Carpathian 04 - Dark Magic

saying she looked far too young and innocent for a man as powerful as Gregori.
    It was nearly impossible to tell his age. "Mr. Sanders was fine with the marriage?"
    The silver eyes slashed like steel. "Of course he was." Gregori could see that that question upset Savannah even more. He leaned close to the detective again. You will cease this line of inquiry .
    Johnson shook his head. "We're getting off the subject here. Do you know of any enemies Mr. Sanders may have had?"
    Gregori took his time answering, looking very thoughtful. Eventually he shook his head. "I wish we could help you more, Detective, but everyone liked Peter. Well, with the exception of the reporters—he was very good at protecting Savannah's privacy and thereby preserving the mystique of the show. I do not think you will find anyone who would speak ill of Peter."
    "He handled the finances for the show, didn't he?" Johnson asked shrewdly.
    "Yes, he did," Gregori answered easily. "Peter was a full partner with Savannah. He earned it, too."
    "Were there any problems with the books?" Johnson slid the question in, watching their faces.
    Savannah looked so pale and filled with sorrow, he felt as if he was tormenting her. No emotion showed on Gregori's face, and Johnson knew nothing he said or did would change that. "I am independently wealthy, Detective, with more money than I can possibly use in a lifetime. Savannah did not even need the income from her show. If there was ever a discrepancy, and I certainly do not know of one, I am certain, as is Savannah, that it would be an honest one. Peter made good money from the shows and would have no need to doctor the books. I am sure you can easily check his bank accounts and our Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    books. You are certainly welcome to do so. Peter Sanders was not a thief."
    Savannah lifted her chin. "Peter would never have stolen anything. And if he'd ever needed money, all he would have to do is say so. We would have given it to him, and he knew it."
    "It was just a thought. There's no evidence pointing in that direction, but we do have to cover every possibility." Johnson raked a hand through his hair. He hated upsetting the woman. "Sanders was in charge of your security arrangements?"
    "We had a man for that," Gregori said smoothly. "Peter gave him his orders and kept him informed of the schedule so the man could do his job."
    "Could Ms. Dubrinsky have been the target of some psycho fan?"
    Savannah made a muffled sound, tearing at Gregori's heart. Beneath his massaging fingers, she was beginning to tremble. "There is always the possibility, Detective. She has at times received some very perverse fan mail. Peter and Roland, the security man, protected her from most of the unpleasantness.
    But if there had been any threatening mail on this tour, Peter would have informed me immediately."
    Johnson had no doubt Gregori was the type of man to be involved in every aspect of his wife's life. "Do you recall any strange incidents that stick in your mind?"
    Savannah shook her head.
    "What about any odd, unexpected noises that night?"
    Instantly Savannah remembered the vampire's hideous laughter. Gregori intervened immediately. "My wife is very shaken up, Detective, and we still have to make the arrangements for Peter. Her crew is waiting for us also."
    "So are the reporters."
    Gregori's silver eyes glittered a warning. "She will not be talking to reporters. This is difficult enough for her."
    Johnson nodded. "We'll try to sneak you out the back. But those folks have been camped out on our stairs ever since we ID'd the body."
    Savannah winced visibly.
    "Piranhas," Gregori observed.
    "They're like vampires," Johnson agreed. He didn't see Savannah shudder. "Once they sink their teeth into a story, they never let go. One in particular, from out of town, has been driving us all crazy. We actually caught him trying to sneak into our files in an attempt to read our reports. He also tried to bribe someone in the coroner's office for information." The detective was aware he was giving out information he should not have been, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. It flowed out of him like water.
    Gregori lifted his head, dark hair spilling over his forehead. All at once he looked like a predator, dark and dangerous. Johnson's heart took another hard thud, and for an instant he could have sworn he saw those silver eyes flame a fiery red. Gregori gave the impression of