A Vampire for Christmas(93)
Is there a problem?”
Eagan looked up from the motley collection of coins and lint he’d pulled out of his pocket. “I left my wallet in my other jacket, ma’am.”
And how lame did that sound? Della’s dark eyes were sympathetic, as if finding a customer was a bit short on money was a common occurrence.
Considering what you did earlier, the coffee is on the house. And it’s Della, not ma’am.” Her smile was gentle when she dropped her voice and said, “If being short on funds is why you didn’t eat anything, I’d be glad to spot you a hot meal.”
I’m not hungry, but I appreciate your offer.”
Not unless she was talking about a quick hit off that pulsing artery at the side of her neck, the only kind of meal he was interested in at the moment. Even then, he’d want to be someplace a whole lot more private and with a lot fewer clothes on.
Still, he needed to maintain his current persona of a down-on-his-luck day laborer. “I’ll drop by with the money for the coffee tomorrow night after I get paid.”
The perfect excuse to return and not even a lie.
Really, it’s okay. You don’t have to, mister.”
She emphasized that last word, obviously hinting for something else to call him. He surprised himself by answering her unspoken question with his real name.
It’s Eagan, and yeah, I do.” Then he dropped the change in the tip jar and walked out into the night.
Happy holidays!” she called after him.
He pretended not to hear.
Outside, Eagan shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked off down the street. There was nothing happy about the holidays, not for him and not for the local teenagers being lured into a web of deceit and death. Several bodies had been found, mutilated and drained of blood. There’d been no solid leads so far, only rumors and hints that there was someone new on the scene. Based on the nature of the attacks, that someone wasn’t human. No one wanted that truth to make the evening news, and it was Eagan’s job to make sure that didn’t happen by putting a stop to the deaths and taking out the bastard behind them.
He fought down the wave of rage that threatened his control. No one deserved to suffer and die the way those kids had. There would be a reckoning and the guilty would be dealt with. He just wished that would be the end of it, but there was always another killer waiting in the wings. He should know. He’d spent decades hunting down predators and eliminating them. Always the same dance of death, one that played on and on.
Eagan waited until he was at the far end of the block before crossing over to the other corner in case Della was watching where he was going. The last thing he needed was for her to poke that cute little nose in his business. He stopped to taste the night air, hoping to pick up the trail left by those two supers and their human companion. Nothing.
They had to have gone to ground somewhere close by. He studied the area in all directions. No hint of any movement anywhere. All he could do was circle the block again and hope he got lucky. If not, he’d call it a night and try again tomorrow.
DELLA BUSSED THE LAST FEW tables herself. One of her usual helpers hadn’t shown up for work and hadn’t called. She’d learned long ago not to let herself worry too much about that sort of thing, but she couldn’t seem to help herself when it came to Daniel Cortez. Hopefully he’d check in before she turned the lights off.
Daniel’s home situation was complicated, thanks to an absentee father and a mother who often took extra jobs cleaning offices to make ends meet. When that happened, Daniel stayed home to watch over his younger siblings. With that thought in mind, she packed up some of the leftovers from the daily special so she could send them home with him in the event he came by.
She looked outside, telling herself it was Daniel she was looking for even though she knew better. Not seeing anyone out there, she turned off the neon Open sign but left the twin Christmas wreaths in the front windows plugged in, liking their soft glow in the night. Her last few customers started for the door. On her way out, Lupe stopped to talk.
You watch out for him, Della. He’s trouble.”
At first Della thought her friend was talking about Daniel, but then Lupe glanced toward the table by the front window. Oh, Eagan, not Daniel. Well, tell her something she didn’t know.
That was his first time here. Considering how embarrassed he was about not being able to pay for his coffee, I doubt I’ll see him again anytime soon.”
Lupe stepped closer. “But he promised to come back with the money, didn’t he? He wants something. A man like him has no reason to be hanging around a place like this.”