La Vida Vampire

“Trust me, she’s not.” I gently sank my hand into the stiff ruff of fur at Cat’s neck. “Release the man and hide.”


She obeyed but met my gaze before she spun, loped between the two buildings across the street, and disappeared. From the corner of my eye I saw Saber shove the gun in his holster as officers poured into the street from both ends. He dealt with the officials, and I lurched to Maggie’s side to carefully remove the gag.

“Are you all right?” I asked, awkwardly hugging her. “Oh, Maggie, I’m so sorry. I should’ve warned you about Etienne.”

“Wouldn’t have made a difference,” she croaked, her throat obviously dry. “He surprised me. Acted like you’d told me all about him.”

“Why did you leave the condo?” I asked, cautiously tugging on the plastic ties I saw were biting into her skin. I might ’ve been able to snap them with vampire strength, but couldn’t risk hurting her more. “Damn, I need scissors to get these off.”

I called Saber over as Maggie said, “I was coming on the tour. To protect you.” She gripped my hand. “Guess my little girl’s grown up this weekend.”

“Your little girl,” Saber said from the foot of the stairs, “is in a shitload of trouble. Here, let’s get you free.”

He flipped what looked like mini–wire cutters from a Swiss Army knife and, in under a minute, Maggie was on her feet, supported between two paramedics. She insisted I needed medical attention, too, maybe to save me from the wrath blazing in Saber’s eyes.

But Saber moved fast. He grabbed my shoulders and backed me up the steps almost to Fay’s front door.

“Why the hell did you jump into my line of fire?”

“I was jumping in Etienne’s way, not yours.”

“He didn’t get the first shot off.”

“And I should know that how? He shot Gorman before I could move. I thought I was saving your butt.”

“If you wanted to save butts, why didn’t you drain that SOB’s energy the minute you got here?”

“Besides protecting Maggie, I wanted to get the truth. He confessed, Saber. And even if what he told us isn’t admissible in court, you have him for kidnapping and killing Gorman and attempted murder.”

“You’re almost right, Ms. Marinelli.” March’s voice rumbled from the steps.

Saber swung to face him, and I caught Fay in the window looking smug. Smug instead of angry? That had to be a first.

“We’ve got Fournier,” March continued, “on a whole list of charges including multiple counts of attempted murder.”

“Attempted? Gorman’s alive?”

“He is for now, and I’d appreciate it, Saber, if you’d finish your chewing out somewhere else. Ms. Marinelli is bleeding, and my evidence techs need the space.”

“Of course, Detective March,” I said, head high.

Too bad I missed a step on the way off the porch and fell flat. I ruined a perfectly regal exit. I could’ve sworn Fay laughed.



Flagler Hospital’s ER was hopping. My implant chip doc wasn’t on duty, but a guy who really did look a little like George Clooney was. I imagined comparing notes on him with Maggie. It kept me from brooding about Saber ’s dark glances and thunderous silence.

Gorman was taken to a hospital near the interstate, and Etienne Fournier arrived by ambulance and under guard. Saber’s second shot had caught Etienne’s arm—a through and through. No bullet to dig out, but he needed stitches to close the tears and punctures on his neck. He babbled constantly in mixed French and English about the wild panther that had attacked him. Maggie and I were also transported by the EMTs, and Saber followed. Maggie was diagnosed with mild shock and given an IV for dehydration. She didn’t call Neil, but Saber did. I don’t know what Saber said to Neil—or what Maggie said to him for that matter—but Neil bopped into my treatment room at one point. He joked and told me he’d take me surfboard shopping when Maggie and I were well. I nearly fell off the examination table.

Saber’s shot had hit my thigh, but it, too, had gone through the muscle and out again. Since the healing had begun, the doctor left it alone. My back was another story. The bullet had sheared across a rib and lodged in my side. Since it was evidence, it had to come out. I tried to take off my precious one -piece Regency gown myself, but the attending nurse slit it with scissors, avoiding the bullet holes, and handed it to a deputy as more evidence.

Saber stayed with me but didn’t stroke my legs through the procedure. He kept up the silent treatment until the doctor mentioned giving me a transfusion to speed the healing.

Saber insisted I ingest the pint of blood.

I told them both to shove it.