Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 Read Online Free Page B
Author: Connie Suttle
this is an expert opinion, then," I stared at Jeff, forcing him to lower his eyes. "Why doesn't the Council have this information on you?" I'd read his file. No data on medical training was in any part of it.
"Because the Council scares the bejeezus out of him, and all the other vampire physicians are forced to work for the Council." Kyle's words made me turn swiftly in his direction. He was right—there were only seventeen vampire physicians and they labored under the Council's thumb. Many of them were research biologists who also held medical degrees.
"If you cooperate with me while I'm here, I'll keep that information to myself," I offered.
"We'll cooperate," Jeff promised quickly, his voice and his eyes begging me to keep my word.
"We didn't have anything to do with those murders," Kyle said. "If that's what you're asking. We have alibis. Jeff was working his job at the hospital and I was in San Antonio. My hotel receipt." Kyle drew a slip of paper from a pocket and slid it across the table.
"A lover?" I queried, lifting the receipt and reading it.
"While I might consider that less than your business on a normal day, today, my answer is yes. He is also vampire, but I will only give his name if it becomes necessary."
"It won't be necessary." I'd gotten a good look at Kyle and Jeff's teeth. There wasn't any way their fangs were spaced far enough apart to inflict the wounds found on the bodies.
"Are we done?" Jeff's gaze was hopeful.
"You're done." I nodded.
"We, ah, won't leave town, as usual, and will be at your beck and call, should there be need." Kyle rose swiftly and followed Jeff from the café.
* * *
Madden Investigations was located on Mustang Island, two miles south of Port Aransas. I was surprised when the GPS on my rental took me to a condominium located on the barrier island—I expected something closer to town and farther from the beach. Miss Madden had the best of both worlds—her business doubled as her residence, and she had an unhindered view of the gulf.
Riding the elevator to the third floor where the condo was located, I pressed the doorbell and waited for her to answer. Her assistant, Rita, came to the door.
"Buenas noches, Mr. Chessman," Rita stood aside and invited me in.
"Rita, go home, your children are waiting," Anna stood inside the reception area as Rita led me inside the condo. Two desks occupied the space beyond, with plate-glass windows beside the second desk. A lovely view of the gulf lay outside those windows.
"Are you sure, Anna?" Rita asked. She was concerned about leaving her employer alone with me, I could tell. Rita was in her early thirties and quite pretty, with dark hair, a slightly round face and beautiful, full lips.
"Rita, we'll be fine," Anna assured her. Tonight, Anna was dressed in dark denim jeans and a blue silk blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a French braid, but a few tendrils had escaped and framed her face attractively. My fingers itched to brush it back. I wondered at my sudden desire to touch her, before quelling it.
"If you are sure," Rita said hesitantly.
"I'm sure."
"Call if you need something," Rita said, gathering her purse from a desk drawer.
"I will. Give your babies a hug from me."
"I will," Rita said. I watched Anna, who watched as Rita pulled her purse strap over a shoulder and walked toward the door. With my enhanced hearing, I could hear her footsteps echo long after she closed the condo door behind her.
"I worry about her," Anna murmured, walking toward her desk and lifting a thin stack of papers off it. "Here's the information on the disappearances," she said, handing the papers to me. "You're welcome to sit here and go over it, or you can come into the kitchen. I was about to mix a protein drink."
"A protein drink?" That puzzled me.
"According to a friend, I'm not getting enough protein," she said. "I'm vegetarian, so that can be a problem if I don't take time to eat properly."
"I'll come to the kitchen with you," I said. I
"Because the Council scares the bejeezus out of him, and all the other vampire physicians are forced to work for the Council." Kyle's words made me turn swiftly in his direction. He was right—there were only seventeen vampire physicians and they labored under the Council's thumb. Many of them were research biologists who also held medical degrees.
"If you cooperate with me while I'm here, I'll keep that information to myself," I offered.
"We'll cooperate," Jeff promised quickly, his voice and his eyes begging me to keep my word.
"We didn't have anything to do with those murders," Kyle said. "If that's what you're asking. We have alibis. Jeff was working his job at the hospital and I was in San Antonio. My hotel receipt." Kyle drew a slip of paper from a pocket and slid it across the table.
"A lover?" I queried, lifting the receipt and reading it.
"While I might consider that less than your business on a normal day, today, my answer is yes. He is also vampire, but I will only give his name if it becomes necessary."
"It won't be necessary." I'd gotten a good look at Kyle and Jeff's teeth. There wasn't any way their fangs were spaced far enough apart to inflict the wounds found on the bodies.
"Are we done?" Jeff's gaze was hopeful.
"You're done." I nodded.
"We, ah, won't leave town, as usual, and will be at your beck and call, should there be need." Kyle rose swiftly and followed Jeff from the café.
* * *
Madden Investigations was located on Mustang Island, two miles south of Port Aransas. I was surprised when the GPS on my rental took me to a condominium located on the barrier island—I expected something closer to town and farther from the beach. Miss Madden had the best of both worlds—her business doubled as her residence, and she had an unhindered view of the gulf.
Riding the elevator to the third floor where the condo was located, I pressed the doorbell and waited for her to answer. Her assistant, Rita, came to the door.
"Buenas noches, Mr. Chessman," Rita stood aside and invited me in.
"Rita, go home, your children are waiting," Anna stood inside the reception area as Rita led me inside the condo. Two desks occupied the space beyond, with plate-glass windows beside the second desk. A lovely view of the gulf lay outside those windows.
"Are you sure, Anna?" Rita asked. She was concerned about leaving her employer alone with me, I could tell. Rita was in her early thirties and quite pretty, with dark hair, a slightly round face and beautiful, full lips.
"Rita, we'll be fine," Anna assured her. Tonight, Anna was dressed in dark denim jeans and a blue silk blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a French braid, but a few tendrils had escaped and framed her face attractively. My fingers itched to brush it back. I wondered at my sudden desire to touch her, before quelling it.
"If you are sure," Rita said hesitantly.
"I'm sure."
"Call if you need something," Rita said, gathering her purse from a desk drawer.
"I will. Give your babies a hug from me."
"I will," Rita said. I watched Anna, who watched as Rita pulled her purse strap over a shoulder and walked toward the door. With my enhanced hearing, I could hear her footsteps echo long after she closed the condo door behind her.
"I worry about her," Anna murmured, walking toward her desk and lifting a thin stack of papers off it. "Here's the information on the disappearances," she said, handing the papers to me. "You're welcome to sit here and go over it, or you can come into the kitchen. I was about to mix a protein drink."
"A protein drink?" That puzzled me.
"According to a friend, I'm not getting enough protein," she said. "I'm vegetarian, so that can be a problem if I don't take time to eat properly."
"I'll come to the kitchen with you," I said. I
Readers choose
Alexandra Ivy
Allan Frewin Jones
Joe Dever
Saul Tanpepper
Anne Douglas
Ranae Rose
Sara Ramsey
Julia Glass
Season Vining
Liz Delton