Page 101 of Death is Familiar

When realization didn’t dawn on anyone’s faces, I gave a quick overview of the strange interaction, which was met with stares and double blinks. Apparently, I hadn’t shared as much as I thought. Whoops.

“If the police assumed Selena was mugged because of the hickey she got from the vamps,” I continued, “more likely than not they would have brought Lenore in for questioning.”

“But for someone who already thought Lenore was all powerful…”

“It would look like Lenore was giving instructions, rather than answers, to the police.”

“Dig into that too,” Jack directed to Fawzy and Zhou. “See what they know about who was mugged and why. Get the list of names, what was taken, who was questioned. Everything.”

Fawzy and Zhou nodded, adding notes to their documents and phones.

“In the meantime, everything else will proceed as planned. The murders have only taken place following fang ceremonies, we have no reason to expect a change in the pattern, which buys us some time. We will continue to look into this from both ends, but should all else fail we’ll proceed with the plan to draw the perpetrators out of hiding.”

A plan, what plan? This was news to me.

“We’ve given Lenore a date for the next fang ceremony. The timeline is somewhat accelerated.” Uh oh. I didn’t like where this was going. I didn’t like that Jack looked only to me and not to the rest of the room while he gave the overview. I especially didn’t like that this was the first time I was hearing about it, and had not been involved in the planning. Then again, I had derailed the agents and myself for a personal matter, so beggars couldn’t be choosers. “What I say next doesn’t leave this room.”

Everyone, including myself, nodded.

“In October, the vamps will host their next fang ceremony in Tarrytown, New York.” Jack continued, attention unwavering, “But this time the ceremony will be staged. Our team will be at every entrance and exit, local PD will be stationed at the cemeteries and crypts, and only one of us will be turning.”

“One of us?” I looked around the room trying to figure out who would willingly be vamp bait, just happy it wasn’t… oh come on… “Me?”

“You’ve proven you can get the vamps’ attentions. Lenore, despite what she might have thought about you in the past, seems to appreciate you and trust your instincts.”

The thought of being made vamp bait for a second time was more than unappealing. “Can I at least wear a snow suit?”

“In October?”

“If your problem is the date and not the suggestion, I’m taking that as a win.” Swinging my gaze to Rochan, who looked altogether unaffected, I said, “Unless of course, the higher ups don’t approve with this plan.”

“The paper work is approved.” She slid the file she’d carried into the room across the table towards Jack. “Mission dictates gear.”

I opened my mouth⁠—

“No exceptions. It’s for your safety as much as it is for maintaining the integrity of the mission.”

“Now might not be the time…” I was about to play with fire. “But if the mission dictates the gear, I’d love to discuss the potential of being able to carry a weapon. For self-defense.”

“You will not be permitted a firearm.”

“I prefer handles, not triggers.” After all, it was difficult to accidentally stab someone. To stab someone, you had to mean it. Guns, on the other hand…

“Will take it under advisement. But at no point will you carry an unauthorized weapon.” Well, it was a good thing I’d already hidden the knife Todd retrieved for me. “Am I heard?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” Rochan stood. The rest of the room followed suit, as she made her leave.

Crossing into my eyeline, Todd took the momentary distraction to offer reassurance. “You’ll get the approval, Delilah.” The right side of his mouth kicked up. “If not, I’ll make sure you get really pointy heels.”

I preferred the form of stiletto that came as a blade rather than a shoe, but that was far beyond my signing abilities, so instead I opted for, “comforting.”

Todd’s shoulder purposefully bumped mine.

It wouldn’t have taken a room full of FBI agents to figure out what passed between us was a tender, if not somewhat taunting, moment between friends. Warmth splayed across my face, I pursed my lips to counter the involuntary pull from my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. I was pretty sure I was grinning like a fool.

Until I realized the clicking of Rochan’s dress shoes had ceased.