Blood Lure (18 page)

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

117

He looked up from his reservation screen as two exceedingly handsome men approached. Both were tall and wide shouldered, but while one had hair dark as night, the other man’s shoulder-length hair shone like a golden mane.

Now here are clients who deserve the very best service
, was his thought while fixing his most welcoming smile on his face.
And anything else they might wish for
…

“Gentlemen, how may I help you?”

“We are guests of Mr Bernard Fieldman,” the dark-haired man told him.

“Really?” The maitre d’ could not disguise the surprise in his voice, but he quickly controlled it as he added, “Mr Fieldman has reserved a room only for two—”

“That is correct,” the golden-haired man interrupted smoothly. “My name is Jared Lantos, and my friend is Andrew Berés. We are not staying for dinner, just long enough for perhaps a glass of wine and a brief conversation.”

Andrew locked eyes with the maitre d’. “Would you please show us to his room?”

“Why yes, of course.”

Under the spell of Andrew’s eyes, the man would have happily shown him, given him, anything he wanted.

“This way, gentlemen.”

He led them down a short hallway, stopping before a heavy oaken door on which he tapped quietly before opening it and ushering in Andrew and Jared. Once the maitre d’ had closed the door and left to return to his reservation desk, Andrew sealed the door against any unwanted interruption.

The room was dimly lit with soft overhead lamps and candles on the table, set for two.

Fieldman didn’t bother to look at them, no doubt considering them to be part of the restaurant staff.

“Hey, just in time to refill our glasses. You guys sure don’t bust your asses around here to take care of somebody payin’ a lot of money to—”

“Be quiet, Mr Fieldman,” Andrew snapped.

He glanced at the young girl sitting opposite Fieldman. She looked to be underage and Andrew could read in her mind that she wanted to be anywhere but in Fieldman’s company.

What kind of father would do this, regardless of the hold this fat man has on him?

“Jared,” he said softly.

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J.P. Bowie

118

Jared nodded and held out his hand to the girl. Their eyes met, and the girl took Jared’s hand without any trace of fear or hesitation, allowing him to lead her to a corner of the room where she sat by him on a couch, not saying a word.

Fieldman’s face was purple with rage. “What the fuck is going on here?” He reached for his cell phone lying on the table in front of him. “Who are you guys? What’s this all about?

You got some goddam nerve comin’ in here. I’m calling the management, and—”

“I am Andrew Berés, Mr Fieldman.” Andrew took the cell phone from Fieldman’s unresisting, sweaty fingers. “Michael’s brother.”

“What?” Fieldman’s small eyes widened in his podgy face and his skin turned ashen as he stared with disbelief at Andrew. “No. That’s…that’s not possible. You’re supposed to be dead.”

“That is true.” Andrew’s cold blue stare riveted Fieldman to his seat. “Or rather, I am undead. But then you know that, and that is why I am here. To find out who informed you that Michael was vampire. I would advise you to answer truthfully, Mr Fieldman. Your very life depends on it.”

Fieldman’s fleshy neck wobbled as he tried to swallow his fear.

“But he was the one who wanted you and your brother out of the way. He’ll kill me if I tell you his name.”

“And I will kill you if you do not,” Andrew said quietly. “The choice is yours.”

Fieldman’s flabby body shook as he mumbled, “His name is Lazlo Marek.”

Andrew stiffened at the mention of his uncle’s name. He felt his arm taken in a comforting grasp by Jared who was suddenly at his side.

“My
uncle
did this?”

“Andrew,” Jared murmured. “I am so sorry…”

Fieldman’s piggy eyes darted from Andrew to Jared then back to Andrew.

“You’ll go now?” he whined. “You won’t hurt me now you have what you want?”

For a long moment Andrew remained perfectly still, the sense of betrayal numbing his mind, his thoughts becoming unclear.

“Andrew…” Jared’s grip on Andrew’s arm tightened. “What do you wish to do?”

Andrew gave himself a small shake and stared at Fieldman, a question in his eyes.

“You saw my uncle at the Vampire Council chamber. Why did you not identify him at that time? Why didn’t you accuse him of his complicity in my brother’s murder?”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

119

Fieldman’s eyes bugged out of his head with shock. “You—you mean that was real? I thought I’d dreamed it all. I was really there? With all them vampires?”

“Yes, you were really there.” Andrew couldn’t quite hide the distinct pleasure Fieldman’s realisation brought him. “And you should consider yourself very lucky that you were allowed to leave alive.”

“Then—then your uncle must’ve did something so’s I wouldn’t remember what he looked like,” Fieldman quavered. “I didn’t even know he was there. Didn’t know I was there…” His voice trailed off into dumbstruck silence.

Andrew nodded, aware that his uncle could do exactly that. “Jared, please arrange for a cab to take the young lady home. Mr Fieldman and I have some more business to discuss.”

Jared beckoned to the girl who rose from the couch and came willingly to him. With a little smile she took Jared’s hand.

“I will join you outside in a few minutes,” Andrew told him.

“Wait,” Fieldman cried as Jared led the girl from the room. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me if I told you who screwed you! Please…”

The fat man’s face was covered in a sickly sweat as he begged.

“You are a disgusting specimen, Fieldman.” Andrew leant over the man who shrank back in his seat and stared up at Andrew, rank terror in his eyes.

“What I see in your mind, what you intended to do to that girl, fills me with revulsion.

Now…” Andrew pulled a chair close to Fieldman and sat beside him. “Here is what you will do. Before I leave you here, you will call the young lady’s father and relinquish any claim, any threat you hold over him, and you will tell him that never again will you bother his daughter with thoughts of violating her. Is that clear?”

Fieldman, caught in Andrew’s hypnotic gaze, could only nod his agreement.

“Then, you will call your attorney and you will tell him that you are ready to confess to every murder, every single crime you have committed over the years. You will brook no argument from him, no matter what counsel he tries to give you, no matter if he tries to talk you out of your decision. You must confess. Do you understand?”

Again Fieldman nodded, his many chins wobbling, sweat now freely pouring from every pore on his face.

“Good.” Andrew stepped back and pushed Fieldman’s cell phone towards him. “You may make that first call now.”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

120

He smiled grimly as Fieldman picked up his cell with a shaking hand and punched in a number.

“Joe?” Fieldman’s voice was barely a croak. He cleared his throat then said again,

“Joe—listen, it’s Bernard Fieldman. Uh, I just sent Laura home. It’s okay, no problem, just had a change of heart, so to speak. Yeah… and don’t worry, I won’t be troublin’ you again.”

“Very good, Mr Fieldman,” Andrew said. “Now please make that other call.”

Fieldman nodded and punched in another number. “Charlie… Bernard Fieldman. You got a minute?”

Andrew stood and walked to the door, pausing just long enough to hear Fieldman’s quaking voice instruct his lawyer to call the District Attorney and arrange a meeting for the morning.

Smiling, he slipped through the door and closed it quietly behind him.

In the foyer, Jared chatted with the maitre d’, all the while making sure the man only remembered that the young lady left early due to a sudden migraine attack, and that Fieldman had ordered her a cab to take her home. He smiled at Andrew as he joined them at the reservation desk.

After thanking the maitre d’ for his help they left the restaurant and stood outside on the damp sidewalk looking up at the dark but clearing sky, the moon’s brilliance stark against the blackness that surrounded it.

“So what will you do about your uncle Lazlo’s betrayal?” Jared finally asked as they walked the short distance back to Michael’s apartment.

Andrew sighed. “It is so hard for me to understand why he would have done this. To have Michael murdered, to put the suspicion in my mind that it was you who killed him, then to have me silenced. But for what reason? I can think of nothing that could possibly have persuaded him. It sounds almost as if he thought there was some monetary gain to be had, but there is no family fortune, at least not that I am aware of, and surely I would know if it existed. My brother’s mind was open to me at all times.”

“And your uncle’s?”

“I never thought to question his honesty, or his loyalty to us.” Andrew’s full lips thinned as he was forced to reconsider. “Obviously, my faith in him was misguided.”

“Where is he now?”

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J.P. Bowie

121

“He still has a home in Budapest, but he could be anywhere. I have reached out to him, but his mind is closed to me. I think he must know what has transpired.”

Jared frowned. “And is now even more of a danger to you.”

“Only if he can enlist more paid killers. I don’t think he would dare face me on his own.” Andrew’s expression reflected his sorrow. “Why, Jared? Why would he do such a heinous thing?”

“I’m afraid that is something only he can answer.” Jared put an arm around Andrew’s shoulders and drew him close. “I suggest we let Marcus and Joseph know what we’ve found out. Once the Vampire Council is informed of your uncle’s duplicity it won’t be long before he’s either run to ground, or is forced to give himself up.”

Andrew nodded his agreement. “Thank you, my friend, for being by my side through all this. You will return to LA tonight?”

“Yes, unless you want me to stay. Joey was a little apprehensive of what we were doing.”

“I understand. Go to him and put his fears to rest.” Andrew’s smile was warm, yet rueful. “I think I’ll stay for a day or so just to make sure Fieldman does what I instructed him to do. If my uncle should discover what I’ve set in motion, and try to intervene, I want to be here so that I can counteract any plan he might have.”

They passed by the small crowd gathered outside the apartment building. Flashing lights of police cars and an ambulance revealed that Jimmy’s body had been found on the sidewalk.

They heard a paramedic comment, “No sign of any injuries. Must’ve been a heart attack.”

“He’s awful pale,” another remarked.

The friends stepped under the building’s awning and embraced.

“Stay in touch,” Jared murmured and touched his forefinger to Andrew’s temple. “Even if things get dangerous,
especially
if they do, contact me immediately.” He turned to go, then paused.

“What about your fireman?”

“I will call him.”

Jared grinned. “Make sure you do.”

Andrew smiled then disappeared inside the foyer.

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

122

There was no way Joey could hide his delight at seeing Jared again. As soon as he opened the door and saw Jared standing there looking so beautiful it almost hurt. He leapt into his arms and smothered his face with kisses. Jared carried his young lover into the living room, his hands caressing Joey’s butt, his lips raking over Joey’s in a long, languorous mating of eager flesh on flesh.

“Oh, God, I’ve missed you,” Joey gasped when they finally broke the kiss. He wound his arms around Jared’s neck and pressed their faces together.

“It’s only been two days,” Jared protested with a chuckle.

“Two days too many. Don’t ever leave me again.”

“I may have to.” Jared lowered Joey, letting him sensuously slide down his body until his feet touched the floor.

“Why, what happened? Is Andrew all right?”

“Yes, he’s fine, physically.” Jared kissed Joey’s forehead. “But I’m afraid he received very bad news from the man who arranged Michael’s murder.”

“What was it?”

“His uncle, Lazlo Marek, paid Fieldman to carry out Michael’s murder and the attempt on Andrew’s life.”

“Oh, my God.”

Jared related the rest of what happened in New York, leaving out the part of Jimmy’s demise.

No need for him to know
all
the details
.

“So Andrew is staying in New York until he’s sure Fieldman has turned himself in,” he continued. “I think he will take a certain pleasure in reading the newspaper headlines when that happens.”

“I don’t blame him. Poor Andrew, to find out that his uncle was behind this.” Joey stood on tiptoe to kiss Jared’s lips. “I’m just glad you’re back safe and sound.” He pressed his face to Jared’s chest.

“How glad?”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

123

Joey looked up into Jared’s dark blue eyes and gave him a mischievous wink. He unbuckled Jared’s belt and pulled down his zipper while he sank to his knees in front of Jared. Jared’s cock, already hard, the head glistening with pre cum, sprang out as if seeking the sensation Joey’s lips and tongue would bring it.

“Mmm…” Joey ran his hands up Jared’s thighs, then cupped his muscular buttocks and pulled him in, his lips gliding down the length of Jared’s shaft, while his tongue laved every splendid inch on the way. He took it all in until his nose was buried in the golden, springy curls at the base where he could inhale Jared’s unique scent. He pulled back and smiled up at his lover.

“Missed this too,” he whispered, peeling Jared’s jeans down over his thighs. He lapped at Jared’s balls, his tongue curling around each one, before taking them into his mouth.

A long shudder ran through Jared’s body. “Enough,” he almost gasped. “I want you naked and in my arms…”

“Whoa!” Joey laughed out loud as they were suddenly lying on top of his bed, totally naked. Jared was lying over him raining kisses down the centre of his torso. “Oh, my God, that’s new… And, oh boy, I love it.”