Last in Line

by Sydney Addae

  “I’m okay with you, Simone.” He tapped her nose with the tip of his finger when he said her name. “I’m here to help you, be with you, and if this is what you want.” He shrugged. “So be it. I do think timing is important, so we need to get a move on. He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on her upturned lips.

  She blinked as he stood.

  Antwan stood as well. “Simone, once you discover which mountain, call me and I’ll help in any way I can.” He nodded to Baron and the table. Kieran stood and walked to the side with his brother, where they talked briefly. Shortly, Antwan waved and left. Kieran returned to Tressie. Bending down, he spoke into her ear. With a huge grin, she rose from the table. They waved and walked in the direction of their room. Camilla watched them go and smiled.

  “Simone, Camilla, is there anything you need us for?” Jonathan asked, holding Richard’s hand. Simone knew Richard was on break from school and would need to return soon. She looked at Camilla, who watched the two men.

  “No, not really. I just want to thank you guys for coming and helping me through this.” Simone stood, walked around the table and embraced both men. She kissed each on their offered cheek, feeling Baron’s disapproval. “I know school will be back in session soon Richard, thanks for spending part of your break in the mountains with us,” she told him, smiling.

  “No problem, princess. If you need us for the séance, just call, we’ll be at home.” Simone looked at Camilla, who watched Baron. Following Camilla’s line of vision, her breath hitched. Baron’s eyes had lightened to a tannish brown. He blinked and they returned to their darker color. Baron sent her a smile, more a grimace since he showed none of his teeth. Tilting her head slightly, she wondered at what she’d seen. Jonathan and Robert continued talking, drawing Camilla into the conversation as Simone maintained eye contact with Baron. Moving forward, she stood toe to toe with him. Reaching toward his face, she gently touched his cheek while searching his eyes. There was something there. She didn’t know what, but she sensed turbulence within him. For some unexplainable reason, she needed to calm him. Stroking his face, she moved her thumb over his lips; his eyes flashed and he closed them quickly. Simone could have sworn she had seen red in their depths. He leaned into her hand and slowly reopened his eyes. The turbulence had been replaced with a calmness that reached out and soothed her. They leaned forward and shared a gentle kiss. He pulled her closer. She snuggled into his warmth, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.

  “Ah-hem... well, I think we need to get this show on the road, don’t you, Camilla?” Jonathan teased as Simone jerked back from Baron. He held her arm a second longer and then released her.

  What was wrong with her, she wondered, straightening. One simple touch from Baron and she forgot everything. Marissa was hurt in a mountain somewhere and she played kissy-face in a restaurant. Pushing a few curly strands behind her ears, she gave a weak smile to her friends. Nodding, she walked around Baron and headed back to the room. Baron started after her but was stopped by Jonathan.

  “Hey man, I just wanted to thank you for your help. I, well, we all appreciate how much you are into her.” He pointed toward Simone. “She’s a good woman and deserves someone to totally be into her.” Jonathan smiled as Baron frowned. Robert pulled Jonathan and they walked away with a small nod.

  “They grow on you.”

  Baron glanced at Camilla, who stood in front of him with crossed arms and legs shoulder width apart. She was shorter than Simone, her milk chocolate complexion glowed with good health and she had a nice smile. He knew by the way she took his information at the club she was no pushover and took no bullshit.

  She tossed her head in the direction of Jonathan and Robert. “For a long time, it was just the three of us, me, Sharita, and Simone. Short version of a long story, in our teens we lived together, then Simone and I left for college. Sharita wanted to be a model, made some contacts and left for LA. After graduating, I went to law school up here and Simone came up to finish her Master’s. Tressie went to college with us at Florida State and we met Jonathan during her internship.” Pausing, she chuckled. “Believe it or not, Tressie is a respected newscaster in Winston-Salem. Her husband, Kieran’s an attorney, no kids yet. Jonathan and Robert have been dating the past three years. Robert teaches at one of the Universities in Charlotte. We are a small, tight-knit group, depending on each other for any support needed.” Sighing, she straightened and walked in the direction Simone had taken. “Anyway, like I said, they grow on you.”

  Hungry for more information on Simone, Baron kept pace with the small woman. “What about you and Simone? Your relationship is different than the others,” he asked.

  “Like I said, we have a long history. We’ve been through a lot of drama with family, both sides, in our childhood. Best friends since high school, roommates, classmates. I’m Marissa’s godmother, did you know that?”

  Baron shook his head.

  “Yep, we all took a vow growing up to be there for each other’s kids. We were drinking one night at the apartment and got to talking about parenting. You know how some kids have it tough and stuff. We stopped and made each other a promise that we’d make something of our lives and watch each other’s backs.” Her head bobbed in remembrance. “This thing about Marissa hit me hard on so many levels. It hasn’t been that long since we lost Sharita. And now this, I worry about Simone, Baron.”

  They both stopped. Their gazes judged each other. Baron hadn’t really paid any of Simone’s friends much attention. But he realized this one, Camilla, was intense in her purpose. He could only read her intermittently. Her thoughts, when he could hear them, were focused and clear. She would do whatever it took to help Simone and get Marissa back safe.

  “Why are you worried about Simone?” he asked, although he was sure he knew the answer. Camilla stared at him for a second or two and then blinked.

  “She’s decided that she doesn’t want to make it if anything happens to Marissa. She hasn’t fully gotten over the loss of her twin. I need help. We need to watch her carefully so she doesn’t go into suicide mode and do something foolish.” Her dark eyes continued to bore into his.

  Baron knew Simone was on the brink, but he never thought of her as fragile or suicidal, which made him wonder if he knew her at all. “What do you think she would do?”

  Camilla nodded. He could tell she appreciated his acceptance of her words. Crossing her arms, she looked at the floor for a moment in silence. Since he couldn’t read her, he waited.

  “I don’t know what she’ll do if Rissa doesn’t make it. But it won’t be good. Let’s make sure we don’t cross that bridge, okay?”

  He nodded and continued walking to the room in silence. “Do you think you’ll be able to discover where Rissa is?” he asked.

  “I intend to try. Do you have any ideas?”

  Baron hesitated and turned to look at her. She watched him closely. “Not yet, but I’m working on it.” They had reached their rooms and Baron nodded at her and placed the card in the door.

  “I bet you are, Baron, I just bet you are,” Camilla murmured as she walked into her room. Baron paused inside the room and then closed the door behind him.

  Chapter 18

  Carrie returned from her appraisal inspection and left her tools in her locker at the office. Anna remained in her office, so Carrie couldn’t search Simone’s things as she’d hoped. There was something about that Bering guy she didn’t trust. For one thing, he barely glanced in her direction, and for another... well, that was the main offense. She’d tried to get more information on him from Anna, but the woman wouldn’t budge.

  “Have you seen this man?”

  Carrie didn’t recognize the voices upfront and headed in that direction. Before she turned the corner her senses alerted her the two men were vampires. Leaning against the wall, she listened as they talked to Anna in the front lobby.

  “No, I haven’t,” Anna said.

  “He was here,” one of them said. “We followed him
here. You came in while he was here.”

  Carrie wondered who was on the photo and inched closer to peek around the corner. The vampires stiffened and looked in her direction. Busted. She walked around the corner, crossed her arms and met their gazes. “What’s going on?” she asked Anna while watching the two men.

  “Nothing, we can’t help them,” Anna said, dismissively.

  The two turned and walked out the office. Anna returned to her office. Carrie followed the vampires. “Wait a second,” she called out.

  They continued walking.

  She ran and stopped in front of them. It was cloudy and late in the day so she wasn’t too surprised to see them out and about, but most vampires avoided human establishments. Her curiosity was aroused. “Who are you looking for, I may be able to help.”

  The vampire shook his head and they walked off. She ran and caught up with them again. “I’m investigating a human murder in the mountains,” she lied. Taney and his father were handling the case. “Can you tell me —”

  “We don’t talk to Hunters.” He gave her a card. “Contact my Mistress if you have questions.” The two walked off and slid into the back seats of a SUV, which immediately drove off.

  Carrie looked at the card and smiled. It had been a long time since she’d hunted Fems. Tapping the card against her fingernails she dismissed the warning bells going off in her head, pulled out her phone and called the number. To her surprise, it was answered on the second ring.

  “What?”

  “I’d like to make an appointment to ask a few questions regarding a recent human murder in the mountains.”

  “And you are?”

  “Carrie.”

  “The female hunter?”

  “Yes. When can we meet?” Carried looked across the street at the other buildings lining the road. As soon as she got the meeting point she’d contact her father. Together they’d meet the Fem and see what’s been going on.

  “When do you want to meet?”

  Carrie turned and headed back into her office. “In an hour at The Wagon?”

  “Ah, that sounds interesting. Tell you what, I’ll meet you there in an hour.” The Fem disconnected without ever mentioning her name.

  Inside, she headed for her office and closed the door. Pulling out her private phone from her bag, she called her dad. “Cryden?”

  “What do you want?”

  Carrie leaned back in her chair hoping this excursion would get her back in his good graces again. He was still pissed she didn’t back him against Taney in the meeting. Without hesitation, she explained the meeting with the Fem and asked him to accompany her.

  “That’s not your case,” he said.

  “True, but I believe the Fem knows something about it,” she argued.

  “Then contact Taney and Abalone, tell them what you learned, make sure it’s okay to crash their investigation.”

  Carrie covered her eyes with her palm. Of all the times for her father to follow protocol. “Okay.”

  “Never mind, I’ll tell them and have them call you. Stay put.” He disconnected before she could say anything. She gathered her things in preparation to leave the office. Within five minutes her phone rang.

  “Hold on, I’m walking out my office.” She passed Anna’s office, waved goodbye, and headed toward her truck. “Okay, I’m back.”

  “We’ll meet you there, don’t engage the Fem alone, they’re more dangerous than the others,” Taney said.

  “I know what to do, Taney. I trained alongside you and others,” Carrie said, starting her car and driving toward her home. She needed a few more supplies before the meeting.

  “No insult intended, we just need to be careful, that’s all.” He disconnected and she went over in her head all the things she planned to gather. This wasn’t a hunt, just an inquiry, which could turn into so much more. Once again she wondered who the vampires wanted so badly they asked humans for help.

  Fifty minutes later she pulled into the brightly lit parking lot of The Wagon, a well-known neutral club in the area where non-humans congregated. Hunters weren’t allowed inside and the parking lots were patrolled to prevent problems. This was as safe an area they’d find to talk with the Fem.

  Taney, his father, and Cryden leaned against their truck watching her cross the parking lot to meet them. She nodded to each and stood next to her father.

  Uncle Abalone stared at her for a few seconds. “How did you get contact information for a Fem?”

  “Her servant gave it to me.” She told them what happened in the office. “The whole thing sounds suspicious to me,” she added, watching her father and then Taney.

  “They’re searching for a human?” Taney asked.

  “I don’t know; I never saw the picture. I plan to ask her when she arrives,” Carrie said. Her skin tingled and she turned.

  “I’m here little one, my name is Anika and this is Suri.”

  Carrie turned and watched as the two Fems strode toward them. Both were breathtakingly beautiful, but then most vampires were. “Hello Anika, Suri, thank you for coming.” Carrie introduced the Fems to the others and waited for Taney to take over the questioning.

  “What do you know about the murder of the human in the mountains?” Taney asked, moving to stand next to Carrie.

  “Chavez?” Anika said with a grin. “Baron killed him. Killed him dead, we saw it. We saw the whole thing.”

  “Tell me what you saw?” Taney asked, touching his shoulder recorder.

  “He grabbed Chavez by the throat and broke his neck,” Suri said in a low seductive voice. “After he drank from him, of course. Chavez was tasty, at least that’s what Baron said. He couldn’t help himself.” Suri laughed and took hold of Anika’s hand.

  Carrie hoped Taney wasn’t falling for this bullshit, she suspected these two killed Chavez.

  “Where did he leave the body?” Taney asked.

  “I don’t know, I left after he finished. On the floor? With the trash?” Suri said.

  Anika smiled but didn’t say anything.

  “What time did he kill Chavez?” Taney asked.

  Suri shrugged. “Around six or seven in the evening, I suppose.”

  “What did Chavez taste like, Suri?” Taney asked, watching her closely.

  Both Fems stared at him. Suri smiled. “I don’t remember.”

  “But you drank from Chavez that night? Your servants cleaned up behind you?”

  “Sounds reasonable, but I don’t remember that night too clearly.”

  “It was last weekend, Saturday night. Chavez camped in the mountains, you surprised him, seduced him... is this bringing back memories?” Taney asked.

  Suri watched him closely as she placed the tip of her fingernail between her teeth. “Nope, can’t recall.”

  “I told you Baron killed the human,” Anika said. “Find him, punish him.”

  “How can we find him?” Cryden asked. “You have a picture of him?”

  “Wait,” Carrie said, wondering if Chavez was Marissa’s father. “Was there a child with Chavez when you saw them?” She watched Suri.

  “There may have been, I don’t remember.”

  All four Hunters faced the two Fems. “Chavez had a daughter, she’s just five years old, the police have been searching for her all through the mountains. What did you do with her?”

  All mockery fell from the faces of the Fems and for the first time, they appeared concerned. “A child? I don’t recall a child. Let me ask my servants,” Suri said in a serious tone.

  Carrie watched the two Fems. Her gut said Suri killed Chavez, but she wasn’t sure about the child. Suri and Anika faced each other for a few moments and then looked at them. “One of my servants removed the child, he took her to his former teacher, a doctor of sorts, to look at her bruises. She fell down the side of the mountain and broke something, her arm I think.”

  “Who is his former teacher?” Taney asked.

  “Orton and Rugger, they live in the Allegheny mountains. He couldn
’t recall their exact location so he left her near a walking path so she’d be found,” Suri said.

  “Has she been found?” Cryden asked in a dubious tone.

  Suri shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Find out,” Cryden yelled.

  The Fem’s gaze narrowed as she stared at him. “No.”

  “Wait,” Taney yelled, raising his hand. “The picture of this Baron, do you have one?”

  “Sure. I’ll send it to you,” Anika said, and then the two Fems disappeared.

  Carrie looked at Taney. “Suri killed Chavez. For some reason they want us to kill one of their own.”

  “I agree,” Abalone said. “But I’d still like to see the vampire she wants exterminated.”

  Carrie’s phone buzzed. She opened her text messages and looked at the picture of Simone’s boyfriend. Stunned, she passed her phone to the others so they could see.

  “If he’s a vampire I’ve never seen him before,” Cryden said. The others agreed.

  “I saw him the other day when he came to the office to see my boss. They’re dating. There was nothing signifying he’s a vamp. He smelled and looked human. I know Simone’s human and he’s helping her find Marissa.” She shook her head. “This is crazy. Why would a Fem ask us to take out a human? Why Simone’s guy?”

  “You said Simone and this Chavez guy didn't get along, he’d been involved with her sister, right?” Taney asked.

  Carried nodded. “Chavez was Marissa’s father. Sharita, Marissa’s mom was Simone’s twin. Simone hated him but the night he died she was on a date, that’s been verified by the police.”

  “Which leaves the unanswered question, why would these Fems lie on this man if he’s not a vamp,” Abalone said, looking at the picture.

  “Maybe they’ve found a way to mask or cloak who they are,” Carrie said, thinking back on her meeting this man in the office. “He didn’t blink or appear to notice my status as a Hunter, but what if he did? What if he’s a vampire and we can’t tell? It’s the only thing that makes sense.” She looked at her dad and then Taney.

  “That’s not good,” Taney said slowly. “But it makes sense. Fems care nothing for humans, so this must be a vampire. Chances are he didn’t do anything more than piss them off.”