We were all silent a minute. I was trying to work out if he was joking or not.
“They don’t really have a Men In Black light, do they?” Jean asked.
Ryder smiled. “I wouldn’t know if they did or not, would I?”
“Okay,” I said. “I can talk to the vampires in town. Find out if they want to meet with you. Find out if they want to negotiate with your department. Would that work for you?”
He nodded. “It would. We’re offering our help in keeping them safe. I’d like you to tell them that. Tell them we were not a part of Sven’s death and we’ll do everything we can to bring his killer to justice.”
Myra and Jean both nodded, so I took that as our agreement. I would contact Rossi, let him know he could talk to Ryder—while I was also in the room—and Rossi could decide if he wanted any contact with Ryder’s agency. Easy.
“But first I want to know who is the head of the vampires.”
“We’re not going to tell you that,” Myra said.
“Is it Crow?”
“Yep,” Crow said. “I vhant to dreenk your blahd.”
“Nope.” Jean smacked Crow on the arm. Crow chuckled.
“It’s not you, is it, Delaney?” Ryder said this with such a flat expression and neutral voice I knew he was working hard not to let any emotion seep through.
“We slept together,” I said. “You know I breathe. You know my heart beats.”
The blank look on his face lifted, and it was clearly relief that was left behind. “That’s what I remembered, but I know vampires can alter memories if they want. Make a person think they saw something they didn’t.”
“Wait,” Jean said. “Is that why you broke up with her? You thought she was a vampire? Talk about intolerance.”
“Racist,” Crow muttered.
“I’m not racist.” Ryder picked up his coffee mug, realized there was nothing in it, and put it back down again. “I just didn’t want to mix business with personal life.”
“You’re a cop,” Myra said. “She’s a cop. You dated her when you were both working for the same department.”
“I’m a reserve officer. I figured I could quit that if things got too complicated in our relationship.”
“Who’s your boss? Is it really some guy named Frank?” I finally asked. This was the question I kept coming back around to. It felt important.
He smiled, just a faint curve of his lips. He liked this part of it, when I tried to get the information out of him. Liked to make me work for it.
Jerk.
“Who’s the head vampire in town?”
“I am.”
I startled and was on my feet, hands reaching for a gun that was not on my hip.
Old Rossi stood in my living room, just inside the door, a killing look in his eyes.
Chapter 13
Vampires are silent when they want to be. I had no idea how long he’d been in my house. He could have been there all night which was frankly a little pervy.
I wasn’t the only one who had jumped at his voice. Ryder was on his feet, his hands very carefully away from his sides as if proving he was not trying to go for a gun.
Myra, Jean, and Crow were all still seated. Myra quirked an eyebrow at me. “Lock. The. Door. Seriously, Delaney, when are you going to act like an adult and take your own security seriously?”
