Free Black Heart: Wild On by TW Gallier Page A

was stealing from them, and they grabbed him." Kale said.
                "They wouldn't ask him to join them if that was true. I think the vamps that took him want to strike at one or more of the big vamps, or use him to help them steal some or all of their fortunes," I said. "I think it is all about money."
                "What are you going to do?" Dane said.
                That was the million dollar question. What could I do? Timmy left no clue where he went. I didn't know where to look. All I had was a list of his clients. And they were all very scary.
                "I'm down to searching out the vampires whose accounts he worked on and questioning them," I said.
                "That sounds like fun," Gabe said, grimacing. "You need us to back you up?"
                "Probably, but that would just antagonize them," I said. "You know how they feel about hunters. I'm barely tolerated because I'm a vampire, and I helped them out of a tight spot once."
                "It all sounds fishy to me," Dane said. "But what about this Ben Rothschild? Are you two going after him and not inviting me to play?"
                "Gabe's the ringmaster of that circus," I said. "I just take orders and salute when spoken to."
                "I wish," Gabe said. "I think Sable and I can handle it."
                "Oh?" he said.
                "Meaning, he isn't happy with the fifty-fifty split, and isn't about to reduce it further to a one third cut," I said. Gabe scowled at me and Dane chuckled.
                "Understood," Dane said. He shook his head and sighed. "So I'll help you instead. Fifty-fifty cut?"
                "Thirds, because I'm in, too," Sabrina said.
                "If there's anything to cut," I said. "I doubt it. I just want to find my friend before it is too late."
                "What's next?" Sabrina said.
                "I'm going to start questioning vampires," I said. "Why don't you and Dane go talk to Charlotte? I spoke to her just a few hours after Timmy was taken, so maybe now that she's had time to calm down and think about things she can remember something useful."
                "Sounds good to me," Sabrina said, smiling. She looked so pleased to be included as a full team member. I just saw trouble with Momma coming my way. It wasn't going to be pretty. "You ready to go, Danny boy?"
                "Danny boy?" Dane said. "Danny? Are you trying to be a female Gabe?"
                "You don't like Danny?"
                "No," he said. "If you call me that again I'll bend you over my knee and spank you."
                "Oh no," I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. Big mistake on his part.
                "Wahoo! Go for it, Danny boy!" Sabrina cried. "Beat me, bite me, spank me, and I'll do anything you want, baby."
                "Sable?" Dane said, eyes like saucers.
                "I'm out of here," I said. "Gabe, come with me."
                I led Gabe back to the master bedroom where I took off my jacket and put on a shoulder holster. A Glock 31, matte back finish, rested in the holster.
                "Anything new on Ben?" I said as I stuffed spare clips into my jacket pockets. "Do you have any idea where he spends his days?"
                "Yes, I do," Gabe said. "I didn't tell you? Well, he goes underground. Never stays in the same spot twice."
                "You mean he just finds a patch of dirt and sinks down?" I asked. "Wow, that'll make it doubly tough. That means no midday staking for you."
                "Exactly. He isn't making it easy," Gabe said. "Man, I really want to stake him, too. That'll show those damn cocky Van Viegens. They are so damned smug."
                I understood completely. I've only met Victor and Victoria Van