Kissed by Ice(18)

"Do you have any enemies?" Kabita asked. "Ones that wouldn't mind seeing you locked up?"

"None that I can think of," Eddie said. "At least none with access to the kind of technology that creates these soul-imbued vampires."

Well, that was an interesting turn of phrase. So, Eddie, the sweet, loveable guy did have enemies. It was hard to believe, but I'd come across stranger things.

"Maybe someone just wanted to get you out of the way for a while," I suggested.

Eddie shrugged. "I can't imagine why."

Neither could I, but I had a feeling it was important I figure it out. "In any case, we still need to find the vamp. Our best bet is to start searching where I found the other one," I said. "They must have been working together. Anything else is one coincidence too many."

"Agreed," Kabita said. "But I also think there's got to be more to it than that. There must be someone aboard controlling these guys."

"Not necessarily," I said. "Remember, soul vamps don't need to be in proximity to their creator to be controlled. Not like regular vamps. Whoever it is could be sitting on an island somewhere sipping a piña colada and getting a tan."

"We must be prepared for both possibilities," Eddie said. He leaned over, palms flat on the table, as if he was suddenly finding it hard to breathe.

"Eddie, are you okay?" I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Fine, my dear," he said, patting my hand, but his skin looked a little gray. I hadn't noticed it before, so I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or if the room just had bad lighting. "This sort of unnecessary death simply turns my stomach." He offered me a small smile. "Serving justice on this poor woman's behalf is all I need."

"Well, then that is what we will do."





While Magnussen dealt with the body and the local authorities, the rest of us headed into the belly of the ship to find the vamp. I took them straight to the spot where I'd killed the first one. It was the nature of vamps to nest together. Safety in numbers maybe. Who knew? But chances were, we'd find the second one close to where I'd dispatched the first.

We searched every inch of that damn ship from the cargo holds to the ventilation shafts. Nothing.

"He can't have just disappeared," Kabita said. "We're surrounded by water. Miles from shore."

She was right.

No wait. She was wrong.

"Shit."

Eddie and Kabita both stared at me.

"Vamps don't need to breathe," I explained as I headed upstairs to the command room.

They both stared at me as if I'd grown a second head, but followed slowly.

I sighed as I let myself into the room. "If you don't need to breathe, you don't need to worry about drowning." I let them in, then shut the door carefully. "And it takes a long time for vampires to get tired. Much longer than it would a human. He could have gone overboard. Swum as far as he could until he was either exhausted or the sun came out. Then he could have sunk to the bottom and walked to shore."

"Oh, my," said Eddie, polishing his glasses. He was looking decidedly green. I handed him a bottle of water, which he took with a grateful smile.

"You're an evil genius," Kabita said, clapping me on the back. "Though wouldn't the pressure be a problem?"

"He's dead, remember," I reminded her. "Or undead, anyway. He doesn't have to worry about getting the bends or damaging his organs or whatever."

"So, how do we find him?"

"That might be a little more complicated." I unrolled a map across the table. "The nearest island is here." I stabbed at it with my finger. "But as far as I can tell, it's really small and completely uninhabited."

"Perfect place to hide," Eddie speculated, sinking into a chair at the head of the table. He was looking better, but he was still a little off-color.

"Except he's a vampire. Where would he hide from the sun? There are no buildings and trees won't cut it."

"Wade back out to sea?" Eddie suggested.

"Possible, but a pain in the ass. My guess is he's headed toward his maker or whoever has control over him. Whoever the creator is, I doubt he — or she — is going to hang out on a tiny empty island. If I were a true evil genius, I'd be hanging out on the beach sucking down frosty beverages." I stabbed at another island. "Here maybe. It's big enough to have a comfortable resort and all the creature comforts. Or here." I tapped my finger on another one. "A little small and rustic, but possible."

"I can call back the helicopter," Kabita suggested. "Easy enough to check out those islands."

"I doubt the captain is going to let you land a helicopter on deck again," Eddie pointed out. "Not without some explanation, which we can't give him. If he gets involved in this investigation, he's going to want to hold you as material witnesses. Possibly turn you over to the authorities."