Murder in Vein (2010) Read Online Free PDF

killer that's on the loose."
    "No," Doug corrected. "We're helping Mike. In general, we
don't like the police much and tend to stay away from them. We
find them a bit too nosy."
    For the first time, Madison offered the Dedhams a small
smile. "That much we have in common."
    Encouraged by Madison's slight thaw, Doug got up from the
sofa and sat on the edge of the coffee table, directly in front of
Madison. "You can go at any time, Madison. We're not going to
hold you prisoner here. But we-and that includes Detective
Notchey-feel you'd be safer here for the time being"
    "So he told me." Madison looked at the TV, where 60 Minutes
had gone to commercial. She turned back to the Dedhams. "Like
I told Notchey, I don't know anything. Bobby Piper came into the
diner once in a while, usually alone, although Notchey told me
that Bobby might not have been working alone."
    The Dedhams exchanged meaningful looks, which put Madison on alert. "What?" she asked, looking from one vampire to the
other as her heart pounded faster. "There's something you're not telling me." She sat up straight in the chair. "And why are you two
involved anyway? Why would you care if a few beaters die?"

    Frowning, Doug snapped, "Why don't you quit beating that
term to death."
    Dodie put her hand on her husband's knee, letting him know
that she would field the questions. "These murders, Madison,
could adversely affect our way of life. By `our,' I mean the entire
vampire community."
    Madison scooted hard back into her chair, putting distance
between herself and the Dedhams, even if only a few inches.
"There's a whole freaking community of you?" She quickly looked
around as if more vampires would come oozing out of the wall
paneling any second.
    "Madison, dear," Dodie told her in a motherly tone, "please
calm down. And, yes, there are other vampires in the world and
quite a few right here in Los Angeles."
    "So a vampire is behind these killings?"
    "No," Doug answered with blunt confidence. "Definitely not.
But we believe someone posing as a vampire may be behind
them."
    Dodie nodded in agreement. "A lot of people are into vampires these days, Madison. Some even pretend to be us. I'm sure
you've seen or heard of that."
    Madison had. "Yes, but they're usually harmless goth types,
aren't they? Creepy posers?"
    "Most of the time, yes," Doug answered. "For obvious reasons,
real vampires don't wear their true identity on their sleeves for
public viewing. Over the years, most of us have learned to adapt
and blend in. Others simply stay away from the living. We just
want to live quietly. If these murders continue, it could trigger a serious scare in Los Angeles. A lot of innocent people could get
hurt, and I don't mean just the women who get kidnapped."

    On the TV, Andy Rooney was doing his end-of-show monologue. Madison stared at the screen while she digested the information she'd just received. "But how can I help if I don't know
anything?"
    With a soft smile, Dodie rose and left the room, but not before
giving her husband a nod of encouragement.
    Doug got up and paced in front of the fireplace, stretching his
long legs. "For starters, you can keep yourself safe. We don't know
if there is a pattern to how the victims are chosen, but if there is,
it could help lead us to whoever is doing this. Mike is going to
come by again tomorrow. I'm sure he'll have more questions."
    Madison thought about her previous conversation with
Notchey. "Detective Notchey said the police think they have the
guy who's been doing this. But Notchey doesn't think they do."
    "They don't, or else why were you grabbed?" Doug's eyes
zeroed in on her with intense frankness.
    That thought had also occurred to Madison. Unless it was
some copycat creep, the real killer was still on the loose.
    "Whoever it might be, Madison," Doug continued, "he is still
out there. And he's powerful, able to control others and get them
to do his bidding. If it was a vampire, the