can change what I am. What the world is.
Claire said nothing. There didnt seem to be anything left to say, so she just cried, silently and hopelessly, until Amelie pulled a white silken handkerchief from her sleeve and gracefully held it out to her. Claire dabbed at her face with it, honked her nose, and hesitated with the silken square clutched in her hand. Shed grown up with disposable tissues; shed never actually held a handkerchief before. Not one like this, all beautiful embroidery and monogramming. You didnt throw these away, right?
Amelies lips curved into that distant smile. Wash it and return it to me someday, she said. But go now. I grow tired, and you will not change my mind. Go.
Claire slid off the chair and stood up, turned, and gasped. There were two of Amelies bodyguards standing right there, and she hadnt even known they were behind her the whole time. If shed tried anything
Go to sleep, Claire, Amelie said. Let things be. We shall see how the cards fall in our game.
Its not a game: Its Shanes life, Claire shot back. And Im not sleeping.
Amelie shrugged and folded her hands neatly in her lap. Then go about your quest, she said. But do not come back to me, little Claire. I will not be so well-disposed to you again.
Claire didnt look back, but she knew the bodyguards followed her all the way to the door.
Was there not something else you wanted to tell me? Amelie asked, just before she went out. Claire glanced back; the vampire was still staring into the fire. Did you not have another request?
I dont know what youre talking about.
Amelie sighed. Someone asked you for a favor.
Michael. Claire swallowed hard. Michael wants to talk to you.
Amelie nodded. Her expression didnt change.
What do I tell him? Claire asked.
That is entirely your affair. Tell him the truththat you did not care enough to deliver his message. Amelie waved a hand without even looking toward her. Go.
Lisa was sitting in the living room, frowning, arms folded, when Claire came back down the hall. She still looked fierce, never mind the bunny slippers, as she stood up to open the locks on the front door. Warrior princess on vacation, Claire thought. She guessed you grew up tough in Morganville, especially if you lived in a house Amelie could visit any time she felt like it.
Bad news, Lisa said. Right?
Did it show that much? Right, Claire said, and wiped at her eyes again with the handkerchief. She shoved it in her pocket and sniffled miserably. But Im not giving up.
Good, Lisa said. Now, when I open this door, youre gonna want to hurry. Go straight to the car out there. Dont look left or right.
Why? Is there something?
Morganville rules, Claire. Learn them, live them, survive them. Now go! Lisa yanked open the door, put a hand flat on Claires back, and propelled her out onto the porch. A second later, Lisa slammed the door, and Claire heard the rattle of the locks being turned. She got her balance, jumped down the steps, and hustled down the dark path and through the picket gate, and yanked open the passenger door of the car. She scrambled in and hit the lock, and then relaxed.
Im okay, she said, and turned to Detective Hess.
He wasnt there.
The drivers seat was empty. The keys were still in the ignition, the engine was idling, and the radio was playing softly. But the car was completely empty, except for her.
Oh God, Claire whispered. Oh God oh God oh God. Because she could drive the car, but that would mean stranding Detective Hess, if hed gone off doing police things. Stranding him without his partner to help him. Shed seen enough cop shows to know that wasnt a good idea. Maybe hed just gone off to talk to somebody and was coming right backor maybe hed been snatched out of the car by some hungry vamp. But didnt Hess have some kind of special Protection?
She had no idea what to do.
While she was thinking about it, she heard voices. Not loud, but a steady stream of conversation. It sounded like Detective Hess, and he wasnt far away. Claire cautiously rolled down the window and listened hard; she couldnt make out any words, but there were definitely voices.
Claire unlocked her door and eased it open, straining to catch the words, but they were just sound, no meaning. She hesitated, then slipped out of the car, eased