Kiss of the Vampire(80)
At least four deaths now in conjunction with the rift device. Three vamps, one human. This was going to blow up in their faces if they didn’t track Natchook down soon.
He heard the door to the observatory open and turned to see Nix and MacMillan headed his way. The detective turned up his jacket collar again and folded his arms, tucking his hands in his armpits for warmth. Nix had a slight smile on her face that faded as she got closer. “What happened? What did your PI friend have to say?”
Tobias glanced around one more time to make sure they didn’t have any eavesdroppers. “Sahir’s dead. Killed by vampires early this morning.”
MacMillan let out a low whistle. “Well, that jibes with what we just learned.”
“Which is?”
Nix glanced down at her notes. “One of the scientists said Sahir met someone at the base of the mountain a few days ago. He saw them pulled over on one of the side roads as he drove by on his way home.” She closed up her notebook and slipped it into her bag. “He said the other guy looked like a vampire.”
“He could tell that as he passed by going fifty miles an hour?” Tobias couldn’t help but be skeptical.
“That’s what I said,” MacMillan replied. “It was at an intersection, so he had to stop and check for clearance before he kept going. They weren’t that far away, and apparently the vamp was showing quite a bit of fang.”
“Would he recognize him if he saw him again?” Tobias would borrow a police sketch artist and get him up here if that were the case.
MacMillan shook his head. “Nope. Said once he caught a glimpse of fangs that was all he saw. He couldn’t even say if the vamp was blond or brunet. Just that he was male.” He grimaced. “I have a feeling we’re lucky he managed to notice that much.”
“Shit.” Tobias looked at Nix. “Did you get anything more?”
“No.” Her eyes held sparks of demon fire. “It looks like our best lead to Natchook has hit a dead end. Literally.”
Chapter Fifteen
It was nearing five o’clock by the time they got back on the road heading out of Tucson. MacMillan wanted to stop for dinner, Tobias made a concession and went through a fast-food drive through. Nix ordered a single cheeseburger and a side salad, while the detective ordered a triple beef burger with bacon and three kinds of cheese, large fries, and a regular cola.
“Your arteries are probably screaming for help,” Nix said before biting into her burger.
“Nah. I get lots of exercise with the horses,” MacMillan said. “That and running around after my little sister.”
“Your sister?” Tobias asked. “How old is she?”
“Thirty.” He grinned at Tobias’s roll of the eyes. “She just separated from her husband.” His grin faded and sadness flitted across his face. “I told her she could move in with me while she gets back on her feet.”
“That was nice of you,” Nix said.
Tobias glanced in the rearview mirror and caught the detective’s modest shrug.
“It was the right thing to do,” MacMillan said. “Anyway, it helps me, too, because she’s there during the day to keep an eye on things, and when I have a long day like this she can work the horses a bit for me.”
“He has a quarter horse and an Appaloosa,” Nix volunteered, her face alight with interest. “Our schedules haven’t jelled enough for me to get over there for a ride, but one of these days I will.”
“You bet.” MacMillan met Tobias’s gaze in the mirror. “You’re invited, too, chief, but the horses probably won’t let you near ’em.”
“It’s all right.” Tobias knew from experience he’d have a hard time with horses. They sensed he was a predator and wouldn’t settle down until they could no longer see or smell him. He’d told MacMillan before that he’d had horses when he’d first moved to Arizona a century and a half ago. It had taken long months of working with them, a few minutes each day, to get the horses to the point where they trusted him. But eventually they had and he’d been able to get around a little more easily. He missed that. His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket and frowned. “It’s Braithwaite. I’m going to put him on speakerphone, don’t let him know you’re here.” He connected the call. “Caine here.”
“Tobias, it’s Will Braithwaite.” He paused. “Am I on speaker?”
“Yes, so I can be hands-free. I’m driving back up from Tucson.” Tobias shot a glance at Nix, who raised her hands, clearly baffled as to why the vampire council member was calling. “What can I do for you, Councilor?” Tobias asked.