“Do you think it’s important?”
“I don’t know, but remember those GPS tracker records I ordered on Laurel? They prove she’s been in Atlanta at least once a month since mid-April.”
“Did Jo-Jo actually meet her at Vlad’s, do you think? Or did he overhear her talking?”
“I suppose he could have recognized her voice alone. God knows, she isn’t quiet.”
“What do we do now?”
“Keep an eye on the vamps in here until we can have a discussion with Jo-Jo.”
“Gotcha. By the way, I smell that funny citrus odor again. It was stronger in the back hall than it is in here.”
Our drinks arrived, served by Suzy, the vamp who’d worn the cheerleader outfit when we were here last. Tonight, in jeans and a plain T-shirt, she looked like she wanted to say something, but the music faded, and a spotlight lit a wooden stage skirted with bloodred fabric.
Saber and I exchanged a loaded glance when Ike himself literally and slowly flew over the crowd to land on the stage. He bowed to the shocked audience and stepped up to the standing microphone.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, his inflection part Alfred Hitchcock, part Vincent Price. “Welcome to Hot Blooded, where you may walk the edge of danger and delight. Tonight we present Jo-Jo the Jester.”
The two didn’t shake hands when Jo-Jo trotted up the stage steps, but that wasn’t unusual. Vamps didn’t observe that bit of human tradition. No, what surprised me was the long, measuring look Jo-Jo gave Ike.
Then Jo-Jo turned to the mike and launched into his routine. He used the same material he had for open-mike night, but expanded it to poke more fun at vampire life. He had the crowd in his pocket from the beginning, and they never wavered, even when he told a clunker joke. Vince jotted notes on every audience reaction. To coach Jo-Jo later?
Surprisingly, most of the vampires seemed to enjoy Jo-Jo’s show. Tower actually cracked a smile at the denture cream line, and Suzy and Coach laughed along with the humans when Jo-Jo told a vampire football joke. Ike and Laurel stood near the long bar, yet apart from each other. Laurel exuded such barely controlled anger, the bone beads in her hair vibrated. Ike appeared to ignore her, and his expression remained impassive. Until, that is, Jo-Jo clowned about hanging out in St. Augustine with Princess Ci, and calling me all the silly royal names he’d annoyed me with since we’d met. Ike was most definitely not amused then, but neither was I. At least Jo-Jo didn’t mention our flight lessons. When Jo-Jo went into his final juggling bit, the crowd went wild with whistles and applause. Judging by Vince’s grin, the act was a hit again.
Jo-Jo worked his way to our table, stopping to schmooze here and there. Ike, on the other hand, made a beeline for me.
“Princess Vampire, a few words, if you please?”
I didn’t please. Ike’s energy made my skin crawl and sting as if being bitten by an army of fire ants. Still, I was civil. “Certainly, Ike. Saber, you want to stretch your legs with us?”
Ike led us into the back hall through the door we’d used earlier, and Laurel slammed in right behind us.
“You.” She charged at me, fangs out, bone beads clacking in her cornrows like a Halloween skeleton in a high wind. “I will kill you for bringing mockery upon Lord Ike.”
My heart had lodged in my throat, but I stood still and si-phoned just a touch of her energy. Well, that and fanned my hand between us.
“Geez, Laurel, back off. You smell like lemon Pledge.”
That surprised her, and she retreated a scant inch. Enough to see remnant silver burns on her wrists, and sense them on her ankles. I sucked off a tad more energy for good measure.
“Now,” I said mildly, “what is your problem?”
“She speaks,” Ike bit out, “of Jo-Jo mocking the vampire way of life. It is not a matter for humor.”
I kept my eyes on Laurel, watching, waiting for her next move as I answered. “News flash, guys. In America, everything is fodder for humor.”
“Mortals should fear us,” Laurel hissed in my face. “We are superior in every way.”
“You know, that superior race attitude didn’t work out real well for Hitler. Besides, you might want to remember that Saber’s standing right there.”
“Bitch,” Laurel shrieked.
She raised a hand to slap me, but I saw it and moved faster.
I blocked her arm, swept her legs out from under her, and put her on her back on the tile floor in under two seconds. The moment she was down, Saber was there, pressing the barrel of his semiautomatic into Laurel’s forehead, trembling with the
effort of holding his fire.
FIFTEEN
019
I’d seen Saber in full cop mode, but this was slayer mode.