Suspects: murder case

Chapter 75

I smiled. "I try not to lie to you, if I can avoid it. "

"For once," Danny said, "I'd have liked to have heard the lie. "

"Sorry," I said.

He took in a deep breath and let it out slow. His anger was gone just like that. Danny didn't know what it was to hold onto his rage. He didn't brood over things. One of the main differences between us. I never forgave anyone for anything. A character flaw to be sure, but hell, everyone's got to have at least one.

There was a knock on the door. Danny went for the door.

Mason-Claude was suddenly standing by me. I hadn't seen him move. Hadn't heard his leather boots slither over the carpet. Nothing. Magic. My heart was suddenly thudding in my throat.

"Stomp your feet or something when you do that. "

"Do what, ma petite?"

I glared up at him. "That wasn't a mind trick, was it?"

"No," he said. That one word slithered across my skin like a low creeping breeze.

"Damn you," I said softly and with feeling.

He smiled. "We've been over that, ma petite; you are too late. "

Danny had closed the door. "There's a guy out in the hall says he's with Mason-Claude. "

"A guy or a vampire?" I asked.

Danny frowned. "Not a vampire, but if you mean human I wouldn't go that far. "

"You expecting company?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. "

"Who?"

He stalked to the door and put a hand on the doorknob. "Someone I believe you've already met. " He opened the door with a flourish, stepping to one side to let me have a clear view.

Daniel stood in the open door, smiling, relaxed. He was my height exactly, not something you find in a man often. Straight blond hair barely touched the top of his collar; his eyes were the innocent blue of spring skies. The last time I'd seen him he'd been trying to eat me. Werewolves will do that sometimes.

He was dressed in an oversized black sweater that hit him almost at mid-thigh. He'd had to roll the sleeves over his wrists. His pants were leather, laced up the side from waist to mid-calf, where the laces vanished into boots. The lacings were loose enough that there was a pale line of flesh all the way down.

"Hello, Anita. "

"Hi, Daniel. What are you doing here?"

He had the grace to look embarrassed. "I'm Mason-Claude's new pet. "

He said the last word like it was alright. Richard wouldn't have said it that way.

"You didn't tell me you brought company," I said.

"We are going to be calling on the Master of the City. We must make a good show of it. "

; "So a werewolf, and what. . . me?"

He sighed. "Yes, ma petite, whether you bear my marks or not, most consider you my human servant. " He raised a hand. "Please, Anita, I know you are not my human servant in the technical sense. But you have helped me defend my territory. You have killed to protect me. That is the best definition of what a human servant does. "

"So, what? I have to pretend to be your human servant on this visit?"

"Something like that," he said.

"Forget it. "

"Anita, I need a show of strength here. Branson was part of Nikolaos's territory. I gave it up because the population density could support another group. But it was still my land, and now it's not. Some view that as weakness rather than practicality. "

"So without any marks at all you've finally got me to play servant for you. You manipulative son of a b***h. "

"You asked me down here, ma petite. " A thread of warmth cut through his words. He stalked towards me. "I am doing you a favor, do not forget that. "

"I don't think you'll let me forget," I said.

He made a harsh sound, as if he had no words for his anger. "Why do I put up with you? You insult me at every turn. There are many who would give their souls for what I offer you. "

He stood in front of me, eyes like dark sapphires, skin white as marble. His skin glowed like there was a light inside him. He looked like some kind of live sculpture made of light, jewels, and stone.

He was impressive and scary, but I'd seen it before. "Cut the vampire powers s**t, Mason-Claude. It's almost dawn; don't you have a coffin to crawl into somewhere?"

He laughed, but it wasn't pleasant, it was bitter like the touch of steel wool. Something to irritate rather than entice. "Our luggage has not arrived, has it, my wolf?"

"No, master," Daniel said.

"Your coffin hasn't arrived?" I asked.

"Either I have chosen a very lax skycab, or. . . " He let the words trail off, face bland and pleasant.

"Or what?" Danny asked.

"Ma petite. "

"You think the local master took your coffin," I said.

"A punishment for entering her territory without observing all the social niceties. " He looked at me when he said it.

"I suppose that's my fault," I said.

He gave that infuriating shrug. "I could have said no, ma petite. "

"Stop being so civilized about it. "

"Would you be happier if I was angry?" His voice was very mild when he said it.

"Maybe," I said. It would have made me feel less guilty, but I didn't say that out loud.

"Go to the airport and find our luggage if you can, Daniel. Bring it back to Anita's room. "

"Wait a minute. You are not moving into my room. "

"It is nErnesty dawn, ma petite. I have no choice. Tomorrow we will find other accommodations. "

"You planned this. "

He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Even my deviousness knows some bounds, ma petite. I would not willingly be without my coffin this close to dawn. "

"What are you going to do without your coffin?" Danny asked. He looked anxious.

Mason-Claude smiled. "Do not fear, Lawrence, all I need is darkness, or rather lack of sunlight. The coffin itself is not absolutely necessary, simply more secure. "

"I've never known a vampire that didn't sleep in a coffin," I said.

"If I am underground in a secure place, I forego my coffin. Though truthfully, once daylight finds me I am insensible and could sleep on a bed of nails and not know it. "

I wasn't sure I believed him. He worked harder than most at passing for human. "You will see the truth of my words soon enough, ma petite. "

"That's what I'm afraid of," I said.

"You can sleep on the couch if you prefer, but I am telling you truly that once full daylight arrives I will be harmless, helpless if you like. I would be unable to molest you even if I wanted to. "

"And what other fairy tales am I supposed to believe? I've seen you move around after dawn, hidden from light, but you worked just fine. "

"After eight hours or so of sleep, if it is still daylight I can move around, true, but I doubt you will stay abed for eight hours. You have clients or something, a murder investigation, some business that will take you out and about. "

"If I leave you alone, who'll see that some maid doesn't come in, pull the curtains back and French fry you?"

The smile widened. "Concern over my well-being. I am touched. "

I looked at him. He looked pleasant, amused, but it was a mask. His expression when he didn't want you to know what he was thinking, but didn't want you to know that he didn't want you to know. "What are you up to?"

"For once, ma petite, nothing. "

"Yeah, right. "

"If I find the coffin, I'll need to rent a truck," Daniel said.

"You can use our Jeep," Danny said.

I glared at him. "No, he can't. "

"Think of it as expediency, ma petite. If Daniel must rent a truck, then I may have to spend another day in your bed. I know you do not want that. " There was amusement in his voice, and an undercurrent of something else. It might have been bitterness.

"I'll drive," Danny said.

"No, you won't," I said.

"It's almost dawn, Anita. I'll be alright. "

I shook my head. "No. "

"You can't treat me like a kid brother forever. I can drive the Jeep. "

"I promise not to eat him," Daniel said.

Danny held out his hand for the keys. "You have to trust me sometime. "

I just looked at him.

"I promise to shoot anything, human or monster, that threatens me while I'm gone. " He made the Boy Scout sign, three fingers to heaven. "You can bail me out of jail and explain that I was just following orders. "

I sighed. "Alright, dammit. " I gave him the keys.

He grinned at me. "Thanks. "

I shook my head. "Just hurry back, okay?"

"Anything you say. "

"Just get out of here, and be careful. "

Danny left with Daniel trailing behind. I stared at the door after it closed, wondering if I should have gone with them. Knowing that Danny would have gotten mad, but mad was better than dead. Hell, it was a simple errand; go to the airport and pick up a coffin. What could go wrong with less than an hour of darkness left? s**t.

"You cannot protect him, Anita. "

"I can try. "

Mason-Claude gave that infuriating shrug that meant anything you wanted it to mean, and nothing at all. "Shall we retire to your room, ma petite?"

I opened my mouth to tell him he could bunk with Danny, but didn't say it. I didn't really believe he'd munch on Danny, but I was sure he wouldn't munch on me. "Sure," I said.

He looked a little surprised, as if he'd expected an argument. But I was all out of argument tonight. He could have the bed. I'd take the couch. What could be more innocent? Biker Nuns from Hell, but besides that.

Stirling and Co. were gone when we trudged down off the mountain. We drove the Jeep back to the hotel. I was frankly surprised they hadn't taken the Jeep with them and left us to walk. Stirling didn't strike me as a man who liked having guns pointed at him. But then, who does?

Larry's room was first down the hall. He hesitated with his room card in the lock. "You think the rooms are paid for tonight, or do we pack?"

"We pack," I said.

He nodded, and shoved the card in its little slot. The door handle turned, and in he went. I went to the next door and put in my own card. There was a connecting door between the rooms. We hadn't unlocked it, but it was there. Personally I liked my privacy, even from my friends. And especially from my coworkers.

The room's silence flowed around me. It was wonderful. A few minutes of quiet before I faced Bert and told him all that money had just flown the coop.

The room was a suite with an outer room and a separate bedroom. My apartment wasn't much bigger. There was a bar set into the left-hand wall. Being a teetotaler, that was a real plus for me. The walls were a soft pink with a delicate pattern of gilt-edged leaves, the carpet a deep burgundy. The full-sized couch was a purple so dark it looked nearly black. A love seat matched it. Two armchairs were done in a purple, burgundy, and white floral pattern. All exposed wood was very dark and highly polished. I had suspected I had some kind of honeymoon suite until I saw Larry's room. It was nearly a mirror of mine, but done in shades of green.

A cherrywood desk that looked like a genuine antique sat against the far wall. The connecting door was beside it but opened opposite so you wouldn't accidentally bump the desk. Monogrammed stationery graced the desk, along with a second telephone line for your modem I guess.

I don't know if I'd ever stayed in a room this expensive. I doubted seriously if Beadle, Beadle, Stirling, and Lowenstein would want to pick up the tab now.

A sound jerked me around. The Browning sort of materialized in my hand. I was staring down the barrel at Mason-Claude. He stood in the doorway leading to the bedroom. The shirt had long, full sleeves that had been gathered in three puffs down the length of the arm to end in a spill of cloth that framed his long, pale fingers. The collar was high and tied with a white cravat that spilled lace down the front of him tucked into a vest. It was black and velvety with pinpricks of silver on it. Thigh-high black boots fit his legs like a second skin.

His hair was nearly as black as the vest, making it hard to tell where the curls ended and the velvety cloth began. A silver and onyx stickpin that I'd seen before pierced the white lace at his chest.

"Well, ma petite, are you going to shoot me?"

I was still standing there with the g*n pointed at him. He had not moved. He had been very careful to do nothing that could be taken as threatening. His blue, blue eyes stared at me. Serious, waiting.