Real Vampires Get Lucky (17 page)

"I can't imagine what you could possibly know that could help me."

"Your buddy Frederick von Repsdorf has been hanging around the EV compound."

"Old news." I waved my hand. "I'm sure Freddy's got his reasons. We can't pick our parents, you know."

"How about this?" Greg moved closer. "Someone tried to take out your store clerk recently. Know who did it?"

"Yes. King weasel-face Simon Destiny." I shrugged,
still
quite the actress. "Can't you come up with anything original? I've got a houseguest, Lucky Carver, sometimes known as Carvarelli. What do you know about
her
?" Ah. That got a reaction. Greg looked like he'd been jabbed by the business end of my bat.

"There's a Carvarelli in town?"

"Yeah. And she's a new vampire." I never took my eyes off Greg. If he thought he'd killed Lucky, now was when he'd really react. But instead he just looked worried. Like the fact that she was in town was the big deal. "She doesn't have enough power yet to interest the EVs, but she might be a good customer for the Vampire Viagra. She's got plenty of money and you know how these new vampires like to experiment. Maybe I could set up a meeting for you. Do you pay commission if I get you a new customer?" Like
I'd
ever traffic in drugs. But Greg sure did.

"No! Don't even mention you know me." Greg leaned forward.

I aimed the pointy end of the bat at him and nudged him back.

"Why not? You owe her family money?"

"What if I do? So do half the vamps, weres and shifters in town. I bet you do too." He started to open the glove box, and I rapped his knuckles.

"Stay out of there. I never borrowed from anybody. I just maxed out my plastic." Dumb luck on my part. I had hung out with mortals in Vegas, where my gambling habit had gotten me in trouble. I hadn't known about the Carvarellis or I might have dug my own hole with loan sharks.

Greg snorted. "Yeah, right. They probably turned you down because you didn't have the kind of collateral they wanted." He ran his hand along the Mercedes' dashboard. "But maybe now you do."

"Forget me. Maybe you thought to get out of debt by taking out the debt collector. Did you rip out Lucky's throat the other night?

In my alley?"

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about. You said she's a vampire. Obviously she healed."

"No, she didn't. I healed her and turned her vampire myself."

Greg stared at me. "No shit."

"Yeah, maybe not my smartest move."

"Are you kidding? You saved a Carvarelli. This could be your big break. Or is old man Carvarelli steamed? Did he blame you for making his daughter into a freak like us?"

"No, nothing like that. He kind of grooves on the immortality thing. But whoever tried to kill her could take another shot. Now that pisses him off. And since I made her vampire, I feel kind of responsible for Lucky."

"Damn, Glory. You never did know how to take advantage of your opportunities. What you got is a Carvarelli eternally and I do mean
eternally
grateful to you." Greg fondled the gearshift. "Nice wheels. Lucky set you up with this? Or was it Blade? You're really doing well these days. Why can't you have a little sympathy for an old friend?"

"Maybe that old friend left Lucky for dead practically on my doorstep."

"I'm not stupid. Killing Lucky wouldn't wipe out my debt, only wipe out
me
. Old man Carvarelli would hunt me down and stake me personally if I took out his daughter." Greg shook his head, then snagged my wallet from my purse.

"Hey, put that back." I poked him with the bat. "I'm not rich. The car is a loaner, from Blade." Greg flipped open my wallet, ignoring the blood dripping from the gouge in his side. "Thirty-three dollars and a generic Visa card. Not even Platinum. I bet it has one of those low loser limits." He tossed the wallet back inside.

"You'd be right. I screwed up my credit when I was in Vegas. Did a stint with Gamblers Anonymous."

"You and I are a lot alike, Glory. Not rich like Simon or Blade. We have to make our own way in this world. We should help each other. I could show you how to turn this Lucky thing to your advantage."

"Yeah, I'm really anxious to work with you, Greg. Especially after you tried to turn me into an EV sacrifice." I poked him again. This time he flinched. Think I should feel guilty? If he tried, he could be healed before I could reapply my lipstick. But to impress me, he moaned with pain and held up a bloodstained hand. "God, when did you become so cruel?" Then he put his other hand on my shoulder. "Look at me, Glory. Is old man Carvarelli offering a reward for whoever tried to take out his daughter?"

Damn it, I felt Greg trying the whammy on me. It was one of his old tricks. I blinked and blinked again, but blurted out the truth before I could stop myself.

"A million dollars."

"Hot damn. Now that's what I'm talking about. Let's work together. Fifty. Fifty. You got any ideas?"

"Sure. You're suspect number one." I looked away from him before I told him anything else. Like my current social security number, my bank balance or that the limit on my Visa was actually pretty healthy at the moment.

"I'm not that stupid, Gloriana. I'm going to nose around. See what I can find out. You and that dog of yours keep an eye out for suspicious characters." Greg sounded like he was now running the show. I wasn't about to let him go around me on this and steal my reward.

"Lucky's father expects to deal with me on this reward thing. But definitely check out the EV compound. You think Simon could owe Lucky's family money?"

"No way. The EVs are rolling in it. You have any idea how much they rake in with their Vampire Viagra?" Greg got a dreamy look.

"I don't mind telling you I've been tempted to put my hand in the till, but that would be suicide for sure."

"I'm not agreeing to anything, not officially, but if you come to me with something concrete that leads to figuring out who attacked Lucky, maybe I'll consider a split."

Greg grinned. "Fair enough. You
will
be hearing from me." And, in typical Greg fashion, he opened the car door, morphed into a bat and flew away.

I sighed, then realized Greg had switched off the heat. It was still snowing and clearly below freezing. And neither of us had so much as shivered. Sometimes it's pretty neat being a vampire.

Then the phone beeped. Text message. So much for peace on earth.

"U STIFFED ME. NOW UL PAY. $5000 OR C UR-SELF ON THE NEWS. 24 HOURS. DETAILS LATER." What? My blackmailer didn't like the coffee at Mugs and Muffins? And details? Yeah, I needed details. Like where the hell I was supposed to get that kind of money. I ground my teeth, then threw the car into drive. I had to figure out who was behind this. If this freak kept adding zeros like they were nothing . . . Well, it was time for drastic action. I parked and headed into the shop to find Valdez in a huddle in the back room with Etienne. Derek worked the front.

"What's up?" I looked significantly at the mortal customers browsing through the clothing racks. Christmas was just two weeks away and we were doing a brisk business in holiday dresses and red sweaters.

"Talked to Freddy." Derek stuffed a vintage beaded evening bag into a sack and thanked a customer. "No worries. He thought he could smooth things over for you with his father. I told him to forget it." Derek turned to me and leaned on the counter. "I'm afraid you're not going to like the next part."

"What?" I kept glancing at the strange pair in the back room. Anyone else would think it was a man talking to a dog. I knew it was a two-way conversation.

"I've persuaded Freddy to take CiCi and get out of town. We're all going to Paris for the holidays."

"Oh. Wow." I put my hand on Derek's arm. "Okay. Being noble here. That's great. For the best and all that. But what am I going to do without you?"

"I've got a couple of replacements all lined up." Derek frowned, finally acknowledging the odd couple behind him. "For one, Etienne says he has retail experience and he's desperate for money."

"But I'm not that desperate for help. Am I?"

"Believe it or not, Valdez finally remembers where he knows him from. They go way back. Last job they did together was in New Orleans." Derek leaned in for a whisper. "Seems his previous names included Steve Delaney. He and the V-man worked security together a time or two. And get this, they were rivals for the affections of the fair Beth, who goes by the name of Brittany these days."

"You've got to be kidding." I moved over when a customer tossed a cashmere sweater, red of course, on the counter.

"Coincidence?"

"Maybe I shouldn't leave now." Derek got a worried look around the eyes, but kept a fake smile for the customer.

"No, no. You have to go. It's a good idea. I'm going to talk to Etienne myself." Derek turned to give the customer his full attention. The guy would be hell to replace. He was a doll with the ladies. Before I could get to the back room, he'd talked this woman into adding a pearl collar to her outfit to give it the authentic retro look. I stepped into the back room and closed the door. "You guys have something to tell me?"

"Glory, you're not going to believe who this is. I didn't recognize him at first. He's got the beard now and he used to shave
his head. And then there's the phony French accent."
Valdez gave a doggy shrug.
"Hell, maybe I'm losing my touch."
I put my hand on his shoulder. "And maybe your buddy here didn't want you to recognize him. Eh?"

"What can I say? I never thought to see my old friend Rafael trotting around on all fours again and with such a hairy ass." Etienne laughed, flashing white teeth and seemingly restored to good health. "And Beth here too. What are the odds?"

"Indeed." I sat on the room's only chair. "Derek says you're angling for a job. He's leaving me shorthanded here at the holidays, but you can imagine my reluctance to trust a total stranger with the amount of cash I hope to rake in."

"Steve's not a total stranger, Glory. He's saved my life more than once."
Valdez sat on the floor next to me.
"And he should
know that if he does anything, anything, to hurt you or your business, he'll live or should I say, not live to regret it."

"Man, that's putting it right out there, isn't it, Steve?" I patted Valdez's head. "You interested in clerking in my store? Pay's the pits, but I offer a nice commission on sales."

"I don't know. Doesn't really sound like what I'm looking for. I was hoping maybe Lucky might need me to help protect her and show her the vampire ropes. I've got a lot of experience along those lines, as Rafe here can tell you. Seems like you'd do better to work the store yourself and pass Lucky off to me." Etienne grinned with what I felt was a very practiced effort to charm me. I couldn't argue with his logic, but I also didn't trust him not to . . . hell, what? Steal the reward money if he caught her killer in another attempt? Now that didn't sound very nice of me or ethical or whatever. But what if
he
was the killer? Seemed like his arrival in town-in my shop-was a little too timely.

"Why don't you just help Derek tonight and we'll play it by ear? See what Lucky says when she gets here." I looked at my watch. The mall should have closed by now. "She and her entourage should be arriving momentarily."

"Yep, I think that's Flo coming in right now."
Valdez was on his feet and at the door leading into the shop.
"Let's keep
Etienne's real name our little secret, Glory. You can respect his right to privacy, can't you?"
I could respect it. Hell, I'd had dozens of names myself over the years. It's part of the survival thing. You move on, you create a new identity. I'd tried to stick with a variation of my real name and at least once a century I went back to Gloriana, which was a huge relief. Etienne was French for Stephen. Fine. Not such a stretch after all. And I was sure Valdez would clue Brittany/Beth in on their connection anyway. Oh, God, but this was getting complicated.

"Well, Gloriana? Are you going to open the door?" Etienne was close behind me, his breath warm on the back of my neck. Then his hand landed on my butt.

I whipped around and pulled out the stake I'd hidden behind the door in the brass umbrella stand. (See? I'm learning.) I held it against Etienne's chest. "Back off, buster."

"Whoa, Glory. I told you he's okay."
Valdez knew better than to get between me and his buddy, and he obviously hadn't seen the butt/hand contact.

"That's all right,
mon ami
." Etienne held up both hands and backed up a foot. "Glory is a survivor, like us. She knows how to take care of herself. Congratulations,
mon petit chou
. You dazzle me."

"I'm not your shoe. Or your hat or any accessory to you. Keep your charm and your distance." I looked down at Valdez. "How long since you've seen this guy last?"

"Fifty, maybe sixty years."
Valdez's eyes gleamed with pride.
"You're dazzling me too, kiddo. When'd you put the stake in
here?"

"After the fire. Seemed like the time to increase our defense. I've got some others hidden around the shop." Not nearly enough though. I really liked Blade's baseball bat idea. I was going to see about making a few of those for myself. Definitely needed one behind the counter. I opened the door to the shop and gestured for Etienne to precede me. No way was he getting behind me again. Maybe I should be flattered. Not every man likes a big butt, but I pick who gets to touch. You know what I mean?

"If you want to continue sleeping back here, Etienne, you're going to have to pull your weight. Go help Derek wrap up whatever he's selling. Breakables need bubble wrap, it's under the counter. Tell him to show you how to run a credit card." I'd moved the shredder to the back room after the scare with Brittany. Etienne just grinned, like he could care less that I'd just had him at stake point.

"Glory, you must see the boots we got. And a little something for you." Flo had a Nordstrom's bag while Lucky carried two more. Brittany didn't carry anything. I guess so she could fend off any attackers. I slid the pointy cane back into its hiding place and walked out to meet them.