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And then . . . I have always loved the Caribbean in winter. ”
“The Caribbean?”
“Islands, my love. With gentle breezes. And warmth. And . . . no Alliance,” he told her. “It’s time,” he said with a shrug. “Those fools, even the village police, will figure out soon enough that I’m not an inspector from Paris. Of course”—he gave her a broad smile—“it might be a while, because it will take them some time to find the real Trusseau. ”
She laughed, the sound husky, and in her throat
“Don’t you think it’s time, then, as well, to take the offensive?” He stroked the flesh on her throat “Perhaps . . . ”
“Perhaps?”
“Yes, then, if you wish. If you wish . . . when the shadows of night have fallen, fallen really deeply. ” She smiled. She allowed his kiss. The fires burned, the passion between them roared to life along with it.
“What about the other one?” she inquired. “The— outsider. ”
He was silent. She heard his jaw working. “He is part of this, don’t you understand? Dogging every step, ruining your re-entry to this world. He is the enemy and that is part of why the DeVants must not die too quickly. ”
“You knew him before, didn’t you? You have met, and tangled, before. ” He was bitterly silent for a long moment, staring at the flames. “Oh, yes, I knew him. And he should have died then. Just as the old man should have died. But they will die now. I will make certain. They will die now. ”
“I know nothing of this man,” she said. “Other than the fact that he . . . he wounded me, when I was determined on entry to the DeVant house. ”
“He will die a worse death, for what he has done. ”
“He will not die easily,” she said, reflecting on her encounter with the man in question.
“You forget—I know what he is. And I know how to kill what he is—so actually, when I choose, yes, he will die easily enough. This time. I am prepared. ”
They were both somewhat startled by a thumping sound. They stared at one another, and then Louisa laughed.
“Dinner is growing restless, I’m afraid,” she said.
She stood in all her beauty before the fire, and reached her hand to him. “Come love. Shall we dress for supper? Or be casual tonight?”
“Casual, I think,” he said.
For a moment they locked together in an embrace. She drew away.
“Casual it is,” she agreed. “I confess, childish though it may be, I do so love to play with my food. ” Though she ran in his wake, Brent was down the stairs long before Tara. And when she came down to the great hall and entry, he was nowhere to be seen.
Jacques, however, was there, standing at the open door.
Javet had come.
Tara raced up behind Jacques, putting her arm around his shoulder, staring indignantly at the police officer. “What—”
“I have all the necessary papers, Miss Adair. And I am not here alone. I have six patrolmen with me.
Now, you will let me in. ”
She stood her ground. “You are not coming in. You have been fooled, Inspector, and this is not where you should be looking! Your man from Paris isn’t who he says he is at all. If you want answers, go question him. ”
“What are you talking about?” Javet demanded.
“Inspector Trusseau isn’t who he has said that he is. He—he works at my cousin’s publishing company.
He’s not even a salesman. He took that job only to be around, to watch what was going on. He is some kind of a monster. ”
“A monster,” Javet repeated, shaking his head. He looked at Jacques again. “You’re going to have to start talking, Monsieur DeVant. ”
“Javet, if I told you what I know, you wouldn’t believe me,” Jacques said wearily. “I didn’t know anything about this Inspector Trusseau, but if my granddaughter says that he is not who he claims to be, then he is not. ”
“This is rubbish. He came with all the proper documerits. If he had been lurking in the village, I’d have seen him. ”
“He wasn’t in the village most of the time—the publishing company is in Paris,” Tara said with aggravation. “He is an imposter—”
“A monster?” Javet said again.
“You are up against monsters,” Jacques said, and hesitated. “Monsters . . . murderers. ”
“You knew about this, this . . . this plague upon us! Knew about the murder in the crypt before it took place,” Javet said angrily.
“Not exactly,” Jacques said. “There is nothing I can tell you that you would believe. ”
“I’m sorry, Jacques. But I have the papers and authority to arrest you. Unless, of course, you know where the American is. Perhaps, if you were to turn him over to me . . . ?”
“What?” Tara said in disbelief.
“Your grandfather is under arrest, because I am going to get somewhere with this investigation. Too many people are dying or disappearing! Now, no more excuses or fairy tales. You’re coming to the station with me, Jacques. ”
“No! He is not coming with you—” Tara protested.
“I will use force, if I have to do so,” Javet said. “Damn you all, there has been another headless body discovered, and the investigation in the city has come up with even more missing people. You know about this, and whatever is going on here, it must be stopped. Jacques, you are under arrest At the station, we may get to the bottom of this!”
“No!”
Tara didn’t know where Brent had been, but now he walked in the door. He stared at Javet “Take me in.
You wanted me, Javet? Here I am. Bring me in. Let him alone. “
“Hell, yes! I’ll take you in. I suspected that you were lurking here,”Javet said. “Yes, yes . . . Jacques can have a reprieve. I will bring you in. ”
“Good. I’ll confess to the murder—to any murder. Just leave Jacques alone. ”
“He is not guilty of any murder!” Jacques said indignantly.
“I can arrest you both,” Javet told him.
“Leave Monsieur DeVant,” Brent said. “Take me. I will talk to you until you are weary of listening.
Javet, Jacques is ill. If he dies in your custody—”
“All right,” Javet said. “You come with me. ” He stared at Tara and Jacques. “But if Monsieur Malone cannot convince me that he—and he alone—is a killer, I will be back. And then, there will be nothing to stop me until I get to the absolute truth. ”
“Brent can’t go,” Jacques said. “It is better if you take me. ”
“We’re not bartering here, or choosing straws!” Javet exploded.
“Jacques,” Brent said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It will be all right. ” Tara was frightened. What would happen when he left? She would be alone then, with these terrible things going on, with a stranger who had been introduced as a vampire, who had been bending over her cousin, who was now ashen and failing.
But as she stood there shaking, desperate for something to say or do, he turned his eyes on her. And she was startled by the gold fire in them, filled with both emotion and strength, and the assurance she needed.
“It will honestly be all right,” he said firmly.
She moistened her lips, trying to nod. Javet took Brent by the arm, leading him out, calling to one of his men for handcuffs. When they were nearly at Javet’s car, she ran after him. She ignored the other officers and came before him, placing her hands on his shoulders, rising on her toes. “I believe in you,” she whispered softly. “I don’t understand you . . . I don’t know why you left us . . . I love you. . . rather asinine, since you walked away this morning . . . I’ll do something . . . I’ll get you out, quickly, somehow. ” She was startled by the smile that curled his lips. “You were never alone. Rick was always watching.
And you’re actually more important than I am. And I love you, too. Don’t worry about me. Lucian will come .
. . and I will get out myself. I promise. ”
“What is this?” Javet asked with aggravation. “Miss Adair, I’m about to arrest you, too. And you won’t be in the same cell, I can assure you!”
She stepped back. She watched as they got into the police car. Then she realized that her grandfather stood alone in an empty doorway, and she rushed back. He was shaking. “Come on, Grandpapa, come on, let me get you into a chair, get your feet up, get you some brandy. ”
“Ann?” he inquired.
“She’s—she’s okay. A friend is here. ”
“Ah, the new one . . . ” Jacques murmured. “Rick. Another American. ” She frowned. Even Jacques had known about the man.
She paused, closing and locking the door, placing the garlic around it She walked slowly with him back to the library, wondering why Javet had chosen a time of darkness to come and make an arrest at the chateau.
She had to admit to being very afraid. She couldn’t let Jacques know.
Katia came running in from the kitchen then, aware that she had missed something, and at a loss as to know what. “Help me get my grandfather back to the library, please,” Tara said.
“I will get brandy for him,” she assured Tara, once Jacques was seated. When Katia returned with the brandy, Tara found herself uneasy about the two upstairs. She asked Katia to stay with Jacques for a moment, swearing that she’d be right back. She raced up the stairs, going first to her room, but neither man was there. She went running back to Ann’s room. Her cousin was back in bed. The tall, blond, muscular American was seated in a chair by her side, his hands folded prayer fashion as he looked at her.
He gazed at Tara as she entered, gave her a grim smile. “She is all right,” he said softly. “But she mustn’t be left alone. Not for a minute. ”
“They’ve taken Brent in—the police have taken him in,” she said.
Rick nodded. “I know . . . I saw some of what happened, but I couldn’t. . . didn’t dare leave Ann. He’ll be all right, you know. ”