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Bloody Bones :: Гамильтон Лорел
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"Glad to hear it," I said.
"But no reporters, no media. I am in charge here. This is my investigation. I decide when we go public. Is that clear?"
"Sure."
She stared at me like she didn't believe me. "I mean it about the media, Ms. Blake."
"I don't have a problem with no media, Sergeant Freemont. I prefer it that way."
"For 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."
"As long as we understand each other, Ms. Blake."
"No 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.
"Sergeant Freemont?"
She turned back, but it was not a friendly look. "What is it now, Ms. Blake? You've done your job."
"You can't treat this like a human serial killer."
"I'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?"
"It's daylight, Ms. Blake; if it's a vampire then we find it and stake it."
"You'll need a court order of execution."
"We'll get one."
"When you get it, I'll come back and finish the job."
"I think we can handle it."
"You 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."
"It'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 plainclothesmen had a cross-shaped tie tack. Standard police issue across the country. "You do have silver ammo, right?"
"I'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.
"Glad to hear it," I said.
"But no reporters, no media. I am in charge here. This is my investigation. I decide when we go public. Is that clear?"
"Sure."
She stared at me like she didn't believe me. "I mean it about the media, Ms. Blake."
"I don't have a problem with no media, Sergeant Freemont. I prefer it that way."
"For 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."
"As long as we understand each other, Ms. Blake."
"No 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.
"Sergeant Freemont?"
She turned back, but it was not a friendly look. "What is it now, Ms. Blake? You've done your job."
"You can't treat this like a human serial killer."
"I'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?"
"It's daylight, Ms. Blake; if it's a vampire then we find it and stake it."
"You'll need a court order of execution."
"We'll get one."
"When you get it, I'll come back and finish the job."
"I think we can handle it."
"You 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."
"It'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 plainclothesmen had a cross-shaped tie tack. Standard police issue across the country. "You do have silver ammo, right?"
"I'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.