It had been a long time since she’d had that kind of reaction to anyone.
“I won’t be long,” she said as she made her way toward the pool area and sliding glass doors.
“Be careful,” he called out after her.
She paused at that and looked back. He was watching her through the fence. She gave him a little wave and continued on. Why on earth would he be worried about her? She was the stronger one here.
The one with the enhanced strength and durability.
Must be a man thing.
Olena walked along the stone path through the yard, around the pool and up to the sliding glass doors. The blinds were open and she peered in.
There was no sign of anyone in the house, at least not in the back part. Someone could’ve still been upstairs, or in the basement for that matter. She imagined Luc had a basement; most vampires with big homes did. It was usually the place where they slept and engaged in other activities if they were so inclined.
She rapped on the glass door, but there was no response. Taking out a latex glove from her coat pocket, she slid it on, then grasped the handle.
Unlocked, the door slid open with no effort.
She poked her head in. “Hello? Monsieur Dubois?
I’m from the crime-scene investigation team.”
There was no response.
But Olena did pick up the strong smell of blood.
She slid the door all the way open, drew her weapon and stepped into the house. Now that she was inside, she could hear the music a little better.
It was definitely hip-hop. She crept through the kitchen, down the hallway and to the large front foyer. So far, she hadn’t seen any blood spots or bodies. She threw open the lock and opened the front door for Cale.
“I smell blood,” she told him.
He came into the house and drew his own weapon. He looked around the front entrance, taking in everything and, by the way his nostrils flared, trying to smell the blood. “I didn’t realize vampires had a heightened sense of smell.”
“We don’t for most things. But blood we can scent from a long distance.”
“Makes sense.” He looked past her from where she came. “Did you see anything?”
She shook her head. “I came through the kitchen.
It’s clean.”
“Where’s the music coming from?”
“The basement.”
He nodded and motioned for her to continue. Olena retraced her steps and went back toward the kitchen. There was a door along one wall and she suspected it led to the basement.
When she reached it, she glanced over her shoulder at Cale. He was poised behind her, his gun ready. She was impressed that he hadn’t demanded to go first, like most men would have. But Cale seemed quite comfortable with Olena in the lead. Maybe he understood that he was human and much more vulnerable than she. It was nice to meet a man who understood the balance of nature.
“On three,” she said to him. He nodded. Wrapping her hand around the doorknob, she whispered, “One, two, three.” She turned the knob and swung open the door. Cale was there at the opening, his weapon pointed. But nothing jumped out at them.
Olena peered down the stairs. There were lights on, and the music was much louder.
“I’ll go down first,” she said. “Stay behind me. If anything should get by me, make sure you go for the head. A head shot will slow anything down.”
“I’m fully aware of how to kill, Olena,” he said. “I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with members of the Otherworld community.”