Crowbones

CHAPTER 83

Vicki

Moonsday, Novembros 5

Victoria?” Natasha sounded furious. “Viktor just attacked Lara. I stopped him before he did much harm, but I had to stay with her, and he got away. I think he’s heading for your side of the lake. You have to be careful.”

My brain stuttered for a moment. “Viktor? But he’s . . .” So solid. So polite. So helpful. So dependable.

Aren’t those all the things an enemy intent on infiltrating a protected place would try to be?

“Are you hurt?” I asked, since that was the important question. “Have you told Ilya?” Next important question.

“Ilya needs to find the traitor and protect our allies,” she snarled. “I and the other Sanguinati will defend Silence Lodge.” She hung up.

Okeydokey. I put the receiver back in the cradle.

Natasha didn’t say she wasn’t hurt, but she wasn’t going to tell Ilya about the attack, because he would go rushing back to Silence Lodge to protect his mate—which sounded reasonable and romantic, except Natasha was one ticked-off vampire right now and probably would bite him for showing up, and that bite wouldn’t be one he enjoyed.

But she didn’t actually say I couldn’t tell Ilya. On the other hand, she might think telling her mate was a betrayal of girl friendship or something.

So I called Grimshaw. “Hey, Chief.”

“Vicki, this isn’t a good . . . ,” Grimshaw began. A pause before he continued in Wary Official Police Voice. “What can I do for you?”

“Is Ilya with you?” I figured the faster I said it, the more I could say before I lost his attention. Assuming I had his attention. But . . . trouble magnet, so I probably had more of his attention now than I wanted. “Tell Ilya he really, really shouldn’t go tearing home, because Natasha has already handled the trouble at Silence Lodge, and if he goes tearing home to rescue her, he’s going to end up bunking with you until she gets over being mad at him, because he’s supposed to find the traitor and protect the Sanguinati’s allies.” Which, come to think of it, could be Grimshaw since he and Ilya were definitely allies.

A beat of silence. A deep breath in, a deep breath out. “Vicki.” Stern Police Voice. “Are you talking about Richard Cardosa?”

“The professor? No, it was Viktor who attacked Lara. Natasha said he was headed for this side of the lake, so I guess he’s on the run and Ilya needs to find him.”

“Where are you? Specifically.”

“The main house.”

“Stay there. Do you understand me? Tell Cougar and Conan that you’re in danger, and they need to stay close.”

“But I’m not—”

“If Viktor is heading for The Jumble, he’s coming to attack you. You got that? Right now you are nothing but prey.”

Well, that made me feel special. “Okay, Chief. We’ll batten down the hatches. Full speed ahead.” Why did I say that? Who knows? It made sense to Anxiety Brain.

“Just be careful. I’ll send what help I can.” Grimshaw sounded sterner. I hadn’t thought that was possible. Silly me.

I hung up and realized he didn’t tell me to lock the doors and windows. I guess we both knew that wasn’t going to do any good against a Sanguinati in smoke form. Then I wondered why Grimshaw thought I was the only one Viktor would attack. There were other humans at The Jumble. Maybe the rest of us could throw the Cornleys at Viktor when he arrived and then ask him if adultery had a taste. Sweet and spicy? Tart with an aftertaste of bitter?

Focus, Vicki.

I was about to go in search of Conan and Cougar when Eddie appeared in the doorway and said, “Have you seen Aggie and Kira?”