Caitlin sank into the chair on the other side of the desk. Fiona knew that the three of them resembled one another, and yet there were also noticeable differences. Her sister had the most beautiful silver eyes she had ever seen, while Shaunas had a touch of green and hers were blue. Her own hair was very light, Caitlins a shade darker and Shaunas had a touch of red. Their heights were just a shade different, too. She was shortest at five-seven, while Caitlin had a half an inch on her, and Shauna was five-eight.
Right now, Caitlins eyes were darkening like clouds on a stormy day.
He admits the killer has to be a vampire?
No, of course not. He didnt admit anything.
But we all know it has to have been a vampire.
Fiona hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was defend Jagger DeFarge.
She had kept her distance from him, for the most part. Keepers were not supposed to interfere with everyday life. They did have their councilskind of like a paranormal Elks Club, she thought with a smilebut as long as the status quo stayed the status quo, each society dealt with their own.
She knew, however, that Jagger did well in life passing as a normal citizen of the city. He was a highly respected police detective and had been decorated by the department.
Shed seen him a few times on television when hed been interviewed after solving a high profile case. She remembered one interview in particular, when Jagger and his squad had brought in a killer who had scratched out a brutal path of murder from Oregon to Louisiana.
Frankly, most of the time, what appears on the surface is what a perpetrator wants us to see. Any good officer has to look below the surface. In our city, sadly, we have a high crime rate much of it due to greed, passion or envy, not to mention drugs and domestic violence. But in searching for those who murder because of mental derangement or more devious desires, we can never accept anything at face value, he had said.
Before she could reply to Caitlins question, Shauna came rushing into the office breathlessly. Well?
Her youngest sisters hair was practically flying. She was wearing a soft silk halter dress that swirled around her as she ran, and even when she stopped in front of the desk, she still seemed to be in motion.
Jagger wont admit that it was a vampire. Maybe Im phrasing that wrong. He said that he has to investigate. He reminded me that this is New Orleansthat we attract human wackos just the same as we attract those of us who just want to live normal lives. He didnt insist that it wasnt a vampire, he just said that he needs to investigate.
Vampires! Caitlin said, her tone aggravated, as if vampires were the cause of everything that ever went wrong.
What are you going to do? Shauna asked.
Fiona frowned. I dont know. But look, we cant all be back here. We cant leave the shop unattended.
I put the Out for Lunch sign up in the window, Shauna said.
Out for lunch? Its ten-thirty in the morning! Fiona protested.
Okay, so were having an early lunch, Shauna said with a shrug.
What do you intend to do? Caitlin asked. And dont say you dont know, because I know thats not true.
Investigate myself, Fiona said with a shrug. Vampires. Its my duty. I will find out the truth, and I will fix the situation. She sighed. Obviously Ill be out most of the day. Oh, and even if we have to have lunch several times in one day, never leave the shop unattended with the door open. We need to be especially careful now, all right?
Her sisters nodded gravely.
Fiona rose. She had to get started. The situation demanded immediate action.
Where are you going first? Caitlin asked her.
To see August Gaudin, Fiona said grimly.
Usually werewolves were not her favorite beings, though she tried very hard not to be prejudiced and stereotype them. It was the whole transformation thing that seemed so strange to herso painful. And the baying at the moon.
Vampires were capable of certain transformations, as well, it was far more a matter of astral projection and hypnotism. A vampire could take on a few legendary forms, such as a wolf and a bat, but they were weakened in such states, and since no vampire wanted to go up against an angry werewolf, for example, in the creatures own shape, the legendary transformation seldom happened.
Like vampires and shapeshifters, werewolves lived among the human population of the city, controlling themselveswith Shauna as their Keeper. But August Gaudin had fought alongside her parents, and in his human shape he was a dignified older man with silver hair, a broad chest and broad shoulders, and benign and gentle powder-blue eyes. He was an attorney by trade, and he had been elected to the city commission, and also worked with the tourism board. He had been genuinely wonderful to Fiona and her sisters, helping them when they truly needed a friend.
His offices were on Canal Street, and she walked there as quickly as she could, not wanting to call ahead, because trying to explain on the phone or, worse, leave a message would be too difficult.
August would see her. He always did.
The office manager stopped her when she would have absently burst right through to see him, but they had met before, and the woman knew that August wouldnt turn Fiona down. Still, the woman pursed her lips and said, Please, sit, and I will let Mr. Gaudin know that youre here.
Ill stand, thank you, Fiona said. Silly. The woman was just wielding her power.
August Gaudin came out to greet her, reaching out to take her hands. Fiona! Dear child, come on in, come on in. Margaret, hold my calls, please.
Gaudins office was a comfortable place. He had a large mahogany desk, and leather chairs that were both comfortable and somehow strong. The office conveyed the personality of the man.
He sat behind his desk as Fiona fell into a chair before it.
I was expecting you, he told her.
I suppose the entire city has heard by now, she said. She leaned forward. August, the girl was murdered by a vampire. Im sure of it. She was drained of blood. Completely. The wretched creatures are at it again!
Now, Fiona, thats not necessarily true, August told her. First, we all know that
Yes, yes, there are ridiculous human beings out there who think theyre vampires, who even cut each other and drink each others blood.
It is possible that such a lunatic killed the woman, August said.
Possible, but not likely.
I take it that Jagger DeFarge is the investigating officer?
Yes. Imagine, she said dryly.
Thats good, cher. Hell know how to investigate properly, and he wont get himself killed in the process, he told her.
August, this is my fault, she whispered.
Now, stop. Its not your fault. Its your duty to see that the perpetrator is caught and punished. But its not your fault any more than its your fault when some crackhead falls on top of his own infant and kills him, or when drug slayings occur on the street. Crime exists. And its unreasonable to expect that crime will never exist inour world just as it does in the human world, he said softly.
She stood and began pacing the room. Yes, but if the vampires respected me as their Keeper, they wouldnt have dared attempt such a thing.
She stood and began pacing the room. Yes, but if the vampires respected me as their Keeper, they wouldnt have dared attempt such a thing.
Not true. There will always be rogues in any society.
August, youve always helped me. What should I do? she asked.
He leaned back. You tell me.
All right. Tonight, I make sure that the victim isnt coming back, that that she rests in peace. Ill go as soon as the morgue is closed, and hopefully before well, before. Then Ill go to see David Du Lac at the club and make sure hes ready to deal with whats happened.
The perfect plan. Heres another, August told her.
What?
Trust in Jagger DeFarge. Hes a good cop. He became a cop to make sure he regulated things that happened among our kind. Hes thorough in every investigation. Hell be especially vigilant on this one.
Hes a vampire.
Hes proven that he has integrity and honor.
He wont want to destroy another vampire.
Hell do what is right. You have to trust in that.
Id like to, she said.
But?
Hes a vampire, she repeated.
Jagger headed straight to Underworld, the club owned by David Du Lac, the head of the vampire population of the City of New Orleans. His rule stretched farther, but the city was his domain. He was essentially considered the vampire mayor.
And he did a better job than some of the human beings who had been entrusted with the citys human citizens, Jagger thought.
Naturally Underworld was frequented by vampires. But David Du Lac prided himself on running an establishment where everyone was welcome. He brought in the best bands and kept the place eclectic, and the human clientele never had any idea just who they were rubbing shoulders with.
Underworld was located just off Esplanade, on Frenchman Street. The edifice was a deconsecrated church. Beautiful stained-glass windows remained, along with a cavernous main section, balconies and private rooms. The old rectory, Davids home as well as a venue for jazz bands and private parties, was right behind the old church. There was a patio, too, open during the day, and a jazz trio played there from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day, while the clientele enjoyed muffalettas, crawfish étouffée, gumbo and other Louisiana specialtiesalong with the customary colorful drinks served in New Orleans and a few designer specials, dryly named the Bloodsucker, Bite Me, the Transformer and the Fang.
Jagger paused for a minute after he parked just down the street from the club. David took good care of the place. The white paint sparkled in the sunlight. The umbrellas in the courtyard were decorated with pretty fleur-de-lis patternsnaturally boasting the black and gold colors of the home football team, the Saints.
He got out of his car and walked through the wrought-iron gate to the courtyard, where a crowd had already gathered, and where the jazz trio was playing softly pleasant tunes.
Detective Jagger!
He was greeted by Valentina DeVante, Davids hostess. She worked all hours, although she was almost always at the club at night. She was a voluptuous woman, with a way of walking that was pure sensuality. She had the kind of eyes that devoured a man.
He didnt actually like being devoured, so hed always kept his distance.
Valentina, is David up and about?
Actually, hes over there in the courtyard, toward the back. Tommy, the sax player, is sick, so the guys brought in a substitute. You know how David loves his jazz. Hes making sure he likes the new guy so he can fill in again if hes needed. Come on. Ill take you to him.
She turned. She walked. She swished and swayed. Half the men in town, especially the inebriated ones, would trip over their tongues watching this woman. He was surprised to find himself analyzing his feelings toward her. Too overt. He liked subtlety. Sensuality over in-your-face sexuality. He liked a womans smile, a flash in her eyes when she was touched, amused, or when she flirted. He liked honesty, an addiction to decency
Fiona MacDonald.
God, no.
Yes. She was sleek and smooth, and she never teased or taunted; she was simply beautiful, and even when she was angry, there was something in the sound of her voice that seemed to slip beneath his skin. Her hair was like the sunlight, and her eyes
David, Jagger is here, Valentina said, leading him to Davids table and pulling out one of the plastic-cushioned patio chairs. As he took the seat and thanked her, she leaned low. Her black dress was cut nearly to her navel, displaying her ample cleavage right in front of his face.
But then, since Valentina was a shapeshifter, she could shift a little more of her to any part of her body she desired.
Hey, Jagger, I was expecting to see you, David said. He had half risen to greet Jagger, but Jagger lifted a hand, silently acknowledging the courtesy and assuring him that he was welcome to keep his seat.
David Jagger said in greeting.
Since they were both wearing dark glasses, there was nothing to be gleaned by seeking out honesty in Davids eyes, though Jagger knew from past encounters that they were fascinating eyes, almost gold in color. David was Creole, mainly, with additional ancestors who had been French and Italian, so his skin was almost as golden as his eyes, complemented by dark lashes and dark hair. He was a striking man and had always been a friend.
He couldnt tell what his friend was thinking right now but.
David tended to be a straight shooter.
Obviously, yes, Ive heard about the body, David said quietly.
Any suspects?
You think it was one of us? David asked. He didnt have to keep his voice low; the music was just right, and the courtyard was alive with the low drone of conversation. They wouldnt be heard beyond the table, even if Jagger did note that customersmost of them womendid glance in their direction now and then.
David, the body was bone-dry. Not a drop of blood.
David nodded, looking toward the band. Theyre good, dont you think?
Yes, very good. Your taste in music is legendary. Listen, right now the investigation is wide-open. Obviously no one but me suspects anything out of the ordinary. But weve got a serious problem, because it certainly looks to be the work of a vampire. And pretty soon its not going to be just me hanging around here and questioning people.
David groaned.
The Keeper? he said quietly. Oh, Lordy.
She found me right after I made it to the crime scene.
That one has some attitude, too, David said with a sigh, then shrugged. Oh well, comes with the territory, I guess. She had a hell of a lot to contend with at a very young age, and so far, weve all kept the peace. She hasnt had the timeor the needto acquire the wisdom of her parents. And shes got that strict code of ethics thing going on, too. Guess it comes with being the oldest. David grinned suddenly. Beautiful little thing, though, huh? If we were back in the old days yum. And I wouldnt have let anyone interfere with her birth into a new existence, either. Hell, shes the kind who might have made me monogamous. For a century or so, anyway.
Jagger wasnt at all sure why he immediately felt protective. Fiona MacDonald certainly wouldnt expect or even want him to defend her.