Okay, Noah, the answers yes. In fact, my friend Denise and I were going to catch dinner Monday night. Youre welcome to join us.
He let out a breath. Monday is perfect. Ill call you Sunday to confirm. I dont normally do things like this. God, that sounds like a line. Let me ask for your number, before I talk you out of it.
With a smile I wrote down my cell number. If Noah and Denise hit it off, Id quietly leave before dessert. If he turned out to be a jerk, then Id make sure he was sent on his way without bothering her further. Hey, what were friends for?
Please dont change your mind, he said when I handed him my number.
Instead of responding, I merely waved good night.
THREE
AT TEN TO SIX THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, my phone rang. I glanced at the number that flashed up and frowned. Why was Denise calling me from her house? She was supposed to have gotten here fifteen minutes ago.
Whats up? I answered. Youre running late.
It sounded like she took a deep breath. Cat, dont be mad at me, butIm not coming.
Are you sick? I asked worriedly.
There was the sound of another deep breath. No, Im not coming because I want you to go out with Noah. Alone. You said he seemed like a really nice guy.
But I dont want to go on a date! I protested. I was only doing this so you could meet him, but then have a graceful way out if he wasnt your type.
For Gods sake, Cat, I dont need another date, but you do! I mean, my grandmother gets more action than you. Look, I know you dont talk about the other guy, whoever he was, but weve been friends for over three years and youve got to start to live. Dazzle Noah with your drinking skills, burn his ears with your language, but try to have a little fun with a guy youre not intending to kill by the end of the night. At least once. Maybe then you wont be so sad all the time.
Shed hit a nerve. Even though Id never mentioned specifics about Bones, especially the one about him being a vampire, she knew Id loved someone and then lost him. And she knew how alone I felt, more than Id ever admit to.
I sighed. I dont think its a good idea-
I do, she cut me off at once. Youre not dead, so you need to stop acting like you are. Its just dinner, not eloping to Vegas. No one says you even have to see Noah again. But just go out this once. Come on.
I looked at my new kitty. He blinked, which I took as a yes as well.
All right. Noahs due here in five minutes. Ill go, but Ill probably say something completely inappropriate and be home in an hour.
Denise laughed. It doesnt matter; at least youd have given it a shot. Call me when you get in.
I said goodbye and hung up. Apparently I was going on a date. Ready or not.
As I passed by a mirror, I did a double take at my reflection. My newly brown hair was cut shoulder-length and looked foreign, but that was the idea, in case Ian decided to confirm the rumors about my appearance. I didnt need any vampires or ghouls getting a heads-up as to who I was because of my hair color. Blondes might have more fun, but I was hoping for a higher body count. The Red Reaper had been laid to rest. Long live the Brunette Reaper!
When Noah knocked on the door, I was as prepared as I was going to be. His smile froze when he saw me.
You were a redhead before, right? I didnt just imagine it in my anxiety?
I raised a brow, no longer red but honey-colored. I wanted a change. Been a redhead all my life, and I felt like something different.
He backpedaled at once. Well, its beautiful. Youre beautiful. I mean, you were beautiful before and you still are now. Lets go, before you change your mind.
I already had, but that had nothing to do with Noah. Still, much as I hated to admit it, Denise was right. I could spend another night tormenting myself over someone I could never have, or I could go out and try to have a nice evening for a change.
Bad news, I told him. My friend, um, got held up and she couldnt make it. Sorry. If you want to cancel Ill completely understand.
No, Noah said at once, smiling. Im hungry. Lets eat.
Its just one date, I reminded myself as I walked to his car. What harm could there be?
Noah and I went to Renardos, an Italian bistro. Out of courtesy I drank only red wine, not wanting to reveal my penchant for vast quantities of gin and tonic.
What do you do for a living, Cristine? he asked.
Field research and recruitment for the Bureau.
It was sorta true, if you called hunting down and killing creatures of the night research. Or defined going across the country rounding up the best men the military, law enforcement, FBI, or even the criminal justice system had to offer as recruitment. Hey, far be it for an operation that killed the undead to discriminate in who we hired, right? Some of our best team members had once worn an orange jersey. Juan was a penal code graduate who chose working for Don over twenty years behind bars. The mishmash might not make for the most traditionally behaved fighting unit, but it sure was a deadly one.
Noahs eyes widened. The Bureau? Youre an FBI agent?
Not technically. Our department is more of an extension of Homeland Security.
Oh, so you have one of those jobs where you could tell me what you did, but then youd have to kill me? he teased.
I almost choked on my wine. You said it, buddy. Uh, nothing that exciting. Just recruitment and research. Im on call constantly, though, and I work strange hours. Thats why Denise would be a better person to introduce you around Richmond than me.
This I said directly to put out any illusions. Noah was sweet, but anything more wouldnt happen.
I understand strange hours and being on call. I get paged at any hour for an emergency. Nothing as serious as your line of work, but still. Even the littlest things in life deserve attention. Ive always felt how you treated something weaker than you showed your true character.
Well, well. He had just raised a notch in my opinion.
Sorry Denise couldnt make it, I said for probably the fifth time. I think youd really like her.
Noah leaned forward. Im sure I would, but Im not sorry she couldnt make it. I only used meeting people as an excuse to ask you out. I really just wanted to go on a date with you. It must have been those fuzzy slippers.
I laughed, which startled me. Truthfully, Id expected to have a miserable time, but this wasnice.
Ill bear that in mind.
I studied him over my wineglass. Noah wore a crewneck gray shirt and a sports coat, with charcoal slacks. His black hair was freshly cut, but that one lock kept falling over his forehead. Noah certainly had no reason to lack for dates. Even if his skin didnt have that creamy crystal luminescence that glittered in the moonlight
I shook my head. Dammit, I had to stop haunting myself with Bones! There was no hope for the two of us. Even if we did manage to conquer the insurmountable obstacles of my job killing the undead, or my mothers seething hatred of anything with fangs, we still wouldnt work. Bones was a vampire. Hed stay forever young while Id inevitably grow old and die. The only way around my mortality was if I changed over, and I refused to do that. No matter how it broke my heart, Id made the only decision I could by leaving him. Hell, Bones might not even think about me anymore. Hed probably moved on; it had been over four years since wed seen each other. Maybe it was time for me to move on, too.
Do you want to skip dessert and go for a walk? I impulsively asked.
Noah didnt hesitate. Id love to.
We drove forty minutes to get to the beach. Being March, it was still frigid, and I wrapped my coat around me in the cold ocean breeze. Noah walked closely next to me, his hands inside his pockets.
I love the ocean. Its why I moved from Pittsburgh to Virginia. Ever since I first saw it, I knew I wanted to live near it. Theres something about it that makes me feel small, but like Im still part of the bigger picture. That sounds cheesy, but its true.
Wistfully I smiled. Its not cheesy. I feel the same way about the mountains. I still go back there, whenever I get a chance
My voice trailed off, because I was remembering who Id been with when I first saw the mountains. This had to stop.
In a burst of longing to forget, I grabbed Noah and almost yanked his head down to mine. He hesitated a fraction before responding, wrapping his arms around me, his pulse tripling as I kissed him.
Just as suddenly as I began, I pulled away. Im sorry. That was rude of me.
A shaky chuckle escaped him. That kind of rudeness Id been hoping for. In fact, I was planning a smooth maneuver with asking you to sit, maybe putting my arm around youbut I like your way better.
God, his lip was bleeding. Stupid me forgot to check my strength. Poor Noah was apparently a glutton for abuse. At least I didnt knock his teeth down his throat; he might have objected more strongly to that.
Noah grasped my shoulders, and this time he lowered his head under his own power. I restrained my normal force, kissing him gently and letting his tongue dip past my lips. His heart rate shot up higher and his blood traveled south. It was almost funny to hear his bodys reaction.
I pushed Noah back. Thats all Im willing to give.
Im very happy with that, Cristine. The only other thing I want is to see you again. I really want to see you again.
His face was earnest and so honest. Completely unlike mine with all my secrets.
I sighed again. Noah, I lead a veryodd life. My job has me traveling frequently, leaving without notice, and having to cancel almost every plan I make. Does that sound like something you want to get involved in?
He nodded. It sounds great, because its your life. I would love to get involved in it.
The sensible part of my brain sent me a clear warning. Dont do it. My loneliness slapped it down.
Then Id like to see you again, too.
FOUR
A KNOCK BOOMED AT MY DOOR, CAUSING ME to bolt up in bed. It was only nine in the morning. No one came by this early; they all knew my sleeping habits. Even Noah, who Id been dating now for a month, knew better than to call or come over at such an ungodly hour.
I went downstairs, habit making me put a silver knife in my robe pocket, and looked through the peephole.
Tate was on the other side, and he also appeared as though hed been freshly woken up.
Whats wrong? I said as I opened the door.
We need to get to the compound. Dons waiting for us, and hes calling in Juan and Dave as well.
I left the door open and went back upstairs to throw on some clothes. No way was I showing up in my Tweety Bird pajamas; that would hardly inspire respect among my men.
After changing and doing a quick brush of my teeth, I climbed into Tates car, blinking at the bright morning sunlight.
Do you know why were being hauled in? Why didnt Don call me first?
Tate grunted. He wanted to ask my opinion of the situation before speaking to you. There were some murders last night in Ohio. Pretty graphic, no attempt made to hide the bodies. In fact, they were displayed.
Whats so unusual about that? Terrible, I give you, but not out of the ordinary.
I was confused. We didnt jet around to every nasty crime scene, or wed never be able to cover them all. There was more than he was telling me.
Were almost there. Ill let Don fill you in on the rest. My job was just to pick you up.
Tate had been a sergeant in Special Forces before joining Don, and his years in the military showed. Follow orders, dont question command decisions. It was what Don loved about him-and why I frustrated my boss so much, because my credo seemed to be the exact opposite.
In twenty minutes, we were at the compound. The armed guards waved us through the gates as usual. Tate and I were such a common sight, we didnt even show identification anymore. We practically knew all the guards by name, rank, and serial number.
Don was in his office, pacing by his desk, and my brows shot up. My boss was normally cool and collected. This was only the second time Id seen him pace in the four years since he recruited me. The first was when he found out that Ian, or Liam Flannery, as Don still thought of him, had gotten away. Don had wanted me to bring the vampire in to keep as a pet, so we could siphon blood from him to make more Brams. When I came back without Ian, I thought Don would pop a seam. Or wear a trench in his carpet. My being stabbed was barely an afterthought. Don really had a mixed-up set of priorities, in my opinion.
On his desk were photos that looked downloaded. He gestured to them as we came in.
I have a friend at the Franklin County Police Department who scanned these two hours ago and sent them to me. Hes already contained the area and barred any more police or medical examiners from the scene. Youre leaving as soon as the team is assembled. Pick your best men, because youre going to need them. Well have additional personnel standing by to deploy at your command. This has to be put to bed immediately.
Franklin County. My old hometown. Cut the mystery, Don. You have my attention.
In reply he handed me one of the photographs. It was of a small room, with a pile of fresh body parts strewn on the carpet. I recognized it at once, because it used to be my bedroom at my grandparents house. The writing on the wall froze me, and I knew at once why Don was freaked.
here kitty kitty
That wasnt good. Not fucking good at all. The fact that this deliberate taunt was clearly addressed to me, and in the house I grew up in, showed two terrifying things. Someone knew my stage name-and my real one.