Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

him a moment, trying to figure out what to do next.
    â€œCould you unlock my door?” His voice was soft and gentle. The sort of voice you’d use on a madwoman.
    I looked down at myself and realized that I was naked and covered with blood from head to toe. The butcher knife was still in my left hand. My hand had cramped around it, and I had to work to drop it on the floor.
    The key unlocked Corban’s door, too.
    â€œChad’s with some friends of mine,” I told him. My voice slurred a bit, and I recognized that I was a little shocky. The realization helped me a little, and my voice was clearer when I told him, “The kinds of friends who might be able to protect a boy from a vampire run amok.”
    â€œThank you,” he said. “You were unconscious a long time. How are you feeling?”
    I gave him a tired smile. “My head hurts.”
    â€œLet’s get you cleaned up.”
    He led me up the stairs. I didn’t think that I should have grabbed my clothes until I stood alone in a huge, gold-and-black bathroom. I turned the shower on.
    â€œJohn,” I said. I didn’t bother looking for him because I could feel him. “You will never harm anyone again.” I felt the push of magic that told me whatever it was I could do to ghosts had worked on him. So I added, “And get out of this bathroom,” for good measure.
    I scrubbed myself raw and wrapped myself in a towel big enough for three of me. When I came out, Corban was pacing in the hall in front of the bathroom.
    â€œWho do you call about something like this?” he asked. “It doesn’t look good. Blackwood is missing; Amber is dead—probably buried in the backyard. I’m a lawyer, and if I were my own client, I’d advise myself to avoid trial, plead guilty, and do reduced time if I could get it.”
    He was scared.
    It finally occurred to me that we’d survived. Blackwood and his sweet grandmotherly vampire ghost were gone. Or at least I hoped she was gone. There wasn’t a second pile of ashes in the basement.
    â€œDid you notice the other vampire?” I asked him.
    He gave me a blank look. “Other vampire?”
    â€œNever mind,” I told him. “I expect the sunlight killed her.”
    I got up and found a phone on a small table in the corner of the living room. I dialed Adam’s cell phone.
    â€œHey,” I said. It sounded like I’d been smoking cigars all night.
    â€œMercy?” And I knew I was safe.
    I sat on the floor. “Hey.” I said again.
    â€œChad told us where you are,” he told me. “We’re about twenty minutes away.”
    â€œChad told you?” Stefan would still be unconscious, I’d known. It just hadn’t occurred to me that Chad could tell them where we were. Stupid me. All he’d have needed was a piece of paper.
    â€œChad’s all right?” asked Corban urgently.
    â€œFine,” I told him. “And he’s leading the cavalry here.”
    â€œIt sounds like we’re not needed,” said Adam.
    I needed him.
    â€œBlackwood is dead,” I told Adam.
    â€œI thought so, since you are calling me,” Adam said.
    â€œIf it weren’t for the oakman, it might have been bad,” I told him. “And I think the oakman is dead.”
    â€œAll honor to him, then,” said Samuel’s voice. “To die killing one of the dark-bound evils is not a bad thing, Mercy. Chad asks after his father.”
    I wiped my face and gathered my thoughts. “Tell Chad he’s fine. We’re both fine.” I watched bruises fade from my legs. “Could you ... could you stop at a convenience store and buy a yellow toy car for me? Bring it with you when you come?”
    There was a little pause. “A yellow toy car?” asked Adam.
    â€œThat’s right.” I remembered something else. “Adam, Corban’s worried that the police will think he’s killed Amber-and probably Blackwood, though there won’t be any body.”
    â€œTrust me,” said Adam. “We’ll fix it for everyone.”
    â€œAll right,” I told him. “Thank you.” And then I thought a little more. “The vampires will want Chad and Corban gone. They know too much.”
    â€œYou and Stefan and the pack are the only ones who know that,” said Adam. “The pack doesn’t care, and Stefan won’t betray them.”
    â€œHey,”