Donovan Grant seemed to fit in nicely with his club. He looked mid-twenties, handsome, carefully groomed, and dressed in a black silk shirt and black jeans which probably cost more to buy than Mike made in a week. He looked up and the frown he had been about to offer became a broad grin. ‘Dione… Hey… What brings the Hunter to my little patch of heaven?’
‘Information gathering, Donovan,’ Dione replied. ‘This is my new partner, Michael Williams.’
Donovan barely gave Mike a glance. ‘Yeah, I got the memo. What d’you need?’
‘A list of transients through your doors in the past two weeks.’
‘Someone been naughty?’
‘You ever known me to turn up to present someone with a prize for model citizenship, Donovan?’
Donovan turned to his computer and began to type. ‘Have it for you in a second.’
‘Maybe we should set up a good citizenship award,’ Mike said while Donovan worked. ‘You know, prize for escorting old vampires across the road, good fang technique… supporting blood drives.’
‘I’ll put it in front of the Concilium,’ Dione said, deadpan.
‘You don’t think they’d go for it?’
Dione pursed her lips as a laser printer began to hum. ‘Worryingly, some of them might.’
‘Coming through,’ Donovan said. ‘You’ve got Christmas in that list, so it’s not short. Most of them definitely moved on though. So why don’t I see you in the club, Dione? Come on, share some around, right?’
Pulling the sheets of paper from the printer, Dione flashed Donovan a smile. ‘You know how it is. How would it look if I was frequenting another club than the one I own part of? It’s nothing personal.’
‘Sure…’
Mike waited until they were heading back up the stairs before asking, ‘You don’t really stay away because you own part of the Candle, right?’
‘Uh… no.’
‘Did he watch Saturday Night Fever like a million times or something?’
‘Donovan was in that movie. Just an extra, but he’s never got over it. And he only updates his image about once a century anyway. He’s okay, but he tries it on every time I’m here. You being here calmed him down. Now, we get that list to Mary and she runs the names.’
‘Can’t he just use a different name? I doubt John Dover is going to be on here.’
‘We’re not looking for specific names. We’re looking for a valentine who didn’t leave. But…’
‘He probably didn’t come here anyway. We’re just making sure all the tick boxes are covered.’
‘Yes. Tomorrow I’ll brief the Concilium. I’m going to ask permission to go down to L.A. Both of us. We’ll talk to the cops who covered this last year. Them, and the L.A. Hunter. I’ll have to play kiss-ass with the Concilium down there too…’
‘Sounds like a barrel of fun. I’ll pack my sunglasses.’
17th February.
The portraits of past Conciliarum seemed to look down in judgement from their places around the walls of the Victorian drawing room the New York Concilium used for meetings. Dione had never really paid much attention to those disapproving looks: not one of them had lived as long as she had and their opinions were certainly no longer a concern now that they were, mostly, ended.
The opinions which did matter were those of the nine individuals arrayed before her in high-backed leather chairs, though Dione considered only one or two of those as being really important.
‘You consider this man a serious threat to the secret?’ George Nailer asked. Despite being well into his fourth century of unlife, Nailer appeared to be a handsome, fit young man with sandy-blonde hair and the startlingly blue eyes which were not uncommon in carpathians. He had got where he was because the richer vampires in the Hamptons set had pushed him there.
‘If the police catch him, he could be,’ Dione replied. ‘Here, in New York, the Agreement will help us disguise his nature, but if he gets away from us here and moves on to another region… L.A. managed to keep a lid on things, but that was partially because he was never caught. I want him stopped now, here, before human involvement becomes an issue. And besides that, he’s killing women because he likes it. That’s enough reason to end him.’
‘Damn right,’ Leo growled. The big, black-skinned vampire was the youngest in the room, but that had not stopped him becoming the Princeps, the leader of the Concilium, because he was good at it. He ran two business empires, one of them illegal, and vampire society in the New York region and had more personal power than any of the others. And he was one of Dione’s oldest friends. ‘You’ll have any resources you need to track this one down, Dione. We do not need the press associated with a vampire serial killer. Especially following the Apollo incidents.’
‘Social media still has some buzz about that,’ Yvonne Shannon said in her Irish-accented tones. ‘Mary has done a good job of tamping down the fires, but we’re still seeing some noise. This murderer coming to light would make things difficult.’ Yvonne ran an advertising company, as well as keeping the books for the Concilium, and her finger was generally on the pulse of public opinion.
‘Perhaps my task force could be temporarily reassigned to searching out–’ Randall Cartwright began, and was cut off.
‘No,’ Dione said. ‘I’ve been hearing a number of things about the tactics your task force is employing to root out Societas members and we don’t need that kind of thing happening to valentines.’
‘They are just–’
‘So have I,’ Leo said. ‘Curb them, Randall, or they’ll be disbanded. The exercise is already of dubious benefit without alienating the loyal transylvanians and driving them into Veld’s arms. You believe going to L.A. is the best way to look into the murders there, Di?’
‘Personal interviews are always better than dry reports,’ Dione replied. ‘I’m not just looking to top up my tan.’
‘I’ll contact the Princeps in L.A. and let them know you’re coming. You know you’ll need to talk to them, of course.’
‘Not an issue. Catherine and I go back… quite a way.’
‘Ah, of course.’
‘Mary’s taking care of the LAPD liaison. If you’re happy with us going, me and Mike will fly out tonight.’
‘Go,’ Leo said, ‘and let’s hope this bastard doesn’t do anything else while you’re gone.’
Airborne, Westbound.
‘Leeanne was a little grumpy,’ Mike commented.
Dione took a sip of the glass of wine she was nursing. ‘Oh?’
‘Yeah, but I think it was mostly because she couldn’t come. I mean, business-class seats to L.A., where it’s warm.’
‘Well, next time we have to go spend time in a dimly lit room going over crime reports, I’ll send the two of you instead. Hopefully by then she’ll be with SCU. One case like this a year is quite enough.’
‘Huh, knowing my luck, the next one will be in Nome, Alaska.’
‘Not impossible. Not a lot of daylight up there in winter. Transylvanians find it quite liberating. Of course, they hate the summer.’
‘Yeah…’ Mike frowned and then perked up. ‘Hey, you know that business about people being abducted by aliens up there? You don’t think–’
‘Oh, probably. One or two of them anyway, but I doubt it’s many of them. Have you seen that place? Lots of ways to die in the cold there and very few of them are vampires. The population’s too small to support many of us. There’s no Concilium for the region. I’d be surprised if anyone lived up there permanently.’ Dione shrugged. ‘I guess you could do it if you were straight. It’s mostly transients hiding out for a while before they pick up a new identity.’
There was silence for a few seconds and then Mike said, ‘You know, I should be thanking you for this.’
‘Dragging you across a continent?’
‘Working on a serial killer case. Someone my age and experience wouldn’t normally see much aside from the extreme periphery of a case like this, and here I am, right in the middle.
’
‘Well, we should make a good team. You’ve got the youth and imagination, and I have the experience. Oh so much experience.’
‘Twenty-five centuries will do that. You’ve been to L.A. before, I take it?’
‘Once or twice. You?’
Mike laughed. ‘Furthest I’ve ever been from New York is Boston.’
‘Ah. Well, try not to fall asleep. Your body will think it’s about two thirty in the morning when we get there, but it’ll be eleven thirty. If you make the adjustment this way, you won’t notice it as much tomorrow.’
‘Okay.’
‘Going back is worse. And if we ever have to go to Europe…’
‘Huh. You only sleep four hours a night anyway.’
‘So? You’re a cop, so you should be used to weird hours.’ Dione flashed Mike a grin. ‘And with where we’re staying, all the hours are likely to be weird.’
Beverly Hills, CA, 18th February.
Mike sat in the back of a huge, black limousine feeling tired and bemused. The latter emotion might have been something to do with the former: he had a feeling that things would have been easier to take in if his brain was running on something other than coffee fumes.
They had been met at the arrivals gate by a pretty blonde girl wearing a grey suit, with a black tie and high-heeled Mary Janes, and holding a sign which said ‘Hunter & Williams.’ She had seemed to recognise Dione as soon as she saw her, waving her sign enthusiastically, and had introduced herself as Ruth. Ruth had taken them out to the limo and was now in the front, driving.
Mike had expected them to head into central L.A., but instead the car had continued north and then started winding its way along Sunset Boulevard. UCLA went by and Mike had a vague feeling that Leeanne was going to be annoyed he had not thought to take pictures. Well, he had several days, he figured, and had then thought to send an SMS saying he had arrived safely. That was assuming they were not being kidnapped, of course.
‘You know the driver?’ Mike asked. ‘She seemed to recognise you.’
‘Never met her before, but Catherine said she would have us met by someone called Ruth.’
‘Catherine’s the Princeps around here, right?’
‘Yes. I have met her before, a number of times.’
‘And she lives in Beverly Hills?’
‘She’s in movies. Casting, to be exact, though it’s more of a hobby.’
Soon they were twisting up into the hills and Mike found himself looking back to catch glimpses of the lights of the city between the buildings. And then they found themselves driving through a massive, metal gate and into a car port set beside a sort of modernised hacienda-style house perched on the side of a hill. Mike started to get up, but Dione held up a hand to stop him, a half-smile playing over her lips.
The door closest to the house opened and Dione slipped out. Mike followed, finding Ruth standing to attention beside the door and trying really hard not to grin. So the Princeps was putting on a little show and Dione was happy to oblige. Mike turned his head to see where the Princeps had got to… and found himself looking at Dione French kissing a redhead.
Mike presumed that this was Catherine. She was not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen – she was locking lips with Dione – but she was certainly very attractive. She was wearing a loose shirt and tight jeans, and heeled sandals. The shirt was translucent enough to show a trim, fit body beneath it with a respectable, though not huge, bust which seemed very firm. She had very long legs, though Mike figured that, without the heels, she was easily three inches shy of Dione’s statuesque six feet. Catherine was a little more masculine than Dione too, with quite angular features and a slightly cleft chin, but she did have quite a pretty nose and a wide mouth with full lips. Her hair fell to the middle of her back in copper waves and, when she finally broke away from Dione and looked toward Mike, he saw that she had vibrantly green eyes.
‘Mike,’ Dione said, ‘I’d like you to meet Catherine, Princeps of the Los Angeles Concilium. Catherine, this is Mike Williams, my new partner.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Catherine said, holding out her hand, ‘I don’t greet everyone like that.’
Mike took Catherine’s hand and he felt the warmth. ‘Hello. You’re a succubus?’
Catherine smiled. ‘This is a bright one, Di.’
‘I am rather proud of him for spotting that,’ Dione said. ‘How did you know?’
‘Uh, well, she’s a vampire. Um, your skin is a little warmer than human and I could feel more vampire than just Di when I got out of the car.’
‘And a sensitive,’ Catherine said.
‘And, pardon me for the crudity, your breasts are unnaturally firm, your legs are very long, and those are the kind of alterations the succubus strain of the virus makes.’
‘Well reasoned. Yes, I’m a succubus. Not as old as Di, but I’ve been around a while. Now, it’s late and I’d imagine you’ve got an early start tomorrow.’
‘We’ll get Mike to bed,’ Dione said. ‘I could stand a drink before I turn in.’
Catherine smiled. ‘Good. Mike, Ruth will show you to your room and if you need anything’ – she gave him a direct look – ‘anything at all, she’s available.’
‘Mike is happily unmarried to his girlfriend,’ Dione pointed out, and Ruth pouted.
~~~
‘I admit I was a little surprised to get your request,’ Catherine said. They had settled in a lounge with a view looking out over the city with a glass of whiskey each and the lights out. Succubi were used to moonlight and the fire burning at one side of the room provided perfectly adequate illumination.
‘Oh? A little surprised is… specific.’
‘Addison is quite adamant that the Valentine Killer was ended. He assured us that his information was good and that the man was caught and executed.’
‘But?’
‘But I had my doubts. It seemed too… convenient. The valentine they executed showed no indication of aberrant behaviour prior to the claims that he was responsible.’
Dione shrugged. ‘A lot of serial killers seem quite normal to those around them.’
‘You’d know more about that than me. It just seemed unlikely. If this is the same man in New York, someone is going to have some explaining to do.’
‘Does that mean I’ve walked into politics?’ Dione looked across at her friend and grimaced.
‘Possibly. If you uncover anything, let me know and I’ll deal with it. I’m quite sure you can handle anything direct which comes at you.’
‘Probably. How are things in this great metropolis?’
Catherine chuckled. ‘The usual. I don’t think it’s that much different to New York, just hotter, drier, and a little more laid back. I was sorry to hear about Kate.’
‘Yeah, thanks.’
‘You and Mike…?’
‘It’s a working relationship. He gets the odd kiss, for health reasons. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of his relationship and you know it’s not wise for us to get involved with men.’
‘I know.’ There was a slight pause and then Catherine said, ‘You do have someone else? Someone to… Well, to replace the other side of your relationship with Kate.’
‘There’s someone. I think you’d like her. Blonde and pretty, vivacious, and a sensitive like Mike. I’m sharing her with Pat.’
Catherine laughed. ‘The girl must have stamina too.’
‘She’s… fit, yes. Ruth is your latest?’
‘She’s my PA and she assists me in a number of very personal matters, yes. She’s gorgeous, physically and mentally, a total freak in the sack, and she’s a damn good PA. However, she’s available to drive the two of you around and handle whatever you need while you’re here. Will you be needing a gift?’
Dione shook her head. ‘Not unless this trip turns out to be a lot more dangerous than I expected.’
~~~
Light flooded the room and Mike’s eyes flicked open. He groaned and then went through the ‘where am
I?’ moment before reality reasserted itself and he sat up.
‘Morning,’ Ruth said. Walking back from the window, she picked up a tray and continued on to the bed where she put the tray down over Mike’s lap and grinned at him. ‘You’ve an early start, so Catherine asked me to get you breakfast in bed.’
‘Uh, thanks.’
Ruth was a pixie-like girl: slim, fit, long in the leg, but not too tall. Her hair was an almost feather-like cap, a mix of golden and paler blonde. She had a small, cute sort of nose set amid wide cheekbones, quite large blue eyes, and a small mouth with quite full lips. Right now, she was wearing a large white shirt, unbuttoned to the navel, over a pair of bright pink bikini bottoms and no bra.
‘Everything okay? Need anything else?’
Mike’s eyes flicked up from the tray, over Ruth’s unbuttoned shirt to her face. ‘Uh, this should do fine.’
‘Cool. I need to get some clothes on. I’m driving you into town.’
‘Oh, okay.’
Ruth turned on her heel and strutted off toward the door. ‘And if you do change your mind about that other thing, just yell.’
Los Angeles, CA.
Detectives Grant and Espinosa seemed like solid enough cops, somewhat representative of the current demographics of the LAPD. Grant was a middle-aged white guy with sandy hair dotted with a little grey and hard blue-grey eyes who was, in all probability, trying his best to make lieutenant. Espinosa was a Hispanic in his late twenties, brown hair and eyes, and he had a tendency to smile a lot. Right now, Espinosa’s smile was a little puzzled, which matched the bemused look on Grant’s face.
‘What exactly does the Specialist Crimes Unit do?’ Grant asked.
‘We handle the weird stuff,’ Dione replied.
‘Weird stuff…’
‘Crimes with an unusually aberrant psychological background, mostly, but also things that involve a scientific basis which isn’t in the normal range the police deal with, or anything that appears to involve the supernatural.’
‘The last two big cases,’ Mike said, ‘were the Harlem Vampire murders and the Apollo narcotic incident.’
Be My Valentine Page 3