Free Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton Page A

something that you aren’t telling me.”
    I could have just said I’m good at my job, but I didn’t. Didn’t want the police thinking I was holding out information when I wasn’t. “I’ve got one advantage over a normal homicide detective, I expect it to be a monster. No one ever calls me in if it’s just a stabbing, or a hit-and-run. I don’t spend a lot of time trying to come up with nice, normal explanations. It means I get to ignore a lot of theories.”
    She nodded. “Alright, if you help me catch this thing, I don’t care what you do for a living.”
    â€œGlad to hear it,” I said.
    â€œBut no reporters, no media. I am in charge here. This is my investigation. I decide when we go public. Is that clear?”
    â€œSure.”
    She stared at me like she didn’t believe me. “I mean it about the media, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œI don’t have a problem with no media, Sergeant Freemont. I prefer it that way.”
    â€œFor a person who doesn’t want the media around, you get a lot of attention.”
    I shrugged. “I’m involved in only sensational cases, detective. Cases that make good press, good sound bites. I slay vampires, for God’s sake; it makes great headlines.”
    â€œAs long as we understand each other, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œNo media; it’s not a hard concept,” I said.
    She nodded. “I’ll have someone walk you over to the first crime scene. I’ll see you get the file at your hotel.” She started to turn away.
    â€œSergeant Freemont?”
    She turned back, but it was not a friendly look. “What is it now, Ms. Blake? You’ve done your job.”
    â€œYou can’t treat this like a human serial killer.”
    â€œI’m in charge of this investigation, Ms. Blake. I can do what I damn well please.”
    I stared up at her, met her hostile eyes. I wasn’t feeling too friendly myself. “I am not trying to steal your thunder here. But vampires aren’t just people with fangs. If the vamp could catch their minds and hold them while he slaughtered each of them in turn, he could capture your mind, anyone’s mind. A vampire that talented could make you think black was white. Do you understand me?”
    â€œIt’s daylight, Ms. Blake; if it’s a vampire then we find it and stake it.”
    â€œYou’ll need a court order of execution.”
    â€œWe’ll get one.”
    â€œWhen you get it, I’ll come back and finish the job.”
    â€œI think we can handle it.”
    â€œYou ever stake a vampire?” I asked.
    She just looked at me. “No, but I’ve shot a man. It can’t be that much harder.”
    â€œIt’s not harder in the way you mean,” I said. “But it’s a hell of a lot more dangerous.”
    She shook her head. “Until the Feds get here, I’m in charge, and not you or anyone else is taking over. Is that clear, Ms. Blake?”
    I nodded. “Crystal, Sergeant Freemont.” I stared at the cross-shaped pin in the lapel of her suit jacket. Most plain-clothesmen had a cross-shaped tie tack. Standard police issue across the country. “You do have silver ammo, right?”
    â€œI’ll take care of my men, Ms. Blake.”
    I raised my hands slightly. So much for girl talk. “Fine, we’re leaving. You’ve got my beeper number. Use it if you need it, Detective Freemont.”
    â€œI won’t need it.”
    I took a deep breath and swallowed a lot of words. Picking a fight with the cop in charge of a murder investigation was not the way to get invited back to play. I walked past her without saying good-bye. If I opened my mouth, I wasn’t sure what would come out. Nothing pleasant, and nothing useful.

8
    P EOPLE WHO DON ’ T camp much think darkness falls from the sky. It doesn’t. Darkness slides from the trees and fills them first, then spreads outward to