I shrugged. “It sends signals so the VPA always knows where I am and when.”
“True, but it only registers location changes when you travel more than about three thousand square feet.”
I frowned. “You mean my tracker doesn’t register anything when I’m going from room to room in my house?”
“If you walked straight from your bedroom to the front yard, the readout might show a blip, but no substantial movement. You go farther than that, and the readout will stamp your movements every three minutes.”
“I follow. So what’s the irregularity with Vlad’s nest?”
“Two Atlanta vamps who should be moving around aren’t. Their trackers are giving stationary signals.”
“Maybe they’re being homebodies.”
He took my hand and squeezed. “When we see this with nest vampires, it usually means the vamps wearing those trackers are being punished.”
“Oh.” I pushed away grim memories of my own punishment, the one that was supposed to have lasted a few uncomfortable days and turned into a few bleak centuries.
“I hope,” I said lightly as I sat on Saber’s lap, “that Vlad’s modern enough not to lock his vamps in a coffin.”
“I hope he’s not withholding blood too long. A hungry vamp is a dangerous vamp. But,” he added, his hand wandering into one of my erogenous zones, “the VPA gal in Atlanta is arranging an in-person visit in the next few days to check on the nest.”
“VPA gal? Tsk, tsk. That’s sexist, Saber.”
“No, it’s not. That’s how Candy refers to herself to make the vamps think she’s just a little Southern belle.”
“When she’s really a steel magnolia?”
“Honey, Candy Crushman on a rampage makes a vamp attack look like a tea party.”
“So visiting the nest won’t be dangerous for her?”
“Hardly, especially since her husband Jim will go with her. Crusher is an ex-slayer buddy of mine, and no, he’s not a special investigator. More of a mercenary, but he works overseas most of the time.”
“Did Candy know about the vamp with silver immunity?”
“No one seems to know about it, but Candy’s making it a high priority to nose around during the on-site visit. She’ll check in with me as soon as she knows anything.”
“What about the Daytona case? What happened to the man who was bitten?”
“The hospital confirmed he was released early this afternoon, and I had a message from Captain Jackson on the cell. The victim shows up on Ike’s surveillance cameras as sitting at the bar for about an hour and leaving in one piece.”
“He didn’t cuddle up to any vamps while he was there?”
“No, and there aren’t any vamps living in Daytona outside Ike’s nest. One of his vamps got the victim late Sunday or early Monday morning.”
“Makes you wonder just how well Ike has Laurel restrained. Maybe she can fly the nest.”
“Doubtful. Besides, I won’t get a judge to let me search Ike’s residence. I don’t have probable cause.” He paused. “Are you certain you didn’t smell blood in the club or outside?”
“Not even a hint. I smelled something else, but it wasn’t blood.”
“What kind of something else?” he asked sharply.
“A citrus scent, like oranges or lemons.” I shrugged. “That’s why I didn’t mention it. It was odd, not important.”
“I suppose not, but give me the high sign if you sense anything unusual again.”
“Again? I’m never going back there.”
He smiled. “Not even if Jo-Jo performs at the club?”
“Okay, maybe then.” I tapped my chin, considering something else. “Saber, what about Cici?”
“You mean telling Laurel about Jo-Jo?”
“Not even Ike’s vamps bought that faerie tale. I think we ought to check it out.”
“Let me guess. You want to drag me to Wal-Mart.”
I grinned. “You can call it a beer run.”
“Fine. We’ll wait until the storm moves on.”
“Any word on when that’ll be?”
“It’s picked up speed moving north. You work tonight?”
I gave him a peck on the nose. “Nope, I’m off tonight and tomorrow.”
“What about bridge club?”
I’m a fiend for bridge, and Wednesday was our regular night, but most of the ladies were on vacation.
“We’re on hold until after Labor Day.”
“You mean I have you to myself for two nights running?” he said, nibbling my neck.
“You do—ooh, yes, that spot makes me crazy.”
“Good thing I just popped an extra vitamin.”
The timer dinged before he carried me out of the kitchen, but I remembered to stow my Starbloods in the fridge for later. Much later.