Emma
After being at Miller’s Cove all morning, the ocean called to me. After shooting Henry a quick text to let him know what I was doing, because, you know, I was a responsible adult and all, I changed into my wetsuit and walked down the path from our house to the beach. This was something else that had helped keep me in better shape. I’d been swimming as much as I could since coming home. It was nearly time to stop, as the weather grew colder every day, but I’d go out for as long as the weather allowed. Despite my liberal use of sunscreen, I’d developed a nice glow and found myself able to swim farther out before growing winded and letting the tide help push me back in. When we were younger, Henry and I hadn’t been allowed to go swim without someone to watch our backs. Now, I figured I was old enough to have a swim on my own.
A good hour later, when I’d finally had enough swimming, I walked onto the beach and looked up to find one of the men who had been at the crime scene. It was the Lucifer look-a-like. The one Daniel had been so wary of. He was definitely handsome when he wasn’t glaring, with dark hair and dark eyes, but I much preferred Daniel, in every possible way. Not that it was a competition.
Vance also had a polite smile on his face, as if realizing just how intimidating it might be for a vampire in a suit to be waiting for me on the beach.
I grabbed my towel and pulled it over myself before walking over. Suddenly I was glad I was wearing my wetsuit and not just a regular bathing suit with a coverup. The bathing suit I'd considered would’ve clung to every curve once it was soaked through from the saltwater still in my suit and hair and would've made me feel even more vulnerable in front of the strange man. “Hello,” I said cautiously. “Can I help you?"
"I believe we saw each other at the crime scene today," he told me, giving another smile.
Good manners said I should’ve shaken his hand, but my good sense said not to get closer. "Yes, I think we did. I’m Emma, by the way.” There. That sounded normal. Not at all like Daniel's warning about being careful with these guys, which at this moment was swirling in my head.
He stepped closer, too close, really. “It’s lovely to meet you.” He had a rich voice as if he could’ve been a singer for a living. “My name is Vance Acheron.” Vance held out his hand, so I shook it, but then he clasped my fingers between both of his hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet the famous Karma.”
Oh, lovely. My reputation preceded me. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Acheron. Please, call me Emma.”
He ducked his head, almost like he was giving me a little bow. “And I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Vance.”
Vance. That suited him. He was suave in a not-quite-smarmy way, but still, something didn’t do it for me. “What can I do for you, Vance?” I asked.
It was strange how hard it was for me to get a read on this guy. He didn't strike me as either one of the good guys, or the bad. But maybe because I hadn't met a lot of nice vampires. My experience with them alone made me hesitant to let my guard down at all. Still, that probably wasn't a bad thing. Letting your guard down with a vampire might just mean becoming his next meal.
Oh, maybe I was just being dramatic. Who knew at this point? Daniel had told me to be on my guard, so I’d be careful.
He held out his arm, indicating the beach. “Shall we walk?”
I eyeballed my sandals and bottle of water near the grass that made up my backyard. “All right.” Nobody would bother my shoes if anyone even came through. This part of the beach was pretty private, with residences all along for miles.
Private enough not to get my stuff stolen, but not so private that a vampire could attack me and no one would notice. Which was perfect. I could hopefully elevate my curiosity and still be safe. Besides, I had a feeling if this vampire was here to murder me, he wouldn't be being so polite. Nor would he be offering to walk along the beach. He'd probably just invite me back to his casket.
If vampires even use caskets. Note to self, ask Daniel more about vampires.
“I don’t mean to pull you away from your leisure,” Vance said as strolled along in his suit and tie. Sand had to have been getting inside his shiny, patent leather shoes, but it’d been his choice to come down to the beach. If he’d wanted to talk, he could’ve waited on my porch, or heck, even in my backyard. “I was hoping to discuss the case with you.”
That piqued my attention. “Sure. What can I help you with?” Belatedly, I remember how Daniel had warned me not to get involved.
He sucked a breath in through his teeth. Walking on the sand was, as always, a little tricky. I stumbled slightly, not about to fall, just the normal unsteadiness of being on the sand. Yet Vance grabbed my arm and put his other hand on my back as if he would single-handedly keep me on my feet for the rest of my life.
“I’m okay, thank you,” I murmured, then put a little bit of distance between us. “About the case?”
Because while none of this was likely him making moves on me, it oddly felt like he was. Like coming and talking to me about a shared topic was an excuse to romance me a bit. And I, officially, was someone's girlfriend, now. As well as, officially, head-over-heels for a particular bear shifter who made my heart race for entirely different reasons than this vampire did.
He sucked in another breath and this time I didn’t stumble before he spoke. “I suspect Quillan Laire was killed by another vampire.” As he spoke, he watched me. Was he looking to see my reaction? If so, well, tough luck buddy. I'd gotten a heck of a lot better at hiding my reactions these last few months. He wasn't going to get any non-verbal info from me.
I kept my expression neutral, just in case he was. “Oh, really?”
“Yes.” His gaze burned. “Although I also think that vampire has been breaking our rules and laws left and right in an attempt to make his coven the most powerful; the biggest.”
That didn’t sound good. “That’s problematic.”
He nodded and put his hands in his pockets, which made me feel a little better about walking closer to him. Maybe he wouldn't try to put his arm around me again. “I wondered, Emma, if you’d be willing to come to look at some evidence and try to get a read on the suspects?”
"Why?" I genuinely meant it. I can't imagine some big, bad vampire detective needed me to look at the evidence.
"All of the things you're doing in this town aren't going unnoticed. I feel you have a real skill for detective work and might be able to learn something that we've missed." He gives a charming smile, but I got the feeling a lot of women have been charmed by that smile, which made me wary.
Daniel said to give these guys some space. I really should listen because he's always got my back and wouldn't want to steer me in the wrong direction. But every time I think of Carol, I want to be super involved in this case. I want to find the killer of that jerk vampire, mostly just to be sure the killer isn't my friend's old love.
"You'd be doing us a huge favor. And if you don't figure anything out, no worries! We'll continue on with the case and try not to bother you again." The fact that his tone was so light, the opposite of someone trying to convince me, was strange. This man, he was smooth. Velvety smooth. But still, I could carefully look into the case and then, when I knew for sure what was going on, step right back out.
Couldn't I?
"Or not. Sorry if I overstepped."
"No, not at all," I said, studying him. I wasn’t sure exactly how they wanted me to help with this case unless they suspected Bryan and already knew he’d contacted me. But I was Karma, after all. I’d help if I could. “Sure. I do a bit of private detecting with a partner. When and where?”
“I have a place just outside of town. Could you come for dinner tomorrow? We don’t keep formal offices.” He winked. “Keeps down on the suspicion that way.”
“Why dinner? How would that help?”
He ducked his head. “Sorry, let me explain. I’d like you to pretend to be my date and see if you can get a read on any of the vampires in attendance. I have invited the ones I suspect of being involved in Quillan’s death.”
I did have a certain amount of powers of my own, after all. And he was an investigator. It seemed unlikely he’d take me there to hurt me. I doubted he’d even be able to hurt me if I was on my game. And I would be. And I didn’t think he wanted to. Seemed more like he either wanted to flirt or he honestly wanted to use my powers to end this case.
Not that I'd let him flirt. More likely, I'd use the fact that he was used to women falling all over themselves with him to get the upper hand. Then, I could unofficially learn about the case and get out while causing the least amount of trouble.
It made sense in my head, so why do I feel guilty? And a little like I'm thinking I can keep a lion as a pet.
“You can get a read on the suspects and let us know what you think. Maybe your powers will help you determine something. Not that this dinner will be a horse and pony show or anything, our crowd isn't all that intimidating.” He stopped and looked back toward where we’d started. “Come on. I’ll walk you back.”
“Wait,” I said, my brain catching up to the conversation. “How many people will there be?”
Vance chuckled. “I’m sorry, I should’ve been clearer. I’m going to invite a large number of people. Vampires, mostly. I’d like you to come and mingle, see if anyone or anything triggers anything for you.”
I arched one eyebrow. “One human in a dinner with a slew of vampires?”
Vance threw his head back and laughed. “I would guarantee your safety, of course. Not that any of us would want to mess with Karma. Even vampires aren't so foolish.”
Screwing up my lips, I gave him a doubtful look but nodded. “All right. I’ll give it a try.” And before I did, I’d make sure all my friends knew where I was the whole time.
He reached out as if to put his hand on my back again, but I pretended to stumble to the left, away from him. “I know the way from here,” I said with a smile. “Send me the details of the location for your dinner. I’ll see you then.”
“I’ll pick you up,” he said. “Your place, at seven.”
“Okay.”
Vance stopped, and I kept going, though the weight of his gaze stuck to my back until I grabbed my stuff and scrambled into my backyard. All the while my mind seemed to be telling me that I'd just made a really stupid decision. And yet, every time I thought of Carol, I felt a deep sense that hell or high water, I'd figure this case out and make sure her ex wasn't a killer. Fate felt like it was bringing Bryan back into our lives, and I'd be damned if I let my friend get her heart broken again.
Or worse.
Yes, dinner with a bunch of vampires was dangerous, but not looking out for my friend wasn't an option. So, vampire dinner it was!