certain. Part of me was relieved that the Sirenali seemed to be branching out from Hank's community, but it wasn't any consolation for the families the victims might have left behind.
I hadn't considered it before, but it did look as if the killers were targeting people with—in Jayson's terms—non-vanilla lifestyles. Like Jack the Ripper, or something. That concerned me, because Hank and Jayson could still be targets. Hank's assistant manager had certainly been.
The local news stations were still going on about the murders, and frankly, the body count was growing. I knew a Sirenali was behind this, and worried that more vampires might be involved.
If it were the same Sirenali who'd orchestrated the college girl murders, then he or she was certainly branching out. Keir Arthur and Oscar Forde crossed my mind, too, but my research and Looking after arriving back on Earth told me they'd disappeared and the college girl murders had ceased after I left.
"This is so confusing," I muttered, shoving my half-eaten bowl of cereal away. All I had so far was three men I'd killed already, two scents belonging to humans unknown, a pile of bodies and a mystery the size of a small planet.
* * *
"This is so frustrating," Bill muttered. Ashe looked up from his ham and eggs as Bill dropped Kay's breakfast tray on the kitchen island. "She's in another world again today. I had to put the fork in her hand and tell her to eat a dozen times before she even focused on me."
"Bill, I'm sorry, but you and Franklin are the only two who can get through to her at all. I'd love to feed her, but she's terrified of me."
"Do you think Frank might come for a visit, then? I could use a break."
"I'll ask, but Trace may be able to persuade him better."
I'll talk to Trace, then," Bill nodded determinedly.
* * *
"I want Gavin on this," Wlodek muttered, shoving the file across his desk toward Charles.
"Honored One, Gavin is in Stockholm at the moment."
"Might he be finished there soon?" Wlodek's face held no emotion, but Charles knew the Head of the Vampire Council was quite irritated.
"He may be closing in on the rogue, according to his latest report."
"Tell him to move swiftly, then. I want him in San Francisco as soon as possible."
"Of course, Honored One."
* * *
"What are you planning to do?" Mitchell lifted an eyebrow at Colbi, who tapped notes on her computer. They were alone inside Colbi's small office, and the door was closed.
"I'm going to wait outside Dom Bell's until Hank Bell shows up tonight, ask him if he's involved in Breanne Hayworth's disappearance and then follow up with the question of whether his assistant manager's death is connected, somehow."
"I love how your devious mind works," Mitchell squeezed Colbi's shoulders affectionately. "I'll be watching the live feed from here. This'll be fun."
"Oh, yeah," Colbi brushed dyed-platinum hair over her shoulder. "I'm looking forward to this."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
John hadn't been murdered where his body was found—just like the others. That had been evident, not only to me but to the authorities investigating the murders as well. I misted past the crime scene tape, but there wasn't much left now for me to examine. One of the same human scents came to me—he'd come alone to dump the body.
It made me want to sniff around the body in question, to see what I could get from it, but the thought of misting into the coroner's office and getting close to a body that was likely cut open unnerved me. Yeah, my vampire mojo probably needed work.
Sighing, I misted toward the Lean Bean for a latte. Late afternoon fog rolled in as I materialized in a nearby alcove and walked half a block to the coffee shop. The difference in the service I received from the coffee shop barista and grumpy Janine was astounding. The young man was smiling, joking with his customers and serving them with cool efficiency. I had my vanilla latte in only a few minutes and found a small table near a window to