Immortal Revenge (23 page)

“If I wouldn’t have pinned you down, you wouldn’t have told me. Admit it.” Jules whispered into her ear.

Instead of responding, Katie scanned the room again and noticed the woman behind the glass watching her. Katie gave her a slight grin.

“Admit it,” Jules said.

“Okay, I didn’t think so at first, but I did later.”

“You knew Ben in college and dated him. How can you be sure he can’t handle the truth?”

“Because he’s morally bound to serve the public.”

“I have morals. So did Kyle. I serve drinks. Kyle served as a teacher. What else have you got?”

Katie gripped the strap of her purse tighter. “He follows routines, obeys all the rules and everyone respects him. I don’t imagine someone like him running around and saying ‘I think I saw a UFO last night. You know aliens do exist.’“

Jules fidgeted in her seat. “I’m going to analyze what you just said.”

“Dear lord.” Katie mumbled and looked away.

“We all have certain habits we fallow. I like roller-skating on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I listen to seventies music when I’m having sex.”

Katie shook her head. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” But of course she’d always remember it like a bad dream.

“You said Kyle liked to play word games within an hour of the sun setting. I’m sure you know of others too.”

Katie bit her tongue as Kyle’s routines came to mind. Yes, he played word games after sunset, but what Jules didn’t know was that he did it with an IV stuck in his arm and blood flowing into him. He’d told Katie it wasn’t to satisfy a craving, but rather to ensure he wouldn’t hunger for blood later, which he typically didn’t unless they’d trained all night or had sex, or both. As for another common routine, he enjoyed–and so did she–predawn sex outside, even if it rained. If the temperature were too frigid, he’d set up two pits and lug out blankets to help keep her warm. He claimed fornicating before sunrise helped him rest. She never argued with him about it.

“You mentioned rules. The way I see it, everybody follows a set. Maybe it’s laws. Maybe it’s obeying the Ten Commandments or simply paying taxes every year. The point being everyone adheres to some governing rule.”

“Okay, I get it,” Katie said.

“You respected Kyle, and he treated you in kind. I respect you. So do others, including Riker.”

Katie leaned away from her, stunned by her last words. “Why would you think Riker respects me?”

“You’re going to be a great leader. He knows it. He sees it. And that’s why he’s protecting you.”

“Riker doesn’t even know me.”

“He knows plenty about you. You spent the last eight years of your life learning to fight a vampire from a vampire. You take their blood even though it causes horrible side effects. That takes big balls, my friend.”

“Please do
not
call me Rambo again.”

“He sees your determination and will to live against odds no ordinary human could face, or would willingly. You don’t have fear, Katie.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t. You act on a whim, like you did last night. You have emotions, but fear is not one of them.”

Katie’s jaw hung open. Where did the person sitting across from her come from? This wasn’t her disco queen friend. Did a vampire fuck with her mind? Maybe she was in the Twilight Zone.

Jules placed her hand on Katie’s arm. “Katie, I love you. I’m just being honest and trying to prove a point. Sometimes, you have to have trust others will understand. You did with me. Like yesterday, you showed me how to shoot the rifle. Today you let me follow you in the house even though you knew I wouldn’t respond well. All I’m saying is to take that leap of faith every once in a while, or you may miss something, or someone.”

Kate sat silently with her thoughts working overtime. The medicine Jules gave her was tough to swallow, but she was right. Trusting and sharing with her had been a slow process over the years, but thankfully, Katie had. Now Jules could shoot well. She could face the bad and the unthinkable, such as the loss of her boyfriend. She could even face the gross intestines of a dog hanging in her shower. Jules had come a long way from roller-skating two nights a week. A stirring within Katie led her to believe the detective could face more. If Jules could handle the truth and deal with all the shit from the last couple of days, why couldn’t Ben? Maybe it was time for Katie to take a leap of faith. If she hadn’t with Jules, she would’ve missed a wonderful friendship. Was she missing the same kind of camaraderie with Ben?

The door leading to the back swung open. Ben stepped out dressed in jeans and button down shirt tucked inside his pants. His clean-cut appearance made him a handsome man. Why he never married remained a mystery to Katie. He’d had girlfriends, plenty of them. Maybe he’d never met the right one to call Ms. Hildebrand.

He leaned on the knob. “Are you waiting for me?”

Katie and Jules rose at the same time. “Do you have a few minutes?” Katie asked.

“Yeah, sure.” He jerked his thumb toward the inside of the door. “Let’s go to my office.”

Katie stepped past the door, then paused off to the side. Jules stood next to her, smiling.

Ben led them down a long hall. Halfway down, he glanced over his shoulder at Katie, then Jules.

“Is everything all right?” he asked, meeting Katie’s gaze.

The way he asked resembled the female’s officer question. She assumed he wondered how she ended up with a bruised face.

“I’m fine. Fell and hit chair. That’s all.”

One of his brows rose. “A chair?”

Okay, maybe the line wasn’t good for a detective. “If I told you I got in a cat fight, would it ease your curiosity?”

“A little. I’d want to know who the cat fight was with.”

Katie shook her head. “It’s not important. I won and that’s all that matters.” And not one bit of her statement was a fabrication.

“If you need to press charges, I would be glad to assist you.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“What if this cat wants to hurt you again? I’d hate to see further injuries on any part of your body.”

“Thanks, but I’m not filing a report.” While she appreciated how he always wanted to help her, she didn’t need it in matters concerning her protection. Besides, the cat no longer posed a threat to anyone.

He paused and put his hand on her shoulder. “You can trust me, Katie. I’ll help you any way I can.”

As he stared deep into her eyes, she sensed how strong his compassion was. “I appreciate your concern. Really, I do. But I can handle this myself.”

He pursed his lips, lowered his hand and continued walking. “How are you, Julie?” he asked with half of his body twisted to face her.

“I’m fine.”

“You look a bit tired. Working at the bar too much?”

“Not lately.”

Katie elbowed her friend to silence her. Every word and move gave Ben something to scrutinize. As he’d shared with her the day before, his job entailed looking for details. Without a doubt, he’d noticed the redness in Jules’s eyes and that’s what prompted him to ask about her wellbeing.

He rounded a corner and led them into a small office. “Please have a seat.” He gestured with his arm toward the two ugly, sixties-looking chairs facing the metal desk.

Jules claimed the first seat on the left, leaving the brown one with a stain for Katie. Hearing a soft click, Katie glanced back and found Ben shutting the door. A garment bag hung from a hook on the back.

“Are you working tonight?” Katie asked as she sat.

“Yes. I’m a little late, but everyone is flexible here. We have to be.” He stepped around the desk and rolled out the chair.

“So this is this your office.” Jules scanned the area behind him and the walls. One framed photo displayed his college degree. Another revealed his credentials from the police academy. His clean office held no other personal artifacts. A dark computer, legal pad and cup full of pens were the only objects on his desk.

“Yeah, I don’t have many photos like the other officers do. I guess I work too much.” He paused and gave a grin to each of them. “Can I get either of you a drink?”

“We’re fine. We won’t take up much of your time,” Katie said.

He clasped his hands together and leaned forward. “What can I do for you?”

Katie crossed her legs as she inhaled a deep breath. “I was wondering if you had any visitors last night.”

“We have many visitors that come here. Some are still downstairs in the basement.”

“I’m not referring to those kind of visitors.” She rested her arm on his desk as she drew closer to him. “Did the dark haired stranger return and ask questions?”

Ben raised his arms as he leaned back in his chair. He threaded his fingers behind his head. “Why are you concerned? Do you know who he is, or what he wants?”

“I’ll tell you what I know, if you tell me first.”

She glanced at Jules and smiled. Taking a leap of faith sounded good, but Katie couldn’t do it yet, especially not in a police station. She’d fill Jules in on her plan later.

His gaze veered to Jules and she smiled. “It’s okay. Katie has filled me in on everything. We’re like sisters, you know?”

Ben looked at Katie.

“It’s okay. Really.”

He blew out a hesitant breath. “He didn’t stop by.”

Katie scrunched her brows. “Really?”

“Someone else did.”

She froze in silence. “What?”

“I clocked out late and was leaving when I saw him. He was a bit shorter and thinner than me. Short hair. Wore jeans and button down, untucked and with the sleeves rolled mid arm. He had a tattoo on the left arm. I passed too quickly to get a good view of it.”

Katie’s heart worked double and triple time. Was it possible there was another vampire?

“Did he see you?”

“No, he was standing in Charles’s office, facing him.”

“Did he say anything to Charles?”

“I heard him asking about the Brown property. Charles told him several troopers checked on it and reported the area clean and undisturbed.”

“Anything else?”

“That was all I heard. I left before anyone could question why I was still there, standing in the hall.”

Nervous energy stirred with her. Who was this person? What did they want with Kyle’s property? Katie lowered her gaze and thrummed her fingers on the desk as she pondered. The answer had to be another vampire was involved.

“I sat in my car and waited for the person to leave,” Ben continued.

She jerked her head up. “You did what?”

“He walked out very casually and got into a black van. I was tempted to follow–”

“Please tell me you didn’t.”

He grinned. “You asked me to stay away, and I did.”

Katie inhaled a relieving breath. If the stranger were a vampire, he would’ve easily noticed someone following him. Without a doubt, Ben wouldn’t be sitting across from her if he had tracked the van. His cold body would be at the morgue.

Ben lowered his arms. “I find this stranger very disturbing.”

“How so?” Katie asked as she eased back into her chair, causing it to creak.

Jules sat with her arms crossed and focused attention on Ben. Was the detective scrutinizing the detective?

“People dressed like him don’t typically walk in or out of here without an escort.”

“You’re judging him based on appearance?” Jules asked.

“Partially. I called this morning and asked Charles about his visitor. Charles said he was instructed to have someone watch the property twenty-four-seven and we are to detain anyone that shows up.”

“That is unusual,” Jules said.

“Why do you say that?” Katie asked.

“Think about it. A thug-looking guy gives a Chief Officer direction. That’s not right.”

“Very good, Julie.” Ben complimented.

Jules beamed with her wide smile.