To Catch a Vampire (19 page)

The bathroom door opens and I close my eyes tight, pretending to sleep. I hear him check the curtains and turn off the bathroom light. I squeeze them tighter when he sits on the bed. The top cover rustles as he lies down next to me. What a gentleman, leaving a piece of hard cotton between our bodies. I turn on my side with my back to him.

“I know you are awake,” he says. “Your breathing is not yet shallow.”

Crud. “I was just about to fall asleep, thank you very much. You woke me. But since you’re up, why don’t you call downstairs and get yourself a cot. The bed’s mine.”

“You would throw an injured man out of a comfortable bed?”

I flip over to face him. It’s dark, so I can only make out the outline of his face and bare chest. He lies on his stomach, so once again our faces just mere inches apart. My skin lights up again, damn it. “If he was you? Yes. Now get out of my bed.”

“Do you not trust me enough to know I will not molest you in your sleep? Or is it the opposite?”

“You’re a pig.” I flip over again. “Just shut up and go to sleep, okay? Don’t think about me and don’t touch me, or I swear I’ll throw open the curtains at sunrise.” Damn it! I feel the tears on their way, and I almost draw blood when I bite my lip to stop them. I’m being wishy-washy and I know it, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

We’re silent again for a minute, with only my angered breathing filling void.

“Do you not think I long to kiss you?” he asks quietly.

“What?”

I feel him turn on his side with great effort. “Oh, my beautiful Trixie,” he says in a breathy whisper. “Do you not think that it requires every inch of my resolve not to press my mouth against yours? To taste you? To touch you? To be inside you and watch as I bring you to ecstasy?”

I don’t move. I don’t blink. For some reason, I just want to disappear, vanish, so I don’t have to have this conversation while I’m in just a flimsy T-shirt and panties.

“But when it occurs—and I have no doubt it
will
occur—it will be because
you
want
me
. Not because you want to block out the world.”

If I wasn’t already lying down, I’m pretty sure I’d swoon. But instead I say, “Well, don’t hold your breath, buddy. I had a moment of weakness. It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, yes it will. And I have nothing but time, my beloved.”

I smile despite myself but quickly drop it. “Whatever.”

“You should try to sleep now. I will keep watch until rescue arrives.”

“Do you think Freddy will find us?”

“No. Not tonight.”

We don’t speak for another minute.

“I killed Marianna.”

He’s silent for a moment and then says, “I know.”

“I didn’t have to. But I did.” I flip over again to see his reaction. Nothing but sadness, for who I don’t know. “She hurt us. She hurt
you.
I just
…
I did it. Are you mad at me?”

He pushes back a piece of my hair. “Never.”

Tears well up in my eyes. “I—”

“Shush, my darling,” he says, lifting his free arm to welcome me in. How does he do that? Knowing exactly what I need when I need it? I scoot the few inches between us as he drapes his arm over my shoulders. I scoot closer to him, hugging his arm with mine and resting my forehead against his. My safe haven. He traces circles on my neck, humming a lullaby until I fall asleep a minute later. Better than sex.

_____

What the
…
?

Light streaming in from the hallway wakes me. My eyes are so blurry even rubbing them barely helps. I look toward the person standing in the light. The person’s fury hits my head like a baseball bat. I sit up, dislodging my body from Oliver’s. Then I make out the figure. Oh, shit. Yes, I think that. It bears repeating.
Oh, shit.

I fell asleep on Oliver’s shoulder with my body curled around his while he held me. He’s shirtless, and I may as well be, the one I wear is so thin. This is how he finds us. At this moment, I so wish Freddy had killed me.

“Hi, Will.”

Twelve

Extermination

He cut his vacation
short. His first vacation in years, and he cuts it short. Why? Nancy and her big, stupid,
stupid
mouth. She just had to pick up the damn phone on George’s desk. He was calling to check in, and she answered. It took her all of a minute to blab the whole story. He was on the next flight back.

Nancy and the entire team (minus Carl, since our psychometric never does say much, and Andrew, who stayed home since there are no ghosts around) have taken turns regaling me on what happened next, acting as if it was all my fault. Will arrived home, and before he even set down his bags, he tore into George. What was he thinking? How could he let me go without backup? On and on. It took half an hour to calm him down, and another half hour to convince him not to steal the jet and fly to Dallas. At least now I know why everyone was so stressed and cryptic.

It was horrible. The most gut-wrenching humiliating moment of my life, and that’s saying something; I’ve had some doozies. They arrived at the hotel, flashed badges, got the master key, and rushed upstairs. I’m told Will knocked, but I was so deep in sleep I didn’t hear it. Of course he got the wrong idea. Anyone would, what with us half naked and clinging to one another. Without a word, he walked out. I dislodged myself from the barely awake Oliver and tried to follow. I was so lightheaded all I managed to do was fall back into bed. Irie and Chandler came in next. Now, the whole team knows. Such is my life: I do nothing wrong and I’m still punished.

Right now I’m at mobile command, a huge RV/trailer we fly in for missions. It has everything: medical equipment, a lab, temporary holding cell, and the conference room in which I now sit. We were quickly and quietly ushered out of the hotel in the dark of night and into SUVs. We drove to Love Field, where command waited in an abandoned hanger. Mobile command is kept with our jet and flown in behind us on an old military carrier. Will was in the other car on the way here. He didn’t get out until I was already inside command. The rest of the team came out of the conference room to meet us. Nancy threw her arms around me, and I squeezed tight. Then Dr. Lynette Neill, our physician, examined both Oliver and me.

His wound was already healing, but she stitched up the few places I missed and his arm. Oliver didn’t say a word to me on the ride, or while I watched him get patched up. He joked with Nancy and Andrew but barely glanced at me. Neill gave him a huge thermos of blood and sent him to bed in the holding cell where they set up a spare coffin. I haven’t seen him since.

I was appraised, given pain relievers, a blood transfusion, my own clothes, and then I passed out on the couch in the conference room. I woke about ten hours later. Everyone but Agent Rushmore—a severe FBI agent who is never without a blue pinstripe suit and crew cut, much like the other three agents assigned to us—was gone. No doubt at the hotel doing what we normally do: waiting until something happens. I could have asked Agent Rushmore to take me there, but I still feel like crap and can’t handle the looks and questions, so I start typing up my report.

I gave the CliffsNotes version on the ride to command about what the vamps were driving, where they lived, etc. I can only hope we find the creeps today, take them out, and get the heck out of this state. Then I am never setting foot in Texas ever again.

The front door of the trailer opens and closes as I finish the paragraph, followed by giggling. A moment later Irie and Agent Wolfe, whose first name has never been told to me but I think is Andy, stumble into the conference room, still laughing. They have that “We just had tremendous sex, tee hee” look about them. She’s dressed in simple jeans and black tank top, long dark hair pulled into a ponytail. Agent Wolfe is in, surprise surprise, a dark blue suit. His brown hair sticks to his forehead, but it’s endearing on him. Irie smiles and holds up what looks like my suitcase.

“I come bearing gifts from the Dauphine,” she says.

“Have any trouble?” I ask as I shut the laptop.

Irie sits beside me. “Not really. There was this pipsqueak who started yelling, but we shut him up quick. Apparently everyone left in a hurry last night. You sure made a mess. Haven’t seen that much blood in a long time.”

“Yeah,” I say quietly.

“Got all your stuff. Oliver’s coffin too. They’re taking it back to the other hotel now.” She pauses. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks. I feel just peachy; especially now that you’re here to tell me how fabulous I look. You’re a real friend.”

Irie looks at Agent Wolfe. “Told you she didn’t sleep with him.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

“If you had, you’d be in a much better mood.”

“Of course I didn’t sleep with him! We didn’t even kiss! Everyone thinks we did?”

“Pretty much,” Agent Wolfe says.

“Come on, it did look kind of bad. Lying together, limbs entwined, clothing thrown everywhere? As if you wouldn’t think the same thing.”

She’s right. I cover my face with my hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“About what?”

My hands, my stomach, and my intelligence all drop when I hear his voice. He stands in the doorway, handsome face neutral. Normally, when I lay eyes on him, I’m told my face lights up like a firefly, but I doubt it’s doing it now.

Will is a little over six feet tall with a muscular build. I saw him without a shirt once, and I can attest there isn’t an ounce of fat anywhere. That delicious body is now encased in black boots, black jeans, and loose azure T-shirt. His chocolate brown hair hangs loose across his forehead just begging for fingers to run through it. A Roman, slightly asymmetrical nose and strong jaw complete the package. He’s not alabaster-statue perfection like Oliver, but I think he’s perfect in his own way. I just wish those green eyes I love would look my way now.

“Nothing,” Irie says. “She’s just embarrassed she had to call us in so soon.”

Will walks in, purposely not looking at me. How I wish I could turn invisible right about now.

“Well, she should have done it the second there was a
hint
of trouble,” he says, hard as granite. “I doubt she’ll be making the same mistake in the future.”

Great. He’s pretending I’m not even in the room. Classic. A moment later Nancy, Agent Chandler, Carl, and Agent Rushmore filter in as well. All make it a point not to look at me, especially Nancy. She has a huge crush on Oliver, so I guess I’m the enemy right now. She sits in the back, scowl affixed to her face. The rest take their seats around the table, all eyes on Will, who stands at the white board. I guess something finally happened.

“Did we miss something?” Irie asks Carl as he sits next to her.

“We got a call from the local police. They found a house matching Agent Alexander’s approximate description. Even has a basement, which is rare in this part of Texas,” Will says. “The cars Petra Bowers described were out front as well.”

“Did the police raid it yet?” Agent Wolfe asks.

“No, we advised them not to. They’re keeping surveillance until we arrive. Since Agent Alexander has not finished her report,” Will says with a hard edge, “she will stand up and tell us what we’re up against.”

I will?
Okay
. I rise, smiling nervously. Nancy rolls her eyes. Will, still refusing to set eyes on me, stands like a sculpture with folded arms. Angry man in repose.

“There should be ten people in the house, three human and seven vamps. One of the humans has a pistol, the other two are unknown in regards to weapons. As for the vamps, there are four men and three women. They’ve killed one person for sure, possibly many more. Chances are they sleep in the basement in coffins.”

“‘Chances are?’” Will asks. “You need to do better than that, Agent Alexander.”

“I’m just telling you what the witness told me, Agent Price,” I say, glancing at him. “As I was saying, per the witness, the house is isolated with at least three stories and a cornfield in the back. That’s all.” I sit back down.

“Thank you, Agent Alexander,” Will says. “We need to be safe about this people, by the book. Let’s assume all the humans act as day guards and are armed. We enter in two groups, one taking the front and the other the back. We go in at the same time, neutralizing the humans before taking the basement. Irie, Alexander, and I will go down first, followed by Agents Rushmore and Chandler. Agent Wolfe will guard the top stairs and come down if needed. Carl, I want you there to assist Dr. Neill in the ambulance. We’ll have the locals keep the perimeter.”

“What should we expect in the basement?” Agent Wolfe asks.

“We’re doing this in daylight, so they should be asleep. But keep in mind they are just that—asleep. It’ll be just like the op in Tallahassee. Taking them out in tandem by cutting off their heads.”

“And if they wake up?” Irie asks.

“We’ll have shotguns and other weapons.”

Nancy raises her hand. “And what should I do?”

“You stay here. Keep an eye on our friend in the freezer.”

“Shouldn’t his girlfriend do that?” Nancy asks.

The whole room except for Will and me chuckle. I turn bright red, I know it. Will all but snarls at the group. “That’s enough!” he roars. The laughs cease. “We are about to embark on a highly dangerous mission. Keep your minds on that, not on the sex lives of your fellow teammates. Daylight is wasting, and that is a luxury we don’t have. Suit up, people! We leave in twenty! Dismissed!”

All the cowed people around the table stand, looking at one another shamed to heck. Good. They whisper to each other as they file out. My ears are burning. Will passes me, scowl still there. I stand up. “Will?” He ignores me and keeps moving toward the door. “Will, stop!” I slide the door shut with my mind before he goes through it.

“Open the door, Agent Alexander,” he says, not turning around.

“No. Not until you let me explain.”

He spins around. “Why?”

“Because you want me …” His eyes dart to mine, anger replaced with surprise and a tinge of embarrassment. An electric current of I don’t know what shoots down my spine, “… to explain.”

His eyes return to their neutral state before looking away from me again. “You don’t owe me an explanation. What you do after hours is none of my business.”

I take a step toward him. “But nothing happened. Nothing! I swear on my mother’s ashes. I patched him up. I fed him. We fell asleep.
That’s it
. I would never
…
” I don’t even say it. “I didn’t even want to come here.”

He doesn’t respond for a moment, just staring at the carpet. “Why didn’t you call me? Tell me what was going on? I could have
…
”

“We both know there was nothing you could do. You were on vacation, I didn’t want you to cut it short or ruin it by worrying about me. I’m sorry, but
…
it’s my job. I go where people need me, and do what I have to, to protect them. This was no different.”

He finally looks at me. “I know,” he says with a trace of sadness. It vanishes a moment later. I take a step toward him, but he flinches. “Um, thank you for clearing that up, Agent Alexander. Fraternizing with, um, other team members is strongly frowned upon. People end up making mistakes in the field. I would hate for that to happen to you. Now, go get ready.”

He opens the now-released door and walks out. I don’t follow.

Okay, I wasn’t expecting him to take me in his arms or confess his undying love and threaten to cut off the hand of any man who touches me, but something more than company rhetoric would have been nice. Did he believe me? Does he even care anymore? I can’t get a handle on him. I sigh.

And men think women are confusing.

_____

The hour drive to Venus is almost unbearable. Every person in the SUVs almost vibrates with fear and anticipation. It’s like this before every big op. We’re like the soldiers in the boats as they approach Omaha Beach. There’s no real way to know what to expect. Best case, we kill them all without a struggle and the rest remain asleep while we decapitate their friends. I know better.

Will, Agent Chandler, Dr. Neill, and Carl all ride in the first car with Agent Rushmore, Irie, Agent Wolfe, and me in the second. Irie and Wolfe sit in the back, holding hands while watching the arid wasteland of Texas pass by. Brown plots of dirt followed by either herds of cows or tall corn with rotting farmhouses nearby. Lovely. Oliver and I drove this exact route last night in the dark. I couldn’t see anything then. Wish that was the case now.

We’re decked out for battle. I even have my camouflage T-shirt and black army boots on over black jeans. This plus the bulletproof vest, shotgun, 9mm, silver combat knife, and Bette all make me feel a little better about fighting seven peeved vamps in a cramped space. Will’s SUV turns right down a dirt road, peppering us with so much dust Agent Rushmore starts the wipers.

“Rush, the roadblock is about a mile away,” Will says over the walkie-talkie.

“10-4,” Agent Rushmore responds.

“Guess we’re almost there,” I say with a sigh.

“You nervous, Bea?” Irie asks.

“Heck yeah,” I answer.

“Don’t be,” she responds. “I’ll protect you. This isn’t my first cabal. Just trust your instincts. If you think it’s beside you, don’t hesitate. Shoot to kill. Aim for the head. Just don’t hit one of us in the process.”

“I’ll do my best.”

The SUV in front stops. As the dust clears, I see two police cars with flashing lights parked in front of a barricade. The bored, sweating cops holding shotguns wave us through.

“Get ready people,” Agent Rushmore says as he drives through. I pull out the gold badge wrapped around my neck. It’s just in case the bad or good guys can’t tell who we are, even though the vests have “FBI” embossed on them in yellow letters. I yank my ponytail tighter as Irie and Agent Wolfe share one last deep kiss before the car stops.

I’ll bet that every law enforcement officer within fifty miles has assembled in the field we’ve pulled into a mile from the house. There are easily a dozen police cars and thirty peace officers milling around in the hot sun. Some wait in their cars, others stand by the fire truck; two ambulances are also on standby. The largest sub-group assembles under a makeshift tent with fold-out table. As we pile out, the man at the center of the table breaks from the group on his way to us. He’s in a sweat-stained white dress shirt, khaki pants, black cowboy boots, and matching hat. The sunglasses hide half his face, but I’d put his age at around forty. He’s lean and his light brown skin glistens in the sun. There’s little humidity today, thank God, but it’s still in the mid-nineties. The people at the tent follow him, but the rest just watch, still talking to their neighbors.