Blood Trail - By Tanya Huff Page 0,76

for a while now?"

"Well, I'm not sure three shots counts as potshots, Constable."

"Still should've been reported, ma'am. If someone's firing a hunting rifle out in the conservation area we'd like to know about it."

"The family figured it was just because Arthur Fortrin was out of town," Colin put in.

Given a little direction, Colin was remarkably good at half-truths. But then, he'd have to be, Vicki realized. All things considered.

The OPP constable looked dubious. "I don't think the absence of one game warden's going to make much difference. And you should've known better." He snapped his occurrence book shut. "Tell your family next time they hear a shot, to call us immediately. Maybe we can spot the guy's car."

"I'll tell them... " Colin shrugged.

"Yeah, I know, but will they listen." The constable sighed and glanced over at Vicki. He didn't think much of a Toronto private detective messing around in his neck of the woods, although her police background did lend credibility. His warning to be careful died in his throat when he caught her eye. She looked like a person who could take care of herself - and anything else that crossed her path. "So," he turned back to Colin, "this have anything to do with your Aunt Sylvia leaving?"

Colin snorted. "Well, she did say it was the last straw."

"Didn't she head up to the Yukon?"

"Yeah, her brother, my Uncle Robert, has a place just outside Whitehorse. She said it was getting too crowded around here."

"Your Uncle Jason just took off too, didn't he?"

"Yeah, Father accused Aunt Sylvia of starting an exodus and threatened to lock Peter, Rose, and I in the house until things calmed down."

"Well, frankly I was surprised he stayed around as long as he did. Man needs a place of his own." The OPP constable poked Colin in the ribs with his pen. "When'll you be moving out?"

"When I feel suicidal enough to live on my own cooking."

Both men laughed and the conversation turned to a general discussion of food.

Vicki realized that the wer were perhaps not as isolated as she'd originally thought. Colin leaving the farm and taking a job had brought them to the attention of the police if nothing else. Fortunately, the police tended to take care of their own. As for the shooting; she knew there wasn't much the OPP could do. She could only hope that a few extra patrols up and around the area would give her time to find this psycho before anyone else got killed. The wer would just have to recognize their higher visibility and be more careful when they changed for a while. It seemed a small price to pay.

"... anyway, Donald's fine. The hospital released him into Dr. Dixon's care - that's one persuasive old man - and he'll probably be able to come home tomorrow. Apparently because he was shot in one form and then changed there's no danger of infection. Colin's on his way back, but I thought I should call and fill you in. Oh, and Nadine, I'll be spending the night in town."

"Explanations?"

"Uh-huh."

"Do you trust him with this?"

"I trust Mike Celluci with my life."

"Good. Because you're trusting him with ours."

Vicki half turned so she could see Celluci leaning on the hospital wall across from the phones. He looked tired but impassive, with all professional barriers raised. "It'll be okay. Can I speak to Henry?"

"Hang on." Nadine held the receiver out to the vampire. "You were right," she told him as he took it.

He didn't appear particularly gratified by this information. If Celluci's face was impassive, Henry's was stone. "Vicki?"

"Hi. I thought I should tell you, I'm staying in town tonight. I need a little time alone."

"Alone?"

"Well, away."

"I can't say as I'm surprised. You and Mr. Celluci have a great deal to discuss."

"Tell me about it. Do me a favor?"

"Anything." Before she could speak, he reconsidered and added. "Almost anything."

"Stay around the house tonight."

"Why?"

"Because it's 3:40 in the morning and sunrise is around 6:00."

"Vicki, I have been avoiding the dawn for a long time. Don't patronize me."

Okay. Maybe she deserved that. "Look, Henry, it's late, you've only got one good arm - at best one and a half - I've had a very rough day, and it isn't over yet. Please, give me one less person to worry about over the next few hours. We know this guy is coming right up to the house and we don't know for sure just where exactly Donald was shot."

"You didn't ask him?"

"I didn't get