The Vampire Hunters (Book 2): Vampyrnomicon (38 page)

“Rodriguez,” asked Drake. “Is there any way you can bypass the Freer’s security and get us into the museum?”

“No. The Smithsonian’s museums are on a private current. The police don’t have access to it.”

“We’re screwed,” said Jim.

“Not necessarily,” said Rodriguez. “I know some of the nightshift guards at the Freer. Depending on who’s on duty, I might be able to bullshit our way past him.”

“And if you can’t bullshit him?” The tone of Jim’s voice indicated he had little confidence in Rodriguez’ chances of success.

“Then we overpower the guard.” Drake looked at the others. They stared at him, incredulous.

“You’re kidding, right?” asked Alison.

“What do you suggest?” Before anyone could answer, Drake cut them off. “Look. I know this isn’t like what we’re used to. But we have to get those memoirs. If the vampires find them, they could take over the world.”

“You don’t really believe that?” asked Jim.

“It’s always been part of their lore,” answered Reese. “Ferrar stated in his memoirs that he read the
Vampyrnomicon
, and that the legend is true.”

Jim lowered his head. “Shit.”

Drake reached out and patted Jim’s shoulder to reassure him, then returned his attention to the group. “One other thing. When you stock up, leave the Heaven’s Fire here.”

“That’s our most effective weapon,” protested Alison.

“Can’t risk it. We’d burn out half the Freer.” Drake turned to Jim. “Do you have anything else we can use?”

“Sorry, boss. I’ve been spending all my time perfecting the holy water-laced tear gas.”

“Does it work?”

“Ninety percent of the time.”

“That’s good enough for me. Let’s bring it.”

“What weapon do I get?” asked Reese.

“You’re not going.”

Reese looked shocked, like a child told he would not be joining the rest of the family at Disneyland. “Why not?”

Drake tried to be diplomatic. “You’re not a hunter.”

“But I’m the only one who knows where the Bible’s located.”

“Tell me where it is.”

“No.” Drake began to protest, but Reese cut him off, showing forcefulness not typical of his mild-mannered demeanor. “You’re the one saying time is of the essence. I know exactly where to go, what to look for, and how to gain access to it. You’ll waste too much time trying to find it.” Reese’s tone softened, pleading. “Besides, you can’t cut me out now. Please.”

Drake relented because he knew how he would feel in Reese’s position. He just hoped he would not regret it. “Fine. I don’t have time to argue.”

“Can I go, too?” asked Jessica.

“Sorry, but this one can’t make the papers.”

“I don’t want to go as a journalist. I want to help.”

“What can
you
do?” asked Alison cattily.

“I can help Reese get the Bible while you do what you do best.”

Jim chuckled. “Get arrested?”

Drake glanced at Jim, a strange look on his face. Jim grew uncomfortable. “Sorry, boss. It was just a joke.”

“Actually, it’s a great idea.”

Drake stepped over to the far corner of the work area, flipped open his cell phone, and dialed. He spoke quietly so the others could not hear. Everyone looked at Alison for an answer, but she shrugged. A minute later, Drake closed the cell phone and rejoined the group.

“What was that about?” asked Alison.

“Making sure our asses are covered.” Drake picked up a flask and handed it to Reese. “Here’s your weapon.”

Reese stared at the flask, confused. “What am I supposed to do? Invite them for a drink?”

“It’s holy water. Throw it on them if they get too close.”

“Not much of a weapon.”

“It’ll slow them down enough for one of us to take care of them.”

“And me?” asked Jessica.

“Do you know how to use a gun?”

“No.”

Drake handed Jessica a flask.

The time for talk was over. “Jim, load the weapons in the duffle bag and put it in the SUV. We head out in five minutes.”

Smith disconnected his
call from Drake, then dialed the phone number of his employer. Being so late at night, it took eight rings before he answered.

“Hello?” The voice on the other end sounded groggy.

“Sir, sorry to bother you at this hour.”

A grunt as his employer sat up in bed. “Let me guess. Drake’s been arrested again?”

“Not yet.”

Akers cruised down
Massachusetts Avenue, looking for Treja and his coven. Or more precisely, partially looking for them. He spent half his time eyeing his rearview mirror, watching those crouched in the back of the van, unnerved by the five sets of blood-red eyes that stared at him. Ever since picking up the first of the covens, he felt as though the undead viewed him as a meal on wheels.

“There he is,” said Chiang Shih from the front seat.

Treja stood along the curb. As Akers slowed the van, Treja turned to the alley behind him and motioned with his hand for something to join him. A vampire in a leather mini-skirt and blood-stained red silk tank top darted out of the alley and raced over to the van. Walker opened the side door, ushered the two inside, and slid it shut. Akers was about to pull out onto Massachusetts Avenue when Chiang Shih placed a hand over his. She turned to the vampires in the rear of the van.

“I want you to memorize this human. He’s with us. If any of you harm him, you’ll answer to me. Is that understood?”

A chorus of affirmative but disappointed grunts echoed their response.

“Thank you,” whispered Akers.

Chiang Shih nodded in acknowledgement and leaned back in her seat. “Drive.”

“Where to?”

“The Freer Gallery.”

“Park here,” ordered
Rodriguez.

Jim pulled the SUV over and parked on Jefferson Avenue in front of the Freer Gallery. Everyone climbed out and began loading up from the duffel bag. Drake opted for his traditional armament—two Glock 23s each with a magazine containing nine rounds of holy water-tipped .40 caliber shells and three stakes stored in the pouch sewn inside his leather jacket. Alison took a pair of stakes, as did Jim. Jim also carried his crossbow and a satchel bag containing two canisters of holy water-laced tear gas. In addition to their flasks of holy water, Drake gave Jessica and Reese one stake each. He turned to Rodriguez.

“What’s your weapon of choice?”

“I got this.” Rodriguez removed a stun gun from his coat pocket.

“You’d have better luck spitting holy water at them.” Drake took the stun gun from Rodriguez and dropped it into the outer pocket of his leather jacket. He pulled open the duffel bag to reveal a third Glock, a sawed-off shotgun, and a 12-guage shotgun. “Take your pick.”

“Can’t. I lost my permit to carry in D.C. when the force suspended me.” When Drake laughed, Rodriguez became miffed. “What’s so funny?”

Drake feigned a Mexican bandito accent. “Permits? We don’t need no stinkin’ permits.”

“You don’t have papers for these?”

Drake patted Rodriguez on the shoulder. “Stop thinking like a cop. You’re playing by a different set of rules now.”

Rodriguez nodded. “Cool.”

Removing the Glock from the duffel bag, Drake handed it to Rodriguez. As Rodriguez tucked the weapon between his pants and the small of his back, Drake zipped up the bag and closed the SUV’s hatchback. He turned to the others.

“This time it’s simple. We go in, get the memoirs, and get out. If things go south, we’ll hold off the vampires while Jessica and Reese get the memoirs to safety. Any questions?”

None.

“Let’s rock.”

The hunters made their way around the museum and approached the Independence Avenue entrance. Climbing the steps to the glass doors, Drake and Rodriguez peered inside.

“What are we looking for?” asked Drake.

“The night guard.” Rodriguez loudly rapped on the glass with his knuckles, repeating the process every five seconds until a kid in his mid-twenties dressed in a security guard uniform emerged from the small corridor to the left of the interior marble stairs, his right hand on his service revolver. He approached the door cautiously. Then his eyes widened in recognition. The kid removed his hand from the revolver and quickened his pace.

“He knows you,” said Drake.

“Bill’s a good kid, but not very experienced. I should be able to bluff our way inside. Just follow my lead.”

Bill unlocked the front door and opened it wide enough to stick out his head. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

“The station received an anonymous phone call claiming there’s a bomb planted in the Freer. This is one of our bomb teams. Let us in so we can check the place out.”

Bill looked at each of them in turn, checking out their lack of uniforms, and looked beyond them onto Independence Avenue. The uncertainty on his face indicated he did not buy the story. Drake slowly moved his hand to the stun gun in his pocket.

“Where are your vehicles?”

“Parked in back. We want to avoid a media circus.”

Bill thought a moment. “Makes sense.”

“Bill, we have to get the team in there to check out the threat.” Rodriguez took on a tone firm but not threatening. “If you have to call someone to verify this, go ahead. Just hurry up.”

Though still not certain he was doing the right thing, Bill opened the door and ushered them inside. As he locked it behind him, Bill asked, “What can I do to help?”

“Turn off the inside alarms so we don’t accidentally trigger them.”

“Can do.”

“And we’ll need a master key to gain access to any locked areas.”

“Give me a minute to turn off the alarms and I’ll go with you.”

“Sorry, can’t allow that. Too dangerous. Besides, we’re expecting backup. I need you to stay by the doors and let them in.”

Bill paused, the uncertainty returning, but by now he had committed himself. Removing from around his neck the lanyard with the master card key, he handed it to Rodriguez. “This will work on all the offices. The laminated card gives you all the pass codes to gain access. The elevator at the top of the stairs will take you to all floors.”

“Great.” Rodriguez hung the lanyard around his neck. “I’ll keep you posted on our progress.”

The hunters rushed up the marble stairs and into the museum. The elevator sat in an alcove on the left. They took it to the basement, which opened onto the archives area. As everyone stepped off, Reese ran over to the collection manager’s cubicle and searched her desk for the key to the bookshelves. He found it hanging on her schedule board.

“Got it.” Reese pulled the key off the hook, holding it up triumphantly.

“You stay here,” Drake said to the others. He and Reese headed into archives until they came to the book room. Drake slid the card over the electronic lock and punched in the three-number code. The shining of the green access light and click of the electronic lock told them it worked. Reese opened the door, switched on the lights, and crossed over to the storage shelf that contained Ferrar’s books. Using the key, Reese opened the cabinet and rummaged through the basswood cases until he found the one containing the ceremonial Bible. He brought it over to the table and lifted off the lid. The book sat in its protective cradle.

“Is that Ferrar’s Bible?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s haul ass.”

Akers stopped the
van on Independence Avenue directly in front of the Freer Museum. Chiang Shih stepped out and proceeded toward the entrance. The van’s side door slid open and the masters emerged onto the sidewalk, falling in behind their mistress. Their covens followed, racing to keep up. Shutting off the engine and leaving the keys in the ignition, Akers brought up the rear.

Standing outside the rear entrance at the top of the stairs, Bill watched with growing curiosity. At first, he thought they were the backup for Rodriguez’ team, but quickly ruled out that thought when he saw the little girl and the group in monster costumes. He didn’t need this shit tonight.

“Can I help you?” Bill called out to the tall Asian woman in the lead.

They ignored him and continued to approach.

Bill descended the steps to cut them off. He placed a hand on his service revolver. “This is private property. You’ll have to leave.”

Still no response.

Bill began to draw his weapon.

Chiang Shih surged forward, placed her hands on either side of Bill’s head, and, with a single move, twisted it around. The rupturing of vertebrae drowned out his final gasp. Chiang Shih continued walking, dragging Bill’s lifeless body up the stairs. When she approached the glass door, she flung the body against it. Bill’s corpse shattered the glass and continued through into the lobby, slamming against the base of the interior stairs in a bloody heap. The sound of broken glass raining down was replaced by the klaxon of an alarm. Bright white lights on each alarm box flashed.

Chiang Shih paused and turned to Melinda. “Stay here and make sure no one gets in.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Stepping through the shattered glass door, Chiang Shih led the others into the lobby. She motioned for Akers to join her, pointing to the narrow corridor to the left of the marble stairs. “The guard room is down there. Turn off this damned alarm.”

As Akers rushed off to find the controls, the vampires spread out, Chiang Shih and her masters standing four abreast, and the covens amassed behind them.

“What the fuck?”
Drake looked around the research room, focusing on the flashing light on the alarm box.

Reese jumped at the sound of the klaxon. “What’s that?”

“Trouble,” replied Drake. “Come on. Let’s move it.”

Reese grabbed the Bible, tucked it under his arm, and followed Drake back into the archives area.

The others waited by the elevator, looking apprehensive.

“Please tell me you set that off,” said Alison.

“No such luck.”

“Let’s haul ass, guys,” said Rodriguez. “The cops will be here any minute.”

Drake led the group into the elevator and back to the main floor. When they reached the top of the marble stairs, the hunters came to a stop. At the base of the stairs stood six snuffies and, in front of them, four human-looking individuals.