Bones threw me a look while bent over his laptop. “I’ve considered that, but there has to be more. Lola said he had new protection, remember? That’s the wild card. Whoever they are, he’s being a damned sight more discreet for them, and it begs the question why. They’re either vampires or humans of prominence, is what I reckon. People with reputations to protect.”
I didn’t know much about the vampire world, so I wasn’t going to be any help there. I did know a thing or two about the breathing community, however, so I felt my pulse entitled me to speculate.
“Corrupt cops? Maybe a police chief? Some of those reports could have been accidentally lost, but not all of them. Say you’re the chief of police, or you’re running for sheriff, whatever, and you want to get some easy cash while still making the public believe you’re competent. A bunch of disappearances would look bad. So you try to get your business partner to clean up his act, and maybe you tip him off as to where he can find some vulnerable girls. God, if it was a sheriff, he could invite Hennessey to pick his favorites out of a lineup at the local stockade! Then he could make the records disappear as well. What if all such a person asked for in return was that Hennessey control public outcry? It’s not such a big price to pay, is it?”
He tapped his chin thoughtfully, considering that. Then his cell phone rang.
“Hallo…. Yes, Charles, I can hear you…. Where?…
When?…Who?…All right, I’ll see you shortly.”
He hung up, staring at me.
“What?” I asked, impatient.
“Seems there’s been a development. He’s with one of Hennessey’s people now who wants to talk to me about switching sides.”
“I’m going with you,” I said instantly.
Bones made a regretful noise. “I knew you’d say that.”
Spade opened the door to the hotel room, giving me a flick of his gaze.
“I’m surprised you brought her with you, Crispin.”
I didn’t say ‘Fuck off,’ but it was close.
“Better to have her come and know what transpired than for her to stay back and wonder about it,” Bones replied. “Let us enter, Charles, so we can get started.”
This two-name thing is annoying, I was thinking as Spade stepped aside. Can’t vampires just pick one?
A woman was in the center of the room. I might have noticed how plush the interior was, and that it was as big as my grandparents’ whole upstairs, or any other number of inconsequential details, except for one thing.
She was without a doubt the most gorgeous female I’d ever seen. In person or on television. She looked Latino, with curly black hair down to her hips, positively perfect features set on a body that didn’t seem real, and crimson-colored lips. I just stared at her for a minute. Only in cartoons did women have such minuscule waists, big breasts, round bubble butts, and legs like that. It wasn’t hard to notice her figure, either. Her dress could barely be called one, and it was so tight, it was a good thing she didn’t need to breathe.
“Francesca,” Bones said, going to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you’ve come.”
And that was all I needed to see to decide right then and there that I hated her guts.
“Bones…”
She drew his name out like it was candy, and when she kissed his cheek, leaving a bright red lipstick imprint, her eyes met mine in open challenge.
Spade’s hand on my shoulder shook me from my state of murderous contemplation. I’d just been fantasizing about whipping two of the knives out of my jacket and flinging them into her double-Ds.
“Francesca, this is Cat,” Bones said next, gesturing to me. “She’s with me, so you need not hesitate about speaking freely with her present.”
I advanced with something stretching my face that may or may not have been a smile. “Hi. We’re sleeping together.”
I heard it come out of my mouth in a detached sort of way, only mildly noticing Spade mutter something about this not being a wise idea and that both of Bones’s eyebrows shot into his hairline.
Francesca shared neither of their reactions. Full, pouty lips curled.
“But of course, ni?a. Who could resist him?”
Spoken while her fingers trailed down the side of his shirt, and I almost lost it right there.
“Kitten.” Bones caught my hand that shot out and tucked it casually in his arm, as if I hadn’t been about to knock her on her well-shaped ass. “Let’s sit, shall we?”
I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Some small, rational part was screaming that this was a person who could help bring down Hennessey and to get a grip on myself. The rest of me was in full, blind hostility mode and not comprehending what rational behavior meant.
Bones led me toward a nearby couch, not letting go of my hand. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Francesca taking in the view of him leaving, licking those plump red lips.
My free hand swung in an arc to land on the ass she was admiring. With a glare, I gave it a big squeeze, using the last of my control not to shriek, You like that? Look who’s got it!
Bones stopped, glancing down meaningfully. I snatched my hand back almost in confusion, giving myself a mental shake to try and snap out of the insanity.