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but my mother was a whole different story. Could I
keep her safe and get her out of harm’s way if the need arose?
    Dear God, what had I gotten myself into?

Chapter 4
    Before I could
think myself into a thorough tizzy, Van Graf said, “I’ll send my
men to bring whatever you need for you and your mother. You both
will be perfectly safe here. I give you my word.”
    I searched his deeply blue eyes for any signs
of duplicity. I saw none, but instead, was once more overcome by
that dreamy, languid feeling. Any reservations I had died on my
lips, unspoken. All I felt was an odd sense of peace and
well-being.
    “‘Kay,” I murmured. “Mm-hmm.” I yawned,
covering my mouth with my hand. “Honestly, I’m neither bored nor
sleepy, so I don’t know why I suddenly feel so…so…”
    “You need not explain.” His tone was soft,
and though I didn’t know why I felt such lethargy, I got the
distinct impression he did. He cocked his head and seemed to study
me, but made no further comment other than to continue with, “We
can work out the details, go over your responsibilities, and do the
employment and tax form paperwork when you return. The snow has
stopped for now, but it looks as though it may really hit us
tonight. The sooner you get back and settled in, the better.”
    Either through timing or some subtle signal,
there came three knocks on the door and it opened. The current
housekeeper virtually floated into the room.
    Dr. Van Graf stood and turned to me. “The
address on your resume is current, Mrs. Scott?”
    I nodded.
    “Superb.”
    “Oh. Um. Thank you, sir.” My words seemed
wispy and distant, even to my own ear. “Thank you so much for this
opportunity.”
    He smiled as his eyes met mine. “You can
expect Igor and Wolf in about an hour.”
    Igor and Wolf? No. Really?
Igor and Wolf?
    I didn’t know whether to laugh or pee my
pants.
    “Leech,” he said to the housekeeper. “Mrs.
Scott is now in my employ. She and her mother will be taking up
residence here later today. Please have rooms readied as soon as
possible.”
    The woman’s brows arched only slightly as she
stabbed a look into her employer’s eyes. With a quick glance in my
direction, she cleared her throat. “As you vish, sir.”
    “By the way,” he added, his lips curving into
a wry smile. “I informed Mrs. Scott as to what a great sense of
humor you have.”
    Dead silence reigned while they stared at
each other. Finally, Leech nodded. As though she were reading the
yellow pages aloud in search of a root canal specialist, she
pronounced, “I am more fun den a barrel off monkeys.”
    “As you escort Mrs. Scott to the door, why
don’t you tell her one of your jokes.” Turning to me once more, he
said, “I have arrangements to tend to. It’s a pleasure meeting you,
Stephanie. May I call you Stephanie?”
    “Yes, of course.” And may I
call you whenever I need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? “Thank you again, Dr. Van Graf. I promise I’ll do a good job for
you.”
    “I do not doubt that we’ll be a fine fit,” he
said quietly. “No doubt whatsoever.”
    Well, that sure could be taken two ways. I
wondered in which way he meant it?
    I know the first thing that popped into my
mind—muddled as it was at the moment.
    He said nothing further, but quickly left the
room. As soon as he was gone, Leech gestured for me to follow her
down the hall. As we walked, she said in her morose monotone,
“Three vampires valk into a bar.”
    “It’s okay, Leech,” I rushed. “Please don’t
feel obliged to tell me a jo—”
    “De barmaid approaches.” She stared straight
ahead as she spoke, walking along the gallery as though she were in
a trance. “‘Vat vill it be?’ says de barmaid. De first vampire
says, ‘I vill heff a mug uff blood.’ De second vampire says, ‘I,
too, vill heff a mug uff blood.’ De terd vampire speaks up. ‘I vill
heff a glass of plasma.’ De girl turns to de bartender and says,
‘Order up; two bloods and a