As he spoke, a woman suddenly came sweeping into the room. She was small, perhaps five-two or five-three, slim, well built and very pretty, with huge blue eyes and golden-blond hair worn to her shoulders.
Alan! Jimmy told me that the police were here. She paused, looking at Brodie and Mark, who both rose.
My sister, Brigitte, Alan Hildegard said. Brigitte, these are Detectives Mark Valiente and Brodie McKay.
Brodie and Mark both murmured polite greetings.
She walked over and shook hands with a surprisingly strong grip for someone so small. Are you here about that awful business in the cemetery? she asked.
Yes, Mark said.
I do hope you catch and prosecute thosedefilers to the full extent of the law, she said.
The detectives believe we have a bigger problem, my dear, Alan Hildegard said. Two women have diedand another is missing. Their fates seem to have something to do with the fool whos creating a religion around Great-Grandfather.
Brigitte looked at Mark and Brodie in horror. Someone is killing people over Sebastian? How horribleand ridiculous. But...what makes you think theres a link to Sebastian?
Mark and Brodie didnt look at one another; they both knew they had no intention of explaining anything about Alessandes involvement.
Im afraid we cant go into the details of an ongoing investigation, Mark said.
Im sure you understand, Brodie added.
So why on earth do you think we can help? Brigitte asked.
Perhaps someone has been hounding your familyor maybe bothering you for details about Sebastian that only the family might know, Mark said.
Just then Jimmy came into the room carrying a silver tray. Coffee, sir, he told Alan.
He set the tray on the table before the fire, turned and left.
Sit down, please, sit downJimmy makes excellent coffee, Brigitte said, her tone distracted. She herself perched on a chair by the coffee service, as if aware, in a corner of her mind, that no one would sit until she did.
Sugar, cream? she asked, filling two cups.
They both demurred.
Then its true, she said, a twinkle in her eyes. Cops drink their coffee black.
Not all of them, Mark assured her.
She looked over at her brother and then at the two detectives. My cousin Charlaine is our family historian, and she lives here, but shes not in right now.
Mark produced a card from his pocket and handed it to Brigitte. Would you ask your cousin to call us when she can, please?
Of course. Im sorrybut I knew nothing about any of this.
I hate to say it, but bad news is so common these daysI didnt even realize that two young women had recently been found dead, Alan Hildegard said. But if you need our help in any way, you only need to ask.
They were being dismissed, Mark realized. Alan Hildegard had spoken, and that was the end of things.
Mark rose again. Thanks for the coffee, and for your time.
Yes, thank you, Brodie said.
The two of them left and were soon back in the car. When they drove toward the gate to leave, it opened automatically. Either that, or someone was watching and was anxious to see them leave.
What do you think? Brodie asked.
I think theyre shapeshifters, Mark said.
Brodie grinned. Dont go doing Other profiling, now.
Mark grinned at that. No, I mean that, as shapeshifters, they can give pretty much any impression they choose.
Alan seemed sincerely upset by the deaths and the connection to the family.
As did his sister.
Lets hope the cousin contacts us soon, Brodie said. For now, I dont know about you, but I have to get some sleep.
Mark glanced at him. Id like to go back to the House of the Rising Sun with you. I want to hear more about Alessande being a Keeper now.
Sure. You can have the car if you want to go home afterwardor you can stay over at Pandoras Box. Rhiannon has a nice guest bedroom.
Maybe I will crash there.
* * *
Brodie had a remote in his car and opened the large gate at the Keepers estate. Wizard, Rhiannons massive wolfhound mix, followed as they headed up the drive and parked.
The minute they stepped out of the car, Wizard barked happily, seeing friends. Dont jump! Brodie said.
But Wizard was already up, his giant paws on Brodies shoulders.
Were not doing so well with the dog training, Brodie said.
Mark grinned. Hes a good dog.
As if aware of the compliment, Wizard came running over to greet him.
Mark was prepared for the dogs embrace and the sloppy kiss on the cheek he received.
Sorryhes kind of slobbery, Brody said.
Hes fine, Mark said, wiping his face.
Brodie headed toward Castle House, where the others were still gathered. Mark started to follow him but was stopped by a loud Psst!
He paused, looking around. There was no one in sight.
He heard a self-satisfied giggle. Frowning, he spun around. He still didnt see anyone.
Then a mourning dove came sweeping out of the nearest tree to land on the sidewalk before him.
The bird suddenly morphed right in front of him.
And there was Alessande, looking very proud of herself, tossing back a strand of white-blond hair and staring at him with defiance.
I cant believe I never knew about this! Shifting is amazing! she said. Im well on the road to joining the ranks of the Keepers. Despite her ongoing impudent look, she spoke with gentle amusement. Mark, please dont be offended, but I hope you know that now no one can tell me to stay out of any situation where shape-shifting is involved.
Chapter 4
It was wonderful. Incredible. Exhilarating.
Once she concentrated, shifting was easyfar easier than teleporting. Teleporting meant moving through time and space, while changing simply meant switching appearance.
Admittedly, she was on a bit of a high, and she hadnt been able to refrain from taunting Mark Valiente.
His expression wasnt pleasant as he looked at her, shaking his head. Its all a big game to you, isnt it?
What? she asked him.
Stretch your muscles, test your power. Play bird and fly around the yard. Women are dead, Alessande, and you just want to prove that youre tougher and stronger and more talented than anyone else.
She didnt understand why his disapproval hurt so much.
Unless there was a grain of truth in what he was saying.
No, she said, speaking softly, seeking dignity. Im trying to learn. You were born a vampire. You grew up nurtured, learning to live in a world where once you would have been seen as nothing more than a bloodthirsty monster. When it came to being Elven, I, too, was taught everything I needed to know. But shifting... This is new to me. No one knows what they can and cant do until they stretch their muscles, and Im just trying to test mine. Im not trying to be bigger or tougher or stronger. I just need to be involvedto help.
You need to stay out of this, he said, and his tone seemed a shade gentler.
Could you stay out of it?
Im a cop.
Why are you a cop? Because you have to be involved. You feel that people need youand thats why you do what you do. Unless, of course, you feel a need to exercise your power.
Could you stay out of it?
Im a cop.
Why are you a cop? Because you have to be involved. You feel that people need youand thats why you do what you do. Unless, of course, you feel a need to exercise your power.
He looked back at her, studied her, and she was dismayed to realize that he very clearly didnt like what he saw.
Why? Why did that bother her? She winced inwardly; shed gotten into this because she knew what she had to do. She had to save Regina. And not just Regina. More women would die if this conspiracy of occult terror wasnt stopped. And Mark...
Might have saved her life, despite her protestations to the contrary.
He turned to enter the house.
Maybe he had a right to look at her that way. Maybe things wouldnt have gone so well if he and Brodie hadnt shown up at the Hildegard mausoleum.
Startled and distraught by being so completely dismissed, Alessande stood at the door for a moment before reentering the house herself.
The Gryffald cousins were seated around the large table in the dining room. Declan Wainwright and Mick Townsend were with them. As Alessande entered, Brodie had just pulled up a chair and Mark Valiente was on his way to join them. She entered and saw that the table had become crowded. For a moment, she thought they werent going to make room for her.
Brodie watched her hesitate, stood and grabbed one of the chairs standing by the wall, drawing it up and waiting for her to sit. The minute Alessande had claimed her chair, Barrie spoke up.
Okay, she said. She had a pad and pencil because, despite having all the technology she could want, she was still a words-on-paper reporter at heart. We have two dead women. Both were aspiring actresseswhich may or may not mean anything, seeing as a high percentage of the young ladies who come to Hollywood are dreaming of being the next star on the Walk of Fame. But... She paused, looking over at Mark. Brodie called earlier and told us that when you went to the old Hildegard Studio, you found a new screenplay by Greg Swayze on one of the soundstages.
I checked while you were gone, Rhiannon said. Theyre going to be casting for the movie starting next week. Its a historical piece, set in New York in the Five Points area in the 1880s. The lead character is Jane Adams, the daughter of Irish immigrants who is trying to escape the poverty of the Five Points district. She becomes involved with a rich man and realizes he might be a serial killer.
Its not being produced by Alan Hildegard, is it? Mark asked sharply.
Rhiannon shook her head. No. Its being produced by Blue Dove Entertainment. It was started by a couple college kids doing independent documentaries. That was fifteen years agothey grew slowly but surely, and now theyre at a point where they can compete with the big boys.
We need to speak with Swayze and find out if he knew either of the murdered women. Its very possible that one of them had the copy of the screenplay we found, Mark said.
Or that Regina did, Alessande said.
They all looked at her for a moment, silent.
I realize its been kept out of the media, but how were the two women killed? she asked. I know they were kept alive for a long time before their deaths, and the fear they must have lived with until the moment of... She shuddered, then said, But I dont know how they were actually killed.
Their throats were slit, Mark said.
Clean cuts, Brodie put it. Mercifully, they would have died within seconds from blood loss.