I capped the stain-buster stick. “Which is roughly when she would’ve started shifting.”
“Right. Kate even said the incidents only happened about once a month. The telling point is that she has a good bit of background on Lynn. It doesn’t match what you told me of Triton’s history exactly, but it’s close. Abandoned at about age three, taken by the state, placed with a first family, then with the Tidwells. Lynn’s conception might have been from a magical source, but nothing I uncovered indicates that she’s being manipulated.”
“Plus it would be a ridiculously long-term plan to create a mate for Triton twenty years ago. Is Lynn still in touch with Kate?”
“At least once a week. Kate confirmed Lynn attends community college part time and lives with roommates in a duplex. They just moved in, so Kate didn’t have Lynn’s address or directions to the new place.”
“No phone number, either?”
“A cell. I got the address through a contact and checked it out.”
“No wonder you’re looking so pleased with yourself. Was she home?”
He shook his head. “I struck out there. I can stake out her place, but I’d rather arrange a more casual meeting.”
“Casual like running into her on the sidewalk or inviting her for coffee?”
“If we can persuade Triton, I was thinking a double date. Would it bother you to go out with them?”
I tried to imagine dining with the silent young woman I’d met and came up blank. “Not if she has more conversation than she did last time we met. Have you heard how Triton’s doing?”
“Got a report from Cosmil this morning. He didn’t give me details about whatever mojo he and Lia did last night, but said Triton was resting and healing, and would be until tomorrow. He and Lia are keeping watch over him, and training is suspended until tomorrow night after your ghost tour.”
“Which means we should make our shopping run tonight before some new crisis crops up.”
“I’m game. Oh, and Lia passed on another message.”
“What?”
He crowded me against the washer. “That you and I are to keep practicing our energy exercises.”
“Now I wonder,” I said, looping my arms around his neck, “which kind of exercise she means.”
We put off our shopping trip to Walmart until after we’d exercised. And rested in each other’s arms. And exercised again. Hey, we were nothing if not willing students.
Besides, Walmart wasn’t as crowded at night.
The theme for Maggie’s Saturday afternoon bridal shower was Victorian High Tea. Okay, so it wouldn’t exactly be the highest of teas, not with me hosting it at the cottage. For starters, I didn’t have the floor space to seat all sixteen of us at tables. Instead, we’d sit on chairs, and I’d borrow extras from Maggie. Seating aside, I did have a few elegant touches planned.
Maggie was loaning me the double set of pink Depression glass grill plates, cups, and tumblers she’d inherited from her mother, and I’d bought pink cloth napkins woven with a white lace pattern to complement the dishes. I’d also purchased flatware in a Victorian pattern to use at the shower. True, the service for twelve was a reproduction in stainless steel, but it was lovely. Plus, I’d finagled six extra teaspoons and luncheon forks for the set. The flatware and napkins were my shower and wedding gifts to Maggie.
The florist was providing nosegays of miniature pink and white roses, and I’d ordered snack trays and teacakes from the caterer. The flowers and food would be delivered an hour before the party, and I’d serve two kinds of hot teas and have sweet and unsweetened cold tea on hand, too.
Now the couples shower on Sunday was to be way more casual. With twelve couples including Maggie, Neil, Saber, and me, there’d be seating in the den for those who wanted to watch football and seating under the tents for everyone else.
“Okay, we need plastic tablecloths and dinner napkins.”
“I have napkins, Cesca.”
“The big kind? Barbeque is messy.”
We moved up and down the aisles loading up with chips, condiments, soft drinks, and anything else we thought we’d need. As we doubled back to get picnic-sized salt and pepper shakers, I heard voices I recognized.
Two of them I welcomed hearing. The other one, not so much.
I motioned to Saber to follow me.
“Young man, you’ve followed us around for days. What do you want?”
Clarence Clarke spoke as Saber and I rounded the corner of the soup aisle. He and Melda were dressed much as they’d been at Triton’s. Senior chic.
Victor Gorman wore his usual redneck-ops outfit of black jeans, shirt, and sneakers, and sneered at Clarence.
“I’m waitin’ to catch you, and by damn, I will.”
“Catch us buying groceries?” Melda scoffed.
“We don’t want your kind in town.”
“Discriminating against retirees in Florida, Gorman?” I steered the cart straight for his knees but refrained from slamming it into him. “Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, how nice to see you. This is my friend, Deke Saber. Saber, I met the Clarkes on a ghost tour and again when they were out for a walk.”
Clarence and Saber shook hands. Melda smiled and winked at me.
Gorman glared at each of us, finally landing his beady-eyed gaze on me.
“So, you do know these two.”
“I just said I’d met them twice.”
“I’m tellin’ you, these are—” He stopped and looked around, then held curved index fingers to his mouth. “Vampires.”
Clarence leaned close to Saber. “Is he quite all there?”
“This is Victor Gorman, sir. He’s a member of the Covenant.”
“Is that like the Lions Club?” Melda asked, oh-so-sweetly.
Saber about lost it, so I answered. “No, ma’am, the Covenant is a group that watches vampires.”
Clarence scratched his head. “Watches them do what?”
Saber and I shrugged. Gorman ground his teeth.
“You’re gonna give yourselves away sometime, and I’ll be there.”
“Well, if you’re going to tag along,” Melda said, “you may as well help. Get that box of onion soup off the top shelf.”
“Oh, no, Mother. You know what onions do to my colon.”
“True. Shall we stick with the chicken noodle? Mr. Gorman, get that jumbo can of soup, if you please.”
Gorman strangled out a growl. “I ain’t your lackey.”
“Then I suggest you take yourself off, young man,” Clarence said. “You’re in our way.”
The elderly vampire locked Gorman in a stare-down, and I felt as much as saw a small, careful burst of “go” in Clarence’s eyes. Seconds later, when Gorman stomped off, I realized that Clarence had subtly enthralled Gorman to leave. Very cool and certainly not destructive. Point to Lia.
I smiled at Clarence and spoke softly. “I’m sorry I forgot to warn you about him, but that was masterful.”
“Not to worry,” Melda said with a pat on my arm. “We spotted him quickly and have led him all over town. I must give the man high marks for persistence, though.”
“Just don’t let down your guard,” Saber warned. “He’s made attempts on Cesca’s life.”
Clarence looked grave. “We shall be careful.”
“Cesca tells me you’re planning to open a bed-and-breakfast inn, Mr. Clarke. We may need to discuss that project.”
“Of course,” Clarence replied, “though we’re having a difficult go of it, finding the right property at the right price. Much as we like this area, we’re looking farther south and inland. But I’m keeping you from your shopping.”
He broke off and pulled a card from his sports jacket pocket. “We often house hunt at night, but call and we’ll be happy to receive you.”
Saber nodded his thanks, and the Clarke’s started down the aisle when I stopped them.
“If Gorman is following you everywhere, he’ll talk to your real estate agent. Does she know your natures?”
“And she bought it?”
Melda chortled. “Of course, dear. We’re old.”
The couple toddled off, and I turned to Saber.
“I’m beginning to wish I aged.”
“Why?”
“I have a feeling seniors get away with murder.”
We got out of the store with our party goods, but without a major purchase like the blender I had my eye on for Maggie. That baby did everything but turn into a butler and serve smoothies on a silver platter, but I restrained myself. With only a toy added to the cart for Snowball, we were out of there.
Saber’s huge refrigerator-freezer held all the food we bought with room left over. I did a little maintenance house cleaning while he checked on the hot tub to be sure his repair had taken. We wouldn’t be using the tub for the party. We wouldn’t have time since the gift opening was scheduled to coincide with the football game halftime. But, hey, I know better than to get between Saber and one of his projects.
The moon shone a silver sliver, the stars twinkled brightly, and the night was mellow. After arriving at my cottage at nine, Saber and Snowball played with her new toy while I checked my costumes for the next ghost tours to make sure they were clean.
At ten, we snuggled on the couch to watch the Cary Grant romantic comedy Father Goose on TV.
At 10:08 Saber’s cell phone rang.
A quick look at the readout, and Saber answered and activated the speaker.
“Mrs. Tidwell? Are you all right?”
“No, Mr. Saber, I’m not. I know this is a huge imposition, but Lynn is insisting I call. I told her about your visit when I spoke with her this afternoon, and an hour ago she came home very ill and terribly distraught. She won’t let me take her to the hospital. She only wants to see you. I’m at my wits’ end.”
Saber shot me a grim look, the same one I felt on my face.
“Mrs. Tidwell, Kate, what are Lynn’s symptoms?”
“Chills, mood swings, anxiety. Her breath smells foul. Is there a history of this kind of thing in her biological family?”
“I’d have to check, but I think I can help.”
“Oh, would you come tonight? I’m not just afraid for my daughter, Mr. Saber. I’m truly terrified.”
FIFTEEN
I shucked my shorts for jeans, threw a tan T-shirt over my bra-top camisole, and shoved my feet into sneakers. With food and water in Snowball’s bowls and the alarm shut off, Saber and I took off for Ormond Beach within five minutes of Kate Tidwell’s call.
“This could be a trap,” Saber had warned before we left.
“Nice try, but you know I’m coming along. If it will make you feel better, though, I’ll call Cosmil from the road. Tell him what’s up and have him peer into his crystal ball for signs of danger.”
“And if he says it’s a trap?”
“We go in stealth-mode, and I’ll have your back.”
“You watched too much NCIS while I was gone.”
Cosmil’s concern on the phone was palpable, but he saw nothing but danger to Lynn in his find-the-truth spell. Or whatever he called it. Maybe I’d be in training long enough to learn the lingo, maybe not.
We arrived at Kate Tidwell’s home forty minutes later. The modest home boasted lovely landscaping with uplighting on the magnolia trees flanking each side of the center front door. I had a moment to wonder if we should have gloves and masks before Saber pressed the doorbell.
Mrs. Tidwell answered so fast, I was sure she’d been on the lookout for us. Or rather for Saber. She barely glanced at me.
“Thank God you’re here,” she exclaimed when she threw open the door. “Lynn’s in her old bedroom.”
Kate limped slightly as she led the way past a formal living room to a den, and then into a hallway. Short and pleasantly plump, she wore a green knit pants outfit and off-white house shoes on her swollen feet. Her dark hair had gray streaks at the temples that were likely growing grayer by the minute.
At the open bedroom door, we all paused. Lynn sat on the edge of her bed, head down, arms wrapped around her stomach. Her cutoff jeans and pastel purple T-shirt seemed too big for her thin body, and her silver blond hair hung limp at her shoulders as she fretfully rocked and twitched and moaned.
“Lynn, here’s Mr. Saber. And—” She looked at me blankly.
“I’m Cesca, Mrs. Tidwell.”
Lynn head snapped up, dull blue green eyes darting from Saber to me.
“Why did you come?”
My heart went out to her. “To help.”
“You’re a vampire. You hate me.”
Behind me, Kate sucked in a breath. “I invited a vampire into my house?”
Saber jerked his head, projecting, Get her out of here.
“Mrs. Tidwell,” I said mildly as I took her elbow, “that thing about inviting a vampire into you home is pure fiction. Let’s go in the den while Saber talks with Lynn.”
“You can’t break in whenever you want?”
“I wouldn’t dream of breaking in to anyone’s home. Saber and I date, and since I was with him when you called, I came, too. He thought I could help.”
“If you’re here to help,” Kate said as her knees gave out, and she sank into a reclining chair, “why does Lynn think you hate her?”
I spread my hands. “It’s just a misunderstanding. Would you like some water, Mrs. Tidwell?”
She eyed me doubtfully then seemed to give up the fight. “Please. There are bottles in the refrigerator.”
The kitchen was open to the den, and I suspected that Kate watched my every move as I retrieved a cold bottle from the fridge and a napkin from the bar countertop.
“I’m sorry I’m a poor hostess tonight,” she said when I handed her the water. “What is your name again?”
“Cesca Marinelli, ma’am. I’m a ghost-tour guide in St. Augustine.”
Kate’s gaze narrowed, then she looked into space for a moment. “You worked with the police in the spring. You caught a killer.”
“I only helped.”
“And you say you date Mr. Saber?”
“Yes, ma’am. We met on that case.”
She cracked open the bottle top and took three healthy swallows, then nearly choked when Lynn cried out.
“Cesca,” Saber called. “Come here a minute.”
Eyes flooding with renewed panic, Kate started to rise, too, but I held up my hand. “It might be better if you stay here, Mrs. Tidwell. I promise Lynn is safe with us.”
The angst melted from Kate’s face in seconds, and she nodded. “Go on.”
I eased into the bedroom so as not to spook Lynn any further. Saber hunkered at her feet, crooning softly and reassuringly.
“Shhh. It’s okay. We’ll take care of you.” He glanced at me over his shoulder then patted Lynn’s knee. “I’ll be right back.”
Lynn fixed her gaze on the sea-colored striped bedspread, picked at it with stiff fingers. Saber motioned me farther down the hall.
“She has the rancid breath of Void infection, and she’s in a lot of pain. We need Cosmil to see her.”
“I’ll call and tell him we’re bringing in another patient.”
“The key is getting her there. She’s so traumatized with the illness, she’s scared to go with us.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Can you enthrall her? Make her feel safe enough to get her out of here?”
“I don’t know. Lia tried to teach me, but—”
Lightbulbs suddenly flashed in my head with 3-D pictures. I’d becalmed a raccoon with Lia. I’d becalmed Kate Tidwell just minutes ago. I’d enthralled Kate without intending to, but I’d done it all the same.
Okay, calming two agitated mothers was vastly different than enthralling a half-crazed-with-pain shifter, but I could try.
I refocused on Saber. “If we can get her to look at me, we have a shot.”
>
“Good girl. Let’s go.”
So that she wouldn’t feel crowded, I moved Lynn’s desk chair near the bed. Saber stood behind me.
“Lynn? I need to tell you some things, and I hope you’ll listen. I don’t hate you. I’m an old friend of Triton’s, and I want to see him happy. He’ll be devastated you’re sick, so we need to make you well.”
Lynn cautiously lifted her gaze. “Triton said you’d be jealous of me.”
I tried not to grimace at the smell of her breath, but it reminded me all too vividly of Tower’s breath when he’d attacked me last week. That alone scared me to my core.
“I’ll let you in on something,” I told her, smiling my most friendly, unthreatening smile. “Triton can be a big pain in the arse.”
Her eyes widened.
“It’s true that I love him, but only like a very bothersome brother. I’m glad he found you. In fact when you’re better, we’ll, um—” I did a mad mental search for inspiration. “Go on a double date. You and Triton, me and Saber.”
Lynn suddenly clutched her stomach and moaned. “I feel like dying.”
“I know, but Saber and I know a fabulous doctor. The guy is practically a magician at curing people.”
“A regular doctor won’t help me. I have something awful.”
“What kind of doctor is this?”
I turned to find Kate framed in the doorway. She wasn’t wringing her hands, but concern etched her forehead. “Lynn doesn’t have insurance and isn’t covered on mine.”
“Dr. Cosby is an alternative medicine specialist,” Saber answered without missing a beat.
Kate titled her head. “Like an acupuncturist?”
“And an herbalist. He’s a personal friend who only takes referrals to his clinic, but he’s willing to see Lynn right now.”
I took Lynn’s limp hand and fixed my gaze on her with a little push of will. “I promise you both. Lynn will be safe with Dr. Cosby.”
A spark in the back of Lynn’s eyes flickered, and I held my breath, hoping the tiny push had been enough.
Always the Vampire Page 17