Free Beyond the Grave by Lina Gardiner

something to tell her by now.
    Thinking about the look on Britt's face when he left the Rectory made her feel hollow inside. Even though she'd done it for his own good, it didn't make her feel any better about hurting him. And, regardless of personal feelings, she should have stopped for him before she came here, since they'd discussed seeing Sampson together. It didn't help to avoid him, especially now that she had such a huge favor to ask of him.
    She bit her lip. No matter what he'd heard her say, she knew this wasn't over. He wouldn't give up easily, especially if she signed him up as her protector. He might get the wrong idea about her needing him in that capacity. Somehow, for his own safety, she had to make sure he understood the difference between protector and lover.
    Jess found Sampson scrubbing up in the Lab's anteroom. He had soapsuds clear to his elbows.
    "Jess, my dear. I knew you'd drop by tonight."
    "You know me well, Sampson,” she said. Anything interesting turn up yet?"
    Why was her relationship so easy with Sampson? And Terry and James? Of course she knew the answer to that. She cared about them deeply, but she didn't love them the same way she did Britt.
    Her heart lurched! She'd actually consciously formed the thought that she loved Britt. Not good.
    "Wish I could answer that. In fact, I tried to call you on your cell phone, but I think it's turned off again,” Sampson said in his most diplomatic tone.
    Not unusual for her to forget about her modern contraptions. She whipped her cell phone out of the case on her belt and looked at it. “Yes, it's dead, again.” Shrugging, she shoved the phone back into its case. “Why were you calling me? Have you found something?"
    "Jess. This is going to be a bit of a shock.” He took a couple of steps backwards to grab a towel off a nearby rack.
    Something in Sampson's expression indicated he might have preferred to have this conversation by cell phone.
    "Spill it, Sampson."
    With a demeanor too cool to be real, his gaze went to her mouth. She smiled just to prove that she wasn't so angry that she'd grown extra long eye teeth.
    "The second body was removed before I got a chance to do the autopsy."
    "By whom?” Her VNA saturated blood hiked into hyper drive. “And on whose authority?” It certainly wasn't hers!
    "The Chief's, apparently."
    "He didn't say a word to me when I met with him last evening."
    "Did you find out where they were taking her? And why?"
    "I had to practically come to fisticuffs to get some information, but they finally admitted that she was being taken to the police morgue."
    Jess gasped. “A regular morgue? Non-vampire? Oh, my God. Where's your phone, I've got to call the station and talk to the Chief. Find out what in hell's going on."
    She could see the newspapers now. Woman found murdered, exsanguinated through holes in her neck. “All hell's going to break loose if they realize she's not a normal murder victim."
    "I know. That's why I tried your cell."
    She hissed out a breath. “Damn phone, why doesn't it recharge itself with solar power or something modern like that?"
    The station didn't want this kind of publicity. That's why Sampson was the only forensic specialist who dealt with vampires.
    "Sampson, please tell me you had a chance to verify that she was really dead, and not on her way to becoming one of the undead."
    He pressed his lips together. “Nope."
    She stared at her watch. “Damn. I don't have time to call the Chief. This situation is critical. I've got to find that woman, and fast."
    Sampson reached into the pouch on his belt and handed her his own fully functional cell phone.
    Jess dialed without thinking. “Britt, it's me. Listen, we've got a very serious situation and I need your help, pronto.” She'd have to discuss the issue of him being a protector later.
    There was a slight hesitation before his professionalism covered his hurt and anger. “Where do you want to meet, Captain?"
    "Meet me outside the police