“My pleasure.”
We shook hands, she and Ben smiled at each other, and we made our way out of the theater. I was almost skipping, I felt so good.
I chatted at Ben. “This is going to be great. She’s so cool, she so doesn’t act like a vampire. Most of them are total snobs, and I was thinking snob and Broadway star to boot, she’ll be terrible. But she was totally decent. My audience’ll love her.”
An amused smile touched Ben’s lips. “Maybe it’s because she’s been passing as human. She’s like you—you spend enough time acting human, you seem more human.”
“Hmm. You may have something there.” I mentally wrote it down for the interview tomorrow. I could use it to launch a whole discussion. Oh, I was so looking forward to this.
“It’s nice to finally see you in a good mood,” Ben said.
I was in a good mood, wasn’t I? Grinning, I hugged his arm. “How long do you suppose I can make it last?”
“You’ll have to find a way to stay distracted, so you’re not worrying about anything.”
Even mentioning worries darkened the edges of my thoughts. Stay distracted. Just like he said. I pulled his arm over my shoulders and pressed myself close, so we walked body to body. “And how do you suggest I do that?”
He stopped and cupped my face to kiss me, a long, sensual caress of lips, filled with heat and longing. My scalp flushed and my toes curled.
I pulled back and smiled. “That’s a start,” I said.
We went straight home, and Ben made sure I stayed distracted for a good long time.
Another Friday night arrived, right on schedule.
I sent one of the interns—one who loved show tunes and would be awed by her presence—to the KNOB lobby to wait for Mercedes Cook and escort her to the studio.
Ten minutes ahead of schedule, Mercedes swept into the studio, gracious and scintillating. I was heartened that it didn’t seem to be an act. Maybe she was like this all the time. She wore a black camisole, matching cardigan, and a long, sweeping skirt with sandals—comfortable and perfect for summer, while still managing to display the height of fashion and panache. Her hair was tied back in a bun, and beaded earrings dangled from her ears. I’d never possess that much flair if I lived a thousand years.
I greeted her and introduced her to Matt, then showed her to her seat. The intern scampered into the booth to watch. Even Matt seemed a little awestruck.
“Here’s your headphones, your mike—” She adjusted the mike herself and threw me an amused glance—she’d done this before after all. She could take care of herself.
“Thirty seconds, Kitty,” Matt called from the booth.
“You ready for this?” I said to the singer. I for one was thrilled. This was the same studio where I’d announced on the air, for the whole country to hear, that I was a werewolf. This was perfect. Kismet.
“More than ready,” Mercedes said, seeming just as excited as I felt. She perched at the edge of her seat, leaning on the armrest. I couldn’t tell if her poise came from her being a supernaturally self-possessed vampire, or a world-class performer. She blurred the lines.
“Then here we go.” Matt counted down, and routine took over. The opening chords of CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” played, but faded quickly to be replaced by a recording of Mercedes Cook singing Cole Porter.
“Good evening, faithful listeners, this is Kitty Norville here with The Midnight Hour, the show that isn’t afraid of the dark or the creatures who live there. Tonight I have a very special guest with me, someone who in her own way is well acquainted with the night, Broadway legend Mercedes Cook. She’s been a leading lady on the Great White Way for forty years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Mercedes, welcome.”
“Thank you, Kitty. I’m happy to be here.”
We’d agreed beforehand not to mess around, just get straight to the purpose of her being here, then deal with the fallout. Away we went.
“Mercedes, I’ve had a lot of people asking me why I invited you onto the show. Of course I have a huge respect for Broadway theater, but musicals aren’t my usual topic of discussion. Would you like to tell our listeners why you’re here?”
“Well, it’s because I’m a vampire. I thought it was time people knew that.”
Straight to the point, calm and collected—of course she was, she was a professional actress. I had goose bumps. Through the booth window, Matt was shaking his head, with an expression like he was whistling low. The intern’s jaw had dropped.
“All right,” I said. “Remember, folks, you heard it here first. I might as well ask the two questions everyone wants to know about vampires: First, how old are you?”
“Oh, don’t you know it isn’t polite to ask a girl her age?”
“That never stops me. Not even a little hint?”
“What if I said I got my start in vaudeville?”
Ha! I’d guessed right! “Oh, that would be cool. Now that you’re out of the vampire closet, any chance you’ll release some photos? Let us know what acts you were part of? Any secret recordings folks can dig out of their attics?”
“I don’t know, I never really thought about it. I ought to see what I can come up with. Now, you said there were two questions. What’s the other?”
“How did you become a vampire?”
She got this sly look, and the expression carried into the tone of her voice. She knew how to be cagey and charming at the same time. “That’s almost as bad as the first.”
“Did you choose to become a vampire?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did you do it for your career? Did you want to stay young for the sake of your career?”
“Not precisely. It was more complicated than that—these things always are, aren’t they? I wouldn’t want any young actress listening to think that vampirism is a viable way to boost her career. In the end, there are a lot of drawbacks. I remember when I was asked to sing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and I couldn’t explain why I had to say no. I’ve made vampirism work for me because I wanted it to.”
“Along those lines, you have what I’m sure lots of actresses wish they could have—eternal youth. But do you ever regret that you won’t get to play some of the great roles for older women, like in Hello, Dolly! or Arsenic and Old Lace?”
“That’s exactly one of the drawbacks. I do regret it sometimes. It would be ironic if I ever decided to try for a part like that and had to wear a ton of makeup to look old.”
A vampire with a sense of humor. I loved it.
“What do you think will happen to your career now? Now that you’ve said you’re a vampire, how will things change?”
Mercedes said, “I’m taking a risk. I’m gambling that my reputation as an actress and singer will outweigh my identity as a vampire. It’s a test, really.”
“Are you also maybe betting that audiences will want to come see you because you’re a vampire?”
“Maybe,” she said.
“Has being a vampire helped you in other ways? You’ll stay young-looking, but what about stage presence? Your ability to connect with an audience? I saw your show, and I have to say it was almost supernatural.”
“Thank you, I think. But you’re talking about the powers vampires are reported to have. The mind control, that sort of thing.” She said it wryly, like it was a joke, an urban legend that had no basis in reality.
“That’s right.”
“I was an actress and singer before I became a vampire. I really hope my talent is my own.”
That didn’t really answer the question, which shouldn’t have surprised me. “Well, Mercedes, are you ready to talk to a few listeners?”
“Sure, that sounds like fun.”
The board was all lit up—like the lights of Broadway. Ha.
“Hello, Frankie, you’re on the air. What would you like to ask Ms. Cook?”
“Oh, my God, I knew it! I just knew it! You had to be a vampire, you haven’t changed a bit in forty years.”
; “You’ve been a fan for a long time, then?” Mercedes said, a laugh behind her voice.
“No—I mean, I haven’t even been alive that long!”
I butted in. “Wow, Frankie, you really know how to make a girl feel special.”
“You know what I mean. What I really want to say—it was only a matter of time, with so many actors and actresses these days who seem ageless. It can’t all be plastic surgery. I want to ask Mercedes if she knows any other celebrities who might be vampires.”
“It’s not my place to reveal such information. I’d certainly have hated it if anyone else revealed my nature before I was ready.”
“Not even any guesses?”
I interrupted. “I do have to wonder if coming out as a vampire will be the next cool thing. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. Next caller, hello.”
“Ms. Cook, I’ve been a fan of yours for ages. You must have such a unique perspective. How has musical theater changed over the course of your career? You’ve seen the whole history of it. You could probably write a book.”
“What an interesting idea, maybe I will.”
I had a lot more musical theater fans among my audience than I would have expected, and I was thrilled to no end that they asked intelligent questions. Mercedes never seemed bored. A few numbskulls called in demanding to know how to become vampires. Mercedes politely used my line—that this wasn’t a lifestyle she advocated. We were here to talk about problems and issues, not to advertise. The whole thing managed to stay pretty light—right up until the end.
“All right, I think we’ve got time for one or two more. Next caller, hello.”
The caller had a low male voice, like he was speaking close to the phone and didn’t want to be overheard. “Mercedes. I can’t help but wonder what you get out of this revelation. I know vampires, and I know you—at least by reputation. And everything you do has a purpose.”
It hadn’t occurred to me until that moment that her reputation among vampires might be as something other than a great Broadway actress.
I said, “You seem to be talking about a different Mercedes Cook from the one sitting with me in the studio.”
“Perhaps I am. Remember, she didn’t start out as the person with you now. She’s probably reinvented herself a dozen times over the decades.”
“And you know this how?”
The line clicked off.
Mercedes and I exchanged a glance—she artfully arched her brow, shrugged a little, as if to say she didn’t have any idea what that was all about.
“We’re back to the age question,” I said. “You’re still not going to tell me, are you?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“To that mystery caller, I’d like to say, I can see exactly what Mercedes gets out of revealing her nature. It’s the same thing I got. A lot of crazy publicity.”
Putting a purr in her voice she added, “And maybe I thought it was time vampirism had as pretty a public face as the one Kitty’s given lycanthropy.”
I blushed. That kind of compliment could keep me going for weeks. “It looks like that’s all the time we have tonight, folks. Thank you to everyone who called in with your great questions, and a very big thanks to you, Mercedes.”
“You’re very welcome, Kitty.”
“Good luck with the new direction in your career. Until next week, I’m Kitty Norville, voice of the night.”
After the interview, Mercedes signed a CD for the intern and shook hands with Matt. I walked her down to the lobby myself. I hated for the evening to end. I wasn’t an actress or musician like Mercedes, but I knew about the rush of being “on” for a couple of hours and trying to come down from that high of giving a good show. I felt like running around the block a few times.
Instead, I gushed at her. “Thanks so much. I think that was one of my best interviews ever.”
“Mine, too,” she said. “It’s hard to believe it’s over. Cat’s out of the bag, as they say. I hardly know what to do with myself.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
She graced me with that brilliant smile. “I’m staying on in Denver a few more days. Come have a drink with me tomorrow evening at the Brown Palace. Bring that nice gentleman of yours.”
“Are you talking a drink at the bar, or something else?” Always double-check what a drink meant when vampires were involved.
She laughed. “Figure of speech. The drinking will be conventional.”
The Brown Palace—fanciest digs in Denver. When else was I going to have an excuse to hang out there for an evening? Not to mention, I wanted to learn as much as I could from Mercedes while I had the chance. The interview had been good, but there was always more. Like that age thing, for starters.
“Great. We’ll be there,” I said.
“Wonderful. Ask at the desk, they’ll send you up to my suite. I’ll tell them you’re coming.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
We went outside into the quiet dark of a late, late night. Mercedes paused and took in a breath of the chill air. This was her element, and she smiled, seeming to revel in it. A career as a Broadway star was perfect for her; I imagined her leaving through the stage door and taking a breath like that after every show. Not for the oxygen, but for the atmosphere—the smells, the sharpness of it.
Her limo was waiting. I didn’t think a limo had ever been on this street before. Seeing it here was surreal. The chauffeur opened the door, and she waved at me as she climbed inside.
Basking in the glow of sweet success, I watched her drive away.
The next day, Ben went to Cañon City to check on Cormac. The trip would take most of the day, but he assured me he’d be back in time for drinks at the Brown Palace. He might get down with this whole dating thing yet.
I called Hardin. Now that the news had broken, I could explain that yes, vampires did show up on film: Mercedes had appeared in thousands of publicity photos over the course of her career, as well as a dozen video recordings of her performances in various musicals. And she’d certainly appeared in her dressing-room mirror. Hardin didn’t sound particularly pleased when I told her. Apparently, she’d been looking forward to pinning this on one of the undead. “I have a dream,” she told me, “of someday watching someone be given a hundred-plus-year prison sentence and actually being able to serve out the whole damn thing.” Her passion on the subject was almost admirable. Frightening, but admirable.
After that, I fielded calls and answered messages. Mercedes wasn’t giving any interviews today, so I was the next best thing, and lots of reporters from most of the major papers and news magazines wanted to talk to me about last night’s show: How had I learned about the actress’s vampirism, what impact did I think the revelation was going to have on her career, and so on. I was happy my show could still generate some buzz. I even managed to work in some plugs for my own forthcoming book. Publicity was a wonderful thing.
Then I went to Cheryl’s for lunch with her and Mom. Girls day in, Cheryl called it.
I was late. She’d moved right before I left Denver and I hadn’t been to the new place yet. I made a couple of wrong turns. The place was in Highlands Ranch, pretty swank to my eyes. Then again, I’d spent most of my adult life in one-room apartments and wasn’t really one to judge. Cute tract housing, a bit too pastel a shade of blue. The trees were all new, thin, and tied down with wires.
All smiles, Cheryl, Jeffy propped on her hip, let me in. She’d locked her golden retriever in the backyard, but I could hear it barking. I couldn’t get within twenty feet of the dog without it freaking out. It could tell what I was and didn’t like me at all.
She said, “Sorry, I’m still getting ready, come on to the kitchen.” She led me through the spacious front room to a sunny kitchen.
“Mom’s not here yet?”
When she looked back at me, she winced slightly, her smile turning apologetic. “I told her to come an hour later. I thought maybe we should talk, you know—alone. About her.”
My first thought, aside from the gut-stabbing reminder that Mom might be seriously ill, was, Oh God, it’s started. The late-night talks where we figured out what to do with old Mom and Dad, now that they’re getting on in years. We used to joke about it, how they’d better treat us right because we’d be picking their nursing home. I didn’t think I’d have to face this for real for another twenty years. No, thirty years.
Stubborn, I said, “Oh yeah, and she isn’t going to guess that we’re up to something when she gets here on time and sees that I’m actually early.”
Cheryl set Jeffy down in a playpen, where he immediately found something plastic and colorful to bang against the bottom. She straightened and ran her hands through her hair, pulling strands out of the ponytail. All at once, she looked ten years older. She looked tired. Of course she looked tired, she was a mother.
“I know, I know,” she said. “I just thought it would be better if we could plan—”
“Scheme behind Mom’s back, you mean?”
“Okay. Yeah. It was stupid. I’m sorry.”
I leaned on the counter. Couldn’t help but smile. “When we were kids I always thought I’d be the one to settle down, house in the suburbs, two point five kids, and that you’d do something crazy like sing in a rock band or something. Now look at us.”
Cheryl had almost been a punk in high school. She’d missed the height of the old school real deal by a few years, but she listened to the music and wore the surplus army jacket and combat boots. Lost more safety pins than most people see in a lifetime. Four years younger, I’d worshipped the ground she walked on and borrowed all her tapes, locking in my musical tastes forever. Halfway through college, she’d grown out of it. Finished a degree in computer science and did the IT management thing. Met Mark and became a suburban statistic. Mostly she’d grown out of it. I occasionally caught her wearing a Ramones T-shirt, as if to say, I wasn’t always like this.
Today, her T-shirt was plain blue, faded from many washings, like her jeans.
“It’s funny how meeting Mr. Right can change your perspective.”