened this morning, you’re quitting, and you never want to see them again.”

  “I don’t!”

  “Then say that and let the tears flow. Tell them you’re leaving town, getting as far away from them as possible. If you don’t, they might come looking for you. I want you off their radar.”

  “But they might look for her anyway,” Hyun observed.

  “True, but then again, they may not, especially if Lady has stopped caring about her consorts and is about to kick into action a much bigger plan.”

  “But what about the other girls?” Libby asked. “I just can’t abandon them.”

  This time it was Hyun who knelt in front of Libby. “Sweetheart, you may have to.”

  Libby held out her arm toward her bag, which was on the table. Dodie dug through it, found the cell phone, and handed it to her. She hit a button and placed the call.

  “Heather?” she said into the phone. She looked down into her lap as she spoke. “It’s me, Libby.” Libby didn’t have to force the tears; they came naturally. “I need you to give Lady a message for me. Tell her I quit. After last night and this morning, I can’t work for her anymore. I’m done. After what she let Adam do to me…,” she sobbed. “I just can’t.” Libby wiped her nose with a tissue. “No, I’m not coming back, not even for my things. I’m on my way out of town. I’m starting over.” She paused again. “Heather, you should leave, too. You and the other girls. Get out before she lets them kill you. Remember Mary, that young girl from Oklahoma who disappeared? She didn’t run away from us like Lady claimed. Mary was murdered by Duff—that’s what happened to her. Get out now, Heather.”

  Samuel took the phone from Libby and snapped it shut. He smiled down at her. “Well done.”

  They left the motel, each with their marching orders direct from Samuel. Dodie had wanted to take Libby back to their home, but Samuel nixed that immediately. “If our homes are being watched, we’d be better off all together at my place. I have all the first-aid supplies you’ll need there. Plus, my estate has the fewest neighbors.”

  Samuel pulled back the drapes and looked out at the parking lot. “Thankfully, it will be dark soon, and the other council members will be getting up.” He took out his phone and started making calls. His first call was to Colin, telling him to not pick up Keleta but to meet at the villa before the party. He also told Colin to call him the minute he received the message.

  The message surprised Madison. “You’re not still thinking about us going to that party, are you?”

  “Where better to face Ann than in her lair, when she’s playing hostess and off-guard?” Besides, I need to go, and I want you with me at all times.” Samuel chucked Madison under her chin. “We’ll find you something special for tonight.”

  Doug was concerned. “You don’t think Julianne will be at that party, do you?”

  “On the contrary, I hope she is.” He turned again to Madison. “You’d recognize her, wouldn’t you?”

  Madison nodded, then tried to reason with Samuel. “But I know where the castle is. Why can’t we just raid it right now while they’re asleep?”

  “Because we’re exhausted, and you and Hyun can’t do it on your own. I don’t want any more innocent people hurt. Let’s find out more about this Julianne and her plans, then forge a plan of our own.” He caught Hyun’s eye. “Do you agree, Hyun?”

  “Yes, Mr. La Croix. We need to find out exactly how many are there and what their intent is, so we can strike efficiently.”

  Samuel turned to the Dedhams. “Is Pauline at your house?”

  “No,” Dodie answered. “She has both today and tomorrow off.”

  “Call her and tell her to take Monday off as well, just to be safe.” He hesitated, then added, “Call Stacie and Kate. Tell them all to get to my house immediately and to give any household help they might have off until Tuesday. I don’t want any of our associates in the way. Foster and Enid will stay with me. They have nowhere else to go.”

  “Kate and Jerry are touring museums in Europe right now,” Dodie told him. “They left yesterday.”

  “Even better.” Samuel stopped to think, then called Kai and left a message telling her with regret that their date for Sunday night had to be postponed and that he’d call her soon.

  “Give Eddie a call and alert him as well,” he said to Doug. “He should call Joni. I don’t think they’re in danger, but we can’t be too careful, especially with all that computer information Joni keeps. Isabella is out of the country.”

  When they left the motel, Hyun drove Libby’s car, and Madison followed in Hyun’s. They were to hide Libby’s car, then drive together to Samuel’s house. Dodie and Libby rode in the back seat of the rental. Doug drove, with Samuel riding shotgun. They were going first to the Dedham house to pick up a few days’ worth of clothing for themselves and Madison, then head to Samuel’s villa.

  Before they took off, Madison pulled Samuel aside. “What about Notchey? Shouldn’t we tell him about his sister?”

  “Call him and ask if he’ll drop by my home. Don’t tell him why, just convince him it’s important. I’d rather he be told there, with us around, than on the phone.”

  Madison made the call as soon as Libby’s car was safely out of the way and she and Hyun were on their way to Samuel’s, with Hyun driving.

  “Hey, Notchey, it’s me. I need a favor.”

  “Have you noticed that every time you call lately, you need something? A dead body in the pool. A ride to the airport. A ride from the airport. ‘Oh, wait, Notchey,’ ” he said, mimicking a ditzy, high-pitched woman’s voice, “ ‘I’ve changed my mind about the r
ide home. My bad.’ ” His voice returned to normal. “What do you think I am, some fucking taxi service with a wide-open schedule?”

  “Okay, I’m sorry I changed my mind about the ride back from the airport, but it was very important. And so is this.”

  “I’m listening. Make it good or I’m hanging up.”

  “Samuel needs you at his house as soon as possible.”

  “I’m a fucking LAPD cop, Madison, not some dead man’s errand boy.”

  “Please, Notchey. Just trust me on this. It’s a matter of life or death.”

  “Well, it must be your life, because they’re all dead.”

  “Seriously, Mike, it’s extremely important.”

  “Aw, shit. There you go calling me Mike again. Where are you?”

  “I’m with Hyun. We’re heading to Samuel’s.”

  “Must be important if the big guy’s covering you with his own bodyguard.” His tone was snide.

  “Quit being such a wise ass.” Madison felt tears start to swell. She took a deep breath, but her voice cracked. “We need you, Notchey. All of us.”

  “Did I just hear tears, or are they just as fake as the pot roast a few days ago?”

  Madison made one more effort. “When you find out what this is about, Notchey, you’re going to hate yourself.”

  “Too late for that, Madison. I already do.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  A

  s soon as they reached Samuel’s house, Madison made a beeline for the office and the computer.

  Dodie was attending to Libby, immersing her in a warm, soothing bath in one of the guest room whirlpool tubs to which she’d added soothing herbal essences. Shortly after examining Libby, Dodie had reported that the bites didn’t appear as bad as they looked but were excessive in number and obviously meant to torture the recipient. Enid was thrilled to pitch in and prepared something light and nourishing for Libby. The two older women fussed like a couple of old hens over the emotionally exhausted and abused woman.

  “While I admire your work ethic, Madison, I think you should relax a bit before we go out tonight.” It was Samuel. He’d come into the office, sitting down heavily on the leather sofa near the desk. He looked drained, his handsome brown face ashy. “Doug and I are going to grab a few hours of rest. Dodie will, too, as soon as she’s done with Libby. Vampire or not, I suggest you do the same.”