Blood Debt

turned back toward the clinic and tried not to think how things that could go wrong usually did. "I left him there because he asked me to," she said softly, silvered gaze locked on Henry once again. "I'm doing it for Mike, but you've never cared what he thinks of you."
    Haven't I? Michael Celluci is an honorable man and the opinions of honorable men are sometimes all we have to define ourselves by.
    But there was little point in sparking another territorial dispute over Celluci's affections even though her previous reaction had more amused than infuriated him. "I'm no vigilante, Vicki, no matter how it may have seemed in the past. If I can be responsible for a solution within the parameters of the law, then everyone should be happy."
    "A solution within the parameters of the law?" she repeated.
    Shaking her head, she folded her arms on the roof of the car and rested her chin on their pillow. "Go ahead. And make it good."
    Henry had no doubt he could spin a story that the police would believe, add enough detail that they not only had to check it out but also found everything they needed to. There was, however, no need to tax his imagination. When it came right down to it, it wasn't what he said but how he said it that mattered.
    "Excuse me, Officers, may I have a word?"
    Resisting the completely inexplicable urge to come to attention, the police constable in the driver's seat put down his coffee and snapped out an efficient, "Yes, sir."
    When the constable in the passenger seat, wondering what the hell was going on with her partner, leaned past him for a better look, she found herself reacting much the same way.
    The bastard son of Henry VIII, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, inclined his head in recognition of their deference. "I have some information you might find worthy of investigation." His father would have approved of the tone.

    Tony woke up as Henry came into the condo, sat up on the couch, and rubbed his eyes. "Did you find him?"
    "Yes."
    "That must've made Victory happy."
    "Not exactly."

    "Oh, man. Henry, you didn't kill her before you got to the clinic?"
    "I don't know what you're talking about."
    "And don't try that more-princely-than-thou crap on me either. I'm not in the mood. If you didn't kill Vicki before you got to the clinic and if you found Celluci, why isn't she happy?"
    "Because we left him there."
    "You what?"
    "It was his idea. He thought if we rescued him, it would alert the people behind this whole organ-legging thing that we're on to them.
    He told us to inform the police and let them handle it while the evidence is still out in plain view."
    "Yeah, but unless he's missing a kidney, how are they going to connect him with the body in the harbor?"
    "Celluci seems to think he knows where the bodies are buried."
    "And Victory just let him stay?"
    "Not exactly. He had to appeal to her better nature."
    Tony snorted. "I didn't know she had one where he was concerned.
    Did you tell the police?"
    "I did, and with luck that'll be enough to satisfy my visitors." Henry glanced down at his watch. "Why aren't you in bed? Don't you have to work tomorrow?"
    "I wanted to know if Celluci was safe before I went back to Gerry's and John's." He scrambled to his feet, folded the blanket haphazardly, and stood staring at the floor.
    Henry sighed, wondering when exactly things had gotten so awkward between them. "Tony, it's late. The sun will be up in a few short moments. Why don't you stay here in your own room?"
    "I don't…"
    "I know."
    Tony's head came up, drawn by the understanding in Henry's voice.
    "When this is over, as it easily could be by tomorrow evening, we have to talk, but for right now there's no reason for you to leave."
    "I guess not." He glanced over at the clock on the VCR, and his eyes widened. "Henry, sunrise is in less than five minutes."
    "I'm aware of that." Starting down the hall, Henry motioned Tony into step beside him. "Can you keep an eye on the news tomorrow—
    maybe tape the morning broadcast before you go. I'm sure Detective Celluci will keep Vicki and me out of range when it hits the fan, but I'd feel better if I knew for certain."
    "No sweat. I'll set it up to tape the news at noon and the six o'clock report, too."
    "That won't interfere with it taping Batman, will it?"

    Tony grinned. It was the nonvampire, nonprince parts of Henry that had kept them together for so long. "Chill. You'll get your cartoon." They were at the door, Henry's hand was on the knob, in another moment