JК
Guilty Pleasures :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 142 из 205“I do not believe it is murder even if my people have done what thepapers say. Killing dangerous animals should not be a crime.”
In part I agreed with her. Once I had agreed with her wholeheartedly. “Then why tell us?” I asked.
She looked directly at me, dark, nearly black eyes staring into my face. “I owe you.”
“You saved my life as well. You owe me nothing.”
“There will always be a debt between us, always.”
I looked into her face and understood. Bev had begged me not to tell anyone that she had beaten the vampire's head in. I think it horrified her that she was capable of such violence, regardless of motive.
I had told the police that she distracted the vampire so I could kill it. She had been disproportionately grateful for that small white lie. Maybe if no one else knew, she could pretend it had never happened. Maybe.
She stood, smoothing her skirt down in back. She sat her soda can carefully on the edge of the desk. “I will leave a message with Ms. Sims when I find out more.”
I nodded. “I appreciate what you're doing.” She might be betraying her cause for me.
She laid her purple jacket over her arm, small purse clasped in her hands. “Violence is not the answer. We must work within the system. Humans Against Vampires stands for law and order, not vigilantism.” It sounded like a prerecorded speech. But I let it go. Everyone needs something to believe in.
She shook hands with both of us. Her hand was cool and dry. She left, slender shoulders very straight. The door closed firmly but quietly behind her. To look at her you would never know that she had been touched by extreme violence. Maybe that's the way she wanted it. Who was I to argue?
Ronnie said, “Okay, now you fill me in. What have you found out?”
“How do you know I've found out anything?” I asked.
“Because you looked a little green around the gills when you came through the door.”
“Great. And I thought I was hiding it.”
She patted my arm. “Don't worry. I just know you too well, that's all.”
I nodded, taking the explanation for what it was, comforting crap. But I took it anyway. I told her about Theresa's death. I told her everything, except the dreams with Jean-Claude in them. That was private.
She let out a low whistle. “Damn, you have been busy. Do you think a human death squad is doing it?”
“You mean HAV?”
She nodded.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “I don't know. If it's humans, I don't have the faintest idea how they're doing it.
In part I agreed with her. Once I had agreed with her wholeheartedly. “Then why tell us?” I asked.
She looked directly at me, dark, nearly black eyes staring into my face. “I owe you.”
“You saved my life as well. You owe me nothing.”
“There will always be a debt between us, always.”
I looked into her face and understood. Bev had begged me not to tell anyone that she had beaten the vampire's head in. I think it horrified her that she was capable of such violence, regardless of motive.
I had told the police that she distracted the vampire so I could kill it. She had been disproportionately grateful for that small white lie. Maybe if no one else knew, she could pretend it had never happened. Maybe.
She stood, smoothing her skirt down in back. She sat her soda can carefully on the edge of the desk. “I will leave a message with Ms. Sims when I find out more.”
I nodded. “I appreciate what you're doing.” She might be betraying her cause for me.
She laid her purple jacket over her arm, small purse clasped in her hands. “Violence is not the answer. We must work within the system. Humans Against Vampires stands for law and order, not vigilantism.” It sounded like a prerecorded speech. But I let it go. Everyone needs something to believe in.
She shook hands with both of us. Her hand was cool and dry. She left, slender shoulders very straight. The door closed firmly but quietly behind her. To look at her you would never know that she had been touched by extreme violence. Maybe that's the way she wanted it. Who was I to argue?
Ronnie said, “Okay, now you fill me in. What have you found out?”
“How do you know I've found out anything?” I asked.
“Because you looked a little green around the gills when you came through the door.”
“Great. And I thought I was hiding it.”
She patted my arm. “Don't worry. I just know you too well, that's all.”
I nodded, taking the explanation for what it was, comforting crap. But I took it anyway. I told her about Theresa's death. I told her everything, except the dreams with Jean-Claude in them. That was private.
She let out a low whistle. “Damn, you have been busy. Do you think a human death squad is doing it?”
“You mean HAV?”
She nodded.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “I don't know. If it's humans, I don't have the faintest idea how they're doing it.