Baited Blood (10 page)

ELEVEN

B
y the time she ran home from the trail, it was drizzling. Madison was tired, both inside and out, with the cold penetrating through to her core. Before going up to take a hot shower, she checked the pool from the kitchen window. No body. There hadn’t been one when she’d left for her run either, but she was getting skittish about vampires floating in the pool. The last thing she wanted was to go three for three.

She nodded through the patio doors to Hyun, who was guarding the place. He’d arrived shortly before she’d gotten up for her run to take over the watch from the Dedhams. Madison would be on duty with Pauline until she went to school.

“Miss Madison,” Hyun called to her.

Opening the patio door, she stuck her head out, her teeth chattering. “I’ll be back as soon as I shower.”

Hyun was seated at the patio table, a mug of steaming coffee in front of him, along with a folded newspaper. Also in front of him was a gun, ready to be grabbed should the need arise. He wore black trousers, a black turtleneck, and a dark gray tweed jacket. On his wrist was a protective bracelet similar to her own. His glossy black hair was short and spiky. If the damp chill of the drizzly morning bothered Hyun, he didn’t show it.

“There’s been a change of plans.” Hyun spoke with a slight accent and the clipped cadence of a man saturated with military discipline.

Putting her shower on hold for a few minutes, Madison looked at the driver/bodyguard with curiosity and stepped outside. She hugged herself against the cold. “You might as well tell me now.”

“Mr. La Croix wants me here all day. He doesn’t want to leave you and Mrs. Speakes on your own, especially Mrs. Speakes after you go to school.”

“But vampires sleep during the day. It’s the nighttime that’s the real threat.”

“He wants to be careful. There’s a gap on Thursdays from the time Mrs. Speakes leaves until you return from class, so he asked that I stay all day.”

“Okay. Whatever Samuel thinks is best.” She started to go into the house, then stopped. “Have you had breakfast? When I come back downstairs, I can whip you up something.” She felt her insides clench as she made the offer. On running days, she’d gotten into the habit of making breakfast for Notchey, and she looked forward to it. It had morphed from a simple meal into a fun time over eggs before he went off to work and she got ready for school.

“Thanks, but I’ve eaten.” Hyun looked at her without expression. It was his working face. Samuel’s last bodyguard had worn the same look. “I’d appreciate it if you’d just keep the coffee
coming
.”

“Do you know where the bathroom is? With all that coffee, you’d better.”

“Just inside the door, to the left.” There was no humor in his voice, just a robotic monotone delivering facts unencumbered by frills. She’d half expected Hyun to produce a portable urinal.

With a nod, Madison left to go upstairs and shower.

When she returned from school, Hyun wasn’t at the patio table but walking the perimeter of the Dedham property. When he saw her, he made his way to the patio.

“Everything okay?” she asked him.

“Fine.”

Hyun looked just as fresh and alert as when she’d left him earlier in the day, except now he was wearing sunglasses. The drizzle had disappeared by late morning, leaving in its wake a glorious California day, even for February. Madison, on the other hand, felt like a dishrag that had been tossed under the sink and left to mildew. The day had taken its toll on her, from not enough sleep to the fight with Notchey to the long day in the classroom.

“Would you like me to spell you?” she asked.

“I’m good. I’ll be going shortly after the Dedhams get up.” Hyun looked directly into Madison’s face but revealed no emotion. “You look like you’re ready to drop.”

“I am very tired.”

“Why don’t you take a nap. I’ll be fine down here.”

“You sure?”

For the first time, Madison saw the barest hint of a smile on Hyun’s face. “It’s my job to protect you, not the other way around.”

Madison thanked him and started to leave. A nap was exactly what she needed. She wanted to be alert tonight for her meeting with Colin. Before going back into the house, she turned around.

“Hyun, did you work with other vampires before coming to work for Samuel?”

If the bodyguard was surprised by the question, he didn’t show it. “Yes. I’ve worked for one other.”

“Have you ever seen anything like this? I mean, vampires being murdered and dumped in swimming pools?”

Hyun paused briefly before answering but never turned his face away from hers. “I’ve seen much worse, Miss Madison. Much worse.”

“In general or regarding vampires?” Before he could answer, she added, “Oh, and please drop the Miss. It’s just Madison.”

“Both. It’s fairly civil here. In some parts of the world, vampires hunt both humans and other vampires.” He hesitated slightly, but his face remained impassive. “Just for sport.”

A cold hand clutched her heart at the thought of being hunted like an animal. “I was told it was like that here before Samuel came.”

“Yes, although California was not near as barbaric as some other areas of the world. Mr. La Croix is quite famous throughout the entire vampire nation. I am honored he chose me to serve him.”

“Do you mind my asking these questions?”

“Not as long as you understand there are some things of which I cannot speak.”

Madison nodded. She’d ridden in Samuel’s car enough to know the privacy partition wasn’t always in place. As Samuel’s driver, Hyun overheard a lot of juicy information. “I do
understand
.” She took a minute to phrase her next question. “Did you see the tattoo on Keleta’s back?”

“No, but Mr. La Croix told me about it. He asked if I had ever seen anything like it before.”

“Had you?” Madison leaned forward, hoping it was territory Hyun would discuss.

“Yes. On a couple of male vampires.”

“Where?”

“At my last employer’s.”

“How about Ann Hayes? Had you ever come in contact with her before?”

“Yes. She was a frequent guest of my last employer. The male vampires with the tattoo were part of her entourage.”

Tired as she was, Madison tried to fit the information together like a cap to a bottle. “And Samuel knows this?”

“Of course. I told him as soon as I recognized her.”

Madison squinted at Hyun. “Did she recognize you?”

“I do not believe she did. Ms. Hayes is not the type to pay attention to the hired help.”

“Humph.” That sounded like Ann Hayes. “Hyun, who did you work for? Was it someone local?”

Without moving his mouth, Hyun laughed, the sound coming from inside his throat like someone digging to get out. “No, Madison. I worked for His Majesty King Leopold.”

He said the name as if she should automatically recognize it, but she didn’t. Too embarrassed by her lack of knowledge of vampire hierarchy, she thanked Hyun for his time and went into the house.

Upstairs, Madison did not head straight to her nap. Instead, she turned on her laptop. Notchey had said he’d look into buildings that could be taken as castles, but she wasn’t about to wait around for him. Not after this morning.

Starting with Google, Madison searched for castles in California. The most obvious—Hearst Castle—topped the list of results. There was a winery and a castle-sized hotel that was for sale. She also found references to the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and the one in Glendora that Notchey had mentioned. One link led her to a site that featured all the castles in California. She had no idea there were so many. Most were open to the public for tours, one was available for a weekly rental, and some were closed. There even two that were still private residences, but those were located in Northern California.

Keleta had said the castle was a large building that looked like a castle. Most of the ones listed online were either real castles or looked like castles, but Madison’s gut told her Lady would not choose to set up shop in a building so publicly known. Keleta’s castle was probably in Southern California in order for Lady to transport the bodies easily, and it was most likely in a rural area or someplace where the natural vegetation afforded a lot of privacy—like the part of Topanga where the Dedhams’ house was located, or someplace similar. Madison wasn’t familiar with all the local areas that fit that description. She’d ask Notchey. Notchey again; well, that convenient source wasn’t available any longer. She didn’t need him anyway. Whatever he knew, she could find out on her own. It would take her longer, but it wouldn’t be impossible.

She leaned back in her chair and tried to think of how she could find out about large properties close to Los Angeles but still relatively private. Applying her fingers to the keyboard, she searched for a particular realtor’s information. She’d seen the company’s name on signs around the area where Samuel lived. If that realty agency did business in that high-end neighborhood, someone at that office might know of properties, available or not, of the size she was searching. Once she’d located the phone number, she made the call. A woman answered.

“Hello, my name is Madison, and I’m calling about a very specific type of property.” Madison sat up straighter to give her voice more authority. “I was hoping you or your agency could help.”

“Is this for yourself?”

“No, it’s for my employer. Actually, it’s for a special project he has in mind.”

“And your employer is?”

“He wishes to remain anonymous at this time. I’m sure you understand.” Madison knew if the realty agency dealt with ultra-high-end properties, the woman wouldn’t be put off by an anonymous buyer in the least. In Los Angeles, with its celebrities and entertainment executives, such initial tactics were business as usual when feeling out a deal.

“I certainly
understand
.” The woman’s emphasis told Madison the realtor was hooked and hungry for a Moby Dick–sized commission. “What is it your employer is looking for specifically?”

“A very large property and house. Something close to Los Angeles and very private. The home should be able to comfortably accommodate …” Madison paused just long enough to make a guestimate of how many people Lady might have had living at the castle. “Oh, about twenty adults, including staff.”

“Twenty adults.” The woman paused, but her composure never slipped. “Will this be a commercial endeavor? We do have a very capable commercial division.”

“No, private. My employer is looking to open up his residence to friends for indefinite stays.” Madison’s words flowed through the phone like olive oil. She’d learned to lie growing up like second-hand clothing being dragged from house to house; the finesse she was learning at the feet of the vampires.

“He plans,” she continued, “to open the home to his various artistic friends. You know, a quiet and private place where they can get away and write and paint and be brilliant without the stress of day-to-day life impeding their craft.”

“Oh, like a patron to the arts.” The woman’s voice brightened at the thought of the next Harper Lee or Van Gogh being nurtured in a home she’d found.

“Yes, exactly.” Madison paused as she thought of what else to add. “Oh, and he prefers classic European architecture. In fact, he has a slight thing for castles. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it will help.”

“There might be several properties on the market at this time that could meet your needs. I would be happy to do some research on their availability and get back to you.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” Madison twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “And even if something is not for sale, please let us know about the property. My employer can be quite persuasive when he finds something he wants.”

“What about a lease? Would he be interested in leasing if I found the right property?”

“I’m sure he’d be interested in anything you find that fits his need.”

“Wonderful,” the woman gushed. Madison gave the woman her cell number and hung up.

She yawned. Fighting the urge to stretch out on the bed, Madison continued her Internet search, this time for a King Leopold. The search brought up Leopold II of Belgium, a monarch who visited atrocities upon the people of the Congo and maimed thousands of its children, as well as information on Leopold I, the first king of Belgium. She also searched for vampire royalty or vampire kings and came up with nothing but references to fiction and TV shows.

With each new bit of information, her eyes grew heavier.

“Madison.”

Madison stirred but didn’t open her eyes. Dodie jiggled her shoulder again. “Madison, dear, wake up.”

Raising her head slowly from the desk, she squinted at Dodie. Her neck ached, and her face felt numb. “What time is it?”

“After six. Don’t you have an appointment with Colin tonight?”

Madison moved her chin in what passed as a weak nod. “Yeah, but I’d rather go back to bed.”

Dodie smiled down at her. “I don’t think napping with your head on your desk constitutes sleeping in a bed.”

Straightening up, Madison stretched. “Thanks for waking me up. I was doing some research on the computer and must have fallen asleep.”