9
Q uitting time.
Melissa was dead tired and counting the minutes until she arrived home. Granted, Ryder had called to say a big powwow was planned, but heâd also let her know that Sebastian would be there.
Which brought a smile to her lips.
The smile didnât last as she pushed through the door of the womenâs locker room and encountered Sara. Uneasiness crept through her, even though Sara was a friend and had never given Melissa cause to worryâblood bags and possible theft notwithstanding.
Sara was almost finished dressing. On the small bench was her knapsack.
Melissa wondered if it contained blood bags.
â Hola ,â her friend said as she noticed Melissa approaching.
â Hola to you,â Melissa responded, opening her locker and eyeing Saraâs bag.
Sara seemed as relaxed as always as she pulled on a shirt. Momentary inspiration seized Melissa. While Sara was distracted, Melissa grabbed her bag and swung it onto the bench. Right into Saraâs knapsack.
Saraâs bag tipped over, spilling its contents onto the floor. Both Sara and Melissa rushed to pick up the items.
âSorry,â Melissa said. Then she noticed the two blood bags on the floor along with Saraâs other things.
Sara tossed them back into the bag quickly, but gazed up at Melissa to gauge her reaction. âThey were expired and put out for destruction.â
Melissa crossed her arms. âPeople might wonder what youâre doing with them.â
âMaybe the same thing you are,â Sara responded with a tight edge to her voice.
Nailed, Melissa thought. Sheâd had more than a year to prepare her excuse. âExperiments? Is that what youâre doing?â
With a harsh laugh, Sara sat down hard on the bench, cradling the knapsack to her midsection while shaking her head. âYou might call it that onlyâ¦My momâs been sick. Real sick.â
âYouâve brought her here for treatment, right?â What could tie Saraâs momâs illness to the blood?
Closing her eyes, Sara whispered, âSheâs terminal. Thatâs what they said.â
Having lived with her own motherâs illness, Melissa understood what Sara was going through. She sat down on the bench next to her friend and wrapped an arm around Saraâs shoulders. âIâm sorry. Is there anything I can do?â
Tears slipped down Saraâs face, but she wiped them away. âNo. Some women in the neighborhood were talking about a man they visit to cure their illsâa santero . They claimed he helped them get better.â
âSo you went to him? To a voodoo doctor?â Melissa was surprised that someone with Saraâs training would fall for the antics of a charlatan.
âNot voodoo. Santeria ,â Sara explained as if that would make all the difference in the world. âThe santero said helping my mother would take a big offering. That a normal sacrifice wouldnât do and he needed human blood.â
For feeding? Melissa wondered if this santero was actually a vampire like Ryder. And if he was, Sara was in for a world of hurt when her motherâs cure failedâor worse if his cure was to turn her mother. Melissa gave Sara a reassuring hug. âYou know it may not work. Why donât you bring your mom back here? I can talk to her doctors. See what elseââ
Sara pulled away from Melissa and rose, clutching the knapsack as if it were a lifeline. âI need to try this. Even if it fails. Just like you and your dad have to do your little experiments.â
Her dadâs experiments? Had he used the same ruse she had when caught taking blood for Ryder? âMy father? What was he working on?â
Sara shrugged. âDonât know. One day during rounds, he made a mistake. Luckily I caught it, but he was totally distracted. Said your mother was really sick again and he had to finish up his work so he could help her.â
âWhen was
Gavin de Becker, Thomas A. Taylor, Jeff Marquart