“That’s garbage.” I scowled at the world and Mud’s eyes went big. I flapped my hand at her and mouthed,Not you.To Jane I said, “You’re the Dark Queen. You have resources.”
Jane chuckled and the sound was different from her previous laughter, disheartened, maybe even depressed. “Yeah. The all-powerful Oz, that’s me.” She continued before I could respond. “This much I can do. Alex, will you chat with Unit Eighteen’s Jones? See if you can send them some information on Godfrey.”
“Sure,” Alex said. “I like a woman with a rep. File will be prelim data and I’ll send more later. Watch for a file named ‘Godfrey of Bouillon One.’”
Alex was a former hacker and he knew about our Diamond Drill.
Jane went on, “If things get dire, I’ll call the governor. I know you think I’m some kind of genie in a bottle, but I’m not. I can’t fix Ming’s problems, short of depriving her of her city and clan and taking over. And frankly, Ming would challenge me to a blood duel if I tried.”
“I’m not—”
“I’m tired of killing, littleyinehi,” she said. “Take what you can get. And if you want a job with Clan Yellowrock, ask for it. I could always use a... agardener.” Her tone suggested that she knew I was far more lethal than an ordinary gardener. The call ended.
“Was that the vampire hunter?” Mud asked, her eyes still wide. “The demon one what killed a demon from hell and that old vampire? On the TV?”
“Yes. And no. That was Jane Yellowrock, but she isn’t a demon. Demons don’t fight demons. Remember your scripture.”
“A house divided against itself will not stand, meaning demons don’t fight demons. But Sam said—”
“Sam’s wrong,” I interrupted. “Jane is a shape-shifter. And that old vampire she killed on TV was the emperor of the European vampires, and he was gonna kill a lot of innocent humans just for spite. Killing him made Jane queen of all the vamps, one of the most powerful people among the vampires everywhere.”
“Shedon’t seem to think so.”
“Something’s wrong. I don’t know what. But, you know how the church is dividing into factions? Well, the vampires are even worse. She’s also Mr. LaFleur’s ex-girlfriend. Things are complicated.”
“I’m’a be a townie girl. Townies like complicated.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
My cell dinged again and Mud arched her neck to read the screen. I read the text, holding the cell so my nosy true sib couldn’t see it. The text was from T. Laine.I might be able to break the black-magic calling Rick, but I can’t do it alone. Rick tried again to get the local coven to help. Copied is their reply: NO!.
The cell dinged again with a text from JoJo:Heard from Alex Younger of Yellowrock Securities. He sent info and offered to provide assistance tracking the fangheads who attacked Ming. TY.
“That was fast,” I said. I texted back with an acknowledgment to both agents and laid the cell facedown.
“You got to go into work tonight, don’tcha?” Mud asked.
“Yes.”
“I’ll stay with Mama and Daddy tonight, okay? I got greenhouse stuff to do.”
At which point I realized I hadn’t discussed child care with Mama and Daddy while I was at the church. The threat of violence had driven it out of my mind. “Okay. I’ll take you on the way in to work.”
“I’ll be working on my tablet. I think I’m gonna need me some tutoring in math. Okay if I look for one online?”
I grinned at her. “Female, with her own transportation and excellent references.”
Mud grinned back.
I tugged my laptop to me and began to run a search for Isleen and Loriann, vampire and witch, last names unknown.
•••
I was driving along Main Street in Oliver Springs at about five thirty, merging onto East Tri County Boulevard—officially Tennessee Highway 61—on my way into HQ when the cell dinged with a text. By feel, I found the cell and hit a button to have the phone read it to me. “Text from Jo Jones,” the androgynous voice said. “Call to FBI tip line. Witness saw teenaged girl snatched out of her front yard. Caller said attack was inhumanly fast. Racer took call for FBI and PsyLED. Sending GPS and address. Get there ASAP.”
I turned onto Strutt Street and into the parking lot of an empty building just as the cell dinged again with the information. I input the address, slapped the lights on top of the truck, engaged the siren, and pulled back into rush hour traffic, guided by the cell.
