The Vampire Hunters (Book 2): Vampyrnomicon Read Online Free PDF Page A

Drake, Alison broke into a radiant smile that lit up the room. “Morning, boss. I wasn’t sure you’d make it in today.”
    “Never underestimate the power of caffeine.” Drake held up the half-empty cup of iced coffee. “Besides, how would it look if I lounged around all day doing nothing and let you run things here?”
    “It’d look like business as usual.”
    Drake frowned in mock frustration, then turned to Smith and extended his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
    “Likewise.” Smith stood and gave it a firm pump. “This is a first for me.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Usually I’m bailing the two of you out of jail, not your colleagues.”
    “Alison and I can keep out of trouble.”
    Smith allowed himself the barest hint of a smirk. “And I suppose you don’t know a thing about the acetylene tank explosion not too far from where the sewer workers were attacked?”
    Drake changed the subject. “I assume you had no trouble getting Jim and Jessica out?”
    “Jim wasn’t a problem. The police weren’t too happy about releasing Jessica, though.”
    “Why?” Drake took a drink of iced coffee.
    “The main charge against her was assault on a police officer.”
    Drake choked on his coffee. “Are you serious?”
    “He’d parked his squad car over the open manhole, and refused to move it when Jim tried to escape. So Jessica kicked him where it hurts. While the officer lay doubled over in pain, she moved the squad car.”
    “Impressive.” Drake looked over at Alison. “Don’t you think?”
    “I didn’t know Blondie had it in her,” said Alison with a tinge of begrudging respect.
    Drake turned back to Smith. “What about the sewer worker Jim rescued?”
    “Patterson? He’s not being charged with anything. Though the police kept him half the night for questioning.” Smith became serious, straightening his stance and adopting a more business-like demeanor. “Which brings me to the reason I dropped by.”
    “Come on in.” Drake used the cup to point toward his office, the coffee and ice cubes sloshing around inside the plastic container. Once in his office, Drake slid into the leather executive chair while Smith sat in one of the two leather armchairs opposite him.
    “What’s up?” asked Drake.
    “Something’s bugging me about yesterday. Everyone involved in the event reported seeing only three vampires.”
    “The two Alison and I took down, and the one that nearly got Jim and Patterson.”
    “Could more have been hiding inside the row house?”
    Drake shrugged. “Possible, I guess. But given the ferocity of the attack, I doubt it. I don’t know if they were in a feeding frenzy or just defending their nest, but if there were any more of them in there, I’m sure they would have come after us, too.”
    Smith said nothing as he mulled over Drake’s observation. Drake waited a few seconds before asking, “What’s bothering you?”
    “It’s been almost a week since you destroyed the nest out at Wolf Trap and that one master got away.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Assuming the master returned to Washington to rebuild the nest, why were there so few vampires in it?”
    “I don’t know.” Drake placed his iced coffee on the desk, suddenly more interested in the conversation than his drink. “Has there been an increase in the number of missing persons or unexplained disappearances?”
    “The numbers have dropped since you wiped out the nest.”
    “Alison said the master was torn up pretty bad when it escaped. Maybe it’s just laying low until it recovers, which is good news for us.”
    “Why’s that?”
    Drake ignored the question. He leaned back in his chair and propped his legs on top of the desk. “Do you know which row house they found the nest in?”
    “Patterson is a twenty-year employee of the sanitation department. He knows those sewers like his own neighborhood. I’m sure he’ll give the police the exact location.”
    “Can you get me a transcript?”
    “It’ll take