As soon as we pushed the doors, I looked around. I half-expected the trio of vigilante vampires to be waiting outside to jump us, but they weren’t. I wanted to walk quickly to the car, but I had to slow down to match Bobby’s pace. Milo would kill me if I let something happen to him.
“Did Olivia leave any number for you to get a hold of her?” I asked Violet as I popped the trunk.
“No. She doesn’t believe in cell phones.” Violet tossed her cooler in the trunk, and I did the same.
“But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Bobby said. “I mean, most vigilantes are good guys. They’re on our side. They’re trying to stop the same killer we are.”
“Maybe.” I slammed the trunk shut and got in the car. Bobby climbed in before Violet and arranged himself on the hump in the center, and then Violet got in. “But if these vampires think I’m with the killer, and they’re out to get him, then they’re out to get me too. And that’s not good.”
“Yeah,” Violet agreed as I started the car. “And besides, that Dane guy seemed like a major douche.”
“Yeah, and what was with his clothes?” Bobby asked. When I floored the car, he flew backwards, hitting his head on the glass.
“Hang on,” I told him belatedly.
“That happens sometimes with the older ones,” Violet said, referring to Dane’s sense of fashion. “They get really, really out of touch with trends, especially if they live off the grid. Olivia’s told me some about what she used to do. When she was working, she’d move around a lot. She usually only reentered society when she got called in.”
“You mean somebody like summoned these guys to come here and take care of this?” I asked.
“I would guess so,” Violet shrugged. “If they really are friends of Olivia’s, they’re probably more familiar with the area.”
“Do you think she would’ve called them?” I asked.
“I doubt it. I mean, not without telling you at least.”
“But why would anybody call them?” I rounded a corner fast, and Bobby flew into Violet.
“Get off me!” Violet shoved him back roughly.
“It’d be nice if you could take it easy,” Bobby said, readjusting his hat.
“Sorry.” I slowed down a bit as we got closer to Olivia’s building.
“It’s a vampire,” Bobby said.
“What?” I glanced over at him.
“I said that earlier that a vampire is the serial killer,” Bobby said. “That’s the only reason those guys would get involved, right? I mean, assuming they are what that chick said they are.”
“Holy shit.” I stopped in front of the building, almost slamming on my breaks, and Bobby reached to brace himself on the dashboard. “You’re right.”
“You know, Olivia has never called herself a vigilante,” Violet said, looking over at us. “She’s a vampire hunter. And so are they.” Her purple eyes met mine. “And we’re both vampires.”
“Oh, that’s real deep,” Bobby said sarcastically.
“You’re lucky you’re with her, or I would kill you,” Violet said flatly.
17
I popped the trunk, and Violet got out of the car. She grabbed her blood from the back, and giving me one final wave, she went into the building. Bobby adjusted himself more comfortably in the seat and clicked on his seatbelt, and I pulled away from the curb.
“Do you think it was her?” Bobby asked as I drove us home.
“Who?”
“Violet. Do you think she’s the serial killer?”
“No, of course not,” I scoffed.
“Why not?” Bobby asked me directly. “She tried to kill you once before. You did kill her boyfriend. She just threatened my life. And she knows Jane.”
“She didn’t really threaten your life,” I shook my head.
“Yeah, but she fits everything else.” He got more excited and turned to face me. “The only thing we know about Jane’s killer is that they knew Jane and they were a vampire.”
“What about that branding thing?” I asked. “Violet was the one that told us about that.”
“Exactly!” Bobby said. “She told us! It could be a total red herring. And we don’t even know if Jane was branded. Even if it’s true, it could be completely unrelated.”
“Come on.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t refute his logic. I looked over at him. “You don’t really think its Violet, do you?”
“No. I don’t know.” He shrugged and leaned his head back against the seat. “It could be her, though. You can’t discount that.”
“No, I guess I can’t,” I sighed. I didn’t want to agree with him, but at this point, I couldn’t cross anybody out.
“Well, who else do you think it could be?” Bobby asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. The truth is, I didn’t really want to think it was anybody.
“What about that Jonathan guy?” Bobby asked. “He’s a douche, right?”
“Yeah, he is, but being a total douche doesn’t make you a killer,” I said. “And right now, that’s all I have on him. That he’s douche.”
“What about those three assholes we met tonight?” Bobby asked.
“Nah.” I sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe. I mean… maybe they’re… I don’t know. They might’ve, I guess, but since I know nothing about them, I can’t say anything for sure.”
“How about Leif?”