When Vamps Bite (Bedlam in Bethlehem Book 1)

by Nicole Zoltack

  Diego seizes my hand before I can open the door. “Of course.” He squeezes and releases me.

  Confused, troubled, anxious, I do take that bath. It’s a short one because the siren song of sweet slumber just won’t shut up. I’m asleep almost as soon as my head hits my pillow.

  Henrietta calls me a few days later, and I’m so afraid another body has turned up. Nope. She just wants to gossip.

  After I learn about who is dating whom and who has been relocated to another city, she finally mentions Travis.

  “He’s not working, obviously. I heard he went to a shooting range, though, and he hasn’t forgotten how to handle a firearm.”

  “He’s always been a great shot.”

  “Yeah. He doesn’t remember work, but I heard that he doesn’t mind his break. He’s spending almost all of his time with his gal Ali. Word on the street is that he’s falling back in love with her, even though he doesn’t remember everything. It’s so sweet!”

  “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad.” My cheeks hurt from smiling, but my stomach twists into knots.

  I’ve been giving them space so they can work things through together, but I’m dying to give Ali a call. Normally, it’s Travis I would call, but I think it would be better to reach out to her. Or maybe not. It’s not as if there’s a manual for how to deal with getting reacquainted with your partner because of the vamp crime spree going on, including the crimes they committed against him.

  I miss Travis. I miss my friend. Even if we haven’t seen eye-to-eye about the vamps, he’s cool and level headed. Right now, I need that in my life.

  Okay, that makes me sound really selfish. Like I only want him to regain his memories for me. Seriously, though, how great would it be if he does remember what happened to him? What the vamps did to him? What the poison is?

  Of course, I do want him to be back to his old self for himself. I can’t imagine the world spinning without him.

  “So what’s new with you?” Henrietta asks.

  “Just trying to get by.” And ignore the ticking time bomb that is the approaching day of my plane ticket.

  “I know how that goes. A pipe burst in my apartment complex, and my place is soaked. I need to find a place for a few days.”

  “Oh, so is that the real reason why you called?” I tease, but again, my stomach clenches. I don’t want her to come here and get hurt, too.

  “Actually, I just figured I would stay at a hotel. Don’t worry about me. I know.”

  “You know what?”

  “I can hear it in your voice. And I can read people. It’s… It’s not something I broadcast, and I actually hate it, which is why I opt to make a career out of hanging out with the dead, but… I know you feel responsible for what happened to Travis. Vampires or not, this is not on you, Clarissa, you hear me?”

  I sniff. “It sure feels like it is,” I admit, hating myself.

  “Maybe there are vampires or vampire wannabes. I don’t know. But their actions are on them. You do you. You take care of yourself.”

  “Friends take care of each other,” I decide with a nod she can’t see. “So my guest room is available for you if you want to risk it.”

  “Really? Because I meant it about the hotel. I was just gonna call them after talking to you.”

  “Really really.”

  She hesitates. “Thanks but no thanks. Another time, though.”

  I hang up with a grimace. Did she read into my self-doubt? Maybe, but I can’t help feeling that if she did accept my offer, that she’d be endangering herself.

  It doesn’t surprise me to realize that I’m more worried about Travis and Henrietta than I am myself. I’m hanging around even though the vamps might stop their games at any time and bite me and drain my blood. I’m playing Russian roulette but with fangs instead of bullets.

  Chapter 19

  Ali calls me back early the next morning, having not answered my call after my talk with Henrietta.

  “Are you busy?” she asks eagerly.

  “Nope.” I’m not ashamed to admit it. My flight isn’t for another three days. If I board the plane that is.

  “Good. Do you have a dress that isn’t black or white?” She sounds so excited.

  “Yeah. What’s going on?” I ask, confused. Piercing everything together leaves me shocked, and I impatiently wait for her to confirm my hope.

  “Travis remembers! He remembers everything about me. He remembers you. He remembers work.”

  “Does he remember what happened to him?” I ask eagerly.

  “No. He still can’t recall anything for the week before he came back to me, but it’s possible they’ll return eventually. Anyhow, we don’t want to wait any longer.”

  A light bulb goes off. “You’re eloping?”

  “Yep! It’ll be so much easier, and we aren’t fussy people. We don’t need a huge celebration. He’ll probably be going back to work soon, now that his memory is back, so we want to get it done today.”

  “Today already? You guys have a license?”

  “Yep. I know it’s short notice, but we want you and Derek to be the witnesses.”

  Derek’s her brother. I’ve met him a few times. He’s a nice enough guy but a little boring.

  “Any color dress?”

  “Yeah, just not black or white. Come to my place dressed and ready to go in an hour.”

  After I jump in the shower, I blow dry my hair, something I never do. I apply minimal makeup. Then I put on a soft brown dress that matches my eyes with a few stripes of white and black to accent it. My blond hair curls slightly in gentle waves. Should I put it up or leave it down? Down. I don’t want to be late.

  I’m ready to leave through the back door when I recall Diego and Felix. With a groan, I drive my car from around the back of my house to the front. I pull up to their car and roll down my window.

  Diego smiles at me appreciatively. “Don’t you look…” His grin fades. “You aren’t going to go see that doc, are you?”

  “No.” I scowl, frustrated and depressed. Doctor Dean hasn’t called me. So much for our date. “Tail me if you want. I’m going out.”

  “Where to?”

  I hesitate. It’s up to Travis and Ali to announce their news.

  “That’s for me to know and for you to find out.” I wink.

  Felix sighs, clearly disappointed. “Do you know how unbearable this guy is? Just go on a date with him. Let him get his fix, and he can move onto the next woman.”

  “Just what I want to hear, that I’m a notch in his belt.”

  Diego scowls. Does he seriously feel disrespected right now? He does realize his reputation precedes him, right?

  “Can’t a guy turn over a new leaf?” he grumbles.

  “Yeah, but the thing is, leaves can be turned over multiple times,” I point out. “Leaving now!”

  And I pull away.

  I’m not interested in a ladies’ man. Diego is fun, and dating him would probably be a blast, but he’d move on eventually. And that’s not what I want. I don’t want a casual fling. I want someone I can depend on, to be there for the long haul. It’s why I don’t date a lot. I’m not about hooking up.

  As for Doctor Dean, our schedules probably would prevent us from seeing each other a lot. Would that be good or bad? It might wear on us after a while. Maybe it’s just as well he hasn’t called me, regardless of the whole vamp thing.

  And Marlon. It’s funny how he’s almost become an afterthought. I wonder how his investigation into Gizmo is going. I don’t think Gizmo’s connection to drugs has anything to do with his death. Marlon’s headed for a dead end, but it’s a dangerous one, almost as dangerous as entangling with the vamps. Drug dealers are brutal and ruthless.

  Before long, I’m at Ali’s. Travis isn’t around.

  Ali hugs me tight. “Thank you.” Her eyes are red.

  “No. No tears. Not yet.” I push her to the bathroom and do my best to fix her makeup. I’m not a girl who cakes on makeup. Normally, I just put on
mascara and lip gloss, and I’m out the door. It’s strangely easy and almost fun to paint someone else’s face instead of applying it to my own.

  I also fiddle with her hair, braiding two small sections and twisting them together, securing them with bobby pins. When I’m done, she looks like an angel. Her dress is simple, white with a slightly raised floral pattern to it and double spaghetti straps. The back is low, and extra straps give it character.

  “Did you plan for this to be your wedding dress?”

  “No.” Ali bites her lower lip. “Is it too plain?”

  “You’re gorgeous,” I assure her. “I’m the one who looks plain!”

  My dress has a sweetheart neckline and falls just below my knees. No design, no pattern. Simple, but not quite elegant.

  “You’re gorgeous, too.” She squeezes my hands. Her eyes close, and she takes a breath. When she opens them, she’s calm. Her eyes are sparkling, and that glow she always gets when she’s near Travis appears. “Let’s go!”

  I drive her, and she’s babbling about how excited she is. She doesn’t leave me a chance to talk, but I don’t mind. Today is her day.

  When we arrive, Travis and Derek are already there. They’re both wearing dark suits. Travis’s is navy, Derek’s black. The wide smile and answering glow on Travis’s face bullseyes him as the groom.

  We go inside to see the Justice of the Peace. Honestly, I’m not paying attention to what is being said, I’m just watching Travis and Ali. They’re so in love. I’m so happy for them, but I’m also jealous. I want that kind of love for myself.

  I sign as the first witness and hand the pen to Derek. Travis is given the marriage certificate. He immediately hands it to Ali, who passes it to me. She wraps her arms around her husband’s neck, and they kiss long and deep.

  Derek sighs and rolls his eyes. “Seriously?” he mutters.

  “They’re married now. Lighten up.”

  “I don’t need to see it.”

  “So look away.”

  He’s stiff as a board and about as fun as one. He wrinkles his nose and glances at his watch.

  Ali kinda, not really, disentangles herself from Travis. “You can go if you have to, Derek.”

  He smiles now, hugs her, which means he kinda hugs Travis, too. Then he shakes his new brother-in-law’s hand, ignores me, and darts away. No sweat off my back.

  The lovebirds are making cooing sounds, now. Okay, maybe Derek kinda has a point after all.

  “Do you two need anything? Want me to drive you somewhere?”

  They ignore me, too wrapped up in each other.

  I slide toward the door, wanting to give them space but also not wanting to leave in case they do need me.

  Ali’s truly radiant, and Travis is glowing, too. They’re so perfect for each other. The way he’s looking at her…

  My breathing hitches, any guilt and feelings of powerlessness and inadequacies dissolve away. Despite everything, I don’t need to worry or fear. Travis is here. He’s alive. Something tells me he’ll never regain those lost memories, but he’s still among the living, and I know why.

  I’m convinced it’s because of the plane ticket.

  A plane ticket I won’t use. I can’t leave. I won’t leave. I refuse to leave. Bethlehem’s in bedlam. I will not abandon my city.

  Chapter 20

  I can’t do this alone, though. Since my partner is currently out of the picture and hopefully going away on his honeymoon, I need an ally, badly.

  “Stay out of trouble, you two,” I call.

  Travis waves me away without looking at me. Ali at least throws me a smile.

  Shaking my head but smiling, too, I climb into my car.

  My ally can’t be Diego because he can’t keep his mouth shut. Everyone will find out, including the detective sergeant or, worse, the lieutenant. Felix is just a big fat no.

  Since I’m not sure who to enlist as my ally, I head back to my place. I flop onto my couch with a sigh. Maybe Marlon would be my best bet. He did talk to me about Gizmo, after all, and—

  A knock on my front door interrupts my thoughts.

  I go to open the door, pause, and consider getting my gun. Yes, in my haste to go to their wedding, I forgot Marlon’s gun. Nah. I’m being overly paranoid. Diego and Felix are out front. They would notice anything unusual.

  Unless they’re already dead…

  Before I can move to grab the weapon, another knock sounds, impatient. “Come on, Clarissa. Open up. I don’t have all day.”

  Mercedes? What in the world is she doing here?

  I open the door. “What do you want?”

  She raises her arched eyebrows. “Going somewhere?”

  My cheeks flush, and I cross my arms, tapping a heel against the beige carpet. “Is that any of your business?”

  “Actually…” She flings her hair off her shoulder. “It is.”

  “How so?” I’m not in the mood for her games.

  “I want to help you.” She smiles winningly.

  My jaw clenches so tightly it hurts. What’s her angle?

  Then it hits me.

  “You want to prove me insane,” I grind out through gritted teeth.

  “Or incompetent. Either way.”

  I’m so close to punching that smug smirk off her face, but I refrain. Barely.

  But I did just think that I needed an ally.

  Mercedes? Really? I can’t do better? Man, that is depressing and humiliating.

  “Beggars can’t be choosers,” I mutter to myself, disgusted.

  “What was that?” She walks farther into my house, acting as if she owns the place. “So, what should we do first?”

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask, skeptical. “I mean, if word gets back to Bernardo or Reynolds, you’ll be in hot water, too.”

  “You mean if word gets back to them that I tried to help you see the errors in your ways?” she asks sweetly.

  “Your halo fell off your horns,” I grumble, still suspicious.

  “Yeah, yeah. Grow up. Where to?”

  Wait a second… “Why aren’t you working with Marlon?”

  Her nostrils flare slightly. “He wants to keep heading down the drug road. I know that’s just because that’s the only way we can stay on the case. We aren’t getting anywhere. He isn’t listening to me, and I’m tired of it. Partners are supposed to work together. Like you and Travis.”

  Is she jealous? Travis and I have each other’s backs, just like Marlon has hers and she his. Do they really not communicate well together? I’ve always been more focused on my interaction with him and her flirting with him rather than their working relationship.

  “So we’re working different angles today. Now, do you want my help or not?”

  “We have to wait until tonight.”

  She sniffs. “Of course. Because vampires.” Her eyes roll severely. I’ve never seen anyone roll her eyes like she does.

  Mercedes clicks on my TV and turns to a soap opera. Now I’m the one rolling my eyes as I head to my bedroom and change into jeans and a sweater.

  This might very well turn into a bad idea.

  That night, we hop into Mercedes’ car. She sweets-talks the guys into not tailing us, but I don’t know if I really believe they’ll stay behind. Then again, they’re exhausted. They aren’t switching off with another pair, which tells me I’m low priority. Considering the murders and other crimes, I guess that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

  “Where to?” she asks apathetically.

  “Park in P.J. Whelihan’s lot. We’ll walk from there.”

  “Walk?”

  I eye her heeled boots. Compared to my New Balance sneakers, I’m a lot more prepared than she is. Granted, she has no idea what she’s in for.

  “Walk,” I reiterate, indifferent to how her heels may soon feel.

  Marlon’s gun feels comfortable in my hand. It’s hidden inside of my coat. It irks me that I haven’t gotten myself silver bullets. It’s not as if I have silver lying aro
und or enough cash to buy some. Vamps have to have another weakness, but since I don’t know what it is, I’m at a severe disadvantage.

  Honestly, what we’re doing isn’t the smartest. If I’m right that the only reason why Travis is back is because I purchased the plane ticket, then the vamps should leave us alone. Which means we won’t be seeing them tonight.

  If they realize I’m trying to find them…

  They won’t return who they take next time unless it’s in a body bag.

  And that person could be me.

  As soon as she parks, I drag Mercedes along. We go inside shops until they’re all closed and then bar hopping. I keep an eye up and down the streets and alleys.

  Fury and fear fuel me, but we find nothing. We’ve been walking around since nine and it’s now three in the morning.

  “Seriously?” she complains when I turn down a street in the opposite direction of her car.

  “Seriously.”

  “My feet are killing me,” she whines, probably despairing over newly acquired blisters.

  “Not my problem.”

  “Is this really how you found Jennifer Hamilton?”

  “I was walking home from the bar.”

  “Walking? You didn’t have that much to drink.” Her eyes widen, and she winces. At least she recognizes why without my having to explain. “It was just stupid luck.”

  “Luck isn’t stupid,” I say crossly.

  “And Gizmo. How does he enter in again? Why did you go to his place?”

  I sigh and fill her in about Calinda Moore, without mentioning Doctor Dean.

  “I guess you’re next step would be to call the hospital and see if anyone else has needed a lot of blood.” She shrugs.

  “My next step?”

  “Yeah. I’m done. Whatever. This is a dead end. It’s not even worth it to chase shadows with you to try and prove you’re crazy. You can do that yourself.”

  “Giving up already?”

  “It’s not giving up. I never should’ve come out here with you. But think about this logically, Clarissa. I know it’s hard for you to but just try. If vampires are real, and I don’t think they are, wouldn’t they need to drink a substantial amount? Where are all the drained bodies?”