Netherworld: Drop Dead Sexy(35)

I nodded. “If I knew which day I died, I could follow my usual schedule.” I suddenly realized I could have checked the date on the newspaper during my impromptu visit to my apartment the night before. Duh.

Dan saved me a trip back to that depressing place. “You were reported missing on a Wednesday.”

“Then I must have at least made my Saturday date with Cooper Weathers.” That narrowed it down.

Tristan’s eyebrows shot up. “The real estate developer?”

I grinned to see his avid interest. Boy, the revelations I could share about Fulton Falls’ most illustrious citizens. I bet I could shock even this jaded vampire. “The beginning of the week is slow. No regulars are scheduled until Wednesday. I see your cohort on the county commission on Friday.”

Tristan sighed. “That reminds me. I have to prepare a statement for when his indiscretions with you come to light.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re not going to the press with this?”

His arm behind me slid down so he could stroke my shoulder. “I’m not that petty, and I like the old boy. The press will come to me. Because your body has been found, the police will no doubt be getting their search warrant for the escort service’s records.”

My stomach lurched. “Oh no. There are some powerful people on that list.” People I honestly liked. My death sucked on so many levels.

“So I’m gathering.” He drew back to study my face. “You’re really upset.”

Upset didn’t begin to cover the maelstrom of emotion swirling through me. “Lives are going to be ruined. A lot of my regulars are good men, they just—”

“Like to have sex with a beautiful, intelligent woman without strings attached,” Tristan finished for me. “It’s their own faults, Brandilynn. They didn’t have to stick their hands in the cookie jar, so to speak.”

Maybe, but when you’re the cookie jar giving out the sweets, guilt comes easily.

He stood and bent to take my elbow, pulling me up to stand beside him. “Come talk with me for a bit.”

He led me away. As I passed Dan, I noticed how his face reddened and his hands clenched for a brief instant.

I hoped I imagined the flash of jealousy on his expression.

* * * *

Tristan took me into the head librarian’s office where the plain wooden desk overflowed with books and papers. Bookshelves were crammed full until I thought they would groan from the weight. The biggest surprise however, was the window that stretched almost from the floor to the ceiling. Blinding sunlight poured in, and forgetting Tristan for an instant, I went to it. I gasped to see the waterfront. Wooden ships under sail plied the river, and more were tied to the docks. Sweating grubby men moved about the pier and ships like busy ants to-ing and fro-ing over an anthill. Horses pulled carts back and forth, gathering goods from the ships.





I heard the creak of Tristan settling into a chair. Unable to tear my eyes away from the sight, I murmured, “I thought we were underground. Isn’t the city built on top of us here?”

“What you’re seeing is the library’s memory. It’s an older time, somewhere during the mid-1800’s. I can’t even guess why that scene is imprinted on the building.”

“So if I went out to the buried part of the wharf, I wouldn’t see this?” I swallowed my disappointment. I would love to walk out there, to actually climb aboard one of those ships with their graceful lines and spiderweb rigging. And to sail on one! How magnificent that would be.

Tristan sounded wistful too. “You’d see nothing but burnt ruins of the dockmaster’s office and the concrete wall of the present pier.”

I reluctantly turned my back on the fascinating vista. Tristan sat on one of two wooden chairs in front of the desk. I joined him, crossing my legs. His eyes wandered the length of my calves before bringing his gaze back up to my face. Good boy.

“What did you think of my vampire side?” he asked.

I suppressed a shudder. I tried to be charitable. “Calculating and dangerous, but you all seem to be a pretty cold lot. I felt like I was in a rattlesnake nest last night.”

Tristan nodded. “The hunger is a part of that, but I’m probably worse than many. I have to be careful, even aloof. I’m in a position of power with many enemies.” He rubbed his temple, a small crack in his veneer of absolute confidence. “There have been assassination attempts. I’m sure I face many more.”

I could see his point. “It can’t be easy, worrying all the time that someone might stake you.”

“Actually, staking a vampire through the heart does little more than piss him off.”