Secret Life of a Vampire(20)

Jack glanced at the photo. "Was the other girl a redhead like this one?"
"Close. Strawberry blond."
A twinge of unease pricked at Jack's gut. Lara was exactly the kind of girl this kidnapper was looking for. And given the kidnapper's ability to manipulate minds, chances were good that he was a vampire. A Malcontent who preyed on pretty young women for food and sex. And like most Malcontents, he probably considered mortals a disposable food source. When he tired of one, he would drain her dry and toss her out like an empty milk jug.
If Lara came across him in the course of her investigation, he would want her. He would grab her and teleport away, and there would be no way to track him down.
Jack swallowed hard. He couldn't let Lara pursue this vampire. "This …  criminal is dangerous. I think you should leave his capture to someone else." Like me.
"No way." She scowled at him as she swung her legs off his lap and sat up. "I want to be promoted to detective. If I can help with this case, it'll prove that I'm ready."
"Prove yourself on someone less dangerous."
She scoffed. "They're all dangerous, Jack. That's why they're called criminals."
He folded the flyer and handed it back to her. "Have you been officially assigned to the case?"
"No." She stuffed the flyer in her pocket. "Some detectives in LaToya's precinct are handling it. Normally, it would be a really big no-no for us to do our own investigating, but we feel compelled to do something because we know about the mind-control aspect. I don't think the detectives will ever figure that out, and I really don't know how to explain it to them without them wanting to lock us up in a psych ward."
Jack also doubted the detectives would figure out that a vampire was involved. But if they did, it would be disastrous for all the good Vamps, who needed secrecy in order to survive.
He would explain the situation to Connor and Angus. They would agree that the matter needed to be resolved by Vamps, quickly and quietly with as little mortal interference as possible. "Since you are determined to work on this case, I would like to …  assist you."
"Really?" Lara's eyes widened.
Actually, he was going to take charge, but he'd keep that to himself for now. "I have some experience in investigative work. And I could be considered an expert in mind control."
"Yeah, I noticed."
"I'd like to meet Vanessa's friends," Jack continued. "I might be able to retrieve their real memories."
"Oh my gosh!" Lara jumped to her feet. "That would be great. We could get a real description of the kidnapper."
"Then you agree. We will work together." And he could protect her from harm. He stood and motioned toward the foyer. "The car's out front. I'll drive."
"Great!" Lara dashed into the foyer. "LaToya!"
"What?" LaToya yelled. Footsteps pounded on the stairs. "I'm coming! Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Lara shouted. "I'm going out with Jack. He wants to help us with the case."
"What?" LaToya halted on the second-floor landing and gasped for breath. Carlos stopped right behind her. She gave Jack a wary look. "He can't help us: He's a suspect."
"He's fine." Lara smiled at him. "He's a good guy."
Jack's heart expanded in his chest. "Grazie, bellissima." He took her hand and kissed her fingers.
"Wait a minute." LaToya marched down the last flight of stairs, glaring at Lara. "You're going somewhere alone with this guy?" She glanced at Jack. "No offense, but you're not exactly normal."
Jack bowed his head. "I understand. And I applaud your desire to protect Lara. I feel the same way."
"Ain't that just dandy?" LaToya grabbed Lara's arm and pulled her away from Jack. "Girl, we need to talk."
"He has an alibi for last night," Lara explained as she was dragged into the living room. "He was at church."
LaToya snorted. "Right. He's a regular choir boy."
"What's going on?" Carlos whispered as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jack held a finger to his lips. He wanted to listen in on the conversation next door. Carlos nodded.
"Have you lost your mind, girl?" LaToya whispered. "One minute you think he's a suspect, and the next, you're ready to believe anything he says?"
"He has an alibi," Lara repeated. "A lot of people saw him last night."
"You only have his word for that. And what if he programmed those people to say they saw him?" LaToya asked. "What if he's messing with your mind, too?"
"I'm immune to him."
LaToya snorted. "Girl, if that man had the flu, you'd already be running a fever."
"He's an honorable man," Lara insisted. "I-I sorta offered myself to him, and-"
"What?"
"Shhh," Lara hushed her. She lowered her voice so that Jack had to strain to hear. "I offered myself to see how he would react, and he turned me down, even though it was obvious that he wanted me. It was so sweet."
"How special," Carlos whispered with a wry smile. "I feel strangely nauseated."
Jack shot a look at Carlos that said, Butt out. Still, he was surprised that the shape shifter's hearing was as good as his. "How did the tour go?"
"Fine," Carlos kept his voice low. "I made sure she didn't see any bathrooms with missing mirrors."
"Good." Jack focused once more on the conversation in the living room.
"He's going to help us find the kidnapper," Lara whispered.
"What if he's steering the investigation away from himself?" LaToya asked.
"He's not," Lara hissed. "Did you come across any imprisoned women upstairs?"
"No, but I haven't seen the basement yet. You know there's something weird about him."
Lara sighed. "Yes, I know."
"What do you know?" LaToya asked sharply.
"I know that I don't know."
"Well, I know that."
Lara moaned. "This is getting us nowhere. I'll be fine. Why don't you go home, and I'll be along later."
"All right," LaToya grumbled. "But before I leave, I'm going to finish checking this place out. If you need me for anything, call me."
Jack strode to the console and collected the car keys. "Are you ready, Lara?" he called.
"Coming." She rushed into the foyer, swinging her handbag onto her shoulder.
LaToya followed her and glared at Jack. "She'd better come back safe."
He nodded. "I would never do anything to hurt Lara."
"I'm holding you to that. I've got a cousin in New Orleans who's into voodoo. Don't make me start playing with dolls."
Jack looked at Lara and smiled. "I'll try to behave myself."
She leaned close and whispered, "Don't try too hard."
He squeezed her hand. "Whatever you say, bellissima. I always aim to please."
"Oh God." LaToya grimaced. "Y'all are so sweet, I'm going into hyperglycemic shock. Just kill me now."
Carlos laughed. "How about a beer?"
"Sounds good." LaToya crossed her arms, still watching Jack with a suspicious eye, while Carlos disappeared into the kitchen. "So, choir boy, what's in the basement?"
"A dead body or two, usually." Jack smiled. "But they're gone now."
Lara gave him an annoyed look. "That's not helping."
"Sorry," Jack said. "There's a washer and dryer downstairs."
"Of course." LaToya narrowed her eyes. "And plenty of bleach for getting out bloodstains."
"Exactly." Jack nodded. "I hate bloodstains."
Lara elbowed him in the ribs. "Would you stop kidding? She's going to believe you."
Unfortunately, he wasn't kidding.
"Here's the beer," Carlos announced as he returned from the kitchen. He handed an opened bottle to LaToya.
"Thanks." She took a swig. "So what is in the basement, Carlos?"
"A pool table. Would you like to play?"
"Sure." She followed him to the basement stairs and gave Jack an irritated look as she passed by. "Dead bodies, my ass. You've probably got a spaceship down there."
Jack strode to the front door and punched some buttons on the keypad to deactivate the alarm. "Shall we go?"
"Sure." Lara followed him out the front door. "Please don't mind LaToya. She's just very protective of me."
"I understand." He closed the front door and turned the alarm back on. "I feel the same way." There was a bloodthirsty vampire out there collecting redheads. He would do whatever it took to protect Lara.
                       
       
           



       Chapter Ten
 

"Megan, this is Jack …  Venezia." Lara realized she wasn't sure what Jack's last name was, which was a bit disturbing since she kept ending up in his arms, kissing him. "He's going to help us locate Vanessa."
"Okay." Megan's eyes widened at the sight of Jack standing at her door.
"How do you do?" He nodded politely. "May we come in?"
Megan stumbled back a few steps, still gawking at Jack. Lara knew how she felt. Jack had a way of taking over one's senses.
He closed the door. "Have a seat, please. This will just take a moment."