Blood Trail

he'll probably be able to come home tomorrow. Apparently because he was shot in one form and then changed there's no danger of infection. Colin's on his way back, but I thought I should call and fill you in. Oh, and Nadine, I'll be spending the night in town."

    "Explanations?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "Do you trust him with this?"

    "I trust Mike Celluci with my life."

    "Good. Because you're trusting him with ours."

    Vicki half turned so she could see Celluci leaning on the hospital wall across from the phones.
    He looked tired but impassive, with all professional barriers raised. "It'll be okay. Can I speak to Henry?"

    "Hang on." Nadine held the receiver out to the vampire. "You were right," she told him as he took it.

    He didn't appear particularly gratified by this information. If Celluci's face was impassive, Henry's was stone. "Vicki?"

    "Hi. I thought I should tell you, I'm staying in town tonight. I need a little time alone."

    "Alone?"

    "Well, away."

    "I can't say as I'm surprised. You and Mr. Celluci have a great deal to discuss."

    "Tell me about it. Do me a favor?"

    "Anything." Before she could speak, he reconsidered and added. "Almost anything."

    "Stay around the house tonight."

    "Why?"

    "Because it's 3:40 in the morning and sunrise is around 6:00."

    "Vicki, I have been avoiding the dawn for a long time. Don't patronize me."

    Okay. Maybe she deserved that. "Look, Henry, it's late, you've only got one good arm - at best one and a half - I've had a very rough day, and it isn't over yet. Please, give me one less person to worry about over the next few hours. We know this guy is coming right up to the house and we don't know for sure just where exactly Donald was shot."

    "You didn't ask him?"

    "I didn't get the chance. Look," she sagged against the wall, "let's just assume that the farm is under a state of siege and act accordingly. Okay?"

    "You're asking me to do this for your peace of mind?"

    She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had no right to ask him such a thing for such a reason. "Yes."

    "All right. I'll sit quietly in the kitchen and work on an outline for my next book."

    "Thank you. And keep the wer in the house. Even if you have to nail the doors shut." She slid a finger and thumb up under the edge of her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I mean, how many times do I have to tell them to stay out of those fields?"

    "An enemy they can't see or smell isn't very real to them."

    She snorted. "Well, death is. I'll see you tomorrow night."

    "Count on it. Vicki? Is he likely to be difficult?"

    She shot another glance at Celluci, who was attempting to cover a massive yawn. "He excels at being difficult, but I can usually make him see reason if I thump him hard enough."

    After she hung up, she rested her head for a few seconds on the cool plastic top of the phone.
    She couldn't remember the last time she'd wanted to sleep this badly.

    "Come on." Celluci pulled her arm through his and steered her out into the parking lot where the heat hit them like a moist and semi-solid wall. "I know a cheap, clean motel out by the airport where they don't care what time you show up as long as you pay cash."

    "How the hell did you find a place like that?" The yawn threatened to split her head in two and the pain came down on her bruised temple with hobnailed boots. "Never mind. I don't want to know." She slid into the car and let her head fall back against the seat. "I know you're dying to begin the interrogation - why don't I just start at the beginning and tell it in my own words?" If she had a nickel for every time she'd said that to a witness, she'd be a rich woman.

    Eyes closed, she started with Rose and Peter in Henry's condo. She finished, with Donald being shot, as they pulled in at the motel. The only thing she left out was Henry's actual nature. That wasn't her story to tell.

    To her surprise, Celluci's only response was, "Wait in the car. I'll go get us a room."

    As she had no intention of moving farther or more often than she had to, she ignored his tone and waited. Fortunately, the keys he returned with were to a room on the ground floor. At this point, she doubted her ability to climb stairs.

    "Why so quiet?" she asked at last, easing herself gently down on one of the double beds. "I was expecting another fine set of Italian hysterics at the very least."

    "I'm thinking." He sat on the other bed, unbuckled his holster, and laid it carefully on the bedside table. "A