2 Sean Hayden (2 page)

"Exactly what does a local election have to do with the Department of Homeland Security?" I didn't see the connection and sat there confused.

"The election doesn't, but acts of terrorism do. There have been several attempts to destroy the elected governor." I noticed his use of the word destroy rather than kill. "He came out unscathed, but three state troopers assigned to his Executive Services Detail didn't. We don't know who planned the attacks, but they have to stop. We need you to find our terrorists and stop them."

"Why me?" I had a feeling I already knew the answer.

"We believe the attacks have been orchestrated and carried out by vampires."

I nodded when he said it, confirming my suspicions. I turned to the Deputy Director and he nodded his head once letting me know he'd already given his consent to the joint operation. I gave an inaudible sigh and turned back toward Vetters.

"I'd be more than happy to help, Mr. Vetters," I lied. If they kept giving me all this practice lying, I expected to get pretty good at it. "Does this vampire governor have a name?"

"David Greer."

Chapter 2

"Special Agent Thompson and Agent Ashlyn reporting, sir." Thompson held out his meaty paw to the Special Agent in Charge of the Sacramento field office. The name on the desk plate read James Connors, but we already knew that. We spent the better part of four days being brought up to speed by both the DHS and the Deputy Director himself. Don't ask me why, but Sanders seemed on edge about this one, almost as if he expected me to screw up.

The man rose and shook Thompson's hand, pumping it vigorously. Without even so much as a glance in my direction, he sat back down. The man either didn't like women or vampires. I wondered which one. I ignored the slight and moved to just behind Thompson and let him do the talking.

"Glad to have you here, I'm an old friend of Reese's. He's mentioned you on more than one occasion. So what brings you to the Sacramento office?"

"Your new governor brings us here. Apparently, some folks don't take too kindly to vampires being elected as officials. We're here to make sure he stays alive."

I watched Connors' face while Thompson spoke. I doubt anyone else would've noticed the slight smirk when he mentioned keeping the vampire alive, but I did. I guessed Special Agent Connors didn't vote for Governor Greer.

"Anything you need, Thompson, just let me know. I'll have a car brought out front. I'm assuming you'll need one?" He made it a question. Thompson nodded and Connors picked up the phone and made it happen. I did my best to remain in the background.

"Thank you, sir," Thompson added when Connors set the receiver back in its cradle.

"No problem. Good luck keeping the vampire alive. God knows there are probably a million people not too happy with the fact he got elected."

"Are you one of them, sir?" The words came out before my brain could override my stupid, stupid mouth.

He rounded his gaze upon me, measuring me for all my worth. I'm sure he found me lacking. "I couldn't care less, Agent Ashlyn. The man is an elected official and none of them are too high on my Sunday golf buddy list. If you'll both excuse me I have pressing matters to attend. Good luck, both of you," he said in dismissal. Five minutes in the new office and I'd already made a new enemy.
Why couldn't we all just get along?

Thompson dramatically swept his arms toward the door telling me to lead the way. I glanced up and he winked, so I knew he wasn't too unhappy with me. Either that or he just expected my mouth to fuck things up and was letting me know I didn't. I pivoted on my heel and walked through the doorway. As Thompson cleared it, another agent shouted his name and threw him a set of keys. He didn't even slow down, plucking the keys out of the air and matching his stride to mine.

* * *

Thanks to the handy GPS unit built into the standard FBI issue black Suburban we made it to the governor's office in less than twenty minutes. Sacramento seemed quite beautiful, even at night, and I enjoyed watching the colorful buildings while Thompson drove. I relaxed and enjoyed the silence between us. I half expected him to at least say something about either my comment or Connors' attitude, but he sat silently, just like me.

I looked up and saw H Street on the street sign, and according to the address plugged into the GPS unit I figured we must be close. I wondered what the vampire governor would be like. So far I could count the number of vampires I liked on one finger. Thinking of that made me think of the enigmatic Marcel in Chicago. Thoughts of him caused me to shift uncomfortably in my seat. I had officially turned eighteen last week and I needed a boyfriend. If I had a boyfriend it might make me feel a little more like a normal eighteen year old. Thinking of Marcel and his beautiful face, silky hair, and gorgeous body wasn't helping me in the least.

The car jerked as Thompson swerved and made a right turn, shaking me from my thoughts. We pulled down a small access road and stopped at a glistening, pristine white guardhouse. A man dressed in a State of California Police uniform stepped out and Thompson flashed his badge at the trooper.

"Special Agent Thompson, FBI. We're here to see the governor."

"Go on through, special agent, the governor informed us you'd be here this evening," the trooper said and smiled.

"Thanks." Thompson hit the accelerator, narrowly missing the gate arm while it made its upward arc.

We drove up to the mansion and I sat wide-eyed at its grandeur. "Our tax dollars hard at work," I muttered under my breath, but apparently loud enough for Thompson's werelion ears to pick up since he gave a short bark of laughter. Another trooper stood out front and motioned us toward an empty parking area. At least we wouldn't have to vie for the governor's attention this evening. The place looked deserted.

"Agents?" The man made our titles a question as we stepped from the vehicle. "If you would, please follow me into the residence."

"Absolutely," Thompson replied and followed the youngish blond officer toward the door. I followed at a distance and glanced around. The lawn and the flowers were perfectly manicured and gave the impression of a park. I sniffed and abruptly held my breath against the plethora of pollens and scents in the night air. No breeze stirred so it lay thick over the area and reminded me of a cheap smelling perfume.

I caught up to the other two as they reached the door. The officer opened it and motioned us to go in ahead of him. We did and on the other side of the door a beautiful woman in a grey wool skirt and jacket greeted us. Her hair was pulled up in a professional looking style and ringlets lay on the side of her face by her ears.

"Hello. I'm Samantha Barnes, the governor's personal assistant. If you would please follow me, the governor is expecting you," she said and turned, expecting us to follow her.

"If I may ask, Miss Barnes, how did the governor know we would be here this evening?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Your Deputy Director called about an hour ago confirming your meeting with Governor Greer," she replied over her shoulder while we made our way over the marble floor and to the stairway. Pristine white wooden banners and marble stairs reminded me of the house in
The Sound of Music
. I refrained from singing. Once at the top of the winding flight, she led us down the hallway to the residential area of the mansion. She stopped in front of the first door on our left and knocked.

"Come in, Samantha," someone called from the other side of the heavy door.

She turned the handle and ushered Thompson and me into the room. As we crossed the threshold we stepped back in time. The décor from the wallpaper festooning the walls, the glittering wall sconces, and the ornate wood paneling from the chair rail down to the floor impressed upon the senses that you stood in a parlor somewhere in the late eighteen hundreds. I wondered briefly if the room had always been decorated this way, or if the governor decorated to his tastes. My trips to governor's mansions were been somewhat limited, so I don't know how it works.

"Good evening, both of you, and welcome to my humble home," the governor said from a leather chair facing the fireplace. I just loved it when vampires said catchy cliché things like, "Good evening."

Thank you, Mr. Lugosi
.

"Good evening, Governor Greer, I'm Special Agent Thomson and this is Agent Ashlyn. I assume the Deputy Director filled you in on why we're here?"

He rose and turned to us with a smile, setting down his newspaper on the ornate wooden table at his side. We both took a step toward him, but he closed the distance before we completed it. I guess no one filled in the governor on vampire etiquette. He stood about a foot shorter than Thompson, so I guessed him to be around six feet, still almost a foot taller than me. He'd been older when whoever turned him made him a vampire. Light grey streaks jutted out from the edge of his temples giving him an almost mad scientist look. If he hadn't been so damn handsome I might have giggled a little.

He reached out and took Thompson's hand without an offer and shook it firmly saying, "Pleased to meet you," before turning to me. I held my hand out for a handshake, but he took it and pulled it to his lips, planting a small kiss on my middle knuckle. He froze at the icy touch of my skin on his lips and I saw his eyes go a little wide. Apparently, Sanders left some information out of his little phone call.

"A vampire?" At least he managed to pull his lips from my hand before asking.

"Yes," I answered and caught his scent, carefully avoiding direct eye contact. I knew from past experiences when I got close enough to another vampire I could gaze into his eyes and see his power. If I was stronger I could easily capture his mind and make him obey me. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing, so I tended to keep my gaze firmly planted on the eyebrows of vampires I wasn't trying to interrogate. He smelled of cinnamon and vanilla and I wanted a taste, a big taste. I may not be able to eat normal humans, but vampires were definitely on the menu.

"Oh, how a vampire ended up in the employ of the FBI is simply a tale you must tell." He motioned for us to sit in the remaining chairs gathered around the massive stone fireplace.

"Another time perhaps," Thompson interjected, but took a seat anyway. "Instead, could you please tell us what's been happening?" I stifled a giggle. The concept of being polite didn't sit well with Thompson.

"Where to begin," Greer said to himself. "They elected me in November, but the two recounts the incumbent demanded took almost a month, and that's when I received the first death threat. I laughed it off, but I knew even then whoever sent the letter meant business."

"Do you still have the letter?" I doubted it, but I wanted to make sure.

"No, I turned it over to the police and their forensic team looked at it. They came up with nothing, not even a fingerprint. Let's see, after that the former governor filed an injunction and the California courts agreed to it without batting an eyelash. I think all of the politicians in the entire state took my running for governor and my subsequent election as some sort of novelty at first, and then a joke; finally, they started to panic when I won. The death threats became more frequent and not from the same people. Many were clipped from magazines and I even received a few written in crayon." He spoke almost like it was a fond memory.

"Tell us about the attack," I told him, curious as to how someone would try to kill a vampire.

"It happened two weeks ago, while I sat waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court. The State of California assigned me an executive services detail of state police officers since I had officially won the election. We were in San Francisco at a fundraiser for a local homeless shelter. Our limousine had been swept for explosive devices and pronounced clean and yet when the event ended and I climbed inside, it exploded."

The smile on Governor Greer's face vanished. Apparently, he didn't like being caught in explosions. I can't say I blamed him, being blown up would piss me off, too. I looked at the governor closely and didn't see any damage remaining. It surprised me. Not a lot of things could kill a vampire, but explosions and fire made the list.

"How did you survive?" He gave me a penetrating stare I once again avoided by staring at his well-manicured eyebrows.

"I am very, very old, child. I'm very hard to kill. I've never shared my true age so I don't think the people who planted the bomb could have known it wouldn't be very effective. Let me rephrase that. I don't think they realized it wouldn't be very effective against me. It killed three state troopers and the limousine driver quite effectively." He gave a little sigh of sadness.

"How old are you, Governor Greer?" I didn't know if my question would offend him, but curiosity got the better of me.

"The incumbent governor used the fact that I might have a master and not be 'able to set the goals and prerogatives of the State of California above that of a vampire who might control me'. It seemed to be a major issue the Supreme Court had against me governing. I needed to produce proof of my age and prove that I had no master to them. So to answer your question, child I am very, very old," he said and smiled at me. "What about you Ashlyn. Who is your master and why did he allow you to join the ranks of the FBI?"

"I have no master, Governor. I was free after my making to choose my own path," I lied.

"We both know, Agent Ashlyn, that's not how it works. I don't mind you not telling me, in fact I would expect it, but please don't lie to me," he said without anger. "Again, it can be a discussion for a later time. My question for the both of you is what do we do now?"

"Do you have any public appearances scheduled soon?" Thompson pulled a pad out of his jacket to write the information down.

"I am governor of the State of California, Agent Thompson. You were lucky to catch me at home tonight."

Chapter 3

Thompson drove the limo while I rode in the back of it with the governor. I shifted in my seat, quite uncomfortable under the gaze of the old vampire sitting across from me. It wasn't the upholstered leather of the seat that made me uncomfortable, Greer's penetrating stare did. I could tell he wanted to ask me a million questions and didn't know where to start. I glanced over at the mini-bar in the wall of the vehicle and wished I could have a drink. I knew last night, after we left the Governor's Mansion, I would be in this situation eventually. I just didn't know it would be so soon.