Claire clung to him, terrified, as the police swarmed through the house.
Shane wasnt talking to the cops. Not about his dad, and not about anything. He just sat like a lump, eyes down, and refused to answer any questions from the human patrol officers; Claire didnt know what to sayor, more importantly, what not toand stammered out a lot of I dont know and I was in my room sort of answers. Evemore self-possessed than Claire had ever seen herstepped in to say that shed heard the intruders downstairs breaking things, and shed pulled Claire into her room and locked the door for protection. It sounded good. Claire supported it with a lot of nodding.
Is that so? A new voice, from behind the cops, and they parted ranks to admit two strangers. Detectives, it looked like, in sport jackets and slacks. One was a woman, frost pale, with eyes like mirrors. The other one was a tall man with gray close-cropped hair.
They were wearing gold badges on their belts. So. Detectives.
Vampire detectives.
Eve had gone very still, hands folded in her lap. She looked carefully friendly. Yes, maam, she said. Thats what happened.
And you have no idea who these mysterious intruders might have been, said the male vamp. He lookedscary. Cold and hard and scary. Never saw them before.
We didnt see them at all, sir.
Because you werelocked in your room. He smiled, and flashed fang. Clear warning. I can smell fear. You give it off like the stench of your sweat. Delicious.
Claire fought back an urge to whimper. The human cops had backed up a step; one or two looked uncomfortable, but they werent about to interfere with whatever was about to happen. Whichwas nothing, right? There were rules and stuff. And they were the victims!
Then again, she didnt suppose the vamps cared all that much for victims.
Leave them alone, Shane said.
It speaks! the woman said, and laughed. She sank down into a crouch, elegant and perfectly balanced, and tried to peer into Shanes face. A knight-errant, defending the helpless. Charming. She had an old-world accent, sort of like blurred German. Do you not trust us, little knight? Are we not your friends?
That depends, Shane said, and looked right at her. You take your orders from Oliver, or the Founder? Because if you touch usany of usyou have to take it up with her. You know who I mean.
She lost her amused expression.