Free Fire Within by Ally Shields

acted like Shale. The counselor’s snobbish manner was beginning to annoy her. “What else did you notice about him?”
    “He was polite. Civil to our staff.”
    Talk about damning with faint praise. Ari got the distinct feeling Shale had not liked Jules. Maybe it was the difference in personalities. Shale’s pushy manner, expecting all that personal information, might put any vampire on edge. That Shale had been irritated with Jules’s lack of response could have been predicted. A poor counseling match. Why hadn’t Shale reassigned the couple to another counselor?
    Shale hadn’t given her a very professional assessment. Despite Jules’s reticence, this was supposed to be the shrink’s field of expertise. He should have seen the personality beneath. Well, no matter, she thought. What he’d said seemed to be skewed anyway and probably told more about Shale than Jules.
    “What did you end up advising Lorraine to do about the bonding? Were you opposed?”
    “Not exactly. I try to remain neutral, Ms. Calin.” He gave her an ingratiating smile. “May I call you Arianna?”
    “Ari. Most people call me Ari.” In fact, only one person consistently called her Arianna. Shale wasn’t going to be the second.
    “Then, Ari it is. But in answer to your question, I was hesitant to encourage the bonding. Human-vampire relationships are the most difficult we see. So many unavoidable obstacles. Lack of children, aging of one partner, different day/night schedules. Not to mention the physical danger.” He hesitated. “In this case, my biggest concern was Lorraine. Too gentle, too fragile for that lifestyle.” He started to shake his head, then shrugged. “They thought differently and seemed to be a devoted pair.”
    Ari jotted a few notes. Even though the negatives in the relationship were significant, Lorraine and Jules had gone through the ceremony anyway. Had someone made them pay for that decision? She noticed Shale craning his head to see what she was writing. “Just notes,” she said, moving the pad. “You said Lorraine’s family was opposed. Did she realize that included her mother?”
    “Oh, yes. Mrs. West had told her she was throwing her life away. Jules tried to win her over, but it never worked. She didn’t want that life for Lorraine. I assume you know how strongly Eddie felt.”
    “I do. But tell me, in your professional opinion, is he capable of murder?”
    “Don’t the facts speak for themselves?”
    Ari looked up from her notes. “That’s not exactly what I asked you. For the moment, disregard his confession.”
    Shale’s face registered annoyance. “Aren’t we all capable of murder? Under the right, or wrong, circumstances?”
    Ari closed the notebook. “You sound pessimistic for a shrink. I expected you to see the best in people.”
    His squared his shoulders. “Oh, but I do see everyone’s potential for good. At the same time, I try to be realistic. It’s not helpful for our clients to ignore the facts. If they do, well, we have tragedies like Jules and Lorraine.” He waved one hand toward his open doorway and the rooms beyond. “We work hard, provide whatever we can to give these difficult relationships a fair chance. It doesn’t always work, but we keep trying.”
    “I’d like to hear more about the services you offer. Clients frequently approach me for references. Perhaps I can add your agency to the list.”
    “Excellent. But I have another commitment. Let me find one of my associates to show you around.”
    Shale flashed the smile he kept tucked away to be used on demand. It was becoming creepy. She assumed his good humor had returned because he was getting rid of her. He stepped outside his office door and waved to a young woman across the room. Ari watched his associate negotiate a path, skirting through the furniture with a confident, no-nonsense stride. Shale introduced them and explained Ari’s interest.
    “It would be a pleasure,” Sarah Young said without hesitation.