Blood of Dawn (11 page)

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Authors: Tami Dane

BOOK: Blood of Dawn
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“Yeah, I know. But I’m desperate enough, I think, to choke down more than one Dixie cup this time.”
 
 
One hour later, we were curving down Glenn Street, nearing the party. When we drove within a block of the house, both sides of the road were lined with cars, and the thrum of loud music echoed in the night. It was a wonder the neighbors hadn’t called the police by now. I passed the party house, went down another block, pulled into a driveway, turned around, and found a parking spot roughly a quarter mile away. When I cut off the motor, I turned toward my entourage.
The drive over had given us plenty of time to formulate a plan. JT and Elmer were going to stick together, pretending to be friends, and Katie and I would do the same. We would spread out, covering as much ground as possible, and then try to eavesdrop for any mention of the dead girls.
“Okay,” I said, pocketing my keys, “since we have two people who aren’t in the bureau, I’ll remind everyone—
no drinking.
”
“Won’t we stick out if we’re the only ones who aren’t drinking? It’s a beer party,” Katie reasoned.
“Right. We don’t need to draw attention to ourselves. So, it’s okay to get a beer. But nurse it.”
“Right,” Katie said. “No real drinking. Only sipping. That’s okay. Like I said, I’m not a big fan of beer.”
“You’re taking all the fun out of this,” Elmer grumbled. “Do you think there will be any elves here? At least it’ll be worth it if I can find an elf—”
“They’re underage,” I reminded him. “Jailbait.”
Elmer grumbled something I couldn’t make out.
“Hey, it was your choice to come.” I opened my door. “You could always—
poof
—materialize right back on the set and film the next episode of
Who Wants to Marry
—”
“I’m good.”
My phone rang. It was Dale, the producer of
Who Wants to Marry an Undead Prince?
“Speaking of the devil.” I held up my phone.
“Don’t answer it,” Elmer said.
I answered, “Hello.”
“Hello, Ms. Skye, this is Dale Nessinger. I’m trying to locate Elmer Schmickle. I realize you’re no longer his agent.”
I’m not? This is definitely news to me.
“But I wonder if you might know how I can reach him. He walked off the set two nights ago, saying he was ill, and we haven’t heard from him since. He’s now in breach of his contract, and he’s costing me a lot of money. I need to get in touch with him immediately.”
I squinted at Elmer. “Since I’m no longer his agent, I haven’t been informed of his whereabouts. But I can see if I can track him down for you. I’m sure there’s just been a misunderstanding.”
“I hope so. This is very serious. I appreciate your help. We can’t delay the filming any longer. I need him here tonight.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
I clicked off, pushed out of the car and pocketed my phone. To Elmer, I said, “You’re going back.
Tonight.
As soon as we’re done here.”
Elmer shook his head. “No.”
“Elmer, if you don’t, she’s going to sue you for breach of contract. That could cost you millions of dollars.”
Elmer shrugged. “I don’t care.”
I couldn’t imagine not caring about the loss of millions of dollars. It made me wonder exactly how rich Elmer Schmickle was. “Since my father helped you make this connection, it’s going to reflect poorly on him too,” I pointed out.
Elmer considered that statement. “I’ll make it up to him.”
“Elmer.” I glared. I stomped ahead of him a few paces, then stopped and turned. “If you don’t keep your end of the bargain, then I’ll have no choice but to break mine too. I won’t be your backup bride. Nor will I help you find a wife. You’ll be on your own, and who knows how long it’ll take for you to find a decent elf who will be willing to marry you? Especially if you’re destitute.”
Elmer laughed. “A few million isn’t going to leave me destitute.” Then his expression sobered. “But I don’t appreciate your blackmailing me.”
“Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll give you back your memory. The one I took for payment for that little favor I did. . . .”
“I have no idea what memory you took.”
“Have you noticed anyone sort of popping into your life in the last twenty-four hours? Someone you haven’t seen in years?”
I searched my brain.
“Someone who you had a little crush on in college?”
“Gabe Wagner?”
Elmer pointed at his nose. “Wouldn’t you like to recall what’s happened with your Gabe Wagner between your freshman year in college and this morning?”
In the time we’d had our little discussion, we’d made our way up to the party house. Katie was walking at my side, listening in. JT was trailing behind. He’d been uncharacteristically quiet since we’d left my parents’ house. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure he was still back there. He was.
“What is the little freak talking about, Sloan?” Katie demanded. She shot Elmer some mean eyes.
“We need to get inside. I’ll tell you later.” To Elmer, I said, “You’ll do the right thing
or else.
”
Elmer humphed.
Katie crossed her arms over her chest and gave her head a short nod. “Yes, do the right thing.”
JT nudged me. “Let’s get this over with.”
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
—George Bernard Shaw
11
I was squashed on all sides, pinned between sweaty teen bodies, unable to breathe or move—or see more than twelve inches in front of me. This was no party. It was a sweltering pack of inebriated humanity.
Trying to make the best of things, I did what I could to listen in on conversations nearby. The problem was, it was nearly impossible to hear much of anything. The music was cranking so loud that my eardrums were ready to burst, and the bass was vibrating my fillings loose. When the scent of rotten eggs hit the back of my throat, I inched around, facing Katie, and pointed at the exit. I mouthed, “Let’s go!” She nodded.
I’d never in my life wondered what a salmon swimming downstream might feel as he fought to go the wrong way. But now I knew. We tried to wriggle ourselves into tiny gaps amid people, but it just wasn’t working. Katie gave me a forlorn shrug and we went back to moving with the flow, rather than against it. At least, we hoped, we’d eventually make our way into a room that had some space to breathe.
A half hour later, and we’d traveled maybe eight feet.
“I can’t believe this. It’s insane,” I shouted into Katie’s ear. “The minute you see an exit—be it a window, a door, a hole in the wall, anything—tell me. I’ve got to get out of here. It smells like old gym shoes soaked in beer.”
Katie nodded. She was a few inches taller than I am, so she rose on tiptoes—a dangerous move, when you consider people were pushing against us from all sides. “I think I see something.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled, shoving her way past a few smaller kids toward the rear of the kitchen. A few agonizing moments later, we were standing outside, sucking in huge gulps of fresh air.
I pulled on my earlobes. “My ears are ringing.”
Katie yelled back, “Mine too!” She glanced around. “Where to now?”
“Back to the car.” I checked my phone. We’d agreed to meet at the vehicle in an hour. We weren’t off by much. When we shuffled up to the car, we saw the guys hadn’t made it back yet. I took the driver’s seat; Katie took the front passenger seat. We watched a couple of kids stagger down the road. They fell over, knocking someone’s garden gnome on his face. They laughed, then hauled each other back on their feet. “That was a
total
waste of time. It was too loud and too crowded to see or hear anything!” I yelled.
“What were you expecting?” Katie asked.
“Nothing like that.”
“No need to ask if you’ve ever been to a keg party.” Katie gave me a little nudge with her elbow. “Check that out.” She pointed out her window at a couple that was grinding and pawing at each other next to a tree. The girl had silvery hair. It flashed in the moonlight, making her look almost unearthly.
“I never did that when I was in high school either,” I said, unable to tear my gaze away. It was a shocking display of underage lust. The kids involved were practically having sex right out there on the street. Why couldn’t I look away?
I honked my horn, and the lovebirds broke it up. Both of them glanced our way before turning around and heading down the street.
Katie sighed. “That was the most action I’m probably going to see in a while.”
“Why’s that? What happened with Viktor?”
“I wish I knew. I haven’t heard from him since the day after your mom and dad’s wedding. Everything was great the last time I talked to him. He said he had to go out of town on business, and he would call, but then . . . nothing.” Katie fiddled with her necklace, a gift from the man we were talking about. “I guess I scared him away.”
“Do you want me to talk to Damen? See if he knows anything?”
“No.”
“But brothers talk.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. He’ll tell Viktor that I was asking about him, and then I’ll look like a crazy stalker. No. If he wants to talk to me or see me again, he’ll call.”
“Okay. If you change your mind—”
“I won’t. But thanks, anyway. To hell with him. I’m not going to sit around like a pathetic, lonely, old . . . chemist . . . and wait for him.” She visibly perked up a bit. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, I heard from our complex. They have a vacancy for us. It’ll be ready a week from today.”
“Wow, that was fast.”
“I know. I guess we caught a lucky break. No offense, but I’m ready to get out of your parents’ house. I can’t do my work, and your mother is driving me nuts, begging me to run errands for her all the time.”
“Is that why I haven’t seen you around much?”
“I’ve been camping out in the chemistry department’s office. At least it’s quiet, and I can get my work done.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t start that fire. And it’s still a roof over my head. Better than living under a bridge.”
“I’d never let you do that.”
The back door swung open, and JT fell into the car. Literally fell. He mumbled something, and instantly the stench of beer filled the tiny space.
Katie fanned her face, eyes blinking. “Whoa, smells like someone made it to the keg.”
The other door opened, and Elmer shoved JT into an upright position, then took his seat. “Your friend nearly got us beat up,” he snapped.
I swiveled around. “What happened?”
“He did something involving a lot of beer, a long plastic hose, and a funnel—more than once. And then he got in some guy’s face—and he was huge—and started yelling at him about how he was treating his girlfriend. Sloan, I know it’s none of my business, but you need to be more careful about who you pick for your friends.”
“He just received some very painful news today,” I said, feeling I needed to defend him. “He’s not himself.”
Elmer humphed and buckled himself in.
JT groaned. His skin turned a little green.
This wasn’t going to be a pleasant drive home.
But there was one somewhat-bright spot. At least it wasn’t my car.
 
 
JT was lying facedown on my parents’ lawn.
Katie was inside, drowning her sorrows in chocolate.
And I was sitting on Mom and Dad’s front porch, on the phone, answering yet another hysterical call from Dale Nessinger. Meanwhile, Elmer flapped his hands, trying to convince me that I didn’t need to tell her he was standing right there.
He failed.
“As it turns out, he’s right here,” I said.
Elmer’s face turned the shade of flour paste.
I mouthed, “Do it or else”; then I made a slashing gesture across my neck.
Elmer took the phone from me, cupped his hand over it, and said, “Fine. You win. I’ll go, but only if you go with me.”
“I can’t.” I pointed at JT, whose nose was buried in the grass. “Someone needs to make sure he doesn’t suffocate.”
“Bring him with you.”
JT groaned and snorted.
I snorted too. “Are you kidding?”
“He’ll fit right in. Take my word for it. Besides, there’s always a medic on the set. We need one with all the insane girls getting drunk and cracking their heads open, falling down stairs and stuff. You can have her keep an eye on him. She could at least make sure he doesn’t dehydrate.”
That part actually sounded good. In fact, it sounded darn good. “Okay.”
“I’ll be there within the hour,” Elmer said into the phone. After clicking off, he handed it back to me. “You have no idea what you’re in for. But at least now you’ll see what I mean.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
And this time, Elmer snorted.
 
 
“Are you kidding me?” I was standing in the center of a melee. At least, that’s how it appeared to me. All around me were nearly naked, sexy women, staggering around, calling each other names, pulling hair, stripping off clothes—and worse.
“See what I mean?” Elmer said, grinning. “I wasn’t exaggerating. These women are all freaking nuts. I can’t marry any of them.”
“Let me see what I can do.” Leaving Elmer, I went to find a quiet spot, where I could make a phone call. I had to go a long, long way. I dialed Dale Nessinger’s number. It rang no less than fifty times, or so it seemed, before it clicked to voice mail.
“This is Sloan Skye. I need to speak with you as soon as possible regarding
Who Wants to Marry an Undead Prince?
Thank you.” I hung up and returned to the set, making myself invisible behind the director. Standing there, I watched in horror as Elmer was subjected to the insanity of over twenty vicious, sleazy, wannabe actresses. This wasn’t what either of us had had in mind when we’d signed on.
“Bitch!” screamed one, a redhead.
“He’s mine,” shrieked another as she threw herself at Elmer and plastered her fake boobs against his chest.
Elmer’s face turned the shade of bleached rice.
“Cut!” shouted the director. “Prince, I need you to look like you’re not completely repulsed by Jessica.”
Elmer’s lips thinned. “I’ll try.”
“She’s not repulsive,” the one who’d called Jessica a bitch said. “What’s your problem?”
“Thanks, hon.” Jessica blew the screamer a kiss.
So much for reality.
Elmer’s sad eyes found me. He mouthed, “Get me out of here.”
I wished I could. I mouthed back, “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s take it from the top. And . . . action!” the director yelled.
“You bitch,” the screamer screeched.
Jessica threw herself at Elmer, smooshing her fake boobs against his chest, and snarled, “Get lost, whore! He’s mine.”
 
 
The water is crystal clear. The gorgeous, cloudless summer sky reflects on its mirror-like surface. The sun is warming my back. I sigh. Content. Relaxed.
Hands work the tight knots out of my shoulders.
Now, this is the way to spend a summer day.
Turning my head to the side, I take in the sight. There are at least four men surrounding me. All drop-dead gorgeous. All naked from the waist up. Mom must have hired some new help.
I love my mom.
“A little lower,” I murmur to the one rubbing my back.
The hands move down, finding the tight spot, right between the shoulder blades.
“
Yesss.
That’s it. Right there.”
A bumblebee buzzes in my ear. I swat it away, but it comes back. Getting louder. Louder.
Sheesh, what kind of bee is that?
 
 
“Sloan,” someone said.
“Ignore it,” I whispered. “It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s time to wake up,” he said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sloan. Get up.”
I jerked upright.
I wasn’t lying by a pool. There were no beautiful men surrounding me, lavishing me with their undivided attention.
Reality was such a downer sometimes.
JT was standing next to my bed, looking a lot better than I would’ve expected. I had to attribute his miraculous recovery to the IV fluids he’d been given on the show set.
“You look like hell,” he said.
“Gee, thanks. Excuse me while I go make myself presentable.” I threw the covers off and sidestepped around JT to get to the bathroom.
“There’s been another murder,” JT called after me. “The chief called about an hour ago.”
“Damn. But I’m working undercover. I shouldn’t go.”
“It’s a little after five
A.M.
on a Saturday. Most of the kids are nursing hangovers—at least, the ones we need to worry about probably are. Nobody’s going to see you.”
“All right. If you think it’s okay, I’ll go with you. I’ll hurry.” I closed the bathroom door and went about the business of preparing to visit yet another grisly crime scene. Roughly a half hour later, I smelled much better and my hair wasn’t sticking out like I’d stepped on a live wire. A layer of cover-up was somewhat hiding the dark circles under my eyes. But nothing was taking care of the red eye, not even Visine.
After throwing on some of Mom’s nicer, non-slutty clothes—a somewhat cute skirt, a lightweight knit top, and a pair of comfy kitten-heeled shoes—I headed down to the kitchen in search of large amounts of caffeine.
JT was sitting at the breakfast counter, a protein bar in one hand and a bottle of vitamin water in the other. “Ready to go?” JT pushed out of his seat.
“In a few. I need caffeine.”

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