tree. “Let them have their fun. There’s nothing there to find. Just do your best to see people don’t get too upset.”
“I’ll do my best….” She would.
“I’ll be in early.” Maybe even before dawn. Doing his best to convince her to persuade everyone else not to worry. Toby hung up.
Now to explain what was going on (or as much of it as Toby knew or hypothesized) to the Lord of Wallachia.
Chapter 6
Vlad was a darn good listener. Toby made his report as brief as possible but was still pretty involved and based, he realized, on Laura’s word and the coincidence of a surname.
It was more than enough for Vlad Tepes.
“I’ll send Zeke down to see what’s going on. Better an unknown investigate than you, who plan to stay awhile. Zeke can poke and pry and ask nosy questions, then report what’s happening.” Nothing like seizing the moment. “And just in case he does find an intruder, Larouselière will be on his way too.”
Short but seldom sweet, Vlad rang off. Toby was covered now and, with a bit of luck, Vlad would take care of everything, and leave Toby to concentrate on Connor Inc. and the FBI. More than enough for one vampire.
As Toby headed for the beach to give Adela the all clear, he couldn’t help wondering how Etienne Larouselière, who seldom left France and never, to Toby’s knowledge, ventured beyond Europe, was in obligation to Vlad Tepes.
Not that he didn’t have far more pressing things on his mind. Between the FBI, arson, a venal deputy and now a vampire poaching in his borrowed territory, it was just as well he wasn’t hampered with mortal limitations.
He’d rather fancied descending the cliff head first, à la Bram Stoker, but, since there was a mother watching three small children digging in the sand, he came down the steps mortal style.
Adela was sitting, perched on rocks on the far side of the beach. “I watched them leave,” she said, looking up at the road bridge that spanned high over the inlet. “Looked like a convoy leaving. Did they strip the house?”
“We still have beds and a refrigerator, and I think they left the bathrooms intact.”
She shook her head and sighed. “Is Piet okay?”
“Thankfully, he was oblivious to most of it. He started fretting at all the noise and doors banging, but the nurse calmed him down and one good thing: ten minutes attempted conversation and they decided he was no longer a good source of information. I doubt they’ll subpoena him anytime soon.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not worried. Not now. At least the house is clear. Want to come back and try to sort out your complication?”
“I called Gertrude while I was waiting.” Her mobile was still in her hand. “She was shocked and upset, as you’d expect, but it seems she is either very cautious and provident or had a premonition. She put all her papers, house deed, insurance, car titles and everything in a lock box in the bank just before she left and took copies with her. She’s contacting them and will fax over any forms I need completed.”
“If she wants to come down, she can stay here, if you like.” What was one more?
Toby, you are such a nice man!” She gave him a quick hug. “But better not. If she comes, which I don’t think she wants to, I’ll find us a B and B or a motel. Gertrude is pretty sensitive to aura and if she noticed you didn’t have one, she might just put two and two together. Aside from your need for privacy, I think she has enough stress already without adding a vampire to the mix.”
Good point. “You’re right.” No point in mentioning there would be two vamps in the house. Better keep her in ignorance. “You’ll need a car. Want to use the Mercedes?”
“Don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but is there anything slightly less conspicuous?”
“Ah! You fancy slipping in and out with as little attention as possible.”
“Might be judicious, in the circumstances.”
Sensible woman. “We need the van for Piet, but there is a Hummer.”
She tilted her head to one side. “Nothing as plebeian as a Bug or a Toyota for a vampire!”
“They’d hardly fit our image, would they?”
“And Hummers do?”
“Hummers are different.” And besides, it was Piet’s, but at least that got a smile out of her. She was strung out—understandably enough—but strung-out mortals took risks and made mistakes, and right now he wasn’t sure he had energy or time to iron out another crimp around him. “When do you want it? It might need petrol.”
“I can check that. I can fill it up this evening.”
One complication dealt with; now he had to decide what to do with Laura—besides wanting her in his bed.
It didn’t bode well to set off for work with a raging headache. Come to that, it didn’t bode well to set off for work knowing her employer thought her a thief. Toby Wise had listened to her convoluted tale about her father, but that didn’t stifle the sneaking suspicion he was going to do a lot more than “help” her. Why in the name of sanity would he fabricate “evidence”? Was he trying to trap her? And why hadn’t she flatly refused Dad from the get-go? Because she was a sucker for a sob story, that was why, and when the sob storyteller was her father…Damn! The least she should do was offer to quit the job before she dug herself in any deeper. Dad would rant and wail, but he was asking too much, far, far too much. She was darn lucky Toby hadn’t fired her on the spot.
Thinking and driving at the same time made her head ache. Roadwork on 101 delayed her when she’d hoped to actually arrive early and to crown it, after turning off the road and up the curving drive to the house. Just a few yards ahead was a vast, black Town Car. Toby had visitors, unless the local police had raided the budget and gone ostentatious.
Visitors meant Toby would be occupied all evening. Would he forget his promise to help her out?
Zeke Randolph surveyed the sweeping, wooded drive with its strategic glimpses of beach and ocean. Very nice if you liked that sort of thing. He preferred cities. Felt safer in them. But Devil’s Elbow seemed okay. Heck, after checking out this tale of another rogue vampire—sheer moonshine, in Zeke’s opinion, two in the same decade, let alone the same year, was pushing it a bit—he might even snatch a day or two on the beach.
He eased the sleek nose of the gleaming Town Car round another bend, brushing tree branches. Better take care. Vlad wouldn’t gripe about renting an expensive car—he was a believer in impressing the populace—but charges for dents and scratches were another matter.
Wowee! Zeke’s first sight of the house impressed, despite his determination to be cool about everything, although he admitted curiosity about meeting a British vampire brother. Turning the car sharply, he sprayed gravel—damn, better watch that—and parked. He reached for his overnight case and headed for the wide open front door.
And all but froze.
The
