Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason (27 page)

We made eye contact. He knew I was aware of his presence now, but there was no way I’d acknowledge him. If he thought for two seconds I’d be his next customer, he had another thing coming. I had serious doubts about this guy. He gave me chills every time he looked my way—and not the good kind of chills, either.

The back door was the quickest way out of there and I was headed for it faster than you could say macabre maniac. My legs couldn’t carry me fast enough. I pulled open the door next to the stage and dashed down the small hallway. Still no sign of Monty or Barbie, and thank goodness no Pierce Tyler, either. The door to the office was still open, just as I’d left it, but the background music had stopped.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I stopped at the door for a brief second. My heart pounded. I didn’t want Pierce to catch me, but I wanted to know what happened to Monty. I didn’t call out this time; I felt as if I was intruding. Maybe none of this was my business, but I did have important questions to discuss with Monty before tonight’s show. What if he’d made up with Barbie and they were fooling around? And I walked in on them. Not something I wanted to see. I’d rather make a shish kebab out of my eyeballs.

I pushed the door slightly and stuck half my body in. No one was around. I immediately looked to the desk. The phone was clean. Someone had cleaned it! That, or I was going crazy and had imagined seeing the blood. No, I’d seen it, and I knew it was there. Someone had cleaned it.

“Monty? Barbie, are you here?” I whispered. I needed to get the heck out of the bar before Mr. Creepy Creeperson caught up with me.

No answer. This was too weird. I stepped all the way in and scanned the space. There wasn’t anywhere to hide in the room, so I knew they weren’t there. A clatter echoed from somewhere close behind. I spun around and tilted my head for a better look, but remained frozen in one spot. Nothing moved, so I turned around.

I backed out of the office and didn’t bother to close the door back to its original position this time. The door, which led to the back parking lot, was at the end of the hall. I made my way over, pushed on it and it opened. I stuck my head out. A rattling noise from the behind the Dumpster startled me—probably a rat. Tree branches rustled next to the building as the onslaught of raindrops tapped against the pavement. Thunder rumbled and lightning flickered, making me flinch.

No one was around. No cars and no people. Could they have left together? They must have. I would have seen them if they had left through the bar. Maybe Monty had returned and they went for a ride in Barbie’s car. But where had the blood come from and who had cleaned it? I wasn’t sure what kind of vehicle she drove. My thoughts raced. I needed to forget about it for now and concentrate on one thing. One thing only—tonight’s performance. Footsteps sounded from nearby; the familiar squeak of the wood floor reverberated, bouncing off the walls. Thunder boomed again, then faded. As I stepped one foot out the door, I heard my name called out. When I looked over my shoulder, Buzz was walking toward me.

Chapter 49

“Everything okay? Where are you going?” His expression was concerned.

I froze. “Sure.” I smiled. “Why wouldn’t it be? You just scared me, that’s all.” I chortled. Did I sound nervous? “Um, just stepping out for some fresh air? You shouldn’t sneak up on people.”

“Why didn’t you use the front door?” He pointed.

I swallowed hard. “I thought I’d check on the bar owner.” I pointed toward the office door. “No one’s back there. I guess they left together.”

“See, you were worried for nothing.” He gave a wicked grin and his eyes sparkled.

Thunder cracked again, lightning flickered, and I jumped.

“The blood has been cleaned up.” I turned to face him. I felt like a mouse cornered by a cat.

“I’ll just take a look,” he said.

Did he not believe me? I wasn’t making this story up. I stepped further into the hall, but not enough so that I couldn’t run if I needed to. He stopped at the office door and poked his head in, just as I had.

“See, no one’s there.” I brushed a loose hair from my forehead.

“And you say there was blood on the phone?”

I walked back down the hall to the office and pointed at the now spotless phone.

“Yeah, the receiver.”

He stepped inside and I stood at the doorway. Buzz walked over to the desk and peered down for a couple of seconds, then moved to the side and picked up the wastebasket. “I don’t see any towels or anything.”

I shrugged. “Maybe they threw them in the Dumpster.”

“So how much blood was there?”

“The thing was almost covered in it. What’s weird is there was no blood on the desk or anywhere else. Nothing on the floor.”

“Hmm. Well, I guess everyone’s okay then. No more dead—” He stopped before he finished, but I knew what he’d almost said.

A couple of steps and I was at the back door again. “I’m leaving. I don’t like being in here without the owner. I don’t know if they want to leave the place open, but heck, it’s not my problem. I have enough to worry about.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” My heart raced. Soon I’d be in the hospital hooked up to a monitor if my anxiety didn’t slow down. What was he about to confess to? Killing vampires? Following me and planning to kill me?

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Frank. Your voices echoed.”

“What conversation?” Of course, I played innocent.

“About the visions.”

This was it. The air was sucked out of me. My cheeks burned. My stomach turned. “So you think I’m crazy?”

“No, I don’t think that. Do you want to talk about it? You look as if you need to talk.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know Frank. Hell, I don’t know you, but he doesn’t seem like the type you can confide in.”

“And you are?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Well there’s not much to tell. When I found the bodies, I had visions of the murders, but I can’t see the killer. Just the victim.”

“And this is a recent occurrence?”

“Yes, the first time was when I found Johnny. But I’ve had dreams, too. I think they’re related.” Before he asked more questions, I had to know why Pierce Tyler was in the other room, sitting in the dark like some bat-shit crazy serial killer. He was probably picking out my coffin as I spoke. “What is the undertaker doing here?”

“Yeah, about that…I need you to talk with him.”

“Why do I need to talk with him? I’m not planning a funeral.” Gulp. And I hoped Buzz wasn’t, either. “Why is he so weird? Hell, I didn’t know he was sitting in the corner until I felt his beady little eyes staring at me. I looked over and there he was.”

“Just come talk with him, okay?”

Not sure I liked this situation. Thank goodness I had that pepper spray. I wished I had the spell book back. Maybe there was something in there that would work for me in this situation. Something to take away deranged undertakers?

I let out a deep breath. “Okay, but no funny business.”

He grinned and held his hands up in surrender. “No, no funny business.”

When we entered the room, Pierce was still in the same spot. With the same bizarre smirk on his face. His hands were clasped together on the table in front of him.

“Sorry if I startled you.”

“I think anyone would be startled to see you staring at them from a dark corner. No offense.”

He nodded. “None taken.”

Not sure what this was all about, but it couldn’t be good. Buzz said Pierce was a rockabilly fan. Please don’t let him want to join the band. He probably played the ukulele. I’d need a coffin after hearing that. At least he could supply it.

“So what’s this all about?”

“Have a seat.” Buzz pulled out a chair.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll stand, if it’s all the same to you.” Sitting next to Buzz made my emotions go haywire. His looks made my lady gears shift overtime. But his dark mystique made me want to run.

“Pierce wants your help.”

“Um, help with what?” Just because I’d seen a couple dead vampires didn’t mean I wanted to become his apprentice.

“The vampire killed at Ruby’s Blues Club a few weeks ago was his brother.”

“I’m so sorry.” I paused. The wheels turned in my head. The car had been Pierce’s brother’s? Did he know? “But how can I help you?”

“Buzz told me about your visions. I figure with your help we can find the killer.”

“Like I said, I didn’t mean to overhear.”

Likely story. He’d probably been all ears.

“Mr. Tyler—”

“Call me Pierce.”

“Pierce. I don’t know what Buzz told you, but my visions aren’t exactly the best. I can’t see the killer’s face. I don’t know who he is.”

“But maybe if we work together…maybe something in your visions will lead us to him. There may be a clue you’re overlooking.”

We sat in silence.

“Please, Ms. Mason, I’m desperate.”

“Veronica. Call me Veronica.

How could I help find the killer? My visions were skewed. If I thought I could figure this out, I would. But I couldn’t offer him a guarantee. Whatever. I’d go along with their game if it meant they’d leave me be. I still didn’t trust Buzz.

“I’ll help if I can.”

He sighed. “Thank you.”

“I do have one question for you. Do you know who bought your brother’s car? Apparently he sold it before he was killed. It was a dull gray ’57 Cadillac.”

“As far as I know, he never had a car like that.”

“Were you close to your brother?”

“Of course, we talked all the time.”

Lightning flickered again, casting a glow across the room for a split second, and I flinched. I looked closely at Pierce. This was the first time I’d seen him in more light. The tips of his fangs poked out touching his bottom lip. Why hadn’t I noticed he was a vampire before? A vampire mortician. Wasn’t there a law against that? Guess it was convenient for him. He could draw their blood and he’d be set. I bet he never paid for a drink. Hell, he probably sold the blood.

“So your brother didn’t own a car?”

“No, he did. He had a beat-up Toyota.”

“No Cadillac?”

“Nope.”

“That’s weird.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Huh?” I stalled. The lies weren’t slipping out of my mouth now. I needed to say something quickly. “I heard he had a Cadillac. Must have heard wrong.”

Not a very convincing lie.

“Have people been talking about him?” Pierce asked.

“Not really. I just heard the guy at the tattoo shop remark that the other vampire who had been killed drove a Cadillac. I’m sure he just had his facts wrong.”

Now that was better. Much smoother with the fibbing. The last thing I needed was to be caught in a lie. Pierce frowned, but I thought he bought it.

“Are you looking to get another tattoo?”

I knew what Buzz was getting at. He wondered why I was in the tattoo parlor. Something was odd about these two. I was not giving him the info he wanted. Take that, sexy Buzz Vaughn.

“I’m thinking about it, yes.”

“What are you going to get?”

He thought he was so clever.

“A pinup, singing into a microphone.”

“Oh, a tattoo of yourself.”

“A likeness of me, maybe.”

“Where at?”

“Where at what?”

I could play his game.

“Where on your body?”

“On my thigh.” He glanced down at my leg and I blushed.

I thought for sure Pierce would have information about the car. No wonder he needed help with finding his brother’s killer. If I had a chance, as much as I didn’t like the guy, I’d go back to the tattoo shop and ask again. Maybe the tattoo artist been yanking my chain.

“I’ll let Buzz know if I remember anything else from the visions.”

“That would be great, but in the meantime, I wrote down some questions. If you could just fill out the answers.” He pushed the white folded sheet of paper across the table. “You know, it would give me an idea of what exactly you saw. Then I can study them for clues.” He gave that creepy lopsided half smirk/half-grin again.

What the hell? The guy had me doing homework now. I grabbed the paper and stuffed it into my purse. Whatever he wanted to hear was fine. I wanted out of there. “Sure. I’ll do it as soon as I can.”

My exit couldn’t come fast enough.

Chapter 50

I moved past the stage, and on to the main entrance. When I reached the door, Buzz called out from behind.

I spun around. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry about the kiss last night. If I offended you.”

Did he have to yell it across the room like that? I’m glad no one else heard him. Well, except for Pierce. My stomach danced again. I was so confused I didn’t know up from down. Now was my opportunity to ask if he had been in the park. But I didn’t want to do it in front of Pierce.

“Walk me to my car,” I said.

“Sure.” He nodded, then looked down as if avoiding my gaze.

I opened the door before he had a chance to open it for me—none of the romantic stuff now, this was serious. More cars had arrived in the parking lot, but it was still practically empty. Leaves rustled in the wind and a car horn honked in the distance. I hardly noticed the sun peer out from behind the clouds. The storm had passed.

When I reached my car, I turned to look at him, then leaned against the door. “I have a question to ask.

He grinned. “Sure, hit me with it.”

“This morning, were you at the park next to my house?” My heart raced. I couldn’t believe I’d had the nerve to ask.

He stared at me. I couldn’t read his expression. Was he mad? Was he ready to attack me? I couldn’t help but think of how gorgeous he was. What a shame if he really was a bad guy. What a waste. It seemed as if an eternity passed with no words spoken.

“No, why do you ask?”

No? He was lying to me! Not cool. “I saw you.”

“Nope, wasn’t me, sorry. Must have been someone who looked like me.”

I found that hard to believe. Not a lot of guys walking around town with Fifties style hair and clothes to match. I searched his eyes, trying to detect his lie. But I’d never been good at reading people. Maybe if I stared long enough, he’d cave in and tell the truth. It didn’t work though, because he attempted to change the subject.