getting people to talk. She might have had a career in this field.”
Eddie looked pensive but continued his story. “But she wasn’t smart about how she did it. She got her information by hanging out in dangerous places, like the Otherworld bars. And with dangerous people. I warned her about the vamp boyfriend.”
“Was the boyfriend or Club Dintero involved in the drugs?”
“Club Dintero? You think Andreas is part of this? That’s something I never expected.”
“Stop it, Eddie! No. I wasn’t saying that. But her boyfriend works there. I just wanted to be sure the club was clean.” Ari reminded herself again to be cautious around the reporter. He picked up on everything. “How do you know Andreas?”
Eddie gave her a quizzical look. “Everyone knows Andreas. He’s a popular singer. The Clarion has run a couple of pieces on the club. And I can’t believe he’d have anything to do with the drug trade.”
Interesting. Andreas had a public face outside the magic community. She’d bet they’d never glimpsed the angry vampire who confronted her in the bar parking lot. But she wasn’t going to think about him now. She shrugged, hoping to signal her loss of interest in the subject of Andreas and his club.
“You never gave me an answer about Victor, the boyfriend,” she said. “Involved or not?”
“Don’t know. Angie never came through with the names. I assumed he was. Although, come to think of it, he didn’t give her the sample she brought to me. She mentioned a werewolf friend.”
Ari probed for specifics on the wolf connection, but Eddie didn’t have any more details to give. “So what happened to the sample? You still have it?”
Eddie shook his head. “It was all used. By the lab,” he added hurriedly. “I’ll do a lot to get a good story, but I don’t do drugs. There were two capsules. A private lab used both in the confirmation analysis. It was Fantasy.”
“We’ll need a copy of the report. Can you get it to Lt. Foster at the PD?”
“Sure. No problem, but why?”
“To compare it with the drugs we have.”
“Looking for…?” He let the question dangle.
Ari considered how much to share. If she didn’t tell him something, he might start guessing. And nosing around. She didn’t want any part of their conversation on tomorrow’s front page, but maybe she could make a deal that would benefit everybody. Eyes and ears in the human community might come in handy, and he was familiar with the drug trade. “I’ll tell you, if it’s off the record. Can you handle that?”
Eddie wrinkled his nose. “When you can release the story, will you call me first?”
“If we can release it,” she amended. “Yes, I don’t see why not.”
“I have your word?”
“As long as I have yours.”
“OK, off the record for now. But I’ll hold you to that phone call.”
Ari sketched the history of the earlier Otherworld attacks. Eddie had heard most of the details. Except the drug connection. When she added that an altered form of Fantasy might be responsible for the vampires’ violence, he jerked up straight.
“Holy shit.” He barely breathed the words. “Someone has found a way to make drugs that affect vampires. What a story!” Ari could almost see the headlines running through his head. “But you won’t find the proof in my sample. I read every word of the lab report. No unidentified substance. I’d have jumped all over that. Wow, has this ever happened before?”
“Not as far as I know.”
“You wouldn’t consider changing your mind about this being off the record, would you?” He grinned at her, because he already knew the answer.
She said it anyway. “Not a chance.”
“That’s too bad. Story of a life time with my byline in big letters.” He leaned back and looked at her. “The vamps were hopped up on Fantasy.”
Ari sighed and played with the straw in her drink. “It’s not confirmed, but, yes, it’s a possibility. One I don’t want to read in the paper.”
“Kind of scary people’s fantasies are killing them, huh?”
“Don’t even say that. The violence might just be a side effect.” She gave him her best cop face. “And don’t even think about printing it.”
“Hey, I got it. Don’t worry. Much as I’d love to rush this into print, we have a deal.” The grin returned. “I wouldn’t jeopardize a huge story.” He tilted his head to one side. “You know, the last time I spoke with Angie, maybe a week before she died, she hinted about something new she was checking