A Vampire for Christmas

chapter THREE





EAGAN SAVORED THE hot drink as he walked down the street. Damn that woman anyway. He didn’t want to feel grateful for the small bit of warmth, but he did. It didn’t help that the rich scent had him thinking of Della’s dark chocolate eyes staring down at him from above the diner.



She hadn’t thought he’d notice her, but with his night vision she might as well have been standing in a spotlight. Had she been worried that he’d refuse her gift or that he’d abuse her friend Harry?



The old man had actually warned Eagan that it was impossible to derail Della once she got it in her head to do something nice for a person. Also, if it bothered him, he could always work off the debt doing odd jobs for her. Harry himself broke up boxes for her when she’d let him.



Yeah, Eagan had been right about Della being a chronic do-gooder. He supposed the world needed people like her.



He sure as hell didn’t.



Of course, since he hadn’t been able to pay for his coffee, she now had him pegged as another person who needed a helping hand. Yeah, well, he had better uses for her hands than making him a cup of hot chocolate. He smiled, revealing his fangs at the thought of explaining what that would entail. Her fair skin might blush all rosy, but he was willing to bet there’d be a healthy dose of desire mixed with curiosity in those expressive eyes.



Not happening, though.



He’d been born vampire, but it was possible to share his longevity and strength with a human mate through periodic blood exchanges. The V gene was dominant, so any offspring would be vampire like him. Night dwellers. Blood drinkers destined to dwell in the shadows in a life filled with secrets. They could consume human food, but it was human blood they needed to thrive.



As he walked, he entertained himself by toying with the image of Della in his bed. It was all too easy to picture her there with that sweet face surrounded by a halo of dark curls, the taste of those lush lips, and the hot spice of her blood on his tongue.



He drank the last of the hot chocolate and tossed the cup in a handy trash can. Time to move on. The streets remained quiet with no sign of those three youngsters he was looking for. The sun would start peeking over the Cascades to the east in a couple of hours. He’d stop at the special ops office in the local precinct to see if there’d been any new reports of missing teenagers.



Then home to bed, alone as usual.



“Hey, McHale, haul your ass in here.”



Eagan winced. He’d hoped to sneak in to check on a few things, and then escape without being seen. Obviously that wasn’t going to happen. He tossed his coat on the back of his chair and headed for Lt. Hughes’s office.



“Close the door.”



That was the boss’s token effort at offering privacy, not that it worked when the man only had two volumes—loud and even louder. Couple that with the fact that everyone who worked for him was a supernatural of one sort or another, and the door did little to muffle the particulars of any conversation.



Even so, Eagan appreciated the gesture. He sat down and waited for the ass-chewing to begin.



“So, did you spot anything out there tonight?” Hughes peered at him over his reading glasses. “And don’t bother lying. I know you went out patrolling on your own.”



Eagan shrugged. “I saw two supers walking with a young human but lost their trail. They had to have gone to ground somewhere in that same eight-block area where other kids have been reported missing.”



His boss looked incredulous. “They outran you even with a human slowing them down?”



“Not exactly, but there was no indication the human was under any duress.” He mentally crossed his fingers the lieutenant wouldn’t ask any more questions.



Hughes leaned back in his chair. “You were supposed to be taking it easy for a few more days until that fractured leg heals. However, I’m not your nursemaid. If you’re going to patrol anyway, I’ll put you back on active duty, but take it easy.”



Okay, Hughes was being a little too nice.



Eagan stretched his legs out, trying to ease the bone-deep ache in the right one. “What’s happened now?”



“Another parent called in saying that some vampire wannabes were hassling her son, offering him money for blood. She thinks they’re involved in some kind of cult or street gang.” He shoved a file across the desk. “Here are the details.”



Eagan skimmed the report. “I take it that you’re not buying the whole wannabe part. You think these are the real thing out looking for trouble.”



His boss frowned. “Seriously, I don’t know, but that would explain what happened to the other victims. Either way, we need to find out. I’ve marked all the complaints on this map.”



Hughes held out the paper. “You can keep this copy.”



Eagan leaned forward to take it. One glance had him wanting to swear. “Damn it, they’re all in the same area where I saw those kids tonight. I’ll check it out again.”



His boss pinched his nose as if fighting a headache. “Do that. My only concern is that if you hang around too much without a good reason for being there, they’ll move their operation somewhere else in the city. Then we’ll be back at square one. Any suggestions?”



The image of the diner flashed in Eagan’s mind. If Della thought he was really down on his luck, maybe she’d let him work off a few free meals. Inwardly, he cringed over the idea. He’d hate to abuse Della’s hospitality by lying to her even for a good cause, but he would. The safety of those kids had to come first.



Yeah, there’s a diner right smack in the middle of that area. Maybe I can do some odd jobs for the owner. That would give me an in with the locals and give me an excuse to be in the area for hours at a time.”



For the first time his boss’s expression lightened up. “What about the owner? Any chance he’s involved?”



Eagan’s job had taught him to expect the worst of most people, but his gut was telling him that Della was on the level. He shook his head.



It’s run by a woman, and I’m betting she’s one of the good guys.”



Hughes’s eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion. “Tell me she’s old and ugly.”



Eagan grinned. “I would, boss, but I try not to lie to you any more than I absolutely have to. She’s pretty enough, but she’s also human. I steer clear of that kind of complication, especially on the job.”



At least up until now.



Hughes stared at the report for a few seconds but finally nodded. “Okay, let’s do it. Let me know how the diner thing works out. If you need a break, I can always send in one of the other guys to keep watch for a night.”



Yeah, like Eagan was going to let that bunch of horn dogs anywhere near Della. “I’ll be fine.”



Good. Now go get some rest. Keep me posted.”



Eagan was up and heading for the door, happy to escape before Hughes remembered Eagan had disobeyed his orders to stay off the street in the first place. As soon as his hand landed on the doorknob, his boss called his name.



One more thing, Eagan.”



He braced himself. “Yes, sir?”



“Next time I tell you to take some time off, do it or we’ll have issues.”



There were very few people strong enough to strike fear in a vampire with even just a hint of a threat, but Hughes had that ability in spades. No one was quite sure what category of supernatural he fell in. But whatever he was, the man carried some serious firepower.



“Yes, sir. It’s just that—”



Hughes cut him off. “Yeah, I know. It’s because it involves kids. I get that. I have the same problem. Now get out. One of us has work to do.”



Eagan walked out. The sun was rising in the east, meaning he needed to haul ass home and get horizontal before the day sleep claimed him right out in the middle of the squad room. The last vampire that had happened to hadn’t fared well at the hands of their jokester coworkers. Eagan smiled at the memory but hurried his steps all the same.





“IS SOMETHING WRONG?”



The question was accompanied by a tug on Della’s sleeve. She dragged her eyes back from staring at the door to look around the diner. From the exasperation underlying Lupe’s question and the concerned looks on several other faces, it was clear Della’s mind had wandered afar long enough to worry her friends.



“No, nothing’s wrong. I was just considering where I want to put the rest of the Christmas decorations.”



To give some truth to her claim, she looked up toward the ceiling. “Even with the ladder, I’m not tall enough to hang the lights up around there.”



“I’m taller. Maybe I could do it.”



That offer came from Harry, but she was already shaking her head. He might have another whole inch over her in height, but there was no way she was going to let him up on a ladder. Not at his age. Before she could come up with a better solution, the sleigh bells over the doorway chimed.



She drew a breath, ready to greet her new customer, but then let it all out on a sigh when she recognized the new arrival. Eagan was back.



She’d been distracted all day, hoping he’d show up.



Somehow she’d suspected that if Eagan did return, he’d do so after dark. He’d looked too at home in the shadows across the street for it to be anything other than second nature for him.



He frowned and looked around the diner, making her aware that she wasn’t the only one staring. “Hi, take a seat and I’ll bring you a menu.”



At least he didn’t argue. He immediately parked himself at the same table as he’d chosen last night. Considering there were half a dozen others available, it confirmed her earlier impression that it was a deliberate choice on his part. Why? Because it was familiar since he’d sat there the previous night or because of the view it offered of the diner as well as the street outside?



Ignoring Lupe’s disapproving glare, she grabbed the coffeepot and a menu before heading over to Eagan’s table. She normally had a steady hand when carrying hot liquids, but right now her pulse was racing hard enough to send ripples sloshing through the carafe. What a stupid reaction. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get handsome men in the diner on a regular basis, especially during the lunch crowd when men from the local high-rise office buildings came in.



There was just something different about Eagan.



“Coffee?”



He nodded and pushed the empty cup closer to the edge of the table. “Thanks.”



At least he didn’t wave off the menu this time, even if he did just toss it down on the table. “I’ll check back with you in a few minutes.”



Della took her time, making her rounds with the coffee and stopping to talk to a few friends before finally making her way back to Eagan. The menu was still right where he’d left it on the table. While she wasn’t surprised, the real question was why.



Maybe the best way to find out was to come at the problem from a different angle. She dropped her voice, hoping to keep the conversation private.



“Eagan, would you mind if I asked a favor?”



He looked up from his coffee, his eyebrows riding low over his eyes in clear suspicion.



“You can ask.”



Which translated that he wouldn’t necessarily agree to it. Fine, she got that.



“I made the mistake of mentioning I wanted to string Christmas lights all around the room along the ceiling. It’s been done before, so the hooks are all up there. The problem is that I can’t reach the hooks myself, and Harry wants to put them up for me.”



Eagan glanced in Harry’s direction. “And?”



“I was thinking if you did it for me in exchange for dinner and dessert, Harry wouldn’t get his feelings hurt.”



“Or his hip broken from falling off the ladder?”



She smiled big-time. “Exactly. So do we have a deal?”



He nodded. “I already ate, but some of your pie would taste good. Let’s do the lights first.”



“When you’re done, let me know whether you like blueberry or chocolate cream pie better.”



The corners of his eyes crinkled even though the smile didn’t reach that stern mouth. “Maybe if I do a really good job, I could have a little of both.”



When he stood up, he staggered a bit as if his leg wouldn’t support him. She automatically reached to steady him. He jerked his arm out of reach, and one look at those angry blue eyes made her rethink anything she was about to say. He’d hang the lights even if it killed him, and they both knew it. There was no use in arguing the point.



Any more than there was denying that there was something unmistakably powerful about Eagan.