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He s I should know "Never you ood We want so into these murders"

"I've seen the bodies, Willie I gave my opinions to the police"

"What'd you think?" He leaned forward in the chair, sernails were pale, almost white, bloodless

"I gave a full report to the police" I stared up at hi him in the eye

"Won't even give me that, will ya?"

"I am not at liberty to discuss police business with you"

"I told 'eo for this"

"Go for what? You haven't told "

"We want you to investigate the va it We'll pay you three times your normal fee"

I shook un, had set up thisHe kne I felt about vampires, but my contract forced iven Bert a retainer My boss would do anything for ht I should, too Bert and I would be having a "talk" very soon

I stood "The police are looking into it I a the on the case Save your money"

He sat staring up at me, very still It was not that lifeless i dead, but it was a shadow of it

Fear ran up in e to draw my crucifix out ofa client out using a holy item see for him to move

"Why won't you help us?"

"I have clients to meet, Willie I'm sorry that I can't help you"

"Won't help, you mean"

I nodded "Have it your way" I walked around the desk to show him to the door

He moved with a liquid quickness that Willie had never had, but I saw hi hand "I'm not just another pretty face to fall for mind tricks"

"You saw me move"

"I heard you ot a lot to learn"

He was frowning at me, hand still half-extended towards me "Maybe, but no human could a stepped outta reach like that" He stepped up close to ether like that, ere nearly the saht, short His eyes were on a perfect level with mine I stared as hard as I could at his shoulder

It took everything I had not to step back from hioing to give him the satisfaction

He said, "You ain't human, any more than I am"

I moved to open the door I hadn't stepped away fro the sweat alongin my stomach wasn't fooled either

"I really have to be going now Thank you for thinking of Aniave hiht bulb, but dazzling

He paused in the open doorway "Why won't you work for us? I gotta tell 'eo back"

I wasn't sure, but there was soet in trouble for failing? I felt sorry for him and kneas stupid He was the undead, for heaven's sake, but he stood looking at me, and he was still Willie, with his funny coats and small nervous hands

"Tell them, whoever they are, that I don't work for vampires"

"A firain he made it sound like a question

"Concrete"

There was a flash of soh It was almost pity "I wish you hadn't said that, Anita These people don't like anybody telling 'em no"

"I think you've overstayed your welcome I don't like to be threatened"

"It ain't a threat, Anita It's the truth" He straightened his tie, fondling the new gold tie tack, squared his thin shoulders and walked out

I closed the door behind hiainst it My knees felt weak But there wasn't time for me to sit here and shake Mrs Grundick was probably already at the ce there with her little black purse and her grown sons, waiting for me to raise her husband from the dead There was a mystery of two very different wills It was either years of court costs and arguments, or raise Albert Grundick from the dead and ask

Everything I needed was in my car, even the chickens I drew the silver crucifix free of uns, and I kno to use thehed a little over two pounds, silver-plated bullets and all Silver won't kill a vae them It forces them to have to heal the wounds, almost human sloiped my sweaty palms on my skirt and went out

Craig our night secretary, was typing furiously at the computer keyboard His eyes widened as I walked over the thick carpeting Maybe it was the cross swinging on its long chain Maybe it was the shoulder rig tight across ht He didn't mention either Smart man

I put my nice little corduroy jacket over it all The jacket didn't lie flat over the gun, but that was okay I doubted the Grundicks and their lawyers would notice