Blood Lily (Lilith Adams Vampire Series Book 1) (7 page)

Chance leaned back against the wall laughing.
“Holy hell, Lily. You sure do have a way with words.” He was grinning at her, watching her every move. “So what’s the verdict? We cuddling in the tub?” Lilith glanced up just in time to catch him wink.

“You wish.”
She flicked off the UV light and turned on the overhead light. “Surprisingly clean. Either no one ever stays here or these sheets are new.”

“I’m voting option one.
You definitely aren’t the ‘ignorance is bliss’ sort are ya?” Chance flopped down on the bed, stretching out and folding his arms behind his head. Her eyes drifted to the bare bit of skin between his shirt and his jeans and she caught the very edge of the tattoo again. She sat cross legged on the edge of the bed and leaned forward a tiny bit to keep from falling off it.

“Seriously, Chance.
What’s the tattoo? I’m curious.”

She didn’t miss the slight frown on his face. “I told you it’s nothing. Just let it go
, Lily.” Lilith just looked at him expectantly. He released a frustrated sigh and stared at her. “I’m serious. Just let it go. Damn, I don’t remember you ever being this stubborn with Gregor.”

“Fine, be defensive, and I’ve always been this stubborn. You’ve just never noticed.”

Chance lifted an eyebrow and let out a soft snort of disbelief. “Not like we normally have group therapy sessions where
we share our feelings. I think the car today was the first time we’ve actually had a conversation that wasn’t just banter or discussions about Gregor.”

It was L
ilith’s turn to look surprised, not because he was right, but because he’d noticed. “I suppose it was.” She was trying for a nonchalant tone and was pretty sure she’d failed. In a quick recovery, she grabbed her suitcase, fished out some clothes and sauntered off to the bathroom without another word. Chance suddenly had a way of making her feel off balance and prickly since they left the safe familiarity of New York. She wasn’t really sure why, he was just getting under her skin. Maybe it was just the processes of getting to know someone that you’ve “known” for 13 years or maybe it was because he was the only thing familiar, the only tie to her life back at home. Sure she’d traveled for work before, but somehow this time was different.

The
shower, which was cramped but surprisingly clean, melted away the stress and raw ends of the day. The hot water rained against her face and seemed to wash away the thousands of thoughts milling around in her mind. For a moment it just felt like peace. Water always had a calming effect on her. If she actually believed in astrology, she’d chalk it up to being a water sign. Too bad she’d met plenty of people that didn’t fit the star charts. There is no astrological sign that says, “One day you’ll be a serial rapist that enjoys seeing the light die in people’s eyes. Success will find you today.”

After throwing on a comfy pair of jeans and tugging on a navy blue tank top, Lilith stepped out of the steam filled bathroom into the comfortably cool room.  She peeked around the corner to see Chance passed out and twisted up
in the sheets. The smooth lines of his face looked peaceful and instantly younger. She smiled secretly, pulled her hair into a loose bun and tip toed to her side of the bed.

Lilith curled around a pillow and let the magic of the shower lull her to an instant sleep.
For once there were no dreams, no nightmares, just blissful, mind-numbing sleep.

She woke to the sound of her phone ringing. Lilith blindly grabbed for her phone and reached for a lamp that wasn’t there. Suddenly she realized she wasn’t in her room and there was a drowsy moment of disorientation before she remembered where she was. The room was completely dark so she fumbled her hand along the wall to find a light switch while she answered the phone.

“Hello?” She was still trying to shake the drowsiness from her voice.

“Lilith?”

“
Philippe. Is something wrong? Gloria and the kids okay?”

“
They are fine, nothing’s wrong. Gloria insisted I call and make sure you’re still surviving the south. She would have called herself but she’s forcing Erica to bake cookies for the cheerleader’s fundraiser. Guess it’s better than handcuffing her at this point. How’s the conference going?” Her cover story, a conference on reading people’s micro-expressions and recertifying herself on Facial Feedback Analysis. She’d actually been to a conference on the subject a couple years back. It was a fascinating field of research. College had only brushed on the ways to read faces and body language. The research of micro-expressions was becoming increasingly popular, even making its way to TV. It was truly amazing how certain expressions were used all over the world, displaying identical emotions. She suddenly remembered she was on the phone with Alvarez and shook herself from the inner monologue.

“It doesn’t start
till Friday.” Lilith rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and heard a groan next to her as Chance rolled over. “How’s the case load. Anything interesting?”

Beside her, Chance blinked at the bright light of the lamp, groaned again and hesitantly rolled off the bed to stumble into the bathroom.

“More of the same for the most part. There is one case of interest that popped up early this morning.” Lilith listened passively while she grabbed for the biohazard cooler. Of course the room didn’t come with a microwave, so the blood packs were out for now. She couldn’t take the stuff cold, it was just repulsive.

She grunted something
in agreement and dug out four of the gel caplets. It would hold her over until she could borrow a microwave somewhere.  Alvarez was still droning on about the case and Lilith was only half listening as she downed the pills. She heard the groaning of the ancient pipes as the shower started up.

“So the place is finally going to be gutted. It’s about time I say
. That damn Italian pit is a hazard, just a haven for squatters and gang members. So when is this conference over? I’m not used to doing the legwork.”

A deep yawn interrupted her.
“Sorry, Alvarez. The trip wore me out. I should be back after the weekend but I’m hoping to be back by Sunday. You just can’t tell how these things will go. I’ll keep you posted and tell Gloria to stop worrying about me. She has her hands full with Erica anyway. Oh and if you want me to take a look at that case, just email me the report and crime scene photos.”

“That’s my girl. Take care, Lil.”
Alvarez hung up before she could say anything else. Lilith flipped through her messages on her phone, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It was eleven o’clock at night and she still felt exhausted. The shower stopped while she was digging through her suitcase.

The bathroom door opened releasing a cloud of steam and Chance strolled out with a towel wrapped
high around his waist. All his lean muscles glinted with water and his skin was flushed pink beneath the even tan. Lilith quickly glanced down at the pair of comfortable black flats in her hands as if
they
were the most fascinating thing on the planet and not the incredibly handsome, half-naked man standing in the middle of the room.

“So who the hell calls you at
eleven o’clock at night?” Chance growled as he shook a second towel through his auburn-flecked hair. “Boyfriend checking up on you?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and finally made her muscles move. “Alvarez. He just wanted advice on a case.” She grabbed a long sleeve black t-shirt, a darker pair of jeans and the
black shoes before closing her suitcase. “I do typically work nights, so it’s not that unusual.”

“Oh?” There was a curious tone in his voice as he threw his duffle bag up on the bed. “So what’s the case?”

Lilith slowly stood with her armful of clothes and started for the bathroom completely avoiding looking in his general direction. “I can’t discuss open cases, Chance. Protocol.”

Chance huffed and rooted around in his bag. “Oh come on. We’re all the way in Tennessee. Besides, what am I gonna do? Go run screaming to the reporters for a tell-all?”

“Good point. I still can’t tell you. I was half asleep and didn’t pay attention to a word he said. I’ll look at the files when he gets around to emailing them.”

Chance let out a howl of laughter that followed her into the bathroom. “And here I thought you were some sort of perfect computer. Wow… I’m so disillusioned right now.
Hey, before we play mission impossible out at Duncan’s place we should rustle up some food.”

Lilith peeked out of the cracked door to see Chance’s muscled back leaning over his suitcase. The casual t-shirts didn’t do him justice.
“Um, yeah. That’s probably a good idea. Maybe we can find an all-night diner or something.” Reluctantly, she pulled herself away from the door and finished wiggling into her jeans.

After grabbing a greasy breakfast with coffee strong enough to burn through linoleum, they were back in the clown car. The food may have been horrible but the conversation was surprisingly comfortable. Apparently, Chance had a very keen interest in photography. Seeing as that was a hobby of hers, they’d had plenty to talk about.
She’d even promised to brave photographing his building, during daylight hours of course.

An hour later they had the car packed and were weaving slowly through the dark country roads toward Duncan’s house again. Chance cut the lights as soon as they turned onto the last street. The car slowed to a crawl and Lilith scanned the neighboring houses. They were all dark. The night was quiet except for the faint echoes of dogs barking and cows mooing off in the distance. They parked the car on the opposite side of the shed, shielding it from the view of most of the houses.

“Okay. I’ll go in, check the house and if it’s clear I’ll signal you. Then you can do your thing.” Chance reached for the door handle but Lilith stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“I need to go in first.”

Chance turned to look at her in disbelief.
“Oh hell no.”

She sighed and grabbed a hair tie from her pocket. As she pulled up her wild auburn curls into a bun she looked at him seriously. “Look. Spencer and Miriah have probably trampled all through there, but there might still be something important I can find. I can’t take the chance that you might compromise something that would tell me what is going on
and I don’t exactly have time to teach you the basics of forensics.”

His hand left the door handle and his face became
all hard, serious lines. “I cannot take the risk that something or someone might be in there. If you’re dead then you won’t find anything anyway. Besides, Spencer and Miriah have probably done more damage than I ever could. I promise I’ll be careful but I can’t let you in first.”

“Stop right there.” Her voice was iron strong and her mouth set in a hard line.
The surprised look on Chance’s face seemed to indicate he wasn’t used to people disagreeing with him. He better get used to it fast. When it came to her work, she never let anyone compromise her scene. “I know Gregor sent you to keep me safe and I appreciate that, but this is me drawing the line.” She held up a hand to cut off his protest. “I investigate crime scenes every single day without macho backup. Gregor sent me to do a job too and I can’t do that with you underfoot. I’m going in. You can stand at the door. I am willing to indulge you’re overprotective attitude, but not when it comes to work.”

Chance glared out the windshield sightlessly, every muscle in his face flexed and strained. She could feel the anger
roiling off of him in waves. She could almost see the internal battle waging as he gripped the steering wheel so tight she thought he’d rip it right out of the car. Lilith sat perfectly still and tried not to show how nervous she was. Finally, he glanced at her and there was an entire novel of emotions in his face. His voice came out thin and forced. “Fine, but you maintain voice contact at all times so I know you’re okay. You clear a room, then I move in. You are to be within one room from me at all times.”

She nodded in agreement, not quite trusting her voice at the moment. He still looked like a powder keg. Finally, t
he anger leaked out of his muscles and he slumped back against the seat. His voice came out thin and tired when he finally spoke. “You’re even more stubborn than your father.” His smile was forced when he finally looked at her. There was something very heavy in those green flecked eyes, but they had work to do.

Lilith looked him over once more and then crept out of the car and grabbed her aluminum kit from the back seat. Chance was all calm business when he pulled himself out of the tiny car. His eyes scanned the surroundings with that calculating look that screamed security. He bent down and pulled something from under the seat. The light from the
half-moon high in the cloudless sky glinted off the gun in his hand.

He didn’t draw the gun up to do a sweep around the house like they would in the movies. Instead he held it casually down by
his side as he methodically made his way to the front door. She could tell every muscle in his body was drawn tight, just waiting to pounce. Lilith dug in her case, grabbed the lock pick gun and closed her kit before following him.

It took
mere seconds before the front door popped open. She paused long enough to pull on purple neoprene gloves and slip the booties over her shoes. Chance looked down at her feet with an amused smile and just shook his head. Lilith was about to step over the threshold when Chance stopped her with a hand on her arm. He leaned in close and whispered while he stared into the dark hall of the house. “Remember, one room at a time and keep talking to me. Okay?” She looked up at him and his eyes caught hers for a second with a serious warning in them. All business. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and nodded.