Free One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

looked doubtfully at me. Denise, true to her word, hadn’t told him a thing about my bloodline. He thought I just worked for the government.
    Randy followed me to the back of the truck. “Are you sure about this? I’m meeting my friend tonight, one of the groomsmen, and he offered to help. I told him we didn’t need it because of what Denise said, but I could call him. You don’t want to strain yourself.”
    “Randy, that’s sweet, but don’t worry. We’ll be done in no time.”
    Half an hour later, Randy gaped at his furniture neatly arranged in Denise’s pretty two-story home. Sometimes being half dead didn’t all suck.
    “Farmers?” he asked in disbelief, looking at me.
    I smiled. “Farmers. Back five generations.”
    “Right,” he said. Denise hid her giggle.
    “Go shower,” I urged her. “We have to leave.”
    “Randy, what time will you be back tonight? Should Cat and I grab dinner?”
    “Yeah. I’m meeting my friend, so I’ll be a while.”
    I cleared my throat with mock menace. “Okay, I’m going!” she relented.
    “Thank you for all of your help,” Randy said again. “Not just the moving today. Or the wedding. Denise told me how you’ve always been there for her. It’s rare to have a friend like that.”
    He stared at me without pretense, and I knew why Denise felt a connection with him. There was something very direct in his gaze.
    “You’re welcome.” I didn’t say more than that. Somehow, I didn’t need to.
    “I’m ready,” Denise chirped several minutes later.
    I gave Randy one last hug goodbye. “It was great to finally meet you.”
    “Likewise. Take care of my girl.”
    “Oh, she does,” Denise assured him. “She does.”
     
    Four hours later, after Denise’s fitting and then an uninterrupted—for once!—dinner, I dropped her off at home and arrived back at my house. It was nearly one A.M . Almost an early night for me.
    I froze as I got out of the car and felt a faint charge in the air outside. There were no unusual sounds, just the background noises of people in the surrounding houses, and I didn’t sense anyone. Still, I stretched my hands and felt the empty air of the driveway like it had form. There was the barest impression of inhuman energy, not strong enough for the source to still be there, but something had been. Maybe it was just some creature who’d passed by. It wouldn’t be the first time. Something about the residual aura didn’t feel threatening. Vampires or ghouls gave off a different vibe when they were hunting to kill.
    Mentally I shrugged. If some evil dead thing had found me and had malicious intent, they would be waiting inside. To be safe, I entered cautiously, then checked all the rooms. Nothing.
    I took a shower and climbed into bed. No monster was under it—I’d checked as a stupid precaution—but still, that odd feeling lingered. I could have sworn it felt like someone had been in my house. But thatwas stupid. Jeez, I was getting as paranoid as Don.
    I closed my eyes with finality, trying to shut out the memory of that old childhood bedtime prayer… If I should die before I wake…
    I slept with one of my knives under my bed, telling myself I wasn’t being paranoid. I was just being cautious.
    Yeah, right. I didn’t believe it, either.

T EN
    D ENISE, IT’S ALMOST TIME.”
    We were sequestered in our own private room of the country club to avoid running into the groom. The ceremony and reception would be held on site. Denise beamed at me as I adjusted her veil.
    “I don’t know what you said to my parents. You must have drugged them, but I don’t care!”
    In all innocence I hugged her. No need to tell her I had drugged them, with the essence of vampire hallucinogenic in their iced tea, then practiced mind control with my eyes. It had worked, to my astonishment. While they still were dismayed over the religious differences, they were here.
    Felicity sauntered into the room. I didn’t like her, but she was Denise’s cousin