by Linda Barlow
David's version of what had happened was different from Rambler's. Normally this wouldn't have astonished her, but the boy's story had been just plain bizarre.
“Why did you break into Max Rambler's house?" she had asked him after summoning her to a private meeting in the Headmistress's office. "Were you trying to steal something? I would never have expected this of you, David.”
“No! I'm not a thief. That wasn't the reason at all.”
“Then why?”
He looked flustered. He shifted his weight nervously and avoided her eyes. “I can't tell you."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to. This is a serious matter. Breaking into somebody's residence is a felony."
"It's not what you think."
It never was, Emma knew. "Then what was it?"
David didn't answer.
"Mr. Rambler has decided not to press charges, but he wants to know why you did this. So do I."
David was staring unhappily out the window. He said nothing for several seconds. Emma prodded, "I'm trying to help you. But I need some kind of explanation."
The boy shuffled again, looking as guilty as she had ever seen a teenager look. Was he into drugs? Rambler was by far the wealthiest person in town. Maybe David had believed it would be easy to slip into his house and snatch something valuable that he could trade for a hit of his drug of choice?
She hardened her tone. "I know there was someone else involved. If you don't explain yourself, I will have to see whether he—or she—might be more cooperative."
The boy paled a little more. For the first time since he'd entered her office, he briefly met her eyes. "Fine. I'll tell you. The thing is, you're not going to believe me.”
“Try me.”
"You won't. I know you won't."
She raised her eyebrows and waited.
“I was, uh, I was trying to find his body.”
“His body?”
“His corpse, his coffin or tomb or whatever. The sun hadn't gone down yet, or so I thought. I believed I had more time, but it took so long to sneak past the perimeter cameras that I was too late. He had already risen.” He paused. “I thought he was going to feed on me for sure. I mean, if he'd just woken up, he must have been ravenous for blood.”
Emma made a mental note to send for the school psych counselor.
“He's a vampire.” David blinked at her. “I said you wouldn't believe me.”
"Mr. Rambler is a vampire."
"Yes. He's strong, powerful, and probably ancient."
"For the record, David, vampires are mythical creatures. And if they did exist," she added, trying to inject some sanity into the discussion, “we certainly wouldn’t allow them at St. Crispin’s.”
If you enjoyed this excerpt from Wicked Nights, please look for it in your online bookstore. The release is scheduled for the end of October, 2013.
Author's Note
Blazing Nights is the first of several novels in the Night Games series. It will be followed by Wicked Nights, Max's story. For more information about the next release, please sign up for my Author Newsletter.
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Other recent releases by Linda Barlow: Fires of Destiny.
Acknowledgments
I am deeply indebted to my wonderful lover and partner Curt Monash for all the support he has given me during my writing of this book. He has served as my consultant, my fact checker, and my incomparable copy-editor (who patiently read the manuscript several times, hunting down errors). I love you, sweetheart.
Meet the Author
Linda Barlow is the author of 15 novels, with more on the way. She lives in New England with her mysterious partner (who sleeps during the day, which has often made her wonder if he's a vampire) and their equally enigmatic and nocturnal cat.
Linda has written in various genres, including family sagas, historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and general mainstream fiction. Publishers have included Doubleday, Dell, Penguin, Warner Books, Hachette, New American Library/Signet, Berkley/Putnam, Silhouette and Harlequin.
She's proud to have earned a few awards over the years, including the Rita from Romance Writers of America for Leaves of Fortune; New Historical Novelist of the Year from Romantic Times for Fires of Destiny; and a Career Achievement award from Romantic Times for her contemporary novels.
