The vampires ignored him, and Tony fervently wished he'd shut up.
A muscle jumped in Vicki's jaw. "You asked me here!"
"You insisted we could work together," he re?minded her mockingly.
"We could if you'd stop this Prince of Darkness bullshit and back off!"
"I'm not doing anything, Vicki. I am older than you. I am more powerful than you. You can only see me as a threat. You can't help but respond."
"And what do you see me as?" she growled, anger provoked by the implication that he didn't see her as a threat.
"Something to be removed." His brows drew in and his voice grew scathing. "I do not wish my hunting ruined by a child."
Vicki dove up and over the table, almost before she'd decided to attack. Her hands reached for Hen?ry's throat and grabbed only air. She spun around as she landed, but, off balance, she had no chance to block Henry's blow. He threw her against the far wall and was on her, fingers dimpling her throat before she hit the ground.
When Tony moved forward, a large hand closed on his shoulder and pulled him back.
"No," Celluci said softly. "Let them work it out."
Startled, Tony stared up at the detective. He couldn't believe that Michael Celluci was allowing this to happen, but although he was frowning, neither the larger man's gaze nor his grip wavered.
Her shoulders under Henry's knees, her throat in his hands, Vicki froze, caught in his eyes and recogniz?ing defeat.
"We cannot work together," Henry told her, all the posturing gone from his voice, leaving it flat and tired. "And as you must remain here to do your job, I am leaving. I've borrowed a cabin on Grouse Mountain from a friend. I'll leave immediately and return when you've solved the case." His eyes never leaving hers, he released her throat and stood.
"So you're proved right." Vicki got slowly to her feet, one hand supporting her weight against the wall. "Happy?"
He sighed and one corner of his mouth twisted into an almost smile. "Actually, no."
"Stay here," Celluci murmured, finally releasing Tony's shoulder. "Keep an eye on her, but don't go near her until she's calmed down."
"Do I look stupid?" the younger man demanded, wide-eyed and twitchy from the adrenaline buzz. "Where are you going?"
"I need to talk to Fitzroy."
"About what?" Then he followed the line of Celluci's gaze to where Vicki stood, eyes closed, breathing heavily, the fingers of her left hand sunk knuckle-deep through the leather upholstery of the couch. "Oh. Never mind."
When Henry attempted to leave the condo, black canvas case slung over one shoulder, Celluci was wait?ing at the door. He stopped with most of the entry between them. Any closer and he'd have to look up at the much taller man. "You have something to say, Detective?"
"You did that on purpose."
"What?"
"Provoked a fight. You knew that she had to attack you, or she'd never be convinced you were right."
"That's very perceptive of you, Detective." Henry studied the other man's face, not entirely certain of what he saw. "Are you going to tell her?"
"I haven't decided. But I'd like to ask you some?thing; what if you were wrong?"
Henry frowned. "Wrong?"
"From what I understand, this is something new in the history of ... uh ..."
"Vampires?"
Celluci flushed. "Yeah. Vampires. For the first time, two of you are face-to-face and not fighting over terri?tory because Vicki doesn't want your territory. What if you could've worked something out?" He spread his hands and stepped away from the door. "Now, you'll never know."
"Now, you'll never know."