Always the Vampire

The guests left at five thirty on the dot, and Neil must’ve been watching for the exodus because he was on the doorstep minutes later to help haul Maggie’s gifts home. I’d planned to wash the dishes and utensils, and return them later, but Maggie insisted that we just rinse them. She’d take care of washing them at her house.

Of course, Maggie didn’t say a word about the murder victims, but the surprise was that Neil didn’t make a single crack. He had to know. Maggie wouldn’t keep that to herself because she wouldn’t want a neighbor to blindside Neil with questions. Hmm. Had Lia cast a forget spell on Maggie and Neil along with the protection spell?

Saber and Lynn arrived right at six. Snowball, free of her carrier, lapped up Saber’s attention but snubbed Lynn. Typical. Lynn wore khaki pants and a striped khaki and turquoise boatneck blouse that made her eyes look brilliant. I thought about changing out of my emerald green sundress but didn’t want to hold up the meeting with Gorman. Lynn was nervous enough after having waited all day for this moment.

Gorman answered his door wearing black jeans, a black tee, and a scowl. His expression went slack as soon as he laid his cold blue eyes on Lynn.

“God Al-freakin’-mighty.”

“Lynn Heath, meet your daytime protector, Victor Gorman,” I said.

“You said she wasn’t no jailbait,” he choked.

“She isn’t,” Saber said in his steely cop voice. “She’s a job. One you’d better do damned well.”

Gorman recalled himself and straightened. “ Course I will. Ms. Heath, nice to meet ya.”

“Thank you.” Lynn offered a shy smile. “Shall I call you Mr. Gorman?”

“No! I don’t want those damned vamps guardin’ you at night knowin’ my real name.”

“Oh, okay. I could call you Vic for victory,” Lynn said in such a sugar-sweet way, I thought Gorman would call her on it.

He didn’t. He nodded. “Vic for victory. Yeah. That’ll do.”

“Are you going to keep us standing on the porch,” I asked, “or show Lynn around?”

“She can come in, but you can’t. I ain’t takin’ no chances invitin’ you inside.”

“You believe that tripe of vampire lore?”

“Better safe than sorry. Tell me how this is gonna work.”

“The guys will drop Lynn off forty minutes or so before sunrise and watch to be sure she gets inside safely. At night, they’ll pick her up as soon after sunset as they can get here, but the exact time will depend on traffic.”

“I still say I can guard her at night, but I’ll go along.”

“Yes, you will,” Saber said, “or we won’t help you with that other matter.”

“And remember that the vampire Hess has human minions,” I added. “Call the police if you have any problems, then call Saber or me.”

“I ain’t an idiot.”

I so wanted to debate that, but I waited in the car while Saber and Lynn went inside Gorman’s house. Which was fine. The less time I spent with Gorman, the better, and Saber would give Vic a copy of the sketch.

They came out again in under five minutes, Lynn with a good-bye wave at Gorman, Saber with a look I couldn’t decipher. He opened the back door for Lynn then slammed into the driver’s seat.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Does he have a cannon in every window?”

“No, but he has a shotgun in every room.”

“Even the bathroom,” Lynn piped up.

I twisted to see her face. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not. He asked if I knew how to shoot.”

I bit my lip. “Are you going to be okay with him? We can still call this off.”

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t miss this experience for the world.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m studying psychology, and he’s a trip. The perfect subject for a paper next semester.”

“Tell Triton that, will you? Maybe it’ll calm him.”

“Oh, I will.”

And she did, as soon as we arrived at South Beach Grill. While the two of them hung back, Lynn gabbing away to Triton, Saber and I went inside to request a table upstairs with an ocean view. Sure it would be sundown soon, but South Beach is right on the dunes, and the colors of the sunset reflected in the wet sand. Might as well enjoy it.

Saber ordered the famous pasta dish with chicken, and I sampled a few bites of his pasta with my sweet tea, heavy on the ice. Lynn and Triton split an enormous seafood platter, and now I noticed that Lynn wore a gold charm on a gold necklace. The mermaid seated on the treasure chest. I didn’t know if Triton had chosen the gold version in deference to the vampires who’d be guarding Lynn or if he was just that wild about her. Whatever the case, I hoped Cosmil and Lia had spelled it to the max.

Dinner conversation flowed naturally, and we lingered at the table while Saber and Triton had coffee, and Lynn ate a mile-high dessert.

Straight silver blond hair and a high metabolism? Good thing I was a vampire, or I’d have been envious for two reasons.