Free Baited Blood by Sue Ann Jaffarian

it briefly before dropping it to the table next to Keleta’s. “No.”
    She turned to Colin, her face ablaze with anger. “Is this why you brought me here? To be interrogated like a common criminal? I thought you wanted my help.”
    Colin looked at the sketch with surprise, then up at Samuel. “There was another?”
    “Just this morning.” Samuel shook his head slowly. “But this one didn’t make it.”
    Colin’s dark eyebrows met in the center of his forehead like a black hedge. He pushed both pictures back in front of Ann. “Just look at them and answer the questions.”
    Glancing down at the pictures, Ann shrugged. “Why would I know these men?”
    Doug leaned forward. “Because they both had your brand on their backs.”
    Ann pursed her lips and studied the faces of the two men again before looking back up at Samuel. “Sorry, but you can hardly expect me to remember every man I’ve turned in the last thousand years.” She tossed an inviting smile at Doug Dedham, then turned and did the same to Colin. “Of course, some were more memorable than others.”
    “You bitch,” hissed Dodie.
    Madison’s eyes widened. She’d never heard Dodie swear, let alone participate in name-calling.
    “Oh, come now, Mrs. Dedham.” Ann turned a saccharine smile on Dodie. “Just because you’ve probably never turned anyone doesn’t mean the rest of us are celibate in that regard.”
    Dodie rose from her seat, fangs once more on display. Doug jumped up, ready to step in if needed.
    “Order,” demanded Samuel, rapping his knuckles on the table. “Dodie, mind yourself, or I’ll have you leave the room.”
    Without taking her eyes off Ann, Dodie put away her fangs and sat down. Doug resumed his seat but stayed alert.
    Samuel directed his attention back to Ann. “I don’t know what Colin has told you, Ms. Hayes, but we are investigating the attempted murder of that young vampire.”
    “Yes, I know. Colin told me. He was staked and dumped in a swimming pool.”
    “ Our swimming pool,” added Doug with emphasis.
    Ann turned a plastic smile on Doug. “How interesting. And so you automatically think it’s some pathetic trick on my part to gain your attention? You’re cute, Doug, but not that cute. I’ve been over you for decades.”
    Doug narrowed his eyes at Ann. “The last time we saw you, you tried to kill Dodie.”
    Ann waved a manicured hand in the air. “Pish, posh. Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all.”
    Dodie started to rise, but Samuel, clearing his throat, gave her second thoughts. She settled back into her seat.
    The action amused Ann. “Seems Mr. La Croix has you all trained like little lap dogs. How sweet.”
    Colin leaned in, his mouth close to Ann’s ear, but he didn’t bother lowering his voice. “Behave yourself, Ann. Killing another vampire in our jurisdiction is serious business.”
    “Colin is quite right, Ms. Hayes.” Samuel stood back up at the head of the table. “We live a civilized life here, and these incidents are unacceptable. So just answer the questions.”
    With a jerk of his chin, Samuel indicated the pictures again. “Keleta, the young one, was found nearly dead a few days ago in the Dedhams’ swimming pool. The other man was found dead this morning in the same place. Both vampires, both with what I understand is your personal brand at the small of their backs.”
    “Sorry, but if they are my work, I don’t remember them.”
    Samuel didn’t let up. “Keleta has been a vampire eighteen months or less. That should be recent enough to be memorable.”
    Ann’s lips curled in smugness. “Then I know he’s not mine. I stopped branding about the time the Prince of Wales married Wallis Simpson.”
    She looked at Colin, then at Doug. “And I’m surprised at the two of you, thinking I would be interested in men like these. This one.” She tapped Keleta’s photo. “He’s too young for my taste. This other.” She moved her finger to the unknown vampire. “He