Free Murder in Vein (2010) by Sue Ann Jaffarian

As soon as this thing with the
murders was over, she'd be back to her own life in a lonely, dingy
apartment, slinging burgers and juggling classes. There would be
no indulgences, but there also wouldn't be photos of bodies or
blood in the fridge.
    "You were married before?" Madison asked with surprise. "To
a beater?"
    Dodie laughed. "I was a beater then, too." Taking on a faraway
look, she traveled through her memories. "I was a widow living
in Arizona when I met Doug Dedham. My husband had died six
years earlier. Our only son had died years before in the military.
I was waiting to die myself. Doug didn't tell me right off about
being a vampire. Probably a good thing he didn't, but he gave me back my enjoyment of life. We fell in love. I became a vampire to spend eternity with him. After losing my first husband,
there was something very appealing in knowing I couldn't lose
my second."

    "So you can never die?" Madison was sitting at attention,
wondering what it would feel like to know that life could go on
forever. Would it be a curse or a blessing? She decided it would
depend on the life you had to lead for eternity.
    "Vampires can die, Madison. We can be killed by a couple of
methods."
    "Like being in the sun?"
    "Another myth spread by movies and literature." Dodie
shook her head in amusement. "We can be out in the sun without exploding or turning to ash, but we prefer not to be, because
we're very sensitive to it. It tends to sap our energy and powers,
and it makes us feel under the weather. It's almost like it gives
us the flu." Dodie paused to think about the subject further.
"Perhaps if we were exposed to it continuously over a very long
period of time, it could kill us, but I've never heard of that." She
looked at Madison and winked. "But I do know you won't find
many vampires traveling to places where there's extended daylight, like Greenland."
    Dodie took a drink from her mug. "We're also not sensitive
to crosses, garlic, holy water, or silver. Those are concepts created
by the early Christian church to give people comfort and a sense
of protection. And except for what the sun does to us, we don't
get sick." Dodie screwed up her face in pretend confusion. "The
funny thing is, even though we're technically dead, our hair and
nails still grow. Not sure why, but they do. But I'm glad, because I
love going to the salon."

    Madison ran a hand through her newly shaped hair and loved
its silky feel. Dodie had also purchased some makeup, and the
stylist had shown Madison how to apply it to cover the black eye
and other bruises. When they were done, Madison didn't look
half bad. "Was that a vampire salon we went to?"
    "It's owned by a vampire. By day it's a regular salon. Several
nights a week they stay open to serve us. It's also a popular tanning salon. Many of us get spray tans so we don't look so pale.
Others use makeup when they go out in public, but Doug and I
prefer the spray tan. It covers everything and lasts longer."
    Madison closed her eyes tight and shook herself. "I feel as
though I've fallen into a Tim Burton movie. One minute I'm
freaking out, the next minute I'm fascinated."
    Leaning forward, Dodie patted Madison's hand. "Ask any
questions you'd like, dear. Just be discreet about where you do it.
Here or at home is fine"
    The two women sat quietly. Madison tried not to stare at the
other patrons but couldn't help herself. She wondered which
were vampires. No one looked particularly dead to her, though
it was easy to spot the living. They were the few using knives and
forks.
    After a minute, Madison turned her attention back to Dodie
and wasn't surprised to find the older woman watching her much
like she had been watching the vampires.
    "That was nice of you to get some of my stuff for me," Madison said. She paused, then added a quick and quiet thanks.
    "And thank you, Madison, for not leaving when Pauline gave
you your car keys. We really do need you to help us