Her partner made a noise, halfway between a bark of laughter and a growl. Careful, Gretchen, he snaps. Just like a half-grown puppy. Boy, you dont know what youre saying. The Founders mark is on the house, yes, but I see no bands on your wrists. Dont be stupid and make bold claims you cant back up.
Bite me, Dracula, Shane snapped.
Gretchen laughed. A wolf pup, she said. Oh, I like him, Hans. May I have him, since hes a stray?
One of the uniformed cops cleared his throat. Maam? Sorry, but I cant allow that. You want to file the paperwork, Ill see what I can do, but
Gretchen made a frustrated noise and came back to her feet. Paperwork. Fah. In the old days we would have run him down like a deer for insolence.
In the old days, Gretchen, we were starving, Hans said. Remember? The winters in Bavaria? Let him howl. He shrugged and gave Eve and Claire a smile that looked a little less terrifying than before. Sorry. Gretchen gets carried away. Now, youre sure none of you knew these intruders? Morganvilles not that big a town. Were all pretty close-knit, especially the human community.
Strangers, Eve said. I think they might have been strangers. Maybe justpassing through.
Passing through, Hans repeated. We dont get a lot of casual visitors. Even biker gangs. He studied them each in turn, and while his eyes were on her Claire felt as if she were being x-rayed. Surely he couldnt really see her thoughts, right? Hans finished with his gaze on Shane, fixed and dark. Your name.
Shane, he said. Shane Collins.
You left Morganville with your family a few years ago, yes? What brought you back?
My friend Michael needed a roommate. Shanes eyes flickered, and Claire realized that hed just made a mistake. A big one.
Michael Glass. Ah, yes, the mysterious Michael. Never around when anyone comes calling during the day, but always present at night. Tell me, is Michael a vampire?
Wouldnt you know? Shane shot back. Last I heard, nobody had made a new vampire in fifty years or more.
True. Hans nodded. Yet its curious, isnt it? That your friend seems so hard to keep around?
They knew. They knew something, anyway; Claire supposed Oliver would have no reason to keep secrets, especially Michaels secrets. Hed probably blabbed it to all of his minions that Michael was a ghost, caught between worldsnot quite vampire, not quite human, not quite anything.