“Saber, is there any news?”
“That’s why I’m calling. Vlad is in custody, and the vamps in his nest are cooperating with the VPA.”
“And they have confirmed what?”
“Vlad wanted Ike out. He sent the vamp we told you about, Marco, to work with Laurel and get the job done.”
“Marco is the one who is immune to silver?”
“If the reports are true, yes.”
“Are Laurel and this Marco still at large?”
“’Fraid so. The VPA in Florida is on alert. I notified the agency Monday that they were Rampants, but these two are flying off the radar.”
“So it is advisable to keep the nest secure?”
“Yeah, though you might be able to help us get a break if you’re willing to help.”
Ray paused. “Help how?”
Saber gave me the high sign to turn on the mind probing, but I was already there. Not picking up anything yet, but tuning in as best I could. I doodled on the pad to clear my mind.
“You mentioned that the upper-level vampires, the ones running the bigger nests, were being afflicted in some way. You called it a madness, but can you be more specific?”
“Un momento.”
We heard footsteps, voices in the background, then a door closing before Ray spoke again.
“You understand I can only give you my observations, yes?”
“That’s fine,” Saber said. “Anything to go on will help.”
“Rico—that is, Richardo, the head of the South Beach nest—could be somewhat fearsome, but was stable in temperament.”
I closed my eyes and let Ray’s voice wash over me.
“Months ago, perhaps in October, Rico became more erratic in his behavior. At first, he lashed out at his nestlings over small matters that he shrugged off in the past. Then he grew more easily enraged, meting out harsh punishment to those who would before have been given only a reprimand.”
“Did he feel his authority was being challenged?”
“I do not think so, and yet he grew to be more and more paranoid, especially since March. I began to hear the same thing from vampires in other major nests. Their leaders were following a similar pattern.”
“Besides Ike asking you to investigate Laurel, was there anything in particular that made you leave?”
“Rico was becoming insular. Seeing only his advisors.”
Of which Ray was one. I slid into his memories and watched as he entered a large, dark chamber. A magnificent chandelier hung in the center of the room, yet only a few candles lit the room. Rico sat in a high-backed armchair crowded into a corner. No windows ran along those walls, though both the other walls were lined with windows. I had the impression of a fabulous mansion that had once bathed in the south Florida sun. Now shadows crept along the floors, an oozing, oily fog.
“What happened when you asked to leave?” Saber asked.
I flinched as the scene unfolded in Ray’s memory. Rico rose from his armchair, and the candlelight caught his gaunt face. He gestured wildly and shouted in Spanish about Ramon’s betrayal. Ramon—Ray—assured Rico he would return; Rico wouldn’t hear him. He backhanded Ray, but the blow that should’ve launched Ray across the room barely snapped his head to the side. Rico is starving. His energy is being drained.
I wrote the words on the pad without conscious thought, without even opening my eyes, but Saber must have seen it.
“Did you notice physical differences in Rico? Did his habits change? Did he seem to age?”
Ray sighed. “You remember when some of the independently living Miami vampires disappeared?”
“Yes.”
I remembered, too, because Saber had gone to Miami to investigate right after we started dating.
“Rico—”
Ray broke off, but the scene in his mind kept playing. Vampires and a few humans who seemed to be spouses were dragged before Rico. If the vampires would join his nest, he would spare them. Those who resisted . . . I snapped my eyes open and clutched at Saber’s good arm, but it was too late to stop the images of blood spurting as Rico tore out their throats.
“Let me simply say Rico was feeding more often, and yet the feedings did not sustain his energy.”
“Damn it to hell.”
“So it would seem,” Ray replied. “I have shared with you. What are you not sharing with me?”
“Before I tell you, let me ask you one more thing. Does Rico have an accountant?”
“One who is a vampire, yes. He was one of Rico’s advisors. Or I suppose he still is, if he lives.”
“Did this vampire mention Rico was paying another vamp?”
“He did not know who Rico paid, but money transfers were made.”
“To an offshore account?” Saber pressed.
“Yes. What have you found?”
“The raid on Vlad’s nest turned up records of payments from minor nests to him, and from him to an offshore account. The feds are tracing it, but would you speculate that whatever controls the account is responsible for this madness thing?”