Black Heart: Coeur de Sade (Black Heart Series) (4 page)

            "Is the office in back?"

            "Yes."

            "Take me there.  Quickly."

            We moved with purpose.  I set the pace.  In less than two minutes we were standing in the store manager's office.

            "Get Miss Hancock's address, please," I said, keeping an eye out for the other vampires.

            "Manager on duty to the front, please," boomed over the overhead intercom.

            Hank looked up, a bit of confusion on his young face.

            "Address first," I said firmly.

            "Yes," Hank said, bending back to his task at the computer.  I watched him jot the address on a Post-it note.  He handed it to me, saying, "It isn't too far.  Just two blocks away."

            "Thanks, Hank.  I really do appreciate this," I said, looking around.  "Is there a back way out?"

            "Yes," he said, pointing.

            "Show me.  Hurry."

            Hank obeyed without question and to the letter.  He had no other choice.  I knew.  I'd been mesmerized by many vampires prior to becoming one of the undead.

            Reaching the loading dock bay, I looked out both ways.  It was clear.  I smiled at Hank.

            "Hank, be a sweetheart and take a long walk that way," I said, pointing down the alley away from the nearby street.  Too much traffic on Preston Road and I didn’t want him to get hurt.  "Make it last at least an hour.  Thanks."

            Hank turned and walked off down the alley behind the store, heading off to nowhere.  He would not return for at least an hour, of that I was sure.  So with that, I jumped straight over the concrete wall behind the store.

            My vampiric sense confirmed before I jumped that there was no pets or people in that backyard.  I even knew the house was currently empty, with two small, impatient dogs inside.  I wasn't good enough yet to discern their breed, but figured them to each be about six or seven pounds.

            Jumping over the eight foot fence was a breeze.  I could jump straight up two stories.  I know, I did it once.  If I wanted to, I could turn into a bat or a wolf, but then I'd lose my clothes.  I may be short on modesty of late, but I despised losing any more clothes than absolutely necessary.  I went through a lot of clothes during my first couple of weeks as a vampire.

            Yeah, that's right.  I'd only been a vampire just over two weeks.  I'm amazed myself.  Heck, I'm amazed to still be alive.  The last couple of weeks were pretty intense.  Hence my reluctance to meet up with any unknown vampires, especially if they are looking intent and purposeful.

            Now, if they suddenly start killing mortals, then I'd be all over them.  I did mention I was the self-appointed Sheriff of Vampire Town, right?

            I went straight across to the next street and turned left on it.  A block down, and I hung a right.  The address Hank gave me was a corner lot on the next intersection.  The house was a one story ranch, about two thousand square feet, two car garage and two fireplaces.  I know since I counted the chimneys.  Who said math wasn't my strongest subject?  I could smell the chorine from the swimming pool in the backyard.

            "Note to self, do not buy a house with a swimming pool," I muttered, nose crinkled.  My vampiric sense of smell was way too acute to put up with that day in and day out.  The lawn was freshly mowed.  "Mmm, smells good."

            I loved the smell of freshly mowed grass.  Always have.  Her lawn looked to be professionally maintained, too.  Otherwise Miss Hancock spent a lot of time working in the yard.  Her hedges were sculpted, and every tree had a flower bed around it.  I was impressed, though word was I was easily impressed when it came to expensive homes.

            Looking the house over from the street, I quickly noted the signs of vampiric residency.  First, the stench of stale blood was faint, but noticeable to a vampire.  Mortals didn't have the keen sense of smell, so it went unnoticed by her neighbors.  Secondly, the windows were all artfully light sealed to look like they weren't sealed.

            Walking up the sidewalk, I let my senses invade the house itself.  Ms Hancock was home.  At least a very distraught woman was inside.  I sensed no one else.  So I saw no reason to wait, and knocked.

            She ignored my knock at first.  But by the time I knocked for the third time, each a little more insistent, she came to the door.

            "Who is it?" she asked through the door.

            "Sable," I said.  I sensed her confusion.  "I'm here to investigate the death of your friend."

            She snatched the door open and stepped out to meet me.  She was about forty, to mid-forties, with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes.  Her nose was a little on the large side, but she had full, luscious lips.  I could see the telltale signs of aging, but she was still a pretty woman.  Maybe an inch shy of my own five foot ten, she wore a silk, black and white print dress that screamed expensive designer clothes.

            "About time!" she said, dark eyes manic.  "Vampires are people too, you know.  They deserve respect and dignity, in life and afterwards.  My boyfriend did
not
commit suicide.  He loved life too much."

            "Okay," I said, stepping back.  I needed space between us.  It was never safe for a mortal that distraught to get up close and personal with a vampire.  When our emotions were fired up, it meant we wanted sex or blood, or even better — both.  "I'm not here to pass judgment on him, but to learn more about him.  I am trying to determine exactly why he did what he did."

            "He didn't kill himself."

            "I agree," I said.  "But someone forced him to walk into the sunlight.  I'd like to know who, how, and why."

            "So would we," a deep male voice said from behind me.

            "Oh, this can't be good," I muttered as I slanted a look over my shoulder.  Sure enough, it was the four vampires from the store.  I raised my left brow, to help hide the sudden surge of dread that surged through me.  I couldn't sense their emotions, and hoped they couldn't read me any better.  "You're fast."

            The middle male vampire's lips almost curled into a smile.  The others just glared daggers at me.  I didn't know why they were so hostile.  I didn't recognize any of them, so I doubt I tweaked any of their noses.

            "Practice," their leader said.

            He was easily six foot three, athletic build, dark eyes.  His male compadres were both six foot tall, with cold blue eyes.  The female was the scariest of them all, with a large beak of a nose and fierce black eyes, despite the fact she was blonde.  Blonde out of a bottle, I guess.

            "Why would the notorious Black Heart be investigating the apparent suicide of one of Dallas' leading vampires?" the female said.

            "Black Heart?" Miss Hancock cried.

            She gawked at me, one hand at her throat, the other thrown out towards me in a warding gesture, knees together and feet spread wide.  Can't say I've ever seen anyone assume that stance outside of cartoons.  I didn't find it amusing.

            "Guess you've heard of me, huh?"

            It wasn't going well.  Thanks to the new arrivals.  The female vamp almost cracked a smile.  I suspected she got the reaction from Miss Hancock she wanted.  Bitch.

            "And you are?" I said, left brow raised haughtily.

            "You're worse nightmare," she said.

            "No, I
killed
my worse nightmare five days ago," I said, locking eyes with her.  She stiffened ever so slight.  "Have you ever killed a six hundred year old vampire?  Or a five hundred year old vampire?  No?  Well I killed one of each, within minutes of each other.  And I didn't stake them while they slept, either."

            "You kill vampires!" Miss Hancock whispered. Then louder, "My God, you are a murderer!"

            "Actually," I said, knowing I should keep my mouth shut, but unable to do so.  "You shouldn't call on God when talking about Vampires.  God doesn't much care for vampires."

            I saw it coming.  I was more than fast enough to stop it, or get out of the way.  But I didn't.  I guess I deserved it.

           
Thwack!

            The slap stung a few seconds.  In truth, it stung my pride more than my face.  I just stared at her as she teared up, gasped in despair, and slammed the door in my face.

            "Your interview skills seem to be lacking," I said, looking my fellow vampires over.  "Good luck getting anything out of her."

            "We got what we want," the leader said.

            I stepped out, trying to pass through the gap between the vampires and the house.  They shifted to block my passage.  A pang of fear speared through me.  I held little faith in my ability to outfight four older vampires.

            Suppressing that fear, I smiled roguishly at them.  They didn't smile back.

            "You want something?"

            "Don't you want to kill us, Black Heart?" their leader said, sounding like he really wanted me to try.  The others smiled darkly at his words.  "We're all vampires.  Dirty, nasty vampires."

            "Really?  Bathe more often.  Problem solved," I said as they scowled at me.  "As for wanting to kill you...I'm getting there.  But, I don't kill someone just because he or she is a vampire.  You need to give me cause.  Have you gone rogue?  Are you killing mortals for blood?"

            "You're afraid," he said.

           
Yes!
I thought, but said, "Afraid of what?  What are you going to do?  Kill me?  Too late.  I'm dead."

            "We could rape and torture you," one of the other men said.

            "Been there, done that," I said.  I shrugged.  "Kinda liked it, too."

            They didn't like my response.  Break my heart.  I got the impression they intimidated everyone they dealt with, including other vampires.  It finally dawned on me.  They were vampiric thugs.  Nothing but undead goons sent out to do someone else's dirty work.

            "Are you vampire mafia?"

            That amused them.  But they didn't answer.  I started to seriously consider shifting to a bat to escape.  I hated the idea of losing another set of clothes.  Those were my favorite jeans.  They really made my butt look great.

            "Why would
you
, of all people, care what happened to Charles Healey?" the woman said.

            "Charles Healey?  Who is that?" I said.  "The vampire that suicided?"

            "Don't tell me you never heard of him," boss vamp said, looking at me even more suspiciously now.  "He was on the council for eighty-two years."

            "City council?  In Dallas?" I said.  How was that possible?  City council met during the day, sometimes.  Besides, it was an elected position, and after a decade or so people would notice their councilman was not aging.  You couldn't serve eighty years without everyone figuring out you are a vampire.  "Impossible."

            They shared looks of surprise and doubt.  I felt left out, as if I was the only one not in on the big secret.  Kinda made me feel dumb, too.

            "So, if you didn't know who and what he was, why did you kill him?" boss vamp said.

            "First off, who the hell are you?  Secondly, what council?"

            "I am Francisco Alejano," boss vamp said.  The rather attractive Latino's dark eyes were fierce and uncompromising.  He indicated the female.  "My associates are Tanya Park, Sid Cotsakis, and Jerry Kincaid.  Who our employer is isn't important at this time."

            “Someone is paying you guys?” I said.  I gave them all a good head to toe look over.  “What are you?  Hell’s accountants?”

            “There’s going to be an accounting,” Tanya said, black eyes flashing.  Her thin lips curled into a cruel smile, revealing her fangs.  Despite her rather prominent nose, she could be pretty if fixed up right.  The severe ponytail hairdo wasn’t helping.  “I don’t think you have enough in you to pay in full.”

            “What I don’t have in pocket, I’ll squeeze out of your head,” I said.

Her eyes widened slightly.  I don’t think they were used to anyone standing up to them.  If they didn’t get out of my face, I was going to do a lot more that stand up to them, too.

Sid and Jerry stood by silently.  Watching.  Ready.  I guessed they weren’t the brains of the outfit.  At six feet tall, short dark hair, average looks, neither would’ve rated a second glance.  Only the fact they were vampires made them dangerous.  Sid was heavier built than the others, so was probably the strongest.  Francisco, though, was undoubtedly the most dangerous.

Suddenly, Tejanos music filled the night air.  Francisco pulled out his cell and glanced at the display with a frown.  Then he flipped it open as he turned on a heel to walk away for more privacy.  I wanted to listen in, but Tanya must’ve sensed it.

“You don’t look so impressive,” she said, eyeing me with distaste.

"...yeah, boss, we found something.  Black Heart is nosing around the murder site," Francisco said.  I could barely hear him he was speaking so low, but my supernatural hearing was amazing.

“I’m more impressive when vamped out,” I said.  "Hey, Francisco, who are you talking to?  What about me?"

“Vamped out?” Tanya said, moving slightly to put herself between Francisco and me.  He graced me with an annoyed look and moved further away.

“You know, dressing all in tight black leather or latex, sky high stilettos, and my face and hair all made up,” I said.  I knew Francisco and his boss were discussing the meaning of me "returning to the scene of the crime" and other such nonsense, and I was left to small talk with Ms Attitude.  “Vamped out.”

"There's more to being a vampire than clothes," Jerry said.  "I agree with Tanya, you don't look so dangerous."

I didn't like the way he said that.  It sounded like he wanted to fight, just to prove I wasn't so tough.