Deadlocked: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

big deal, really, Dermot,” I said. “Doctors get a lot of respect in our society. I guess as far as she knows, you’re human?”
    He flushed. “Yes, she thinks I’m a very attractive human. I met her at the bar three nights ago.”
    It would be pretty stupid for me to comment further. He was handsome, sweet natured, and strong. What more could a woman want?
    Besides, considering the confused state of my own love life, I could hardly pass out dating tips.
    I told Dermot I’d finish the dishes so he could go get ready for his date, and by the time I was ensconced on the living room couch with a book, he came downstairs in navy slacks and a pale blue striped shirtwith a button-down collar. He looked amazing, and I told him so. He grinned at me.
    “I hope she’ll think so,” he said. “I love the way she smells.”
    That was a very fairy compliment. Linda Tonnesen was a smart woman with a great sense of humor, but she was not what humans thought of as conventionally pretty. Her smell had scored her big points with Dermot. I’d have to remember that.
    By the time Dermot left, dark had fallen. I got the bag containing Jannalynn’s jacket and went out the back door, on my way to Bill’s house. I felt a little better after I’d dropped the other little bag, the one containing the smashed dark glasses, into the garbage bin. I turned on my flashlight and strode to the woods. There was a little path; Bill came over often, probably far more often than I knew.
    Just before I reached the cleared ground of the old cemetery, I heard a sound to my left. I stopped in my tracks. “Bill?” I said.
    “Sookie,” he answered, and then he was right in front of me. He had his own little plastic sack looped over his left hand. We were all carrying bags around tonight.
    “I brought Jannalynn’s jacket,” I said. “For you and Heidi.”
    “You stole her jacket?” He sounded amused.
    “If that were the worst thing I’d done today, I’d be a happy woman.”
    Bill let that pass, though I could almost feel him peering at me. Vampire eyesight is excellent, of course. He took my arm and we walked a few feet to get into the cemetery grounds. Even though there weren’t many lights there, there were a few, and I could see (faintly) that Bill was excited about something.
    He opened my bag, put it to his face, and inhaled. “No, that’s not a scent I picked up at the gate in the backyard. Of course, consideringall the scents around there and the length of time before we were able to investigate, that can’t be a definite no.” He handed it back.
    I felt almost disappointed. Jannalynn made me so antsy that I would have liked to find her guilty of something, but I chided myself for being uncharitable. I should be glad Sam was dating an innocent woman. And I was. Right?
    “You look unhappy,” Bill said. We were walking back to his house, and I’d tucked the plastic bag under my arm. I’d been thinking of how I’d return Jannalynn’s jacket to Sam’s office. I’d have to do it soon.
    “I am unhappy,” I said. Then, because I didn’t want to explain my every inner qualm, I told Bill, “I listened to the news on the radio while I was cutting up sweet potatoes. That girl Kym, the police are trying to blame her murder on a vampire because she died in Eric’s front yard. Someone vandalized Fangtasia, threw white paint all over the exterior. Are Felipe and his crew still here? Why don’t they go home?”
    Bill put his arm around me. “Calm down,” he said, his voice hard.
    I was so surprised that I actually held my breath for a moment.
    “Breathe,” he commanded. “Slowly. Thoughtfully.”
    “What are you, Zen Master Fang?”
    “Sookie.” When he used that voice, he meant business. So I took a deep breath, let it out. Again. Again.
    “Okay, I’m better,” I said.
    “Listen,” Bill said, and I raised my eyes to his. He was looking excited again. He shook his own bag. “We’ve had all eyes open to try to track down Colton … or find his body. Very early this past morning, Palomino called from her job at the Trifecta. She’s seen Colton. Felipe does have him. We’ve got a plan to get him out. Cobbled together, but I think it might work. If we can accomplish that, maybe we’ll also discover where they’re keeping Warren. If we find Warrenand broadcast his whereabouts, Mustapha will come forward to tell what he knows. When Mustapha tells us who suborned him by holding Warren hostage, then we’ll know